We are #1

[Wise2]

in Strength of Schedule (SOS). At least that was the graphic that CBS showed. A few years ago Alabama got into the NCAAs with 16 wins and were number 1 in SOS. If we retain the top spot, can we get in with under 18 wins? We are 15-9 right now and if we go 3-3 and and lose the first round of BE tourney, we end up 18-13 (8-10 in BE). However if we have a the top SOS and a good RPI, can't we still get in? I guess if one of our wins is Syracuse, then we would have a better case.

 

[willie99]

we 're WINNING from now on

 

[Adios]

Our offense is improving. Very good. Let's hope they keep it going and learn how to penetrate quicker.

 

[tzznandrew]

Bad losses (UCF, @Rutgers, @UT) are going to hurt.

If this team plays with the energy it did today for the next six games, they will go dancing, because they will likely win at least 5. The two most difficult remaining games are at home; the road games aren't that bad.

Every game in the BE is tough, but that SOS will help them a lot.

 

[gibhunter]

#1 schedule is cause we played the system. We haven't played anyone apart from Cuse. Our non-conference schedule last year was way tougher than this year yet ranked lower. This year we just avoided awful mid-majors that's why the SOS is inflated.

 

[tykurez]

I'd like a t-shirt with "#1 SOS" on it ...

 

[tzznandrew]

#1 schedule is cause we played the system. We haven't played anyone apart from Cuse. Our non-conference schedule last year was way tougher than this year yet ranked lower. This year we just avoided awful mid-majors that's why the SOS is inflated.

This is true. It's what we should do (to some extent).

But, the problem of this is that, except for maybe Florida State, there isn't a great OOC win.

 

[ruskin]

Don't forget Harvard (they're 36th in RPI, we're 24th)

 

[Ts5034]

Playing Syracuse twice helps the SOS a lot. It would be huge if we can beat them in a couple weeks at Gampel.

 

[tzznandrew]

Don't forget Harvard (they're 36th in RPI, we're 24th)

They're that high? That's what I get for not looking.

I think they should have scheduled a tougher matchup. But why didn't they draw Kentucky (or why didn't Syracuse?) in the SEC-BE Challenge?

That said, this is the perfect type of schedule for a young team (should have looked like this in 2006-07). Hell, we should always schedule top low-majors rather than bottom low-majors (although this is difficult to predict a couple years in advance).

 

[Wise2]

So

They're that high? That's what I get for not looking.

I think they should have scheduled a tougher matchup. But why didn't they draw Kentucky (or why didn't Syracuse?) in the SEC-BE Challenge?

That said, this is the perfect type of schedule for a young team (should have looked like this in 2006-07). Hell, we should always schedule top low-majors rather than bottom low-majors (although this is difficult to predict a couple years in advance).

So you wanted to draw UK and have another loss, but still have the #1 SOS. How would that have helped? They way we've played this year, we were not beating Kentucky. The problem is really the Tennessee game, we should have been up for that game and throw up a stinker against a bad team. Win that game and we could probably finish with a losing record in the BE.

 

[tzznandrew]

So

So you wanted to draw UK and have another loss, but still have the #1 SOS. How would that have helped? They way we've played this year, we were not beating Kentucky. The problem is really the Tennessee game, we should have been up for that game and throw up a stinker against a bad team. Win that game and we could probably finish with a losing record in the BE.

I'm saying that a team expected to be in the Top 10 should have Top 10 match ups in the pre-season. Even if they lost (and who says they would have? especially because Kentucky has only looked this good recently) it's a good measuring stick. We, and the coaching staff, would have had a much better idea of what needed to be worked on.

 

[Wise2]

I'm saying that a team expected to be in the Top 10 should have Top 10 match ups in the pre-season. Even if they lost (and who says they would have? especially because Kentucky has only looked this good recently) it's a good measuring stick. We, and the coaching staff, would have had a much better idea of what needed to be worked on.

I hear what your saying, but with our RPI and SOS, we need wins, not just games vs quality opponents. And UK has been playing pretty good the entire season. They look like the best team to me. I'd be shocked if they didn't make it to the FF again and they are the favorite to win it all too. So, ya, with the way our team has played, we most likely would have lost.

I don't know how they determine match up in the BE/SEC challenge, but I'm sure that the fact that we had played them twice last year may have been a factor in not getting them again even though it would have been a more compelling TV game.

 

[whaler11]

Too many moving parts, you don't know what the other resumes are going to be. I'd guess at 18-13 (8-10) they get in, but only because a month out the bubble looks soft, who knows then.

 

[Hi-Low]

18-12 reg season will be good enough with SOS / RPI / probably 10 top 100 wins (have 8 now, 4 left vs top 100...win 2)
.....but let's beat @#$@^@$ Depaul first!

It was definetly better to beat ok Arkansas (on bubble) than lose to Kentucky.