We Were Painted Into A Corner Every Year

[jibsey]

Last year we went 1-4 major non conference with our only win against Cuse prior to December’s end and that was a recurring theme year in and out in the AAC. We had to schedule strong early and get it done or else. Even though the pressure to win is not reduced the perception of having a decent conference schedule after Jan 1 is helped. Now all Hurley has to do is get the players because the opportunities are going to be on the schedule all season long. Maybe that means that Hurley’s pressure is increased because if he has the same performance in the BE there will be no excuses for him. Maybe we cupcake it early just a bit. Hope he is up to it.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Agreed. Watching AAC teams consistently dropping games to low-majors in November and December was watching hope of an at-large evaporate before UConn had played a conference game.

 

[jibsey]

Agreed. Watching AAC teams consistently dropping games to low-majors in November and December was watching hope of an at-large evaporate before UConn had played a conference game.

I was thinking Iowa, Florida State, Zona and Nova last year.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I was thinking Iowa, Florida State, Zona and Nova last year.

Flip side of the same point. UConn had insane pressure to get a quality win early in the season because there were so few on the conference schedule. Part of the problem is when Tulane would lose to New Orleans, McNeese State and Texas State, like they did in 2016. It doesn't take many losses like those by conference mates before the RPI (or NET today) is basically scalitoed for the whole conference.

You basically know by 1/1 how many bids a conference will get give or take, and most years we would know by New Years that an at-large was going to be very tough to get.

 

[willie99]

I'm sorry, we just sucked and there really are no excuses

Although our suck was assisted in large part by three years of catastrophic injuries, transfers and one early departure

 

[tzznandrew]

Flip side of the same point. UConn had insane pressure to get a quality win early in the season because there were so few on the conference schedule. Part of the problem is when Tulane would lose to New Orleans, McNeese State and Texas State, like they did in 2016. It doesn't take many losses like those by conference mates before the RPI (or NET today) is basically scalitoed for the whole conference.

You basically know by 1/1 how many bids a conference will get give or take, and most years we would know by New Years that an at-large was going to be very tough to get.

And even when we didn't suck, we got screwed over in the seeding.

Only one year (2018) did the AAC get seeding that theoretically made sense. Of course Cincy went and screwed that up...