Getting Screwed by SEC Scheduling...(UPDATED)

[ConRay9]

This board is SSDD. My God do you people ever stop whining ???. These schedules are made far before anyone knows how good any teams are going to be. Of all the conspiracy theories I've read on here this is got to be one of the lamest. never thought I would see the day where Kentucky fans complain about having to play Auburn and Tennessee.

I think any complaints about the SEC scheduling somehow being unfair to Kentucky is whining.

I get what you’re saying but stretching my post into whining is a bit much. It was more of a question of how do they set schedules? In football it’s extremely transparent. It’s a huge flip in basketball. Do other conferences schedule this way? Can you actually answer any of my questions about scheduling? Or would that be whining too.

 

[ConRay9]

Every discussion of facts doesn’t have to be characterized as whining.

Thank you for at least attempting to answer my question. Honestly I’m not whining I’d just like to understand how the SEC scheduling works because in football it’s extremely transparent. Some things I don’t understand:

1. If the scheduling were truly random outside of our permanent rival it’d be a big conincidence we play UT, AU, and Miss St. twice.

2. Is it about ratings? Is there any transparency at all about their scheduling? I didn’t even realize we don’t play UT twice.

3. I still find SEC regular season championships important. For as much as this board complains about unfair seeding in the tournament, I don’t see how getting our schedule designed with ratings in mind for conference is not of similar treatment. If that’s indeed how they do it. At the very least I’d just like to know how they schedule it.

 

[ConRay9]

Holy crybabies in this thread. Holy ****, this is Kentucky and we are worried/complaining about Miss St. and Auburn?!?!

All these dumbass conspiracy theories are so ridiculous and make UK fans look pathetic. ESPN is out to get UK, Nike is out to get UK, the SEC, THE NCAA, the refs...EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET UK!!!!!

Also, Florida sucks this year, no one is bringing that up. We basically swapped a normal year of Florida for Auburn/Miss St this year.

So I’m complaining for wanting transparency on how the scheduling works? Are you all gonna complain if we don’t get the correct seed this year or get a tough bracket? I don’t see how wanting transparency in scheduling is a conspiracy theory.

 

[KyCatFan1]

The Big 12/SEC challenge matchups are dictated by how you finish. 1 is paired with 1. 2 with 2. Etc. So if you want us to mix it up, we can tank this season in order to play Kansas State or Baylor.
..if you want.

That's not right since one of our best teams doesn't even play in it right now (Auburn). Plus here is who we play/ed and how each team finished the previous year.

2019 KU - we finished tied for 4th and they were 1st.
2018 WVU - we finished 1st and they were 2nd.
2017 KU - we finished tied for 1st and they were 1st.
2016 KU - we finished 1st and they were 1st.
2015 UT - we finished tied for 2nd and they were tied for 3rd.
2014 BU - we finished tied for 2nd and they were tied for 6th.

So only twice have we played a team that finished the same as us. The last 4 years we played the top Big 12 team or the 2nd best. The time we started playing the tougher Big 12 opponents is the same time Duke started playing lesser Big 10 opponents in their challenge. Just seems funny that our 1 and done players get a bigger challenge than Duke does after they went all in with the 1 and done system.

 

[ConRay9]

You’re usually pretty level headed Ray, but I can’t go with you on this one.

Why would we want to play A&M twice this season? They’re not very good this season. It wouldn’t do us much good if we had two wins instead of one over them this year.

If we’re truly as good as the very best teams in CBB, we should be embracing the opportunity the schedule this season gives us.

How about going out and just winning these games?

Who are we scared of? Tennessee? Uh, we always play the Vols twice. BTW, most of our fans have made fun of Rick Barnes for years, saying he’s one of the worst coaches ever.

Getting Auburn twice is a great opportunity to get two quality wins. Have we gotten to the point that we’re afraid of Auburn? God I hope not.

Miss St? We also get to play them twice. Please don’t tell me that the Bulldogs have become an opponent that we now want to dodge.

We get Kansas at Rupp. Uh, also without their best player. If we can’t beat them this season, then uh...well, we might just want to quit scheduling them.


With this schedule, we have every chance to build an incredible resume, despite already having two losses to the likes of Seton Hall and Alabama.

Again, you’re a solid poster. Hey, even I had a bad take once, so don’t let it get you down.

I get what you’re saying. I’m not saying we should want to dodge any teams. In the first part of the post I address this. We should expect to beat anybody.

What I’d like to know is how the scheduling works. There’s no transparency with it that I’ve found. It doesn’t seem random to me at the very least. In March we all want a fair seed and a fair bracket. If this conference schedules with ratings in mind, that is an inherent disadvantage over the long run. Isn’t that at least worth noting? If that’s the case I guess that’s fine I’m not gonna go crazy and complain but I’d at least like to know the answer.

