Way Too Early SOS Comparisons

[visitingcock]

LETS Get Ready to Rumble: about who has the toughest SOS this year.

BUT before we argue who has the toughest schedule. Let's start comparing Strength of Schedule of various teams based upon ESPN's Way to Early rankings. Yeah, I know that we won't really know SOS until 2024 at the end of the conference tournaments, but HEY it's August. What else do we have to do?

Here is the Last Way to Early ranking. I ask that posters from other teams who intend to join the tumult post your game against anticipated to-early ranked opponents. The arguments should hold off until after we see who the contenders are.

1. LSU
2. UConn
3. Iowa
4. UCLA
5. Utah
6. Ohio State
7. Indiana
8. SCar
9. VaTech
10. Notre Dame
11. Ole Miss
12. Tennessee
13. Baylor
14. Louisville
15. FSU
16. Stanford
17. Maryland
18. Southern Cal
19. UNC
20. Texas
21. Colorado
22. Creighton
23. Washington St
24. K- State (welcome back Ayoka)
25. Nebraska


PLEASE Post Your Team's "ranked" Opponents!

1. LSU

 

[visitingcock]

South Carolina:
at #1 LSU
Home #2 UConn
neutral #5 Utah
neutral #10 Notre Dame
at #11 Ole Miss
at #12 Tennessee
home #12 Tennessee
home #16 Stanford
home #17 Maryland
at #19 UNC

at unranked (sorry @triaddukefan) Duke

Unranked South Dakota state added for November 20.

Still no confirmation of Stanford. Hoping Stanford doesn’t have to back out due to other scheduling issues.

 

[jpp13]

UConn
At #8 South Carolina
#10 Notre Dame
#14 Louisville
#17 Maryland
#19 UNC (“neutral”)
At #20 Texas
#22 Creighton
At #22 Creighton

Cayman Islands Classic games TBA should add at least one of #1 LSU or #4 UCLA to the mix. Additionally the BE reduced conference schedule by 2 games meaning 2 opponents will only be faced once so while 2 games vs Creighton are likely not guaranteed.

 

[triaddukefan]

South Carolina:
at #1 LSU
Home #2 UConn
neutral #5 Utah
neutral #10 Notre Dame
at #11 Ole Miss
at #12 Tennessee
home #12 Tennessee
home #16 Stanford
home #17 Maryland
at #19 UNC

at unranked (sorry @triaddukefan) Duke

We weren't ranked the last time a top 3 SCar squad played in Durham on a Sunday afternoon. I ain't gonna mention the score, but I drove home happy and stuffed with grilled chicken.

 

[visitingcock]

Notre Dame is looking like they will have a top notch shedule with ACC teams plus UConn, SCar, Tennessee. Who else? @Dillon77

 

[visitingcock]

We weren't ranked the last time a top 3 SCar squad played in Durham on a Sunday afternoon. I ain't gonna mention the score, but I drove home happy and stuffed with grilled chicken.

View attachment 90742

89-46

But anyway, back to the relevant topic: y'all should have a pretty tough schedule this year.

 

[triaddukefan]

DUKE

Home #8 SCAR
Home and Away #9 VPI
Home #10 Notre Dame
Away #14 Louisville
Home #15 Florida State
Away #16 Stanford
Home and Away #19 Chapel Hell

 

[JDuro]

We weren't ranked the last time a top 3 SCar squad played in Durham on a Sunday afternoon. I ain't gonna mention the score, but I drove home happy and stuffed with grilled chicken.

View attachment 90742

I would be more than happy for history to repeat itself if the result of that season’s NCAAT also repeats.

 

[From France]

What is LSU ooC schaedule, this year ?

 

[ISUnorth]

The Big 12 MBB will be strong as all get out again but Big 12 WBB gets the Letterkenny Super Soft Birthday Party award. Adding four teams that will be the worst in the league and the usual powers are all down.

Iowa State Cyclones slate. Even with a team of five freshman and two transfers the schedule is Charmin soft.

#3 Iowa - home
#13 Baylor - home
#20 Texas - away
#24 Kansas State - Home and away

 

[visitingcock]

What is LSU ooC schaedule, this year ?

Cant be as bad as last year - They drew VaTech in the Cayman Island Classic games, which additionally feature UConn, Kansas, Virginia, UCLA, Niagara and Tulane. I don't know the pairings. They drew Syracuse in the ACC/SEC challenge.

Looks weak again. Maybe not as bad as last year.

In conference they only play SCar, Ole Miss and Tennessee once. Generally they have the weakest road of all conference teams

 

[SECbbfan24]

What is LSU ooC schaedule, this year ?

Will prob be weak as Kim generally doesn't win high profile games without massive talent advantages.

Guessing LSU's OOC schedule will be ranked between 150-200 before they get a slap of reality in conference play against a MUCH improved SEC this season.

 

[visitingcock]

Vols still scheduling decent but not crazy-tough like last year.

#15 FSU at home
at #10 Notre Dame
at #6 tOSU at home
#7 Indiana in Ft Meyers

at #8 Scar
vs #8 SCar
vs #1 LSU
at # 11. Ole Miss

 

[cancontent]

The Big 12 MBB will be strong as all get out again but Big 12 WBB gets the Letterkenny Super Soft Birthday Party award. Adding four teams that will be the worst in the league and the usual powers are all down.

Iowa State Cyclones slate. Even with a team of five freshman and two transfers the schedule is Charmin soft.

