njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by njhoya78 on Aug 16, 2017 11:30:02 GMT -5
We are going to play a weak non-conference schedule this year as we rebuild. We didn't pull out of PK80 to play a strong schedule. Temper expectations accordingly. Maybe we are now in the MEAC and no one bothered to tell us?
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,900
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Aug 16, 2017 11:40:04 GMT -5
I always like to see us put together the strongest schedule possible but this might be the one year where I would be ok if we ease up on the gas pedal just a little. This is going to be a major rebuilding year. Low double digit wins I think is a realistic prediction. I will be so happy if we make it to 18 wins.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Aug 16, 2017 12:12:28 GMT -5
Prediction: Were going to play 30-31 games and 18 of those will be conference games. Let's just wait till the schedule is released. Unless we do an exempt tournament (highly unlikely since they should all be full now), we will at most play 11 OOC games and 18 conference games, since we aren't permitted to play more than that.
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boxout05
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by boxout05 on Aug 16, 2017 12:37:35 GMT -5
What's done is done, but the PK80 and a softer schedule aren't mutually exclusive. Except for that tourney (likely 2 hard games, one winnable game?) and Cuse, there's an entire nonconference schedule that can be filled out with guarantee games. It'd be different if we already had a killer schedule locked up, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Therefore, it seems as if it's less about the need to schedule a larger number of easy games, and more about installing Pat's system and/or not getting embarrassed in these specific PK80 games. Installing the system is important, but avoiding a big loss or two seems silly to me. The other tiny thing in the back of my mind? First game is against MSU and Izzo is one of the few coaches I'd trust to not run up the score.
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GUJook97
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by GUJook97 on Aug 16, 2017 14:00:06 GMT -5
Can we wait until the schedule comes out before we complain about it? This is absurd. We are complaining about the schedule of a first time coach being too weak before it has even been released as if we have had consistently easy schedules (false) or we have any idea what Ewing's scheduling philosophy is. Can we just relax and maybe give the new coach a chance before circling the wagons. Doesn't embarrassingly pulling out of the PK80 tournament give us some idea about the scheduling philosophy? Actually, I dont even think DFW was complaining. Those are very reasonable guesses. We opened the season against Radford two years ago, no? Seems someone is quite defensive To me, the problem isnt playing teams like Radford; we will likely do that. It's the fact that pulling out of tourneys, like you said, makes it almost certain we will not play a high caliber team. High caliber teams play big OOC games in tourneys so they are on neutral courts. Otherwise, you'd have to negotiate home and homes almost certainly. And, it seems sort of late for that, no? People dont really think we pulled out of tourney with MSU and Oregon so we could schedule a home and home with Duke, right? Do you buy bridges? I have one
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Post by professorhoya on Aug 16, 2017 16:07:10 GMT -5
What's done is done, but the PK80 and a softer schedule aren't mutually exclusive. Except for that tourney (likely 2 hard games, one winnable game?) and Cuse, there's an entire nonconference schedule that can be filled out with guarantee games. It'd be different if we already had a killer schedule locked up, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Therefore, it seems as if it's less about the need to schedule a larger number of easy games, and more about installing Pat's system and/or not getting embarrassed in these specific PK80 games. Installing the system is important, but avoiding a big loss or two seems silly to me. The other tiny thing in the back of my mind? First game is against MSU and Izzo is one of the few coaches I'd trust to not run up the score. If you look at past years we've lost a fare share of "guarantee games" in the OCC that wrecked our RPI. So there really aren't gimme wins. You tack on 2-3 loses in PK-90 and Cuse and a couple guarantee games then you are in the same hole you were in last year where you have to be almost perfect in the Big East play.
