Easiest/Toughest opening stretch

[gtmoBlue]

Who's got the easiest opening conf run? Who's got the toughest?

Creighton's is pretty good. 4 winnable games, @SH - Prov - StJ - @Gtwn. We've never won @Gtwn.

[Hall2012]

While it's dangerous to call anyone in this league an easy win, Seton Hall has a pretty favorable opening 5 games.

Creighton (68% KP, 66% BPI)
St. John's (78% KP, 82% BPI)
@Butler (54% KP, 55% BPI)
@Marquette (56% KP, 51% BPI)
Georgetown (90% KP, 91% BPI)

As shown above, the Hall is favored by both Kenpom and ESPN BPI game predictors in all 5 games, and pretty heavily so in the 3 home games. While they both add up to about 3.5 wins, I think anything less than 4-1 in this opening stretch would be a major disappointment. That said, the Hall has had a tendency to start slow in league play, so I wouldn't be surprised with disappointment.

[BigmanU]

Georgetown's first five

Butler (puncher's chance)
@Marquette (winnable)
@DePaul (winnable)
Creighton (have their # at home, so puncher's chance)
@St. John's (winnable)

If we can get by with a 3-2 record or better, who knows? It will be tough sledding however. Couldn't have asked for a more favorable opening to BEast play in a rebuild year. That Butler game is definitely a tough opener, at least it's at home.

[DeadHeadHoya]

Georgetown's first five

Butler (puncher's chance)
@Marquette (winnable)
@DePaul (winnable)
Creighton (have their # at home, so puncher's chance)
@St. John's (winnable)

If we can get by with a 3-2 record or better, who knows? It will be tough sledding however. Couldn't have asked for a more favorable opening to BEast play in a rebuild year. That Butler game is definitely a tough opener, at least it's at home.

Im really hoping the Hoyas surprise us and put together a winning record in the Big East. They have to start out hot.

[Wizard of Westroads]

Just curious how Friar fans are feeling about this:

12/28 St Johns Away
12/31 Creighton Away
01/03 Marquette Home
01/06 Xavier Home

I keep thinking the Friars are going to get healthy and get it together. That looks like a tough stretch if they're not.

[milksteak]

Could make a pretty strong argument for Butler for toughest opening.

@Georgetown
vs. Villanova
@Xavier
vs. Seton Hall
@Creighton

[ConnersvilleBulldog]

Could make a pretty strong argument for Butler for toughest opening.

@Georgetown
vs. Villanova
@Xavier
vs. Seton Hall
@Creighton

I agree. 4 of the first 5 games are against #1, #9, #23, #25.

[BigmanU]

Could make a pretty strong argument for Butler for toughest opening.

@Georgetown
vs. Villanova
@Xavier
vs. Seton Hall
@Creighton

Yeah games 2-5 are a gauntlet. If they go 2-3, it would put them on solid footing & 3-2 would set up for an outstanding run.

[X Factor]

Xavier's first 5:

@Marquette
DePaul
Butler
@Providence
@Villanova

[gosports1]

Just curious how Friar fans are feeling about this:

12/28 St Johns Away
12/31 Creighton Away
01/03 Marquette Home
01/06 Xavier Home

I keep thinking the Friars are going to get healthy and get it together. That looks like a tough stretch if they're not.

Tough for PC. If they were healthy those games are winnable but still difficult. Would it be better to have games not expected to win like Villanova or Seton Hall first, or have them later when heathier and can pull the upset?