News Bot
News Bot
The Sunday Blog comes at you on Super Sunday which is America’s excuse to eat badly, drink too much and leave parties early because work comes early. Really, shouldn’t Monday be a holiday? For me, it’s a break from college basketball, but just a short one.
1. In Sunday’s newspaper I pointed out something I talked about on my Dooley Noted podcast, that Florida’s schedule is always back-ended because the Gators are the second-best brand in the SEC and TV wants big college basketball games after the Super Bowl leading up to the Madness. Here’s how Florida has fared in the last 10 games of the regular season starting with the 1999-00 team. It’s not pretty. But if you look, of 56 losses over the 14 seasons, 40 of them were on the road.
1999-00
Record: 8-2.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Tennessee.
NCAA: Sweet 16.
2000-01
Record: 9-1.
Lost: At Kentucky.
NCAA: Lost second round.
2001-02
Record: 6-4.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Alabama, at Ole Miss, Kentucky.
NCAA: Lost first round.
2002-03
Record: 6-4.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Tennessee, at Georgia, Kentucky.
NCAA:Lost second round.
2003-04
Record: 5-5.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Tennessee, at Georgia, LSU, Kentucky.
NCAA: Lost first round.
2004-05
Record: 7-3.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Mississippi State, at LSU.
NCAA: Lost second round.
2005-06
Record: 6-4.
Lost: At Alabama, Tennessee, at Arkansas, South Carolina.
NCAA: Champions.
2006-07
Record: 7-3.
Lost: At Tennessee, at LSU, at Vanderbilt.
NCAA: Champions.
2007-08
Record: 3-7.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Tennessee, Mississippi State, Tennessee, at Vanderbilt, LSU, Arkansas.
NCAA: NIT.
2008-09
Record: 4-6.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Tennessee, Mississippi State, Tennessee, at LSU, at Georgia.
NCAA: NIT.
2009-10
Record: 5-5.
Lost: At Kentucky ,at South Carolina, Xavier, at Georgia, Vanderbilt..
NCAA: Lost first round.
2010-11
Record: 8-2.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Mississippi State.
NCAA: Elite Eight.
2011-12
Record: 5-5.
Lost: At Kentucky, Tennessee, at Georgia, at Vanderbilt, Kentucky.
NCAA: Elite Eight.
2012-13
Record: 6-4.
Lost: At Kentucky, at Arkansas, at Missouri, at Tennessee.
NCAA: Elite Eight.
2. Time for our weekly look at the SEC bubble and we are really down to four teams. Florida and Kentucky are in and Arkansas and Alabama need not apply.
Tennessee, RPI 40.
Last week: Big week for the Vols who bounced back from their loss at Florida to beat Ole Miss and Alabama.
This week: The Vols are still an enigma but they need to sweep at Vanderbilt and at home against South Carolina.
Missouri RPI 51
Last week: The Tigers got a big win at Arkansas and their home loss to Kentucky won’t hurt them.
This week: It should be an amazing environment in the O-Dome on Tuesday and then they have to go to Ole Miss. Big, big week for Frank Haith’s team.
LSU RPI 52
Last week: The Tigers would be in right now after beating Kentucky and Arkansas, both at home.
This week: LSU goes to Georgia and plays host to Auburn. Two dangerous teams that can hurt your resume.
Mississippi RPI 57
This week: It could have been a disaster with the loss at Tennessee and what looked like a home loss to South Carolina. But the Rebels rallied against the Gamecocks.
Next week: OK, Rebs, it’s all right there for you. They play at Kentucky and at home against Missouri. Let’s see what they have.
3. I don’t have a vote and we’re only eight games into the SEC season but if I did have a vote and the season ended today I’d vote for Jabari Parker of Missouri for SEC Player of the Year. Enjoy watching him on Tuesday night. All of Missouri’s guards (I call them “Team Shoulders” because their guards all look like they’re wearing pads) can play but Parker is the guy I want taking my last shot.
4. And then there were two. Arizona finally went down when it lost on a last-second shot at Cal. Meanwhile, Syracuse remained unbeaten with a game that lived up to the hype against Duke. The best chances for the Orange to lose? Feb. 12 at Pitt, Feb. 22 at Duke, and March 1 at Virginia. Duke did show one thing — if you can make jump shots, the Orange defense isn’t this mythical wall of impenetrability. Wichita State is also undefeated but continues to get no respect because only five of its 22 wins have come against teams in the top 100 in RPI. The Shockers are going to be the X-factor in your bracket, mark my words.
Source: GatorSports.com - Dooley's Desk
