Top 25 talk

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hate to break it to you guys, but actually SEVEN CCIW teams got votes.

NPU is looking to find a voter with a weak spot.

[Gregory Sager]

6 teams from one conference receiving top 25 votes. 

Also, we'll have to see just how strong the CCIW is once the Massey ratings come out.  Six teams from the CCIW received votes in the latest poll.

Seven.

On the other hand, my alma mater is the lone CCIW team that didn't get votes, so this is not exactly gloating territory for me.

I don't think any other conference boasts more than three.

True, but the WIAC has three of the top seven teams. That's pretty darned impressive, too.

[sac]

I have a particular problem with North Central and Illinois Wesleyan getting any votes.  I won't even touch Millikin.

IWU has lost two in a row and 3 of 5, and now has FIVE losses, look at the top 25, its all 0, 1, or 2 loss teams.

North Central didn't receive any votes last week, this week they beat North Park and the struggling Illinois Wesleyan.........the week before they lost to Baldwin-Wallace (who's also struggling and has a loss to Grace Bible.)

What the heck did NCC do this week to merit a vote or two in the top 25?

This love affair with the CCIW on this site has just gotten out of hand guys, and I don't mind saying that.

[sac]

Seven.

Even worse, I didn't even look for Millikin thinking the voters were smarter than that.  Silly me.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU is looking to find a voter with a weak spot.

NPU isn't looking for pity, or pollster whimsy, or anything of the sort.

NPU is looking for a win.

I have a particular problem with North Central and Illinois Wesleyan getting any votes.  I won't even touch Millikin.

IWU has lost two in a row and 3 of 5, and now has FIVE losses, look at the top 25, its all 0, 1, or 2 loss teams.

North Central didn't receive any votes last week, this week they beat North Park and the struggling Illinois Wesleyan.........the week before they lost to Baldwin-Wallace (who's also struggling and has a loss to Grace Bible.)

What the heck did NCC do this week to merit a vote or two in the top 25?

This love affair with the CCIW on this site has just gotten out of hand guys, and I don't mind saying that.

I understand your frustration, and I agree that there appears to be unmerited votes for certain CCIW teams cast on this week's pollster ballots. But I don't think that this is an example of pro-CCIW bias; I think that this can be explained by Dave McHugh's theory that the pollsters will keep slotting multiple CCIW teams at the bottom of their ballots until the league starts to sort itself out and they can commit themselves to two or three specific CCIW teams.

Moreover, I'd argue that the three WIAC teams in the top seven also appears to be a case of the pollsters giving excessive love to one particular circuit.

[sac]

Moreover, I'd argue that the three WIAC teams in the top seven also appears to be a case of the pollsters giving excessive love to one particular circuit.

Except only 3 WIAC teams are receiving votes, and the WIAC has typically had 3 in the top 20 for years.  Yes, they're at the high end right now, I don't ever recall the WIAC having 7 teams receiving votes and I think a very strong argument could be made that over time that has been a stronger conference.

There is just no reason for a 5 loss team to be receiving votes right now, and I believe that holds true for a 4 loss team.  You can't justify it.  The kool-aid has been spiked my friend.

[sac]

The next time I'm listening to hoopsville I think we should play a drinking game.........every time the CCIW is mentioned you take a drink.  We'll be plastered before Bob even gets on the air.

[Gregory Sager]

Moreover, I'd argue that the three WIAC teams in the top seven also appears to be a case of the pollsters giving excessive love to one particular circuit.

Except only 3 WIAC teams are receiving votes, and the WIAC has typically had 3 in the top 20 for years.

There's a very big difference between getting three teams in the top twenty, and getting three teams in the top seven.

There is just no reason for a 5 loss team to be receiving votes right now, and I believe that holds true for a 4 loss team.  You can't justify it.  The kool-aid has been spiked my friend.

I'm not trying to justify it. I (or, rather D-Mac, whose theory I espouse because it seems to be a sound explanation of pollster behavior) am simply trying to explain it.

The next time I'm listening to hoopsville I think we should play a drinking game.........every time the CCIW is mentioned you take a drink.  We'll be plastered before Bob even gets on the air.

LOL! The ultimate D3 variation of "Hi, Bob"!

[Ralph Turner]

The next time I'm listening to hoopsville I think we should play a drinking game.........every time the CCIW is mentioned you take a drink.  We'll be plastered before Bob even gets on the air.

