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Post by Word on Feb 1, 2019 10:34:41 GMT -5
I don't want to dig up old threads, but I'm sure this same conversation was being had about Penn State in the 2000's. They will surely drop one or two matches. Stanford is significantly better than every team. An off night would still make them better most of the time. It's very easy to err on the side, well it won't happen. I believe they can do it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 12:02:08 GMT -5
I don't want to dig up old threads, but I'm sure this same conversation was being had about Penn State in the 2000's. They will surely drop one or two matches. Stanford is significantly better than every team. An off night would still make them better most of the time. It's very easy to err on the side, well it won't happen. I believe they can do it. Can they? Absolutely. It's been done before, and they were a 5th set away from an unbeaten season in 2018. They'll be the best team, and favored in every match they play. But, I still think they'll slip up once or twice along the way. There's a reason it doesn't happen too often.
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dfw
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Post by dfw on Feb 1, 2019 12:49:48 GMT -5
I think they will be undefeated National Champs. Why Not. They were 1 set away from doing it last year. I'm not buying the pressure of being undefeated, players choose Stanford for the pressure and expectations. Veteran Senior class who has literally been through it all..I actually think they will have fun and be loose because of their past experiences together. See you in Pittsburgh.
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Post by hammer on Feb 1, 2019 14:07:06 GMT -5
I think they will be undefeated National Champs. Why Not. They were 1 set away from doing it last year. I'm not buying the pressure of being undefeated, players choose Stanford for the pressure and expectations. Veteran Senior class who has literally been through it all..I actually think they will have fun and be loose because of their past experiences together. See you in Pittsburgh. Should I make my reservations now? What hotels do you recommend downtown?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 15:18:02 GMT -5
When I first saw this thread, I felt it must be a "sucker trap" by a rival, sour-grapes, envious fan to subtly goad, 'diss' and/or rag upon Stanford and its fanbase. I'll go back and check out that poll and All Of the posts (haven't looked at any of it) - but to answer the thread-question? NO, I surely hope and pray that they don't run-the-table. In losing to BYU, it gave SU A TON of motivation to beat the cougars in the Semifinals rematch. In 2001, CSULB was undefeated coming into the Final w/ Stanford. Did the pressure get to 'em? Maybe Cheryl Weaver! SU 3-0.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Feb 1, 2019 16:01:34 GMT -5
I think they will be undefeated National Champs. Why Not. They were 1 set away from doing it last year. I'm not buying the pressure of being undefeated, players choose Stanford for the pressure and expectations. Veteran Senior class who has literally been through it all..I actually think they will have fun and be loose because of their past experiences together. See you in Pittsburgh. Although it is possible, Stanford going undefeated is unlikely - and it has nothing to do with pressure. Stanford could have just as easily lost to Colorado or Nebraska just as they narrowly lost to BYU. With a little random luck, they could have lost at home against Minnesota and Oregon or Penn State in the tournament. Besides being great, Stanford will need some good fortune and luck to go undefeated.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 17:28:46 GMT -5
When I first saw this thread, I felt it must be a "sucker trap" by a rival, sour-grapes, envious fan to subtly goad, 'diss' and/or rag upon Stanford and its fanbase. I'll go back and check out that poll and All Of the posts (haven't looked at any of it) - but to answer the thread-question? NO, I surely hope and pray that they don't run-the-table. In losing to BYU, it gave SU A TON of motivation to beat the cougars in the Semifinals rematch. In 2001, CSULB was undefeated coming into the Final w/ Stanford. Did the pressure get to 'em? Maybe Cheryl Weaver! SU 3-0. If they go through the regular season undefeated, I think that they will have plenty of motivation to finish the job in the tournament. Perhaps pressure can get to them of being unbeaten. But, it could also go the other way. You could argue the phenomenal Stanford class of soon-to-be seniors is playing with house money at this point with 2 rings already in hand.
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Post by Floyd R. Turbo on Feb 1, 2019 17:43:50 GMT -5
No. Statistically it's an incredible long shot to go undefeated.
There have been five undefeated seasons since the NCAA tournament began in 1981 - 1998 Long Beach, 2000 Nebraska, 2003 USC, and 2008-09 Penn State.
Five, out of somewhere around 11,500 seasons of D-I volleyball in that time (38 years x 300 teams, give or take). That's .004% of the time.
COULD 2019 Stanford go undefeated? Of course they could...that's a great team in Palo Alto. If any team could, they could.
But it's such a long shot for that to happen, the odds are stacked heavily against them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 17:59:02 GMT -5
I think they will be undefeated National Champs. Why Not. They were 1 set away from doing it last year. I'm not buying the pressure of being undefeated, players choose Stanford for the pressure and expectations. Veteran Senior class who has literally been through it all..I actually think they will have fun and be loose because of their past experiences together. See you in Pittsburgh. Although it is possible, Stanford going undefeated is unlikely - and it has nothing to do with pressure. Stanford could have just as easily lost to Colorado or Nebraska just as they narrowly lost to BYU. With a little random luck, they could have lost at home against Minnesota and Oregon or Penn State in the tournament. Besides being great, Stanford will need some good fortune and luck to go undefeated.