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by prhoya on Aug 16, 2017 16:37:14 GMT -5
At this point, and after the PK80 decision, IMO we'll see "easy" home games in November to get the new team to learn to play together, get team chemistry, teach (if possible at this point) Govan to play better D without fouling (IMO one of the keys to the season), establish new offense and defense, teach rebounding positioning, etc... everything leading to getting the team ready for Syracuse. That should be our early season target. Get that win at all costs. Then, post-Syracuse and pre-BE, no more games during finals (a la Duke in previous years), and set the second toughest RPI opponent at home during the Christmas break, with the rest of the games filled with "cupcakes" at home. This would give ample opportunity for the new staff to work on everything from the bottom up, have fresh players, and get the team ready for the BE, while continuing to recruit aggressively.
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Aug 16, 2017 18:01:26 GMT -5
Too much hand-wringing over the schedule. This is a rebuilding year. Worry about it the year after, we'll get plenty of good competition in our league games.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 16, 2017 18:48:26 GMT -5
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boxout05
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 573
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Post by boxout05 on Aug 16, 2017 19:26:57 GMT -5
What's done is done, but the PK80 and a softer schedule aren't mutually exclusive. Except for that tourney (likely 2 hard games, one winnable game?) and Cuse, there's an entire nonconference schedule that can be filled out with guarantee games. It'd be different if we already had a killer schedule locked up, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Therefore, it seems as if it's less about the need to schedule a larger number of easy games, and more about installing Pat's system and/or not getting embarrassed in these specific PK80 games. Installing the system is important, but avoiding a big loss or two seems silly to me. The other tiny thing in the back of my mind? First game is against MSU and Izzo is one of the few coaches I'd trust to not run up the score. If you look at past years we've lost a fare share of "guarantee games" in the OCC that wrecked our RPI. So there really aren't gimme wins. You tack on 2-3 loses in PK-90 and Cuse and a couple guarantee games then you are in the same hole you were in last year where you have to be almost perfect in the Big East play. "In a hole" sounds like you're talking about the postseason, which hinges on winning our share of Big East games and we haven't been close the past two years. I'm not expecting much in 2018 so maybe that's why I'm ok taking our lumps in Portland. NIT and underclassmen development feels like a success. I don't think substituting losses against Wisc/OKState/UMD with wins against Grambling/Navy/Team New Zealand would help postseason odds though. I know there's obviously a middle ground, but I also don't think you need to be "almost perfect in Big East play" if you challenge yourself OOC. OOC ended up being moot the past few years but 4 years ago we paired a Northeastern loss with losses to Oregon & Kansas, went 8-10 in conference, and just needed a win against freakin' DePaul in the BET. Even the past two years, we were still mentioned as a potential bubble team...right up to the point where we lost 10 out of 12. Good teams can absolutely have "gimme" games but that doesn't mean they can't lose. If you string together enough L's against weaker teams AND you're a mediocre Big East team though...well at some point you're just bad. What argument are we supposed to make to the committee then? On the other hand, I've seen Esh/Greenberg/Wojo schedule to the point where a even a winning season in conference can't save them from terrible non-conference SOS.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2017 8:01:21 GMT -5
Thank you for your service. We hope you enjoy lousy basketball! In all seriousness, good promotion and good idea.
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SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
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Post by SSHoya on Aug 17, 2017 8:21:00 GMT -5
Thank you for your service. We hope you enjoy lousy basketball! In all seriousness, good promotion and good idea. I signed up even though I am a season ticket holder. I figure I can pass them on to the USO for local military families to use. For others who may not be able use all their season tickets, here's a link to donate tickets: metro.uso.org/support/donate-tickets
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calhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by calhoya on Aug 17, 2017 9:33:32 GMT -5
How have renewals and ticket sales gone without a complete schedule? Seriously, are the pre-conference games and dates of that little consequence to ticket-holders and those renewing? I am baffled that the Athletic Department cannot release at least some dates before mid-September.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Aug 17, 2017 10:06:47 GMT -5
How have renewals and ticket sales gone without a complete schedule? Seriously, are the pre-conference games and dates of that little consequence to ticket-holders and those renewing? I am baffled that the Athletic Department cannot release at least some dates before mid-September. I am not a season ticket holder and don't live in the DC area, but it seems to me that every year you'd have to decide to renew before the schedule came out? As far back as I can remember, I never remember the schedule coming out before September. I am not optimistic we will have decent games, but we will see.
