IthacaMatt
Old Timer / Unofficial Contributor for 25+ years
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 24,269
- Like
- 35,833
Okay, we can all agree last night was horrible and the non-conference season has been largely a failure. Prospects look bleak and hope is fading. Pre-season expectations have changed from high seed and comfortably in to hoping to squeak in once again. I won’t debate that this is bad and not the area where Cuse should be existing. However, given our current status here’s how things could play out.
- Step 1: Finish off the putrid non-conference season by dispatching two cupcakes and standing at 9-4. Games do nothing but inflate the record.
- Step 2: take care of business in the opening 6 game stretch of the ACC season. This is by far the easiest portion of the schedule. Go 5-1 and raise overall record to 14-5. Have to get at least 4 wins out of the first 6 to have any chance.
- At Notre Dame (highly winnable), home against Clemson and Ga Tech
- Brutal blowout loss against Duke
- Home wins against Pitt and Miami
- Step 3: Manage to go 3-3 and bring record to 17-8 overall, while playing 4 of the next 6 on the road;
- including likely losses to Buzz and the boys and at NC State
- win at BC and at Pitt
- should win against BC at home
- FSU at home a toss up
- Step 4: Survive the hardest stretch. Going 3-3 puts you at 20-11 and 11-7 in the ACC.
- Louisville (should win), Duke (should lose) and UVA (should lose) at home
- At UNC (blowout loss), at wake (should win), at Clemson (toss up)
If things played out this way then SU would squarely be on the bubble but maybe not in a comfortable position.
- Only top tier wins would be at Ohio State (better hope they keep winning)
- Second tier wins: home against Louisville and Clemson and a collection of okay looking road wins (at ND, at BC, at Pitt, at Wake)
- No bad conference losses
- Bad non-conference losses to (neutral to bubble teams Oregon, Uconn and at home to ODU (only in if win CUSA) and a top 15 Buffalo team.
I think that’s a fairly bland resume and another high profile win or two needs to be sprinkled in. Of course, you would never know until seeing how the rest of the country shakes out.
Meanwhile, as disgusted as I am I will not give up hope until the last breath comes from Marek and Paschal’s bony chests. I’ll still cheer for the team (perhaps while throwing things at the TV, cursing the lack of movement and pining for the old days).
Believe!
I'll save you some typing:
Finish in the top 5 in the ACC and you'll get in.