We need a strong out of conference schedule to make ours comparable to Power 5 teams. This year several of those big games got cancelled, and we got somewhat lucky that other teams had two or more losses. Because of the weaker schedule we would have been ranked behind any Power 5 contender that matched us in losses.
Next year with our talent we should achieve our ranking with quality wins instead of fewer screw ups. To a large degree the conference schedule can be fine tuning. Getting the end of the bench some more time even if not prime time, developing consistency, defining roles etc. I don't think we should ever schedule a really good team first, partly because I want to keep our streak of avoiding back to back losses in tack, and partly because we need at least one non stressful game to start.
We have an entirely different situation from the Power 5 schools. They sometimes schedule cupcakes in the early season which is more like an extension of training camp, getting ready for the games that count later in conference. We are thrown into the fire right away, then have a relatively boring conference schedule with an occasional big out of conference mixed in, and then back to prime-time after the first couple of NCAA games.
With our typical schedule, experience makes a big difference when you have big games early. We are still very young but return the entire core so there is more stability there than there was this year. Mostly what we need the most is experience in handling adversity, and we only get that against top teams. When those teams take away a major part of our game-plan, what is our plan B and C and let's get used to succeeding with those as well.
Next year with our talent we should achieve our ranking with quality wins instead of fewer screw ups. To a large degree the conference schedule can be fine tuning. Getting the end of the bench some more time even if not prime time, developing consistency, defining roles etc. I don't think we should ever schedule a really good team first, partly because I want to keep our streak of avoiding back to back losses in tack, and partly because we need at least one non stressful game to start.
We have an entirely different situation from the Power 5 schools. They sometimes schedule cupcakes in the early season which is more like an extension of training camp, getting ready for the games that count later in conference. We are thrown into the fire right away, then have a relatively boring conference schedule with an occasional big out of conference mixed in, and then back to prime-time after the first couple of NCAA games.
With our typical schedule, experience makes a big difference when you have big games early. We are still very young but return the entire core so there is more stability there than there was this year. Mostly what we need the most is experience in handling adversity, and we only get that against top teams. When those teams take away a major part of our game-plan, what is our plan B and C and let's get used to succeeding with those as well.
It would help "grow the sport" in Central NC, and we are all about growing the sport. 
