Better SEC

#1
M

MikeHamiltonFan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
6,366
Likes
0
#1
I have not had time to go through every single teams schedule, but I really believe that the SEC will have as a conference between 13 and 20 more OOC wins this year.

That will really help conference RPI and seeding for all our teams in the NCAA tournament.

Lets look at a few teams results last year, and then predict improvement this year.

LSU won 11 games last season.

Trent Johnson felt good enough about his new players including his four highly rated freshmen and his transfer from Ole Miss that he kicked his second leading scorer off the team.

New-look LSU basketball program looks for respect - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com

Johnson thinks that 2 of his freshmen will be starters for the season.

Here is their OOC schedule with my predictions.

Date Opponent Result / Time Record
Nov 12 N´western St. 8:00 PM W
Nov 16 Nicholls St. 8:00 PM W
Nov 18 UT-Martin 8:00 PM W
Nov 21 Memphis 5:00 PM L
Nov 24 Centenary 8:00 PM W
Nov 28 @South Alabama 4:00 PM W
Nov 30 Houston 8:00 PM W
Dec 11 Central Mich. 8:00 PM W
Dec 13 Coastal Caro. 8:00 PM W
Dec 16 McNeese St. 8:00 PM W
Dec 18 Wichita St. 8:00 PM L
Dec 22 North Texas 8:00 PM W
Dec 27 Southern U. 8:00 PM W
Dec 29 @Rice 8:00 PM W
Jan 2 @Virginia 5:30 PM L

LSU heads into conference play 12-3 instead of:


Fri, Nov 13 UL-Monroe Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 82-62
NIT Season Tip-Off
Mon, Nov 16 Indiana St. Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 56-45
Tue, Nov 17 Western Kentucky Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 71-60
Wed, Nov 25 #13 Connecticut at New York, N.Y. (Madison Square Garden) 6:00 p.m. L, 55-81
Fri, Nov 27 Arizona St. at New York, N.Y. (Madison Square Garden) 1:30 p.m. L, 52-71
Tue, Dec 01 UL-Lafayette Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 6:30 p.m. W, 66-58
Sat, Dec 12 Northwestern St. Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 73-62
Mon, Dec 14 Southeastern Louisiana Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 77-60
Thu, Dec 17 Nicholls Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 63-60
Sat, Dec 19 Rice Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 1:00 p.m. W, 65-61
Cougar Hardwood Classic
Tue, Dec 22 Washington St. at Seattle, Wash. (KeyArena) 9:00 p.m. L, 70-72 (OT)
Tue, Dec 29 Xavier (Ohio) at Cincinnati, Ohio (Cintas Center) 6:00 p.m. L, 65-89
Sat, Jan 02 Utah Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. L, 59-61
Mon, Jan 04 McNeese St. Baton Rouge, La. (Maravich Center) 7:00 p.m. W, 83-60

9-5.

Could LSU beat Virginia on the road? Sure they could. But in any case, LSU even improving up to 5 or 6 wins in the SEC will mean a team going from 11 wins to 17 or 18. That is a big difference in respectability.

Let's look at Arkansas:

Here is what I think happens this year OOC.

Regular Season
Date Opponent Result / Time Record
Nov 18 Grambling 8:00 PM W
Nov 22 Fla. Gulf Coast 8:00 PM W
Nov 24 SE Missouri St. 8:00 PM W
Nov 26 UAB 8:00 PM W
Dec 1 Oklahoma 8:00 PM L
Dec 4 Troy 3:00 PM W
Dec 8 Seton Hall 7:00 PM W
Dec 15 Mississippi Val. 8:00 PM W
Dec 18 @Texas A&M 2:00 PM L
Dec 22 Texas Southern 8:00 PM W
Dec 29 N.C. A&T 8:00 PM W
Dec 31 UT-Arlington 8:00 PM W
Jan 4 @Texas 9:00 PM L
Feb 16 Florida A&M 8:00 PM W

11 OOC victories for Pelphrey plus what I expect from his team in the SEC does not get them into the tournament.
Pelphrey will have to wait until at least 2011 to make serious noise anywhere (but because of his recruiting with 4 top 100 guys in 2011 he will not be fired as some of our favorite continually incorrect prognosticators claimed with certainty Win or lose, Pelphrey saves job with elite recruits - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com) But his increased victories help the conference.

Pelphrey last year had to suspend Fortson, Welsh and Britt Suspensions leave Arkansas Razorbacks with nine players for opener - ESPN and then they stumbled badly out of the gate.

I am not sure they can equal 7 conference wins they had last year, but look at the OOC improvement.

