Top 25 talk

[Pat Coleman]

Given the excuse I got from a Witt person for losing the game, I think Witt thinks differently.

[Hugenerd]

Fair enough, although a win against Wittenberg last year was not exactly rare.

Right, and it's essentially the same team this year:  not more talented, just more experienced.  They should be competitive, likely back to a winning record, but losing at Hiram is not really a surprise.  Hiram has a lot of talent, but they're maddeningly inconsistent.  Beating Witt is not really a surprise (and they did so with ease), and losing to them by 30 wouldn't have been surprising either.

So just to make sure I understand what you are saying, no matter what the outcome of the game you would not have been really surprised?

Touche Mr. Collinge.

[David Collinge]

Given the excuse I got from a Witt person for losing the game, I think Witt thinks differently.

I assume you're referring to the endless bus ride, and that likely was a factor as well.  As was the fact that two of their better players were still wearing helmets and pads that day.

This all just points up the difficulties of trying to come up with a Top 25 this early in the season.  Was Witt really a Top 25 team?  I don't think so, but I was prepared to re-evaluate that position if they were to beat Hiram (and posted something to that effect.)  They were unbeaten, they'd had blowout wins and nailbiters, they'd beaten programs that are well-run if not at their high points (Capital, Catholic), and they certainly have the winning tradition and a coach who knows how to win.  Plus, in the early going, there's been lots of upsets and confusion around the country, making it hard to evaluate many possible contenders.  Maybe with all that Wittenberg on paper looked like a top 25 team.  On the other side of the tally is the fact that they're essentially last year's 12-12 model, with one starter gone and another back from injury redshirt, and their schedule is decidedly less strong than it's been in recent years.  When you weigh all these factors, are they #22 or #72?  Search me; I'm just glad I don't have to do it.

So just to make sure I understand what you are saying, no matter what the outcome of the [Witt/Hiram] game you would not have been really surprised?

Yes, you got it.  Last year, Hiram lost by 8 at Franciscan, then later that month lost at Guilford by 3, in the midst of a 16-win, NCAC 3rd place season.  Since then, nothing the Terriers do surprises me.

[Titan Q]

#15 Augustana at Gonzaga, 8:00pm Central/6:00pm Pacific

TV: FSN Northwest (Ch. 687 on DirecTV, Ch. 424 on Dish Network, 5426 in HD)

[Greek Tragedy]

Any possibility that's on a FSN on Time Warner or Charter?  Usually, you need the sports package, which I have, to get those late night Fox Sports games...

[Gregory Sager]

Dec 03    AWAY    Apprentice School ()    W OT    76-73

The Builders are 4-4, FWIW.

[Hugenerd]

Dec 03    AWAY    Apprentice School ()    W OT    76-73

The Builders are 4-4, FWIW.

Thanks.  I actually looked that up but decided not to include it because Pat did not include the record for Penn St. - Brandywine, because they are not d3, when listing Eastern Mennonite's games.

[Gregory Sager]

Dec 03    AWAY    Apprentice School ()    W OT    76-73

The Builders are 4-4, FWIW.

Thanks.  I actually looked that up but decided not to include it because Pat did not include the record for Penn St. - Brandywine, because they are not d3, when listing Eastern Mennonite's games.

I tried PSU-Brandywine's site in order to fill in that team's record as well, but it's missing some game results. I don't know if the SID has been into the brandy or into the wine.

[Titan Q]

Good video tonight...

#1 Wash U vs #8 Wheaton

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/mensbball/mensbball.html

[John Gleich]

Good video tonight...

#1 Wash U vs #8 Wheaton

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/mensbball/mensbball.html

And Wheaton's leading 17-11 after Wash U led early 7-0

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wheaton up 25-22 at the half.

Not exactly an offensive explosion!

[scout]

Additionally, the Augustana v Gonzaga matchup can be watched online:

http://www.justin.tv/phillyzag

Not sure what the policy is about posting links, but I thought some might be interested.

[Mr. Ypsi]

#1 WashU 64, #8 Wheaton 62.

Wheaton led most of the game, but in crunch time, WashU showed why they are #1.

[magicman]

Well, now that we know that Wheaton can play with the #1 ranked Washington Bears, on the Bears home court no less, doesn't that kind of justify their placement at #8? After all, last year's Kent Raymond led Thunder edition, lost 55-52 to Wash U in the sectional semis on Wheaton's home court. The Thunder were ranked #3 at that time and ended up in the #2 spot in the final rankings. Don't see a lot a difference between then and now except they lost by 2 on the road.

[Hugenerd]

Well, now that we know that Wheaton can play with the #1 ranked Washington Bears, on the Bears home court no less, doesn't that kind of justify their placement at #8? After all, last year's Kent Raymond led Thunder edition, lost 55-52 to Wash U in the sectional semis on Wheaton's home court. The Thunder were ranked #3 at that time and ended up in the #2 spot in the final rankings. Don't see a lot a difference between then and now except they lost by 2 on the road.

You could make that justification, OR you could say that this is a one game fluke:

For me, personally, I have to honestly wonder if it was some kind of fluke (aka Witt losing at Hiram) just because of everything else on their schedule.

I guess it depends on how you look at it.