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lucky
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by lucky on Aug 17, 2017 10:11:15 GMT -5
LSU just released their non-conference schedule this morning. We are not the only ones delivering a schedule at this "late" date.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,554
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 17, 2017 10:24:14 GMT -5
If it is any indication, there are quite a few season ticket upgrades available in the corner sections and the top rows of the end sideline sections.
This would be a prime year to upgrade to lower bowl seats at reasonable Hoop Club donations as a result.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2017 10:40:45 GMT -5
Alabama A&M in DC on December 23rd. (on AAM site here) Dead last in KenPom ranking (351st) last season. Ouch.
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GUJook97
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,445
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Post by GUJook97 on Aug 17, 2017 10:44:27 GMT -5
LSU just released their non-conference schedule this morning. We are not the only ones delivering a schedule at this "late" date. I think people are misconstruing the complaints about the schedule. It's not about the lateness of the release, it's about the fact that we gave up guaranteed games against decent teams in a tournament and by not releasing the schedule or announcing any OOC games by this point, it is almost certainly guaranteed we will be scraping the bottom of the barrel for opponents. This is evidenced by the fact that it just came out we are playing Alabama A&M on Dec. 23. Al A&M literally had the worst RPI in CBB last year. All this being said, I still have no problem playing a weaker schedule. I just think we should at least play SOME decent OOC teams. Cant people just admit this? No saying you, personally, but why do so many people have to coddle Ewing about every single choice. Would our whole program have deteriorated if we lost to Michigan St?
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GUJook97
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,445
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Post by GUJook97 on Aug 17, 2017 10:52:04 GMT -5
How have renewals and ticket sales gone without a complete schedule? Seriously, are the pre-conference games and dates of that little consequence to ticket-holders and those renewing? I am baffled that the Athletic Department cannot release at least some dates before mid-September. I am not a season ticket holder and don't live in the DC area, but it seems to me that every year you'd have to decide to renew before the schedule came out? As far back as I can remember, I never remember the schedule coming out before September. I am not optimistic we will have decent games, but we will see. Yep. It's not really about renewals. At least, its not particular to this year. And, while Id love better home OOC games, I can admit that is not very likely for us or most teams. It's pretty tough to do home and homes with high caliber opponents. If Kansas comes here, plays a horrible game and loses, it hurts them. But, if they go to NYC and lose to Oregon, maybe that aint so bad.
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Post by HometownHoya on Aug 17, 2017 10:58:51 GMT -5
LSU just released their non-conference schedule this morning. We are not the only ones delivering a schedule at this "late" date. I think people are misconstruing the complaints about the schedule. It's not about the lateness of the release, it's about the fact that we gave up guaranteed games against decent teams in a tournament and by not releasing the schedule or announcing any OOC games by this point, it is almost certainly guaranteed we will be scraping the bottom of the barrel for opponents. This is evidenced by the fact that it just came out we are playing Alabama A&M on Dec. 23. Al A&M literally had the worst RPI in CBB last year. All this being said, I still have no problem playing a weaker schedule. I just think we should at least play SOME decent OOC teams. Cant people just admit this? No saying you, personally, but why do so many people have to coddle Ewing about every single choice. Would our whole program have deteriorated if we lost to Michigan St? We have an opportunity to beat Syracuse. A win there alone would make the OOC a success even if we do face teams 341-351 for our other matc-ups. For me at least. I do wish we had more competition but it's too little too late. I also think pulling out of PK80 was the right choice based on the time of year. If it was closer to December and not likely the 2nd game of the season, then I assume we would stay.
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