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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4406838, member: 9844"] One thing that is very different for us vs. contenders from the top 5 conferences, is how long newcomers have to justify being part of the rotation. For many of the top ranked teams the preconference schedule is like an extended training camp. Many games against weaker competition, with minutes available for all players after the game has been decided. Those minutes give newcomers a chance to make their case to be in the rotation and let them grow into that role before the more critical conference schedule. For us, we face teams we could lose to from the git go, meaning a role in the rotation has to be earned in practice before any game experience. Then even if you performed in practice, if you don't look ready in your early game experience, you may lose that rotation role. Geno often uses a short rotation in these early competitive games. So if you don't make the rotation for the out of conference early schedule, you may have to wait for mop up minutes in the easier conference games to make your case. Perform very well there and maybe you can get in the rotation before the tournament. I kind of wish it was the other way around for us, but given our national reputation in a non Power 5 conference, we pretty much have to front load the most competitive games like we do, even if it means our newcomers face a very fast learning curve to prove themselves. [/QUOTE]