Fri, Nov 13 Alcorn St. -Fayetteville 130 - 68 (W)
Hall of Fame Showcase
Tue, Nov 17 Louisville St. Louis, Mo. 66 - 96 (L)
Fri, Nov 20 Appalachian St. Fayetteville 81 - 72 (W)
Tue, Nov 24 Morgan St. Fayetteville 94 - 97 (L)
Fri, Nov 27 East Tennessee St. Fayetteville 85 - 94 (L)
Sun, Nov 29 South Alabama Fayetteville 61 - 74 (L)
Wed, Dec 02 Oklahoma at Norman, Okla. 47 - 67 (L)
Sat, Dec 05 Miss. Valley St. Fayetteville 91 - 54 (W)
Mon, Dec 07 Delaware St. Fayetteville 71 - 53 (W)
Wed, Dec 16 Alabama St. Fayetteville 76 - 51 (W)
Sat, Dec 19 Stephen F. Austin Fayetteville 72 - 69 (W)
Tue, Dec 22 Missouri St. Fayetteville 66 - 62 (W)
Wed, Dec 30 Baylor at North Little Rock, Ark.47 - 70 (L)
Sat, Jan 02 Alabama-Birmingham Fayetteville72 - 73 (L)
Tue, Jan 05 Texas Fayetteville 85 - 96 (L)

7 wins, 8 losses before conference play in 2009. Morgan State, ETSU...hurts the team...South Alabama (ironic) and UAB are better losses, but still do not work great for our conference.

That is 7 more wins OOC for these two teams alone. I really think we will see lots of great OOC wins coming for our conference and will head into conference play with a VERY strong RPI.
 
#2
#2
With Arkansas and LSU showing dramatic improvement, along with Auburn, we may very well be the best conference in the country.
 
#3
#3
Thanks for your intelligent contribution to this thread. It is clear that you disagree, but what I find most compelling is your analysis of incoming players and how their skill sets will not lead to the results I predict.
 
#4
#4
BasketvolsFan said:
With Arkansas and LSU showing dramatic improvement, along with Auburn, we may very well be the best conference in the country.
Click to expand...
Unless Barbee does a Heculean coaching job, Auburn will be the worst SEC team since Houston's last group. Anyone who loses to them should be credited with 3 losses.
 
#5
#5
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Thanks for your intelligent contribution to this thread. It is clear that you disagree, but what I find most compelling is your analysis of incoming players and how their skill sets will not lead to the results I predict.
Click to expand...

LSU will be better because they can't be worse, Arkansas will suck until they get a coach that has a clue. What's so hard about that?
 
#6
#6
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Thanks for your intelligent contribution to this thread. It is clear that you disagree, but what I find most compelling is your analysis of incoming players and how their skill sets will not lead to the results I predict.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I don't have time to respond with a novel. Simply wanted you to know I disagree with as short and to the point response as possible. But your expert analysis is always so helpful.
 
#7
#7
hatvol96 said:
Unless Barbee does a Heculean coaching job, Auburn will be the worst SEC team since Houston's last group. Anyone who loses to them should be credited with 3 losses.
Click to expand...

No question that Barbee has a major rebuilding job ahead of him at Auburn. Dooley thinks he has it bad, UT football is on the road to a championship compared to the rebuilding Barbee is facing.
 
#9
#9
BasketvolsFan said:
No question that Barbee has a major rebuilding job ahead of him at Auburn. Dooley thinks he has it bad, UT football is on the road to a championship compared to the rebuilding Barbee is facing.
Click to expand...
It was going to be bad, then everyone who could play at all ended up hurt or ineligible. I'm pretty sure what they'll put on the floor this year is not what the Barn administration envisioned when they decided to build a new gym.
 
#10
#10
Yeah, the only recruits he had that actually looked as if they could contribute are ineligible. At least they confined the new area to about 10,000 which appears to be a very good decision.
 
#11
#11
BasketvolsFan said:
Yeah, the only recruits he had that actually looked as if they could contribute are ineligible. At least they confined the new area to about 10,000 which appears to be a very good decision.
Click to expand...
Langford's pretty good, but any team depending on him as a frosh is a team in for a long, long season.
 
#12
#12
BasketvolsFan said:
No question that Barbee has a major rebuilding job ahead of him at Auburn. Dooley thinks he has it bad, UT football is on the road to a championship compared to the rebuilding Barbee is facing.
Click to expand...

Bad comparison. Pretty sure Barbee has an easier road with Dooley because 1. Less players to worry with 2. Weaker BB conference compared to FB conference.
 
#13
#13
tvols75 said:
Bad comparison. Pretty sure Barbee has an easier road with Dooley because 1. Less players to worry with 2. Weaker BB conference compared to FB conference.
Click to expand...

In general it's much easier to rebuild basketball programs. Only 5 guys on the floor means 1 or 2 really good players and you're competitive. Plus, far fewer injuries in hoops means you don't have to have insane depth just to field a team by the end of the season.
 
#14
#14
StepCross said:
In general it's much easier to rebuild basketball programs. Only 5 guys on the floor means 1 or 2 really good players and you're competitive. Plus, far fewer injuries in hoops means you don't have to have insane depth just to field a team by the end of the season.
Click to expand...

