BobInHouston

Looking at Lunardi, just as an example, Texas is one of the last byes, and Arkansas is last four in. If the Hogs win tomorrow, they'll probably swap spots. Having a n-c schedule that weak means you can't blow good opportunities for n-c wins. Turns out now that they're competing with Ohio State and UConn, and they lost decisively to both. Not that winning all those buy games is terrible, but those two losses really hurt.

Supposedly this was done in the summer and for some reason is only being announced now. I am pretty sure the base will be unhappy. The thing is, fans at every high D-I school clamor for a tournament appearance and then a path to a championship. It can't happen for everyone. And there aren't enough good coaches to go around, which is why they are paid so much. Not sure who would have been after HD, except having the contract to rely on in recruiting... "I'll be there, no problem," etc.

Latest update of the Matrix has Texas hanging on as the first No. 11. Seems like they need four more wins before SS unless everyone else keeps losing, which also is happening.

Yes, two guys were out.

Yes, they'd be going red in revenue sport, and for what? What outcome makes that worth it? There is no guaranteed championship at the end.

Just because of this, he's probably not a fit for Texas, and I would definitely consider him.

Perhaps not for much longer, though.

He didn't quit Villanova because he wanted to move. He quit because he didn't want to do the new college game.

It seems as though it's up to the school to make the financial commitment that the AD says will bring the success he expects. Edit: FWIW, Cronin's buyout is $16 mil. It drops to $10 mil at some point in April.

ACC basketball may be the canary in the coal mine on the effect of money flowing out of the ACC and maybe B12 and into the SEC and Big Ten.

Under the radar guy who is going as well as he ever has -- Brad Brownell at Clemson. Making 3.5 this year, goes up 250K each year through 2029.

"agreed" And then Michigan lays a big egg in the second half against MSU. NBD.

Of course, my last bad feeling was at LSU, and they crushed them. If they play quality defense, that'll help.

I got a bad feeling about Texas at SC-East.

See what I mean about appearances? Miller's assistants take the fall and he walks away. And yet, he was alleged to have handled the Ayton recruitment himself. IIRC, it wasn't part of the NCAA case because the feds didn't use that information in court. If it had been a hit, he would have been charged, right?

I mean, Bill Self isn't coming here. If he did, he'd bust the salary structure and the player budget, but he would win. Texas most likely will try to finesse this, because keeping up appearances is what they do best.

Would they have signed off on Lute Olson? There are plenty of guys we can go through. But times have changed. Miller and Wade were both in the federal case, and the things they did (that we know of) are now permitted. In fact, it has to be done.

After one season?

When people became disappointed with who Texas brought in in the portal, perhaps they should look at it as having maxed out their budget. They took Kent and Larry because they best represented the kind of player who might be able to make the jump, because they didn't have to money that some of these other schools did. They couldn't get Toppin, and a couple of other guys with high price tags. They tried... just couldn't make a deal.

That's shortsighted. But people who know me know I would say that.

Kenpom's expected wins for Texas currently adds to 2.62, so it seems like you are right. Torvik is at 2.75.

Noticed that. Without dragging RT into this thread, that's a factor in what the other teams in the SEC have to deal with.

Seems like ISU has been in a funk for a while, mid-season slump maybe.

I noticed there are only a handful teams on the Other at large list. I think that's due to the P5 playing extra conference games, keeping non-P5 teams from getting a resume-polishing win. I believe Lunardi still has 14 SEC teams in -- for that to happen, 12/13/14 would need to win multiple games in the SECT, knocking out higher seeds that are already in.

The schedule lightens up after tonight. All the games can be won, but also lost.