MBB: Little East

[MeOak21]

Well, we now have just one undefeated team in LEC conference play with Keene beating WCSU last night ...

But as usual, nobody participating in this forum really seems to care

[PressBreaker]

I've been reading this web site for a few weeks now, and I've looked at the message board...I have no problem discussing the LEC. 

First off what  JOKE these polls are!  How is it possible RIC is receiving more than double top 25 votes than KSC?  The have the exact same record and Keene beat them in Rhode Island.  I don't care who plays when there is a head to head match up that is the first indicator of who is better at the time.  Even the BSC can get that much right!

[Pat Coleman]

I'm not sure what Bridgewater State College has to do with it, but the new poll has a different ratio.

When you're talking about ratios of vote numbers for teams not even getting 40 votes, well, shoot, it only takes a couple of voters to make a difference. It's not worth shouting about.

[PressBreaker]

Pat with all due respect, it does matter.  If you are going to take the time to list it on the web site then it does make a difference.  It may matter in recruiting, post season voting and perception.  If the poll is going to be valid and carry weight then it needs to have some credibility.  How then does a team crack the top 25? 

It must matter in some way becasue it is listed as "others receiving votes" and the fact that a team has double the amount of votes as a team who beat them...well to me that's a joke or... don't list it at all.

Bridgewater State should have nothing to do with it since the two teams played head to head and Keene beat RIC and Bridgewater.

[Pat Coleman]

I only asked because you referenced BSC getting it right.

I know you meant BCS. But the point is, nobody is perfect. We can arm voters with all the information they can handle but not everything works out. Some one or two people like RIC better, apparently. And perhaps they'll be proven right on Saturday. That's the beauty of the game -- what happened on Dec. 2 isn't always gospel six weeks later.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

You can't knock the credibility of this poll.  It's probably better set-up and more honestly run than any d1 poll.  I agree that it makes little sense that RIC has now 50% more points than Keene in the poll.  RIC has always been streaky up and down and this year has been no different, but they do play each other again this week, so we'll know for sure.


Frankly, it's better for Keene to sneak up on people anyway.

[MeOak21]

First off, I want to say that I am a KSC fan and for the most part, I agree with the voting results for this weeks poll.

If you look at KSC's and RIC's schedules then you have to admit that RIC has had some more impressive wins (vs. Iona and Tufts) to this point.  A win vs. a D1 team of that caliber shows their potential.  Despite the fact that Keene beat RIC head to head and is currently ranked first in the LEC, there is a decent argument if favor of RIC.

As a few of you have said before me; this weekend will prove the poll right or wrong.

I'd have to agree with you Hoops: I think it would be to Keene's benefit not to have made the top 25 at all (even though they do deserve the respect).

[gullfan]

 I am a fan of both teams, but clearly Keene has to be up on RIC. I'll give you the win over Tufts for RIC but Keene's had some good wins. RIC over Iona is a little flawed now that we see how bad Iona really is (0-16), even though they still are a D1 team.
Bottom line is - the poll in January isn't nearly as important as the one in March! They could both be in the Dance and that would be a lpus for New England Basketball. "Props" to both teams.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Guys, the win over Iona is great, but it's not a d1 win.  It was an exhibition and is counted as such.  The game doesn't count on the record of either school and as anyone will tell you, generally a d1 team doesn't play as hard in the exhibition games.  It's still an impressive showing, but it's not on the level of Texas-Dallas beating Texas-Arlington a few weeks ago or Wheaton (IL)'s near victory over Northwestern.

You can talk about it as an exhibition win, but it's not quite accurate to discuss it in the way that you have been.

[MeOak21]

Everything I've heard is that RIC legitimately beat Iona. 

Yes, it is an exhibition win. What I thought to be common knowledge...
But it obviously has had some influence in the voting whether it "counts" or not.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm not saying it doesn't have some influence (although I don't think it should). I'm just a bit uncomfortable with us throwing it out there like any other game (ie "they beat Iona, they beat Tufts").

[MeOak21]

Fair enough. I can see your point.

[Pat Coleman]

I wouldn't say it has absolutely had influence in the poll. It's not on the list of scores we send to the voters each week and outside of the voters in and around this part of the country, I'm not sure everyone on the panel knows that exhibition took place.

Also, those who know about the exhibition likely also know that Iona could very well run the table. In a bad way. A really bad way.

[MeOak21]

Okay, I'm still trying to become more familiar with how the voting works.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's in the site FAQ's.  They're pretty thorough.