Posters' Poll

[dc_has_been]

I think Anderson is worthy of being a top 25 team due to their record and teams they've beat.  Wins over UW-P, Witt, & currently being 10-1 in the HCAC, which isn't a weak conference at all should prove that. 
I do agree with Ralph about their depth issues.  It is showing in their recent box scores that with their last 5 wins they are barely getting by winning by an average of 3.2 pts and getting hammered by Defiance by 16 recently too.  I see them dropping at least two in their final five games.  They are fortunate to have three of those at home but they have to face Hanover (whose being playing real well lately) at Hanover for their final game.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Just when I was really starting to trust them Texas-Dallas goes down on the road to (8-11) Louisiana College.  Normally a 1 point road loss to a conference opponent isn't too bad, but this isn't good.

[Ralph Turner]

Just when I was really starting to trust them Texas-Dallas goes down on the road to (8-11) Louisiana College.  Normally a 1 point road loss to a conference opponent isn't too bad, but this isn't good.

From the ASC board...

Upset!  LaCollege 69 UT-Dallas 68.

Tonight was Think Pink night at Lacollege.

The LaCollege women's coach (former Fresno State head coach Janice Joseph-Richard) is a breast cancer survivor so I wonder if a big crowd showed up and stayed for the Double header.

LaCollege women move ahead in the East.

LaCollege women beat UTD, 58-47, too.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Glad I did not vote for Colby or Brandeis.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Glad I did not vote for Colby or Brandeis.

Unless they lose again tomorrow, Brandeis will probably not fall completely off my ballot.  But, yeah, I think Colby got exposed this weekend - short visit to the top 25!

[Ralph Turner]

Mine is in.

[Titan Q]

Glad I did not vote for Colby or Brandeis.

Unless they lose again tomorrow, Brandeis will probably not fall completely off my ballot.  But, yeah, I think Colby got exposed this weekend - short visit to the top 25!

Exposed?  Colby lost at #2 and at #8?  What was supposed to happen in those games?

I don't have Colby on my ballot, but I don't understand this view.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Glad I did not vote for Colby or Brandeis.

Unless they lose again tomorrow, Brandeis will probably not fall completely off my ballot.  But, yeah, I think Colby got exposed this weekend - short visit to the top 25!

Exposed?  Colby lost at #2 and at #8?  What was supposed to happen in those games?

I don't have Colby on my ballot, but I don't understand this view.

They were expected to lose, but they were never even IN either game.  It served to reinforce that their 16-2 record had been achieved against nobody in particular (with the possible exception of Amherst).

I confess to a soft spot for Maine teams (the family has property there and I have had some wonderful summers).  I really though Colby could at least compete with those teams, and perhaps even manage a win over one or the other.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Middlebury is not the #8 team in the country - not even close.  They haven't beaten anybody until Colby this week, who has an equally weak schedule.

I didn't vote for Colby last week and I've got Middlebury at #22 this week.

I thought Colby was better than they played this week.  I've been rooting for them, but the only chance they have to prove themselves passed them by this weekend.  Maybe they can make waves in the NESCAC tournament.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I've submitted my ballot.  I would rather have stopped at #22 (Middlebury), but I did have to fill out the final three spots.

Against my better judgment I included Brandeis.  I would rather see how they play in the upcoming big games this week before voting for them, but they've earned it (at least more than Lycoming and CMS).

[magicman]

My poll is in.
I have to disagree with Hoops Fan about Middlebury. I've seen them play and they're a pretty darn good team. In the loss to Williams they played without their leading scorer and rebounder 6'8" forward Ryan Sharry who averages 13.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.1 bpg. He shoots 54% from the field, 45% 3's and 75% from the stripe. Williams may be the better team, but I hope they get to play each other again in the NESCAC tourney when Middlebury is at full strength.
I've got Williams at #3 this week moving them up a couple of spots from where I had them last week and I put Middlebury at #10, 1 spot ahead of Willie Paterson which is where I had both of them last week. I get to see all of the teams in the SUNYAC Conference and kind of use their results in non-conference games as somewhat of a measuring stick when looking at ranked teams, when those results come into play. Middlebury beat my hometown Plattsburgh St. Cardinals 81-75 back in early January. Oneonta State, a team that my Cardinals have beaten twice this year handed Willie Paterson their only loss. So based on what I've seen, I have to rank Middlebury above William Paterson. Another reference I have is Williams has played two SUNYAC teams. They hosted Cortland St. which was a 4 point Ephs win 72-68 but got a little home cookin as the Ephs had 31 free throw attempts to only 9 for Cortland. They traveled to New Paltz St. and won 70-68 when New Paltz had a three pointer for the win rim out at the buzzer. My Cardinals have split 2 games with New Paltz, winning on the road 92-77 and dropping an 81-77 contest in Plattsburgh. Plattsburgh's only meeting with Cortland resulted in a 78-73 defeat. So Williams played 2 very competitive games against the SUNYAC and Middlebury also played a competitive game against a SUNYAC opponent. I'm more concerned that I might have Williams too high at #3 than I am about placing Middlebury at #10.

[nescac1]

I wouldn't worry about Williams.  Cortland was one of their worst games of the year, and it was only the second game of the season; they are MUCH improved since then, a totally different team (and Williams always shoots a lot of FTA's -- they've made more than their opponents have attempted -- as they are very aggressive taking it to the hole).  Granted, New Paltz State is a game where, again, they weren't at their best, but look what they've done since then: wins at Wesleyan by 16, at Conn by 12, at Hamilton by 35, at Midd by 15 (yes Sharry was out but Williams is also far better at home, so that is still very impressive), Colby (who had been red-hot up to that point) by 24, and Bowdoin (a solid team who has been at least competitive in every other game this year) by 43.  They have REALLY picked up their level of play since the New Paltz game which, even without losing, served as a bit of a wake-up call.  I can't imagine that, right now, anyone else is playing at as high a level, other than arguably Guilford -- especially when you look at the struggles of the rest of the top five or so teams.  Now anything can happen from this point forward ... Williams has a tough road weekend ahead including at Amherst (who is in a rut but still has talent and it's a rivalry game), then the NESCAC tourney, then the NCAA's ... but right now, the Ephs are on a roll, and they've been doing it against pretty good competition.  I've consistently said and I still think that there is no dominant team this year, but if anyone has been separating themselves of late, it is Guilford and the Ephs. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

I've just received a PM from a voter/poster asking me to list all the voters.  Since there was no request to broach confidentiality in terms of HOW they voted, I'm tempted to comply, but wanted to give voters the opportunity to opt out if you so choose.  If any voter does NOT want to be identified as a voter, PM me.

While HOW you voted remains entirely your call on whether to 'own up', I can't come up with a compelling reason to hide WHO votes (by poster handle only).  Pat doesn't reveal the identity of d3hoops.com voters, but I don't think we are in quite the same situation!

If anyone does NOT wish to be identified, PM me.  Otherwise I'll post the list tomorrow evening.

I complete forgot to do this!  Having heard no objections:

Already voted this week:  Mr. Ypsi, Ralph, Hoops Fan, frodotwo, magicman, hegenerd, KnightSlappy smedindy.

Hoping to hear from in the next 24 hours:  sac, dc_has_been, pbrooks3, Gregory Sager, Point Special, scout.

[Gregory Sager]

Mine will likely be in some time tomorrow afternoon, Chuck.

[nwhoops1903]

My ballot is sitting here with no address...