Top 25 talk

[Gregory Sager]

Gotta be careful with the ole drop down menu!  When submitting my ballot just this week, I was attempting to vote for Washington U and before hitting "submit", realized I was about to slot Waynesburg #23!

Waynesburg! Waynesburg! Party time! Excellent!

(Sorry. I've always wanted to do that, and never had the chance until now.)

[/80s flashback]

[smedindy]

Schwing!!!

[ScotsFan]

Big win for Wooster; they are looking mighty dominant, although it will mean more if they can beat Witt by double digits.

I'm not sure I agree with this logic.  I know it's early in the season and all, but Wooster just beat one of the better programs in NAIA DivI the other night in pretty impressive fasion.  Personally, as good as Witt has been, I don't see them as being as good top to bottom as Georgetown (KY) this year, so I don't really agree that beating Witt by double digits will make this Scots team look more dominant than they look by beating G'town.  Maybe it would solidify in people's minds that they appear to be a dominant team by beating Witt by double digits.  But at the same time, I wouldn't discount Wooster if Witt happens to play them close or even beats them.  For one thing, the game is at Springfield so Witt will be enjoying the homecourt advantage.  Besides, this is a rivalry game and anything can happen.  The chances of a double digit win by either team are usually not the norm no matter how much of an advantage one team might have over the other on paper.  When you go down the rosters of both Wittenberg and Wooster,  it wouldn't be much of a stretch to conclude that Wooster could very easily win this game going away.  But, going by the history of this matchup, the underdogs are usually the ones that come away with most of the wins and especially when one or the other is ranked #1 in the country as Wooster will likely be when the 2 of them square off a week from Saturday in Springfield.  So, I guess what I'm saying is to expect the unexpected in this game.

[ScotsFan]

I think IWU will get better as the season goes on.  With a new coach, they're still figuring out things the way that Rose wants to do things, and with rather inexperienced players, they need to just play with each other to get used to the flow.  The JV schedule is really a plus for these guys... they at least have played at college speed, or very close to it for a season or two behind last year's senior class, whereas at schools without the JV games, the underclassmen only see time if it's a blowout.

I agree about IWU getting better as the season progresses.  The Titans already have one of the DIII's best big men to build around.  If their youngsters can develop and mature over the course of the CCIW dogfight, I don't see it as much of a stretch for IWU coming away with the automatic bid.  There really isn't any clear-cut favorite to run away with the CCIW, so who's to say that IWU couldn't get it done.  And if they get in to the big dance, who knows what kind of a run they could make?

BTW, #9 Point knocks off #19 Oshkosh 89-76 (this is actually an upset... game on Oshkosh's floor and Oshy was picked ahead of Point in the WIAC preseason poll), and La Crosse (receiving 8 votes) beats #8 Whitewater by 3ish.

Pretty impressive win by LAX.  It's not inconcievable for them to be ranked in the top 25 when they make the trek to Wooster for our annual holiday tournament at the end of December and this would make all 4 teams in the field ranked in the top 25 with 3 already ranked in the top 10.  I did notice that the Eagles have a couple of tough road games vs. top 10 opponents on their schedule between now and then as they travle to UWSP a week from Saturday and then on to St. Thomas the week before X-mas.  After those tough games, they may no longer be ranked heading into the Wooster tournament, but they will certainly have been battle tested!

[John Gleich]

Nice posts their Scotsfan, I especially agree with the Witt/Woo discussion... everything is thrown out in a rivalry game.

[David Collinge]

Yes, I agree with PS that ScotsFan is spot-on about the Witt/Woo game upcoming.  Still, just in case it's less than clear to everyone, it's okay with me if Wooster goes ahead and wins by double digits anyway.   

Triple digits would be better still.   8)

[Greek Tragedy]

I did notice that the Eagles have a couple of tough road games vs. top 10 opponents on their schedule between now and then as they travle to UWSP a week from Saturday and then on to St. Thomas the week before X-mas.  After those tough games, they may no longer be ranked heading into the Wooster tournament, but they will certainly have been battle tested!

Or be ranked really high after winning both of those games...which is a possibility.

[ScotsFan]

Or be ranked really high after winning both of those games...which is a possibility.

No doubt about it, if LAX doesn't lose another game between now and their date at the Wooster tournament,  we could be talking about all 4 teams in the top 10.  Of course, ONU, Calvin and Wooster have to do their part in continuing to win as well for this to happen.

BTW, I do have a personal connection with LAX in case anyone is interested.  My cousin is an All-American wrestler for the Eagles finishing 3rd at nationals last season and winning his weight class at the WIAC championships. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

This is NOT a prediction (in fact I highly doubt it), but it would not TOTALLY shock me if Virginia Wesleyan, Ohio Wesleyan, and Illinois Wesleyan all made the final four.  What I can't find is the fourth member to make it a clean sweep. 

Wesley is currently 0-3, Wesleyan is 1-2 (though they trounced Williams AT Williams), NC Wesleyan is 3-3 (with a VERY suspect schedule), and Nebraska Wesleyan is 4-2 (but 2 wins are over 1-4 St. Scholastica, while another is over 1-2 Finlandia).  To have an all Wesleyan final four we may have to import perennial d2 power (though down the last couple of years) Kentucky Wesleyan!

[wooscotsfan]

This is NOT a prediction (in fact I highly doubt it), but it would not TOTALLY shock me if Virginia Wesleyan, Ohio Wesleyan, and Illinois Wesleyan all made the final four.  What I can't find is the fourth member to make it a clean sweep.

Enough of this Methodist fervor!  

I envision Wooster, Hampden-Sydney, Hanover and Buena Vista all in Salem this year so the Presbyterians can rule the Final Four!  

[Mr. Ypsi]

Illinois Wesleyan has a tenuous (at best) relation with the Methodist church anymore, so this was a name-game, not a sectarian challenge!

Your final four, while unlikely, looks at least as good as mine (especially since I had to 'import' a d2 team)!

[John Gleich]

Hmm... UWSP, UW La Crosse, NJCU, and one of the SUNY schools...?  Secular heathens for the national title?

[njlincolnlion]

Lincoln will participate in a D2 (Salem International) tournament.  Would a loss or two (in the torrnament) affect Lincoln's ranking?  Likewise did Lincoln's win over D2 Cheyney help the Lions in the rankings?

[mattgrubb]

wooscotsfan,
this is not a prediction either, but sure would be a good time
don't rule out the fighting scots of maryville college from that all presbyterian final four just yet.
Maryville college has an affiliation with the presbyterian church.
I think the scots are due to break out of this 2nd round every year funk, they have the talent, but not the discipline yet and it sure would be a fun time with the guys from Wooster and Hanover, both those teams knew how to party when in was in school.

[sac]

We're going for the all Ducth final four this year

Hope, Calvin, Central, Lebanon Valley


very unlikely to happen however