 

[ConRay9]

Agree and this is nothing more than entertainment or at least it should be looked at that way by fans. I’d rather see us play big games instead of snoozers. UK complaining about its SEC schedule seems embarrassing to me.

A lot of people are misinterpreting this thread/saying I’m just whining. Honestly I just want to know how the scheduling works. Only a few people have even tried attempting to answer the question.

Also, If this board is allowed to complain about March seeding I don’t see how this would be much different. I just want transparency. If I knew how they created the schedule and it ended up with us getting a tough draw most years so be it. At least I’d know.

 

[Cardsstink]

A lot of people are misinterpreting this thread/saying I’m just whining. Honestly I just want to know how the scheduling works. Only a few people have even tried attempting to answer the question.

Also, If this board is allowed to complain about March seeding I don’t see how this would be much different. I just want transparency. If I knew how they created the schedule and it ended up with us getting a tough draw most years so be it. At least I’d know.

Fair enough.

 

[RoyKent]

Few points...

1. We don’t always play Tennessee twice anymore.

Since when does UK not play UT twice a year anymore?

SEC has UK's permanent opponents as Vandy, UT, and Florida

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

If you guys truly want a high seed, this is a good solution. Beat most of these teams and we're in Louisville.

I don't see the issue.

 

[ConRay9]

If you guys truly want a high seed, this is a good solution. Beat most of these teams and we're in Louisville.

I don't see the issue.

I’d just like to know how the scheduling works. The format the SEC announced is largely true but another poster looked into it, and I have a little bit as well, and there are inconsistencies.

 

[sjjones]

As long as television is footing the bill, Kentucky will play whomever the TV networks want them to play.

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article223907055.html

 

[CB3UK]

That's not right since one of our best teams doesn't even play in it right now (Auburn). Plus here is who we play/ed and how each team finished the previous year.

2019 KU - we finished tied for 4th and they were 1st.
2018 WVU - we finished 1st and they were 2nd.
2017 KU - we finished tied for 1st and they were 1st.
2016 KU - we finished 1st and they were 1st.
2015 UT - we finished tied for 2nd and they were tied for 3rd.
2014 BU - we finished tied for 2nd and they were tied for 6th.

So only twice have we played a team that finished the same as us. The last 4 years we played the top Big 12 team or the 2nd best. The time we started playing the tougher Big 12 opponents is the same time Duke started playing lesser Big 10 opponents in their challenge. Just seems funny that our 1 and done players get a bigger challenge than Duke does after they went all in with the 1 and done system.

You may be right. It started out that way. Perhaps they only did it the first year of it some such. You're right it hasn't been that way after looking at the standings. I don't know where I got it from, I'd swear when it was announced that was the intended scheduling. Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong.

Check this out though: http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211716770

Look at the yellow journalism by them when highlighting the UK-KU series. "Let's just disregard the actual series record" [laughing]

 

[Joerupp]

A lot of people are misinterpreting this thread/saying I’m just whining. Honestly I just want to know how the scheduling works. Only a few people have even tried attempting to answer the question.

Also, If this board is allowed to complain about March seeding I don’t see how this would be much different. I just want transparency. If I knew how they created the schedule and it ended up with us getting a tough draw most years so be it. At least I’d know.

Hey ConRay9, I think the thread title "Getting Screwed" is what a lot of people are picking up on. If it read "SEC scheduling" there wouldn't be reason for them to say whining. Like you I would like to know how it works and, like you, I think we get a screw job.

 

[HalHR2500]

Tennessee doesn't have a hard game until Feb 16 at Rupp

 

[ConRay9]

As long as television is footing the bill, Kentucky will play whomever the TV networks want them to play.

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article223907055.html

THANK YOU! At least I have my answer—it’s set around tv ratings. The SEC associate commissioner confirmed it. If that’s the case, so be it. At least I know. Many on this thread thought I was just whining for no reason.

 

[ConRay9]

Hey ConRay9, I think the thread title "Getting Screwed" is what a lot of people are picking up on. If it read "SEC scheduling" there wouldn't be reason for them to say whining. Like you I would like to know how it works and, like you, I think we get a screw job.

Fair enough, it was more a grabby title to get people to look at the post. I concede saying screwed is a bit overblown. But it’s hard for posts to gain traction without an enticing title most of the time.

 

[Aike]

Since when does UK not play UT twice a year anymore?

SEC has UK's permanent opponents as Vandy, UT, and Florida

We only played Tennessee once in 2014 and once in 2015. Maybe they’ve updated it since then. Please drop a link if you have one.

