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Post by coloradokidd on Aug 2, 2015 12:39:09 GMT -5
Akbar said: "If they make it however, it is not beyond the realm of possibility, that they pull a "Husky" under the extra weight of having the State's hope on their shoulders so close to home." "Hope" is probably the wrong word to use when describing Husker Volleyball in NE. 'Winning it All' or getting close is an expectation; by the fan base, and more so by the coaching staff and players. But the fan base is very knowledgeable and realists, so... and the players know this. I like the teams chances, but first they have to get to Omaha (Finals). And I really like the player's slogan from last Spring; "Why Not Us?". Washington had a knowledgeable fan base and their team and coaches also had a high expectation level. "Why not us" does not exude high expections, if you really think about it. Just saying. Maybe Washington's fan base expectations for their team last year exceeded reality! Hoping for it doesn't make it so. If they are knowledgeable, then they shouldn't feel let down by what the team did accomplish.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Aug 2, 2015 13:13:14 GMT -5
It's hilarious that people are talking about the "power conferences" when we really should be talking about power teams. The SEC and ACC have ZERO national titles and outside of Florida being close in the early 2000's, have not been close to a National title. The Big 12 has one, I repeat, 1 contender. And the pool in the PAC 12 and B1G is top heavy and only consists of a handful of teams. Conferences don't win championships, teams do.
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Post by n00b on Aug 2, 2015 13:23:24 GMT -5
It's hilarious that people are talking about the "power conferences" when we really should be talking about power teams. The SEC and ACC have ZERO national titles and outside of Florida being close in the early 2000's, have not been close to a National title. The Big 12 has one, I repeat, 1 contender. And the pool in the PAC 12 and B1G is top heavy and only consists of a handful of teams. Conferences don't know win championships, teams do. While accurate, the point being made is that new NCAA rules and the new economic situation from football is going to give Power 5 schools a bigger and bigger advantage over non-Power 5 schools.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Aug 2, 2015 13:31:01 GMT -5
It's hilarious that people are talking about the "power conferences" when we really should be talking about power teams. The SEC and ACC have ZERO national titles and outside of Florida being close in the early 2000's, have not been close to a National title. The Big 12 has one, I repeat, 1 contender. And the pool in the PAC 12 and B1G is top heavy and only consists of a handful of teams. Conferences don't know win championships, teams do. While accurate, the point being made is that new NCAA rules and the new economic situation from football is going to give Power 5 schools a bigger and bigger advantage over non-Power 5 schools. These conferences already have an advantage but yet it's only the same teams that are finding success. Take the ACC for example. The ACC's recent surge is due primarily to RPI, not because football money is making the teams in this conference better.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 2, 2015 13:37:36 GMT -5
Not sure Washington has enough without Vansant, and the new coaching change might present its challenges. Hard to tell with the Huskies. Will have to wait until they face meaningful competition, which won't be until conference play. They were Vansant and six freshmen (three starting), however. Those freshmen will be sophomores, with a potentially significant increase in performance. Going to a 5-1 (a real possibility with Beals' readiness following knee surgery in doubt) could at least mitigate the need to replace Nelson. Will it make up for losing Vansant? Of course not. However, many of the contenders are also missing important pieces: PSU (Hancock, Grant), Stanford (Inky, Boukather, Gilbert), Texas (Bell, Eckerman), Wisconsin (Thomas), Nebraska (Pollmiller), etc.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 13:41:57 GMT -5
Florida State has become a legitimate VB power. And Duke and UNC, for two, are much stronger than they were. The SEC is also more than just Florida now.
While I agree with some of what you say, I think it's a mistake to say conferences aren't producing contenders. It's happened and happening -- FSU, Oregon, UCLA, Illinois, Wisconsin to just name a few. It's going to be harder and harder for the other conferences to compete. They can, no doubt -- see BYU last year -- but it's becoming more difficult.
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Post by n00b on Aug 2, 2015 13:53:49 GMT -5
Florida State has become a legitimate VB power. And Duke and UNC, for two, are much stronger than they were. The SEC is also more than just Florida now. While I agree with some of what you say, I think it's a mistake to say conferences aren't producing contenders. It's happened and happening -- FSU, Oregon, UCLA, Illinois, Wisconsin to just name a few. It's going to be harder and harder for the other conferences to compete. They can, no doubt -- see BYU last year -- but it's becoming more difficult. As was mentioned before, BYU is the outlier. They are a football independent with their own TV deal bringing in money. They are Notre Dame on a smaller scale. I don't know if their revenue is at the level of any Big 5 conference schools, but I bet it's more than anybody OUTSIDE the Big 5.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 2, 2015 13:58:05 GMT -5
I forgot PSU didn't win Glass's first year. Probably more amazing (than Kehoe or Holloway) that they won one with Carpenter. Not because she wasn't talented. Just because she hadn't set for them before and didn't set for them again, really. If they'd had a better draw, they might have. Got knocked out by UW in Seattle (Thompson vs Glass).
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Post by jsn112 on Aug 2, 2015 14:02:15 GMT -5
It's hilarious that people are talking about the "power conferences" when we really should be talking about power teams. The SEC and ACC have ZERO national titles and outside of Florida being close in the early 2000's, have not been close to a National title. The Big 12 has one, I repeat, 1 contender. And the pool in the PAC 12 and B1G is top heavy and only consists of a handful of teams. Conferences don't win championships, teams do. I think the real answer will be after Dunning and RR retire. Those two are the most successful. When the that day comes for these two, the talent might scatter a little more. Then again, it might not. If not, it will be same old, same old.
