A few thoughts from BTO

[wtmvol]

Again, there’s 5-6 from B10 and another 5-6 from B12 that are ahead of us currently, they aren’t all getting through unscathed, especially since they’ll be playing each other. You’ve also got Florida and Vanderbilt ahead of us, even got Vandy twice on the schedule to close out the year. I think if we go 7-2 were right in the 2/3 seed conversation, I would be stunned if we were 4.

I had a nice, long reply typed out and accidentally closed the browser

Basically, it said I think 2 seed is off the table with 2 more losses. 3 seed is possible because, as you said, conference cannibalization. The "who to pull for" threads will be interesting for sure.

We have ~5 more Q1 games remaining (depending on whether Missouri can keep themselves in the top 75 and Mississippi St perhaps vaulting into the top 75). If we're truly considered in the 5 seed range right now and we're battling a pretty deep field this year at the top, we need to make a statement. If we drop 2 of those games (let's say it's at Kentucky and at Vandy), that leaves our best remaining statement win as a home win over Vandy. In the same way Big 12/Big 10 teams could beat each other up, they're also given more opportunities for statement wins (like what we had in the SEC the past couple seasons). I don't know, I guess I'll retract a bit and say 8-1 gets us a 3 seed. 7-2 puts us in the conversation.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I think a neutral site win over Houston is probably better than what a large % of teams can claim

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Looking at the rest of the 9 games of our schedule, we have the bottom 4 teams in the SEC (@Miss State, LSU, @SC, OU) and then we should defend home court (Vandy, Alabama) which leaves us with our 3 tougher road games (@UK, @Missouri, @Vandy).

Looking at the schedule if we can take advantage of the easier schedule and go 7-2 in this stretch, and finish 13-5 that should get us close to the 3 seed line which I think is a great goal considering it seems the top 10 teams in the nation aren’t losing right now unless they are playing each other.

We do need some help though and need teams that we are fighting for seeding for like Virginia, BYU, and Texas Tech to start dropping some games.

Man if this team ends up at a 3 after what I was thinking less than 3 weeks ago, that's amazing.

 

[orangemadam]

My guess would be that we will have 3 more losses, counting SEC tourney.
That could possibly earn a 3 seed, and no less than 4 seed.

If we can somehow come up with only 1 more conference loss and 1 tourney loss, a 2 seed could be had, depending on other teams records.

 

[wtmvol]

I think a neutral site win over Houston is probably better than what a large % of teams can claim

It's huge. Really wish we had closed out Kansas, and Syracuse too, for that matter.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

It's huge. Really wish we had closed out Kansas, and Syracuse too, for that matter.

That second half against Kansas was a jolt to this team's confidence that lasted for over a month. We looked like a top 5 team in the first half against them. Thank goodness for the marathon of a basketball season. We might end up being better as a result of those growing pains

 

[Volnanza]

One thing Phillps brings to the game is effort. He plays 100% all the time. Runs the court. Battles for loose balls. Blocks shots. Rebounds. Inspiration is one of the ingredients of a good team. He adds that and at times we seem to lack it.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

One thing Phillps brings to the game is effort. He plays 100% all the time. Runs the court. Battles for loose balls. Blocks shots. Rebounds. Inspiration is one of the ingredients of a good team. He adds that and at times we seem to lack it.

I wish he’d up his FT%. Maybe he will next year after giving his shoulder nearly a year to heal.