Exactly. It's why Vandy competes reasonably well.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#15
#15
Interesting that a lot of folks are picking Florid to be the best in the SEC this year. I dont know what Donovan has done to deserve this type of hype in the last few seasons. I do find it amusing that Caliparis team has not been projected as well as everyone thought for so long this summer. As far as Tennessee is concerned, Im not sure where I could put yalls team this year. You have the talent to be one of the best but with all of the distractions its hard to make a semi-accurate assumption. The East will definitely be a great division this year.
 
#16
#16
After looking closely at every SEC teams roster and schedule this year it looks clear that Auburn will have a bad year. South Carolina should have a better OOC performance with no Winthrop losses. They should do worse in the SEC.

10 of the 12 teams in the league may have improved records. That is remarkable.

The East has 5 teams capable of making the tournament and despite the collapse of the miss schools last year the west other than auburn could have less than 20 losses between them heading into conference play.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#17
#17
A lot of speculation about the Johnny O'Bryant commitment to LSU. He was widely though to remain in state (Mississippi) to one of the two SEC teams but there are rumors of some under the table exchanges getting him to LSU.
 
#18
#18
homefry20 said:
I do find it amusing that Caliparis team has not been projected as well as everyone thought for so long this summer.
Click to expand...

It just depends on Kanter. Without Kanter, the cats just don't have much of any post presence, and will be vulnerable against teams with size (Tennessee, Florida, Georgia come to mind).

With Kanter, it will be a different story (though IMO they will still lack depth in the paint).

That's why the consensus about them has changed, though.
 
#19
#19
Its a complete sham if they let him play. It is now common knowledge that he was paid to play basketball.
 
#20
#20
If the SEC manages to go the entire season without any Mercer-type losses this year that's not necessarily something to brag about.
 
#22
#22
homefry20 said:
Its a complete sham if they let him play. It is now common knowledge that he was paid to play basketball.
Click to expand...

The meat and potatoes of this situation, is that the NCAA is being VERY careful and thorough on this decision, because it will be the ruling that sets precedent for all future cases like this.

Yes, its a fact Kanter was paid. But being paid is not against the rules, as long as it is expenses only (Room/Food/Travel). Is there overwhelming proof that gives either argument leverage? Not really, other than a shoddy bank statement supposedly given by the Turkish team whom he played for, that they will not release to anyone else.

So far, nothing has been turned over that can give the NCAA the confidence to make a ruling, and therefore its going to keep on dragging out. Normally its a case of the AA' being incompetent, but in this case they are actually playing their cards right, at least until this point.
 
#23
#23
Hardwood_fanatic said:
Is there overwhelming proof that gives either argument leverage? Not really, other than a shoddy bank statement supposedly given by the Turkish team whom he played for, that they will not release to anyone else.
Click to expand...

You can't possibly know it's shoddy, though, can you? Since it's not public and all?

I read both sides, Kanter's dad and the Turkish team GM (or whatever he is). Oddly, I found both their STORIES credible; but I found both MEN not so credible. Enough agendas floating around to choke a bison. Glad I'm not responsible for deciding.
 
#24
#24
StepCross said:
You can't possibly know it's shoddy, though, can you? Since it's not public and all?

I read both sides, Kanter's dad and the Turkish team GM (or whatever he is). Oddly, I found both their STORIES credible; but I found both MEN not so credible. Enough agendas floating around to choke a bison. Glad I'm not responsible for deciding.
Click to expand...

Nah, I have no way of knowing. Its just the bad mojo that surrounds the whole situation.
 
#25
#25
Hardwood_fanatic said:
The meat and potatoes of this situation, is that the NCAA is being VERY careful and thorough on this decision, because it will be the ruling that sets precedent for all future cases like this.

Yes, its a fact Kanter was paid. But being paid is not against the rules, as long as it is expenses only (Room/Food/Travel). Is there overwhelming proof that gives either argument leverage? Not really, other than a shoddy bank statement supposedly given by the Turkish team whom he played for, that they will not release to anyone else.

So far, nothing has been turned over that can give the NCAA the confidence to make a ruling, and therefore its going to keep on dragging out. Normally its a case of the AA' being incompetent, but in this case they are actually playing their cards right, at least until this point.
Click to expand...

A couple more questions:

1) He was a professional athlete in the sport he is attempting to gain eligibility into for three full seasons. This wasnt some one year tour that he tried. The NCAA set a new precedent in the Memphis case last year when they introduced a term called "strict liability" basically meaning that it was the responsibility of the institution to prove that a player was eligible, not the NCAA to prove that he wasnt. I know that was an academics case but how can you introduce a new precedent if you dont plan to follow it?

2) Why does he want to come over here to play for "free" anyway? Doesnt that seem a little fishy? European players are getting plenty of exposure to NBA coaches these days so why the need to come play here for one season?
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top