Posters' Poll

[Mr. Ypsi]

I received an 11th ballot about noon today.  I won't repost since changes were pretty minor (a couple of teams well down the list traded places, and Rochester rose from 26th to 24th), but it did point out how close the battle for 2nd was: if this ballot were included, Guilford and EMU exactly tied for second!

Thanks to "#11".  Glad to have another fan participating.

Actually he's a long-time voter, but whose schedule makes him iffy for this season - some weeks in, some not (one other long-time voter is also in that situation).

But I did just pick up a new voter, who will start next week - if everyone manages to participate in the same poll, we're up to 13!

We're practically on fire here at PP headquarters - yet another poster has just joined up (though he warns he may be sporadic due to med school applications).

In a perfect week - 14!

So are we getting an updated list today?

The new voters won't start until next week, so the only new ballot was #11 (which didn't change things enough to warrant all that re-typing!)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Defiance finally gets a vote - and loses to previously winless Bluffton.

Gustavus Adolphus finally gets a vote (beating the Tommies, which probably would have put them in the top 25 if they had not lost on Saturday) - and loses their second straight.

What are we - the cover of Sports Illustrated?!

[Gregory Sager]

Defiance finally gets a vote - and loses to previously winless Bluffton.

For the record, I'm the one wearing the egg on my face for slotting Defiance #25.

[magicman]

Defiance finally gets a vote - and loses to previously winless Bluffton.

For the record, I'm the one wearing the egg on my face for slotting Defiance #25.

Greg, Plus k for owning up to it. I'm surprised Chuck didn't shout that one out from the rooftops (and I know Mr. Y NEVER outs a Posters' Poll voter) as payback for stealing Tyler Sanborn (as he claims) from him last year.

[Ralph Turner]

Defiance finally gets a vote - and loses to previously winless Bluffton.

Gustavus Adolphus finally gets a vote (beating the Tommies, which probably would have put them in the top 25 if they had not lost on Saturday) - and loses their second straight.

What are we - the cover of Sports Illustrated?!

ROTFLMAO!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So given the stark illogic of my previous rankings, I decided to do a mid course check up and rerank the teams from top to bottom now that the conference season has started to get underway.

I found not much changes near the top, Randy-Mac and VAWes bumped up a couple spots and WashU bumped down a few, but they teams themselves were pretty stable.

It was that middle area where everything was jumbled up.  I remember in the first poll that I felt there was little difference between 15-35.  Now there is a bit more of a difference.  I should have been giving Franklin & Marshall their due; Wheaton and Calvin were getting too much credit.

Hopefully this week will be a little better for me.

[Hugenerd]

So given the stark illogic of my previous rankings, I decided to do a mid course check up and rerank the teams from top to bottom now that the conference season has started to get underway.

I found not much changes near the top, Randy-Mac and VAWes bumped up a couple spots and WashU bumped down a few, but they teams themselves were pretty stable.

It was that middle area where everything was jumbled up.  I remember in the first poll that I felt there was little difference between 15-35.  Now there is a bit more of a difference.  I should have been giving Franklin & Marshall their due; Wheaton and Calvin were getting too much credit.

Hopefully this week will be a little better for me.

F&M also has 3 losses to unranked teams.  I bid them adieu from my poll last week.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So given the stark illogic of my previous rankings, I decided to do a mid course check up and rerank the teams from top to bottom now that the conference season has started to get underway.

I found not much changes near the top, Randy-Mac and VAWes bumped up a couple spots and WashU bumped down a few, but they teams themselves were pretty stable.

It was that middle area where everything was jumbled up.  I remember in the first poll that I felt there was little difference between 15-35.  Now there is a bit more of a difference.  I should have been giving Franklin & Marshall their due; Wheaton and Calvin were getting too much credit.

Hopefully this week will be a little better for me.

F&M also has 3 losses to unranked teams.  I bid them adieu from my poll last week.

Yeah, we're in a tough part of the schedule.  Some teams are starting to get a few losses in conference.  I know my rankings give more weight to a solid schedule and a few good wins (despite a couple losses) over a horrid schedule and a lot of wins.  CMS, Cabrini, and Medaille are suffering as a result.

[magicman]

So given the stark illogic of my previous rankings, I decided to do a mid course check up and rerank the teams from top to bottom now that the conference season has started to get underway.