+1!  ROTFLMAO!!! 

[Greek Tragedy]

Buena Vista makes D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll HISTORY!!!

They have less votes, but rank higher! LOL

5 Buena Vista  12-1 482 8
6 UW-Platteville  13-2 487 4

[April]

#19  Elmhurst

I'm sorry man, but any other team from any other conference that loses 3 in a row drops out of the poll.  This is quite ridiculous imo.    That isn't even taking into account being ranked ahead of Anderson, who just beat them 10 days ago.

6 teams from one conference receiving top 25 votes. 

I am guessing voters still don't know what to do with the fact that Elmhurst is the only team to beat Wash U, and Wash U is ranked #3 and are the defending national champs who should theoretically be at least as good this year.

I don't know if it's so much about the fact that they are in the CCIW, but that their last two games were really close. A double overtime loss against a team that beat a provisional DI team, and a 1pt away loss to a higher ranked team isn't going to hurt them that much in people's minds... at least not enough to push them out of the polls.

Anderson looks like a very legit team, however. It must be frustrating not to get more credit. They beat Elmhurst, lost to Wash U and Platteville by only 2, and are ranked #23? Hmm...

The same could be said for St. Norbert probably since they beat Platteville.

I have a particular problem with North Central and Illinois Wesleyan getting any votes.  I won't even touch Millikin.

IWU has lost two in a row and 3 of 5, and now has FIVE losses, look at the top 25, its all 0, 1, or 2 loss teams.

North Central didn't receive any votes last week, this week they beat North Park and the struggling Illinois Wesleyan.........the week before they lost to Baldwin-Wallace (who's also struggling and has a loss to Grace Bible.)

What the heck did NCC do this week to merit a vote or two in the top 25?

This love affair with the CCIW on this site has just gotten out of hand guys, and I don't mind saying that.

You're totally right. I'm far enough away from it that I can see it too. Though I don't think you should be stressing too much about 8, 7, and 5 pts of votes either.

I hate seeing the Carthage score against Cal U quoted as a part of having a good resume, especially since Carthage has 30votes and Cal U has none. 

I feel like what's happening is that this is a confusing year with the NCAC and the MIAA so down. Usually we have very clear measuring sticks. And those have changed hands this year and people are still trying to figure out where the measuring sticks are. People just have no clue what to do with those spots that are normally taken by perennial powers, and they're running to familiar teams who have a weight of history rather than looking at actual results.

Anyhow, on a more positive note, I am loving seeing F&M in the polls. Now that's a school with a great history that is having a great year. Congrats to their fans and team for earning a ranking!

[Greek Tragedy]

There's very good talent in the WIAC this year, but despite that, at this time, the WIAC is very top heavy.

Point 5-0
Platteville 5-1
Whitewater 5-1

Point has played WW at home and PL on the road while WW and PL have yet to play each other.

Eau Claire 2-3
La Crosse 2-3
UW-River Falls 2-3
UW-Oshkosh 2-4  
UW-Superior 1-4  
UW-Stout 0-5

La Crosse is a young up and coming team getting stronger.  They have quality wins against Carroll (who beat Point) and Augustana (lost to Elmhurst).  They lost in OT to St. Thomas on the road and two of their three conference losses were to Point and Whitewater, both on the road as well.  They are improving and will pull some upsets, especially at home.  They do host Platteville on Wednesday.

[sac]

How about RIT.............last week no votes, this weekend make a last second 30 footer that may have been after the buzzer.........voila, Top 25 team.  

[Gregory Sager]

Buena Vista makes D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll HISTORY!!!


They have less votes, but rank higher! LOL

5 Buena Vista  12-1 482 8
6 UW-Platteville  13-2 487 4

Great catch, Tom!

Good thing that UW-Platteville isn't a SCIAC team. If you guys think that sac's raising a stink, just imagine how OxyBob would react to seeing a SCIAC team ranked below a team that had received fewer ballot points than the SCIAC team. I think we'd be able to hear his head exploding all the way out here in the midwest.

[Gregory Sager]

How about RIT.............last week no votes, this weekend make a last second 30 footer that may have been after the buzzer.........voila, Top 25 team.  

I'm more bothered by the fact that the pollsters penalized Ithaca for that dubious outcome. The Bombers dropped 34 points and one slot in the poll for losing a game on a buzzer-beater that didn't actually beat the buzzer.