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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4184058, member: 9844"] This is true, but far more this year than most. We are usually tested early with our out of conference schedule, then have a couple more tough out of conference games while coasting thru the Big East opponents, and then don't face serious competition again until the sweet sixteen or elite eight. Our last statement game on the schedule is Tennessee and we presumably will not have all our pieces even then. For most of our early challenges we were handicapped. We have had only one big game with a relatively normal lineup, and that was our loss to South Carolina. So even if this group gets back together (minus Aubrey) for a few games near the end of the regular season we will be judging where we are at based on whether the margin of victory was more or less than expected, but our freshmen in particular will have almost no experience against top competition with the normal team intact. We will be one of the biggest unknowns in the tournament as a result. The contenders from Power 5 conferences have been playing lots of top opponents. I think that experience is valuable, and it is a disadvantage for us, but it is what it is, it is the hand we have been dealt. We can hope for health, signs they are jelling late, and hope that when presented with a much tougher opponent they will respond well. [/QUOTE]