Quick nugget regarding ISU/s SEC matchup for hoops next year

[CYUL8R]

Beating Tennessee would be a nice poke to EIU!

Oh hey, we made it to the second page before someone mentioned the losers to the east...small victories, I guess.

Count me in for Kentucky home or away. Niang and crew will be ready to hit the ground running this fall and we need to keep the big-boy pants on. I have confidence in Fred's ability to find an impact transfer this offseason and the fact that we are going to have a REALLY solid team already next year. Now if McKay can just get that waiver to play right away...

 

[cyclones500]

If Kansas doesn't get rematched with Florida, and since KU-UK is probably out because of that other tournament, I'm curious which team would face Kansas @ Kansas (or a close neutral site) — if the series has any legs, there has to be at least a few marquee matchups each season, and it'd start near the top in a traditional power structure.

Beyond UF & UK, that leaves *maybe* Tennessee, and — gasp — Missouri.

 

[roundball]

I'd like to see us play Missouri. It still rubs me wrong that they skated out of the Big 12 with a nine-game winning streak against us. I want to see that changed!

 

[JP4CY]

The Big 12 will want Baylor to play a top team too. That game at Jerry World between Baylor and Kentucky last year was pretty good.

 

[Erik4Cy]

Beating Tennessee would be a nice poke to EIU!

Because beating them head to head, being ranked higher than them, winning a conference tournament, getting a higher seed, and advancing much farther than them wasn't a big enough poke?

Just worry about Iowa 1 game a year and then move on people. We have enough bragging rights as it is being a better program.

Oh hey, we made it to the second page before someone mentioned the losers to the east...small victories, I guess.

I think there will always be those Cyclone fans that no matter how much better ISU is than Iowa they will still worry about "sticking" it to them. Want to stick it to a rival? Make them irrelevant.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Beating Tennessee would be a nice poke to EIU!

Please stop.

 

[chuckd4735]

Beating Tennessee would be a nice poke to EIU!

As well as Mercer! I love poking the Mercer, um, Tigers?

 

[CoKane]

What sucks about playing the SEC is that there isn't anyone that great to play outside of Florida and Kentucky. Tennessee is decent sometimes, but who else is a great resume booster? Georgia? LSU? Missouri? Hopefully Bruce Pearl can turn Auburn around so they could make the SEC better as a whole.

 

[CyKings]

The Big 12 will want Baylor to play a top team too. That game at Jerry World between Baylor and Kentucky last year was pretty good.

I doubt it. Baylor doesn't have enough of their talent returning. The powers next year in Big 12 Basketball as I see them are KU, ISU, Texas, and K-st. Beyond that maybe OU, but OSU, Baylor, WVU all will take a step down, and TCU and Tech (though Tubby makes them interesting) will be down with them.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

I doubt it. Baylor doesn't have enough of their talent returning. The powers next year in Big 12 Basketball as I see them are KU, ISU, Texas, and K-st. Beyond that maybe OU, but OSU, Baylor, WVU all will take a step down, and TCU and Tech (though Tubby makes them interesting) will be down with them.

If Austin returns I do not see Baylor dropping back much, if at all. Maybe not a Sweet 16 team, but likely better than 9-9 in conference play.
OU will be better imo. They have 6 good Big 12 guards, what should be an All-Conference rebounding machine, and some good frontcourt recruits.
I also could see WVU finish the same in conference play, but be stronger in the non-conference. Harris is a loss, but before that they potentially were going to challenge for the conference title.

 

[Dingus]

I don't see why there aren't more of these BCS/BCS deals every year. Tough non-conference schedule helps everyone. I wish the Big 12 would get one going with the Big 10 as well. I don't see anything wrong with having Iowa, an SEC team, and a Big 10/Pac-12 team on the non-conference schedule every year.

 

[Dingus]

I doubt it. Baylor doesn't have enough of their talent returning. The powers next year in Big 12 Basketball as I see them are KU, ISU, Texas, and K-st. Beyond that maybe OU, but OSU, Baylor, WVU all will take a step down, and TCU and Tech (though Tubby makes them interesting) will be down with them.

Outside of those in the know, however, will see ISU as losing Ejim and Kane and only gaining a low 4* PG, a mid-major transfer, and a JUCO.

 

[CYcoFan]

If Kansas, Kentucky and Florida are given the choice by those that put this together they will play at home. Since the schedule isn't locked in for next yr I almost guarantee that Kansas, Florida and UK play at home.

That means Baylor at Florida and ISU at UK then Tennessee at Kansas and Georgia/ Arkansas at Texas. Then you work from there

 

[BallSoHard4Cy]

If Kansas, Kentucky and Florida are given the choice by those that put this together they will play at home. Since the schedule isn't locked in for next yr I almost guarantee that Kansas, Florida and UK play at home.

That means Baylor at Florida and ISU at UK then Tennessee at Kansas and Georgia/ Arkansas at Texas. Then you work from there

I doubt Donovan and Self will back down from playing a road game. Calipari, not so sure.

 

[CyKings]

Outside of those in the know, however, will see ISU as losing Ejim and Kane and only gaining a low 4* PG, a mid-major transfer, and a JUCO.

And keeping 3 Starters (1 more than last year) and 2 contributors. Last year only 2 contributing guys we really kept were Ejim and Niang.

Even CW said it. We have a shot at being in preseason top 25, which no one was talking about last year. I agree that it's all about perspective, but people outside the "know" as you say will still see this team with more proven returners than a lot of other teams.

 

[gocubs2118]

If Kansas, Kentucky and Florida are given the choice by those that put this together they will play at home. Since the schedule isn't locked in for next yr I almost guarantee that Kansas, Florida and UK play at home.

That means Baylor at Florida and ISU at UK then Tennessee at Kansas and Georgia/ Arkansas at Texas. Then you work from there

They don't have a choice, if it's anything like the Big 10/ACC challenge.

Not to mention KU played on the road last year.

 

[DhaCheann]

If its an all SEC championship this weekend..I hope ISU gets to play the Nat'l champ in the Big 12/ SEC challenge

 

[bigsexycyclone]

I'd take Kentucky in a heartbeat. They'll probably be overrated and still trying to figure things out that early in the season. And it's a game that will only look better as the season goes on.

very much agree with this. great point

 

[CarlHungus]

I'd like to see an old Big 8 matchup with Mizzou, probably won't happen though

 

[RustShack]

I could honestly see Kentucky. Kansas won't play them, and I doubt they play Florida again. I don't know who Tennesse/Georgia/Ole Miss have returning but they might get someone projected to be good outside Kentucky/Florida.

Fred's respect level is at an all time high and he has a lot returning for the first time. They might want the electric high scoring Cyclones playing a top team in this challenge.

And I highly doubt it's as clean cut as alternating home and away every year. That cuts the potential matchups in half.