2015 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[lastguyoffthebench]

Crazy enough, the Hero Sports Rankings had Tufts #2-#4 frequently in the 2013 season... haha

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Crazy enough, the Hero Sports Rankings had Tufts #2-#4 frequently in the 2013 season... haha

A blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while 

[lastguyoffthebench]

Why do squirrels swim on their backs?

.... To keep their nuts dry

[Mr.Right]

Not sure what the argument is about.  Tufts is #1 in one poll and #2 in another.  Not much room there to move higher.  They certainly aren't being disrespected.  This week they may be #1 in both polls, and you'll get no argument from me if that happens.  They have enough returning players and have started solidly enough to be voted #1.  That said, this isn't a monarchy for gosh sakes.  I don't know about any polls in any other sport or division where you're ranked the following year SOLELY based on where you finished last year.  The first NSCAA poll is actually laziness as teams are just slotted exactly where they finished the year before.  If a team loses 8 or 9 starters it would make no sense to presumptively be placed where you were the year before.  In any case, we'll get a much better idea about Tufts being #1 over their next 5 games -- Brandeis, @Wesleyan, @Amherst, @Hamilton, Middlebury.


If you are truly believing that the D3 poll has Experts every week deciding the rankings you are crazy. You think a bunch of SID's, AD's and others know the ins and outs of every team is ridiculous. This is not a Nescac is the best response, this is a National Champion in 2014 who is undefeated should not be passed by any teams until they lose or draw a game. Ironically, they were passed by Trinity TX who just lost 3-1 and barely beat a couple others. I put nothing into polls but the one thing I do notice is where the National Champion the previous year is at throughout the year

[Brother Flounder]

Not sure what the argument is about.  Tufts is #1 in one poll and #2 in another.  Not much room there to move higher.  They certainly aren't being disrespected.  This week they may be #1 in both polls, and you'll get no argument from me if that happens.  They have enough returning players and have started solidly enough to be voted #1.  That said, this isn't a monarchy for gosh sakes.  I don't know about any polls in any other sport or division where you're ranked the following year SOLELY based on where you finished last year.  The first NSCAA poll is actually laziness as teams are just slotted exactly where they finished the year before.  If a team loses 8 or 9 starters it would make no sense to presumptively be placed where you were the year before.  In any case, we'll get a much better idea about Tufts being #1 over their next 5 games -- Brandeis, @Wesleyan, @Amherst, @Hamilton, Middlebury.


If you are truly believing that the D3 poll has Experts every week deciding the rankings you are crazy. You think a bunch of SID's, AD's and others know the ins and outs of every team is ridiculous. This is not a Nescac is the best response, this is a National Champion in 2014 who is undefeated should not be passed by any teams until they lose or draw a game. Ironically, they were passed by Trinity TX who just lost 3-1 and barely beat a couple others. I put nothing into polls but the one thing I do notice is where the National Champion the previous year is at throughout the year

I have to agree that there really is no argument about Tufts getting respect.  Certainly there is a question whether they are the top team in the country.  While they didn't get the respect they deserved last year, they are certainly getting it this year.  As Mr. Right says, they have a brutal schedule coming up.  This will tell alot about Brandies, Amherst and Tufts...

[Mr.Right]

I will also say that Tufts is most definitely not the same team as last year. I have said over and over that Connor Coleman is not the answer at CB. He is to slow and pales in comparison as would any to Sammy Williams. You cannot replace Williams and Kramer right away. Teams will be able to bully there way thru Tufts this season unlike last season. Brandeis is not one of them but Amherst and Midd certainly can and will. When I saw Tufts this year they are still dangerous as ever going forward but do not have the defensive presence they did last year. Conor Schiable is a good player and I think a good wing back but now he is sitting in front of the back 4 and I do not think that is the best position for him.

[Brother Flounder]

I will also say that Tufts is most definitely not the same team as last year. I have said over and over that Connor Coleman is not the answer at CB. He is to slow as pales in comparison as would any to Sammy Williams. You cannot replace Williams and Kramer right away. Teams will be able to bully there way thru Tufts this season unlike last season. Brandeis is not one of them but Amherst and Midd certainly can and will. When I saw Tufts this year they are still dangerous as ever going forward but do not have the defensive presence they did last year. Conor Schiable is a good player and I think a good wing back but now he is sitting in front of the back 4 and I do not think that is the best position for him.

I will agree with most of this.  They are dangerous and fun to watch going forward.  The defensive "swarming" of the midfield also keeps some pressure off the untested cb's.  Further, the ablility of the midfield to maintain possession also relieves some of this pressure.  The cb's will have to grow as the season goes....

[Flying Weasel]

Tufts not being No. 1 in the rankings likely has nothing to do with not giving the benefit of the doubt to the defending champions in general.  It probably has to do with Tufts and NESCAC teams not having played any games as of the first rankings.  When other top teams have already gone out there and collected wins, some voters simply won't cast their top vote for a team that has yet to play.  Should top teams that haven't played get a pass and assumption they would have won if they had played?  How is that fair to the teams that have played and risked their perfect record?  So then when the NESCAC teams finally start play, the subsequent rankings are relative to the previous weeks' rankings.  Whether all that is "fair" to the the NESCAC schools, probably not.  But it isn't really "fair" for voters, either, to have to compare teams that have played with teams that have not.

[Mr.Right]

As usual a fair response that I can live with. I will not lose sleep over it anyway

[Flying Weasel]

Yeah, no one should get worked up about it.  First, championships are won in November/December, not now . . . and it has nothing to do with rankings.  Second, if Tufts or anybody is the true deserving No.1 team, they'll get recognized in time as the pretenders fall.  Tufts could potentially grab the No. 1 spot in this week's poll.

[Mr.Right]

Ohio Wesleyan also must be careful as after looking at their schedule they have NO legit wins so far especially against presumed Ranked teams. They will need to take care of business in the NCAC and win those games against teams that are ranked and not rack up 2-3 more losses in the process.

[Mr.Right]

Will be curious to see how Loras stacks up to D1 Western Illinois. Western Illinois is not a great program but congrats to them for playing the game in the first place.

[Brother Flounder]

Will be curious to see how Loras stacks up to D1 Western Illinois. Western Illinois is not a great program but congrats to them for playing the game in the first place.

I agree.  How many D1 programs were scared or would never play Messiah the past several years.  The results would have probably embarrassed several teams......

[PaulNewman]

Mr.Right, just to close the loop on this rankings thing.  I definitely do not think the D3 soccer poll is infallible and I certainly don't have a vote.  It's sort of a moot point because I AGREE that at the moment Tufts should be #1 in both polls.  #1 and #2 in two polls isn't bad.  If the TRADITION is simply to keep the defending champs #1 until they lose NO MATTER WHAT, then I would be fine with that.  I don't agree with that line of thinking, because it is a bit too ritualistic for my tastes, but I'd still be fine with it.

[Mr.Right]

Looking at Lycoming's resume they also need to worry more than thought. Their wins over Scranton and York(PA) are not looking as good as once thought. If they do not win the league over Messiah they NEED against U of Rochester, Oneonta St and Messiah to go 1-0-2 at the worst IMO or 2-1-0 or possibly 1-1-1. If they go 0-3-0 they will be cooked