Top 25 talk

[Pat Coleman]

Neither Emory nor Case Western is worth writing home about -- if they move up I would guess it would only be because someone fell below them.

[Greek Tragedy]

Top 25 Schedule and Scores, Feb. 5-11 (UPDATED with Sunday scores as I get them):      

#   1   Amherst (23-1) lost at Trinity (CT) 62-59
#   2   UW-Stevens Point (20-2) won at UW-Whitewater 83-80 and def. UW-Stout 73-72
#   3   St. Thomas (21-3) won at Augsburg 80-75 (2 OT), lost at Gustavus Adolphus 80-74 (OT), and def. Concordia-Moorhead 77-57
#   4   Virginia Wesleyan (21-3) def. Eastern Mennonite 87-60 and won at Randolph-Macon 77-69
#   5   Wooster (20-3) def. Hiram 90-73 and won at Wabash 68-63
#   6   Hope (19-3) won at Albion 78-71, lost to Calvin 77-71, and def. Adrian 84-71
#   7   Wittenberg (20-3) def. Ohio Wesleyan 71-64 and def. Hiram 78-41
#   8   UW-Oshkosh (19-4) won at UW-Eau Claire 77-54
#   9   Mississippi College (20-2) def. Louisiana College 88-52 and def. U. of the Ozarks 89-63
#   10   Augustana (19-4) def. #25 Wheaton (IL) 63-60 and def. Millikin 71-59
#   11   Washington U. (18-3) def. Emory 74-62 and def. Case Western Reserve 86-65
#   12   Elmhurst (18-4) def. #15 Carthage 81-59 and def. North Park 83-80

Two easy WashU wins over the weekend. Do they move up at all in the poll? I say maybe to 9.

I'm not sure how much they would move up if they did at all.  Amherst and St. Thomas lost, but I don't see that effecting Washington U's status.  #6 Hope lost to Calvin, but I think the voters have enough respect for that rivalry that they may not drop 5 spots.  #s 7, 8, 9, and 10 all won, so how could Washington U jump them.  In fact, some may see #12 Elhmurst smoking #15 Carthage on the road, more impressive and may actually JUMP Washington U.  So, they may even drop a spot!

[bluejaybacker1]

Elmhurst's win was at home not on the road. It was a solid win though.

[David Collinge]

Elmhurst's win was at home not on the road. It was a solid win though.

I try to use consistent terminology in the score updates:
"lost at" and "won at" indicate road games
"lost to" and "def." indicate home games, unless followed by "at [elsewhere]" which indicates neutral site.

"Elmhurst (18-4) def. #15 Carthage" indicates that the game was at Elmhurst.

HTH.

[diehardfan]

I try to use consistent terminology in the score updates:
"lost at" and "won at" indicate road games
"lost to" and "def." indicate home games, unless followed by "at [elsewhere]" which indicates neutral site.

"Elmhurst (18-4) def. #15 Carthage" indicates that the game was at Elmhurst.

At least no one drove to Carthage by accident!!! Those schools are NOT close enough to catch the second half of a game if you drive to the wrong location.  

Carthage will probably fall like a brick after losing two games this week, even though one of them was against Elmhurst. This is because they're now tied for 4th with NCC in the CCIW, two games behind Wheaton (and only a half a game ahead of #6 NPU). I wouldn't be surprised if they were ranked behind us now, and if Wheaton picked up a few of those points as well as other colleges like Lake Erie (who will probably announce the building of a new gym in the offseason! ), MHB, Trinity Conn (who is probably going to have to get SOMETHING after knocking off #1), etc. Let me note that while I am comfortable with us deserving a ranking at this point, I'd also much rather not have us ranked!

Will Stevens Point be a unanimous #1 this week. Based on voters reluctance to vote Amherst #1 this season, I would not be completely shocked to see them fall to #3 behind Virginia Wesleyan or Wooster.

I agree. But I think that VA Wes at the very least will garner some #1 votes. Wouldn't be surprised if Wooster did too.

[smedindy]

I think Amherst could fall to #4, easily.

[Greek Tragedy]

Elmhurst's win was at home not on the road. It was a solid win though.

I looked at the NCC win AT Carthage and also was looking at Elmhurst's win vs. Carthage and mashed those two together.  My apologies. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think Amherst could fall to #4, easily.

You really think they could fall to #4?  #2 Point didn't have the most rousing week ever with close wins over not so great opponents. #3 St. Thomas lost to a team that is probably not as good as Trinity.  #4 VA Wes did well, they should move up.  Then you would also have to bump #5 Wooster up (assuming St. Thomas falls just as far as Amherst) and Wooster hasn't exactly been tearing he lights out lately (how's that for a mixed metaphor).

I certainly think they'll drop (although I can see why people might continue to vote them #1), but four seems a stretch and "easily" seems a bit hasty.

[bluejaybacker1]

David C.-

I was not replying to your post with all the top 25 teams and how they fared. It was to Old School's post when he mentioned that EC smoked Carthage on the road, that's all. I know I appreciate all the work you do to update the top 25 and how they fared every week and I am sure most of the other posters do to.

[David Collinge]

David C.-

I was not replying to your post with all the top 25 teams and how they fared. It was to Old School's post when he mentioned that EC smoked Carthage on the road, that's all.

I know that; I was amplifying your response.  It's something I've wanted to say for a while, since I could see how someone relying on my posts could be confused about home and away games.  Thanks for the compliments. 

