Great non-conference schedule for this particular Tigers team.

They need some winnable games to build chemistry and confidence, before conference play.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sp...017/05/16/

That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

(05-16-2017 05:52 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

His thesis is that since we are rebuilding Smith has decided to water down the schedule. [1]

It's not true.

[1] Can be easily disproved by simply looking at RPI or KenPom between the opponents during the 2016, and 2017 years.

2016

UT Rio Grande Valley - 300
Milwaukee - 259
Savannah State - 317
McNeese - 316
Providence - 60
Iowa - 71
Jackson State - 329
Ole Miss - 74
UAB - 196
Monmouth - 81
Oklahoma - 65
Incarnate Word - 304
South Carolina - 24

2017
Alabama - 56
Arkansas-Little Rock - 245
New Orleans - 178
Northern Kentucky - 138
UAB - 196
Mercer- 145
Louisville - 9
LSU - 172
Albany - 129
Bryant - 281
Siena - 170
Loyola (Md.) - 227
Samford - 166

We went from 6 games that were against 250+ KenPom teams to 1.

(05-16-2017 06:41 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 05:52 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

His thesis is that since we are rebuilding Smith has decided to water down the schedule. [1]

It's not true.

[1] Can be easily disproved by simply looking at RPI or KenPom between the opponents during the 2016, and 2017 years.

2016

UT Rio Grande Valley - 300
Milwaukee - 259
Savannah State - 317
McNeese - 316
Providence - 60
Iowa - 71
Jackson State - 329
Ole Miss - 74
UAB - 196
Monmouth - 81
Oklahoma - 65
Incarnate Word - 304
South Carolina - 24

2017
Alabama - 56
Arkansas-Little Rock - 245
New Orleans - 178
Northern Kentucky - 138
UAB - 196
Mercer- 145
Louisville - 9
LSU - 172
Albany - 129
Bryant - 281
Siena - 170
Loyola (Md.) - 227
Samford - 166

We went from 6 games that were against 250+ KenPom teams to 1.

All things being equal, it's a great job of scheduling. It's a shame that there aren't any interesting home games though.

I can't remember the exact numbers, but at one point last year we had the 180th toughest schedule and with our record at the time we would have been literally 50 points higher if our SOS was in the 140's.

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

The article was so bad, the link is dead now ...

I am not sure how much input Tubby really had on the schedule. I am pretty sure a large portion of our OOC was already in place. Tubby only added in a few. This has been a trend over the past few seasons when Pastner was dumbing down the schedule as much as possible to try and maintain a high win #.

(05-16-2017 07:10 PM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 06:41 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 05:52 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

His thesis is that since we are rebuilding Smith has decided to water down the schedule. [1]

It's not true.

[1] Can be easily disproved by simply looking at RPI or KenPom between the opponents during the 2016, and 2017 years.

2016

UT Rio Grande Valley - 300
Milwaukee - 259
Savannah State - 317
McNeese - 316
Providence - 60
Iowa - 71
Jackson State - 329
Ole Miss - 74
UAB - 196
Monmouth - 81
Oklahoma - 65
Incarnate Word - 304
South Carolina - 24

2017
Alabama - 56
Arkansas-Little Rock - 245
New Orleans - 178
Northern Kentucky - 138
UAB - 196
Mercer- 145
Louisville - 9
LSU - 172
Albany - 129
Bryant - 281
Siena - 170
Loyola (Md.) - 227
Samford - 166

We went from 6 games that were against 250+ KenPom teams to 1.

All things being equal, it's a great job of scheduling. It's a shame that there aren't any interesting home games though.

I can't remember the exact numbers, but at one point last year we had the 180th toughest schedule and with our record at the time we would have been literally 50 points higher if our SOS was in the 140's.

Last season our schedule was so bad it would have taken a serious effort to make it worse. This one is better - still not even average, especially the home schedule. IMO of course -

1) we won't know what the final rpi/kenpom ratings are til the end of 2017, this may be as bad

2) we went from 6 top 100 games to 2.

I think the difference between 190 and 250 is not nearly as great as between 120 and 80.

