The Worst Part of All This...

[Breems]

Is that we have to wait until January 6th to see if tonight was hangover from ISU or signs of season-long plagues.

I hate these long stretches of home games against Northern Southeast Westward University of San Diego North Southern. Since Mike came to town and made these home games exciting again, he's ruined the excitement for me. I'm only concerned with big home games and all road games now.

[TexArkHogFan]

I think playing Dayton Saturday will tell us a lot.  If we blow that one, it's gonna be another long year. 

[Breems]

I think playing Dayton Saturday will tell us a lot.  If we blow that one, it's gonna be another long year. 

I don't think we'll learn anything from that game. 10-15 point win.

[Danny J]

Well....I figured it would be towards the end of January before I thought we would really gel as a team. I still think that. However that doesn't excuse the way we lost to Clemson with upperclassmen making so many key mistakes at the end of the game. I figured to see those mistakes with our bench players and newcomers. I am disappointed in the outcome but still think come end of January we will be head and shoulders better than we were at the same time last year. If we can see these issues then the staff and players can as well. I think they will make the changes necessary going forward or at least I hope they do.

[TexArkHogFan]

I don't think we'll learn anything from that game. 10-15 point win.

lol.  If we lose it, we'll learn a lot.  I'm still a Hog fan, win or lose, but they sure can frustrate the hell out of you sometimes.

[Pork Twain]

Worst part of this is that we have seen this before.

[ICEman]

As in previous years, all home games are meaningless.  If we cannot beat a Clemson team who is the SEC equivalent of a Mistake then this season will be long indeed. Our SEC brethren will be lying in wait for us when we pay a visit to their over-built and cavernous basketball arenas less Kentucky of course.

[3kgthog]

We'll still be able to tell something from the cupcake games. I suspect we'll continue to struggle with some of the same things and see some close first halves. The only difference is the opposition won't have quite enough talent to knock us off at home.

[TexArkHogFan]

After giving it some thought, I think there just may be something to that Portis tweet.  I guess we'll never know for sure but something strange there.   

[hog golf]

Its early in the season. We will have our guts ripped out several more times. Usually during a road game against a 1-6 opponent when we make 2 of their guys look all-conference

[Biggus Piggus]

Dayton is 6-1. Specializes in slow tempo, working the ball inside for easy baskets, playing great field goal % defense and rebounding the misses. Dayton beat Texas A&M early, lost to UConn.

No matter what happens in the Dayton game, we won't have any reasons to believe MA can solve his own problems in time to win some SEC road games.

I'd put good money on Arkansas losing at Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Kentucky and South Carolina.

SEC's bad enough that Arkansas could win some games and still be a sack of crap on the road. Don't know yet whether Tennessee and Mississippi State will put up much of a fight on the road. Missouri looks pretty bad. Arkansas lucks out and doesn't have to go to Alabama, TAM or LSU this season.

[Wild Bill Hog]

I figure we will win a close game against Dayton because it's at BWA.  We'll beat the remaining ooc stooges and go to GA not much better than we are now.  We'll come home from GA with an ugly loss and play Vandy in front of a couple thousand mostly apathetic fans.

[jry04]

Dayton is 6-1. Specializes in slow tempo, working the ball inside for easy baskets, playing great field goal % defense and rebounding the misses. Dayton beat Texas A&M early, lost to UConn.

No matter what happens in the Dayton game, we won't have any reasons to believe MA can solve his own problems in time to win some SEC road games.

I'd put good money on Arkansas losing at Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Kentucky and South Carolina.

SEC's bad enough that Arkansas could win some games and still be a sack of crap on the road. Don't know yet whether Tennessee and Mississippi State will put up much of a fight on the road. Missouri looks pretty bad. Arkansas lucks out and doesn't have to go to Alabama, TAM or LSU this season.

Even if you are correct and we lose those 5 games, just winning @ tenn, @miz, and @ aub would be enough to get us in. I think you are right about those games, although SC and OM are up and down each week. I think we lose those 5, plus maybe even another. However, that would be 23-8 overall, 12-6 in the conference, and 4-8 on the road with a top 40 rpi. We would be in the NCAAT for sure. Aub, Miz, Tenn, and MSU will all be worse than Clemson this season.


