Topic: Gazette: MU gets ambitious in hoops schedule

[ZackUSAF82]

Herd will travel to face Villanova, Kentucky, WVU and Cincinnati

By Doug Smock

HUNTINGTON - He joked about being sick to his stomach over his team's 2012-13 schedule, but Marshall basketball coach Tom Herrion said his third team is up for the challenge.

The Thundering Herd's full schedule was announced Tuesday, four weeks after Conference USA announced the league slate for all 12 teams. Certainly, the Herd won't cheat itself on strength of schedule.

Road games include those at Villanova and Kentucky, with games in Charleston against West Virginia and Cincinnati. National Invitation Tournament quarterfinalist Nevada heads the seven-game nonconference lineup at Cam Henderson Center.

Herd coaches and officials tried to assemble the schedule to maximize its Rating Percentage Index ranking, and improve its "eye test" with the NCAA selection committee. The Herd will play five teams from the 2012 NCAA tournament away from home - South Dakota State, West Virginia, Cincinnati, defending national champion Kentucky and Ohio.

Link: http://wvgazette.com/Sports/Marshall/201209040284