12-16-2024, 03:39 AM
Welcome to NCAA basketball.
Most of the teams in the sports-priority conferences schedule the majority of their pre-season games against teams from the weaker conferences, resulting in better records and stats at the beginning of the season. Only the teams that feel assured that they will go far in their NC tournaments risk toss-up games at the beginning of the season (for example, Stanford WVB this year).
For instance:
LSU's first 10 opponents RPIs (sorted by RPI)
77, 116, 124, 138, 182, 188, 252, 281, 325, 330
Stanford's first 10 opponents
13, 28, 44, 104, 162, 165, 221, 263, 316, 339
LSU had only played 1 team in the top 110 while Stanford has played 4. LSU must really be piling on the stats....
So, yes, Stanford's stats will drop off, but so will those of pretty much everyone in the major conferences. It's nice to have a good 3FG%, but I hope that translates into a better overall record.
Most of the teams in the sports-priority conferences schedule the majority of their pre-season games against teams from the weaker conferences, resulting in better records and stats at the beginning of the season. Only the teams that feel assured that they will go far in their NC tournaments risk toss-up games at the beginning of the season (for example, Stanford WVB this year).
For instance:
LSU's first 10 opponents RPIs (sorted by RPI)
77, 116, 124, 138, 182, 188, 252, 281, 325, 330
Stanford's first 10 opponents
13, 28, 44, 104, 162, 165, 221, 263, 316, 339
LSU had only played 1 team in the top 110 while Stanford has played 4. LSU must really be piling on the stats....
So, yes, Stanford's stats will drop off, but so will those of pretty much everyone in the major conferences. It's nice to have a good 3FG%, but I hope that translates into a better overall record.