This is assuming we win our home games.

[Biggus Piggus]

Even if you are correct and we lose those 5 games, just winning @ tenn, @miz, and @ aub would be enough to get us in. I think you are right about those games, although SC and OM are up and down each week. I think we lose those 5, plus maybe even another. However, that would be 23-8 overall, 12-6 in the conference, and 4-8 on the road with a top 40 rpi. We would be in the NCAAT for sure. Aub, Miz, Tenn, and MSU will all be worse than Clemson this season.

Sadly, that is not enough to excite me.

[jry04]

Sadly, that is not enough to excite me.

When we have not made the NCAAT in 6 or 7 years, any seed excites me. 23-8, while somewhat underachieving, is still better than last year, and would be enough to reach one of our goals which was make the NCAAT. 23-8 secures us in the field regardless of what happens in the SECT.

[The_Iceman]

I'm afraid that Archie Miller is going to come to Bud Walton on Saturday and put on a coaching clinic.

Some may even leave that game hoping Jeff Long hires him after the season.

[Smithian]

I'm afraid that Archie Miller is going to come to Bud Walton on Saturday and put on a coaching clinic.

Some may even leave that game hoping Jeff Long hires him after the season.

You need to cheer up. You're depressing me. I need you or Breems to be optimistic.

[jry04]

I'm afraid that Archie Miller is going to come to Bud Walton on Saturday and put on a coaching clinic.

Some may even leave that game hoping Jeff Long hires him after the season.

We will win the game. Sorry to disappoint you.


Regardless, Mike is here next year no matter what. You can bank on that. We do not have the money to fire him, anyways.

[lefty08]

The object is to be playing your best ball at the end of the year, but to be good enough to still win when not playing your best. Clemson caught lightening in a bottle last night in the last minute. We played bad and still should have won. Even Clemson would admit they should never have won that game

[The_Iceman]

We will win the game. Sorry to disappoint you.


Regardless, Mike is here next year no matter what. You can bank on that. We do not have the money to fire him, anyways.

I won't be disappointed if we win. Hell, unlike a lot of people on here, I've actually been going to games this season and will be there at 1pm on Saturday.

I saw a lot of problems last night that are making me question Mikes ability to manage this roster. He was able to get this team motivated the 2nd half to come back and take a big lead with 1 minute to go, but that last minute may have been the worst display of coaching I have seen in a long time.

[Smithian]

Was doing my Dayton research and now it looks like Tom Ostrom is a respected assistant: http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2014/03/27/tommy-ostrom-dayton-south-regional

Did not expect that. That's on the "worst" list.

[Biggus Piggus]

The object is to be playing your best ball at the end of the year, but to be good enough to still win when not playing your best. Clemson caught lightening in a bottle last night in the last minute. We played bad and still should have won. Even Clemson would admit they should never have won that game

Clemson played competent halfcourt defense and allowed our veteran guards to drive into no man's land and give them the basketball. Then Clemson worked patiently for extremely easy shots against our miserable halfcourt defense. We didn't force Clemson to foul us when we were ahead by two scores. Or one score. Then we put the same lame lineup on the court for overtime and instantly fell behind, never to catch up again. We showed no capability of making stops and converting them into points down the stretch. Suddenly Clemson was a titan? No. DEFCON yellow went to brown.

[Breems]

Was doing my Dayton research and now it looks like Tom Ostrom is a respected assistant: http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2014/03/27/tommy-ostrom-dayton-south-regional

Did not expect that. That's on the "worst" list.

I thought he left to become a backup drummer for Blink 182.

[Southern Hogspitality]

Even if you are correct and we lose those 5 games, just winning @ tenn, @miz, and @ aub would be enough to get us in. I think you are right about those games, although SC and OM are up and down each week. I think we lose those 5, plus maybe even another. However, that would be 23-8 overall, 12-6 in the conference, and 4-8 on the road with a top 40 rpi. We would be in the NCAAT for sure. Aub, Miz, Tenn, and MSU will all be worse than Clemson this season.


This is assuming we win our home games.

I don't think 23 wins with a bad loss at Clemson is an automatic entry to the dance.  I think that makes us a bubble team with a bad loss.  I don't like our chances of going to the tournament now.

