East Region Fan Poll

[MRMIKESMITH]

On the subject of regional strength, here's my historical outsider view of the East:  very solid but lacking an elite team.

Top to bottom the West is the best.  Very strong at the top with the WIAC and MIAC champs with very good depth below them.   Second is North due to the historic depth of the CCIW plus being home to The Machine.  The South is typically top heavy with MHB and a bunch of pretty good.   To me the East is probably better than the South from 2 thru 8 but lacks a flag bearer like MHB.  The last would have Rowan in the 90's but that's a LONG time ago.

Slay me if you'd like,  but that's my 2 unsolicited cents.

HSCoach,

That's a valid assessment. No problem with that.

[Bartman]

On the subject of regional strength, here's my historical outsider view of the East:  very solid but lacking an elite team.

Top to bottom the West is the best.  Very strong at the top with the WIAC and MIAC champs with very good depth below them.   Second is North due to the historic depth of the CCIW plus being home to The Machine.  The South is typically top heavy with MHB and a bunch of pretty good.   To me the East is probably better than the South from 2 thru 8 but lacks a flag bearer like MHB.  The last would have Rowan in the 90's but that's a LONG time ago.

Slay me if you'd like,  but that's my 2 unsolicited cents.

I think this is a very fair assessment. There are a whole bunch of good teams in the East, but not "elite" teams. The ones that have punched their way into the final eight have been great but not that frequent, and Brockport getting to the final four was exciting last year. Heck, I felt Hobart gave Mount Union everything they could handle two years ago in Geneva(maybe not the best UMU team but still final four). I am totally cool with it, I love the competition in the Liberty League and the rivalry with some of the teams in the E8. I think the NESCAC may have the sport in perspective, but it would be interesting to see how good they really are outside of the conference. The tradeoffs to a team or two to get to the Elite level on a consistent basis is most likely not in the cards for our schools . So, after saying this, Brockport will probably win the Stage Bowl this year

[Jonny Utah]

On the subject of regional strength, here's my historical outsider view of the East:  very solid but lacking an elite team.

Top to bottom the West is the best.  Very strong at the top with the WIAC and MIAC champs with very good depth below them.   Second is North due to the historic depth of the CCIW plus being home to The Machine.  The South is typically top heavy with MHB and a bunch of pretty good.   To me the East is probably better than the South from 2 thru 8 but lacks a flag bearer like MHB.  The last would have Rowan in the 90's but that's a LONG time ago.

Slay me if you'd like,  but that's my 2 unsolicited cents.

I'd also say it is fair.  Although what if you looked at it the same way for NFL divisions?  Where do you rank the AFC east?  Now even the Patriots are no Mt. Union, but that might even be the worst division in the NFL no?

Go a step further and rank the OAC vs E8 teams.  How would you rank them after Mt. Union, Brockport, and JC? 

[wesleydad]

On the subject of regional strength, here's my historical outsider view of the East:  very solid but lacking an elite team.

Top to bottom the West is the best.  Very strong at the top with the WIAC and MIAC champs with very good depth below them.   Second is North due to the historic depth of the CCIW plus being home to The Machine.  The South is typically top heavy with MHB and a bunch of pretty good.   To me the East is probably better than the South from 2 thru 8 but lacks a flag bearer like MHB.  The last would have Rowan in the 90's but that's a LONG time ago.

Slay me if you'd like,  but that's my 2 unsolicited cents.

Having met HSCoach at the Stagg and Mount Union, I have found him to be one of the most astute posters on D3.  I agree with him on this.  Our top teams are at best tier 2 and we only have a few that you could put in that group.  Brockport and Frostburg have just reached that tier 2 level based on that last 2 years.  Frostburg is leaving D3 and who knows what Brock looks like next year after they lose the seniors from this years team.  Wesley took a step back this year so they need to rebound next year to stay in the tier 2 group.  The tier 1 group is limited to 3 or 4 teams until someone else reaches the semis year after year.

[HScoach]

Dad:  Thanks for the referral, but you have been very drunk every time we've chatted.....

[wesleydad]

Dad:  Thanks for the referral, but you have been very drunk every time we've chatted.....

 

[WRMUalum13]

Okay question for you East region folks,

Why did everyone in today's quick picks choose muhlenburg to beat Delaware Valley? The top 25 poll has them ranked 10 spots ahead of Muhlenburg,  I'm just a little confused by the disconnect? Any thoughts?

[Frank Rossi]

Okay question for you East region folks,

Why did everyone in today's quick picks choose muhlenburg to beat Delaware Valley? The top 25 poll has them ranked 10 spots ahead of Muhlenburg,  I'm just a little confused by the disconnect? Any thoughts?

For me, honestly, poll spots 9-20 are almost fully interchangable.  DelVal is 14 for me; Muhlenberg is 20.  I think DelVal is a very good team, but this game presents a matchup issue in my opinion for the Aggies.  The slide from ITH is below — it's a VERY even matchup.  And when that happens, I normally pick the home team.  In this case, with a close game, there's something about Muhlenberg that I feel gives them a bit more of an edge intangibly, even on the road.  But I've said I wouldn't be surprised if DelVal wins this game.  It should be excellent.

[wesleydad]

Okay question for you East region folks,

Why did everyone in today's quick picks choose muhlenburg to beat Delaware Valley? The top 25 poll has them ranked 10 spots ahead of Muhlenburg,  I'm just a little confused by the disconnect? Any thoughts?

I was surprised by that. I expect Del Val to win the game.

[Ice Bear]

Okay question for you East region folks,

Why did everyone in today's quick picks choose muhlenburg to beat Delaware Valley? The top 25 poll has them ranked 10 spots ahead of Muhlenburg,  I'm just a little confused by the disconnect? Any thoughts?

Del Val is quite young and lost A TON from last season. They certainly have done what they have needed to do thus far, aside from a loss to Wesley in week #1. dlip thinks they are a decent team and always had them around 8,9,10 in his ERFP. He would not be surprised in the least if they lose today. With that being said a win over the Mules wouldn't knock dlip's socks off either.

[Machiavelli]

I actually don't expect Del Val to just get beat, I expect them to lose by a bit.

[Jonny Utah]

I actually don't expect Del Val to just get beat, I expect them to lose by a bit.

See I'm the opposite.  For whatever reason I never feel good about the PAC/CC teams.  I think Del Val gets it done.

[wesleydad]

Predictions for the East teams in the NCAA tournament today.

Framingham v Brockport - Brockport wins this game rather easily, 55 - 10
WNE v Frostburg - Frostburg runs over WNE, 49 - 10
Husson v RPI - RPI needs to make a statement, wins a tough one 24 - 17
MIT v Johns Hopkins - East region against the South Region CC, Hopkins is too good on offense, 45 - 13
Muhlenberg v Del Val - Another East Region v CC game, Del Val is the 3rd ranked team in the ERFP, time to show why, Del Val wins 24 - 21

[rams1102]

Here is my 2 cents on Del Val. Keep in mind I am not as astute as most of you guys, but here goes:

The MAC was not as strong as in the past. They got beat pretty good by Wesley who finished 6-4(very close loses). Del did beat everyone in the MAC. Mule SOS is .536 #54 vs Del .468 #196. Mules lost to Hop 27-16, beat F&M 42-21 & T.Moore 34-31. My guess is Mules over Del by (7+). Let's see how bad I get beat up. 

[Saxon73]

 Has no one noticed a score is posted for the Brockport game ??