5/2/07 Division B Top 25 Poll is out

[Kyle Berggren]

The problem with it is how your conference is viewed. I agree that it doesn't mean your 2009 team is such & such... but with all the talk about such & such conference is under-rated, you have to take the chance to prove it. Losing a game & saying, ah, it was a consolation game doesn't fly as well in the B. These A teams are playing teams they've played earlier in the season & will play in their 6-8 OOC games the following years. In the B, if you don't play a national schedule, you have to take every game you can & try to win them. An 0-4 showing in Dallas isn't going to get a team, the best team in whatever conference in '08, back into the top ten for '09. It's going to hurt the ranking of the rest of your conference behind you... That's the point I was trying to make.

While it's tough to motivate the kids, it's one of the only ways to rank the conferences. The OOC games don't just help rank teams, they help rank conferences. If CCLA & SELC teams, come out & wipe the floor with the competition, or even lose a tough first game to the eventual #1, but go 3-1, they'll get more respect the following year as will the rest of their conference. It may be something small, but as a B we should take these games seriously. When else are you going to get to play a game against the top team from a conference across the country. It sounds like my view isn't going to be the majority, but if I'm complaining looking for respect, I'm going to show up & try to take it. I guess I'd love to see these more as grudge matches than a scrimmage.

[Arklax]

How about Southwestern on the cusp of an at-large? If 2 of the 3 teams just above them (Montana State, Calvin, and UNC) bow out in their first games this weekend, will the voters move Southwestern up to 11? Would they deserve it?

[GrizLens]

Having seen both Montana State and Northern Colorado play this year, and Southwestern at nationals last year, I'd have to submit that both RMLC teams could easily handle the Pirates. Not sure if other conferences really realize just how strong the RMLC-B is this year.

[Hi-Line Lax]

If Dayton wins this weekend and moves ahead of Montana are we really going to give two teams with a combined 1 win against the top 10 (that happened in Feb) get byes for the first round?
I'm not trying to knock either Dayton or St. Thomas because I'm sure they can both compete at a high level, but this really doesn't seem reasonable. An undefeated Dayton is one thing, but I still can't figure out how St. Thomas doesn't drop after their loss this past weekend.

[horn17]

because they lost to the NUMBER 1 team in the country....twice.... by a total of 5 goals...

Who else has played St. Johns this year to a two goal game - not to mention in a league championship game....2 weeks removed from their first battle

Sorry...I was there...these are two great teams, and St. Thomas is right where they should be...

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

because they lost to the NUMBER 1 team in the country....twice.... by a total of 5 goals...

Who else has played St. Johns this year to a two goal game - not to mention in a league championship game....2 weeks removed from their first battle

Sorry...I was there...these are two great teams, and St. Thomas is right where they should be...

St. John's beat Northern Colorado 6-3
St. John's beat St. Thomas 7-4

Montana beat Northern Colorado 17-10, and they called off the dogs early in the 2nd half.

"hanging" with the #1 team in the country does tell us you're good. . .but in order to lose and not drop in the polls, you would think St. Thomas beat 7 top-20 teams this year. No, wait, that was Montana. My bad.

[wapiti]

The score was 15-10, Montan vs. UNC. Also, I'm not sure anyone 'called the dogs off'. From what I heard is was tightly contested game between 2 talented teams, in Montana. To suggest that Montana walked away with this game is inaccurate.

[Hi-Line Lax]

wapiti- don't know who you are or who you talked to, but we certainly did take out our starters... we had another top ten game later that afternoon. This is not to discredit UNC at all, they are a really good team... were it not for the officials really blowing that 4th quarter (I think the score was 1-0) we probably would have had to put our starters back in, but we were fortunate that we didn't have to.

[bjlaxman16]

St. John's beat Northern Colorado 6-3
St. John's beat St. Thomas 7-4

This SJU/UNC game keeps getting brought up, but again it was the very beginning of the season (mid Feb).

SJU's win over San Diego last year was also in mid Feb and didn't carry much weight.