Edit: I see that they did update it prior to the 2016 season. My apologies.

 

[Aike]

Thank you for at least attempting to answer my question. Honestly I’m not whining I’d just like to understand how the SEC scheduling works because in football it’s extremely transparent. Some things I don’t understand:

1. If the scheduling were truly random outside of our permanent rival it’d be a big conincidence we play UT, AU, and Miss St. twice.

2. Is it about ratings? Is there any transparency at all about their scheduling? I didn’t even realize we don’t play UT twice.

3. I still find SEC regular season championships important. For as much as this board complains about unfair seeding in the tournament, I don’t see how getting our schedule designed with ratings in mind for conference is not of similar treatment. If that’s indeed how they do it. At the very least I’d just like to know how they schedule it.

I was mistaken about UT not being a permanent home and home. We only played them once in 2014 and 2015, but it was updated the following year so now we are locked in to play them twice.

 

[ConRay9]

I was mistaken about UT not being a permanent home and home. We only played them once in 2014 and 2015, but it was updated the following uear so now we are locked in to play them twice.

I saw that. I updated my original post with relevant links. The associate commissioner confirms tv ratings are the motivating factor.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I get what you’re saying but stretching my post into whining is a bit much. It was more of a question of how do they set schedules? In football it’s extremely transparent. It’s a huge flip in basketball. Do other conferences schedule this way? Can you actually answer any of my questions about scheduling? Or would that be whining too.

The fact that you could have googled your answer notwithstanding, the title of the thread is nothing but a whine. you start off talking about us being SCREWED by the SEC, not asking questions that you could find the answer to very easily anyway

 

[Aike]

I saw that. I updated my original post with relevant links. The associate commissioner confirms tv ratings are the motivating factor.

Apparently I wasn’t paying close attention following the 2015 season. Wonder why. [laughing]

 

[ConRay9]

The fact that you could have googled your answer notwithstanding, the title of the thread is nothing but a whine. you start off talking about us being SCREWED by the SEC, not asking questions that you could find the answer to very easily anyway

I already addressed this. I told someone else I set that title for the thread to gain traction, and conceded it was probably a bit strong to say the least. Boring titles don’t catch people’s attention. It was probably a bit too strong, yes, I’ll give you that one. Happy?

I did search for an answer and actually looked at UK’s schedule the last 5 years and found their “rotating schedule” for our two additional home and homes to be untrue.

If you just want to complain about my post that’s fine but it honestly serves no purpose. You’re taking one tidbit of information and blowing it out of proportion.

Also, I wasn’t crazy, as tv ratings are the biggest motivating factor in scheduling as noted in a Herald Leader article I edited into the top post. But yeah my man flame away.

 

[howercat]

Ultimately, this type scheduling costs UK at least 1 to 3 seed lines almost every year. Unless they have a super team.

 

[Dward13]

I think people are missing the point. It’s really just more evidence that fairness isn’t a priority to the people that run the sport. For when others argue any ideas of certain programs being treated differently is laughable or ridiculous. It’s not. And there’s tons of evidence to the contrary that people insist on ignoring for some reason.

 

[ConRay9]

Ultimately, this type scheduling costs UK at least 1 to 3 seed lines almost every year. Unless they have a super team.

Agreed, but complaining about March seeding will get you loads of likes here. Doing the same about the SEC schedule brings the opposite response, apparently. I want to play good teams but the SEC being better doesn’t necessitate this kind of scheduling. But I digress. Don’t want to come across as whining again.

 

[Aike]

Something else worth mentioning is that we play LSU and Ole Miss once each, and they may very well be top 4 teams in the league when it all shakes out. No matter how much they try to game it, the action is decided on the court.

Cal talks about playing Tennessee, Auburn, and MSU twice because he likes to have a chip on his shoulder. If I’m a coach or player for LSU or Ole Miss, I carry a chip because Cal didn’t think we were as good as Mississippi St.

 

[RoyKent]

Ultimately, this type scheduling costs UK at least 1 to 3 seed lines almost every year. Unless they have a super team.

This is such a stupid statement. Which year did the SEC scheduling cost UK 3 seed lines?

 

[ConRay9]

I think people are missing the point. It’s really just more evidence that fairness isn’t a priority to the people that run the sport. For when others argue any ideas of certain programs being treated differently is laughable or ridiculous. It’s not. And there’s tons of evidence to the contrary that people insist on ignoring for some reason.

Good to know not everyone took my post as complaining/whining or pedaling some crack pot conspiracy theory.

I’m of the opinion the SEC should switch to scheduling more like football but without the divisions. It’s much more transparent.

