Well, glad that's done

[Sec.112]

I admit I might be trying to pull something out of thin air for this team. The Cats have plenty of weaknesses. However, when you compare them to the glut of mid-tier B10 teams, I'm wondering if records are as much a product of where the big three - MSU, Maryland and Iowa - fall on your schedule as much as anything else.

Take a look at the records of all the mid-tier teams against MSU, Maryland and Iowa to this point.

Oh, and by the way, most teams have a lousy loss in conference also.

OSU / 0-3 (no bad losses)
Michigan / 1-1 (no bad losses)
Wisconsin / 1-2 (bad loss: NU)
Purdue / 0-2 (bad loss: IL)
Indiana / 0-0!!!! (bad loss: UW)
NU / 0-4 (bad loss: PSU)

Admittedly, don't ask me about the margin of NU's losses, compared to others. And NU DESPERATELY needs a good win or two.

But the season isn't over. I don't think NU is the only team loading up on B10 cupcakes and getting killed by the big three.

We're done with MSU, Maryland and Iowa. Things HAVE to get better ... right?

 

[CappyNU]

I admit I might be trying to pull something out of thin air for this team. The Cats have plenty of weaknesses. However, when you compare them to the glut of mid-tier B10 teams, I'm wondering if records are as much a product of where the big three - MSU, Maryland and Iowa - fall on your schedule as much as anything else.

Take a look at the records of all the mid-tier teams against MSU, Maryland and Iowa to this point.

Oh, and by the way, most teams have a lousy loss in conference also.

OSU / 0-3 (no bad losses)
Michigan / 1-1 (no bad losses)
Wisconsin / 1-2 (bad loss: NU)
Purdue / 0-2 (bad loss: IL)
Indiana / 0-0!!!! (bad loss: UW)
NU / 0-4 (bad loss: PSU)

Admittedly, don't ask me about the margin of NU's losses, compared to others. And NU DESPERATELY needs a good win or two.

But the season isn't over. I don't think NU is the only team loading up on B10 cupcakes and getting killed by the big three.

We're done with MSU, Maryland and Iowa. Things HAVE to get better ... right?

So doing a little schedule analysis, based off of current conference stats, we have the 2nd-easiest remaining schedule behind Rutgers, and let's be honest, that's still probably not going to do Rutgers any favors, they've been that bad.

To date, our opponents have averaged 1.07 PPP and given up 1.02 PPP, inclusive of games against us. Our remaining opponents score 1.02 PPP and give up 1.09 PPP. The last 4 games have been an absolutely brutal stretch, and make no mistake, we've been bad relative to the level of the teams we've played, but I don't think we're as bad as we've looked. I think if we can remember how to shoot again, we can potentially win 6 of the final 8 games. We could also probably go 2-6 if we're still stuck in a rut. But outside of the game at Purdue, I think everything is winnable.

Speaking of Purdue, they have the hardest projected remaining schedule, with no games against Illinois, PSU, Minnesota or Rutgers remaining and 4 games against the top 4 teams. IU gets 5 games against the other top 4 teams, but three are at home. Michigan also has 5 games against the top 5 plus a trip to the Kohl center. OSU has been fortunate so far, but ends with a brutal slate of @Neb, MSU, Iowa, @MSU.

In short, things should get better, though as we all know as NU fans, it certainly doesn't have to get better.

 

[NJCat83588]

So doing a little schedule analysis, based off of current conference stats, we have the 2nd-easiest remaining schedule behind Rutgers, and let's be honest, that's still probably not going to do Rutgers any favors, they've been that bad.

To date, our opponents have averaged 1.07 PPP and given up 1.02 PPP, inclusive of games against us. Our remaining opponents score 1.02 PPP and give up 1.09 PPP. The last 4 games have been an absolutely brutal stretch, and make no mistake, we've been bad relative to the level of the teams we've played, but I don't think we're as bad as we've looked. I think if we can remember how to shoot again, we can potentially win 6 of the final 8 games. We could also probably go 2-6 if we're still stuck in a rut. But outside of the game at Purdue, I think everything is winnable.

Speaking of Purdue, they have the hardest projected remaining schedule, with no games against Illinois, PSU, Minnesota or Rutgers remaining and 4 games against the top 4 teams. IU gets 5 games against the other top 4 teams, but three are at home. Michigan also has 5 games against the top 5 plus a trip to the Kohl center. OSU has been fortunate so far, but ends with a brutal slate of @Neb, MSU, Iowa, @MSU.

In short, things should get better, though as we all know as NU fans, it certainly doesn't have to get better.

Fair analysis. I do worry about the road games, all of which will be tough (particularly @PSU!). My gut tells me NU will win 3 of the remaining 8 and most of the games will be tight. PU might be the lone mis-match given the injuries to Olah and Joey.

 

[pawildcat]

Not sure I'd call Purdue a mid-tier team. They don't match up well with Iowa, but they're a tough out, especially when their guards hit a couple of three-point shots.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

I admit I might be trying to pull something out of thin air for this team. The Cats have plenty of weaknesses. However, when you compare them to the glut of mid-tier B10 teams, I'm wondering if records are as much a product of where the big three - MSU, Maryland and Iowa - fall on your schedule as much as anything else.

Take a look at the records of all the mid-tier teams against MSU, Maryland and Iowa to this point.

Oh, and by the way, most teams have a lousy loss in conference also.

OSU / 0-3 (no bad losses)
Michigan / 1-1 (no bad losses)
Wisconsin / 1-2 (bad loss: NU)
Purdue / 0-2 (bad loss: IL)
Indiana / 0-0!!!! (bad loss: UW)
NU / 0-4 (bad loss: PSU)

Admittedly, don't ask me about the margin of NU's losses, compared to others. And NU DESPERATELY needs a good win or two.

But the season isn't over. I don't think NU is the only team loading up on B10 cupcakes and getting killed by the big three.

We're done with MSU, Maryland and Iowa. Things HAVE to get better ... right?

Our best win is someone else's bad loss. That's no good. I would be surprised if we could beat any of those teams on the road (even though we actually seem to play better on the road).

 

[CatJones]

The problem with Rutgers' schedule is they don't get to play Rutgers twice. Two wins right there.

 

[NJCat83588]

The problem with Rutgers' schedule is they don't get to play Rutgers twice. Two wins right there.

Knowing Rutgers they'd probably lose both.

 

[hdhntr1]

Our best win is someone else's bad loss. That's no good. I would be surprised if we could beat any of those teams on the road (even though we actually seem to play better on the road).

No, they would split