Rankings 10/11

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

HawaiiVB@ said:

I may agree in general, but this season is different. It doens't matter how you win but that you win.

Yep, the desparate cry.

Please explain the big change that has occured since last year that makes this season different? Actually, don't bother because we all know what it is - Hawaii is not winning impressively.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

(R)uffda! said:

FAMU (Although I refuse. I hope UNC beats them today, so I can feel better about ignoring them.)

Whoops.

[Rus Socoli]

Agent said:

Yep, the desparate cry.

Please explain the big change that has occured since last year that makes this season different? Actually, don't bother because we all know what it is - Hawaii is not winning impressively.

What is your definition of IMPRESSIVE?

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

Rus said:

What is your definition of IMPRESSIVE?

How about winning in three games against less than the top competition at home?

Hawaii of the past did it all the time.

[Deleted]

Agent said:

Whoops.

Whoops indeed. Now what? We're back to the 12-11-9 sweeps in the Mid-Atlantic for FAMU, which tells us absolutely nothing.

I really don't know what to do with this team and it's all the Huskers fault.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

(R)uffda! said:

Whoops indeed. Now what? We're back to the 12-11-9 sweeps in the Mid-Atlantic for FAMU, which tells us absolutely nothing.

I was wondering the other day if FAMU/Norfolk St was the most lopsided match in DI volleyball this year. I will look it up tonight, but given how far Norfolk St is below the other bottom teams, it probably will be. A Pablo difference of 8000 points or so.

[GatorVball]

(R)uffda! said:

Whoops indeed. Now what? We're back to the 12-11-9 sweeps in the Mid-Atlantic for FAMU, which tells us absolutely nothing.

I really don't know what to do with this team and it's all the Huskers fault.

When healthy, they are a top 20 team, if not higher. Their 2 losses came when they were less than healthy. Don't penalize them for the Ohio and MSU losses. At least I wouldn't. Cause that's not the real FAMU team. The real FAMU team is the one that beat Nebraska and swept UNC today.

[Deleted]

I will not rank a team top 20 based on ONE match. I just can't.

[HawaiiVB]

impressive... hahaha in the end the one who has the win is going to survive. 3, 4 , 5 games the champ will be the one that won. I'd rather Hawaii struggle now but win then win impressively and lose later on.

[Rus Socoli]

Agent said:

How about winning in three games against less than the top competition at home?

Hawaii of the past did it all the time.

In my dictionary, that's the definition of EXPECTED.

IMPRESSIVE is when a very young team, overrated at #13 to start the season, after 6 startes had gone, and willed themselves to beat then #3 UCLA in five, albeit, at home IS impressive. They also have wins against Santa Clara, Arizona, San Diego and CAL.

FWIW, I still think Hawaii is overrated at #4, but that's another story. I am merely responding to your comment about Hawaii's wins not being impressive.

That's your opinion, and although I don't agree, I respect it.

[Barefoot In Kailua]

Agent said:

How about winning in three games against less than the top competition at home?

Hawaii of the past did it all the time.

What do you know about the Hawai'i of the past? I don't recall your system being favorable to the "Hawai'i of the past" either.

So UCLA, Santa Clara, Arizona, San Diego, and UCI are all considered less than top competition? Face it, you've projected an anti Hawai'i bias from as far back as I can remember.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

Rus said:

In my dictionary, that's the definition of EXPECTED.
.

Actually, dominant might be a better description.

The best teams tend to dominate weaker competition AND play strong competition tough. Hawaii has played strong competition tough. They have not regularly dominated weaker teams (Boise St was one of their better matches, however). Hawaii teams of the past would toy with the teams outside the top 30 (remember the old criticism of Pablo from Hawaii fans that it underrated Hawaii because Hawaii blew teams out so much that they subbed a lot making the match look closer than it was? Not hearing this from Hawaii fans this year...)

[Deleted]

11-20 is impossible. I'm going to draw names from a hat.

[Deleted]

For what it's worth, after extensive and exhaustive number-crunching, this was my top 20. I take solace in the fact I know it's a better top 20 than whatever IdahoBoy® will come up with.

1--Washington
2--Nebraska
3--Minnesota
4--USC
5--Texas
6--Hawaii
7--Florida
8--PSU
9--Ohio State
10--CSU

11--UCLA
12--St Marys
13--Stanford
14--Santa Clara
15--KSU
16--Utah
17--Cal
18--Texas A&M
19--UCSB
20--San Diego


Didn't know what to do with UCSB, but decided to keep the faith.

Knocking on the top 20 gates:

21--Tennessee
22--Arizona
23--LBSU (and, yes, I know they beat Utah)
24--Missouri
25--Louisville (a very unimpressive schedule)
26--Pacific (still hurt by the early season losses)
27--UCI (I have them much higher than Pablo)
28--Colorado
29--Michigan
30--Illinois

Other deserving 21-30 candidates:

Rice
FAMU
Georgia Tech
Wisconsin

Next tier:

Ohio
Kansas
CSN
LMU
Purdue
Wichita State (maybe better than this)

And I don't really see anyone else. The Big West is doing the same thing they did last year: beating up on each other. I'm inclined to think the conference is still in its down cycle.

Anybody I'm missing? Pablo has Western Kentucky @ #30, but I don't get that one (and they lost to Cincinnati this week). Duke @ #34 and they lost to GA Tech and Clemson. Notre Dame @ #37--don't get that one either. Oregon State @ #38, but they lost to the Arizonas.

In short, I don't think I've overlooked anyone.

[Deleted]

The week's scores, by Pablo ranking:

www.richkern.com/vb/GameScores/ranking.asp?Div=DI&poll=Pablo&Date1=10%2F10%2F2004&Date2=6