Top 25 talk

[sac]

#22 Ferrum

Can anyone confirm this is the first appearance by the Panthers in the D3 poll?  I don't recall ever seeing them before.

[David Collinge]

#22 Ferrum

Can anyone confirm this is the first appearance by the Panthers in the D3 poll?  I don't recall ever seeing them before.

Good catch.  Back in the day I'd have called them a "Debutant."  At least through the end of the 2008 season, when I stopped keeping track, Ferrum had garnered a total of one vote-point: one voter had them at #25 on their ballot in Week 2 of the 2000-01 season.

Ferrum always makes me think of my favorite long-lost offseason thread, where we suggested new nicknames for teams.  I recall offering the "Corpus" for Ferrum, so the cheerleaders could yell "Ave! Ferrum Corpus!", but there were an insufficient number of Catholics and/or Mozart fans present and it went over like a lead balloon (like it doubtless will again here.)   

[kiltedbryan]

Ferrum always makes me think of my favorite long-lost offseason thread, where we suggested new nicknames for teams.  I recall offering the "Corpus" for Ferrum, so the cheerleaders could yell "Ave! Ferrum Corpus!", but there were an insufficient number of Catholics and/or Mozart fans present and it went over like a lead balloon (like it doubtless will again here.)    

That's brilliant.  +k

Five new entrants to the pol this week, but no consensus on who's the best of them.  I'm not sure I've ever seen 6 teams within 7 poll points of each other!  Curiously, because of all the shakeup, Marietta (who went 1-1 on the week) fell out of the poll, but actually gained 8 overall points.

There seems to be a pretty good consensus on the top 5 right now, then after a small gap, a pretty solid consensus on teams 6-15, with each more or less one "ideal" poll position (ie. 25pts) behind the team above it.  Then there's a larger gap before Western Conn., St. Mary's and F&M, which are basically indistinguishable to voters.  Illinois Wesleyan stands alone after that, with a gap on either side.  And then the end of the poll, with 6 teams within 7 poll points of each other, really reads as "whoever else the voters could find that might be good but we're not really sure yet."

[Pat Coleman]

#22 Ferrum

Can anyone confirm this is the first appearance by the Panthers in the D3 poll?  I don't recall ever seeing them before.

Good catch.  Back in the day I'd have called them a "Debutant."  At least through the end of the 2008 season, when I stopped keeping track, Ferrum had garnered a total of one vote-point: one voter had them at #25 on their ballot in Week 2 of the 2000-01 season.

Ferrum always makes me think of my favorite long-lost offseason thread, where we suggested new nicknames for teams.  I recall offering the "Corpus" for Ferrum, so the cheerleaders could yell "Ave! Ferrum Corpus!", but there were an insufficient number of Catholics and/or Mozart fans present and it went over like a lead balloon (like it doubtless will again here.)   

Saturday we are singing that with the Minnesota Orchestra. I'll have to resist the urge to pronounce Verum in German.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Stevens Point slips 1 place to #9 in the poll despite the fact that the team right ahead of them lost and SP beat two conference opponents by 29 and 31 points this past week.

Tonight they won their 6th straight game by 29 or more points as they beat Macalester 82-51.

Concerning the poll...

Nice to see Whitworth getting some votes... I just don't know how good they are compared to teams like St. Thomas, River Falls, or Stevens Point because I don't think they've played competition as tough. 

Massey has Whitworth at #1 but playing just the 22nd toughest schedule.  On the other hand, St. Thomas is #2, playing the #2 schedule and Stevens Point is #3, playing the #3 schedule.  And though the schedule remains tough for UST and UWSP (#3 and #2 projected schedules, respectively), Whitworth's actually gets easier (30th going forward).  I think there's a distinct possibility that they may be undefeated come tournament time.  I just don't see any proof that they're any better than St. Thomas... who has played a tough schedule and passed the tests.

And I also think that River Falls is too low.

I have actually seen BOTH UWSP and Whitworth this season... at the same tournament... and Whitworth is a better team than UWSP in my opinion. Whitworth is deeper with at least four scoring threats and two shut-down defensive players in the Gebber brothers.

The fact Whitworth had Mike Taylor, a legitamate player on a Univ. of Montana player, transfer in has completely changed their team. He can light it up for 30 one night or just find other guys all night long for points for them. Loofburrow is dangerous as a swing man. Can post up and score from inside and can step outside and drain threes just as easily. David Riley is always a threat for the same reason Loofburrow is, expect that Riley can do more damage from inside the arc. And you have Felix Freidt who can contribute inside as well.

Riley had an off tournament in Vegas and every single player mentioned stepped up at different times - almost like Riley was a role player and not their #1 scoring option.

UWSP would be a much better team and higher in my poll if Jenkins was returning. I know he is still on the roster, but he hasn't played and it doesn't look like he will play (due to NFL aspirations). Hopefully we can find out more when we talk to Coach Sempling on Sunday's Hoopsville (tentative, still have to reach out).

UWSP certainly has plenty of talent, but they aren't as deep. That is going to hurt them. And referencing six straight 29+ point wins isn't telling the whole truth. You comment on Whitworth's weak finish in conference (which I would also disagree with - though certainly not as challenging as the WIAC), but those six wins are against weak squads as well.

So while I appreciate your allegiance to UWSP, the fact of the matter is if those two teams faced off (wish it happened in Vegas), my money would be on Whitworth by about 10.

As for UW-River Falls... they are rising in the polls... but there are still a lot of questions about a team that even the coaches in the league voted to finish 7th (I believe). If no expected them to be that good... is it a case of playing beyond their abilities and eventually they will come back to earth? Or is it a case of people not appreciating what they really had.

