What does everyone think the league standings will look like heading into STL at the end of the season? Top 4 should be the goal, and I think it's feasible. To me, we finish anywhere from 4-7. Mizzou, Tennessee, Bama and Arkansas will be the teams fighting for that 4th double-bye.
Schedule:
@SC
Florida
Georgia
@Arky
Tenn
@A&M
Auburn
@MSU
@Bama
UK
@Ole Miss
MSU
A&M
@LSU
Ole Miss
@UK
@Vandy
Arky
SEC Tourney
The biggest games:
Road games @SC Jan 3, @MSU Jan 27, @Ole Miss Feb 6, @LSU Feb 17, and @Vandy Feb 27. These are the winnable road games. I think you need to take 3 of the 5 to be in a good place for the NCAAs and 4 of 5 for a good shot at the 4 seed. The other road games against UK, Arky, A&M, and Bama would be surprise wins.
SC in the conference opener is a huge game. Getting 1 of the 3 necessary road wins right out of the gate would be big and allows you some room for error against a Florida or A&M at home.
Home games, I think you need to go at least 6-3 for NCAA purposes, 7-2 for 4 seed SEC tourney purposes.
Need to take 1 of 2 of the first home games against Florida and Georgia, assuming the conference opener against SC is a win. That starts you 2-1 in league play. Tennessee and Arkansas at home are massive games that may decide the last double-bye. We don't have to play at Tenn, so a win against them on Jan 17 would pay big dividends.
I think 3-6 on the road and 6-3 or better at home puts you in a great spot for the tourney. Get to 7 home wins and 4 road wins and you likely get that 4 seed.
My predictions:
We win 2 out of the first 3 against SC, Florida and UGA.
L @Arky
W vs Tenn
L @A&M
W vs Auburn
W @ MSU
L @ Bama
L vs UK
L @ Ole Miss
W vs MSU
L vs A&M
W @ LSU
W vs Ole Miss
L @UK
W @ Vandy
W vs Arky
21-10 (10-8)
If we can knock off either UK or A&M at home and get to 11 league wins, we would very likely get a bye in the SEC tourney. May get there with 10 wins.
I think the final standings look like this:
1-3: Some combination of UK, A&M and Florida. These teams will be protected seed-type teams in the NCAA tourney. I know Florida is struggling, but I think they right the ship. We have home and homes against UK and A&M. Home game against Florida.
4-7: Mizzou, Tenn, Arkansas and Bama will fill these spots in some order. These teams will make the NCAA tourney. We have a home and home vs Arkansas, a home game against Tenn, and an away game against Bama.
8-10: UGA, MSU and Auburn in some order. These teams may stick around the bubble but will ultimately be NIT teams. Home and home vs MSU, home games against UGA and Auburn.
11-14: LSU, SC, Vandy, Ole Miss in some order. These will be your first day of the SEC tourney teams. Home and home vs Ole Miss, away games only against SC, LSU and Vandy. This is an advantage. 3 of our 4 away-only opponents are bottom of the league-type teams.
Of course, if MPj comes back at some point, our chances of getting the double bye goes up. Should be fun to watch!
Schedule:
@SC
Florida
Georgia
@Arky
Tenn
@A&M
Auburn
@MSU
@Bama
UK
@Ole Miss
MSU
A&M
@LSU
Ole Miss
@UK
@Vandy
Arky
SEC Tourney
The biggest games:
Road games @SC Jan 3, @MSU Jan 27, @Ole Miss Feb 6, @LSU Feb 17, and @Vandy Feb 27. These are the winnable road games. I think you need to take 3 of the 5 to be in a good place for the NCAAs and 4 of 5 for a good shot at the 4 seed. The other road games against UK, Arky, A&M, and Bama would be surprise wins.
SC in the conference opener is a huge game. Getting 1 of the 3 necessary road wins right out of the gate would be big and allows you some room for error against a Florida or A&M at home.
Home games, I think you need to go at least 6-3 for NCAA purposes, 7-2 for 4 seed SEC tourney purposes.
Need to take 1 of 2 of the first home games against Florida and Georgia, assuming the conference opener against SC is a win. That starts you 2-1 in league play. Tennessee and Arkansas at home are massive games that may decide the last double-bye. We don't have to play at Tenn, so a win against them on Jan 17 would pay big dividends.
I think 3-6 on the road and 6-3 or better at home puts you in a great spot for the tourney. Get to 7 home wins and 4 road wins and you likely get that 4 seed.
My predictions:
We win 2 out of the first 3 against SC, Florida and UGA.
L @Arky
W vs Tenn
L @A&M
W vs Auburn
W @ MSU
L @ Bama
L vs UK
L @ Ole Miss
W vs MSU
L vs A&M
W @ LSU
W vs Ole Miss
L @UK
W @ Vandy
W vs Arky
21-10 (10-8)
If we can knock off either UK or A&M at home and get to 11 league wins, we would very likely get a bye in the SEC tourney. May get there with 10 wins.
I think the final standings look like this:
1-3: Some combination of UK, A&M and Florida. These teams will be protected seed-type teams in the NCAA tourney. I know Florida is struggling, but I think they right the ship. We have home and homes against UK and A&M. Home game against Florida.
4-7: Mizzou, Tenn, Arkansas and Bama will fill these spots in some order. These teams will make the NCAA tourney. We have a home and home vs Arkansas, a home game against Tenn, and an away game against Bama.
8-10: UGA, MSU and Auburn in some order. These teams may stick around the bubble but will ultimately be NIT teams. Home and home vs MSU, home games against UGA and Auburn.
11-14: LSU, SC, Vandy, Ole Miss in some order. These will be your first day of the SEC tourney teams. Home and home vs Ole Miss, away games only against SC, LSU and Vandy. This is an advantage. 3 of our 4 away-only opponents are bottom of the league-type teams.
Of course, if MPj comes back at some point, our chances of getting the double bye goes up. Should be fun to watch!
