I think the Vols go 23-1 before heading to Rupp and getting the annual SEC ref bend-over. Then two losses in a row at KY and at FL -- I bet no other SEC team has to play any two of UT/KY/FL in back to back road games.
We'll be 24-3 when we head to Nashville to get the annual SEC ref bend-over...Memorial Gym Style.
At that point all the band-wagon fans start screaming --we've lost 3 of the last 4, blah, blah, blah... the world is ending.
We finish with wins against MSU, USC, and Kentucky and head to the SEC Tourney with the #1 seed from the East and a 27-4 overall record. The finalee against KY in TBA may be for the SEC Regular Season Championship, but I still think FL edges out KY for #2 in the East.
I like the way the schedule sets up. Wake is the weakest of the NIT top four and I like the way we match-up with smallish Big East teams. I think we beat Nova in the NIT finals after dispatching Wake. Nova (like the Vols) lost 3 players out of its rotation, but they were not nearly as deep and relied much heavier on Reynolds than the Vols did on any one player. They are still perimeter oriented and should have problems with the Vols' length and size on the interior. I think Pitt on the road is too much. Other than Pitt, I think we roll through the rest of our December schedule.
Other than Pitt and Nova, I don't think there is any team on our schedule Pre-Maymon, that has a serious ability to hang with the Vols. After that USC game, I believe Maymon is eligible and our team just got that much deeper and diverse. If the Vols can pull a shocker on Pitt, look out -- you may see the Vols ranked #1 for a few weeks prior to February.
I believe the Vols will be a top 10 team when we lose to Pitt and a top 5 team when February rolls around, running through January and the early SEC schedule. We'll be too much for a down UConn team and Memphis isn't coming into Knoxville to beat the Vols (not this year's Memphis team with youth and still rebuilding).
Florida and Vandy will both have good teams this season, but they aren't beating the Vols in Knoxville this year. The toughest game prior to Rupp may be at Athens. UGA's Coach has shown himself to be a sleeper.
We've had problems with Ole Miss and Auburn on the road in the past, but not this year. Getting MSU and Bama at home helps us go undefeated against the West.
With a bye in the Tournament, I see the Vols getting to the Championship game and dispatching either KY or Florida (whoever is the 2nd seed from the East).
I think the depth of the Vols is huge this season and a #1 or #2 seed is a real possibility. The Vols have the right mix of veterans, depth, and playmakers, in addition to winning experience.
The irony is that by forcing us to play KY, FL, and Vandy all on the road in February, our ranking and seeding is likely to suffer late, giving the impression of a team that has peaked. Hopefully a run through Atlanta will fix that.
Of course, I could be off by 1 or 2 games.
Rebuilding with the #1 or #2 recruiting class? The core of this class won an AAU National Title last year. Plus, add Will Barton, the #5 player in the class and #1 SG, don't think it is a "rebuilding year." The "King of Memphis" will run circles around Bobby Maze.