Even looking at Montana, only a month ago they lost to UVSC and Montana St which knocked them out of the top 10, but they have made a big turn around since and are now #5.

So why should a game 2 1/2 months ago be looked at just as carefully? Not saying that SJU has improved and UNC hasn't, but I find it hard to believe that these two teams would presently play and get a similar score.

[wapiti]

I think that all games should be considered to a degree. That's why you play them. True enough, good teams do develop and improve over the course of the season, but relatively speaking you can and should draw inferences from each game played. SJU, UST, and UNC all went on to have great seasons as a case in point. When a team schedules a game they should be aware, in my opinion, that early season or late season it will be considered.

[Kyle Berggren]

So why should a game 2 1/2 months ago be looked at just as carefully? Not saying that SJU has improved and UNC hasn't, but I find it hard to believe that these two teams would presently play and get a similar score.

But because we don't play such a large national schedule, it's tough to completely discount it. We only have the games we've played to go on, & even the games vs. common opponents. You're right, we probably wouldn't have a 6-3 game, both teams are picking up they're play. Every game counts, whether it was in February or June. It is easier to recover from a loss earlier in the season when you're winning as of late, but each game counts.

I think it's interesting to point out that while SJU has had a few close games this year (it was alluded too that they did not), so has Westminster our other #1. No one has been untouchable & not in a few close games. Dayton may be the exception, but it should be interesting to see these teams compete come Dallas. Quite frankly, we don't know exactly how to rank the top 10 because several of those teams haven't played anyone else there. They'll get a chance to prove their metal soon.

[danza]

So I want to say this year before any of the games start that it would be really nice if every team took all of the consolation games seriously. I am a little sick of people making excuses and saying we didn't care, or we didn't want to play because we were pissed we lost or anything. I feel like a lot of teams will make the excuse after losing that they didn't take it seriously. Have some respect for the sport of lacrosse and the integrity of your program and your conference by playing all out in every game. I know that it would be nice if you were in the championships but if you only play lacrosse to win the championships then you might be disappointed every year.

Im sorry if this is not the time to say this or it didn't need to be said or I'm way off base but I can't stand it and I'm trying to avoid some papers I should be doing.

[Andy Sharp]

There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.

-Vince

[horn17]

because they lost to the NUMBER 1 team in the country....twice.... by a total of 5 goals...

Who else has played St. Johns this year to a two goal game - not to mention in a league championship game....2 weeks removed from their first battle

Sorry...I was there...these are two great teams, and St. Thomas is right where they should be...

St. John's beat Northern Colorado 6-3
St. John's beat St. Thomas 7-4

Montana beat Northern Colorado 17-10, and they called off the dogs early in the 2nd half.

"hanging" with the #1 team in the country does tell us you're good. . .but in order to lose and not drop in the polls, you would think St. Thomas beat 7 top-20 teams this year. No, wait, that was Montana. My bad.

Montana lost to UVSC and Montana St - who did St. Thomas lose to?

St. Johns....thats it...

[Sonny]

So I want to say this year before any of the games start that it would be really nice if every team took all of the consolation games seriously. I am a little sick of people making excuses and saying we didn't care, or we didn't want to play because we were pissed we lost or anything. I feel like a lot of teams will make the excuse after losing that they didn't take it seriously. Have some respect for the sport of lacrosse and the integrity of your program and your conference by playing all out in every game. I know that it would be nice if you were in the championships but if you only play lacrosse to win the championships then you might be disappointed every year.

Im sorry if this is not the time to say this or it didn't need to be said or I'm way off base but I can't stand it and I'm trying to avoid some papers I should be doing.

There is a reason the NCAA has gotten rid of consolation & 3rd place games in virtually all of their championship sports.

The MCLA is going in that direction. Personally, I think you should get to play one consolation game, if you lose on the first day. That is it. If you lose in the quarterfinals, you have played twice in Dallas and your season is over.

There is just no good way to end a season. The finality of all is emotional for all involved and you can't artificially pump players/coaches up to give the same effort after a loss in the national championship tournament.