Yeah part of the problem is the way their schedule sets up.
Yes they get to play what most consider the top 3 teams in the Big 12 (K-State, Utah, OSU) all at home, but with the caveat that both Utah and OSU are late in the year... 2 of their last 3 games.
I think there's a decent chance they are floundering and wouldn't be surprised if Hunter and Sanders opt out if they are something like 2-6 after their game with Tech in Lubbock on Nov. 9. Then they have to finish with Utah, @ Kansas, Oklahoma State. Those three games could get real ugly if they have given up at that point...
Looking at their schedule, I would hammer the under:
vs. NDSU - should probably win but could very easily lose
@ Nebraska - I think Rhuel in year 2 handles them easily
@ Colorado State - should have lost to them at home last year. Very easily could lose
vs. Baylor - will Baylor have a bounce-back year? This looks like their best/easiest chance for a conference win on paper
@ UCF - they will get blasted
vs. K-State - loss
@ Arizona - loss
vs. Cincy - best chance outside of Baylor for a conference win
@ Texas Tech - probably a loss
vs. Utah - loss
@ KU - loss
vs. OSU - loss
Honestly I think the absolute best case for them at this point is 4-8. Wins vs. NDSU and CSU in non-conference and then 2 conference wins from Baylor, Cincy and maybe Texas Tech.
The train wreck version is probably lose all three non-conference games and win maybe 1 Big 12 game.
I think 3-9 is probably about the most likely outcome.
LOL at the "Family Sentiment" score. Like what the hell does that mean? We getting dinged because of the pom squad having a scissor party in front of the library or something?
That's not exactly fair.
He's at least responsible for getting the Big 12 into position to potentially benefit from this. I mean, just think about the perception of the Big 12 two years ago. Everyone just assumed that it was dead in the water when OU/Texas announced they were leaving. The consensus at the time was that the PAC and/or ACC would expand and take the best of the remaining programs* and the rest would be left for G5 death. (Just go back and look at this thread at the time for lots of examples, lol)
Instead, he kept the conference alive long enough to out-maneuver the PAC and essentially hasten its demise and allow him to add four new solid programs; now he's in a position to step on the ACC's throat as well.
This turn of events would have been seen as WILDLY unlikely two years ago.
* I believe if Yormark was heading up either of those leagues, that's EXACTLY what they would have done instead of sitting on their hands only to get out-flanked and implode.
OSU with two straight days of finishing games after midnight.
Sure am glad we are playing in a souless dome like Globe Life so that everything stays on schedule, lol.
I mean... I feel like it rains plenty in Alabama, too, but they somehow play outdoors there. The Big 8/12 tournament was in OKC for decades and they always managed to get the games in.
I just dislike indoor baseball in general, and in particular playing the Big 12 in Globe Life just sucks all of the fun atmosphere of the tournament you get being outdoors in a smaller stadium completely away.
I'd trade the much better atmosphere and playing outside for the possibility of a few rain delays in a heartbeat.
Or Tulsa or OKC.... really anywhere that has a nice minor league ballpark.
I hate that it's in this sterile boring ass domed stadium. The atmosphere is complete trash.
That's pretty wild.
Also looks like a recipe for an early Big 12 tournament and/or regional exit.
Obliviously it's a good thing to beat up on the lower end of the conference, but a 15-0 record against the rest is absurd and has more than a little luck involved. And this is baseball - that luck will run out.
Yeah the pitching has been pretty good.
It saved us early in the year when we were squeaking out games scoring 3 and 4 runs. The bats have been better in the past month or so.