Top 25 talk

[Ralph Turner]

I will agree that the WIAC is a strong conference, and the demographics afforded a powerful state school conference are compelling.

I make the case that the WIAC has the best #30 to #130 (UW-Eau Claire)  teams in the country.  They do not get to cherry pick their non-conference games the way that the UAA members can schedule themselves.

Massey's MOV has Emory at  #173 and Case at 152.

http://www.mratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&sub=III&mid=1

Massey has WIAC's at #16, #18, #24 and #31.

[TeeDub]

Where's Coe?

[Ralph Turner]

Where's Coe?

#53!

http://www.mratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&sub=III&mid=1

[John Gleich]

I disagree with you Hoops Fan.  From a WIAC guy... the WIAC is down because of a lack of dominant seniors.  The teams this year all seem to be at the relative same level because they have stooped to each other's level, as opposed to raising their game to a higher standard.  I attribute this to a lack of senior leadership.

The favorite to win conference each of three years prior (and maybe even longer, I'd have to look it up and I don't want to right now!) was a senior laden team.  Last year, it was Point, and Point won the conf title, tied with Platteville, who also had alot of seniors.  The year before, River Falls (and they won the title, thanks to losses by Whitewater and Point on the last night of the season).  Three years ago, Oshkosh was favored, and Point actually ran away with the title by 3 games...  Point drew a hot Gustavus Adolphus game and didn't make it out of the second round but Oshkosh made it to the Elite 8.

The favorite this year was Oshkosh.  This team is lead by a bunch of juniors, albiet from the third place team last year, and they were the last team to beat Point (also in the last game of the regular season).  This season, Oshkosh has flat out underachieved... but they were over-rated at the beginning of the season.  The problem wasn't the talent... it was there, for sure... the problem was that this team knew how to lose in tough games a whole lot more than they knew how to win.  Last year, Oshkosh was a 19-8 team... that's impressive in some rights... but at the same time, they lost 8 games.  I had some questions early on about their defensive prowess and their over-all team togetherness, and I think we've seen that this team has underachieved.

Who's the favorite right now?  It's gotta be Stout...  2 of their last 3 are at home, plus a bye (and they're  half a game up, putting the pressure on Point and Whitewater).  But it essentially is Stevens Point who holds their own destiny... they play co-second place Whitewater on Wednesday and leader Stout on Saturday.

I think, even though the WIAC has appeared down (from their less than absolutely dominant non-conference sked, which we're used to) which ever team comes out will still make a strong showing.  I think there's an inevitable Lawrence/UW Somebody matchup looming, as well...

[David Collinge]

Milestones in the week 10 poll (poll #104):

*Highest-ever ranking achieved by:
#2 Lawrence
#3 Augustana
#5 Baldwin-Wallace
#14 Mississippi College
#17 Transylvania
#22 Carroll

*Coe College receives votes for the first time ever.

*Albion and St. John Fisher are each in the top 25 for the 25th consecutive week, the 6th longest active streak.

*Streak watch:
Amherst is in the top 25 for the 59th consecutive week; all-time record: 62 weeks (Catholic 1999-2003; UW-Stevens Point 2001-05)
Wooster is in the top 10 for the 34th consecutive week; all-time record: 38 weeks (Carthage 2000-03)
Wooster also extends their record streak of receiving votes to 104 consecutive weeks (i.e., every poll ever released)

Congratulations to all of these fine programs!

[smedindy]

Does it count also that Coe received a vote from me in the posters poll?

Ok, maybe not...

[Greek Tragedy]

WIAC.  Week 10, 2005 Poll:  Games through Jan. 30.

#2 Stevens Point 17-2
#21 Platteville 13-5
#22 Stout 12-5
#23 Oshkosh 15-5

NOTE-Stout and Oshkosh both dropped out in the following poll and Whitewater had votes in both Weeks 10 and 11 (that's all I looked at).  You can only assume Stout and Oshkosh were handed their 6th losses, and possibly 7th.

