2008 Lax World MCLA Division 1 Top 25 Poll (4/9/08) is out

[More Cowbell]

Back to the poll for a second....I'm still scratching my head at how UCSB can lose 2 games to 2 lower ranked teams and move UP two spots...I think UCSB is a great program, but at some point their losses have to count for something....Any pollsters want to comment on why they put them where they did?

[Danny Hogan]

i dont' think the individual ballots should ever be released.

if sonny ever thought there was anything questionable going on i'm sure he'd have it dealt with without any of us even knowning.

this season has seen unprecedented parity in the league and thus many ways to slice it on here.

[westcoastlax]

Based on everything I've seen and read as of today, the SELC should have 3 teams in the national tournament and the WCLL should only have two.

However, I still believe it is far more likely to see a 3 team mix of UCSB/Sonoma/Chapman/ASU at nationals then a mix of FSU/Georgia/UF/Va Tech, and I think that would be a travesty.

This is one of the most rediculous statements I have seen all year. How can you possibly believe that only 2 wcll teams should get to go to the tourney. Sure Sonoma and UCSB haven't had their most impressive years, but FSU, Georgia, UF, Va Tech have done even less to argue their case.
The two Florida wins over SB are very good wins for the SELC and good arguments for why those teams should be ranked in the same tier as Sonoma and SB. But lets look at what else each team has done this season in the top 25.
FSU: Lost to 15Georgia/ Lost to 14V-Tech/ Lost to 12BC/ Three more wins out of Top 15.
UF: Lost to 12BC/ Lost to 2Chapman (by 11 goals)/ Win over 15 Georgia/ A win over #25, and a LOSS to #22
Sonoma: Win over 7CSU/ Loss to 5SFU (by 1)/ Loss to 8UCSB by a bunch/ Wins over #19 & #17
UCSB: Loss to 4BYU/ Win over 9Sonoma/ Loss to 6ASU (by 1)/ Wins over #21, 17, & 23.

Of the 4 SELC teams you mentioned only one team as played one other team in the Top 10 and lost by a lot. Where as Sonoma and UCSB have one Top 10 win each and one very close Top 10 loss. Maybe the 2 SB losses to the SELC should have a affected to poll a little more but it didn't.

These SELC teams are good lacrosse teams and have made good cases for themselves to be in the tourney. All of these teams are on the same level right now, and since Noma and SB play stronger schedules they will get the benefit of the doubt over Florida and Georgia. If any of these teams want to move up in the poll they better have amazing showings in the end of their seasons.

[Danny Hogan]

I never said UCSB should be in the top 10, i did say FSU and FU shouldn't be there. I would put BC over both FSU or FU though...

well thank you for making an somewhat articulate point...i agree.

though i don't see a T10 win on their resume either, they have beaten UF and FSU.

[Tom]

Back to the poll for a second....I'm still scratching my head at how UCSB can lose 2 games to 2 lower ranked teams and move UP two spots...I think UCSB is a great program, but at some point their losses have to count for something....Any pollsters want to comment on why they put them where they did?

Please back this up. Who would you put there?

[EvanFSU]

This is one of the most rediculous statements I have seen all year. How can you possibly believe that only 2 wcll teams should get to go to the tourney. Sure Sonoma and UCSB haven't had their most impressive years, but FSU, Georgia, UF, Va Tech have done even less to argue their case

I'll refrain from stating all the opinions that come to my head right now...

FSU and UF have both played a very tough schedule including one of your precious little west coast teams. In addition, FSU handily beat Utah who showed some game against CSU last week. Georgia has also played a good scheudle with a win over BC, who played very well out west. The fact of the matter is UCSB came east and lost, and is losing to teams in their league. As other people have already posted, Sonoma hasnt done anything either to put them ahead. The only thing keeping SB and Sonoma at 8 & 9 right now is history.

You west coasters always complained about east coast teams not playing strong schedules and not belonging. Now they are and they do. Get over it

[flave]

Neither FSU or FU should be considered top 10. FU lost to BC, LMU and lost by 11 to chapman. FSU has one win in the top 10 and THREE loses to teams in the 12-15 range. Sorry no top 10 for either.

you know this has been bothering me for some time now...

7. Colorado State (9 - 4)
Wins:
#12 Boston College (9-7) by two
#13 Cal Poly (8-4) by 4
#20 Loyola-Marymont (12-11) by one
#25 Arizona (11-8) by 3
Losses:
#6 BYU (6-14) by 8
#9 Sonoma State (8-9) by one -bad loss to SB
NR Utah (10-11) by one (ot) -bad loss to FSU

13. Florida (10 - 3)
Wins:
#10 UCSB (8-10) by 2
#13 Georgia (13-9) by 4
#23 UCF (13-12) by one *a do or die game for UCF might i add
Losses:
#2 Chapman (6-17) by 11
#7 Boston College (7-8) by one
NR Loyola Marymount (11-12) by one (ot)

how does that work?
just comparing two teams... not claiming rank or anything.

