The schedule is just BRUTAL!! How many games even after a 5 and 0 Start will we be favored in?
Mich St Home Underdog Top 25
Purdue Away Underdog Top 25
NW Away Underdog always hard and they are good
Ohio State Home Underdog #38 votes
Michigan St Away Underdog Top 25 AGAIN twice in 5 games
Penn State Away maybe it is a couple points...even
Wisconsin Home Underdog Top 25
Ohio St Away Underdog #38 again--twice in 5 games
Maryland Home Underdog Top 25
Illinois Away Underdog but 2nd best opportunity thru 10 games
Iowa Home hopefully even or plus
Rutgers Away hopefully plus
Indiana Home Underdog Top 25 at #3
Michigan Home Underdog Top 25
Maryland Away Underdog Top 25
Penn State Home Slight Favorite?
Nebraska Home Hopefully Favorite
Wisconsin Away Underdog Top 25
So, that is six somewhat even games...how much pressure is that? ... to be expected or HAVE to win all the games kinda close to get to 6 wins? Sheesh
If we lose one or two of the 6 and score an upset we are still at 5 or 6 wins .... accomplishing that should get coach of the year votes
We can be 0 and 10 and have coached well, and played decent... how at that point do you find the confidence to bounce Iowa and win on the road even at Rutgers...
Pitino can absolutely coach!!! No doubt in my mind!! But my gosh the task is set up sooo difficult.
I really want him to be here next year. I am just worried the AD will only see the losses... maybe we shock the world but 9 games versus Top 25 teams, 2 games versus Ohio St who may be Top 25 when we play them that'd be 11 games out of 18 ... remaining 7 best chances...4 are on the road... leaves Iowa who is not a gimmee by any means, Penn St and Nebraska at Home
5 wins with the brutal beginning schedule and Pitino should be celebrated! 6 or more wins and Pitino is a magician!!!
Talk about mental toughness, imagine the task of staying positive and confident with that gauntlet! Hopefully, we shock 1 of the first two games and have the 3's go in off the backboard all day versus NW and the whole thing looks different at 2 and 1.