Week 10, 2006 Poll:  Games through Feb. 5.

#12 Stout 17-4

Oshkosh (just dropped out) 15-7
Whitewater (RV) 15-5
La Crosse 17-5
Stevens Point 15-7

So, record-wise, aside from Point, the overall records of the teams are pretty even from a year ago.

I think it's down a little bit simply because the WIAC didn't have a very good nonconference season, otherwise those records of Oshkosh and Point would be a lot better.  Or, maybe the WIAC is just playing tougher nonconference schedules! 

Point Special also makes a very valid point regarding the lack of senior leadership that exists in the WIAC this year.  Last year it was very easy to pick the All-Conference team with the likes of Bennett, Kalsow, Reitzner, Temperly etc.  7 of the 10 1st team all-conference players were seniors. 

[John Gleich]

7 of the 10 1st team all-conference players were seniors. 

And of the other 3, two were Sophomores (and just one Junior).  On the Honorable Mention team, there were 2 Juniors, 2 Sophs, and 1 Frosh.

Like I said in my previous post here, I think Oshkosh was clearly over-rated at the beginning of the season... but they had appeared to turn it around.  Well, three straight losses later, the ship hasn't just sprung a leak, it's starting to sink...  This team is by no means out of it (Heck, no team is out of it because of the conference tournament) but they've obviously got some problems to figure out... and they need to do it sooner rather than later, or they'll find themselves having to travel throughout the Conference Tourney (in all likelihood)

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Amherst is in the top 25 for the 59th consecutive week; all-time record: 62 weeks (Catholic 1999-2003; UW-Stevens Point 2001-05)
Wooster is in the top 10 for the 34th consecutive week; all-time record: 38 weeks (Carthage 2000-03)

If they both stay there through the final poll of the year, both records will fall.  I can actually say, as much as I whine about teams receiving votes based on history, that both of these schools deserve the records they are working on here.

[fisheralum03]

Hey Pat, when does the first OFFICIAL set of regional rankings come out???I read somewhere on the message board that it should be around feb 11?? is that correct?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm pretty sure its tomorrow.  Yeah, just checked the handbook, it's tomorrow.  Then two rankings will follow  the next two Wednesdays (Feb 15 and Feb 22).  The final rankings (used for selection) will not be released to the public.

[Greek Tragedy]

The final rankings (used for selection) will not be released to the public.

That's interesting.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The final rankings (used for selection) will not be released to the public.

That's interesting.

I think its good.  I mean representatives of the schools and conferences make up the committee; its not smart to give shafted schools the physical evidence to whine and complain because the NCAA sets the standards and the committees follow it.  They don't need to take more crap than they already get.

By the way, I may be wrong on this, but I don't think the final rankings of d1 teams ever get released either.  Their committee sits in a room and does it nationally, while we have eight that do it privately.  Its the same system, its just a little less fair for the non-revenue producing divison.

[smedindy]

To all:

As you know, I do a power rating amalgamation, and I just updated it. Here is the top 25:

1. Lawrence
2. Augustana
3. Wooster
4. Wittenberg
5. Baldwin - Wallace
6. Hope
7. Illinois Wesleyan
8. WPI
9. Amhesrt
10. Carnegie - Mellon
11. Wisc - Stout
12. Transylvania
13. Lincoln
14. Tufts
15. Carroll
16. Puget Sound
17. St. John Fisher
18. Cortland State
19. North Central
20. York (PA)
21. Mississippi College
22. Bates
23. NYU
24. Ohio Northern
25. Wisc - LaCrosse

The Bottom 10:

395. Daniel Webster
394. Principia
393. Maine - Presque Isle
392. Green Mountain
391. Maranatha Baptist
390. Bard
389. Thiel
388. Massachusetts College
387. Centenary
386. Anna Maria

[Ralph Turner]

Smed, are you submitting your power rating in the Posters' Poll?