(Edit: this post might sound a little negative, but I am far from down on the team. I just think we have something to prove before being coddled by ESPN employees, whom I dont hold in high regards anyhow).
I am much happier about the pre-conference games this year than in years past. A little less excited than I was originally, though. I mean we might actually get to play the #15 team before the conference starts! But even the anticlimax compared to what could have been aside, the OP has a good point. Look at those 4 programs tonight and tell me they dont traditionally play a tougher non conference schedule than us, especially early on. I mention this every season, it isn't like I just decided to agree with albanycuse just now. Our opponents definitely have some more recognizable names that regardless of their decline(like washed up lounge singers) should still carry a higher RPI than the St Bonevanture Bona Wolves of the world though. If people complain about ESPN not mentioning us with any of those teams, it would help if we played them, and even more if we actually beat them. But we need to get better first? All I heard tonight is that those teams were going to be much better as the season progressed, possibly Michigan St aside, although I imagine that they too will improve to an extent. I missed the first half of our game tonight, so I have to ask how we look compared to those 4 teams. I'd like us to get more mentions too, but I'm not going to knock ESPN until I think we've done something to show ourselves worthy.
As for road games, when do we have what some would call our first true "away" game? Leaving out MSG(and the neutral paradise games), its 2 months into the schedule on January 7th at VA Tech. Barring surprises, I'd say this schedule is quite favorable in terms of winning games, even though we should be 20+ point favorites less than usual early on. I'm not even sure what folks would consider our first tough away game, or how many of those we have this season. I'm admittedly not an expert on(or a fan of) the ACC like some, so I am asking these as genuine questions. Also curious what folks' projections are in terms of NCAA parity in comparison to seasons past. Watching 4 of the top 5 teams in the same night just has my head abuzz with questions!
