It's now official, UC will play Alabama in the SEC-Big East Challenge at Fifth Third Arena on Dec. 1.
Here is the full slate of games.
Snap analysis: The Bearcats added a top team out of the available SEC bucket. It's yet another 2012 tournament team added to the non-conference schedule. Toss in the New Mexico game and you have a nice little non-con season ticket package to go with your strong Big East slate.
--- Let's take a deeper look at Alabama. The Tide finished last year 21-12 and a 9 seed in the Big Dance. The lost by one to Creighton in the first round. Anthony Grant dealt with an avalanche of dissension and eventually suspended leading scorer JaMychal Green for four games in the middle of conference play. Green decided to transfer this offseason.
In fact, they lose Green (14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) to graduation and Tony Mitchell (13.1, 7.0) was kicked off the team.
The only returner to average double figures was G Trevor Releford, who averaged 12.3 points a game as a sophomore. Top recruit Trevor Lacey will be back for his sophomore season. He averaged 7.3 points, but comes with piles of potential as a five-star top recruit. Also, G Levi Randolph will be back for a sophomore season. He was ranked as the 30 best recruit in the country by Rivals and averaged 6.5 points a game last season.
Point being, their strength will be on the perimeter. Considering the same exists with the Bearcats, this should be a fun backcourt matchup to watch.
They'll be young and developing on the interior, of course, you could say similar things about UC who will still be trying to find the answer to replace Yancy Gates.
--- How did Alabama rank among the possible SEC draws? Here were the options:
Kentucky (38-2, National Champs)
Alabama (21-12, NCAA, first round)
South Carolina (10-21, no post)
Tennessee (19-15, NIT)
Georgia (15-17, no post)
Mississippi State (21-12, NIT)
Kentucky, who went to Notre Dame, an interesting choice and possibly a sign of the times, the event recognizing quality teams for the coming year and not just the traditional names.
And the Irish are feeling pretty good since Scott Martin gained his sixth-year of eligibility.
If you weren't going to gain the Holy Grail of the event in the Wildcats, Bama was the clear second choice as far as pedigree. It shouldn't have taken the trip to the BE title game and back-to-back years with tourney wins to make the conference understand the quality of play and national relevance of UC, but if that's the case, so be it. At least they see it now.
--- So, here's where we stand on the highlights of the much discussed non-conference schedule (2012 NCAA tournament seed):
Home: Alabama (9), New Mexico (5)
Neutral: Iowa St. (8), Oregon (3NIT) or UNLV (6), Xavier (10)
Road: Marshall (5NIT)
UC will play a minimum of four teams in last year's Dance and possibly five depending on the UNLV-Oregon result.
How many at-large tournament teams did UC play the last few years in non-con?
2011-12: 1 (Xavier)
2010-11: 1 (Xavier)
2009-10: 4 (Vanderbilt, Gonzaga, Maryland, Xavier)
2008-09: 4 (Florida State, Memphis, Xavier, Mississippi State)
Additionally, Mississippi State is the lone non-Xavier game played at home against an NCAA tournament team.
Of course, there are no guarantees the teams on this year's schedules will turn out to make the tournament, but early projections insist they will (Iowa State maybe an exception) and that's about all you can measure it by.
Mick and Whit set out to improve the non-conference schedule, specifically at home, and there's no denying they've done just that on both planes.
--- As for how many tournament teams do some of the so-called top non-conference schedulers play? Here's a peak at some from last year from each top conference:
Kentucky - 4 (Kansas, UNC, Indiana, Louisville)
Ohio State - 3 (Florida, Duke Kansas)
Kansas - 5 (UK, Georgetown, Duke, USF, Ohio State)
Duke - 5 (Temple, Ohio State, Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State)
Cal - 3 (Missouri, San Diego State, UNLV)
Georgetown - 4 (Kansas, Alabama, Memphisx2)
Clearly, UC sits on the same level as the heaviest of hitters from coast to coast. If you find a reason to complain this year, you need to spend your money on a therapist instead of basketball tickets.
