Top 25 talk

[jaybird44]

A reminder to Darryl and the pollsters that Wash-U plays at MacMurray tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at 3:00 Central time, in a game rescheduled from December 20th because of bad weather.

Yours truly and Wash-U SID Chris Mitchell will have an audio broadcast of the game, beginning at 2:30 with the Bears Den Pre-Game Show.  Chris will also man the Live Stats feature for those who want to follow the bouncing ball along with us!

[nescac1]

If Virginia Wesleyan goes from number 1 to unranked (unlikely but not entirely implausible), would that be a first in the poll's history? 

[Pat Coleman]

Probably, although I can't say when the last time was a No. 1 team lost three times in one poll cycle either.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Pat, do you send out roster updates during the season?

Just curious because Cabrini now does have the roster that everyone thought they had to start they year.  With the return of Walton-Moss it seems unlikely that they're undeserving of even one vote in the poll.

Are voters on their own to discover this kind of information?  (Not making judgments one way or another, just curious.)

[Pat Coleman]

Pat, do you send out roster updates during the season?

Just curious because Cabrini now does have the roster that everyone thought they had to start they year.  With the return of Walton-Moss it seems unlikely that they're undeserving of even one vote in the poll.

Are voters on their own to discover this kind of information?  (Not making judgments one way or another, just curious.)

Generally they are, yes. I also decided not to specifically inform voters that UWSP's Tyler Tillema didn't play in Texas.

If Cabrini wins at Wesley, that will give a good common-opponent reason to make sure Cabrini is at least on voters' minds.

[Ralph Turner]

Stevens Point takes another holiday loss.  They forgot to pack defense on their trip to Concordia (TX) and lost 96-82.  The most points they've given up since a 101-92 loss to Northern Michigan in 2006-2007.

Nice win for Concordia-Texas.  Coach Stan Bonewitz likes the up-tempo game.  Without Tyler Tillema, UWSP probably had to go deeper into the bench than they wanted to.  UWSP only had 7 players in double digit minutes. I think that UWSP could solve the CTX style of play if they had gotten to play against it a couple of times, but it is a challenge for the first time.  (CTX was alos very hot!  They scored 77 points off 65 FGA's.

CTX also caused 17 turnovers and had 11 steals!  That is another feature of ASC play.

http://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2012-13/box_scores/20121231_bin4.xml

[mass_d3fan]

I gotta give the other Engineers, WPI, some props here in this forum.  I don't think anyone saw them being 12-0 & #14 at this point!

[northb]

#7 Adrian loses to Calvin 56-50

[ECSUalum]

 Eastern Soccer Programs Recognized For Sporting Behavior     
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Eastern Connecticut State University is one of only four institutions nationwide – the only one from New England -- to have both its men's and women's soccer programs qualify for a 2012 National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) Ethics Award.

The Eastern men's and women's soccer team both qualified for a Bronze Team Ethics Award for accumulating ten or less yellow and no red cards over the course of the 2012 season. The Eastern men were issued eight yellow cards in 20 matches during a 17-2-1 season and the women's team was given three yellow cards in 18 matches during a 9-6-3 campaign.

[Brian Hamilton]

VWC lost to Newport News Apprentice and has lost 4 in a row.

[magicman]

#2 Middlebury comes from 13 points down with 13 minutes to play and defeats Tufts 70-69. The Jumbos got a steal with 16 seconds left and a chance to win it but missed the final shot and allowed the Panthers to remain undefeated.

[Titan Q]

I watched the 2nd half of #2 Middlebury's 1-point win over Tufts this afternoon.  It's hard to evaluate a team from watching one half of basketball online, but I think there's a good chance Middlebury is ranked too high at #2.  I compare #2 Middlebury to #25 Illinois Wesleyan - just as my best point of reference - and can't find any separation there.  In fact, I think Middlebury would really struggle with IWU's frontcourt players.  (Both beat Tufts in close games.) Again, just going off a quick look online today - maybe I need to see the Panthers again.

Massey has Middlebury's strength of schedule at #334 (before the Tufts game) -- opponents before today have been Ursinus, Lebanon Valley, Green Mountain, Plattsburgh State, Southern Vermont, Johnson and Wales, Johnson State, Skidmore, RPI, and Bates.  I wonder what Middlebury's record would be with IWU's schedule -- games vs #5 Wash U, #8 Wheaton, and #12 UW-Whitewater. Or Whitewater's schedule, Stevens Point's, etc.

I think we're in another year of extreme parity, where there's not a ton of separation between the top 15 teams or so.

[Titan Q]

I've seen Wash U play 4 times in person this year and a couple other times on video.  In fact, as we speak, I'm watching the Bears play @ Chicago...

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/maroon-tv

My sense is that #5 Wash U is quite a bit better than #2 Middlebury.  (Again, just going off a half of Middlebury basketball today.)

[magicman]

I've seen Wash U play 4 times in person this year and a couple other times on video.  In fact, as we speak, they are playing @ Chicago...

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/maroon-tv

My sense is that #5 Wash U is quite a bit better than #2 Middlebury.  (Again, just going off a half of Middlebury basketball today.)

I wouldn't disgree with you Bob, Middlebury is certainly not as good as the team they had last year. I think their #2 ranking is probably too high as well. I've seen them play in person against Plattsburgh State and watched several other games online. They have played better than they did today especially on the defensive end.

[toooldtohoop]

just curious....what is north central's strength of schedule?