The Undefeated and the Winless

[magicman]

Boy did I open the floodgates with the first post this year or what?

Well, once somebody makes the 1st choice it's always a mad scramble to grab a team (or teams). It used to be Greek Tragedy who would open this board back up, and then we'd pick. You happened to make the first move this year. Normally the pool selection starts a little later when the teams have posted their rosters. You forced everybody's hand a little earlier, but we could have a record number of entries because you did so.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'll take Virginia Wesleyan as my undefeated, and NYU-Poly as my winless.

I check out Poly; they're playing Sarah Lawrence before Christmas.  Sarah Lawrence lost by 30 a team SUNY-Maritime beat by 50 last season.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

For the no wins category, I'll take a flyer on Martin Luther - they absolutely cratered last year, though I know nothing about why or about this year.

Martin Luther's problem is that you can't play either offense or defense effectively when your motto is, "Here I stand. I can do no other."

I did some serious research for my winless pick.  Martin Luther looks good, but they graduated no one from last year, so I assume they can pull out a win or two.

[smedindy]

Oh, I just noticed this:

Let's try: Wooster for undefeated and Green Mountain for winless. That pillow fight to start the year with Mitchell may be the key, though.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Didn't notice in time that this board had opened up - you guys have already taken all my top choices!

Of the remaining picks for undefeated, I'd take Cabrini (who might finish 24-1), but their second game will likely be AT Va Wes!  Although it is a 'can't win', I'll be a homer and go with IWU.  (IF they can beat Harvard (possible) and IF the rumors about Hollingsworth are unfounded, MIT just might run the table 'til the postseason.)

For the no wins category, I'll take a flyer on Martin Luther - they absolutely cratered last year, though I know nothing about why or about this year.  I'm taking a long-shot that something has gone horribly wrong up there.

Wait, Mr. "I have more time on the boards than anyone else" didn't notice that the thread started back up again?

Hey, I got my picks in on opening day - its just that 6-7 people beat me to it!  (And 'opening day' came before I had done ANY checking: curse you FCGrizzliesGrad, and the horse you rode in on! )

I'll be rooting for F&M to go winless, and Earlham to be undefeated!   (Fat chance of either!)

(If available, I would have taken MIT (despite the Harvard game) and Principia (despite 'adding' St. Louis Pharmarcy to their schedule as their second game - how desperate do you have to be for a win to 'add' St. Louis Pharmacy to your schedule??!!)

[Hugenerd]

(IF they can beat Harvard (possible) and IF the rumors about Hollingsworth are unfounded, MIT just might run the table 'til the postseason.)

Harvard is an exhibition, not a regular season game.

http://mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/schedule

MIT's roster is deeper than it has ever been.  Even if Hollingsworth starts the season on the IR, they have 7 other players 6'8" or taller who can help fill the void, including freshman Lampros Tsontzos, previously of the Greek U18 National Team.  And these guys just aren't tall,  they can all play.  They even have 6'6" - 6'7" athletic wings this year.  Prior to last year, Coach Anderson almost never played zone, but that changed last year as they would switch between man and zone on a pretty regular basis.  With this year's roster, I can realistically see them throwing a 3/4 court or half court zone at teams, with Kates (6'2") along with 6'7", 6'8",6'8", and 6'8" or 6'10". I'm looking forwad to the season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

(IF they can beat Harvard (possible) and IF the rumors about Hollingsworth are unfounded, MIT just might run the table 'til the postseason.)

Harvard is an exhibition, not a regular season game.

http://mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/schedule

MIT's roster is deeper than it has ever been.  Even if Hollingsworth starts the season on the IR, they have 7 other players 6'8" or taller who can help fill the void, including freshman Lampros Tsontzos, previously of the Greek U18 National Team.  And these guys just aren't tall,  they can all play.  They even have 6'6" - 6'7" athletic wings this year.  Prior to last year, Coach Anderson almost never played zone, but that changed last year as they would switch between man and zone on a pretty regular basis.  With this year's roster, I can realistically see them throwing a 3/4 court or half court zone at teams, with Kates (6'2") along with 6'7", 6'8",6'8", and 6'8" or 6'10". I'm looking forwad to the season.

Not sure whether that matters for this contest - as long as it is after 11-15?  If it does eliminate it, I'd be even more on the MIT bandwagon for undefeated.

And I have ZERO confidence that my IWU homer pick will still be alive by even the final five.

Martin Luther for the winless?  We shall see whether there is chaos in the northwoods.  Perhaps they will adopt Greg's reference to their (should be) motto: "Here I stand.  I can do no other."  That WOULD make for problems on both offense and defense!

