This schedule is not what an upperclassmen led team should be playing. We do not pull our weight in the BE conference. If we’re not going to challenge ourselves when Shamorie Ponds, the best player we’ve had in 9 years (ok, probably longer) is a junior and we’ve got a supporting cast made up of potentially 3 or 4 All BE players then when will we? This team isn’t so new. 6 guys have practiced together for over a year.
A team that is afraid they’ll miss the NIT plays this schedule. Paging Norm Roberts. We’ve stacked the deck in our favor so much so that even a mediocre BE record will leave us with 18 or 19 wins, and a 2 seed in the other tournament.
Sure, none of it will matter if we go off in BE play, but I think the pre season prediction folks have underestimated Xavier, Creighton, Butler and even Seton Hall. These are programs who lost significant talent and can justify playing a weaker schedule. By BE play, their coaches will have them ready to play. Some of them already do.