As we prepare for the 2021 season to open, let's look back at the 2021 season to gain insight.
KU's first game is against Gonzaga. KU and Gonzaga finished 1st and 2nd last season in my DPPI and pretty much in the composite of computers. What a way to tip off the season, No. 1 against No. 6 in the preseason AP Poll and No. 1 against No. 2 in the final 202 rankings.
Kentucky, our third opponent, had a bit of an off-season in 2020. They finished 17th in my poll. They have another great recruiting class and are 10th in the preseason poll.
Last season the Big 12 was knocked off it's perch as the best conference in the land. But it did not fall far. It finished in a strong 2nd, much closer to 1st than 3rd. And the Big 12 easily played the toughest non-con schedule and it really wasn't close (at least compared to the power 6). There are several ways to calculate a SOS but the most meaningful (IMHO) had the Big 12 with the 4th toughest non-con schedule. The SWAC, SOuthland and MEAC all played tougher schedules. But KU had easily the toughest schedule of the Power 6 conferences.
Last season KU had the toughest schedule in the land. Gonzaga, to their credit, has scheduled a great non-con schedule, but playing in the West Coast Conference, they will never compete for a full season SOS. KU will have one of the toughest SOS this season in the last 20 years. At least, that is the way it look on paper now.
Last season KU went 17-1 to win the Big 12. What a great great year we were treated to. Using some very jankety back-of-the-envelope ciphering, KU should go 14-4 this season. But that is so janky as to be meaningless.
We'll know a lot about this team after the first 3 games.
