NU with the 4th-Toughest Schedule in the Nation So Far

[Hooper]

...according to Kenpom.com. I've been tracking this for over a month now, and our SoS just keeps going up. The B1G dominates the list, as you'd expect.

 

 

Toughest schedules in the nation through March 4

 

1. Michigan State

2. Minnesota

3. Penn State

4. Nebraska

5. Duke

6. Fresno State

7. Illinois

8 Villanova

9 Southern Calif.

10. Miami

 

 

http://kenpom.com/

[Silverbacked1]

Just a thought, could this help us get into the NIT if we win a game or 2 here at the end of the year?

[Silverbacked1]

Just found this.  It was kind of interesting:

 

Big 10

Likely NIT Bound Right Now: Iowa Hawkeyes

NIT Bubble: None

One of the things that is really helping out the cause for the little
guys is that the big boys just don’t have that many teams that are going
to finish around 17-14 or so that are going to be sure fires into the
dance. Iowa is going to be in the NIT for sure if it doesn’t get into
the NCAA Tournament, though the Hawkeyes took a massive step in the
right direction by beating the snot out of Minnesota this week.
Northwestern, Nebraska, and Purdue all have to be on the NIT Selection
Committee watch list, but none are eligible right now, and it’s going to
take a run for any of them to finish above .500.

 

Guess this answers my question.

[uneblinstu]

Just a thought, could this help us get into the NIT if we win a game or 2 here at the end of the year?

But we'd need to win four just to get to .500...

[Huskerpapa]

I always worry when I hear we have a tough schedule...could it be because we are not an opponent?  Just kidding of course.

[AuroranHusker]

NU could likely play in the lower level tourney (if they wish to do so). A few years ago, I recall that Oregon State played in one of 'em w/ a 13-18 record. The Beavers won the whole enchilada and finished up 18-18. So, stranger things have occurred...

 

.

[49r]

That Kent State game was an absolute killer.  Just winning THAT game would have us just one game under .500 right now!  Pull off the upset against Purdue or Illinois or Wisconsin the first time we played them...

 

To consider just how close we got this year, with this team, with this schedule is almost mind-boggling.

[Silverbacked1]

Didn't say we would get to .500 just IF we won 2 or more games here at the end of the year.

 

Think it has already been hashed out if you need to be .500 to get in the NIT.

 

Thought if we were close and had the 4th toughest schedule that they might ask us in.

[AuroranHusker]

That Kent State game was an absolute killer.  Just winning THAT game would have us just one game under .500 right now!  Pull off the upset against Purdue or Illinois or Wisconsin the first time we played them...

 

To consider just how close we got this year, with this team, with this schedule is almost mind-boggling.

 

No doubt. Phenomenal Tim Miles has coaxed 13 wins (so far) out of this team.

[uneblinstu]

I'll be curious to see how Miles sets up his schedule next year.  We don't know a ton about it yet.  Trip to Creighton, holiday tourney (can't remember which one...) ACC team in conf. challenge, likely at home and a yet to be determined home opener vs. a team we've probably heard of.  Beyond that there seems to be a lot of ways he could go with that.

[Silverbacked1]

Isn't Miles like the guru of how to schedule to get the max out of your RPI?

[hhcmatt]

Add "rooting for all conference champions in lesser conferences" to your todo list next to winning their next three games in the todo list for making the NIT.

[Jurgey]

NU could likely play in the lower level tourney (if they wish to do so). A few years ago, I recall that Oregon State played in one of 'em w/ a 13-18 record. The Beavers won the whole enchilada and finished up 18-18. So, stranger things have occurred...

 

.

Last year Washington State was 1 game below .500 and lost in the finals of the CBI to Pitt.  I think we still need to win a couple to even be considered for that tourney.

[kldm64]

The odds of us making any post season (CBI included) are slim and none.  It would take a miracle finish to the season for us to make the NIT and from the ways it sounds, MIles would turn down a CBI offer is one would happen to come (which I don't expect).  The season is winding down with potentially only 3 games left assuming we go one and done at Conference tournament (which I strongly hope doesn't happen)

[Norm Peterson]

This may sound stupid, but I'd honestly rather see us get that miracle run NEXT year.  I so badly want to see an improvement next year over our record this year that I almost don't want to see us have that miracle run that gets us in the post season.  I think people (feel they) need to see improvement from year to year.  Both fans and recruits.  I think we've done enough this year to not turn anyone off.  Everyone should be impressed with how well this team has played under the circumstances, such that we haven't hurt ourselves yet, even if we lose out.  (So long as we don't get blown out in losing out.)

 

But, next year, people will want to see improvement.  And the tangible way of measuring improvement is by looking at the W/L record.  Is it better than the year before?  I don't want to see us backslide next year.  I think that could hurt fan interest and possibly even recruiting.  And if we somehow have that miracle run that gets us into the post-season this year, it sets the bar very high for next year's team.  Almost impossibly high.

[Hooper]

We're now up to the 3rd-toughest schedule in the nation. 

[49r]

That Kent State game was an absolute killer.  Just winning THAT game would have us just one game under .500 right now!  Pull off the upset against Purdue or Illinois or Wisconsin the first time we played them...

 

To consider just how close we got this year, with this team, with this schedule is almost mind-boggling.

 

With tonight's win, the Kent State lost looms even larger...get that one, and we'd be 15-15 right now, playing for an NIT bid at Iowa.