LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

Before the next poll comes out, I was wondering how the pollsters and non-pollsters value and/ or factor in consistent play vs potential for an upset when ranking teams.

So as not to make this a discussion on any particular team I've created 2 hypothetical teams, and I'm just wondering if you had to pick one of these teams to go to nationals, which one would it be, and why?

Both Team A and Team B are ranked between 12-15th and have the same record.

Both Team A and Team B lost to a Top 5 team by several goals

Team A went 1-1 vs teams ranked 6-10th
Team B went 0-2 vs teams ranked 6-10th

Both Team A and Team B beat 1 team ranked 16-19th

Team A lost to an unranked opponent
Team B has won all contests against non-ranked opponents


So again, the question is when it comes to rankings and/or what you'd rather see at nationals, is it a team that is capable of the upset but also able to be upset, or is it a team that wins the ones they are suppose to and loses the ones they are suppose to?

i'd go with a just because they've got that win against a higher ranked opponent.

I've purposely not followed the A as well as I should have, but my first thought is how do the Arizona schools and BYU fit into this picture?.... Your illustration assumes teams are playing consistently, which I know we've had a problem with in the past.

As far as who I'd like to see in Nationals... can I pick George Mason? Who is the George Mason fo the USLIA? Texas? A&M?

As far as rankings though it's easier to rank Team B because they beat everyone ranked below them but lost to teams ranked above them so you know basically within a spot or two fo where they belong. The problem with Team A is that on any given night you don't know what you are going to get. And so it's hard to say well they belong at #12 or #17. So a team like Chapman is going to ride the roller coaster in the polls.

Since we are talking about college club lacrosse, you are only as good as the team you take on the road. If team A got their top ten win at home and then lost on the road to an unranked opponent you have to go with B.