Looking at the first months (ish) schedule....

[SqueakyClean]

....and Holy Crap!!

In retrospect, this is one of the tougher schedules we've seen in a while, especially if things go well in the Atlantis tournament. Based off of the preseason AP poll (with others receiving votes figured...)

11/14 @ Marquette
11/22 (N) Tennessee
11/23 (N) #6 Villanova / NC St. / #3 Arizona
11/24 (N) #3 Arizona / #43 SMU / UNI / etc (anyone in the field really)
11/28 #16 Louisville
12/1 @ #37 Maryland
12/3 #19 Northwestern
12/16 (N) #34 Butler

There are a few cupcakes in there, but otherwise that is a pretty daunting first 5 weeks.

Couple of addition notable items:

Tennessee is ranked 43rd according to Pomeroy, so they are no slouch.
Marquette is ranked 48th according to Pomeroy, and that is our third game of the year....on the road.
All but two of these eight games above are either on the road or neutral sites.
Louisville plays four total cupcakes before playing us on 11/28, with only one game from 11/22 until our game. We play three games from 11/22 to 11/28, with two of the three potentially against top 10 teams.

I'm hoping for the best, but looking at this schedule, I think I'd be ecstatic with just getting to January 1 with only three losses.

 

[Do Dah Day]

....and Holy Crap!!

In retrospect, this is one of the tougher schedules we've seen in a while, especially if things go well in the Atlantis tournament. Based off of the preseason AP poll (with others receiving votes figured...)

11/14 @ Marquette
11/22 (N) Tennessee
11/23 (N) #6 Villanova / NC St. / #3 Arizona
11/24 (N) #3 Arizona / #43 SMU / UNI / etc (anyone in the field really)
11/28 #16 Louisville
12/1 @ #37 Maryland
12/3 #19 Northwestern
12/16 (N) #34 Butler

There are a few cupcakes in there, but otherwise that is a pretty daunting first 5 weeks.

Couple of addition notable items:

Tennessee is ranked 43rd according to Pomeroy, so they are no slouch.
Marquette is ranked 48th according to Pomeroy, and that is our third game of the year....on the road.
All but two of these eight games above are either on the road or neutral sites.
Louisville plays four total cupcakes before playing us on 11/28, with only one game from 11/22 until our game. We play three games from 11/22 to 11/28, with two of the three potentially against top 10 teams.

I'm hoping for the best, but looking at this schedule, I think I'd be ecstatic with just getting to January 1 with only three losses.

This is, what great teams do... and is different from our last few years.. I like it... A lot

I want to see how we play against 'nova and l'vile - we will know A LOT more on that tomorrow.

 

[Do Dah Day]

In studying that schedule more closely... I am glad we have the depth this year. We'll throw some newbies into the fire early.. They'll be honed by January

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

 

[SIBoiler2]

This is what Whizzo's teams have done for years and while they may take a few lumps early they are generally more prepared when it's time to dance.

 

[FirstDownB]

In studying that schedule more closely... I am glad we have the depth this year. We'll throw some newbies into the fire early.. They'll be honed by January

Honing by fire? That's a new one. Must be a proprietary process..

 

[jadeezra]

This team is going to be experienced as one can be, all these seniors. WUG and this wow

 

[tjreese]

....and Holy Crap!!

In retrospect, this is one of the tougher schedules we've seen in a while, especially if things go well in the Atlantis tournament. Based off of the preseason AP poll (with others receiving votes figured...)

11/14 @ Marquette
11/22 (N) Tennessee
11/23 (N) #6 Villanova / NC St. / #3 Arizona
11/24 (N) #3 Arizona / #43 SMU / UNI / etc (anyone in the field really)
11/28 #16 Louisville
12/1 @ #37 Maryland
12/3 #19 Northwestern
12/16 (N) #34 Butler

There are a few cupcakes in there, but otherwise that is a pretty daunting first 5 weeks.

Couple of addition notable items:

Tennessee is ranked 43rd according to Pomeroy, so they are no slouch.
Marquette is ranked 48th according to Pomeroy, and that is our third game of the year....on the road.
All but two of these eight games above are either on the road or neutral sites.
Louisville plays four total cupcakes before playing us on 11/28, with only one game from 11/22 until our game. We play three games from 11/22 to 11/28, with two of the three potentially against top 10 teams.

I'm hoping for the best, but looking at this schedule, I think I'd be ecstatic with just getting to January 1 with only three losses.

I'm thinking one loss...more optimistic I guess. Maybe after tonight I'll adjust. Purdue beats Louisville at home and only suffers one loss if any in the tourney..Villanova?or Arizona? Shoot, why lose any?

 

[gelesen]

This is what Whizzo's teams have done for years and while they may take a few lumps early they are generally more prepared when it's time to dance.

Except when MSU loses one of those games, or even gets blown out, it's ok because they play a tough schedule. If we lose one of those games we get labeled as "not being able to win the big one". Sure we didn't win the "big one" in the NCAA tourney the last 2 years but either did MSU!

 

[Do Dah Day]

Honing by fire? That's a new one. Must be a proprietary process..

it's called being concise. Fire makes you strong, then honing makes you sharp. It takes a quick mind to skip the steps in-between.

 

[FirstDownB]

it's called being concise. Fire makes you strong, then honing makes you sharp. It takes a quick mind to skip the steps in-between.

Lol sorry Do Dah. I just recently had to review every detail in a supplier's diamond honing process. Just couldn't help myself..

 

[SIBoiler2]

it's called being concise. Fire makes you strong, then honing makes you sharp. It takes a quick mind to skip the steps in-between.

Fire makes you stronger. The grindstone makes you sharper.

 

[SqueakyClean]

Wait a minute! All those homeless people I set on fire was making them stronger? Errrr......Nevermind.

And the grindstone only makes things sharper if you hold the blade at the correct angle. Pushing the edge of the blade perpendicular to the grindstone would actually make the blade duller.

Sorry, I'm just in a contrarian mood today.

 

[Boiler_HD]

Love it, if we lose a couple games we just pull an izzo and cry that we had a tough schedule,

 

[Do Dah Day]

Lol sorry Do Dah. I just recently had to review every detail in a supplier's diamond honing process. Just couldn't help myself..

Ah yess, Been there!!!! My kids hated it when I became a college insructor LOL

 

[Do Dah Day]

Wait a minute! All those homeless people I set on fire was making them stronger? Errrr......Nevermind.

And the grindstone only makes things sharper if you hold the blade at the correct angle. Pushing the edge of the blade perpendicular to the grindstone would actually make the blade duller.

Sorry, I'm just in a contrarian mood today.

sure as hell are .... you're fitting right in with the contrarians on here though!!!

 

[Do Dah Day]

Fire makes you stronger. The grindstone makes you sharper.

huh???

 

[BoilerAndy]

Fire makes you stronger. The grindstone makes you sharper.

I though spinach makes you stronger.

 

[chiboiler7]

I would rather lose early than lose late.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I though spinach makes you stronger.

strong to the finich.....argh, argh, argh....

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Lol sorry Do Dah. I just recently had to review every detail in a supplier's diamond honing process. Just couldn't help myself..

Is it safe?

 

[BoilerAndy]

Is it safe?