Texas Southern Scheduling Model: A Powerful Anti-Jank Weapon

[bird]

The only thing that matters is the ncaa tourney. Texas Southern is like 10x more relevant than us with their recent bids. Who cares if they lose 13 games to start the season. So what if they dont have home games when footballs still being played and most students are on winter break. They will be playing in March when most teams have hung up their sneakers. Might as well play the best comp they can...and get paid.
Its genius really.

 

[Redbird222]

The only thing that matters is the ncaa tourney. Texas Southern is like 10x more relevant than us with their recent bids. Who cares if they lose 13 games to start the season. So what if they dont have home games when footballs still being played and most students are on winter break. They will be playing in March when most teams have hung up their sneakers. Might as well play the best comp they can...and get paid.
Its genius really.

Winning the SWAC does not make you relevant. It may earn you a trip to Dayton for a play in game and early exit. Big deal. Beating a MEAC or another #16 in Dayton doesnt meet my standards.

 

[Bird Friend]

Ok. So they've made The Dance 3 of last 4. Haven't advanced. But they've made it. Hmmm.

Better than our 20 yr track record.

Question. Would our fan base accept such a non-conference fate?? Apples to oranges, though, because Texas Southern play in such a weak conference. Maybe it's the only hand that Davis can play...

I've asked this before: Would we consider the season a success if we had a mediocre-poor regular season, but won at the Arch for a trip to the dance? The closest comp I can come up with in our history, Bender's first year. We were 16-12 (9-5 in MVC) in the regular season. Won 3 at Redbird and then lost to Michigan in the dance.

If we went 15-15 (9-9) for this year, then won 3 at the Arch, would we consider this a successful season?

 

[redbirdron1]

Yes! Getting hot when it counts......counts.
Let's just get there. All too often we've have had the wonderful
regular season, like last year and come up short. That is a scenario
we understand all too well.

You want to play well enough to get in, then get yourself a nice 12 seed and play
the Fat Cat from the Big 5 and chances are decent to advance. Decent, meaning a shot at
least.

 

[MadBird]

I think that's one of the problems, at least on this board if not in college hoops in general - "the only thing that matters is the NCAA tourney". I don't want to single out just the one person who posted that line, there are many others who share that view.

People are way too hung up on making the NCAA, IMHO. You might be able to define "success" that way - ie. a season goal is making the dance - but that doesn't make it a "good team" or "good season". Personally, I'd rather have a season like last year, even with the disappointment of not getting an at-large bid, because all year, game in and game out, we had a solid team that gave a solid effort (most nights!!). I could see that, I could "measure" that. Win the automatic bid with a sub-par team, on a fluke game or two, and then try to say you had a great season because you made the dance?? It would not be true.

All the games matter to me, the conference games and championship matter to me. I want to see our team perform well all year and if we make the dance, great. If not, that's the breaks. I know this is not what most folks think.

 

[Phantom]

Ok. So they've made The Dance 3 of last 4. Haven't advanced. But they've made it. Hmmm.

Better than our 20 yr track record.

Question. Would our fan base accept such a non-conference fate?? Apples to oranges, though, because Texas Southern play in such a weak conference. Maybe it's the only hand that Davis can play...

I've asked this before: Would we consider the season a success if we had a mediocre-poor regular season, but won at the Arch for a trip to the dance? The closest comp I can come up with in our history, Bender's first year. We were 16-12 (9-5 in MVC) in the regular season. Won 3 at Redbird and then lost to Michigan in the dance.

If we went 15-15 (9-9) for this year, then won 3 at the Arch, would we consider this a successful season?

Yes. Mainly because the 20 year drought would finally be over. And with the way this season has started finishing .500 overall probably wouldn't surprise anyone, despite knowing we could/should be much better.

The 1990 season is a good comp. A pretty up & down year but they turned on the jets when they needed to, capped off by the 3 most rowdy consecutive crowds ever at RA. That title game vs. SIU man...I can still feel the upper bowl literally shaking.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

if I remember correctly, we gave Michigan a scare.

IMO, getting to the NCAA gets you on the radar, so if we get there at 18-13, I’m OK with that (only because we haven’t been there in forever). However, my longer term goals are 20 wins (minimum) with regular sweet 16 potential.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

if I remember correctly, we gave Michigan a scare.

IMO, getting to the NCAA gets you on the radar, so if we get there at 18-13, I’m OK with that (only because we haven’t been there in forever). However, my longer term goals are 20 wins (minimum) with regular sweet 16 potential.

