Posters' Poll

[Ralph Turner]

As for UMHB, I am still reluctant to toot the ASC horn,
because Miss College will probably be seeded to the Great Lakes Sectional,
requiring the only plane flight in that sectional,
which means they are 600 miles away, with only a handful of fans.
And Mississippi College will spot those teams 30 lbs per player,
and the refs will permit a more physical brand of play,
and MC will be unaccustomed to that much "physicality",
and will not adapt well,
and will get into foul trouble
because they don't know how to play physical Great Lakes ball legally,
and then will lose early in the playoffs,
and people will say that they don't play defense. 

The ASC West race will sprint now.  I can see UMHB winning their next 10 games with a little luck and maybe a hiccup at HPU or if Concordia-Austin gets hot on one of those 2 nights.  (CUA won at D-2 Incarnate Word and lost at D2 Abilene Christian by 2 points.)  UMHB travels to  McMurry and Hardin-Simmons in the last weekend of division play.

[Ralph Turner]

I hit 23 of 25 and the top 19 on both Mr Ypsi's and Pat's poll.  Giving myself the benefit of the doubt on ties on Mr Ypsi's, I hit 8 places, and had 2 adjacent diads.  As for JHU, I think that their cachet and savoir faire are carrying them.  In their tourney, they barely edged past an 11-2 Rowan which only beat McMurry by 2.  They get blown away by Miss College by 24 on a neutral floor (Westmont).  That is my framework for analysis.  Should we be considering the Profs instead of Willy Pat?  IMHO, Rowan is either underrated, or I need to be voting UMHB into the Top 20.  UMHB hosts Concordia-Austin tomorrow night.

If the conventional wisdom is that the CCIW/WIAC/OAC/NCAC axis is where the strength is, then it is not at JHU.  Maybe I need to drop Carthage.  Fortunately, we get another week of CCIW ball to help sort things out.

Thanks, Mr Ypsi for the poll. 

[smedindy]

Honestly, I think the Hope axe to grind is a bit silly...

[Gregory Sager]

Sorry I didn't get mine in, Chuck. Monday 8 pm is a little difficult for me, unless I send in the ballot a day early on Sunday night. My home computer's being fixed, and since it was MLK Day today the public libraries were closed and I thus couldn't use any of their computers, either.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sorry I didn't get mine in, Chuck. Monday 8 pm is a little difficult for me, unless I send in the ballot a day early on Sunday night. My home computer's being fixed, and since it was MLK Day today the public libraries were closed and I thus couldn't use any of their computers, either.

Several voters have sent theirs in on Sunday (this week especially, since there were so few relevant games on Sunday).  You would have wielded such power, with two pairs of ties, and the virtual tie from 10th thru 12th!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Since I'm the oddball (although there was only one school I was the only one voting for this week), I'll make a few statements.


I judge these teams, basically, on who they've beaten, who they've lost to and how difficult their schedule is.  Hope just hasn't proven anything to me yet.  I assume they will factor in as other teams falter in conference (I don't expect Hope to lose much if any in conference play).  I'm just not big on giving them votes solely on reputation.


On the other hand, Mary Hardin Baylor seems to be having a very good season with a strong team.  I don't think they are in MC territory in terms of talent and they aren't from a traditional power area of the country.  They are probably a little high this week on the ballot, but so many teams around them had awful showings.  I think it will correct itself a little this week, especially as they hit the road in upcoming games.

Finally, I'm just not sold on St. Thomas right now.  They took off like gangbusters at the beginning of the year, but since Ike got back from the injury they've been dreadful.  Sure they've been winning games, but they haven't been playing like a top ten team and I can't, in good conscience, put them there.

I also didn't vote for WPI.  I don't think they are competitive nationally, although they could be by tournament time if they get it together.  RIC was my last team off, just because I'd like to see them get through their conference schedule first (they have a rep of dropping easy conference games).  Keene State, on the other hand, is a very good team.  I have yet to vote for Hopkins; I've never been a believer.  I also threw Chicago and Rochester in there, but I didn't really know what to do with those slots.

That should about cover everything.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Ha ha.  I've been vindicated by the St. Thomas loss.  I might have ranked them in the mid to late teens, but now I don't have to drop them any next week!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hoops,

I saw Hope demolish Adrian last night (or, to be accurate, saw them lead 39-12 at the half, at which point I caved to family pressure and left!) - Hope is legit.

It was difficult to tell HOW good they are, since Adrian absolutely stunk up the place (4 of 25 from the field at the half, passes 5 feet over the intended receiver's head, etc.), but SOME of that was due to a smothering Hope defense.  Hope is big, quick, and well-disciplined.  I only wish I could have observed them against an opponent that could challenge them.  Since Adrian beat Calvin, I doubt Hope will lose any conference games (though Hope-Calvin is, of course, always an unknown).  You may eventually have to judge a still untested Hope team that is 23-2!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hoops,

I saw Hope demolish Adrian last night (or, to be accurate, saw them lead 39-12 at the half, at which point I caved to family pressure and left!) - Hope is legit.

It was difficult to tell HOW good they are, since Adrian absolutely stunk up the place (4 of 25 from the field at the half, passes 5 feet over the intended receiver's head, etc.), but SOME of that was due to a smothering Hope defense.  Hope is big, quick, and well-disciplined.  I only wish I could have observed them against an opponent that could challenge them.  Since Adrian beat Calvin, I doubt Hope will lose any conference games (though Hope-Calvin is, of course, always an unknown).  You may eventually have to judge a still untested Hope team that is 23-2!

They may make it in this week by virtue of the fact that none of their competitors in my book actually want to be ranked.  Although I wonder about the shady practices at Hope when they've already got the boxscore for the game this upcoming Saturday posted to d3hoops.com.

[sac]

Have you seen Alma? 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Have you seen Alma?

Well I could understand posting the W ahead of time, but the whole box score seems a bit excessive.  Are we sure Alma even exists?  This isn't like a a Globetrotters-Generals thing is it?

[Ralph Turner]

Mine is in.

[UCgrad45]

I like this multi-region board. Lots of insight into teams I otherwise wouldn't know a lot about.


That being said, remember to give Utica College some love! With their win over St. John Fisher this week, bringing their record to 12-2, things are looking up in Central New York.

[smedindy]

I think we've gained some respect, since now people are lobbying US for votes! Heh...

[Ralph Turner]

I think we've gained some respect, since now people are lobbying US for votes! Heh...

atnwriter is auctioining his vote on the women's board!