[jry04]

I don't think 23 wins with a bad loss at Clemson is an automatic entry to the dance.  I think that makes us a bubble team with a bad loss.  I don't like our chances of going to the tournament now.

RPI predictors, which are usually pretty accurate, say we will have an rpi in the mid 30s at 23-8. That would also mean we won 4 total road games. Most teams have a losing record on the road. 19-0 at home, 4-8 on the road with a top 40 rpi. A major conference team is not getting left out if they finish 12-6 in their conference and have a top 40 rpi.

Our resume will be similar to OU's a few years ago. No eye popping wins, but a decently high rpi. Top 50 rpi and you typically get in from a major conference. 22-9 and we are still top 50, but likely on the bubble sweating.

[lefty08]

RPI predictors, which are usually pretty accurate, say we will have an rpi in the mid 30s at 23-8. That would also mean we won 4 total road games. Most teams have a losing record on the road. 19-0 at home, 4-8 on the road with a top 40 rpi. A major conference team is not getting left out if they finish 12-6 in their conference and have a top 40 rpi.

Our resume will be similar to OU's a few years ago. No eye popping wins, but a decently high rpi. Top 50 rpi and you typically get in from a major conference. 22-9 and we are still top 50, but likely on the bubble sweating.

The sky is certainly falling, in fact, it's raining sky at the moment

[Biggus Piggus]

RPI predictors, which are usually pretty accurate, say we will have an rpi in the mid 30s at 23-8. That would also mean we won 4 total road games. Most teams have a losing record on the road. 19-0 at home, 4-8 on the road with a top 40 rpi. A major conference team is not getting left out if they finish 12-6 in their conference and have a top 40 rpi.

Our resume will be similar to OU's a few years ago. No eye popping wins, but a decently high rpi. Top 50 rpi and you typically get in from a major conference. 22-9 and we are still top 50, but likely on the bubble sweating.

I'd say Arkansas needs to win at least 24 in the regular season, THEN no go bust in the SECT, to be comfortable about the NCAAT. Looking so bad on the road in December could haunt this team, but I'm more concerned about how good it is going to be in January, February and March.

[Atlhogfan1]

It needs to have things figured out by that end of January Florida game in Gainesville.  Feb turns tough and Mike has won one conference tourney game since his E8 team. 

[Biggus Piggus]

It needs to have things figured out by that end of January Florida game in BWA.  Feb turns tough and Mike has won one conference tourney game since his E8 team. 

That's a road game.

[Atlhogfan1]

That's a road game.

Yep, just relooked at it. 

[Biggus Piggus]

At the moment, Pomeroy has the Hogs going 3-4 in their last seven SEC games. Two conference road wins, Tennessee and Auburn.

[Atlhogfan1]

At the moment, Pomeroy has the Hogs going 3-4 in their last seven SEC games. Two conference road wins, Tennessee and Auburn.

So if we need to get to 24 wins, that would mean the Hogs need to win 15 of their next 16 heading into that stretch. 

6-2 now.
3-4 to end season.
15-1 over next 16. 

[jry04]

I'd say Arkansas needs to win at least 24 in the regular season, THEN no go bust in the SECT, to be comfortable about the NCAAT. Looking so bad on the road in December could haunt this team, but I'm more concerned about how good it is going to be in January, February and March.

We can agree to disagree. We are not getting let out with a top 50 rpi, and 23 before sec tourney locks us at top 50

RPI forecast uses sagarin, and it says our best chance is for 23-8.

[bigdaddyhawg]

I'd put good money on Arkansas losing at Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Kentucky and South Carolina.

I'd definitely add Tenner to that list of road losses.

[hogsanity]

I'd say Arkansas needs to win at least 24 in the regular season, THEN no go bust in the SECT, to be comfortable about the NCAAT. Looking so bad on the road in December could haunt this team, but I'm more concerned about how good it is going to be in January, February and March.

So, if they win out in the non conf, that would be 11-2, so they would have to go 13-5 in the SEC.  That is hold serve at home for 9, and win 4 SEC road games.  That is a tall order, even in a "down" sec.

