Vols crack Katz's top-25

[zansdad]

Originally Posted by bleedingTNorange

I'm very satisfied.

I do worry we could face a lot of the same guard issues we suffered from last year. I just hope we learn to get the ball inside more often than we did this year.

In all honesty if I had to predict at this point, I'd say somewhere around 21-10 heading into the SEC T. Probably a 7 seed or so in the tournament, my very early prediction. Obviously could change depending on player progressions, and incoming guys.

Has UT's schedule even been released? Not sure a prediction can be made on UT's schedule without knowing how weighted the conference schedule is and who the OOC oponents are.

[Shaun1985]

Indiana will be Final Four good next year so I agree with that. I'd put UT in the 30-40 range right now but love the love from Katz ;)

[Shaun1985]

Originally Posted by zansdad

Has UT's schedule even been released? Not sure a prediction can be made on UT's schedule without knowing how weighted the conference schedule is and who the OOC oponents are.

I'm not sure how Martin is going to schedule but I'd guess our OOC is going to be watered down from what we've been used to the last six years.

[zansdad]

Originally Posted by Shaun1985

I'm not sure how Martin is going to schedule but I'd guess our OOC is going to be watered down from what we've been used to the last six years.

Be interesting to see. The conference will have to decided something soon about 16 or 18 game schedule and who plays whom twice. Until then, it will be hard for them to really lock down an OOC schedule.

[Shaun1985]

I agree. Don't they finish up the conference schedule pretty early? Like May or so? I thought I remember a meeting last year around that time to finalize the schedule. Either way, I'm curious how they'll go about this. I don't see much of a difference for us. The strongest teams in the SEC are Kentucky, Vandy, and Florida (at least UK and Vandy). I think those 3 are big enough rivals to warrant home / aways for us. We might swap out a Georgia / South Carolina for a west foe but as far as tough competiton, I don't think it will change much. And then again, the SEC has a history of ignorance so it's a wait and see game.

[zansdad]

Originally Posted by Shaun1985

I agree. Don't they finish up the conference schedule pretty early? Like May or so? I thought I remember a meeting last year around that time to finalize the schedule. Either way, I'm curious how they'll go about this. I don't see much of a difference for us. The strongest teams in the SEC are Kentucky, Vandy, and Florida (at least UK and Vandy). I think those 3 are big enough rivals to warrant home / aways for us. We might swap out a Georgia / South Carolina for a west foe but as far as tough competiton, I don't think it will change much. And then again, the SEC has a history of ignorance so it's a wait and see game.

Keeping Vandy, Florida and UK as rivalry games would definately make each season an uphill climb (as long as current head coaches stay at those 3 schools). To be honest I would like to keep the Kentucky game and the Vandy game. Florida-UT in basketball only became relevant in 2005.

[FearlessFreep]

This won't go over well with the "ESPN hates us" crowd.

[zansdad]

Originally Posted by FearlessFreep

This won't go over well with the "ESPN hates us" crowd.

It's actually a devious plot by ESPN execs to make the team over-confident. So yeah they still hate us.

[bleedingTNorange]

IMO this rivalry game crap is BS.

It's going to count against our conference record and standings, so should we play UK, Vandy, UF each twice, while other teams play the crap SEC teams twice? It makes no sense, it makes us finishing in the top 4 and receiving a bye that much harder than most of the other teams in the SEC.

To me the SEC scheduling should be done fair and to me that's not even remotely close to fair. Play all 15 teams and rotate home/away with 3 different teams each year, not that complicated I don't think and it really is the fairest way IMO.

[volfaninutah]

who won the bracket contest?

[Montrell Hardy]

Originally Posted by etsuvol13

With him having Indiana at one, isn't cracking the top 25 on his list a lot like taking a cousin to the prom? I mean it's a date, but that doesn't really count.

Indiana is going to be loaded. If everyone returns they are a Top 5 team for sure. Plus they have 3 Elite 5-star caliber players coming in. Jeremy Hollowell is probably the most underated prospect in the '12 class. He should absolutely be a Top 15 kid. And Farrell and Perea are definite Top 10 talents.

Also, can anyone post Katz's entire Top 25? I cannot access ESPN's website. Thanks!

[zansdad]

Originally Posted by bleedingTNorange

IMO this rivalry game crap is BS.

It's going to count against our conference record and standings, so should we play UK, Vandy, UF each twice, while other teams play the crap SEC teams twice? It makes no sense, it makes us finishing in the top 4 and receiving a bye that much harder than most of the other teams in the SEC.

To me the SEC scheduling should be done fair and to me that's not even remotely close to fair. Play all 15 teams and rotate home/away with 3 different teams each year, not that complicated I don't think and it really is the fairest way IMO.

I'm not going to get all worked up until I see something come out of the coaches meetings. I wouldn't be shocked if the 1st season is a 16 game season and we play UK And Vandy plus 1 random team twice and everyone else just once. That would let every team get their feet wet with the new 14 team league and honor any contracts for games already scheduled. However, eventually they will have to go to at least a 18 game schedule. Playing everyone basically only once each isn't much of a conference.

[_vol]

That's a bit high, but I won't dispute it.

[volmancagle17]

Originally Posted by Chris4Vols22

On another note he has Indiana at no. 1. Whoa...

IU has a tremendous recruiting class coming in. Plus Zeller staying, who outplayed Davis in both of their meetings.

[Chris4Vols22]

Originally Posted by volmancagle17

IU has a tremendous recruiting class coming in. Plus Zeller staying, who outplayed Davis in both of their meetings.

I know they're good, just a little surreal to see them at #1