2008 Lax World MCLA Division 1 Top 25 Poll (4/30/08) is out!

[iDinosaur!]

I think the biggest worry for ASU going into the tournament is their defense (or lack there of). On the year they are giving up an average of 8.9 goals a game. Against the big teams it was pure run and gun. Michigan scored 11 and BYU dropped 17. Granted they stayed in these game with their offense, but I think come tournament time history has shown that it's the teams with the strong defense that take home the trophy. The past two years (it's as far back as MCLA.us goes) both of the tournament champs have had a GAA lower than 7:


BYU 2007 6.33

CSU 2006 6.64

I think everyone knows that ASU's offense will show up, but 4 games in 5 days a lot comes down to the defense.

[Mr. Jefferson]

I love your posts RB. Just didn't think you had it in your to support somebody besides SB. But it is still the WCLL...so I get your point. Looking forward to this weekend in San Diego. Should be some great games...

When it comes down to it, I will support every WCLL team. I just don't like teams that come onto the boards pleading for support with nothing to back it up with. I think that support is gained when you excel at Nationals. Oregon did that for me last year (then went poo poo all over the place this year). ASU and UMD might be on their way this year. I always show respect for BYU, CSU, and Michigan (sometimes Sonoma). I am a pretty critical lacrosse fan. Must be something I inherited from Blue Velvet.

When It comes down to it, I agree. There is something to be said about playing ball when it is time to play some ball. I don't know anything about UMD, but their record doesn't really impress me. And watching them in the tourni last year, I kinda thought the same thing. On the other hand the Devils pooped on themselves in the game v CSU, so we didn't look all that great either. But a very young team last year, now has an appearance under there belt. It's a new thing for the Devils, and they are ready to play. Know what to expect and that you can't let anything down.

What doesnt impress you?? So they didnt play any WCLL teams this besides Zona. They beat a BYU team that ASU lost too, lost by 3 to #1, and couldnt close out a CSU 4 goal lead heading into the 4th.

Losses dont count as wins, but is a measuring stick vs. the rest of the league on head to head competition - and thats about all they are good for. RB makes the point almost once every two weeks - losses are only a measuring stick of where you are.

Couldnt all your statements about ASU also apply to UMD???

I just think its funny - some teams have to play their confrence games late because of weather situations, so they play good teams early - and now we blast them for having to play confrence games - everyone can say what they want, but Ive always thought - well if it was a good game earlier, cant both teams improve over the course of the season?? You dont have to play big games everyday to get better - thats why you practice isnt it - for improvement??? (thats why they call it practice???)

Back to the AL situations - Ive been pondering this a lot lately...I think the SELC is a stronger confrence than people realize, I think they might find a way to get 4, and I hope they do - FLA, FSU, UGA, VT all deserve a shot - of course that wreaks havoc on everything else

The best part about this weekend is, tons of scoreboard watchin'!!!!

[DG]

IF ASU wins i see them moving up to 3 or 4 probably 3, with Michigan still at 1, UMD (undeservedly) at 2 ASU at 3 Chapman 4 and BYU 5 .... now if BYU wins the RMLC tournament in impressive fashion i think they move to 4 and Chapman drops to five. Ultimately i think that UMD should be the 5 either way, but since they won't have lost i have trouble seeing the pollsters dropping them (despite them not playing any games recently, especially against decent competition).

The current poll has Michigan #1, Chapman #2, UMD #3, BYU #4, SFU #5, ASU #6. If ASU wins, it will be interesting to see where they get placed. To get to #3, they would have to leapfrog BYU, SFU and Chapman. If BYU and SFU win their conferences, I don't see that happening.

UMD deserves their ranking. They played a tough schedule (most of it early in the season) and had success at home and on the road. The fact that they haven't been challenged in a game in the past month doesn't have a bearing on their ranking...but it does present a problem for them when they go to Dallas.

DG

[Highheat]

IF ASU wins i see them moving up to 3 or 4 probably 3, with Michigan still at 1, UMD (undeservedly) at 2 ASU at 3 Chapman 4 and BYU 5 .... now if BYU wins the RMLC tournament in impressive fashion i think they move to 4 and Chapman drops to five. Ultimately i think that UMD should be the 5 either way, but since they won't have lost i have trouble seeing the pollsters dropping them (despite them not playing any games recently, especially against decent competition).

The current poll has Michigan #1, Chapman #2, UMD #3, BYU #4, SFU #5, ASU #6. If ASU wins, it will be interesting to see where they get placed. To get to #3, they would have to leapfrog BYU, SFU and Chapman. If BYU and SFU win their conferences, I don't see that happening.



UMD deserves their ranking. They played a tough schedule (most of it early in the season) and had success at home and on the road. The fact that they haven't been challenged in a game in the past month doesn't have a bearing on their ranking...but it does present a problem for them when they go to Dallas.

