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ESPN tackles each schedule and offers a grade. All in all I think it's pretty fair.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blog ... rc=desktop

I remember reading an article from hall's sbnation page about willard scheduling cupcakes. The ncaa selection conmittee has made it abundantly clear that they like a strong SOS. Not that hall is dancing this year, but i hope that when shu returns to glory that willard, if still there, schedules with strength in mind.

Article said that sometimes, depending on your team that year, you want a cupcake schedule, which i suppose has some merit-if you get rocked in conference play at least you can point to non-con wins in the early part of the season.

Hall fans, what is the general sentiment on willard? Frustrated? Wait-and-see/ give the man some time?

Also, i think o'neils analysis is spot on. I heard shes a nova grad, is that true?

ElDonBDon wrote:Also, i think o'neils analysis is spot on. I heard shes a nova grad, is that true?

http://bucks.happeningmag.com/dana-oneil-espn/

She is a Penn State grad.

She is not a Villanova grad. Worked for Philly papers before ESPN and has covered VU a good deal.

ElDonBDon wrote:I remember reading an article from hall's sbnation page about willard scheduling cupcakes. The ncaa selection conmittee has made it abundantly clear that they like a strong SOS. Not that hall is dancing this year, but i hope that when shu returns to glory that willard, if still there, schedules with strength in mind.

Article said that sometimes, depending on your team that year, you want a cupcake schedule, which i suppose has some merit-if you get rocked in conference play at least you can point to non-con wins in the early part of the season.

Hall fans, what is the general sentiment on willard? Frustrated? Wait-and-see/ give the man some time?

Well let's be honest, all teams pad in cupcakes at home in the OOC, but I agree its the rest where you can improve SOS. I think SH is in a similar spot as PC, the program has been down but is or could be rising and because of parity in the top 100 of D1, a PC or a SH could knock off the heavy favorite, which is seen as a 'bad loss' to the more powerful programs, and therefore they don't want to schedule us. I Know Ed Cooley has been trying to get some big names on PC's schedule due to the loss of the former BE schools, with only marginal success thus far.

No doubt. I should have clarified "Willard scheduling cupcakes and ONLY cupcakes." But your point about nobody wanting to play you guys is well-taken--teams don't want to lose to a perceived cupcake so nobody wants to schedule you guys because that perception is still there. Hopefully that changes as the league gets more powerful.

The average Big East Schedule is 6.2. That average is the highest of all 9 conferences they profiled.

ElDonBDon wrote:I remember reading an article from hall's sbnation page about willard scheduling cupcakes. The ncaa selection conmittee has made it abundantly clear that they like a strong SOS. Not that hall is dancing this year, but i hope that when shu returns to glory that willard, if still there, schedules with strength in mind.

Article said that sometimes, depending on your team that year, you want a cupcake schedule, which i suppose has some merit-if you get rocked in conference play at least you can point to non-con wins in the early part of the season.

Hall fans, what is the general sentiment on willard? Frustrated? Wait-and-see/ give the man some time?

Last year was very rough for the Pirate faithful as no one was hit with injuries like we were. Everyone is back and healthy (or will be by the start of the season!) but expectations are pretty tame and nowhere near where we expect our expectations should be. We had a shakeup in the coaching staff (2 new recruiting assistants) which seems to be paying off quite nicely so far . Hard to judge Willard on last year given the insane number of injuries but going forward I think he will be just fine. Right now Pirate fans seem pretty happy and when the season finally begins it will be 'just win baby!'. Next year (2014-2015) we have to make the NCAA's or things will get mighty ugly!

JOPO wrote:Last year was very rough for the Pirate faithful as no one was hit with injuries like we were. Everyone is back and healthy (or will be by the start of the season!) but expectations are pretty tame and nowhere near where we expect our expectations should be. We had a shakeup in the coaching staff (2 new recruiting assistants) which seems to be paying off quite nicely so far . Hard to judge Willard on last year given the insane number of injuries but going forward I think he will be just fine. Right now Pirate fans seem pretty happy and when the season finally begins it will be 'just win baby!'. Next year (2014-2015) we have to make the NCAA's or things will get mighty ugly!

I like your summary except I don't think the tourny is a realistic goal for next year given we loose Edwin, Teague & Ayuda to graduation. I do think the tourny should be the goal for this season, as long as Gibbs, SIna, and/or Mayaan can produce at PG this year....and keep the injuries down please.