[Kevin]

any road game is a crap shoot

[Atlhogfan1]

If 23-24 regular season wins is necessary, then the team may need to go 15-1 or 14-2 vs:

vs Dayton

vs SE Missouri St

vs Milwaukee

vs Northwestern St

vs Utah Valley

@Georgia

vs Vanderbilt

@Tennessee

vs Ole Miss

vs Alabama

@Missouri

vs Tennessee

@Florida

vs South Carolina

vs Mississippi St

@Auburn

4 road games in this stretch. 

[hogsanity]

If 23-24 regular season wins is necessary, then the team may need to go 15-1 or 14-2 vs:

They ave 5 non conf games and 18 sec games left. to get to 23 wins they have to 17-6 the rest of the way.

[Atlhogfan1]

They ave 5 non conf games and 18 sec games left. to get to 23 wins they have to 17-6 the rest of the way.

It looks like we really need to get to 20 before:

@OM
Mizzou
@Ms St
A&M
@UK
@SC
LSU

Anything less may require 5-2 in this stretch.  But we'll also have the conference tourney.  At some point, Mike has to at least win an SECT game you would think. 

[The_Iceman]

They ave 5 non conf games and 18 sec games left. to get to 23 wins they have to 17-6 the rest of the way.

Holy cow, that seems tough now doesn't it.

[jry04]

I'd definitely add Tenner to that list of road losses.

UT is bottom 5 in the SEC, so we are really in trouble if we are a lock to lose them today.

[jry04]

Holy cow, that seems tough now doesn't it.

Not when you look at who we play. We will lose @ uf, @uk, and @uga. Then we just have to go 3-3 against @ sc, @mizzou, @ tenn, @ aub, @ msu, @ ole miss, and then win all our home games. We should not lose a home game this year. We play the 5 worse teams in the SEC on the road. We will win 3 of them. If last year's team won 3 on the road, then so will this year's team.

[DoubleReedHawgCaller]

If you didn't see this coming after the Iona game. I don't know what to tell ya...

[Razor1997]

Before Iowa State I thought we looked like a potential NCAAT 5 seed that could break into the Sweet Sixteen.

I still think we make the tournament, but probably more as a 9 or 10 seed now, which likely means no more than one NCAAT win at most.  Still better than the last several years I guess.

[hogsanity]

UT is bottom 5 in the SEC, so we are really in trouble if we are a lock to lose them today.

Clemson was 4-3 with loses to Winthrop and Gardner Webb, and Clemson is projected to be lucky to get to .500 for the season. Their coach is on when will  he get fired watch, and the hogs puked one up to them, so..........

[bigdaddyhawg]

UT is bottom 5 in the SEC, so we are really in trouble if we are a lock to lose them today.

I've watched them play their last couple of games, and I think they'll be competitive in the SEC.  I think we'll be hard pressed to beat them in Knoxville.

They are not a bad team.

[jry04]

Clemson was 4-3 with loses to Winthrop and Gardner Webb, and Clemson is projected to be lucky to get to .500 for the season. Their coach is on when will  he get fired watch, and the hogs puked one up to them, so..........

I get that, but we also play UT later in the season, and i would still say Clemson is better than UT. Also, my point was not that we will not lose, but that if we are the point where we are considered a lock to lose against UT than we are in trouble.

[bigdaddyhawg]

I get that, but we also play UT later in the season, and i would still say Clemson is better than UT. Also, my point was not that we will not lose, but that if we are the point where we are considered a lock to lose against UT than we are in trouble.

We were only a 4 pt favorite @ Clemson.

The reason we were only a 4 pt favorite @ Clemson was not about Clemson, it was about us.

Because of our road woes over, well, forever, any road line is going to be mostly influenced by bettors doubts re: US.

[hogsanity]

I get that, but we also play UT later in the season, and i would still say Clemson is better than UT. Also, my point was not that we will not lose, but that if we are the point where we are considered a lock to lose against UT than we are in trouble.

In today's college basketball, I don't think anyone is a lock to lose in conference. The point is, assuming they go 5-0 in the rest of their non conf games, they have to win 12 sec games.  That's win em all at home and win 3 road games.

[jry04]

I've watched them play their last couple of games, and I think they'll be competitive in the SEC.  I think we'll be hard pressed to beat them in Knoxville.

They are not a bad team.

They are a bad team. Watch and see. They will have double digit SEC losses. One of the worst offensive teams in the country currently.