Posters' Poll

[sac]

Impossible to know of course.  But teams should be held accountable for their actual results, not what they might be.

[LogShow]

UPS is at #28...It doesn't suprise me because they deserve the ranking they got.  They have been inconsistent and frustrating to watch at times because they have so much potential and at times have played extremely well.  They still have a long road infront of them but I still feel they can make some noise in the national tourney...if they can pull it together and make it there.

[Ralph Turner]

I don't see how 15-7 merits a #11 or #15 vote.  Chicago wasn't even on my radar.

Massey has Chicago #5 (the highest UAA team)...

http://www.mratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&sub=III&mid=1

Per Massey, Chicago has played the toughest schedule in the nation.

http://www.d3hoops.com/school/CHI/mens/2008

Chicago at #11 is mine.  I didn't think that I would be that far out on the limb.  Here is how I got there.

I started with a clean poll after there was so much "red ink" from the previous week.

I had the first Regional Rankings and 20 games worth of Massey.

As I got into the second 10, I started playing the "neutral site/who wins" game.

Chicago is #1 in Massey's SOS and #5 overall.

They were my 3rd ranked team in the Midwest Region.  (Regional rankings have them 5th.)  They have an early 2-point road loss to Wheaton IL, which the committee must acknowledge.  I think Wheaton has slipped a bit.  I also think that Chicago is slightly better than Lawrence on a neutral floor.

As we saw some weakness in the northeast with UMD and especially Williams, some general strength in the UAA, (especially with Wash StL versus CWRU which I watched), and the general WIAC-iness that we all expect, I ran the list of teams.  (We have figured out how to beat Rochester.)

Would Chicago beat #2 East Region Plattsburgh on a neutral floor?  #2 South Region UMHB? #2 Great Lakes Wooster?  Tri-leader in the WIAC UW- Oshkosh?

I just thought that Chicago would beat each of them.

The Top 25 seems like the Daytona 500.  Everybody has their favorite, but the top 15 cars finished within the time difference of a single bad pit stop.  I think that we are getting that much parity in D-III.

Thanks for the chance to explain it.  If Chicago wins their last three games at home (NYU, Deis and WashU) then I won't look quite as bad. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Speaking of homers, I'll fess up to giving a #25 to IWU (even though I knew full well that would be their only vote).  With 8 losses, I knew they would probably not even be considered by most, but they are so reliant on freshmen - I honestly think they are probably top 20 NOW, but with all those losses I couldn't justify more than a token vote.

I of course fill out my ballot before the d3hoops poll is issued, but I also make it a point to not look at it until after I've posted the PP.  I now see that IWU got eight points there.  Apparently I'm not nearly the homer I thought I was!

Let's see - if the Titans got 8 points from 25 voters, they should have gotten 3 points from 9 voters.  Why are you guys hatin' on my alma mater?!

[smedindy]

I'm all about the body of work. I just think it's a wacky year.

[sac]

Ralph---I appreciate you taking the time to provide your well thought out explination for Chicago.  Thanks

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The record only matters to the selection committee.  This Chicago squad is having the problem of being the 4th best team in a conference where four teams are top 15 material.  They've had some impressive wins and a crazy schedule.

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph---I appreciate you taking the time to provide your well thought out explanation for Chicago.  Thanks

Thanks, sac.

Your response and Hoops Fan's tells me that it is not that preposterous.  Chicago is my #3 team in the UAA and my #3 team in the well-respected Midwest Region.  I also think that this Chicago team is not the team that lost to Trinity TX in the first weekend.  (As for the "body of work", yes, I appreciate that thought.)

I think that this season is just wild!

I have used the bicycle race analogy before.  How many teams are in the peloton?  Put on a nine-game sprint beginning with the conference tourney and you can have it all!

A "nine-game streak" is not that uncommon.  Getting the timing right is luck, but lots of us have had those three-four week periods where everything worked!

This will be a blast!

[LogShow]

Is there going to be a poster's poll this week?

[magicman]

Is there going to be a poster's poll this week?

Why wouldn't there be? Now it's getting down to crunch time.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Is there going to be a poster's poll this week?

Why wouldn't there be? Now it's getting down to crunch time.

This week, next week after conference tourneys, then a final one after the NCAA tourney.

[LogShow]

Is there going to be a poster's poll this week?

Why wouldn't there be? Now it's getting down to crunch time.

Just wanted to make sure!

[Ralph Turner]

Mine is in, assuming that Centre takes care of business.

[magicman]

Just when I was cosidering DePauw for the PP they go and lose to Oglethorpe. Bound to be fresh blood in this week's poll. Who climbs back in or who makes their 1st appearence?

Ralph wasn't too far off in his assesment of Chicago as they are just 1 win away from winning the AQ in the UAA. Maroons bound to move up in this week's PP poll. Looks like they may make the D3Hoops top 25 as well. Every team in front of them from last week's poll lost, including #25, #22, & #20(twice).    

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Mine is in, assuming that Centre takes care of business.

Same here.  Although, I may even give Centre the benefit of the doubt, so long as they keep it close.

This week I've got 4 UAA squads in the top 13 and three WIAC teams in the top 8.