20 minutes ago, SnottieDrippen said:

And Reno was clearly talking about the post where I mentioned that they played no fewer than 3 Regional Champions in the early part of last season’s schedule. 

So you think all regions are created equally? 

17 minutes ago, HoopJunkie said:

So you think all regions are created equally? 

I think to suggest that a team who won their region  is a weak, or as you so eloquently put it, "middle school" opponent is very Skip Bayless of you. 

That being said, I was incorrect in my initial post on the thread. They defeated only two eventual regional champions. I will add that they also bested 14% of the state's district winners. I'm not saying every district or region is great, but if a team gets to the last two tournaments of the year, they're clearly a formidable opponent. 

14 minutes ago, SnottieDrippen said:

I think to suggest that a team who won their region  is a weak, or as you so eloquently put it, "middle school" opponent is very Skip Bayless of you. 

That being said, I was incorrect in my initial post on the thread. They defeated only two eventual regional champions. I will add that they also bested 14% of the state's district winners. I'm not saying every district or region is great, but if a team gets to the last two tournaments of the year, they're clearly a formidable opponent. 

I didn’t say they were weak. I said their schedule is weak. Which it was. Your “14% of district winners” stat is also very Skip Baseless. This season the schedule looks better. Wish they had accepted the KOB invite instead of choosing to play a tournament in Pikeville against teams already on their schedule. But still. They have some good opponents early. Mayes has the fan base excited, obviously. 

9 minutes ago, HoopJunkie said:

I didn’t say they were weak. I said their schedule is weak. 

No, you said they were middle schoolers, when in fact a couple of them were playing at Rupp. You can see the difference, I'm sure.  

I was bullish on Ashland last season as well, largely because I don't get many opportunities to watch 16th Region hoops, but thanks to your expert evaluation of their schedule, I feel that we will actually get a true indication of Ashland's proficiency this year. 

6 minutes ago, SnottieDrippen said:

No, you said they were middle schoolers, when in fact a couple of them were playing at Rupp. You can see the difference, I'm sure.  

I was bullish on Ashland last season as well, largely because I don't get many opportunities to watch 16th Region hoops, but thanks to your expert evaluation of their schedule, I feel that we will actually get a true indication of Ashland's proficiency this year. 

No. I said they played a middle school schedule. Harsh? Yes. Obviously they didn’t. But the only fair word to describe it was “weak”. They have a lot of talent. They’ll walk through the 16th again. Hopefully they get to play. Hopefully they all do. And hopefully we have a postseason. I don’t have a kid playing. Or a favorite team. I just go to a lot of games. Eyes are better than stats.

On 10/17/2020 at 3:12 PM, Reno said:

What makes you “not a buyer” on Ashland.  Coming off an undefeated season.  Key players returning and added some very good players.  Just curious what your thoughts are on this. 

I  was thinking the same question. It wasn’t  like they didn’t play anyone last season on their way to a 33-0 record. They had road wins at Clark Co (with a starter out) , Mason Co and Johnson Central. They defeated Warren Central and Butler at home and Trinity at Transylvania. They defeated some very good teams in the state of West Virginia such as Capitol, Spring Valley And George Washington. They stampeded through the regional tournament at Morehead St. 
What else did they need to do for anyone to not doubt them. 
 

Did everyone notice that HoopJunkie has Ashland in his top 5 for this season?  That's hardly dismissing them as a non-contender.

5 hours ago, HoopJunkie said:

I didn’t say they were weak. I said their schedule is weak. Which it was. Your “14% of district winners” stat is also very Skip Baseless. This season the schedule looks better. Wish they had accepted the KOB invite instead of choosing to play a tournament in Pikeville against teams already on their schedule. But still. They have some good opponents early. Mayes has the fan base excited, obviously. 

I don’t agree that Ashland’s  schedule was “weak” last season. Of course they played some teams in their region not all that strong but playing Warren Central, Butler, Trinity, Clark Co, Johnson Central, Mason Co and 3 very talented teams from West Virginia does not equate a weak schedule. All teams have several weaker teams on their schedule. You can’t play top 20 teams every night. 
 

This season they have Male and Covington Catholic early in their schedule. Those will definitely be difficult games for them and should give an idea to where they should rank. I believe they’re also in the Marshall County Hoopfest. 

20 minutes ago, The Professor said:

I don’t agree that Ashland’s  schedule was “weak” last season. Of course they played some teams in their region not all that strong but playing Warren Central, Butler, Trinity, Clark Co, Johnson Central, Mason Co and 3 very talented teams from West Virginia does not equate a weak schedule. All teams have several weaker teams on their schedule. You can’t play top 20 teams every night. 
 

This season they have Male and Covington Catholic early in their schedule. Those will definitely be difficult games for them and should give an idea to where they should rank. I believe they’re also in the Marshall County Hoopfest. 

They are in the Hoopfest. Coach Mays has done what he can to give them a quality schedule outside of regional play. For what its worth I don't feel like they dodged the KOB, it just didn't make sense to commit to it when they were invited, from what I've been told. Coach Mays isn't one to dodge teams, but playing anyone anywhere, anytime,  doesn't always work out as far as scheduling goes, especially during covid and out of state teams not knowing if they can even make the trip.

4 hours ago, JDEaston said:

They are in the Hoopfest. Coach Mays has done what he can to give them a quality schedule outside of regional play. For what its worth I don't feel like they dodged the KOB, it just didn't make sense to commit to it when they were invited, from what I've been told. Coach Mays isn't one to dodge teams, but playing anyone anywhere, anytime,  doesn't always work out as far as scheduling goes, especially during covid and out of state teams not knowing if they can even make the trip.

Why does it really matter if the out of state teams play or not in the KOB, the schedule would have been adjusted and the games would have went on.  There have been out of state teams before that have failed to show.  When all schedules were put together, there was no proof that the games will actually happen.

On 10/19/2020 at 9:17 AM, HoopJunkie said:

No. I said they played a middle school schedule. Harsh? Yes. Obviously they didn’t. But the only fair word to describe it was “weak”. They have a lot of talent. They’ll walk through the 16th again. Hopefully they get to play. Hopefully they all do. And hopefully we have a postseason. I don’t have a kid playing. Or a favorite team. I just go to a lot of games. Eyes are better than stats.

Exactly!

Looks like Cov Cath added a road trip to Bowling Green to the schedule, in the last day or so.  I believe it’s set for Feb 27.  Looks like BG will be hosting Ballard and CCH on back to back nights.  Cov Cath will host Ashland on Feb 26.  Feb 26/27 is shaping up to be a big weekend of basketball for both Cov Cath and BG.

Ashland’s schedule is still being completed but so far here are some of the games for this year (not in the order they will be played): 

 at Covington Catholic, at Lexington Catholic, at Highlands, at Dunbar, at Bardstown, at Boyle Co, at Male, Marshall Co and Fern Creek in the Hoop Fest, at Simon Kenton, at Martin Co, Robertson Co, Clark Co, at Pikeville, Bourbon Co, at Paintsville. Then there’s the usual 16th region competition such as Boyd, Russell, Rowan, etc. I notice they don’t have any West Virginia teams on the schedule, last year they played 4 games in that state. 

Ashland will play a very difficult schedule. Just like Football Ashland not play any out of State Schools.

5 hours ago, Tomcats1990 said:

Ashland will play a very difficult schedule. Just like Football Ashland not play any out of State Schools.

My guess is, these schedules will be altered again before the season ever gets started.