Texas Tech's schedule

[pnkranger]

Hearing so much about Texas Tech being the #1 defense in the country, so I looked up their schedule.

#349 of 353 teams at ken pom
#314 of 353 at ESPN BPI
#349 of 353 at Jeff Sagarin

They've only played 2 games as the Away team, both of those to 5-5 teams (USC and Memphis).

They have beat Nebraska, a very good team, but Tech is getting too much attention right now. Playing 7 games at home against MS Valley, Incarnate Word, SE Louisiana, Northern Colorado, Arkansas Pine Bluff, Abilene Christian, and Northwestern State will make anyone look like world beaters.

I'm sure they're good team, but just getting too much credit right now.

 

[oudna]

Classic Tech.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

They've got Duke Thursday, I think.

 

[coolm]

They've got Duke Thursday, I think.

they're marching to Zion ...

 

[Max Power]

They've got Duke Thursday, I think.

If that's the case we will find out if they really are that good or not.

 

[WichitaSooner]

If that's the case we will find out if they really are that good or not.

To be fair, they could lose by 20+ at Cameron Indoor and still be good. I don't see them as a top 10 team over the course of the season, but they play such good defense that they will win plenty of games.

 

[152219]

Hearing so much about Texas Tech being the #1 defense in the country, so I looked up their schedule.

#349 of 353 teams at ken pom
#314 of 353 at ESPN BPI
#349 of 353 at Jeff Sagarin

They've only played 2 games as the Away team, both of those to 5-5 teams (USC and Memphis).

They have beat Nebraska, a very good team, but Tech is getting too much attention right now. Playing 7 games at home against MS Valley, Incarnate Word, SE Louisiana, Northern Colorado, Arkansas Pine Bluff, Abilene Christian, and Northwestern State will make anyone look like world beaters.

I'm sure they're good team, but just getting too much credit right now.

Kenpom efficiency ratings take opponent's offenses into account, so facing weak offenses is part of the algorithm.

Now, their 10-0 record is likely inflated because of their opponents.

 

[cvangild]

And their coaches are negative recruiters to boot!

I hope Duke kicks their a$$ personally.

I think Beard is a DB. Good coach, but he's bush league in how he recruits imo.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

And their coaches are negative recruiters to boot!

I hope Duke kicks their a$$ personally.

I think Beard is a DB. Good coach, but he's bush league in how he recruits imo.

I'd be interested in hearing why you say that. I don't doubt it, but haven't heard that so I'm curious.

 

[CoachTalk]

I'd be interested in hearing why you say that. I don't doubt it, but haven't heard that so I'm curious.

Things he tells recruits.

Hartman/crutch subtweeted him awhile back. Most assumed it was directed to him.

 

[Hollisp]

Things he tells recruits.

Hartman/crutch subtweeted him awhile back. Most assumed it was directed to him.

Keep going ...

 

[scrybe]

To be fair, they could lose by 20+ at Cameron Indoor and still be good. I don't see them as a top 10 team over the course of the season, but they play such good defense that they will win plenty of games.

I believe the game's at Madison Square Garden. Could be wrong, though.

 

[skyvue]

I believe the game's at Madison Square Garden. Could be wrong, though.

That's correct.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

On a related subject ...

Going into the season, I remember some folks that voiced strong opinions that OU had "over-scheduled" this season ... that the non-conference opposition was much too strong for this Sooner team.

Not so fast, my friends.

 

[skyvue]

I was one of them, I'll admit it. I never rule out the Sooners exceeding expectations, but I wasn't counting on it.

But then I expressed the same reservations the year before, too, so perhaps there's a lesson in this for me.

 

[coolm]

oh yeah I was really worried about this being too much .

 

[hoopsaustin]

On a related subject ...

Going into the season, I remember some folks that voiced strong opinions that OU had "over-scheduled" this season ... that the non-conference opposition was much too strong for this Sooner team.

Not so fast, my friends.

I think that was a very rational reaction. We're all pleasantly surprised

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I think that was a very rational reaction. We're all pleasantly surprised

Yes. In all candor, I thought going 7-4 in the first 11 games would be a stretch. My expectations have been greatly exceeded.

But even so, I like the tougher schedule. The risk is obvious, but the reward is obvious right now also. I'm not sure that you gain much with easy wins over Coppin State and the like. Win or lose, there is more opportunity to learn and improve by playing a challenging non-conference schedule.

Of course, it is so much better to win.

 

[coolm]

... I like the tougher schedule. The risk is obvious, but the reward is obvious right now also.

If LNC isn't really offering that much in terms of a homecourt advantage then I believe it is an excellent idea. The absolute less we rely on shooting percentages the better.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I think the rewards of a tough schedule almost always outweigh the risks. If we ever have a season where we only have one or two returning rotation players, maybe you make it a bit easier, but otherwise, I'm all for schedules like the one we are playing this season.