Top 10

[JerzWB]

Alright, let the games begin. I know that Colorado plays Oregon still today, and ASU plays Oregon on Tuesday, so you can wait to reply until after if you would like.

Who's your top 10? (A little reasoning / justification always sparks a good debate!)

[Ravaging Beast]

UCSB also plays Colorado State on Tuesday.

[JerzWB]

Good call, I guess we will have to wait until then!

[Ravaging Beast]

I'll have to go with my Top 15.

1. BYU (One loss, but beaten most of the top teams)
2. Michigan (Wins vs NCAA teams are not enough IMO to make them #1)
3. Oregon (Two big losses, but some big wins early in the season)
4. CSU (Still beating who they need to beat)
5. Colorado (Undefeated in Arizona, that is tough to do. Plus six wins in a row after losing to TAMU.)
6. SSU (Don't know why they are here, but where else could I put them. Similar situation as UM-D)
7. UM-D (Decided not to drop them as far as I previously thought they would drop)
8. FSU (Lost pretty bad to an NCAA team, but I still think they are legit)
9. ASU (Big win today, but who gives up that many goals and still wins.)
10. UCSB (Not many games to judge them on since the last poll)
11. Northeastern (I trust the people who say they are for real, but if they don't get the AQ, they shouldn't make the tournament)
12. Utah (Some big upsets, but also being upset themselves)
13. Arizona (Winless this weekend.)
14. Cal Poly (Big loss to Cal. Gotta hurt them)
15. Lindenwood (Hangs on to #15)

Maybe some corrections to come.

[azlaxmax45]

what about sb only putting up 3 on csu today?

[CATLAX MAN]

what about sb only putting up 3 on csu today?

What about it? It's called good defense.

I agree with RB's Top 5, except I'd flip flop Mich & BYU. The next group I think should be:

6. Florida St.
7. Arizona St.
8. Minnesota-Duluth
9. Northeastern
10. Utah
11.Sonoma
12. UCSB
13. Arizona
14. Lindenwood
15. Florida

[Theflow]

What could put FSU at number 6? Florida and FSU have done almost the same things this year, but they are 9 spots apart? FSU has one team in top top 15 all year, and they lost that game. Florida did exactly the same to the same team. I just need some justification for FSU always floating in the top 10 for no good reason.

[Timbalaned]

Is this the end of the small schools or are SSU and UCSB having off years? With the top 5-7 potentially being larger schools with large D1 athletic the schools that are traditionally from smaller conferences are falling off. Is this because of the fact now that more and more quality lacrosse is being played all across the country and the UCSB and Nomas can't draw from as many players anymore, or are they just down this year?

[Ravaging Beast]

Is this the end of the small schools or are SSU and UCSB having off years? With the top 5-7 potentially being larger schools with large D1 athletic the schools that are traditionally from smaller conferences are falling off. Is this because of the fact now that more and more quality lacrosse is being played all across the country and the UCSB and Nomas can't draw from as many players anymore, or are they just down this year?

I think it is an off year for them compared to past years, but you can't count them out. The bottom line is that UCSB and Sonoma have tournament experience. Both coaches have won National Championships. Last year UCSB was a #10 seed and was one goal away from being in the championship game. Expect both teams to have a great showing in Dallas assuming voters rank them high enough to make the tournament.
I also don't think it is a big school v little school deal. It has gotten increasingly harder to get into UCSB and Sonoma has lost its allure. You are from around Sonoma. You know what it is like. Many Californians have been getting recruited to go to DI, DII, and DIII schools. Sometimes all it takes is a fancy letter to get a high school kid to come to your school.

[westcoastlax]

Very true RB.
Unlike schools like Oregon, Min-Duluth, CSU, who get all the local players with any talent (not to mention any good lacrosse player that is mormon will go to BYU), California talent are all jumping ship to the east coast because of success of players like Ben Horn, Spencer Wright, and Will Yeatman. Recruiting on west coast is getting extemely competitive.