It is Most widely acknowledged - plus Quite obvious - that: 1) There've been Very Few teams accomplishing an undefeated season (5: PSU 2x); 2) Only "the ring" matters!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 18:46:42 GMT -5
Although it is possible, Stanford going undefeated is unlikely - and it has nothing to do with pressure. Stanford could have just as easily lost to Colorado or Nebraska just as they narrowly lost to BYU. With a little random luck, they could have lost at home against Minnesota and Oregon or Penn State in the tournament. Besides being great, Stanford will need some good fortune and luck to go undefeated.
It is Most widely acknowledged - plus Quite obvious - that: 1) There've been Very Few teams accomplishing an undefeated season (5: PSU 2x); 2) Only "the ring" matters! Besides only four institutions going undefeated in the 38 year history of the NCAAs: since Penn State's 2nd undefeated team, NO Number One seed had won until this year!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 20:49:03 GMT -5
It is Most widely acknowledged - plus Quite obvious - that: 1) There've been Very Few teams accomplishing an undefeated season (5: PSU 2x); 2) Only "the ring" matters! Besides only four institutions going undefeated in the 38 year history of the NCAAs: since Penn State's 2nd undefeated team, NO Number One seed had won until this year! So you're implying Stanford is the exception that proves the rule?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 20:58:40 GMT -5
Besides only four institutions going undefeated in the 38 year history of the NCAAs: since Penn State's 2nd undefeated team, NO Number One seed had won until this year! So you're implying Stanford is the exception that proves the rule? ;) Not Quite, really. Conversely, one CAN infer that ya Don't need an undefeated season to win an NC (or eight of them in this case)! Statistics like that bore me: NCs Do Not.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 21:39:48 GMT -5
I agree there is no question that Stanford (and probably every program) is most interested in winning the Championship, regardless of seasonal win-loss record. Going undefeated would be frosting on the cake. (Never really liked that metaphor as I would prefer more savory food or wine to sugar...) In 2008-09, in the non-conference season, PSU faced Hawaii and UCLA but no other highly ranked teams to the best of my recollection. This is a statement of fact, not meant to be argumentative, as I believe PSU's teams in those years would have won against ANY pre-conference competition. I believe Stanford is scheduling most toughly --whether they win or lose-- only to prepare for the NCAA's.
It's up to BigFan to start the thread, so I will not yet call it.
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Post by bballnut90 on Feb 1, 2019 22:27:03 GMT -5
It is Most widely acknowledged - plus Quite obvious - that: 1) There've been Very Few teams accomplishing an undefeated season (5: PSU 2x); 2) Only "the ring" matters! Besides only four institutions going undefeated in the 38 year history of the NCAAs: since Penn State's 2nd undefeated team, NO Number One seed had won until this year! That last comment is probably the main reason why I think Stanford has a great shot to pull it off. Stanford was the clear cut #1 team entering the tournament and finished the job, nearly going undefeated in the process. All of the other returning championship teams lost huge contributors to graduation (Nebraska in 2018, Penn State in 2011, 2014, and 2015) or they weren't the clear cut best team the previous season even though they won it all (Nebraska in 2016, Stanford in 2017, Texas in 2013, and UCLA in 2012). Stanford was the clear cut #1 team this year and returns all backrow players and 5/6 of their front row. On paper, I think Stanford has the best assembly of talent since Penn State in 2009. There is greater parity now in college volleyball than there was back in the late 2000s, but if any squad this past decade had the lineup to go undefeated, it's this team.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 22:51:03 GMT -5
Besides only four institutions going undefeated in the 38 year history of the NCAAs: since Penn State's 2nd undefeated team, NO Number One seed had won until this year! That last comment is probably the main reason why I think Stanford has a great shot to pull it off. Stanford was the clear cut #1 team entering the tournament and finished the job, nearly going undefeated in the process. All of the other returning championship teams lost huge contributors to graduation (Nebraska in 2018, Penn State in 2011, 2014, and 2015) or they weren't the clear cut best team the previous season even though they won it all (Nebraska in 2016, Stanford in 2017, Texas in 2013, and UCLA in 2012). Stanford was the clear cut #1 team this year and returns all backrow players and 5/6 of their front row. On paper, I think Stanford has the best assembly of talent since Penn State in 2009. There is greater parity now in college volleyball than there was back in the late 2000s, but if any squad this past decade had the lineup to go undefeated, it's this team. Here is where I could disagree (some points I do, some I agree w/: but here's an overview): Many here don't know how absolutely WEIRD the Pac-12 road trips to the 'Mountain schools' - plus the WA schools - are. In one case, teams are going from one state (Utah) to another (Colorado) to compete the next day. In Washington State, the trip from Seattle-Pullman (or vise-versa) means bussing to, or from, Spokane Airport from/to the Palouse country: a Hellish trip! Throw in OOC matches against top-tier RPI teams, and there's a Total recipe for a potential upset, or more. Have followed said conference since my youth (PCC-AAWU-Pac8-Pac10-Pac12)! Know my stuff.
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