I can't imagine, even in a rebuilding year, UConn isn't right up there.
Yeah probably true. They havent been a great conference play team though lately, even in the Championship years. I dont think theyd be any worse than 3-4 but Boatright doesnt scare me at all.
Tulsa and Houston will be very interesting to watch. Tulsa returns a lot of talent, but I don't know what Haith will do with it. Houston lost their best player to a transfer, but will have some talent and a very good coach in Kelvin Sampson. Personally I would put those two teams ahead of Temple. Right now I'm thinking:
1. SMU
2. UConn
3. Cincy
4. Tulsa
5. Memphis
6. Houston
7. Temple
8. Tulane
9. East Carolina
10. South Florida
11. UCF
Connecticut will be a top 25 team next year returning Brimah, Boatwright and adding former burger boy Rodney Purvis and 5-star top 20 wing Hamilton.
That sucks. Two of the bigger OOC home games against San Diego State and VCU will be while students are on break. I know they put them that week for ESPN but still kind of kills the environment...Rothstein reports San Diego State will be at 5/3 on 12/17.
That sucks. Two of the bigger OOC home games against San Diego State and VCU will be while students are on break. I know they put them that week for ESPN but still kind of kills the environment...
Hopefully they do something to entice local students to come to the games. Maybe being good opponents will help, but you are right the atmosphere in those games when students are on break is downright pitiful.
I think they had like 8500 for the Nebraska game last year that was just a few days after Christmas, and also hours within the Belk Bowl. I think 9-10k is feasible.
Does anyone know if we are going to announce more non-conference games? We played 13 last year and so far we know of 11 for this year. For the hell of it, here is an RPI breakdown for this year vs. last year going off NCAA.com's RPI rankings for 2013-14:
2013-14:
18. New Mexico
39. Pittsburgh
53. Nebraska
55. NC State
56. Xavier
64. Middle Tennessee State
99. NC Central
176. USC Upstate
260. Chicago State
284. UMass Lowell
316. Campbell
325. Kennessaw State
335. Appalachian State
Top 25: 1
Top 50: 2
Top 100: 7
Top 150: 7
Sub 150: 6
2014-15:
13. San Diego State
17. Creighton / 88. Mississippi
19. VCU
53. Nebraska
55. NC State
56. Xavier
64. Middle Tennessee State
99. NC Central
144. Morehead State
169. Stony Brook
286. Eastern Illinois
Top 25: 2/3
Top 50: 2/3
Top 100: 8
Top 150: 9
Sub 150: 2
As you can see, already a HUGE improvement over last year's schedule. Even if we play 2 dogs to round out the schedule, our SOS should be vastly improved.
I loved the comments on social media of people saying "Another cupcake schedule. Typical." Those must be the same people that think San Diego St. is an awful team because they don't have a big name like Duke.
I loved the comments on social media of people saying "Another cupcake schedule. Typical." Those must be the same people that think San Diego St. is an awful team because they don't have a big name like Duke.
The city of Cincinnati has been a sports fan base full of negativity and pessimism as long as I can remember.