Here is the full slate of games.
Snap analysis: The Bearcats added a top team out of the available SEC bucket. It's yet another 2012 tournament team added to the non-conference schedule. Toss in the New Mexico game and you have a nice little non-con season ticket package to go with your strong Big East slate.
--- Let's take a deeper look at Alabama. The Tide finished last year 21-12 and a 9 seed in the Big Dance. The lost by one to Creighton in the first round. Anthony Grant dealt with an avalanche of dissension and eventually suspended leading scorer JaMychal Green for four games in the middle of conference play. Green decided to transfer this offseason.
In fact, they lose Green (14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) to graduation and Tony Mitchell (13.1, 7.0) was kicked off the team.
The only returner to average double figures was G Trevor Releford, who averaged 12.3 points a game as a sophomore. Top recruit Trevor Lacey will be back for his sophomore season. He averaged 7.3 points, but comes with piles of potential as a five-star top recruit. Also, G Levi Randolph will be back for a sophomore season. He was ranked as the 30 best recruit in the country by Rivals and averaged 6.5 points a game last season.
Point being, their strength will be on the perimeter. Considering the same exists with the Bearcats, this should be a fun backcourt matchup to watch.
They'll be young and developing on the interior, of course, you could say similar things about UC who will still be trying to find the answer to replace Yancy Gates.
--- How did Alabama rank among the possible SEC draws? Here were the options:
Kentucky (38-2, National Champs)
Alabama (21-12, NCAA, first round)
South Carolina (10-21, no post)
Tennessee (19-15, NIT)
Georgia (15-17, no post)
Mississippi State (21-12, NIT)
Kentucky, who went to Notre Dame, an interesting choice and possibly a sign of the times, the event recognizing quality teams for the coming year and not just the traditional names.
And the Irish are feeling pretty good since Scott Martin gained his sixth-year of eligibility.
If you weren't going to gain the Holy Grail of the event in the Wildcats, Bama was the clear second choice as far as pedigree. It shouldn't have taken the trip to the BE title game and back-to-back years with tourney wins to make the conference understand the quality of play and national relevance of UC, but if that's the case, so be it. At least they see it now.
--- So, here's where we stand on the highlights of the much discussed non-conference schedule (2012 NCAA tournament seed):
Home: Alabama (9), New Mexico (5)
Neutral: Iowa St. (8), Oregon (3NIT) or UNLV (6), Xavier (10)
Road: Marshall (5NIT)
UC will play a minimum of four teams in last year's Dance and possibly five depending on the UNLV-Oregon result.
How many at-large tournament teams did UC play the last few years in non-con?
2011-12: 1 (Xavier)
2010-11: 1 (Xavier)
2009-10: 4 (Vanderbilt, Gonzaga, Maryland, Xavier)
2008-09: 4 (Florida State, Memphis, Xavier, Mississippi State)
Additionally, Mississippi State is the lone non-Xavier game played at home against an NCAA tournament team.
Of course, there are no guarantees the teams on this year's schedules will turn out to make the tournament, but early projections insist they will (Iowa State maybe an exception) and that's about all you can measure it by.
Mick and Whit set out to improve the non-conference schedule, specifically at home, and there's no denying they've done just that on both planes.
--- As for how many tournament teams do some of the so-called top non-conference schedulers play? Here's a peak at some from last year from each top conference:
Kentucky - 4 (Kansas, UNC, Indiana, Louisville)
Ohio State - 3 (Florida, Duke Kansas)
Kansas - 5 (UK, Georgetown, Duke, USF, Ohio State)
Duke - 5 (Temple, Ohio State, Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State)
Cal - 3 (Missouri, San Diego State, UNLV)
Georgetown - 4 (Kansas, Alabama, Memphisx2)
Clearly, UC sits on the same level as the heaviest of hitters from coast to coast. If you find a reason to complain this year, you need to spend your money on a therapist instead of basketball tickets.