Top 25 talk

[Greek Tragedy]

Yeah, there is definitely a bias towards strong conferences like the WIAC, CCIW, OAC and all...but I think we have to remember that, though conferences like the MWC, MIAC and such, may not appear to be as strong, the TOP of those conferences can be VERY good.  The MWC, from top to bottom, IMO, isn't that good, but the last few years, no one can argue that Lawrence was in a class of their own and could contend with ANYONE in ANY conference, just ask Point.  The same thing can be said for the MIAC.  They have two, maybe three, solid teams and the rest aren't really that good.  Sure, a mid-level MIAC team may upset a mid-level WIAC team, but over the course of a season, they probably couldn't contend for a WIAC title. But, take Gusto or Lawrence from a few years ago and throw them in the WIAC, CCIW or OAC, and they'll contend...they were that good and the rest of the conference probably was that bad.

The year Gusto went to the finals, they came to Point and shocked us in Quandt...and Point was ranked and seeded really high.  The following year, the reverse happened.  Point walked in and beat Gusto on their way to the championship.  Tough games on both accounts.  So, depth-wise, the WIAC, CCIW, OAC and others are stronger than the MWC and MIACs of the world, but the top teams in those conferences could contend or at least do well in "our" conferences.

The "big" conferences can have as many as 5 or 6 different teams ranked in the Top 25, while those other conferences may only get one, or possibly two, but that one or two teams are probably legit.

[smedindy]

If you recall, in the past I have run a power rating amalgamation for fun and giggles, taking power ratings, adding in the SOS element and another calculation that I do (which is easy) and here it is.

Using this formula, which over time gets more accurate, right now I have a surprise #1 thanks to their power ranking and SOS.

1. Wash U.
2 WI - Stevens Point
3. Wooster
4. WI - Oshkosh
5. Augustana
6. Elmhurst
7. Amherst (SOS is low)
8. St. Thomas
9. Chicago
10. Hope
11. Mississippi College (SOS)
12. Wittenberg
13. Ohio Northern
14. Whitworth
15. Virginia Wesleyan
16. Guilford
17. WPI
18. Occidental
19. Aurora
20. Carthage
21. Messiah (!)
22. NYU
23. Maryville (TN)
24. Rochester
25. Trinity (CT)

Others in the top 25 and receiving votes:

26. Loras
27. Rhode Island College
29. Lake Erie
30. Brandeis
31. DePauw
32. Wisc - LaCrosse
33. St. John's
35. Hood
37. Mary Hardin-Baylor
39. Puget Sound
40. Ramapo
42. Bates
43. Wheaton (IL)
44. Keene State
46. Salem State
50. Utica
52. John's Hopkins (HORRID SOS!)
66. Redlands
86. North Central
87. Lincoln

[smedindy]

The Bottom 10.

403. D'Youville
402. Green Mountain
401. Eastern Nazarene
400. Becker
399. Mt. St. Vincent
398. Bard
397. Maine - Presque Isle
396. Crown
395. Cal Tech
394. Albertus Magnus

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Messiah was on my list of teams to watch this week as I was looking at who might move into the poll.  They certainly make a similar case to Scranton, which I believe got a couple of votes this week, right?

I wouldn't say having WashU #1 is all that far-fetched.  They've got a very impressive resume and they appear to be the class of what I think might be the top conference this year when all is said and done.

[Titan Q]

I wouldn't say having WashU #1 is all that far-fetched.  They've got a very impressive resume and they appear to be the class of what I think might be the top conference this year when all is said and done.

I have seen Wash U, Elmhurst, and Augustana 3 times each this year, and I'd say they are all very even.  Augustana's 2-pt win over Wash U (at Augie) would seem to support that, as well as the two games played between Elmhurst and Augustana.  Wash U is certainly not better than the CCIW's top two, but they are neck and neck.

If I had to rank the CCIW 1-8 right now, I'd go:

1. Augustana
2. Elmhurst
3. Carthage
4. North Central
5. Wheaton
6. North Park
7. Millikin
8. Illinois Wesleyan


I think if you stack the UAA up 1-8, the CCIW would come out on top by a pretty good margin. 

The only other UAA team I have seen is Chicago (currently 6-1 and in 2nd place), and Chicago is not as good as Augustana, Elmhurst, and Wash U -- they are not balanced enough.  Chicago's home blowout to Wash U indicates the separation there.  Also, Chicago beat Wheaton in a barn-burner at Chicago...and Wheaton is the CCIW's 5th best team.  Chicago also played a very close game vs Illinois Wesleyan...the worst team in the CCIW.

http://athletics.uchicago.edu/mensbasketball/WHT-UCM.HTM

http://athletics.uchicago.edu/mensbasketball/UCM-IWU.HTM

If Chicago is the UAA's second best team, there is not a debate here.  If someone can make a case for about 3 UAA teams (besides Wash U) being better than Chicago and Chicago being about the 5th best team, we certainly have a good discussion.  But even then, do Emory and Case Western Reserve stack up with Millikin and Illinois Wesleyan?