 

[Aike]

My feeling on it is that if our schedule being a little harder causes us to lose the SEC by a game, that’s kind of a bummer.

On the other hand, if you check out the top teams from the ACC and Big 10, you will find similarly difficult schedules. So if we want to compete for a top seed, we need this schedule.

We have a team with enough talent and experience to win games. We need to go out and win games. We might not win it all this year, but I would love to go into Selection Sunday feeling like we have a great shot, not like we are some dark horse trying to pull it together.

 

[CB3UK]

^Bingo. It helps our resume. We are Kentucky. I expect us to win every game, so I don't spend too much time hemming and hawing about who's on our schedule.

 

[ConRay9]

My feeling on it is that if our schedule being a little harder causes us to lose the SEC by a game, that’s kind of a bummer.

On the other hand, if you check out the top teams from the ACC and Big 10, you will find similarly difficult schedules. So if we want to compete for a top seed, we need this schedule.

We have a team with enough talent and experience to win games. We need to go out and win games. We might not win it all this year, but I would love to go into Selection Sunday feeling like we have a great shot, not like we are some dark horse trying to pull it together.

Well said. At the end of the day they still gotta go out there and just win games no matter the schedule. The SEC becoming stronger will be a net positive in the long run—no matter how they schedule it.

Losing out on an SEC title would be a bummer, and if scheduling had even a small role in determining that then that really sucks. That pretty much sums up my main concerns and why I made the post in the first place.

 

[ABlockalypseBrow]

The irony of people whining about other people “whining”. Some people have no self awareness. The reality is if Alabama football had to play the best SEC east team for ratings every year as their extra game, they wouldn’t stand for it. Would have nothing to do with fearing the SEC east or whining lol.

This is such a stupid statement. Which year did the SEC scheduling cost UK 3 seed lines?

1-3 seeds is probably an overstatement. But it’s no doubt true that many lazy poll voters and selection committee members simply look at win-loss records in conference and assume that each team had a roughly equal schedule. Is that dumb? Yes, but these people aren’t Einsteins. They certainly don’t care about excuses if you didn’t win the conference title due to uneven scheduling.

 

[ColonelCat_rivals376764]

Was going to be tough in the reg season SEC no matter what with Auburn and UT returning veteran teams this year not relying on freshmen. I like the fact that while we will probably be underdogs at AU and UT that we get them back in Lexington.
Then again there are lots of folks on this board who say the SEC sucks so I doubt they care who we play twice anyway.[winking]

I wonder how the opponents feel about having to play us twice? After all this works both ways. If I was Miss St, I would wonder why they have to play Ky 2x plus AU and of course UT is a traditional rival so we meet home/home each year. I'm sure the anxiety is among the rest of the SEC also.

 

[Ugoff]

I wonder if Kansas faces this type of ratings driven scheduling in the B12.

 

[KyCatFan1]

I wonder if Kansas faces this type of ratings driven scheduling in the B12.

They only have 10 teams so they probably play all of them 2 times. Not just the ones that are must see tv like they do us.

 

[Wildcats1st]

For a young team playing top flight teams will only prepare them further for the ncaat. Our sos should be top 5 by seasons end and will give us a better shot at a 1 or 2 seed.

 

[KyCatFan1]

We tend to play enough quality teams out of conference that I don't think we need to have a ridiculous conference schedule. With a young team, we will take a number of losses because of the ridiculous conference setup. That might help make us more tournament ready, but it also will give them a good excuse to screw with our seed or location due to the losses.

I'm all for loading up the schedule when we have a number of very good returning players and high lottery pick one and done types. I don't like it so much when we have 6 players who are playing in their first year here and not a single one is a sure fire high lottery pick based on their play. A couple might end up in the teens but that isn't the type of talent to carry a young team to the title.

 

[ConRay9]

We tend to play enough quality teams out of conference that I don't think we need to have a ridiculous conference schedule. With a young team, we will take a number of losses because of the ridiculous conference setup. That might help make us more tournament ready, but it also will give them a good excuse to screw with our seed or location due to the losses.

I'm all for loading up the schedule when we have a number of very good returning players and high lottery pick one and done types. I don't like it so much when we have 6 players who are playing in their first year here and not a single one is a sure fire high lottery pick based on their play. A couple might end up in the teens but that isn't the type of talent to carry a young team to the title.

I agree with this as well. Also, with the SEC becoming a better conference, loading up the schedule really does no favors for us and isn't really neccessary. 5-6 years ago when a quality win in the SEC was more important, I would be more open to this kind of scheduling. I still would rather it be random or rotating, but it certainly wouldn't bother me to the same extent it does today.