Posters' Poll

[frodotwo]

Just pored over the Bracket Challenge standings.  I had three of the FF teams (which kept me pretty high), but UWSP winning it all instead of UWW.  IF UWSP had not laid an egg, I suspect I would have won it all (at least top three).

Oh well, I'm not gonna complain about top 10%.

And I DID beat all the other PP voters!

Yeah I had 3 of the 4 and UWSP winning it as well. I think I was tied for 11th going into the final four and I would have ended up 3 points behind you had Point won just as I did at the end now.

[nescac1]

Looking at the final poll, next year will be one of the more challenging pre-season polls in recent memory, I would have to think.  Whitewater will be a strong pre-season number one, returning Young, Evans, Odegaard, plus some young guys who are no doubt ready to step up.  Williams will still be very good,  a top-10 caliber team (at least in next year's climate of uncertainty) led by Duncan Robinson, but Mayer just dominated the entire NCAA tourney and is a huge loss.  IWU loses a ton of talent up front, although will have a strong perimeter game and also still looks like a top-10 team.  Amherst is minus Toomey plus two other stellar starters, and the Jeffs have their most question marks in years.  It's hard to imagine Stevens Point even in the top 25 in light of who they graduate and the limited production returning, but perhaps they get there just out of respect for the program.  Same goes for Wash U. and Mary Washington.  St. Norbert graduates four starters including the top two players.  Wooster loses Thorpe, Dickinson Honig, Albertus Watson, Calvin Kruis, Emory Davis, Wheaton Peters, Wesley Langan, UTD Schleigh, VWU Woodmore, and on and on. Cabrini seems to return the most other than Whitewater, but Cabrini did not look great late in the season and in the tourney, and there aren't any other returning top-20 teams that won't feature enormous uncertainties. 

This year featured a simply awesome group of seniors in Division 3, and a lot of teams are going to be decimated.  Meanwhile, next year's group of seniors seems strangely shallow in talent.  I know that to be the case in NESCAC, the league I (obviously) most closely follow, where there were three underclassmen, but only one junior, on the all conference teams.  But it seems that way nationally, too -- there is Walton-Moss, KJ Evans, Ross Danzig, Xavier Brown, but that is about the extent (maybe a few others, but not a ton) of returning guys are look like surefire nationally elite kind of players.  All that combines, in my view, to make next year the most wide open year in Division 3 in recent memory, after a clear number one, all bets are off.   

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I went through the tournament rosters (from the tournament program) looking for teams returning a lot.  The big one is, obviously, Augustana returning everyone.  I thought Randolph-Macon's returning roster quite strong - and perhaps MIT; they bring back everyone and were probably underperforming most of this season.

[magicman]

Looking at the final poll, next year will be one of the more challenging pre-season polls in recent memory, I would have to think.  Whitewater will be a strong pre-season number one, returning Young, Evans, Odegaard, plus some young guys who are no doubt ready to step up.  Williams will still be very good,  a top-10 caliber team (at least in next year's climate of uncertainty) led by Duncan Robinson, but Mayer just dominated the entire NCAA tourney and is a huge loss.  IWU loses a ton of talent up front, although will have a strong perimeter game and also still looks like a top-10 team.  Amherst is minus Toomey plus two other stellar starters, and the Jeffs have their most question marks in years.  It's hard to imagine Stevens Point even in the top 25 in light of who they graduate and the limited production returning, but perhaps they get there just out of respect for the program.  Same goes for Wash U. and Mary Washington.  St. Norbert graduates four starters including the top two players.  Wooster loses Thorpe, Dickinson Honig, Albertus Watson, Calvin Kruis, Emory Davis, Wheaton Peters, Wesley Langan, UTD Schleigh, VWU Woodmore, and on and on. Cabrini seems to return the most other than Whitewater, but Cabrini did not look great late in the season and in the tourney, and there aren't any other returning top-20 teams that won't feature enormous uncertainties. 

This year featured a simply awesome group of seniors in Division 3, and a lot of teams are going to be decimated.  Meanwhile, next year's group of seniors seems strangely shallow in talent.  I know that to be the case in NESCAC, the league I (obviously) most closely follow, where there were three underclassmen, but only one junior, on the all conference teams.  But it seems that way nationally, too -- there is Walton-Moss, KJ Evans, Ross Danzig, Xavier Brown, but that is about the extent (maybe a few others, but not a ton) of returning guys are look like surefire nationally elite kind of players.  All that combines, in my view, to make next year the most wide open year in Division 3 in recent memory, after a clear number one, all bets are off.