[magicman]

(IF they can beat Harvard (possible) and IF the rumors about Hollingsworth are unfounded, MIT just might run the table 'til the postseason.)

Harvard is an exhibition, not a regular season game.

http://mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/schedule

MIT's roster is deeper than it has ever been.  Even if Hollingsworth starts the season on the IR, they have 7 other players 6'8" or taller who can help fill the void, including freshman Lampros Tsontzos, previously of the Greek U18 National Team.  And these guys just aren't tall,  they can all play.  They even have 6'6" - 6'7" athletic wings this year.  Prior to last year, Coach Anderson almost never played zone, but that changed last year as they would switch between man and zone on a pretty regular basis.  With this year's roster, I can realistically see them throwing a 3/4 court or half court zone at teams, with Kates (6'2") along with 6'7", 6'8",6'8", and 6'8" or 6'10". I'm looking forwad to the season.

Not sure whether that matters for this contest - as long as it is after 11-15?  If it does eliminate it, I'd be even more on the MIT bandwagon for undefeated.

Since MIT plays Harvard on November 9th, there's no question it's an exhibition game and won't count in the Survivor Pool contest.

I think MIT has an excellent chance to win the Survivor Pool this year. In fact I predict they will and it wouldn't surprise me to see them run the table during the regular season.

I also think that since Hugenerd had been the number 1 MIT supporter and poster of all things relating to the Engineers hoop teams for a number of years (plus it's one of his alma maters) that he should be allowed to also choose MIT in the Survivor Pool even though Hoops Fan has already taken them. There have been times when 2 posters have chosen the same team in the contest and I wouldn't mind making an exception again this year. We all know Hugenerd would have taken them even if they weren't ranked as high as they are, if he had spotted the fact that the contest was under way (he's had them like, forever) . That's my thoughts, so as one of the main moderators and compliers on this board I'm going to put him down for MIT also. Hoops Fan you can always have bragging right and say you chose them first.

[magicman]

To make it easier here are the Players with their choices in the order they were taken so far:

Undefeated Pool


1.   FCGrizzlies                   Franklin & Marshall
2.   hopefan                       Oswego State
3.   sac                              Baldwin-Wallace
4.   KnightSlappy                Calvin
5.   Elthelred the UnReady   Scranton
6.   Hoops Fan                    MIT
7.   madzillagd                    Williams
8.   Greg Sager                   Virginia Wesleyan
9.   ronk                             Amherst
10. magicman                    Middlebury
11. Mr. Ypsi                        Illinois Wesleyan
12. smedindy                     Wooster
13. Hugenerd                     MIT
14. Ralph Turner                Hope
15. zander                         Birmingham-Southern






Winless Pool


1.   FCGrizzlies                  Earlham
2.   hopefan                      Principia
3.   sac                             Franciscan
4.   KnightSlappy               Macalester
5.   Ethelred the Unready   SUNY-Cobleskill
6.   Hoops Fan                   SUNY-Maritime
7.   madzillgd                    Caltech
8.   Greg Sager                  NYU-Poly
9.   ronk                            Bard
10. magicman                    Maine-Maritime
11. Mr. Ypsi                       Martin Luther
12. smedindy                     Green Mountain
13. zander                         Elmira 

Any additional players should get your picks in by tip off on November 15th.  Plenty of good teams (and bad ones) left to pick from. No mulligans allowed this year. You live with what you choose.

[magicman]

Hugenerd, I put you down for MIT in the Undefeated Pool, now make a pick for the Winless Pool if you like.

[hopefan]

I don't know about the undefeated list, but that sure is a primo list of winless candidates!!!!!

[magicman]

I don't know about the undefeated list, but that sure is a primo list of winless candidates!!!!!

I'm thinking the over/under for total victories for all 12 teams combined might be around 32.

[hopefan]

I don't know about the undefeated list, but that sure is a primo list of winless candidates!!!!!

I'm thinking the over/under for total victories for all 12 teams combined might be around 32.

And while I haven't checked their schedules, I'd imagine wins against D3 teams would be half of that... unless one of these teams gets things turned around with a great recruiting class. 

[ronk]

  There main problem is too many returning starters.

[Hugenerd]

Thanks magicman, I appreciate the sentiment.  I'll be happy if MIT wins the undefeated pool whether I have them or not on this board, but I am glad to be a minority owner of the pick with Hoops Fan, if he is ok with it.

I'll obstain from the winless pool.  My freshman year at CMU we only won like 7 or 9 games, so we lost about 2/3 of them.  That sucked, so I can only imagine how bad it is for the guys on some of these other teams.  I'm hoping everyone picks up a couple of wins this year.