(11-21-2024, 10:18 AM)SamuelMcF Wrote:(11-21-2024, 10:15 AM)MV72018 Wrote: I used to think that we played marshmallow pre-conference schedules in the Dawkins and Haase eras. But the softness of this season's pre-conf schedule is quite impressive. Result: we're 5-0 and have no clue whether this is a mediocre, decent, good, or excellent team. Kyle needs to book some high-quality opponents for pre-conf games next year. Looks to me like Santa Clara will be the least unchallenging opponent we will face this pre-conf season. Meh.
Oregon
Grand Canyon made the final 64 last year and were favored to do so this year, but have already lost to UCD.
(11-21-2024, 11:25 PM)needle Wrote:(11-21-2024, 07:11 PM)skip75 Wrote: I think that Saturday's game at Santa Clara and Tuesday's game vs. Grand Canyon in Palm Desert will both be better indications of how competitive Stanford might be. According to KenPom, they will be the best teams Stanford has faced so far and both are rated higher than 5 ACC teams (including Cal).
KenPom in November is worthless.
Santa Clara is 2-3 and dreadful. Grand Canyon was down by 11 at half to mighty UC-Davis! Wins over these two teams would mean almost nothing, and we fans should bank on a losing season if Stanford drops either game.
I think the last thing our coach wanted was to start the season with 10 games that included a bunch of difficult one. With a new system, new players I think he want to play early games that he should well win, but also will provide a lot of teaching opportunities. He also knows that if you want to make the final 64, early season losses do not help.