Lax World MCLA Div 1 Top 25 Poll (3/12/08) is out!

[1one]

either northeastern or utah out but stanfords gotta break the top 25

[nhoskins]

SFU plays Sonoma #9 on the 22nd, so that will shed some light on where SFU really belongs.

I'm more surprised about teams like A&M, Lindenwood, Georgia, VT and FSU staying where they are and not dropping. I don't know what that says.

Maybe teams aren't dropping because there just aren't any other teams the poll voters feel deserve to be any higher. Sort of a "ranked #16 by default" kind of thing.

[NoFlow]

Few Comments

BYU: I don't see how a .500 team (at time of voting, and now just one game over) can be in the top 5. Granted, their schedule is against very strong opposition. I would think 6-10 range would've been more appropriate.

Northeastern: 0-4 in the top 25? . Last year's performance is definitely the only thing keeping them in the polls.

Stanford: Not in the top 25? How? Only losses to UCSB and a one goal loss to LMU. I guess their wins may not have been against good enough teams. But, I still think they warrant a spot.

[StrykerFSU]

Ya, part of it has to do with a few years back when they made it to the final four. Also being such a big name school and getting so much financial support, I would assume pollsters are pulling for them to be good.

While I think FSU is ranked a little high as well I take exception to your statement. What financial support are you referring to? You must be talking about the lacrosse alumni currently involved in fundraising at the grass roots level. Or maybe the fact that they get to use a turf field...only as long as the marching band and football team don't plan to use it. Other than that I think their player dues are comparable to any of the upper echelon programs.

I have watched FSU play twice this year and think they are a little high at #12. They are a very young team with a ton of potential. They can score goals in bunches and have a very impressive FO man. Their D is young but anchored by a very talented junior. The question will be whether they can rise to the challenge against UCSB. If they do, then I think you could see them cause a stir in the tourney much like they did on their Final Four run. If not, then they will be even hungrier and more dangerous next year as their young players will have had a year of seasoning and they will be led by senior stars such as Corey Noonan. Regardless, I don't think the pollsters have any vested interest in FSU one way or the other.

[DTwizzie]

It's good to see Cal Poly jumping up a bit as well. They have a crazy schedule this year. In a week or two they have a three game stretch of Colorado, Colorado State, and Chapman. After these games we will see where they really belong. Senior Attackman Seth Kweller is having a great year and showing why he is one of the best in the WCLL and possibly in the country. One guy that doesn't get mentioned all that much, but is definitely worthy of the mention, is Senior defenseman Marc Govan. Big fast with killer take away checks.

[CATLAX MAN]

Since Stanford beat Northeastern, you'd think they'd be rated at least above them. However, one thing that is going to work against Stanford is that their schedule is pretty soft. They don't have much of an opportunity until the WCLL playoffs to move the needle on their ranking.

[DG]

Few Comments

BYU: I don't see how a .500 team (at time of voting, and now just one game over) can be in the top 5. Granted, their schedule is against very strong opposition. I would think 6-10 range would've been more appropriate.

Just curious...which team(s) would you have leapfrog over BYU here, and why?

4. BYU 856 1
5. Oregon (2) 836 6
6. California Santa Barbara 799 5
7. Minnesota-Duluth 754 3
8. Arizona State 721 8
9. Sonoma State 692 10
10. Colorado 608 11

DG

[CATLAX MAN]

The only one you could make a valid argument for is Oregon.

[NoFlow]

Just curious...which team(s) would you have leapfrog over BYU here, and why?

Definitely Oregon. Undefeated w/ large margins of victory. Before the ASUvBYU game I might have considered them. I would even consider putting UCSB ahead of them, seeing as beating a team doesn't automatically rank you higher. UCSB seems more conisistent and stronger on defense. GA is much lower.

It makes a little more sense when you look at it your way, especially when you take away the loss to Whittier. I just think with all the other teams with stronger records up to this point in the season, BYU is ranked a few spots too high. Granted, I'd bet they end up in the top 5 rightfully by season's end.

[DG]

Just curious...which team(s) would you have leapfrog over BYU here, and why?

