Schedule Strength???

[WingoCatFan]

Is anyone else concerned with the shortage of quality teams that we have on the schedule?:confused:

In the 1st 16 games, there seem to be only 4 quality opponents...College Hoops Classic at NYC, and UNC and Indiana.
I hope the guys don't overconfident and then suprised by the increased talent level truely talented programs.

What keeps coming to mind is how funny it was when the media refered to UL's schedule as "Bird Feed" due to the lack of quality opponents...Just prior to Wildcats handing them a loss.

[cumberlandredskin]

Your leaving off UL. They might be our little brother but they will be very good this season. Going to Houston will not be an easy task either.

[reggis]

Yes i am, i hope this isn't the trend we hang on to. I believe i remember reading that Coach Billy would like to weaken the schedule even more.

[WingoCatFan]

Yes i am, i hope this isn't the trend we hang on to. I believe i remember reading that Coach Billy would like to weaken the schedule even more.

I hadn't thought it much until I read something where BCG said he wished every game could be tough one, and he didn't have a lot control over making the schedule. Can't remember where I read it though.

[Cat Country]

At this pont it doesn't concern me, for a couple of reasons.

1. Having a new head coach takes some adjusting to, even if they have been around him for a few months now. I don't know what the difference between him and Tubby will be as far as coaching styles yet, but I know it will be different and the players need some weaker teams to adjust.

2. We need to develop our young players a little more due to their unexperience on the college level. I think all the Freshman and Sophmores excluding Meeks will benefit from this schedule. They will get plenty of good competition in the SEC before March roles around. CBC will have them very competitive by then.

[Josh]

I think you base the schedule around the type of players that you have. If we have a group full of juniors and seniors, then I would expect the schedule to be one of the toughest in the nation. But with the lack of depth that we have right now in the frontcourt, coupled with our youth in most areas, I think it's okay to soften the schedule up a little bit. I remember Tom Izzo a few years ago essentially throwing his young guys to the wolves with a crazy schedule and it hurt them mentally. I don't want to see that happen to any UK team.

This doesn't mean I don't want them to have challenges a long the way, because I do, but not for the sake of just doing it.

[RCS]

I think you base the schedule around the type of players that you have. If we have a group full of juniors and seniors, then I would expect the schedule to be one of the toughest in the nation. But with the lack of depth that we have right now in the frontcourt, coupled with our youth in most areas, I think it's okay to soften the schedule up a little bit. I remember Tom Izzo a few years ago essentially throwing his young guys to the wolves with a crazy schedule and it hurt them mentally. I don't want to see that happen to any UK team.

This doesn't mean I don't want them to have challenges a long the way, because I do, but not for the sake of just doing it.
Unfortunately that is almost impossible to do since you make the schedules out years in advance. The fans always want the schedule brutal, but if you look at that schedule I would bet it is in the top 10 hardest OOC schedules in the country.
We will play 3 probably preseason top 10 teams plus a preseason tourney. I seriously doubt anyone else plays a schedule remotely that tough. We have several patsies but we have our fair share of solid teams also.

[Wildcat Larry]

Basketball scheduling is vastly different than football scheduling. While some of your schedule if set up through long-term contracts (IU, UL, UNC, etc), the majority of the schedule is hammered out in the early summer just before the season starts. That allows teams to mold their schedules somewhat to the team the expect to have on the floor.

If you play in a major conference, your out of conference schedule doesn't enhance your NCAA selection chances as much a some people think. The schedule would have to be significantly weak to have much of a bearing on the team's NCAA seeding, too. Losing games to highly ranked teams, while may be a boost to your SOS, is worse than winning games. A great record against so-so teams will not make your NCAA seeding plummet, nor will a bad record against top ranked teams make your NCAA seeding skyrocket.

I'm satisfied with this season's schedule. Season ticket fans want all big games, but would quickly become disgruntled if those game weren't wins.

[BigblueDrew]

Weakest schedule we have played in a LONG time. Time will tell wether this is a good or a bad thing. I personally like a very tough early schedule and feel UK has always handled it pretty well, but since we really haven't been "UK" in a few years I will allow that a watered down "rebuilding" schedule might be desirable for a couple of years. I just hope it dosen't become a habit.

[Josh]

Unfortunately that is almost impossible to do since you make the schedules out years in advance.

I've always been under the impression that we only had long-term contracts with just a few teams like UL, IU, UNC, and Michigan State, but that the majority of our OOC was always done the season before.

:shrug1:

[Katfan74]

I'm not really worried about schedule strength. BCG was put in the position of Head Coach for a reason and we have to trust him to make the right decisions. I think we will have a couple stumbling blocks early in the season but by the time March rolls around I think we may be a favorite to win the SEC and a high seed in the NCAA.

[ukcatfan]

Remember this Grasshopper--

We have 2 seniors

No juniors if Carter applies for medical redshirt from 06-07.

This schedule will payoff come March---10 losses this season.

[weedhopper41]

Our schedule may be a little weaker than normal but still harder than alot I've seen. On another site a gayterd fan was saying they would be undefeated til they play OSU and beat them. So I looked at thier schedule. Oak Hill Academy should go undefeated with thier schedule up til OSU

[Joe Hardy]

Our schedule may be a little weaker than normal but still harder than alot I've seen. On another site a gayterd fan was saying they would be undefeated til they play OSU and beat them. So I looked at thier schedule. Oak Hill Academy should go undefeated with thier schedule up til OSU

exactly...softer than usual but still hard enough. seems to be perfect for this team and 5 tough non-conf games is plenty for me. if you remember the 05-06 gators they started 17-0 by playing girls JV teams but built alot of early confidence and chemistry. think of how much easier it is to build chemistry when you're winning as opposed to being constantly frustrated with losing.

[lribookend]

[quote=Wildcat Larry;342512]Basketball scheduling is vastly different than football scheduling....
If you play in a major conference, your out of conference schedule doesn't enhance your NCAA selection chances as much a some people think. The schedule would have to be significantly weak to have much of a bearing on the team's NCAA seeding, too. Losing games to highly ranked teams, while may be a boost to your SOS, is worse than winning games. A great record against so-so teams will not make your NCAA seeding plummet, nor will a bad record against top ranked teams make your NCAA seeding skyrocket.

I'm satisfied with this season's schedule.
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I am, also. I agree 100%, WildcatLarry. Too many early OOC losses, even to top-20 teams, can drop you so far in the polls it can be hard to climb back up very high by tournament time unless you go undefeated in your conference, which is nearly impossible to do. Consequently, you end up with a lower seed in the NCAA tournament, and a tough opponent in the second round and third rounds. Better to win some easy games early on, play a lot of players, build some depth (and some confidence), hopefully knock off a few top 15 teams here and there, and then survive your conference with as few injuries and as fresh a team as possible. Playing a killer schedule the entire season may be the choice of some fans, but few coaches would agree. They want to maximize their chances of success in the post season.