Toughest non-conference basketball schedules
This is a pretty interesting chart and analytical formula for gauging schedule impact upon tournament appearance probability:
Seton Hall has the best/toughest slate; Virginia Tech has the worst. Sparty comes in at #9, and Michigan is top-20 at least.
Not sure whether this ultimately helps or hurts Howard, but we'll bat least start to find out on Tuesday. Go Blue!
November 1st, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Death, taxes, and Virginia Tech lining up a total joke of a non-conference schedule.
Non-conference SOS (from KenPom):
- 2019: 325th (out of 353)
- 2018: 344th (351)
- 2017: 342nd (351)
- 2016: 339th (351)
- 2015: 348th (351)
- 2014: 329th (351)
- 2013: 275th (347)
November 1st, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^
They are playing in Maui though. They're actually playing MSU in the first game. However, if they lose, they'll be on the loser side of the bracket along with teams like Georgia, Chaminade, and BYU.
November 1st, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^
I don't like measurements that punish teams for scheduling cupcakes. Reward teams for scheduling good teams, but a team that is 175th isn't going to be that much more of a test than a team that is 220th. JMO.
Also, with tournaments at neutral courts, your SOS could shift quite a bit depending on who you play in those tournaments. In Battle 4 Atlantis, we could play Iowa St, Alabama and Southern Miss. Or we could play Iowa St, North Carolina and Gonzaga. Just depends on who wins what games.
I look at our nonconference and I see Creighton, Iowa St, @Louisville and Oregon. Regardless of what we do in B4A, I think it'll be a schedule that won't hurt us as long as we don't lose a majority of these matchups.
November 1st, 2019 at 2:37 PM ^
Thanks for the info Vlad! I enjoy your contributions.
Win the games!!!!
November 1st, 2019 at 3:32 PM ^
You're always welcome, Mick! And ditto!
November 2nd, 2019 at 6:30 AM ^