#3 Iowa - home
#13 Baylor - home
#20 Texas - away
#24 Kansas State - Home and away

As a Canadian I sincerely appreciate this Letterkenny reference

 

[jake0414]

Updated UCLA confirmed opponents:

#2 UConn - neutral
#5 Utah - home and away
#15 FSU - neutral
#16 Stanford - away
#18 Southern Cal - home and away
#21 Colorado - home and away
#23 Washington State - home

NR Purdue (2023 NCAAT) - home
NR Arkansas (2023 WNIT) - away
NR Princeton (2023 NCAAT) - home

 

[visitingcock]

UCLA confirmed opponents:

#5 Utah - home and away
#15 FSU - neutral
#16 Stanford - away
#18 Southern Cal - home and away
#21 Colorado - home and away
#23 Washington State - home

NR Purdue - home
NR Arkansas - away

Possible opponent (awaiting bracket confirmation)
#1 LSU (Cayman Isl Classic - both teams must win or both must lose first of two games)

Good schedule. I’ll be interested to see if y’all can work us in next year.

 

[Talon]

Good schedule. I’ll be interested to see if y’all can work us in next year.

We play UCLA at their place in 2024. Dawn asked Cori to move this year's game to next year so we could club Stanford and UCLA on a West Coast swing.

 

[Bone Dog]

For what it's worth -- and that isn't much this early -- here's Warren Nolan's top 15 SoS teams.

 

[jake0414]

For what it's worth -- and that isn't much this early -- here's Warren Nolan's top 15 SoS teams.
View attachment 90820

I believe that SOS ranking applies to the end of 2022-23 season. Neither Texas nor UCLA has released their full 2023-24 non-conference schedules. I don’t think South Carolina has either.

 

[Bone Dog]

I believe that SOS ranking applies to the end of 2022-23 season. Neither Texas nor UCLA has released their full 2023-24 non-conference schedules. I don’t think South Carolina has either.

That’s why I said it wasn’t worth much

 

[jpp13]

UConn (updated)
#4 UCLA (Cayman Islands)
At #8 South Carolina
#10 Notre Dame
#14 Louisville
#17 Maryland
#19 UNC (“neutral”)
At #20 Texas
#22 Creighton
At #22 Creighton

 

[triaddukefan]

UConn (updated)
#4 UCLA (Cayman Islands)
At #8 South Carolina
#10 Notre Dame
#14 Louisville
#17 Maryland
#19 UNC (“neutral”)
At #20 Texas
#22 Creighton
At #22 Creighton

Creighton at 22 is wishful thinking

 

[jpp13]

Creighton at 22 is wishful thinking

That’s definitely still a bit of credit for their elite 8 run… 2 years ago. They do still have the bulk of their core though.

 

[jake0414]

UConn (updated)
#4 UCLA (Cayman Islands)
At #8 South Carolina
#10 Notre Dame
#14 Louisville
#17 Maryland
#19 UNC (“neutral”)
At #20 Texas
#22 Creighton
At #22 Creighton

Meanwhile “preseason #1” LSU draws wbb powers Niagara and Virginia in the Cayman Islands Classic. I heard from a UCLA staffer that the Bruins expected to play the Tigers. Disappointed it won’t happen but always good to play arguably the real #1 team.

Joanne P. McCallie serves as Executive Tournament Director. She and her planners sure gave Mulkey and the Tigers a pass. The tournament has two 2023 final four teams (LSU and VaTech) plus UConn and UCLA. Should have two marquee games among the four top teams yet only UConn and the Bruins play one another. Big fail.

 

[cancontent]

Meanwhile “preseason #1” LSU draws wbb powers Niagara and Virginia in the Cayman Islands Classic. I heard from a UCLA staffer that the Bruins expected to play the Tigers. Disappointed it won’t happen but always good to play arguably the real #1 team.

Joanne P. McCallie serves as Executive Tournament Director. She and her planners sure gave Mulkey and the Tigers a pass. The tournament has two 2023 final four teams (LSU and VaTech) plus UConn and UCLA. Should have two marquee games among the four top teams yet only UConn and the Bruins play one another. Big fail.

@triaddukefan no blaming certain Big Ten teams formerly associated with McCallie for this one

 

[Fowlball]

 

[SECbbfan24]

Smart by Kim to play weaker teams as Hailey Van Lith and Morrow are over rated inefficient players who play no defense. Plus Kim got schooled in her only competitive matchups last year vs TN/SC. Will be even worse this year with improved Miss St and Ole Miss teams, plus A&M will be on LSU's tails...

 

[Big12wbbFan]

The Big 12 MBB will be strong as all get out again but Big 12 WBB gets the Letterkenny Super Soft Birthday Party award. Adding four teams that will be the worst in the league and the usual powers are all down.

Iowa State Cyclones slate. Even with a team of five freshman and two transfers the schedule is Charmin soft.

#3 Iowa - home
#13 Baylor - home
#20 Texas - away
#24 Kansas State - Home and away

 

[Big12wbbFan]

BIG 12 WBB will get stronger when Arizona, Utah and Colorado join. However it will not approach level of BIG 12 MBB. MBB will be crazy good. Best MBB conference in country and it is not even close.

 

[jdote33]

South Florida beat them last year at Texas so I like that they're on the schedule again. But I actually don't think this schedule is super strong besides the home game vs Uconn. Big 12 will be tough tho.