2nd MDIA Div. A Poll (3/9/05). Thoughts, Predictions, etc.

[Danny Hogan]

No one on their schedule is a top 15 team period, the only team that made the tournament last year was MN-Dulth and that is because they won the AQ. It's too bad that they don't play anyone good this year but don't tell me that they are a better team than Utah and that they deserve an AQ if they don't win their conference. If you don't win that conference you don't deserve to see how good you are. Lindenwood is a decent team dont get me wrong but not until they beat someone noteworthy they ain't anything. This is the last that I have to say on this topic because it is begninning to make me mad that we are talking about a subject like this.

i dont' want to start a big debate with you because i dont' feel strongly on the subject. Look at 'oaks' rebuttle to the scheduling arguement and then ask an older teammate what AQ stands for.

[Sonny]

I make the rules

And Barry writes the songs that makes the whole world sing.

Real Time with Bill Mahrer references and now Barry White.

What next Walter? Is there an IROC sighting in our future. Could Walter be the second coming of MandibleS4L?

[Sonny]

No one on their schedule is a top 15 team period, the only team that made the tournament last year was MN-Dulth and that is because they won the AQ.

Actually Texas and Missouri made it last year too. From last year's final poll, they scheduled to play:

#13 UMD
#15 Missouri
#16 Miami OH
#17 Texas

For an unranked team, that's a decent schedule. You don't know what's gonna happen.

I think this post is dead on accurate (as it relates to Lindenwood). I don't see anyone claiming that Lindenwood should vault into the Top 5 for the next poll.

For Div. A MDIA teams ranked from around 6/7 through 30/35, the competition is all the same. Most of these MDIA teams are all fighting to get into that top 15 mix for at-large consideration for the national tourney. So it makes sense to attempt to schedule that way and play that type of competition (esp. out of conference).

Your path to Blaine doesn't go thru UCSB/CSU/Sonoma/Michigan/BYU/Arizona. It goes thru the next grouping of teams such as Oregon, Simon Fraser, Washington, Texas Tech, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU, Missouri, Illinois, Washington Univ, Lindenwood, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota, Oakland, Miami, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Florida, Georgia, NC State, Boston College, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Utah, Colorado, Chapman, UCSD, Cal Poly, Chico State, LMU, Arizona State, etc.

[Walter]

I make the rules

And Barry writes the songs that makes the whole world sing.

Real Time with Bill Mahrer references and now Barry White.

What next Walter? Is there an IROC sighting in our future. Could Walter be the second coming of MandibleS4L?

sonny, i dont want to have to be the one to correct you all the time but it is Barry Manilow not White. And i hope you do not have a problem with IROC's because they are sweet. Also I am not affiliated with Mandible.

[yourmom]

Hey Walter do you have a mullet too? ^

[Walter]

Hey Walter do you have a mullet too? ^

yes.

[Dan Wishengrad]

For Div. A MDIA teams ranked from around 6/7 through 30/35, the competition is all the same. Most of these MDIA teams are all fighting to get into that top 15 mix for at-large consideration for the national tourney. So it makes sense to attempt to schedule that way and play that type of competition (esp. out of conference).

Your path to Blaine doesn't go thru UCSB/CSU/Sonoma/Michigan/BYU/Arizona. It goes thru the next grouping of teams such as Oregon, Simon Fraser, Washington, Texas Tech, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU, Missouri, Illinois, Washington Univ, Lindenwood, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota, Oakland, Miami, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Florida, Georgia, NC State, Boston College, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Utah, Colorado, Chapman, UCSD, Cal Poly, Chico State, LMU, Arizona State, etc.

Sonny has hit the nail on the head here. Scheduling OOC games against the elite teams only makes sense if you really think you have a chance to WIN at nationals and need to experience the competition during the regular season first. Or, if you just want to have the experience of suiting up against the best at least once. Scheduling Colorado State in 2004 was a risky venture on UW's part, because we might not have recovered from another shelling like the Rams gave us in the opening round in St. Louis in 2002. Fortunately, the Huskies responded by competing evenly for the first forty minutes and played a closer game than the 12-5 final score might otherwise indicate. That game certainly helped us grow as a program and it gave us a little confidence to just play lacrosse and not be in awe the big guys. But scheduling the teams Sonny lists here makes the most sense, and we are pleased to have gotten games with Cal and Chico in already, and we're honored to have Rhode Island and Chapman arrive next week for the Husky Indoor Tourney. The "mid-level" MDIA competition is getting better and better, and we're looking forward to some great lacrosse in Seattle this year.

PS and one of the "etc"s is definitely Oregon State. They may be a secret outside the Northwest, but the Beavers can play...

[Walter]

What time is the poll going to be out today?