What are early thoughts on season nent year??

[williebat]

Re: What are early thoughts on season nent year??

We need a solid non conference record and wins against Iowa state and Iowa, (even if they both suck) are a must to get an at large and no bad losses. You guys are right the conference should be tough next year. I hope we win it but I say 2nd or third should with a solid non conference get us an at large.

A good first half of the season can take a lot of the pressure of the guys for the second and probably most difficult half. I hope we get to play Purdue again that would be awesome. We match up well should be another good game.

[06panther10]

Re: What are early thoughts on season nent year??

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but remember that we went 8-1 on the road in conference play this season. That's insane and will be difficult to replicate.

Jeg's correct in saying that they proved they can do it, so it's only their fault if expectations are placed rather high, but going 8-1 again on the road in conference play will be TOUGH.

Hopefully we could pick up a few earlier wins and some conference home wins that could offset any potential extra road losses though . . .

We did go 8-1 on the road, but we also didn't have the greatest home record this year either. If we just win our home games, we wont have to win all those road games next year.

[jman2004]

Re: What are early thoughts on season nent year??

We need a solid non conference record and wins against Iowa state and Iowa, (even if they both suck) are a must to get an at large and no bad losses. You guys are right the conference should be tough next year. I hope we win it but I say 2nd or third should with a solid non conference get us an at large.

I don't know if I'd be as confident . . . Creighton had a win against tourney team Dayton (who upset Big East's WVU in the first round) and finished tied for 1st in the conference and still didn't make an at-large bid. Not to mention an RPI under 40.

Their great season boiled down to one very bad loss at the end of the season, in a conference tournament.

I think it's getting harder and harder for mid-majors to grab at-large spots. Creighton and their great record this season is just an example.

[DWadle1983]

Re: What are early thoughts on season nent year??

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but remember that we went 8-1 on the road in conference play this season. That's insane and will be difficult to replicate.

Jeg's correct in saying that they proved they can do it, so it's only their fault if expectations are placed rather high, but going 8-1 again on the road in conference play will be TOUGH.

Hopefully we could pick up a few earlier wins and some conference home wins that could offset any potential extra road losses though . . .

I don't know if I'd be as confident . . . Creighton had a win against tourney team Dayton (who upset Big East's WVU in the first round) and finished tied for 1st in the conference and still didn't make an at-large bid. Not to mention an RPI under 40.

Their great season boiled down to one very bad loss at the end of the season, in a conference tournament.

I think it's getting harder and harder for mid-majors to grab at-large spots. Creighton and their great record this season is just an example.

If the MVC home and road records were flipped, that would be a realistic expectation, so 8-1 at home, 6-3 on the road when you think that two of the home losses were to Drake and Indiana State in losses that were head scratchers.

Getting blown out in the MVC Tournament didn't look very good, but they also had a couple bad losses like losing to Drake at home.

No question the margin of error for mid-majors and at-large bids is down to almost nothing. If you have a bad loss, you better have a good win to offset it.

[williebat]

Re: What are early thoughts on season nent year??

I don't know if I'd be as confident . . . Creighton had a win against tourney team Dayton (who upset Big East's WVU in the first round) and finished tied for 1st in the conference and still didn't make an at-large bid. Not to mention an RPI under 40.

Their great season boiled down to one very bad loss at the end of the season, in a conference tournament.

I think it's getting harder and harder for mid-majors to grab at-large spots. Creighton and their great record this season is just an example.

You are forgetting about their non conference losses to ARKansas Little Rock and Nebraska. That is what killed them as losing by such a large margin to ISU. Bad losses hurt at large buds.