DG

So, ASU would move up to #5 and Chapman drop to #6? I see how this makes sense, but i think it would be a harsh drop for Chapman after an undefeated regular season (minus Ithaca). To drop them behind BYU i feel like would be a bit undeserved considereing their head to head results and the number of losses BYU had during the regular season... but at the same time you can't punish BYU too much for ASU's late season success... i think it just further illustrates the parity in the top 5-6 spots except for #1 & 2 - as long as both win their conference tourneys.

[DG]

IF ASU wins i see them moving up to 3 or 4 probably 3, with Michigan still at 1, UMD (undeservedly) at 2 ASU at 3 Chapman 4 and BYU 5 .... now if BYU wins the RMLC tournament in impressive fashion i think they move to 4 and Chapman drops to five. Ultimately i think that UMD should be the 5 either way, but since they won't have lost i have trouble seeing the pollsters dropping them (despite them not playing any games recently, especially against decent competition).

The current poll has Michigan #1, Chapman #2, UMD #3, BYU #4, SFU #5, ASU #6. If ASU wins, it will be interesting to see where they get placed. To get to #3, they would have to leapfrog BYU, SFU and Chapman. If BYU and SFU win their conferences, I don't see that happening.



UMD deserves their ranking. They played a tough schedule (most of it early in the season) and had success at home and on the road. The fact that they haven't been challenged in a game in the past month doesn't have a bearing on their ranking...but it does present a problem for them when they go to Dallas.

DG

So, ASU would move up to #5 and Chapman drop to #6? I see how this makes sense, but i think it would be a harsh drop for Chapman after an undefeated regular season (minus Ithaca). To drop them behind BYU i feel like would be a bit undeserved considereing their head to head results and the number of losses BYU had during the regular season... but at the same time you can't punish BYU too much for ASU's late season success... i think it just further illustrates the parity in the top 5-6 spots except for #1 & 2 - as long as both win their conference tourneys.

Even if they lost to ASU, Chapman should not be #6. The lowest they would go is probably #4, and even that is a little bit of a stretch. I really don't envy the pollsters' position this year.

Just to throw another couple of monkey wrenches in to the mix here...What happens if CSU wins the RMLC? What if Sonoma wins the WCLL? I think a lot of people (probably to their peril) are just dismissing the Rams and Cossacks...er, Seawolves.

DG

[Ravaging Beast]

UMD deserves their ranking. They played a tough schedule (most of it early in the season) and had success at home and on the road. The fact that they haven't been challenged in a game in the past month doesn't have a bearing on their ranking...but it does present a problem for them when they go to Dallas.

DG

This is the Duluth dilemma. Yes, they played well at the beginning of the season. They deserve their ranking based on that. But since then, they haven't even played a top 25 team. While all of the Dallas bound teams have been beating up on each other and improving their games, Duluth has been stuck with having to play a weak conference schedule. It's not their fault, it's just the way it is.

Simon Fraser is in the same boat. They haven't played a tournament bound team since mid-March. And that was a 1 goal win. Other than that game, they lost to BYU by 6 at the beginning of the season and beat TAMU by 3. Not the best resume I have seen. Luckily for SFU, they still have to play an Oregon team that is trying not to be the first team since changing to a 16 team format in 2000, to miss Nationals after being in the National Championship game the previous year (exculuding CSU when they were ineligible).

[Dan Wishengrad]

Simon Fraser is in the same boat. They haven't played a tournament bound team since mid-March. And that was a 1 goal win. Other than that game, they lost to BYU by 6 at the beginning of the season and beat TAMU by 3. Not the best resume I have seen. Luckily for SFU, they still have to play an Oregon team that is trying not to be the first team since changing to a 16 team format in 2000, to miss Nationals after being in the National Championship game the previous year (exculuding CSU when they were ineligible).

This assumes the SFU beats the Huskies and Oregon beats Montana to both advance to the PNCLL title game in the first place. Not at all unlikely, of course, but if this wild and wacky 2008 season has demonstrated one fact clearly it is that you can't just assume that the "favorite" will always win. The games are played on the field, not on the message boards. But if the Clansmen and Ducks DO meet up on Sunday, this will not be a "cake-walk" for SFU. Oregon remains a talented and dangerous team, despite the turmoil of the previous month.

[nhoskins]

UMD deserves their ranking. They played a tough schedule (most of it early in the season) and had success at home and on the road. The fact that they haven't been challenged in a game in the past month doesn't have a bearing on their ranking...but it does present a problem for them when they go to Dallas.

DG

This is the Duluth dilemma. Yes, they played well at the beginning of the season. They deserve their ranking based on that. But since then, they haven't even played a top 25 team. While all of the Dallas bound teams have been beating up on each other and improving their games, Duluth has been stuck with having to play a weak conference schedule. It's not their fault, it's just the way it is.

