Rest of Season
- Thread starter zebnatto
- Start date
I mean I'd have to say it works for us. The only shot we have - however remote - is because we have a ton of q1 opps left. If we had an "easy" schedule we'd have no chance to improve the resume enough.
Against, despite the numerous opportunities to gain Quad 1 wins.
Why? because it is a tough schedule: 13 games left, just 5 true home games (plus in MSG vs MSU - by NCAA and Big Ten rules will count as if it is a true home game), and 7 road games. PLUS ... several home games are against some of the best teams in the Big 10 - making them tougher to win, even at home: Michigan and Illinois, in particular (and they are each not only outstanding teams, but probably bad match ups for RU - Michigan in particular). Some of the easier teams RU play in the last 13 games are on the road - tougher to win, therefore: Penn St., Northwestern, Maryland and even Washington. PLUS ... RU has to play Purdue, Michigan and Oregon on the road - 3 of the Big 10's 4-5 best teams ... so ... likely losses. The only game RU should expect to win, and likely the only game RU may be favored in, is its finale versus Minnesota - which just beat Michigan (albeit at home).
Which is why the Kennesaw St and Princeton losses hurt so much ... and why the timing of Harper's illness was so hurtful, costing RU better chances to win @Indiana (a winnable game), and importantly HOME games against Wisconsin and even Purdue. I believe a 100% healthy Harper being present and RU beats Wisconsin, at least.
Why? because it is a tough schedule: 13 games left, just 5 true home games (plus in MSG vs MSU - by NCAA and Big Ten rules will count as if it is a true home game), and 7 road games. PLUS ... several home games are against some of the best teams in the Big 10 - making them tougher to win, even at home: Michigan and Illinois, in particular (and they are each not only outstanding teams, but probably bad match ups for RU - Michigan in particular). Some of the easier teams RU play in the last 13 games are on the road - tougher to win, therefore: Penn St., Northwestern, Maryland and even Washington. PLUS ... RU has to play Purdue, Michigan and Oregon on the road - 3 of the Big 10's 4-5 best teams ... so ... likely losses. The only game RU should expect to win, and likely the only game RU may be favored in, is its finale versus Minnesota - which just beat Michigan (albeit at home).
Which is why the Kennesaw St and Princeton losses hurt so much ... and why the timing of Harper's illness was so hurtful, costing RU better chances to win @Indiana (a winnable game), and importantly HOME games against Wisconsin and even Purdue. I believe a 100% healthy Harper being present and RU beats Wisconsin, at least.
Well depends on how you look at it.
Schedule helps us IF we can win games.
It hurts us bc it’s a really tough oath to do so
Fair, but you can just as easily point out we DON'T have to go to 3 (MSU, Illinois, Wisconsin) of the top 5 teams including the #1 team. We've got one trip out west. I get the MSG agita but I saw us take over that building and win against MSU not long ago. Better than trying to win at MSU.
Yes it's a tough schedule but what arrangement of BIG games with 13 games to go wouldn't be tough? At least in this league we'll get plenty of opportunities for big wins. Whether we can win enough of them is another question.
Not sure of that, not with zero quality OOC wins, and 2 bad losses. I think if RU is 18-13 in regulation, RU would have to win 3 in the Big 10 tourney - like Penn St did a couple of years ago. I do not think 20-14 does it ... 21-14 may not even do it.
I am not even sure 19-12 regular season does it even with 1 win in the Big 10 tourney (20-13, with 2 bad losses) ... I think RU would be sweating it in that case. 19-12 with 2 Big 10 tourney wins ought to do it, I would think - though RU would still be sweating a little ... 21-13 with probably a .500 or winning Quad 1/2/3 record.
Maybe ... more likely RU would have beaten Wisconsin at home with a 100% Harper. Bailey, did after all, score 39 points in a ridiculously good showing @ Indiana ... he got no help, though. Who knows how it would have played out with a 100% healthy Harper ... certainly Bailey is not getting 29 shots - or trying to.
For. If we are good enough we will win enough. If we win enough we go. Simple and in our hands.
