[EKUAlum05]

however, it was the same last year and it didn't seem to bother them as they were cakewalking thru the eastside of the bracket..

Not quite.
The teams are the same for the most part, but the schedule is much weaker.

Last year Wburg played:
5A North Laurel 8-3 (14-31 L)
3A Pike Central 7-6 (48-26 W)
3A Wayne County 14-1 (12-40 L)

This Year Wburg plays:
5A South Laurel *2-8 (44-7 W)
3A Pike Central *6-6 (42-14 W)
3A Wayne County *4-8 (52-21 W)
2A Newport *8-5 (31-22 W)
*= Most Likely Season Ending Record

-North Laurel from 2013 is a much better team than South Laurel in 2014.
-Pike Central in 2013 was a much better team that Pike Central in 2014.
- Wayne County in 2013 was night and day difference from this year's version



- I didn't include Harrison County and Knoxville Halls but these were two bad teams last year, and two bad teams this year

+ The only positive is in place of their 9 Game Schedule they added Newport who isn't a half bad team. Thanks to a very weak region I expect Newport to play for a Regional Title. It doesn't help though that the best team Wburg has faced and struggled to beat is a team who will probably finish with 5 losses on the season.

Bottom line is that Wburg is not remotely as challenging as it was last year and truth be told I think their schedule last year is what helped propel them in the playoffs having seen quality bigger schools including an outstanding Wayne County team who kicked their teeth in. This year, outside of a decent Newport, Wburg will not see a good team until the Regional Finals. Big disadvantage. Steel sharpens steel. Marshmallows make steel sticky.