I think Amherst could fall to #4, easily.

You really think they could fall to #4?  #2 Point didn't have the most rousing week ever with close wins over not so great opponents. #3 St. Thomas lost to a team that is probably not as good as Trinity.  #4 VA Wes did well, they should move up.  Then you would also have to bump #5 Wooster up (assuming St. Thomas falls just as far as Amherst) and Wooster hasn't exactly been tearing he lights out lately (how's that for a mixed metaphor).

I certainly think they'll drop (although I can see why people might continue to vote them #1), but four seems a stretch and "easily" seems a bit hasty.

Support for Amherst in the polls this year has always been thin, whereas support for Wooster has been deep and steady for many years.  It's well within the realm of possibilities that the voters will once again don their McLeod Tartan sunglasses and promote Wooster to #3 ahead of the Lord Jeffs (and behind UW-SP and VWC.)  I just hope it doesn't happen.

(And for those of may not know, I am a Wooster fan and alumnus.)

[Pat Coleman]

It didn't happen.

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/

[David Collinge]

Top 25 At-a-Glance, Week of Feb. 12-18      

#   1   UW-Stevens Point (20-2) hosts UW-Platteville Wed. and plays at UW-Superior Sat.
#   2   Virginia Wesleyan (21-3) hosts Lynchburg Sat.
#   3   Amherst (23-1) hosts Bates Sat. (NESCAC tournament)
#   4   Wooster (20-3) plays at Kenyon Wed. and hosts Ohio Wesleyan Sat.
#   5   UW-Oshkosh (19-4) plays at UW-Whitewater Wed. and plays at UW-Platteville Sat.
#   6   Wittenberg (20-3) hosts Wabash Wed.Thu. and plays at Allegheny Sat.
#   7   Mississippi College (20-2) plays at UT-Dallas Thu. and plays at UT-Tyler Sat.
#   8   St. Thomas (21-3) hosts St. John's Sat.
#   9   Augustana (19-4) plays at Illinois Wesleyan Wed. and hosts North Central Sat.
#   10   Hope (19-3) plays at Alma Wed. and plays at Tri-State Sat.
#   11   Washington U. (18-3) plays at Carnegie Mellon Fri. and plays at Rochester Sun.
#   12   Elmhurst (18-4) plays at North Central Wed. and hosts #25 Wheaton (IL) Sat.
#   13   Worcester Polytech (19-2) hosts Wheaton (MA) Wed. and plays at Coast Guard Sat.
#   14   Chicago (18-4) plays at Rochester Fri. and plays at Carnegie Mellon Sun.
#   15   Aurora (21-2) hosts Concordia (IL) Thu. and plays at Rockford Sat.
#   16   Whitworth (21-3) won at Whitman 84-72 and hosts Willamette Fri.
#   17   Guilford (19-3) hosts Washington & Lee Wed. and plays at Emory & Henry Sat.
#   18   UW-La Crosse (15-7) hosts UW-River Falls Wed. and plays at UW-Stout Sat.
#   19   Occidental (15-5) hosts Cal Lutheran Wed. and plays at Redlands Sat.
#   20   NYU (17-5) plays at Case Western Reserve Fri. and plays at Emory Sun.
#   21   Puget Sound (17-5) plays at Lewis & Clark Fri. and plays at Linfield Sat.
#   22   Trinity (CT) (20-3) hosts Bowdoin Sat. (NESCAC tournament)
#   23   Mary Hardin-Baylor (20-3) plays at McMurry Thu. and plays at Hardin-Simmons Sat.
#   24   Johns Hopkins (20-3) plays at Gettysburg Wed. and hosts Franklin & Marshall Sat.
#   25   Wheaton (IL) (15-7) hosts Millikin Wed. and plays at #12 Elmhurst Sat.

[systemfan86]

While I think that Grinnell's current streak is strong work, one would have to say that the losses on the road in a 'down' conference are troubling at best.

I can't see them getting much consideration at 6 losses.

C

Thanks for the input.

I understand the weak conference impact; when coupled with the conference, the 6 losses could be an issue, but in and of itself, 6 losses shouldn't be a problem. Both Carthage and Wheaton are in the top 25 with 6 losses, and others receiving consideration have >4 losses.

I look at a 15-5 team like Loras who is receiving votes, and they have a similar footprint as Grinnell: early losses - they were 4-5 at the beginning on the season - and then an extended winning streak. If Grinnell wins out, they will have beaten every team in their conference.

Again, I'm not saying they should be ranked. I'm just trying to figure out whether the current winning streak that they are on changes the national impression of this team and whether that might be reflected in their receiving votes. I looked at the Massey rankings that Pat linked to, and they were 21st.

Ultimately, it matters very little. The rankings don't impact the NCAA tournament bids, and the only way that Grinnell makes it in the tournament is to win the conference's A bid. Once they're there, who knows?

Well, waddya know. Someone took a look at the Pioneers. Thanks for the 1 GC vote/point. That's probably all they get or deserve, but the recognition of a good season is appreciated by this fan. 

[Greek Tragedy]

NCAA D-III Coaches Poll  Grinnell got ONE vote from them too! lol 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Ah... Old School... that is the D3hoops.com poll! The NABC teamed with D3hoops.com for their poll. Look at the top of that NCAA page and you will also see... D3hoops.com.