I find our position fascinating wrt the analytics. I can see how some might think the metrics overrate us. We have basically padded the data by blowing out mostly average to poor teams. Our rebounding on both ends, effective fg D, and pace/shot volume almost assures a high analytic return. Yet we have struggled in close games and don’t have an obviously high talent level (as measured by prep recruiting rankings or NBA draft projections). That said, we are 17-2, our only losses by a total of 7 points, and we have absolutely throttled several likely tournament teams. Veteran guards, length and depth in the post, able to win with offense or defense, from the perimeter or in the paint. And anyone who watches us can see how much competitiveness and energy our guys bring.
It is unfair. Hopefully we get all of them at home next year to offset. SEC did have home and aways until Texas and Okla joined the conference, now there’s too many teams. We should have home games next year against UK, Auburn, Ark and Alabama - and play NONE of them on their home courts.
And they were a hair from beating Auburn at Auburn. We’re going to have a battle on our hands at Tenn. Glad we have a week to prepare
I don’t love the time off. Well rested teams have a tendency to come out flat, still sleepy. I think three or four days and back at it gets you needed rest but keeps the blood flowing. It’s gonna be tough either way. They’re going to want to embarrass our team the same way we embarrassed theirs, no doubt.
Yes, it was an unbelievable win against a very solid team and obviously not an example of padding data against such a team. Solid read of my post.
I saw this today and was pleasantly surprised at whose "similar season" Walter is currently having. Could bode well for us:
That home game vs Vandy is a brutal trap game. I think all 4 of them will be tough. 2-2 would be an achievement...
it is a trap game; hopefully we'll be so on edge during this span that we come out on fire at home. Can't take a night off in the SEC.
I hear you, but I wouldn't say a week is a long time. Otherwise every football game would be after a "long break". We got 1-2 days off, now from today until Fri we prepare for Sat. We will not be sleepy for this game. We also have a brutal run after that, so will be good to have an extra day to work on any deficiencies, things we need to correct before the next run of tough games.
We moved up to #4 last night after Iowa lost. What an amazing halfcourt heave to tie the game at the buzzer and force OT, where they dismanted them, won by 11
Kenpom has Auburn, Houston, and Duke all bunched together at 35x, then there's a grouping of Florida, Tennessee, Iowa St at the 30-31 range. It will be interesting to see if the UTk / UF winner gets lifted into that top group or not. I know none of it really matters at this point - but it's interesting to look at.
It is totally interesting. I would think KenPom would favor UT over UF by a couple points by virtue of home court. Therefore if the Vols beat the Gators by 2, I’d expect very little movement in the rating of either. If another 30 pt blowout happens, in either direction, the winner could jump into that upper echelon. Any smaller deviation from Tenn by 2 would result in smaller adjustments to the two ratings.
If we win at UT my guess is we jump to about 33, unless of course we blow them out. But that place will be rocking on Saturday, those hillbillies out for revenge
I won't be able to watch the game on Saturday. My youngest (29 years old) is a Panthers fan and I saw countless Blackhawk games in my youth so we had to travel down south for the game. The Panthers are WAY better than the Blackhawks but Bedard is a real talent for the Blackhawks. Back to the point. I don't want to jinx the Gators but UT does not match up well with us. Zeigler is amazing but his game doesn't work well against the Gators. We can take away his driving and that is his strength. We cut the head off of the snake in Gainesville and maybe we can do that again. Like I said, I hope I didn't jinx them.
yes Bedard is a real talent, he grew up about 3 miles north of me. Enjoy the game. Also hope you didn't jinx us, but do hope we at least bring the same intensity we did at home.