One school in the final poll that might not be in bad shape next year is Sweet 16 team, Plattsburgh State. They had an 8 man rotation that averaged from 12 to 29 minutes per game. They only lose 3 players from that rotation and in an unusual occurrence they will be re-acquiring 3 players that didn't play this year but were major contributors during the 2012-13 season.

One of those players, Jordan Moody, did play in 6 games this year but left the team before Christmas to do an internship that left him unable to complete the season. He averaged 10.0 ppg last year and was averaging 11.8 ppg this year when he had to call it quits. Jordan is a 6'2" senior guard who has speed, hops and the quickest first step on the team. He has started 28 of the last 35 games he played in and averaged over 22 minutes per game.

Another player that didn't play this year will be 5th year senior Reggie Williams. Reggie fractured a bone in his foot before the season started and when he was unable to practice by January the decision was made to wait till next year. Reggie is a 6'6" 240 lb forward who had been promoted to the starting lineup toward the end of the 2012-13 season, when an injury to another player opened up a spot for him. In the last 8 games of that season Reggie averaged 10 ppg and 6 rpg while getting 21 minutes of court time per game.

The 3rd player that the Cardinals will get back from the 2012-13 season is Kalik Parker, a 6'4" senior G/F who led the team with 52 three pointers that season. Kalik had double figures in 12 games and ended up with a 7.6 ppg average while grabbing 3.4 rpg.

To lose three senior starters and have them replaced by, essentially, 3 returning senior starters, is rather unheard of. Plattsburgh will be deeper next year than they were this year without even adding any new recruits.  The coaching staff is trying to get a 6'8" junior college transfer that is a rebounding machine and a 6"4" G/F/ out of NYC, but if the returning players from this year's team improve, as they should, that,  along with the three from the 2012-13 season, should keep the Cardinals in the mix as a Top 25 team. Any decent recruits will just be a bonus.               

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Looking at the final poll, next year will be one of the more challenging pre-season polls in recent memory, I would have to think.  Whitewater will be a strong pre-season number one, returning Young, Evans, Odegaard, plus some young guys who are no doubt ready to step up.  Williams will still be very good,  a top-10 caliber team (at least in next year's climate of uncertainty) led by Duncan Robinson, but Mayer just dominated the entire NCAA tourney and is a huge loss.  IWU loses a ton of talent up front, although will have a strong perimeter game and also still looks like a top-10 team.  Amherst is minus Toomey plus two other stellar starters, and the Jeffs have their most question marks in years.  It's hard to imagine Stevens Point even in the top 25 in light of who they graduate and the limited production returning, but perhaps they get there just out of respect for the program.  Same goes for Wash U. and Mary Washington.  St. Norbert graduates four starters including the top two players.  Wooster loses Thorpe, Dickinson Honig, Albertus Watson, Calvin Kruis, Emory Davis, Wheaton Peters, Wesley Langan, UTD Schleigh, VWU Woodmore, and on and on. Cabrini seems to return the most other than Whitewater, but Cabrini did not look great late in the season and in the tourney, and there aren't any other returning top-20 teams that won't feature enormous uncertainties. 

This year featured a simply awesome group of seniors in Division 3, and a lot of teams are going to be decimated.  Meanwhile, next year's group of seniors seems strangely shallow in talent.  I know that to be the case in NESCAC, the league I (obviously) most closely follow, where there were three underclassmen, but only one junior, on the all conference teams.  But it seems that way nationally, too -- there is Walton-Moss, KJ Evans, Ross Danzig, Xavier Brown, but that is about the extent (maybe a few others, but not a ton) of returning guys are look like surefire nationally elite kind of players.  All that combines, in my view, to make next year the most wide open year in Division 3 in recent memory, after a clear number one, all bets are off.

One school in the final poll that might not be in bad shape next year is Sweet 16 team, Plattsburgh State. They had an 8 man rotation that averaged from 12 to 29 minutes per game. They only lose 3 players from that rotation and in an unusual occurrence they will be re-acquiring 3 players that didn't play this year but were major contributors during the 2012-13 season.

One of those players, Jordan Moody, did play in 6 games this year but left the team before Christmas to do an internship that left him unable to complete the season. He averaged 10.0 ppg last year and was averaging 11.8 ppg this year when he had to call it quits. Jordan is a 6'2" senior guard who has speed, hops and the quickest first step on the team. He has started 28 of the last 35 games he played in and averaged over 22 minutes per game.

Another player that didn't play this year will be 5th year senior Reggie Williams. Reggie fractured a bone in his foot before the season started and when he was unable to practice by January the decision was made to wait till next year. Reggie is a 6'6" 240 lb forward who had been promoted to the starting lineup toward the end of the 2012-13 season, when an injury to another player opened up a spot for him. In the last 8 games of that season Reggie averaged 10 ppg and 6 rpg while getting 21 minutes of court time per game.