[1one]

csu beat UMD as well..

[flave]

sure but you shouldn't be bashing the SELC or it's teams for beating up on each other and then winning OOC games...

[Timbalaned]

csu beat UMD as well..

and Oregon

[Tom]

Neither FSU or FU should be considered top 10. FU lost to BC, LMU and lost by 11 to chapman. FSU has one win in the top 10 and THREE loses to teams in the 12-15 range. Sorry no top 10 for either.

you know this has been bothering me for some time now...

7. Colorado State (9 - 4)
Wins:
#12 Boston College (9-7) by two
#13 Cal Poly (8-4) by 4
#20 Loyola-Marymont (12-11) by one
#25 Arizona (11-8) by 3
Losses:
#6 BYU (6-14) by 8
#9 Sonoma State (8-9) by one -bad loss to SB
NR Utah (10-11) by one (ot) -bad loss to FSU

13. Florida (10 - 3)
Wins:
#10 UCSB (8-10) by 2
#13 Georgia (13-9) by 4
#23 UCF (13-12) by one *a do or die game for UCF might i add
Losses:
#2 Chapman (6-17) by 11
#7 Boston College (7-8) by one
NR Loyola Marymount (11-12) by one (ot)

how does that work?
just comparing two teams... not claiming rank or anything.

There's no questions that FL has an argument. That's why I posted earlier that the game againast FSU this weekend is huge. That would give them a win in the top 11. If FL wins, you could see them in the top 10 in the next poll.

[Danny Hogan]

Based on everything I've seen and read as of today, the SELC should have 3 teams in the national tournament and the WCLL should only have two.

However, I still believe it is far more likely to see a 3 team mix of UCSB/Sonoma/Chapman/ASU at nationals then a mix of FSU/Georgia/UF/Va Tech, and I think that would be a travesty.

This is one of the most rediculous statements I have seen all year. How can you possibly believe that only 2 wcll teams should get to go to the tourney. Sure Sonoma and UCSB haven't had their most impressive years, but FSU, Georgia, UF, Va Tech have done even less to argue their case......
......

Of the 4 SELC teams you mentioned only one team as played one other team in the Top 10 and lost by a lot. Where as Sonoma and UCSB have one Top 10 win each and one very close Top 10 loss. Maybe the 2 SB losses to the SELC should have a affected to poll a little more but it didn't.

These SELC teams are good lacrosse teams and have made good cases for themselves to be in the tourney. All of these teams are on the same level right now, and since Noma and SB play stronger schedules they will get the benefit of the doubt over Florida and Georgia. If any of these teams want to move up in the poll they better have amazing showings in the end of their seasons.

i agree strongly with most of your statements (that these teams should all be in the same relative discussion with SB and Noma maybe slightly ahead because of their competitive games with T10 teams, but then you remind yourself that SB lost to two of the teams we are comparing them to and your brain starts to go in circles)

...the arguement i think you are missing is that is that UCSB, Noma are tucked in nicely at 8 and 9 and aren't likely to move much because they will win/lose the games they should...where 2, possibly 3 of the SELC teams may be watching the MCLA tourney scores on the message boards from beating each other in the conference tourney....

UGA/FSU/UF/VT, 3 of them are going to lose to a team ranked 11+ in the conference tourney (though some may pick up wins against similar teams)....

that and the chapman/florida woodshed meeting could be put in perspective when sonoma and sb play them...

[Danny Hogan]

There's no questions that FL has an argument. That's why I posted earlier that the game againast FSU this weekend is huge. That would give them a win in the top 11. If FL wins, you could see them in the top 10 in the next poll.

FLorida's arguement is not against CSU or a #7 ranking though

[flave]

csu beat UMD as well..

and Oregon

and the now ranked #10 ducks have beaten...CU? (who has beaten...UT, zona, and CP?)

besides shouldn't Utah be ranked 8th or 9th for beating #4 and #12 in consecutive days? they should considering, like you said, CSU has a win over #3 UMD on their resume making them move their heavy roots over only about 3 spots... (i know you all wouldn't agree to that, would you?)

It just seems like every time SELC teams seem eligible to bring home to your parents, people go crazy claiming the other teams they "upset" have fallen off or something to that extent...

[EvanFSU]

the arguement i think you are missing is that is that UCSB, Noma are tucked in nicely at 8 and 9 and aren't likely to move much because they will win/lose the games they should...where 2, possibly 3 of the SELC teams may be watching the MCLA tourney scores on the message boards from beating each other in the conference tourney....

Well put, Danny