It's a weak schedule however you slice it

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

Nobody with a clue ever has. He is a fraud like fut's man-crush parrish.

(05-16-2017 06:41 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 05:52 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

His thesis is that since we are rebuilding Smith has decided to water down the schedule. [1]

It's not true.

[1] Can be easily disproved by simply looking at RPI or KenPom between the opponents during the 2016, and 2017 years.

2016

UT Rio Grande Valley - 300
Milwaukee - 259
Savannah State - 317
McNeese - 316
Providence - 60
Iowa - 71
Jackson State - 329
Ole Miss - 74
UAB - 196
Monmouth - 81
Oklahoma - 65
Incarnate Word - 304
South Carolina - 24

2017
Alabama - 56
Arkansas-Little Rock - 245
New Orleans - 178
Northern Kentucky - 138
UAB - 196
Mercer- 145
Louisville - 9
LSU - 172
Albany - 129
Bryant - 281
Siena - 170
Loyola (Md.) - 227
Samford - 166

We went from 6 games that were against 250+ KenPom teams to 1.

You are not even factoring what these teams are returning. Just like we can't base what we will be this year on what happened last year because the team is entirely different.

(05-16-2017 05:52 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

I do not care for the takes Calkins has on Tubby. I can't stand his politics, which he regularly spews on his radio show. That's why I don't listen anymore. But, having said all that, he's a very skilled writer. Very, very good, no question. Hell, if you don't believe me, just ask him. He'll certainly tell you.
But in all seriousness, he a quality writer.

With all the question marks surrounding on the on court performance next season as there is no way to know, this is probably the right schedule. Not a good schedule, but the right schedule. It is not a schedule that will excite the fans. It would have been nice if maybe there was one additional home marquee game.

I will take GP's opinion out of it as I know how many on this board feel about GP. However, his colleague Jon Rothstein, who has no stake in the game, was asked by GP to rank the AAC for next season - Rothstein came back with 8th knowing what we know today. Last year's AAC 8th place team finished 7-11, and that was with no Wichita State in the league. For the record, GP went through the exercise before hand and did not advise Rothstein of his results. They came out the same: 8th and both has the same 7 in front of Mempis (Wichita State, UConn, Cincinnati, SMU, Houston, Temple, Central Florida).

If Memphis can go 9-4 against this schedule and then finishes in the league around the 8 spot, you can realistically see a 16-15season. Honestly, this is about what I expect. Overachieve and maybe we can eek our way to 18 or 19 regular season wins.

(05-17-2017 08:55 AM)airric2255 Wrote:  With all the question marks surrounding on the on court performance next season as there is no way to know, this is probably the right schedule. Not a good schedule, but the right schedule. It is not a schedule that will excite the fans. It would have been nice if maybe there was one additional home marquee game.

I will take GP's opinion out of it as I know how many on this board feel about GP. However, his colleague Jon Rothstein, who has no stake in the game, was asked by GP to rank the AAC for next season - Rothstein came back with 8th knowing what we know today. Last year's AAC 8th place team finished 7-11, and that was with no Wichita State in the league. For the record, GP went through the exercise before hand and did not advise Rothstein of his results. They came out the same: 8th and both has the same 7 in front of Mempis (Wichita State, UConn, Cincinnati, SMU, Houston, Temple, Central Florida).

If Memphis can go 9-4 against this schedule and then finishes in the league around the 8 spot, you can realistically see a 16-15season. Honestly, this is about what I expect. Overachieve and maybe we can eek our way to 18 or 19 regular season wins.

The obvious point is that fan interest will be dictated by performance. Cincinnati, UConn, Wichita State and SMU should be very good draws IF we are good, they are good, and the games are meaningful in any way.

(05-16-2017 08:15 PM)memtigbb Wrote:  I am not sure how much input Tubby really had on the schedule. I am pretty sure a large portion of our OOC was already in place. Tubby only added in a few. This has been a trend over the past few seasons when Pastner was dumbing down the schedule as much as possible to try and maintain a high win #.