[JerzWB]

1. Brigham Young……….Key Wins #4 SCU, #6 UMD, #7 SSU,#10 UA, #11 ASU, #12UCSB…………….Key Loses #3 Oregon
2. Michigan…………..……..Key Wins #9 FSU, # 14 Florida
3. Colorado State….…….Key Wins #6 UMD, #7 SSU, #13 Utah, #25 LMU…………………………......…….Key Loses #2 BYU, #3 Oregon
4. Colorado……………..….Key Wins #3 Oregon, #10 UA, #11 ASU, #23 TEXAS, #25 LMU………………..Key Loses # 17 TAMU
5. Arizona State………....Key Wins # 3 Oregon, #13 Utah, #17 TAMU, #? Chapman……………………...Key Loses #2 BYU, #5 Colorado
6. Oregon…………………...Key Wins #2 BYU, #3 Oregon, #4 CSU, #6 SSU, #10 UA, #25 SFU…………...Key Loses #5 Colorado, #11 ASU
7. Northeastern….……...Key Wins #10 UA
8. Arizona……..…….....Key Wins #13 Utah, #15 Lindenwood, #17 TAMU, #? Chapman….Key Loses #2 BYU, #3 Oregon, #5 Colorado, #8 Northeastern
9. Utah…………………….....Key Wins #6 UMD, #13 UCSB………………………………………………….....…………….Key Loses #4 CSU, #10 UA, #11 ASU
10. UMD……………………...Key Wins #15 Linedwood, #16 Cal Poly……………………………….………………..Key Loses #2 BYU, #4CSU, #13 Utah
11. Sonoma………………...Key Wins #16 Cal Poly……………………………………………….……………....………….Key Loses #2 BYU, #4 CSU, # 3 Oregon
12. Florida State………....Key Wins #18 Georgia, #20 VA Tech, #24 GA Tech………………………………..Key Loses #1 Michigan
13. UCSB…………………....Key Wins #16 Cal Poly, #22 BC, #25 LMU…………………………….……………….Key Loses #2 BYU, #4 CSU, #13 Utah
14. Cal Poly………………...Key Wins #15 Lindenwood……………………...…………………………….……………….Key Loses #6 UMD, #7 SSU, #12 UCSB, #Unranked CAL
15. Florida………………....Key Wins #18 Georgia, #19 MSU…………………..………………………………….…….Key Loses #1 Michigan

[univduke21]

Very true RB.
Unlike schools like Oregon, Min-Duluth, CSU, who get all the local players with any talent (not to mention any good lacrosse player that is mormon will go to BYU), California talent are all jumping ship to the east coast because of success of players like Ben Horn, Spencer Wright, and Will Yeatman. Recruiting on west coast is getting extemely competitive.

I know that in the state of Colorado we have TWO D1 Programs, one that went to the national tournament last year. So I wouldn't say that all of our talent goes to CSU. There is CU in state as well. Not to mention that we have numerous kids leave for DI, DII, and DIII schools in the midwest and back east. And I would say in my own opinion that this happened before kids started to leave CA for the same schools.

[onpoint]

My opinion is that nearly ALL of the top talent in Colorado goes elsewhere for college lax. CSU and CU definitely get some very good kids, but predominantly the best players in the state are playing varsity lacrosse either at DU or somewhere else.

[John Paul]

The same has been the case in Michigan for more than 20 years (even before guys like Dave Morrow were leaving). This trend should be expected, and it's also natural that it's spreading West over time. California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Washington are just some of the last states to experience it.

[horn17]

Very true RB.
Unlike schools like Oregon, Min-Duluth, CSU, who get all the local players with any talent (not to mention any good lacrosse player that is mormon will go to BYU), California talent are all jumping ship to the east coast because of success of players like Ben Horn, Spencer Wright, and Will Yeatman. Recruiting on west coast is getting extemely competitive.

Not the same for UMD either, we lose out on kids that all NCAA Divisions 1 -3 .....