[American Blood]

It seems AU is the team most feel should not have gotten in the tournament. AU's pre-conference schedule was more than a joke. Their biggest pre-conference victories came against powerhouses Rutgers and Southern Miss. That 5 point vicory vs. Denver was also impressive. On the downside, they were thrashed by Western Kentucky 89-70 and humiliated by Western Michigan 72-54. It's pretty much shock city that the tigers even got in. 5-9 in their last 14 games, combined with the weak schedule, consider yourself lucky.

[Wyatt's Torch]

consider yourself lucky.

I would.

However, something you may not know about those last 14 games. 2 were against Kentucky (1 in Rupp), 2 were against MSU (1 on the road), 1 was against Florida, 1 against UGA (on the road), 1 against Alabama (on the road), 1 against LSU (on the road). In other words, it was a very, very tough stretch against teams from "the best conference in America" as vitale called the SEC.

Vitale can't have it both ways - cupcake schedule versus finishing 2nd in the Western Division of the "best conference in America". Which one is it???

[Wyatt's Torch]

An interesting site RPI Rankings that rates OOC schedules. Interstingly, Auburn's was #33 ahead of teams like Kentucky, Pitt, Michigan State, Maryland, LSU, Gonzaga, Colorado, NC State, Tennessee (120). Boston College had an OOC ranking of 57.