I found not much changes near the top, Randy-Mac and VAWes bumped up a couple spots and WashU bumped down a few, but they teams themselves were pretty stable.

It was that middle area where everything was jumbled up.  I remember in the first poll that I felt there was little difference between 15-35.  Now there is a bit more of a difference.  I should have been giving Franklin & Marshall their due; Wheaton and Calvin were getting too much credit.

Hopefully this week will be a little better for me.

F&M also has 3 losses to unranked teams.  I bid them adieu from my poll last week.

I dropped them from mine as well. Not only are those 3 teams they lost to unranked, 2 of them have losing records. Lebanon Valley 6-9 and McDaniel 7-8. A top 25 team has to win those games or they don't deserve to be in the top 25.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So given the stark illogic of my previous rankings, I decided to do a mid course check up and rerank the teams from top to bottom now that the conference season has started to get underway.

I found not much changes near the top, Randy-Mac and VAWes bumped up a couple spots and WashU bumped down a few, but they teams themselves were pretty stable.

It was that middle area where everything was jumbled up.  I remember in the first poll that I felt there was little difference between 15-35.  Now there is a bit more of a difference.  I should have been giving Franklin & Marshall their due; Wheaton and Calvin were getting too much credit.

Hopefully this week will be a little better for me.

F&M also has 3 losses to unranked teams.  I bid them adieu from my poll last week.

I dropped them from mine as well. Not only are those 3 teams they lost to unranked, 2 of them have losing records. Lebanon Valley 6-9 and McDaniel 7-8. A top 25 team has to win those games or they don't deserve to be in the top 25.

You have to look a little deeper than that.  LebValley was playing very well before Christmas (when F&M hadn't yet found their stride).  Plus, the F&M loss last week seems to have really lit a fire under them.  The two games following have been some of their best results of the year (including a rematch win over McDaniel).

When you get below #15 on the rankings, these teams all have some gaping holes.

[Mr. Ypsi]

So given the stark illogic of my previous rankings, I decided to do a mid course check up and rerank the teams from top to bottom now that the conference season has started to get underway.

I found not much changes near the top, Randy-Mac and VAWes bumped up a couple spots and WashU bumped down a few, but they teams themselves were pretty stable.

It was that middle area where everything was jumbled up.  I remember in the first poll that I felt there was little difference between 15-35.  Now there is a bit more of a difference.  I should have been giving Franklin & Marshall their due; Wheaton and Calvin were getting too much credit.

Hopefully this week will be a little better for me.

While I agree, did you have to come to that conclusion right after they beat my Titans!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think I've decided to overlook the Eastern Mennonite loss.  I've spent some time this second half contemplating where I'd put them with a loss.

This is a road loss to a conference opponent and it's not a blowout.  It also comes directly before a rematch with the only team that had beaten them to this point.  Easy game in.

It also marks their first d3 loss.  Every other team has this same one loss.  I will drop EMU one spot, below Guilford, but I'm still pretty confident in them (at least as confident as I was before tonight).

E Mennonite died by the three tonight, which is cause for concern, and I'm not sure what to make of 68 combined fouls, but you still have to respect the body of work thus far.

[magicman]

I think I've decided to overlook the Eastern Mennonite loss.  I've spent some time this second half contemplating where I'd put them with a loss.

This is a road loss to a conference opponent and it's not a blowout.  It also comes directly before a rematch with the only team that had beaten them to this point.  Easy game in.

It also marks their first d3 loss.  Every other team has this same one loss.  I will drop EMU one spot, below Guilford, but I'm still pretty confident in them (at least as confident as I was before tonight).

E Mennonite died by the three tonight, which is cause for concern, and I'm not sure what to make of 68 combined fouls, but you still have to respect the body of work thus far.

And as was mentioned on the Top 25 board, 68 fouls called in the game (33 and 35).  Eastern Mennonite has been averaging 17 personal fouls a game and their opponents have been averaging 20. Saturday's game had 83% more fouls called than normal. Hate to play (or watch) a game where the whistles never stop.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm taking nominations for the 25th spot on my ballot this week.  I'm very, very undecided.

Amherst is sitting there right now with CMS, Wittenberg, Brandeis, and Cabrini as possibilities.

I can't find a single team I want to back at #25.  Suggestions?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Would I take too much crap for putting Eau Claire at #25?  They at least appear like they want to win some games.