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Post by buckyorbust on Aug 2, 2015 14:07:32 GMT -5
Not sure Washington has enough without Vansant, and the new coaching change might present its challenges. Hard to tell with the Huskies. Will have to wait until they face meaningful competition, which won't be until conference play. They were Vansant and six freshmen (three starting), however. Those freshmen will be sophomores, with a potentially significant increase in performance. Going to a 5-1 (a real possibility with Beals' readiness following knee surgery in doubt) could at least mitigate the need to replace Nelson. Will it make up for losing Vansant? Of course not. However, many of the contenders are also missing important pieces: PSU (Hancock, Grant), Stanford (Inky, Boukather, Gilbert), Texas (Bell, Eckerman), Wisconsin (Thomas), Nebraska (Pollmiller), etc. I have been thinking a lot about that as well. Most of the top teams at least lose someone who was a main contributor from last year. In my opinion it will make the beginning of the year fun watching how all of the questions get answered. Penn State- How quickly will the floor defense (libero and ds) and setter acclimate? We all know that Russ will have if figured out and they will be a top team again with all of their fire power, but will it click from day 1? Stanford- Who slots in for Inky and how much will they contribute? Where is Hodson going to slot in, will she take the right or will they shuffle one of the senior outsides? Again its Stanford and they are still loaded so I don't think they will be too concerned. Texas- This one I am very curious about. I'm not too close to the situation so Texas fans, who is going to get all of the Bell and Eckerman (mostly Eckerman) swings? Will it be the freshman or are there others on the roster ready to step in? Then we have all heard it before how will Texas pass and set? Wisconsin- How fast can Sheff get the newcomers accustomed to the college game? As a Badger fan I am cautiously optimistic, but having Taylor anchoring the backcourt, Haleigh's defense at the net, Kelli's fire and pretty good all-around game and of course Lauren setting I am excited for the year. Nebraska- How will the setting be and how quickly does the offense start clicking? Every indication out of Husker's camp is that Hunter is going to reinvigorate the Husker offense and make them more diverse which will make them a very, very scary team. Florida- How's the floor defense going to be? Because we know about the firepower in the middle and on the right in Gainsville. Illinois- How quickly does the connection between Poulter and her hitters develop? Washington- The obvious question is who takes all of the swings they will be using from Vansant/Nelson, because that is alot of offense? And I know that I am missing some teams, these are just the ones that I was thinking of at the time. I think its going to be a fun preseason, especially while all of these teams answer the questions left by the departing seniors.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 2, 2015 14:13:04 GMT -5
It's hilarious that people are talking about the "power conferences" when we really should be talking about power teams. The SEC and ACC have ZERO national titles and outside of Florida being close in the early 2000's, have not been close to a National title. The Big 12 has one, I repeat, 1 contender. And the pool in the PAC 12 and B1G is top heavy and only consists of a handful of teams. Conferences don't win championships, teams do. I think the real answer will be after Dunning and RR retire. Those two are the most successful. When the that day comes for these two, the talent might scatter a little more. Then again, it might not. If not, it will be same old, same old. Dunning hasn't won it since 2004. With Stanford's ability to draw recruits, it can be argued that he has underperformed.
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Post by HawaiiVB on Aug 2, 2015 14:28:27 GMT -5
Please underestimate Hawai'i.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 14:41:51 GMT -5
I think the real answer will be after Dunning and RR retire. Those two are the most successful. When the that day comes for these two, the talent might scatter a little more. Then again, it might not. If not, it will be same old, same old. Dunning hasn't won it since 2004. With Stanford's ability to draw recruits, it can be argued that he has underperformed. dunning has yet to win one with a team he didn't inherit.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 2, 2015 14:58:19 GMT -5
Please underestimate Hawai'i. Until Hawaii can show they can beat UW in Seattle...
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Post by southie on Aug 2, 2015 15:04:30 GMT -5
Hard to tell with the Huskies. Will have to wait until they face meaningful competition, which won't be until conference play. They were Vansant and six freshmen (three starting), however. Those freshmen will be sophomores, with a potentially significant increase in performance. Going to a 5-1 (a real possibility with Beals' readiness following knee surgery in doubt) could at least mitigate the need to replace Nelson. Will it make up for losing Vansant? Of course not. However, many of the contenders are also missing important pieces: PSU (Hancock, Grant), Stanford (Inky, Boukather, Gilbert), Texas (Bell, Eckerman), Wisconsin (Thomas), Nebraska (Pollmiller), etc. Texas- This one I am very curious about. I'm not too close to the situation so Texas fans, who is going to get all of the Bell and Eckerman (mostly Eckerman) swings? Will it be the freshman or are there others on the roster ready to step in? Then we have all heard it before how will Texas pass and set? Ebony Nwanebu is a very suitable replacement for Bell at the right side, so those swings are accounted for. No "replacement" for Eckerman (including her jump-serving), IMO, so unless there is a big surprise at OH, our left-side production will not be where it has been the last 8 years or so. Wouldn't be surprised to see us be much more right-side dependent (assuming a 6-2 offense) with a combination of Nwanebu and either Bedart-Ghani or Paulino Prieto.
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