4/11/07 Division A Poll is out!

[Jay Zabel]

It looks like Gooseguy10 needs something else to do beside look up statistics about 2.5%

[JJLAX]

I hope there is greater than a 2.5% chance we stop talking about NU getting a 1st place vote and begin discussing things of consequence. The poll will work itself out. It always does.

[bullhighutewoozgriffclam]

what does everyone think about utah staying at 13 after losing thier last three, all be it to good teams? should they be higher? lower?

oh yeah and just for a free plug. my griffins (#3 B div.) take on my utes (#13 A) on saturday at westminster at 1 pm.

for this game i'll be bleeding purple. 100 %.

Good luck utes.

[CATLAX MAN]

That's a good question. Everyone was so worked up about Northeastern getting a #1 vote, that Utah's position in the poll drew no notice. Here's a team that has a 5-6 won/loss record rated above other teams with much better records. At some point, shouldn't wins count and lack thereof knock you down in the polls, especially after a loss to a team (Chapman) that would've been rated lower than them?

[ineedmorecowbell]

i believe the utes did lose a lot of points since the last poll. i think that voters know the level that utah is capable is playing at and that's why they're still ranked fairly high. the thing separating them from the teams below them are their top 10 wins. the only team they should have beat that they didn't (according to the polls anyways) would be chapman. uconn has an unbeaten record right now, but i don't think that makes them a better team. i think the u's record is more of a telling of the strength of their schedule and conference than the quality of the team. however, they certainly haven't been playing near as well lately as they are capable of.

oh and parker, i will be there yelling all kinds of things at your cute purple griffins and you in your cute purple coat.

[BOWSER]

I mentioned Utah's position in another thread. I know many teams that are "capable" of playing at a higher level but dont do it. The polls should not represent what is "capable", but what is done.

[Hugh Nunn]

That's a good question. Everyone was so worked up about Northeastern getting a #1 vote, that Utah's position in the poll drew no notice. Here's a team that has a 5-6 won/loss record rated above other teams with much better records. At some point, shouldn't wins count and lack thereof knock you down in the polls, especially after a loss to a team (Chapman) that would've been rated lower than them?

With respects to Utah's losses (especially to Chapman) I'm with you on this one. But the truth is, that the road to the National Championship has always travelled through the WCLL or RMLC. Were I still a Top 25 poll voter , I would weigh more heavily good perfomance vs top teams than and undefeated record against teams outside the top 10 (see Minnesota Duluth). I would not have a problem voting a Sonoma State with 3 or 4 close losses to top teams as higher than, say Auburn a few years ago when they went undefeated in the regular season, and went to Nationals a 2 seed (if memory serves).

[ineedmorecowbell]

i guess when i said "capable," i should have clarified. i just meant that utah can clearly play well, as seen by their top ten wins. those wins are done and in the books. i didn't mean "capable" as in what they should have done in other games. on the poll matter, i just don't see any teams below utah with anything on their resume to put them ahead of utah. i hope that all makes sense.

anywho, utah is really just hanging on right now and needs a big late season push to punch their ticket to nationals.

[CATLAX MAN]

I don't think it's as easy as that. They have 2 wins (UMD & UCSB) against rated teams, but 6 losses (counting Chapman since they would've been rated) and some of those losses were blowouts. By the time the conference championships are over, if Utah's results will follow similar patterns, they will have 2 more losses on the books barely putting them at .500.

Now, if I'm a team like Texas A & M, who has not played the same type of schedule but has a win over Colorado and 2 losses against the AZ teams and a overall record of 10-2, I would be thinking why are these guys rated over us?

The way the ratings are right now, and assuming there are no upsets in the conference tourneys, Teams 1 through 16 get in. Utah at #13 is pretty safe right now, but should they be?

[BOWSER]

Has that ever happened? (top 16 teams get in)

[More Cowbell]

BC beats Northeastern 7-6. BC never trailed after Northeastern scored the 1st goal.

This should shake things up a little bit.

[Danny Hogan]

what does everyone think about utah staying at 13 after losing thier last three, all be it to good teams? should they be higher? lower?

i noticed it right away and thought "what in the heck will it take for Utah to drop?"

didn't mention it because i didn't want it to be misconstrued as sour grapes over the gators dropping 4 spots.

[detlaxhead]

Teams by conference
CCLA- 1
GRLC- 1
LSA- 1
PCLL- 1
PNCLL- 1
RMLC- 4
SELC- 1
UMLL- 1
WCLL- 5

I guess this would continue the trend of teh RMLC and WCLL dominating....

I think it is interesting that 4 out of the 5 RMLC teams get in, or 80% of the conference. 5 WCLL teams is a lot, but still only 25% of the conference. As the title says, is the rest of the MCLA really that far behind talent wise of the RMLC? And if the answer is yes, why it is so? I love fun questions.

[westcoastlax]

BC beats Northeastern 7-6. BC never trailed after Northeastern scored the 1st goal.

This should shake things up a little bit.

I guess that answers the question of whether they deserved that first place vote or not.

[CATLAX MAN]

Has that ever happened? (top 16 teams get in)

NO