3/28/07 Division A Poll is out!

[RopeNoRope]

I'm just going to throw out there the idea that most pollsters might have submitted their rankings prior to the end of the ASU vs. Oregon game.

[lex]

Lex can you post what the rankings would be right now based on your system? It would be interesting to see how different your poll would be from the "coach's poll." Include the number of points each team has.

Excellent idea. Check back for it later today. I'll use the SOS rankings from LaxPower.

[Rob Graff]

One other point - If you are going to apply this methodology, how are you going to take into account that teams do not have a uniform number of games when points are awarded on a per game basis?

[Beta]

I'm just going to throw out there the idea that most pollsters might have submitted their rankings prior to the end of the ASU vs. Oregon game.

Perhaps...but weren't the votes due a few hours after the game? I doubt people were turning in votes before the #1 team played another ranked team.

[Sonny]

I'm just going to throw out there the idea that most pollsters might have submitted their rankings prior to the end of the ASU vs. Oregon game.

Some did that, but many revised their vote after the conclusion of the ASU/Oregon game (not to mention the other games from yesterday like SCU/Texas & CSU/UCSB).

Voters had until 11pm Eastern to change their vote.

[CATLAX MAN]

I think you will find that relying on a polling system that relies purely on mathematical formulas will produce a result that is less accurate than the current system that is being used. That is the system that Laxpower is based on and we all know that their results are far from reality.

Frankly, I have much more trust in the set of poll voters that this league has and has had in the past. These people are well informed about our league and know how to interpret results. They have proven over & over in the past that, by the end of the season, the right teams end up at the tournament.

Sonny is right about the point totals. A few placement point changes in the next poll could result in teams moving a number of spots, perhaps more than you would expect. Let's have a little trust in the system. I guarantee you that it works pretty well. There may be some teams that look a little out of place in their current spot, but it will work its way out by tourney time.

[LaxTV_Admin]

I'm just going to throw out there the idea that most pollsters might have submitted their rankings prior to the end of the ASU vs. Oregon game.

I cannot speak for all pollsters, but I know that everyone was aware of the ASU vs. Oregon and CSU vs. UCSB games yesterday. I also know that many of the pollsterswere making sure they checked the Live Action Game Reports forum before voting. Thanks to those who updated that forum to give us an accurate report of the game.

[Ravaging Beast]

I'm just going to throw out there the idea that most pollsters might have submitted their rankings prior to the end of the ASU vs. Oregon game.

Then how do you explain Oregon dropping so much?
I always have a lot of trouble with how people complain about the rankings. You can never ague "we beat this team, so we should be above them." Just doesn't work ME. You probably lost to someone lower than you, so deal with it. I am very impressed by this poll. I have never seen first place this close. Anyone going to comment on a 3 point margin between first and second place. And Sonny already mentioned the close margin between 6,7,8 and 10, 11, 12. For all you complainers, that means they could easily be in any of those spots.

[Danny Hogan]

One other point - If you are going to apply this methodology, how are you going to take into account that teams do not have a uniform number of games when points are awarded on a per game basis?

[Sonny]

Frankly, I have much more trust in the set of poll voters that this league has and has had in the past. These people are well informed about our league and know how to interpret results. They have proven over & over in the past that, by the end of the season, the right teams end up at the tournament.

Sonny is right about the point totals. A few placement point changes in the next poll could result in teams moving a number of spots, perhaps more than you would expect. Let's have a little trust in the system. I guarantee you that it works pretty well. There may be some teams that look a little out of place in their current spot, but it will work its way out by tourney time.

Bingo.

In the 10-year history of the national tournament we have only had like 4 or 5 non-Top 5 teams EVER make the national semifinals:
UCSB in 2006 (10 seed wins over 7 seed UCSB and 2 seed Noma)
FSU in 2005 (Noles upset BYU)
UCSB in 2001 (8 seed upsets top seed Michigan)
Stanford in 2001
Simon Fraser in 1999
(Am I missing anyone else?)

IMHO, the poll is pretty accurate and gets more accurate each year.

[Ravaging Beast]

#10 UCSB 2006

[Sonny]

#10 UCSB 2006

Thanks. edited above.

[BOWSER]

With four polls left there are still many changes that will occur. My advice: relax and enjoy the lacrosse over the next weeks. Arguments are more fun with the final poll anyways.

[CATLAX MAN]

UCSB in 2001 (8 seed upsets top seed Michigan)

I think they were the #9 seed that year.

[sohotrightnow]

Cal 1999...#8 seed I think.