The Sun Belt Conference released the 2015-16 conference schedule this week.

And, lo and behold, it isn't perfect.

The Sun Belt coaches voted in a close majority to play a 20 game conference schedule again next season. And, they didn't want to start before Christmas.

That once again means there will be times when the teams could be playing three times in a week. But the only solution would be to reduce the number of conference games and the coaches didn't want to do that.

That's on them. (For the record, Louisiana coach Bob Marlin voted against the double round robin)

But the league did solve the biggest problem as best they could. There will be no more separate trips to Arkansas, Texas, Alabama and Georgia for the Cajuns. And, that's going to save a lot of money in travel costs.

Understanding the men and women both play the same schedule, both were having to do the separate trips to various states. And, that was running an extra 60,000-80,000 in travel costs. There are a lot better things to do with that money.

There are a couple of drawbacks to the schedule. Because there are eleven schools, Appalachian State doesn't have a travel partner. As a result, many times the Mountaineers will be playing teams coming off a bye. Of course, the Cajuns faced that disadvantage in five straight league games a year ago. But the schedule makers compensated somewhat in that App State will never play more than two games in a row on the road.

That didn't happen for the two Louisiana schools.

The Cajuns will open at home against App State, then play four straight on the road. Next comes seven out of eight at home and the another four game road trip. The game at ULM has yet to be scheduled and will be worked out between the two head coaches.

That's certainly not an ideal schedule and the two Louisiana schools are the only ones who face a pair of four game road trips.

But at least this schedule makes more sense in terms of how you travel. And, it's going to save money.

The other two obstacles to really good scheduling have yet to be taken care of. One is to get to twelve basketball schools. That would give a sixteen game conference schedule that would't have to begin until after a full week into the new year.

And, that solve the other issue and that's the twenty game schedule.

There's still work to do....but this is a whole lot better than what the schools faced a year ago.