My old brain doesn’t remember stuff real good anymore, but I think a Ricky Jackson steal and dunk tied the game with about a minute to go. But Michigan went in to win by 6 I think.

 

[Metamoron]

I don’t remember the details just that my thought at the end was “man, we played our ass off and in the end their undiscipled, highly talented team playing to about half of their potential beat us...”

 

[Redbird222]

I think that's one of the problems, at least on this board if not in college hoops in general - "the only thing that matters is the NCAA tourney". I don't want to single out just the one person who posted that line, there are many others who share that view.

People are way too hung up on making the NCAA, IMHO. You might be able to define "success" that way - ie. a season goal is making the dance - but that doesn't make it a "good team" or "good season". Personally, I'd rather have a season like last year, even with the disappointment of not getting an at-large bid, because all year, game in and game out, we had a solid team that gave a solid effort (most nights!!). I could see that, I could "measure" that. Win the automatic bid with a sub-par team, on a fluke game or two, and then try to say you had a great season because you made the dance?? It would not be true.

All the games matter to me, the conference games and championship matter to me. I want to see our team perform well all year and if we make the dance, great. If not, that's the breaks. I know this is not what most folks think.

Well said. Getting to the dance would be a nice surprise/gift if we were 15 & 15 and .500 in valley play. We might even look at it as good season deoending if we are playing better at the end and folks have come back from injury. However, I would rather be a perennial contender each year and eventually you will win a tournament or get an at-large. I will yake seasons like last year anytime. You string enough of thoae together and you will not be omitted from dance but instead will find yourself on the rightside of the fence.

 

[Chi-bird]

I don't like this scheduling philosphy for ISU.

I do like this scheduling philosophy for Texas Southern.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

I think that's one of the problems, at least on this board if not in college hoops in general - "the only thing that matters is the NCAA tourney". I don't want to single out just the one person who posted that line, there are many others who share that view.

People are way too hung up on making the NCAA, IMHO. You might be able to define "success" that way - ie. a season goal is making the dance - but that doesn't make it a "good team" or "good season". Personally, I'd rather have a season like last year, even with the disappointment of not getting an at-large bid, because all year, game in and game out, we had a solid team that gave a solid effort (most nights!!). I could see that, I could "measure" that. Win the automatic bid with a sub-par team, on a fluke game or two, and then try to say you had a great season because you made the dance?? It would not be true.

All the games matter to me, the conference games and championship matter to me. I want to see our team perform well all year and if we make the dance, great. If not, that's the breaks. I know this is not what most folks think.

With going to the dance is a lot of money. Your name is out there for a solid week. Two in our case.

 

[DannyCooksey]

if I remember correctly, we gave Michigan a scare.

IMO, getting to the NCAA gets you on the radar, so if we get there at 18-13, I’m OK with that (only because we haven’t been there in forever). However, my longer term goals are 20 wins (minimum) with regular sweet 16 potential.

My old brain doesn’t remember stuff real good anymore, but I think a Ricky Jackson steal and dunk tied the game with about a minute to go. But Michigan went in to win by 6 I think.

Pretty much exactly. I believe the final was 76-70.

 

[Chicagobirdfan]

Yes! Getting hot when it counts......counts.
Let's just get there. All too often we've have had the wonderful
regular season, like last year and come up short. That is a scenario
we understand all too well.

You want to play well enough to get in, then get yourself a nice 12 seed and play
the Fat Cat from the Big 5 and chances are decent to advance. Decent, meaning a shot at
least.

However, if it just takes “getting hot when it counts “ and winning arch madness as a .500 ish team, we will not be in the tournament as a 12 seed. You’re looking at more of a 15 seed which makes it very difficult to do damage in the tournament..

 

[bombay]

Former top 25/5* player Carlton Bragg is leaving Arizona St after previously leaving Kansas. He had issues at both places, and I'm not certain if he left or was dismissed by ASU. Would Dan be interested in a more talented, 6'9" version of Lofton?

I would guess no.

 

[Bird Friend]

Former top 25/5* player Carlton Bragg is leaving Arizona St after previously leaving Kansas. He had issues at both places, and I'm not certain if he left or was dismissed by ASU. Would Dan be interested in a more talented, 6'9" version of Lofton?

I would guess no.

Some P5 school will take a chance on him . . . or he goes pro somewhere.

 

[bombay]

A guy who is generally pretty accurate is saying probably Akron or Cleveland St.