I think that was true last year, but less so this year. Basketball is not like football. Most basketball is scheduled within a 2 year window. Based on media accounts, Tubby and the AD nailed a good bit of this down within the past year.

(05-16-2017 09:44 PM)Dylan Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 06:41 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 05:52 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 04:56 PM)FlyingTiger2016 Wrote:  That article is so bad.

It's like Calkins doesn't even read the board anymore. We eliminated most of the teams we shouldn't play, the 250+ RPI. This schedule is simply much better than last year, by all metrics.

RPI, Kenpom, etc.

Embarrassing really. I hope people don't take him seriously for awhile after this.

With all sincerity, I believe there are people on this board (not me) who could write - for free - more interesting and informative articles than Calkins. He is a poor writer and I seldom click to read his columns.

His thesis is that since we are rebuilding Smith has decided to water down the schedule. [1]

It's not true.

[1] Can be easily disproved by simply looking at RPI or KenPom between the opponents during the 2016, and 2017 years.

2016

UT Rio Grande Valley - 300
Milwaukee - 259
Savannah State - 317
McNeese - 316
Providence - 60
Iowa - 71
Jackson State - 329
Ole Miss - 74
UAB - 196
Monmouth - 81
Oklahoma - 65
Incarnate Word - 304
South Carolina - 24

2017
Alabama - 56
Arkansas-Little Rock - 245
New Orleans - 178
Northern Kentucky - 138
UAB - 196
Mercer- 145
Louisville - 9
LSU - 172
Albany - 129
Bryant - 281
Siena - 170
Loyola (Md.) - 227
Samford - 166

We went from 6 games that were against 250+ KenPom teams to 1.

You are not even factoring what these teams are returning. Just like we can't base what we will be this year on what happened last year because the team is entirely different.

I agree it's a projection. But I suspect the issues with schools in the 300s are structural. I assume the variance between seasons won't be that large.

(05-17-2017 08:55 AM)airric2255 Wrote:  With all the question marks surrounding on the on court performance next season as there is no way to know, this is probably the right schedule. Not a good schedule, but the right schedule. It is not a schedule that will excite the fans. It would have been nice if maybe there was one additional home marquee game.

I will take GP's opinion out of it as I know how many on this board feel about GP. However, his colleague Jon Rothstein, who has no stake in the game, was asked by GP to rank the AAC for next season - Rothstein came back with 8th knowing what we know today. Last year's AAC 8th place team finished 7-11, and that was with no Wichita State in the league. For the record, GP went through the exercise before hand and did not advise Rothstein of his results. They came out the same: 8th and both has the same 7 in front of Mempis (Wichita State, UConn, Cincinnati, SMU, Houston, Temple, Central Florida).

If Memphis can go 9-4 against this schedule and then finishes in the league around the 8 spot, you can realistically see a 16-15season. Honestly, this is about what I expect. Overachieve and maybe we can eek our way to 18 or 19 regular season wins.

Smart move.

Is that a smurf?

(06-19-2017 08:34 PM)TG4 Wrote:  

(05-17-2017 08:55 AM)airric2255 Wrote:  With all the question marks surrounding on the on court performance next season as there is no way to know, this is probably the right schedule. Not a good schedule, but the right schedule. It is not a schedule that will excite the fans. It would have been nice if maybe there was one additional home marquee game.

I will take GP's opinion out of it as I know how many on this board feel about GP. However, his colleague Jon Rothstein, who has no stake in the game, was asked by GP to rank the AAC for next season - Rothstein came back with 8th knowing what we know today. Last year's AAC 8th place team finished 7-11, and that was with no Wichita State in the league. For the record, GP went through the exercise before hand and did not advise Rothstein of his results. They came out the same: 8th and both has the same 7 in front of Mempis (Wichita State, UConn, Cincinnati, SMU, Houston, Temple, Central Florida).

If Memphis can go 9-4 against this schedule and then finishes in the league around the 8 spot, you can realistically see a 16-15season. Honestly, this is about what I expect. Overachieve and maybe we can eek our way to 18 or 19 regular season wins.

Smart move.

I have those same shoes.