Will Paris' scheduling strategy pay off?

[18IsTheMan]

Paris deliberately loaded the early season schedule with "winnable" game as he calls them. As the article below notes, some may call them cupcakes. His goal, though, as stated, was to build confidence. Let the team get some wins under the belt. And then hope that carries over to conference play. So far, that's worked. We have more than half as many wins already as we did all last season. The alternate strategy is to schedule a couple tough, early opponents so it helps you develop and builds your March resume. Both approaches have merit and usefulness based on the makeup of the team in question.

I think Paris' approach of loading the schedule with cupcakes up front was wise in this case. It gives him a chance to find out what the team has in a low stress environment. And it does allow them to get some wins and build confidence that they can play and win. The obvious potential downside is that the team gets overly confident and isn't really prepared to play tough teams when conference play arrives. While playing cupcakes does afford a low-risk setting to evaluate the team, just like playing cupcakes in football, you may not really learn much about the team. But I think given the choice between the two, with the state of the program, Paris made a good choice. Last year we fumbled and stumbled our way into conference play at 7-6 and the season was basically lost before we even entered conference play and you could see it in the team. We will be substantially better than that record-wise this year when conference play rolls around.

Just gotta hope the confidence and overall performance carries over into conference play.

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-mens-basketball/article282447463.html

 

[Gradstudent]

 

[18IsTheMan]

Yep, 6-0 is all you can ask to be at this point, so it's according to plan so far.

 

[Benjdan]

If we have a strong conference record it doesn’t matter who our OOC opponents are come March.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If we have a strong conference record it doesn’t matter who our OOC opponents are come March.

This is true. On the other hand, if our conference record isn't great, our early season schedule will be a liability. But, again, I think if you're Paris, this is the right gamble, given the situation.

 

[92Pony]

An easier early slate not only allows the team to build confidence, but also allows the team to gel, and CLP to figure out lineups and rotations given the number of new additions. My uneducated $.02.

 

[18IsTheMan]

An easier early slate not only allows the team to build confidence, but also allows the team to gel, and CLP to figure out lineups and rotations given the number of new additions. My uneducated $.02.

That's certainly all part of it. Also, as the article notes, being undefeated early on, even if it's a cupcake schedule, works to build excitement among the fan base

 

[ToddFlanders]

I think it's a great strategy for now. He's early in his time at USC, he needs to be building the culture, enticing future recruits and transfers with the promise of winning. Progress is more important than the tournament right now.

But yes, it will absolutely cost them a spot in the tourney if they're a bubble team. But again, I don't think the tourney is as important this year as is establishing himself and the program as being "on the rise."

Next year, they've got to add a couple of tough ones for sure.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I think it's a great strategy for now. He's early in his time at USC, he needs to be building the culture, enticing future recruits and transfers with the promise of winning. Progress is more important than the tournament right now.

But yes, it will absolutely cost them a spot in the tourney if they're a bubble team. But again, I don't think the tourney is as important this year as is establishing himself and the program as being "on the rise."

Next year, they've got to add a couple of tough ones for sure.

I still don't know how Paris will work out long-term, but I think this move shows some wisdom and that he has good handle on the state of the team. He knows the team just isn't ready to schedule any big-time opponents early in the season. As you said, that time will come.

 

[Viennacock]

I'm a big Paris fan but I think we'll struggle in conference. If we could go .500 in conference, it would be a huge win.

Back to the original question. Will it pay off? In my opinion, it already has. The team is playing with confidence, fans are returning and the fans are gaining confidence in Paris. Paris has accomplished what he wanted to accomplish with the early schedule.

All that said, when the schedule was put together it wasn't necessarily an easy schedule. Seceral ACC teams, GW and some other decent schools.

 

[Deleted11512]

Our Strength of Record is 13th in the country…doesn’t seem like cupcake city to me.

 

[Bubba Fett]

We had winnable early games under Martin...

And failed to win them.

 

[Kdaddy78]

Our Strength of Record is 13th in the country…doesn’t seem like cupcake city to me.

I tend to agree with you DBS2P. Va Tech, ND, GCU, and DePaul aren't the biggest of cupcakes. I mean, Vandy lost to PC already. We do have a share of cupcakes ahead. The Clemson game will be a great indicator of where we are. They are 6-0 with a fresh win at Bammer. Conference play will be a beast but from what I have seen, .500 is not of out of reach.
We played a little rusty lastnight (Stute especially) and we pulled off a 12 pt W. We were 6.5 favs. A Martin team down 8-0 may fold early.
Excited to see where this goes!

 

[ToddFlanders]

We had winnable early games under Martin...

And failed to win them.

So true. Martin was king of the early season upset loss. Literally every year. Under Martin I feel like USC would have zero wins if they played in the SoCon or Big South.

 

[gamecock stock]

I've been on the Paris bandwagon from the start. But even I am surprised at the undefeated start, As I said before, we might have gotten lucky with the hire, you know? Paris might have been a "diamond in the rough". But if anyone takes a close look at his resume/background/achievements, they should feel really, really good about him. I still think this will be a difficult season overall. Time will tell. I just hope I can say the same about Shane and that this season was an aberration. Time will tell there too.

 

[Backyard Archer]

This is the toughest non-conference schedule I ever remember us having, not sure where this guy is getting his information.

 

[ToddFlanders]

This is the toughest non-conference schedule I ever remember us having, not sure where this guy is getting his information.

Not really. Virginia Tech was a solid win. And Grand Canyon is decent - they should win their bad conference. The rest - meh. Notre Dame was picked to finish last in the ACC; Same with VMI, Upstate and DePaul.

Those teams could end up better than bottom feeders (much like USC was picked to finish last), but right now this is an easy schedule on paper.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Not really. Virginia Tech was a solid win. And Grand Canyon is decent - they should win their bad conference. The rest - meh. Notre Dame was picked to finish last in the ACC; Same with VMI, Upstate and DePaul.

Those teams could end up better than bottom feeders (much like USC was picked to finish last), but right now this is an easy schedule on paper.

Some are making hay over the fact that we are 2-0 vs the ACC and 1-0 vs the Big East.

But 2 of those 3 teams are no good. 1 is ok.

Nevertheless, we are 6-0, which is all you can ask at this point.

 

[Viennacock]

This is the toughest non-conference schedule I ever remember us having, not sure where this guy is getting his information.

They are getting their info from our record. Wins = weak opponents

 

[Deleted11512]

They are getting their info from our record. Wins = weak opponents

That flies against the actual metrics though. The SOR metric measures the likelihood that the 25th best team in the country would have an equal or better record than ours factoring in our competition. We're 13th in the country in that metric.

 

[Viennacock]

That flies against the actual metrics though. The SOR metric measures the likelihood that the 25th best team in the country would have an equal or better record than ours factoring in our competition. We're 13th in the country in that metric.

Hey, I'm 100% with you here. I'm just trying to explain why some of the jokers on this board suggest we have played a weak schedule.

 

[Deleted11512]

Hey, I'm 100% with you here. I'm just trying to explain why some of the jokers on this board suggest we have played a weak schedule.

Yeah, it's crazy. I guess bc we're not playing Kansas, Duke, Purdue, etc...the schedule is weak. lol