FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

153 votes means that DePauw, on average, was about 19th on each voter's ballot.  When you get blasted at home by a team picked to finish 4th in that league, you're going to fall off of all of those ballots....six spots isn't that much.  Keep in mind that Division III has twice as many teams as Division I...which makes membership to the top 25 roughly twice as hard to attain and also means that the margin for error is much less.  This poll will crush you for a bad loss, and DePauw losing at home to Centre was a bad loss.  There are just so many teams in Division III, especially this early in the season, that are so tightly grouped that losing a game (especially a game nobody believes you should have lost) slides you down below a ton of teams.  Case in point...there are 28 teams receiving votes in this poll that didn't make the top 25.  One loss and DePauw slid behind over 30 other teams...it's a very volatile poll especially early in the season.

[smedindy]

And I believe, unlike the D-1 polls, these D-3 pollsters aren't loyal to who they voted for the last week.

[wally_wabash]

Which is another good point, smeds, and something that I think these voters should be commended for. 

And just to wrap up my poll rant because it's in my brain...if you look, there's an 80 point drop off from #15 to #16.  That, plus the fact that 28 other teams outside of the top 25 are getting votes tells me that after the top 15, it's wide, wide open. Those teams from #16 on down really don't have any margin for error or they'll get bounced by one of the 40 or so teams below them that keep on winning. 

[bashbrother]

Couple of things....

First, the NCAC board is almost to a 1,000 pages....

Secondly, Witt scored 36 points in the 2nd Qtr. on Saturday which is tough to do against any team.  This Witt team is for real and we are going to need all the fan support we can get on October 17 at Hollett, so start making your plans.  It will be a battle.

[wally_wabash]

Fan support, for sure bashbro.  I'm not worried about that...Wabash fans know what's on the line each and every time the LGs play Wittenberg and they know what's on the line this year especially.  The support will be there.  What Wabash needs, in addition to that fan support, is one of the best games the team has put together in the last five years.  It's going to be a monster of a game. 

[Bash-Dad #84]

I agree with you both, it should be quite a contest. However, we have three games before we will even see Witt and a stumble in that stretch could ruin our season.

I say we take them one at a time, sharpen our game each week and then we will certainly be prepared to play our best game on the 17th!

[bashbrother]

Bashdad #84 -

Agreed, not looking past anyone is critical.   I didn't see it, but I believe coming out flat and a few mistakes cost Depauw on Saturday.  

Every week is important and every week should make you better.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Frankly I was not at all surprised by what happened with DePauw. I saw them in the opener against Anderson....yes the score was 55-7 at the end of the game...but the score does not tell everything...they certainly did not look sharp...Alex Koors was the highlight...When the game was over...it was discussed and the consensus was that DePauw just did not play like we had seen them play before...

Frankly I liked that Depauw was in the top 25 this year...to be the best ya beat the best...But they did not compare with the top 25 teams I have been watching the past 10 years...the likes of Bethel, Wheaton, North Central, Franklin, St John, Wisc-Whitewater, Wabash, Case Western...

Will be at the Hope @ Wheaton game this week...
Bash will take care of business this week...

[DadofBashWarrior..]

On another note...am thinking Witt is not getting the respect they may deserve...
Although Wash U was without 2 of their Captains...that was quite a drubbing...with loads of ill-will from the same game last year...

Bash Witt game should be a great thriller again...

[wab64]

 Â      Gentlemen---- I'm off the ranking business, and being an apologist for the school down South. Game is coming up-and the opportunity to push the board to 1000 pages. Go Little Giants

[Bash-Dad #84]

I hate to admit this, but my sole purpose for this particular post, is to hopefully be the one that put us at 1000! 

[wabash dk #11]

It is very difficult to not look forward on our schedule.  We still have games to play before Witt [I say it like I'm still playing ]  This week we need to come out firing on all cylinders and get rid of all the mental mistakes.  These early weeks should serve as the platform for the rest of the season.  If the LG's come out with no mental breakdowns in the beginning of the season (or emotional letdowns) it will be less likely that those things will happen later in the season.

[wabash dk #11]

me too bash dad

[zed07]

Let it be me, let it be me!!!!

[zed07]

Crap...