[fpc85]

At the half
Amherst-26
RIC-24

[Pat Coleman]

Messiah was on my list of teams to watch this week as I was looking at who might move into the poll.  They certainly make a similar case to Scranton, which I believe got a couple of votes this week, right?

No, Ypsi, Scranton did not get votes this week.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

PrideSportBBallGuy Rankings through Monday's games



1 Amherst
2 Wooster
3 Lake Erie
4 Hope
5 Mississippi College
6 Virginia Wesleyan
7 Scranton
8 St. Thomas
9 UW-Stevens Point
10 Utica
11 UW-Oshkosh
12 Whitworth
13 Maryville(TN)
14 Washington U.
15 Worchester Polytech
16 DePauw
17 John Hopkins
18 Trinity(Conn)
19 Messiah
20 Bates
21 Aurora
22 Augustana
23 Salem St.
24 Wittenberg
25 Chicago

Dropped Out #19 Keene St, #21 NYU, #23 Lincoln, #24 Puget Sound, and #25 Elmhurst.

Here it is for this week.  Now if you would excuse me House is on Fox. I won't be back until the show is over

[fpc85]

Final Amherst-62 RIC-48

RIC shoots 27% from the field and 18% from behind the arc.

[gordonmann]

WLC 87 No. 16 Aurora 82 - Final

[diehardfan]

WLC 87 No. 16 Aurora 82 - Final

Did this make anyone else laugh?

I have a feeling Aurora wont be in the Top 10 this week... how ironic.

[David Collinge]

Top 25 Schedule and Scores, Jan. 29-Feb. 4 (UPDATED with Tuesday scores):

#   1   Amherst (21-0) won at Rhode Island Coll. 62-48, hosts Conn. College Fri., and hosts Wesleyan Sat.
#   2   Wooster (17-2) hosts Allegheny Wed. and hosts #11 Wittenberg Sat.
#   3   UW-Stevens Point (16-2) hosts UW-Eau Claire Wed. and plays at #22 UW-La Crosse Sat.
#   4   Mississippi College (17-1) plays at LeTourneau Thu. and plays at East Texas Baptist Sat.
#   5   UW-Oshkosh (17-3) hosts #22 UW-La Crosse Wed. and hosts UW-Stout Sat.
#   6   St. Thomas (17-2) hosts Carleton Wed. and hosts Bethel Sat.
#   7   Washington U. (16-1) plays at #25 NYU Fri. and plays at Brandeis Sun.
#   8   Virginia Wesleyan (16-3) hosts Bridgewater (VA) Wed., plays at Roanoke Sat., and plays at Washington and Lee Sun.
#   9   Hope (16-2) plays at Olivet Wed. and plays at Albion Sat.
#   10   Augustana (16-3) plays at North Park Wed. and plays at #17 Carthage Sat.
#   11   Wittenberg (16-3) hosts Earlham Wed. and plays at #2 Wooster Sat.
#   12   Elmhurst (15-3) hosts Millikin Wed. and plays at Illinois Wesleyan Sat.
#   13   Whitworth (17-2) hosts Linfield Fri. and hosts George Fox Sat.
#   14   Ohio Northern (15-4) plays at Otterbein Wed. and hosts John Carroll Sat.
#   15   Worcester Polytech (16-1) hosts Clark Wed. and plays at Babson Sat.
#   16   Aurora (17-2) lost at Wisconsin Lutheran 87-82, hosts Maranatha Baptist Thu., and hosts Marian Sat.
#   17   Carthage (13-5) plays at Wheaton (IL) Wed. and hosts #10 Augustana Sat.
#   18   Occidental (12-4) hosts Whittier Wed. and plays at Cal Tech Sat.
#   19   Chicago (15-3) plays at Brandeis Fri. and plays at #25 NYU Sun.
#   20   Johns Hopkins (17-2) plays at Swarthmore Wed. and plays at Haverford Sat.
#   21   Puget Sound (15-4) def. Pacific Lutheran 89-86 and hosts Pacific Sat.
#   22   La Crosse (13-6) plays at #5 UW-Oshkosh Wed. and hosts #3 UW-Stevens Point Sat.
#   23   Bates (16-3) plays at Williams Fri. and plays at Middlebury Sat.
#   24   Guilford (14-3) plays at Washington and Lee Wed. and plays at Lynchburg Sat.
#   25   NYU (14-4) hosts #7 Washington U. Fri. and hosts #19 Chicago Sat.

[smedindy]

Somehow I think the Maranatha / Marian duo isn't going to help Aurora save face.

[sac]

WLC 87 No. 16 Aurora 82 - Final

Wisconsin Lutheran lost in the first round of last years NCAA by 42.

[WLCALUM83]

WLC 87 No. 16 Aurora 82 - Final

Did this make anyone else laugh?

I have a feeling Aurora wont be in the Top 10 this week... how ironic.

I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming! 

My questions:

1  Was it something Coach Noon said in the locker room prior to the game?
2  How loud was WLC's "6th Man" crowd?
3  Other (from what I read off WLC's box score, Aurora had 2 starters foul out).

While it may be good for WLC, with Edgewood having lost as well this evening, if no NAthCon men's team makes Nationals, this night's developments will be one reason why.