Who should be more concerned: BYU or Michigan?

by **the lax** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:29 am

Both of started the season off under .500 and both face tough competition down the road. Who should be worried?

**Sponsor**

by **Bluevelvet** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:14 am

Neither.

by **LAXDawg14** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:55 am

its not how ya start out the season, but its how ya finish

my own made up chinese proverb haha

but everyone would like to start the season right, but neither should be worried as long as they turn it around

by **Tim Gray** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 7:25 am

Neither team should be concerned as of yet. BYU lost to the national champions on the road in overtime, and then has the classic sports let down after a huge emotional game, and a loss to a DIII team.
Michigan lost to 2 DIII teams and a top 5 team in BYU by one goal at a neutral site. Both teams scheduled very tough trips and it will only help them when the return home to their leagues.

by **grinderpete** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 7:33 am

I agree with Blue Velvet, Neither team really has anything to worry about. They have games coming up that they should win raising thier record and giving them a chance to learn to win.
BYU plays: Arizona, Utah State, Florida. Three games that they should win.
MICH plays: Pitt, Western MI, Arizona, Lindenwood, BC, Duluth, etc. I doubt that Michigan has any trouble winning any game after this weekend.

by **DanGenck** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:00 am

Both are playing the top teams in the USL-MDIA and barely losing... I would not be concerned as a member of either team/coaching staff.

by BB on Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:12 am

This is true, but they did lose. Something that always comes up with the 10-20 teams is that a close loss to a good team is still a loss, but when the top teams lose to each other they stay in the same area rather than dropping in the polls.

It seems like there is a little bit of a double standard. "Power Elite Theory?"

Now I do know that both teams have the ability to make that ground up and resume there position in a quick manner with a string of wins, I would like to see them fall a bit more in the next polls than they probably will though. Just like a team would in every other sport and then have to climb back up with wins.

Maybe I am seeing things but in past years that is what it has looked like.

by **Danny Hogan** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:42 am

i think you'll find that close losses to top teams move #10-20 up more than a good win over a team ranked #15-40

by BB on Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:53 am

I guess I can see that point, and I still don't like it. A wins a win and a loss is a loss to me. I understand that a loss to a top team could keep you where you are, but I don't see how you can improve your poll position with a loss.

by **grinderpete** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:57 am

BB, since we are talking about BYU, lets use them as an example. BYU loses an overtime game to UCSB a game to Cal Poly and Beats Michigan. Lindenwood beats 3 10-25 teams. Should they be higher than BYU? Are they better than BYU?

by **Bluevelvet** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:47 pm

BB wrote:... I would like to see them fall a bit more in the next polls than they probably will though. Just like a team would in every other sport and then have to climb back up with wins.Maybe I am seeing things but in past years that is what it has looked like.

In other sports top teams don't fall far when they lose to other top ranked teams.
USC fell from #1 to #2 when they lost the Rose Bowl.
UConn and Villanova exchanged top 5 positions when they beat each other.
Duke's loss only dropped them one or two earlier in the year.
Definately not out of the top 5.

by **Jolly Roger** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:52 pm

If both teams were to continue losing (unlikely), BYU would have the greatest worry since they cannot win an AQ and are at the mercy of the pollsters exclusively.

by **LAXDawg14** on Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:32 pm

and duke lost again last night to FSU in Bball.....
yes! im a tarheel fan.... hometown is bout an hr away from both and my sis went to unc.....
just thought id throw that in there

by **the lax** on Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:10 am

You know who wishes Duke didn't lose. UNC. Because now they have to report to Cameron Indoor on Senior Night. JJ goes for at least 35.

In other great news, BYU lost at home to Arizona on television. They've never started a season like this. Should they be worried, absolutely. Especially with the loss of Chris Powers who was entertaining D1 offers.