[smedindy]

#22 Ferrum

Can anyone confirm this is the first appearance by the Panthers in the D3 poll?  I don't recall ever seeing them before.

Good catch.  Back in the day I'd have called them a "Debutant."  At least through the end of the 2008 season, when I stopped keeping track, Ferrum had garnered a total of one vote-point: one voter had them at #25 on their ballot in Week 2 of the 2000-01 season.

Ferrum always makes me think of my favorite long-lost offseason thread, where we suggested new nicknames for teams.  I recall offering the "Corpus" for Ferrum, so the cheerleaders could yell "Ave! Ferrum Corpus!", but there were an insufficient number of Catholics and/or Mozart fans present and it went over like a lead balloon (like it doubtless will again here.)   

Saturday we are singing that with the Minnesota Orchestra. I'll have to resist the urge to pronounce Verum in German.

I never pictured you in a tux...

[gordonmann]

It's also interesting that two of the new Top 25 teams arguably got there on the strength of a loss.  Ferrum went 2-1 last week but the wins were over Averett (now 2-13) and Methodist (now 4-9).  The loss was by six to ranked Eastern Mennonite.  And the Panthers jumped from 29 votes to 73 votes and into the poll.

NYU enters the poll at No. 25 after making a similar jump (28 votes last week, 69 this one).  The Violets were 1-1 with a win over Swarthmore (now 4-9) and the well publicized loss to Brandeis at the buzzer.

Who says there's no such thing as a good loss?

[Pat Coleman]

#22 Ferrum

Can anyone confirm this is the first appearance by the Panthers in the D3 poll?  I don't recall ever seeing them before.

Good catch.  Back in the day I'd have called them a "Debutant."  At least through the end of the 2008 season, when I stopped keeping track, Ferrum had garnered a total of one vote-point: one voter had them at #25 on their ballot in Week 2 of the 2000-01 season.

Ferrum always makes me think of my favorite long-lost offseason thread, where we suggested new nicknames for teams.  I recall offering the "Corpus" for Ferrum, so the cheerleaders could yell "Ave! Ferrum Corpus!", but there were an insufficient number of Catholics and/or Mozart fans present and it went over like a lead balloon (like it doubtless will again here.)   

Saturday we are singing that with the Minnesota Orchestra. I'll have to resist the urge to pronounce Verum in German.

I never pictured you in a tux...

I believe there are tickets available, although it is supposed to be hideously cold here this weekend.

[NYCHOOPER]

It's also interesting that two of the new Top 25 teams arguably got there on the strength of a loss.  Ferrum went 2-1 last week but the wins were over Averett (now 2-13) and Methodist (now 4-9).  The loss was by six to ranked Eastern Mennonite.  And the Panthers jumped from 29 votes to 73 votes and into the poll.

NYU enters the poll at No. 25 after making a similar jump (28 votes last week, 69 this one).  The Violets were 1-1 with a win over Swarthmore (now 4-9) and the well publicized loss to Brandeis at the buzzer.

Who says there's no such thing as a good loss?

watching that nyu v brandeis game made me think that the violets are 10 to 15 points better then the judges . bad coaching and terrible execution in the 2nd half let Brandeis sneak away with one.

[Greek Tragedy]

Strictly looking at the numbers, Stevens Point is pretty deep.  10 players average 13 minutes or more and only one averages more than 25 minutes (Nick Krull).  However, this may be a result of all the blowouts recently.  Looking at just conference games where they are 4-1 with 2 blowout wins, Point has nine averaging over 15 minutes a game and two averaging over 25, Krull and Hurd.  It could also be argued that Point's 9 or 10 deep isn't as good as year's past, which I would agree on.  Point definitely missed the two "go to" guys from last year in Matt Moses and Jared Jenkins.  From what I've heard and read, it seems like Point has only two guys that can really create and are willing to create their own shot, Dan Tillema and Louis Hurd.  I can't really comment on other teams since I haven't even seen Point play, but I think Point is steadily improving.  A key to Point's success might be Jordan Brezinski.  He's 6'8" and played really well over the break. 

As for River Falls, no one on the WIAC board thought they'd finish 7th and we were all shocked when the coach's preseason poll came out with their prediction.  They added a stud WIAC transfer in Shane Manor and have 3 legit guys that can go off for 25 at any given time, Voeltz, Manor and Koonkaew. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Stevens Point slips 1 place to #9 in the poll despite the fact that the team right ahead of them lost and SP beat two conference opponents by 29 and 31 points this past week.

Tonight they won their 6th straight game by 29 or more points as they beat Macalester 82-51.

They did gain SIX points though! 

[John Gleich]

Stevens Point slips 1 place to #9 in the poll despite the fact that the team right ahead of them lost and SP beat two conference opponents by 29 and 31 points this past week.

Tonight they won their 6th straight game by 29 or more points as they beat Macalester 82-51.

They did gain SIX points though! 

The old subtraction by addition, huh...?

[Pat Coleman]

Dave -- the WIAC SIDs picked them seventh in their preseason poll, yes, but we had them on the preseason voter info spreadsheet for a reason.

[John Gleich]

Dave -- the WIAC SIDs picked them seventh in their preseason poll, yes, but we had them on the preseason voter info spreadsheet for a reason.

8th, actually.  I've been trying to type a reply to him for the better part of the morning, but I've been too busy to finish!

[magicman]

I posted this on a couple of boards, and thought I'd post it here. News clip about a 12 year old kid that's pretty amazing. Marques Haynes, Curly Neal, Pistol Pete, and now Jordon McCabe.

http://www.komonews.com/sports/heroes/111892554.html