Definitely Oregon. Undefeated w/ large margins of victory. Before the ASUvBYU game I might have considered them. I would even consider putting UCSB ahead of them, seeing as beating a team doesn't automatically rank you higher. UCSB seems more conisistent and stronger on defense. GA is much lower.

It makes a little more sense when you look at it your way, especially when you take away the loss to Whittier. I just think with all the other teams with stronger records up to this point in the season, BYU is ranked a few spots too high. Granted, I'd bet they end up in the top 5 rightfully by season's end.

Oregon is a real interesting case. I think they have a very good team, but I also think that anyone in the top 5 would be undefeated if they played Oregon's schedule. Even Timbalaned would agree with me there. We'll know what they have to offer by season's end, as their schedule will get much harder.

UCSB could also be considered, but all things being equal, I put a heavier emphasis on head to head action. I think they are flying under the radar screen....well, as far under the radar screen as you can when you are ranked #6.

I could easily make an argument that BYU could be #6, and turn around and make an argument that they deserve to be #4. The only thing for sure right now is that the top 3 is a tossup. Having seen them play, I think Chapman is the real deal. It's too bad that they don't have a more difficult schedule, as I'd like to see how they would do against top competition week in and week out. I'm really rooting for them to do well vs. Ithaca tomorrow.

The beauty of this season, like last year, is that there are more teams that are making noise...Anyone in the top 10 is probably capable of winning it all if they get on a roll.

DG

[Timbalaned]

Oregon is a real interesting case. I think they have a very good team, but I also think that anyone in the top 5 would be undefeated if they played Oregon's schedule. Even Timbalaned would agree with me there. We'll know what they have to offer by season's end, as their schedule will get much harder.DG

Why you got to call me out? As you said, I am not too worried about where they are right now, actually I kind of like it. Just like Northeastern showed the world, you don't want to come out the gate with ridiculously hard games, unless you really know you can win them. High risk, high reward, they failed. (no offense) I personally think a few warm up games, seven maybe a lot, but that is the PNCLL right now, are good for a team to get going before they get into the meat of their schedule. You do want tough games to prove you can hang, but you also want a few games to get the sticks going too before you do anything crazy. Still plenty of time between now and mid May.

[NYBuilt]

All I have to say is I am glad I do not vote in the polls...this is turning out to be a heck of a job for the start of this season...

Can you really criticize the current rankings with the crazy start to the season? Probably the pre season poll should be thrown out. Then you might of seen BYU drop a bit. If this were the football AP Poll, BYU would be out of the top 10...

[PigPen]

Probably the pre season poll should be thrown out. Then you might of seen BYU drop a bit. If this were the football AP Poll, BYU would be out of the top 10...

but this is lacrosse-last year SU hung around the top 20 most of the season (top ten for a good portion) and that had 8 losses by the end of the season

lacrosse polls and football polls do not align and never will

agreed-preseason poll should be tossed


I have two thoughts about BYU: 1) they should be ranked lower than what they are-but 2) How do you penalize (drop them too far) for playing that schedule?

tough call

[buffalowill]

Would be nice if we could get the team records (conference and overall) on the poll itself just like the AP polls, etc. The more info available the better!! Zambooooniiii

[Dan Wishengrad]

you also want a few games to get the sticks going too before you do anything crazy.

I'd say beating a visiting team playing its first MCLA game in four years by a 30-0 score "got the sticks going" a little, Brauck. Good job by the Ducks to get that out of the way before doing "anything crazy".

I voted Oregon just ahead of BYU in this week's poll, by the way. We'll all find out next week when the Ducks visit the Buffs and the Rams if your alma mater is still playing at the elite level it reached last season. Hard to judge at this point with no games against a ranked opponent, or even against a team with a winning record. We all have a better idea after the game in Ft. Collins next week. I'm as curious as anybody else if losing Turtle, Coffman, Tesar, Jolly, Knope et al -- as well as Coach Kerwin -- has made much of a difference. Everybody knows that Oregon still has a ton of talent, but I think its fair to say they have yet to be tested this season. A "fair" ranking of UO will also have to wait until we see some results against the MCLA's best teams.