B12/SEC Challenge...

[VeloClone]

Their #3, #8, #9 and #11 teams are not playing. Out of 14 teams. That seems pretty 'fair' and not skewed.

I'm simply making point Big12 has struggled in these matchups. Hell we've gone 5-5 against the Big East the last 2 years.

They can only go off of historical results when they schedule these. Last year the teams that were excluded from this year's challenge went 9-9, 9-9, 7-11, and 1-17 so yes, they didn't exclude a single upper division team or a team with an over .500 conference record. It is pure chance that one of those teams managed to turn it around and be a top team in their league this year but the point remains that it is scheduled with mostly bottom half teams from the previous year being excluded - advantage SEC. Even with A&M turning it around the other three teams are all in the bottom half thus far this year - advantage SEC.

Is it an accident that teams like Kentucky and Florida have been scheduled to play in this every year while some teams have been excluded 5 out of 9 times like Georgia, Mississippi State, and South Carolina? It will be 6 exclusions out of 10 for Georgia after this year.

Conference records during run of challenge:

Most excluded teams [exclusions]:
Georgia [5] 64-98 (.395)
Miss St [5] 68-94 (.420)
South Carolina [5] 75-85 (.469)
Missouri [4] 52-109 (.325)

Least excluded teams [exclusions]:
Kentucky [0] 121-40 (.752)
Florida [0] 98-62 (.613)
Arkansas [1] 95-66 (.590)
Tennessee [1] 93-68 (.578)

 

[ISUTex]

I love how ESPN is pumping up this weekend and not one mention of the ISU/Mizzou game on their in game promos. Not even during the ISU/KSU game. $%^& off ESPN.

 

[cycophagus]

SEC/Big 12 Challenge preview: Which conference will reign supreme?

The mid-January series affects NCAA tournament résumés, provides a break from hectic conference play and showcases some of the best talent in men's college basketball.

www.espn.com

 

[cycophagus]

WVU is off to a big start. They lead #15 Auburn 41-27 with 1:01 remaining in the 1H.

West Virginia 80-77 Auburn (Jan 28, 2023) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Auburn Tigers NCAAM game, final score 80-77, from January 28, 2023 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[FerShizzle]

WV just needs to find a little momentum again and they can turn this into a blowout.

 

[Marcelason78]

Huggy’s going to have to pull out a one point game with 2 minutes to play.

 

[AlaCyclone]

When you can pick (mostly) the best 10 of 14, you will avoid some of your laggards being forced to compete. Please note that Vanderbilt is NOT on the docket, for example. Wonder how many times (if any?) they have been in this thing?? Conversely, the Big12 plays everybody, even our doormat(s), EVERY YEAR.

Based on matchups and locations, I wouldn't be shocked if SEC won 6 games. Then ESPN can start a storyline on how the Big12 is overrated, which is what they want anyway.

I went to the Iowa State @ Vanderbilt game in the Challenge six years ago. Unfortunately, the Cyclones lost, but I had a nice dinner in the West End after the game.

 

[stateofmind]

Is there a coach that whines more than Calipari? Maybe Tang?

 

[BigJCy]

I hope I'm wrong and not that it really matters that much but I will take the SEC to win this.

Welp, glad to be wrong. Wish ISU had performed better but the Big 12 wins 7-3.

 

[cyclones500]

Most unexpected: Oklahoma over Alabama (a win at home not entirely shocking, but I didn't expect a 24-point thrashing)
Second-most unexpected: Tech winning at LSU
Most disappointing: Take a guess
Least surprising: K-State over Florida

--> for the record, I thought WVU was about 50-50 to beat Auburn.

 

[twincyties]

SEC. It just means more.

 

[cycophagus]

SEC. It just means more.

Yes, it adds some punctuation to another strong year for the Big 12. The SEC teams have surprised me each year with their level of enthusiasm in these matchups. But its in the history books now. If they add a challenge series in the future, I'd rather see it earlier in the season before there are players banged up. It is fun for the fans, and TV, but it has to be a grind for the players. We've had 18 games in the double round robin, and we'll see how it comes together next year. But I think the trend is toward 20 conference games.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

7-3 Big 12 Stinks to be one of the 3 losses but if taking a L (because we sat Grill) here means a conference title (because we will have Grill in those games) I'll take this L every time.

 

[surly]

Yes, it adds some punctuation to another strong year for the Big 12. The SEC teams have surprised me each year with their level of enthusiasm in these matchups. But its in the history books now. If they add a challenge series in the future, I'd rather see it earlier in the season before there are players banged up. It is fun for the fans, and TV, but it has to be a grind for the players. We've had 18 games in the double round robin, and we'll see how it comes together next year. But I think the trend is toward 20 conference games.

Mike Miles going down for TCU was the bummer of the day. Hopefully, it's just a sprain.

 

[AlaCyclone]

7-3 Big 12 Stinks to be one of the 3 losses but if taking a L here means a conference title I'll take this L every time.

Edit: I understand what you meant now based on your Edit about Grill sitting. That makes sense that sitting him today can help ISU down the Big Xii stretch.

Let's Go State!

 

[CyCrazy]

Mike Miles going down for TCU was the bummer of the day. Hopefully, it's just a sprain.

I am betting thats a very optimistic take.

 

[CyCrazy]

Why would an L here help lead to a conference title more than a W here?

Will K-State beating Florida, KU winning @ UK and Baylor beating Arkansas mean they are less likely to win the Big Xii now?

Personally, I think ISU just laid an egg today.

Wut?

 

[AlaCyclone]

Wut?

Edit: I understand what he meant now based on his Edit about Grill sitting. That makes sense that sitting him today can help ISU down the Big Xii stretch.

Let's Go State!

 

[keepngoal]

What is the record of home teams in this challenge?

Specifically those that are ranked under their visitors.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

I was referring to one of the reasons we lost was because we sat Grill. If sitting him helps him be available for conference play where we need him more I'll take it.