Simon Fraser is in the same boat. They haven't played a tournament bound team since mid-March. And that was a 1 goal win. Other than that game, they lost to BYU by 6 at the beginning of the season and beat TAMU by 3. Not the best resume I have seen. Luckily for SFU, they still have to play an Oregon team that is trying not to be the first team since changing to a 16 team format in 2000, to miss Nationals after being in the National Championship game the previous year (exculuding CSU when they were ineligible).

I hope the SELC is as good as all the SELC fans have been saying... because all those teams are on a three week hiatus til Nationals, and prior to that, the most recent of those teams to play a non-SELC tournament team was FSU, and they lost to BC over a month ago.

[OAKS]

I hope the SELC is as good as all the SELC fans have been saying... because all those teams are on a three week hiatus til Nationals, and prior to that, the most recent of those teams to play a non-SELC tournament team was FSU, and they lost to BC over a month ago.

I think the SELC has always had a few good teams every year. The problem is that while they're good, they aren't top-notch. The starters are usually just as good as the starters for the top teams, but in the past the teams' depth just isn't the same.

While I think the conference may have 3-4 teams in the tournament this year, it's going to be tough for any of them to get past the 2nd round, let alone the 1st. This doesn't mean that they aren't deserving of those spots though.

[nhoskins]

I hope the SELC is as good as all the SELC fans have been saying... because all those teams are on a three week hiatus til Nationals, and prior to that, the most recent of those teams to play a non-SELC tournament team was FSU, and they lost to BC over a month ago.

I think the SELC has always had a few good teams every year. The problem is that while they're good, they aren't top-notch. The starters are usually just as good as the starters for the top teams, but in the past the teams' depth just isn't the same.

While I think the conference may have 3-4 teams in the tournament this year, it's going to be tough for any of them to get past the 2nd round, let alone the 1st. This doesn't mean that they aren't deserving of those spots though.

I haven't seen any of the SELC teams yet this year, but look forward to seeing them in Dallas. We'll see if they're contenders or warm-up games for the top 8 teams. Based on the strength of the top 5-6 teams, I don't see any upsets coming from the 11-16 seeds regardless of who they are.

[EvanFSU]

I haven't seen any of the SELC teams yet this year, but look forward to seeing them in Dallas. We'll see if they're contenders or warm-up games for the top 8 teams

Even if the SELC teams lose, I dont think any game will be a "warmup" for any team. I know FSU and UF have been practicing everyday though I know the time of hurts.

[GeorgiaLacrosse]

UMD deserves their ranking. They played a tough schedule (most of it early in the season) and had success at home and on the road. The fact that they haven't been challenged in a game in the past month doesn't have a bearing on their ranking...but it does present a problem for them when they go to Dallas.

DG

This is the Duluth dilemma. Yes, they played well at the beginning of the season. They deserve their ranking based on that. But since then, they haven't even played a top 25 team. While all of the Dallas bound teams have been beating up on each other and improving their games, Duluth has been stuck with having to play a weak conference schedule. It's not their fault, it's just the way it is.

Simon Fraser is in the same boat. They haven't played a tournament bound team since mid-March. And that was a 1 goal win. Other than that game, they lost to BYU by 6 at the beginning of the season and beat TAMU by 3. Not the best resume I have seen. Luckily for SFU, they still have to play an Oregon team that is trying not to be the first team since changing to a 16 team format in 2000, to miss Nationals after being in the National Championship game the previous year (exculuding CSU when they were ineligible).

I hope the SELC is as good as all the SELC fans have been saying... because all those teams are on a three week hiatus til Nationals, and prior to that, the most recent of those teams to play a non-SELC tournament team was FSU, and they lost to BC over a month ago.

this is deffinitely a big problem for the SELC. Having a 3 week break is a disadvantage. It'll be really interesting to see if these teams can keep their high level of play from the selc tourney going... and hopefully they'll improve. It'll be interesting to see in Dallas

[OutCold20]

I sometimes wonder why SELC teams are always ranked so high. Georgia lost to lindenwood by 3 goals at home, but yet they are a top ten team. Lindenwood also beat Auburn...... Just dont understand some of the logic? I not saying Lindenwood should jump but mabye some teams are too high??? Texas A&M also......who have they beat to derserve such a ranking?

[vtlax88]

I sometimes wonder why SELC teams are always ranked so high. Georgia lost to lindenwood by 3 goals at home, but yet they are a top ten team. Lindenwood also beat Auburn...... Just dont understand some of the logic? I not saying Lindenwood should jump but mabye some teams are too high??? Texas A&M also......who have they beat to derserve such a ranking?

But Lindenwood lost to Georgia Tech who is unranked and they lost to Florida (SELC). Georgia has beaten BC who beat FSU etc. etc. this could go on and on. I think the SELC teams deserve the ranks they are at now.

[FLALAX]

FSU and UF especially went out of their way to play west coast teams. Cal, LMU, CU, UCSB and the list goes on all were scheduled at the beginning of the year. The SELC teams absolutely deserve the rankings they have.