Top 25 talk

[balls a dunkin]

David,
   How far does MC fall after that wild and exciting attempt at LETU?

[Marty Peretz]

With regards to WashU, it's pretty absurd to say they're not a top 25 team. Sure, they caught lighting in a bottle and overachieved for a nice stretch, but 2 road losses in UAA play (one of which was in triple overtime on a Sunday against a good Brandeis team) does not drop you out of the top 25. This is a team that is a little tired right now because its bench isn't very deep. That said, it comfortably beat Chicago on the road, comfortably beat Illinois Wesleyan at home, held Rochester under 60, nearly held Brandeis under 60 if it weren't for a late foul shot and three at the buzzer, losy by 2 to Augustana in a game in which the Bears' second leadign scorer was lost to the season due to injury. The team's resume is extremely impressive, but the team is extremely young. A pair of road losses against top 25 caliber opponents in February is far from the end of the world. The Bears simply played such terrific basketball early that these losses raise eyebrows. WashU should not fall past 15, 16. NYU lost twice on the road last week and fell only 2 spots.

[David Collinge]

David,
   How far does MC fall after that wild and exciting attempt at LETU?

You'd think that all the hours I spend poring over the Top 25 that I'd have some sort of insight, but I haven't.  My track record of predicting the next poll is abysmal, almost as bad as my various Pick 'Em records.   That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the top of the Week 10 poll looks a lot like the top of the Week 7 poll:

Week 7:
1. UW-Stevens Point
2. Amherst
3. St. Thomas
4. Wooster
5. Va. Wesleyan
6. Wittenberg
7. Mississippi College
then a 50-point gap

Week 10 wild guess:
1. Amherst
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. St. Thomas
4. Wooster
5. Va. Wesleyan
6. Mississippi College
7. Wittenberg

I guess 5-7 could come in any order, although Witt was so far behind MC (209 pts.) and VWC (131) in week 9 that one superb win may not be enough to bridge the gap. 

[David Collinge]

With regards to WashU, it's pretty absurd to say they're not a top 25 team. Sure, they caught lighting in a bottle and overachieved for a nice stretch, but 2 road losses in UAA play (one of which was in triple overtime on a Sunday against a good Brandeis team) does not drop you out of the top 25. This is a team that is a little tired right now because its bench isn't very deep. That said, it comfortably beat Chicago on the road, comfortably beat Illinois Wesleyan at home, held Rochester under 60, nearly held Brandeis under 60 if it weren't for a late foul shot and three at the buzzer, losy by 2 to Augustana in a game in which the Bears' second leadign scorer was lost to the season due to injury. The team's resume is extremely impressive, but the team is extremely young. A pair of road losses against top 25 caliber opponents in February is far from the end of the world. The Bears simply played such terrific basketball early that these losses raise eyebrows. WashU should not fall past 15, 16. NYU lost twice on the road last week and fell only 2 spots.

I don't think anyone (except, perhaps, mgoblue) really expects Wash U. to drop out of the top 25.  But you're not doing them any favors trotting out wins over opponents like Illinois Wesleyan (9-11) and calling them "extremely impressive." 

[Ralph Turner]

So far, the Sprint "Connectile Dysfunction" is my choice for #1. 

[mgoblue]

With regards to WashU, it's pretty absurd to say they're not a top 25 team. Sure, they caught lighting in a bottle and overachieved for a nice stretch, but 2 road losses in UAA play (one of which was in triple overtime on a Sunday against a good Brandeis team) does not drop you out of the top 25. This is a team that is a little tired right now because its bench isn't very deep. That said, it comfortably beat Chicago on the road, comfortably beat Illinois Wesleyan at home, held Rochester under 60, nearly held Brandeis under 60 if it weren't for a late foul shot and three at the buzzer, losy by 2 to Augustana in a game in which the Bears' second leadign scorer was lost to the season due to injury. The team's resume is extremely impressive, but the team is extremely young. A pair of road losses against top 25 caliber opponents in February is far from the end of the world. The Bears simply played such terrific basketball early that these losses raise eyebrows. WashU should not fall past 15, 16. NYU lost twice on the road last week and fell only 2 spots.

Sounds like a lot of excuses for a team that is decent, but should not be considered one of the elite teams in the country.  I go to Wash U, have seen them play, and to say their resume is "extremely impressive" is a major stretch.  If you ask me the UAA as a whole is miles behind the power conferences in the country.

[David Collinge]

So far, the Sprint "Connectile Dysfunction" is my choice for #1. 

Is that some Super Bowl commercial?

[Ralph Turner]

So far, the Sprint "Connectile Dysfunction" is my choice for #1. 

Is that some Super Bowl commercial?

Yes! 

[David Collinge]

Oh, Ralph, Ralph, Ralph...Super Bowl commercials in Posting Up Top 25 Talk?  *shakes head sadly*
I'm afraid I'm going to have to be the first person ever to smite you.   


