Boring Week

[grinderpete]

Because there is only 1 Div A game this week (before Friday). I thought that I would put out a new poll based upon last weeks crazzzzzzzy games. As I said in another thread, I am still a little bit confused who is good and who is not. Feel free to criticize the poll, because I need help before next weeks new forum poll.

1) Sonoma
2) CSU
3) UCSB
4) Colorado
5) Florida State
6) Oregon
7) BYU
Michigan
9) UCSD
10) Virginia Tech
11) Cal Poly
12) Lindenwood
13) Georgia Tech
14) Arizona
15) Northeastern
16) UCLA
17) Michigan State
18) Oakland
19) Boston College
20) Chapman
21) Duluth
22) Chico
23) Minnesota
24) Texas Tech
25) Utah

[CATLAX MAN]

UCLA is too high. They are not as good as their record. They are improved from the last few years, but the only win of note is against Chapman. Chapman, as it turns out, is not as good as it appeared. They have some young talent, but it is just that, young. The only other games that UCLA plays against top 15 teams is Arizona and UCSB. Their schedule is just not that good.

I think Georgia Tech should be a little lower. It's hard to move Colorado up that high when they haven't played a game yet, but I think they will be good when they do start playing.

Also, we'll get our first real look at Sonoma this weekend when they take on UCSD and VA Tech. They should handle these 2 teams, but it will be interesting to see what the season brings for this team with as small a roster as they have. Very short bench here for SSU could be a problem for them later in the season if injuries hit.

[WaterBoy]

Ok. I couldn't really think where to put this, but since this thread is going in that direction anyway... here goes.

I think that this year, more than any other year of recent memory, the top ten is a toss up. Let it sink in before you all get defensive.

Last year, the spots from about 7-15 were particularly difficult to determine. This year, I think it may go from the top down. There are two ways to interpret what I feel is going on this year- either some of the top tier programs have taken a small step backwards, or the teams breaking into the upper ranks have just bridged the gap.

I know it will make people mad- but I think it is a combo of the two, leaning towards the former. Personally, I think graduation hit a lot of the top schools hard last year. If what I've read is correct, UCSB and Michigan both lost 12 seniors, and CSU and BYU also lost a good deal of talent. SSU graduated some of their strong middies, and with another out for a few weeks with a broken hand and Cannis inelligible, they remain an unknown.

Please be clear- in no way am I saying that any of these teams are bad. To do so would be foolish and disrespectful to those programs. What I am saying, however, is that if I got to pick between going to the national tourney this year, and going any of the past 4, I would choose this year hands down.

The road to a national championship this year is open to more teams (as in teams having a solid shot) than any tourney I've seen.

I will admit that I had to change what would have been my tone for this post- several hours ago it was going to be more along the lines of "this is the year for a non-powerhouse to win the championship- and I was going to point to teams like Oregon, UCSD, and FSU. The Michigan game tonight changed my tone a little.

Now I just think that the "pack" may be bunched up near the top. In my opinion, the top 2 (Noma and CSU) should be there until someone beats them- as in someone shows they deserve those spots. The next couple of places? Just try to figure it out in your head- I think UCSB has a good claim at 3rd- then... BYU? Michigan? FSU? CU?

I think we won't really know much until after this weekend- when Noma gets to flex some muscle against some more solid competition- and even then a lot of the mental conundrum still exists.


On a little bit of a side note (I just like these cause they're fun- if I recall there was one last year between SFU, Oregon, and Chico)

Cal Poly beats BYU, so logically Cal Poly is better, right?
UCSD beats Cal Poly, so logically UCSD is better.
Michigan beats UCSD, so Michigan is better.
BYU beats Michigan- so BYU is better than Cal Poly?

Clearly there are circumstance to each of these- but I just like it when games turn themselves into unresolvable logic orders.

[Sonny]

I like the cut of his jib

[lionslaxfan]

Lindenwood is too low. They beat #11 Oakland, #16 Northeastern, and #25 Minnesota.

[TheLoo]

Not only should Lindenwood move up, but how can Minnesota move up? Minnesota lost all three games.

[WaterBoy]

I think the best way any team can get respect from poll voters has to be to let the scores speak for themselves. I am not a poll voter, but I pay attention to who wins which games.

I'm sure that since they face the responsibility of determining rankings, that they also *occasionally* glance at the game results.

As personal comment, I know that I roll my eyes every time I see a post about how Lindenwood (or any other team for that matter) doesn't get enough credit. You may be right, but it will straighten itself out. They made the tournament, and clearly they're good- but boosting them in the forum won't change the fact that the poll voters (and others) are already seeing who's winning what.

This is in no way restricted to Lindenwood- I think they have a lot of potential and talent.

I know this has been hit on before, but posts such as "this team should be higher" or "this team doesn't belong at such and such a place" make me frustrated. The poll voters aren't reimbursed, and each poll is representative of their good-faith effort to determine how good each team is- it's not easy and it takes a great deal of time.

Give respect where it's due and represent your team by letting it speak for itself- also give respect to the others that are like your team and putting forth the effort to get where they are, whether they're in the top 25 or not.

[Timbalaned]

Feel free to criticize the poll, because I need help before next weeks new forum poll.

I think this is what they were going for...

[wheelz33]

Not only should Lindenwood move up, but how can Minnesota move up? Minnesota lost all three games.

Minnesota lost all 3 games to top 20 teams. And only the Northeastern game was out of hand (score wise). Losing to Lindenwood by only 3 goals is a good showing. You can lose 3 games to top 20 teams and still be the 23rd best team in the country. There's a reason they are ranked below the other 3 teams, they aren't supposed to be as good.

[Adam G]

Wheres Minnesota-Duluth?

[laxfan25]

Wheres Minnesota-Duluth?

#21 - will go higher!

[chefy]

Wheres Minnesota-Duluth?

#21 - will go higher!

huge test for Duluth come the 14th and their west coast trip.