The 3rd player that the Cardinals will get back from the 2012-13 season is Kalik Parker, a 6'4" senior G/F who led the team with 52 three pointers that season. Kalik had double figures in 12 games and ended up with a 7.6 ppg average while grabbing 3.4 rpg.

To lose three senior starters and have them replaced by, essentially, 3 returning senior starters, is rather unheard of. Plattsburgh will be deeper next year than they were this year without even adding any new recruits.  The coaching staff is trying to get a 6'8" junior college transfer that is a rebounding machine and a 6"4" G/F/ out of NYC, but if the returning players from this year's team improve, as they should, that,  along with the three from the 2012-13 season, should keep the Cardinals in the mix as a Top 25 team. Any decent recruits will just be a bonus.             

Now that is the kind of inside information we need!  Nice job.

[pjunito]

I follow the GNAC of course. Albertus returns everyone except Watson. Vic L and Davis will lead the group as seniors, Jennings and Lersen are also returning, along with their best 3 reserve players. I am not sure if that team would be viewed as a top 25 team. But, Oliver's has been able to bring in some good players the last few years. If he can replace Watson's production with 3 players (some who play more defense than Watson) than I think they should be considered for top 25.

[Greek Tragedy]

I follow the GNAC of course. Albertus returns everyone except Watson. Vic L

You didnt want to try to spell L-j-u-l-j-d-j-u-r-a-j?

I had to learn to spell his name since he was on my fantasy team...isnt that a rule? 

Kind  of like T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

[gordonmann]

How is that name pronounced?

[sac]

How is that name pronounced?

Victor

[Greek Tragedy]

How is that name pronounced?

I said I could SPELL it, not pronounce it. 

How is that name pronounced?

Victor

LOL

Very nice +1

[pjunito]

It is pronounced - Luh - Ju - Die

I know right?

[gordonmann]

Ha, thanks.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Looking at the final poll, next year will be one of the more challenging pre-season polls in recent memory, I would have to think.  Whitewater will be a strong pre-season number one, returning Young, Evans, Odegaard, plus some young guys who are no doubt ready to step up.  Williams will still be very good,  a top-10 caliber team (at least in next year's climate of uncertainty) led by Duncan Robinson, but Mayer just dominated the entire NCAA tourney and is a huge loss.  IWU loses a ton of talent up front, although will have a strong perimeter game and also still looks like a top-10 team.  Amherst is minus Toomey plus two other stellar starters, and the Jeffs have their most question marks in years.  It's hard to imagine Stevens Point even in the top 25 in light of who they graduate and the limited production returning, but perhaps they get there just out of respect for the program.  Same goes for Wash U. and Mary Washington.  St. Norbert graduates four starters including the top two players.  Wooster loses Thorpe, Dickinson Honig, Albertus Watson, Calvin Kruis, Emory Davis, Wheaton Peters, Wesley Langan, UTD Schleigh, VWU Woodmore, and on and on. Cabrini seems to return the most other than Whitewater, but Cabrini did not look great late in the season and in the tourney, and there aren't any other returning top-20 teams that won't feature enormous uncertainties. 

This year featured a simply awesome group of seniors in Division 3, and a lot of teams are going to be decimated.  Meanwhile, next year's group of seniors seems strangely shallow in talent.  I know that to be the case in NESCAC, the league I (obviously) most closely follow, where there were three underclassmen, but only one junior, on the all conference teams.  But it seems that way nationally, too -- there is Walton-Moss, KJ Evans, Ross Danzig, Xavier Brown, but that is about the extent (maybe a few others, but not a ton) of returning guys are look like surefire nationally elite kind of players.  All that combines, in my view, to make next year the most wide open year in Division 3 in recent memory, after a clear number one, all bets are off.

With Duncan Robinson's transfer to Michigan, Williams falls from a FF candidate to a team unlikely to even make the tourney.  It is just as well that DR has to sit a year - based on what I saw at Salem, he has the potential for D1 stardom, but he HAS to put on some bulk and muscle.  A year with the Michigan strength and conditioning coach will do wonders for him.

[Mr. Ypsi]

After last winter's brutality, Mrs. Y and I are probably going to be snowbirds this year.  Since I don't know what my internet access may or may not be, I must reluctantly pass the PP mantle to someone else.  Any takers?

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Ordinarily I'd volunteer but by the time basketball rolls around I'm just burnt out from running the football poll and pickems (of course by the time it's August I'm all eager for things to get going again ). If no one else steps up though I'm sure I can squeeze it into my duties