EDIT: I just can't bring myself to do it...

[diehardfan]

Oh, Ralph, Ralph, Ralph...Super Bowl commercials in Posting Up Top 25 Talk?  *shakes head sadly*
I'm afraid I'm going to have to be the first person ever to smite you.   

Lol... and I'll be the second.  Ironic since I'll probably be taking back my karma point for the 11111 post yesterday too. The talk of the actual games is bad enough.

But don't worry, we still love you. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Super Bowl commercials are OK, as long as you promise not to watch the game!

(You know, like "I only get Playboy for the articles"! )

[diehardfan]

Super Bowl commercials are OK, as long as you promise not to watch the game!

(You know, like "I only get Playboy for the articles"! )

Not really, it's like wasting hours of your life to purpose to be brainwashed. 

[Ralph Turner]

Super Bowl commercials are OK, as long as you promise not to watch the game!

(You know, like "I only get Playboy for the articles"! )

Personal interest in a couple of the players.  I saw Cedric Benson (Midland Lee HS) and Dominic Rhodes (Abilene Cooper HS) (and Drew Brees, Austin Westlake HS, for that matter) in the Texas High School Football Playoffs against my kids' high school.

I remember those Big Sandy (TX) High School championship teams including Lovie Smith and the late David Overstreet (Oklahoma U. and Miami Dolphins).

Besides, it was background noise while I was working on another project.  I was watching it for the commericals, tho'.   Keep your eyes open for D3 Baseball.   

[David Collinge]

Top 25 Schedule and Scores, Feb. 5-11 (UPDATED with Monday's scores):      

#   1   Amherst (23-0) plays at Trinity (CT) Sat.
#   2   UW-Stevens Point (18-2) plays at UW-Whitewater Wed. and hosts UW-Stout Sat.
#   3   St. Thomas (20-2) won at Augsburg 80-75 (2 OT), plays at Gustavus Adolphus Wed., and hosts Concordia-Moorhead Sat.
#   4   Virginia Wesleyan (19-3) hosts Eastern Mennonite Wed. and plays at Randolph-Macon Sat.
#   5   Wooster (18-3) hosts Hiram Wed. and plays at Wabash Sat.
#   6   Hope (18-2) won at Albion 78-71, hosts Calvin Wed., and hosts Adrian Sat.
#   7   Wittenberg (18-3) hosts Ohio Wesleyan Wed. and hosts Hiram Sat.
#   8   UW-Oshkosh (18-4) plays at UW-Eau Claire Sat.
#   9   Mississippi College (18-2) hosts Louisiana College Tue. and hosts U. of the Ozarks Sat.
#   10   Augustana (17-4) hosts #25 Wheaton (IL) Wed. and hosts Millikin Sat.
#   11   Washington U. (16-3) hosts Emory Fri. and hosts Case Western Reserve Sun.
#   12   Elmhurst (16-4) hosts #15 Carthage Wed. and hosts North Park Sat.
#   13   Whitworth (19-2) plays at #18 Puget Sound Fri. and plays at Pacific Lutheran Sat.
#   14   Occidental (14-4) plays at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Wed. and hosts Pomona-Pitzer Sat.
#   15   Carthage (14-6) plays at #12 Elmhurst Wed. and hosts North Central Sat.
#   16   NYU (16-4) hosts Rochester Fri. and hosts Carnegie Mellon Sun.
#   17   Johns Hopkins (19-2) hosts McDaniel Wed. and hosts Ursinus Sat.
#   18   Puget Sound (16-4) hosts #13 Whitworth Fri. and hosts Whitman Sat.
#   19   Ohio Northern (16-5) hosts Wilmington Wed. and plays at Capital Sat.
#   20   Worcester Polytech (17-2) hosts Mass.-Boston Thu. and hosts MIT Sat.
#   21   Aurora (19-2) hosts Edgewood Wed. and plays at Dominican Sat.
#   22   UW-La Crosse (14-7) hosts UW-Platteville Wed.
#   23   Chicago (16-4) hosts Case Western Reserve Fri. and hosts Emory Sun.
#   24   Guilford (16-3) hosts Hampden-Sydney Wed., plays at Bridgewater (VA) Sat., and plays at Eastern Mennonite Sun.
#   25   Wheaton (IL) (14-6) plays at #10 Augustana Wed. and plays at Illinois Wesleyan Sat.

[Greek Tragedy]

DC,

Your work is always appreciated! 

#   2   UW-Stevens Point (18-2) plays at UW-Whitewater Wed. and hosts UW-Stout Sat.

Though the record may not look like it, this is going to be a huge game for Point down in Whitewater (14-7, 7-5).  Point needed a 3-pt shot at the buzzer to beat the Warhawks in Quandt near the beginning of the season.  Whitewater has been playing pretty well lately and I'm sure they'll be pumped up for it.