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Post by Jobe on Apr 5, 2003 3:38:00 GMT -5
yikes-
How can you say Penn State does not have a single respectable win. They beat BYU at BYU. If you don't think that it is impressive to beat the 3rd ranked team in the country at their home gym then you are crazy. You clearly don't know too much.
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Post by tigfan on Apr 5, 2003 9:29:42 GMT -5
Penn State is mediocre at best, and Lewis, "the best team in the MIVA" blows goats...they lost to USC, Pacific, and went 5 with a STRUGGLING UCLA...
The tournament should be EIGHT teams...4 automatics from the MPSF, 1 automatic from the MIVA, 1 automatic from the EIVA, and 2 At Large...
And we ARE lucky that the NCAA sponsers Men's Volleyball championships...it's time we give them their money's worth by getting more than 2 top 5 teams in the final 4. I think there is a reason that ball state is 0-12 in semifinal final 4 matches...Does anyone not see this? It's sad that 8 out of the top 10 teams in the country will be left out of THE premier tournament in the country, while 2 teams get free passes.
tigfan
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Post by Psychopotamus on Apr 5, 2003 11:09:33 GMT -5
While I agree that the top four teams are probably deserving of going to the postseason, I think letting in 4 automatic MPSF teams could do more harm than good. Imagine you are Joe Bluechipper. You either opt to:
1) Go play in the MIVA or EIVA where you can start but have to win your conference to make it, risking upset along the way.
2) Go play in the MPSF where you need to finish in the top 1/3rd of the conference.
Now, playing in the MPSF is a lot tougher and all that, but compare it to the current situation:
1) Go to the MIVA or EIVA where one big recruit can be enough to win the conference, or where an upset can put you in the tournament.
2) Go to the MPSF where you might not even start, and have an even worse chance at making the tournament.
I think, in all sports, the idea is to promote parity and, as a result, growth of the sport. I think it is unfair on purpose, as a way to try to feed weaker schools into getting better recruits.
2)
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Post by diggger33 on Apr 5, 2003 13:35:19 GMT -5
There are a few games left in the season, and we'll have a MPSF Turnament contest soon when the pairings are announced...I love to have fun! ;D Just for the fun of it, I'd like to hear what FOUR teams will be presented in the Final Four. I don't want the win-loss predictions yet, just who you feel will be the 4. I still feel they should have a sweet 16 on the road to the Finals, but no one listens to me.  Anyway, I see the Final Four this way: MPSF: Pepperdine EIVA: Rutgers-Newark will upset Penn State for the honors. MIVA: Lewis & Loyola will battle, but Lewis will prevail. "Good ole nemesis" Hawaii will get the at-large bid.  Have you seen Rutgers play this year?? I know Penn State isn't all that great this year but give them SOME credit. I just saw Rutgers play IPFW last night. For the record IPFW smoked them in 3. It will be an extreme embarrasment to PSU if they get beat by that team. I don't want to just come out and say that Rutgers stink but they just don't have the talent to compete. Iordanov went off for 25k in a 3 game match and was unstoppable for them but other than that they don't have much. www.ipfw.edu/athletics/Volleyball/03mvb/040403mv.htm |
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Post by VBCrusin on Apr 5, 2003 15:12:51 GMT -5
Hey Diggger33... Anyone who knows me can tell you that "I'm always for the underdog, AND at times, will choose a winning team even over my own team loyalty." By selecting Rutgers-Newark over Penn State DOES NOT mean I do not respect them as a ball club. On the contrary, they are by far the better and stronger team. I merely have a feeling that Penn State will go into the match a little over-confident and could lose. Over the last few years, I've witnessed many matches won & lost with this new rally scoring. I've seen weak teams having a good night prevail over much stronger opponents who were making too many hitting errors. I've seen Rutgers and although they might not be as strong as many teams, they hang in there. They ARE the underdog which explains my choice.  No worries though, mate...NO ONE else gives them a chance in the predictions, and since I'm the ONLY one voting for them, I'll either win big, or go down in flames. ;D Who will go to the final 4? We can only guess on team standings and statistics...BUT stranger things have happened. And YES, I am still smarting about last year's Hawaii's surprise victory over Pepperdine in the final. In 2002, since Pepperdine beat Hawaii twice in the regular season, and again for the MPSF Championship game, it was expected that IF they met against each other in the Final 4, Pep would have the definite edge. Unfortunately, Hawaii didn't remember their losses.  Win or lose, it was a great match. Even though Pepperdine was a little off that night, Hawaii played the match of their lives. They deserved the win, and think about it...their very FIRST NCAA Championship. It was a biggy for an underdog! Will Rutgers beat Penn State? Not on paper, BUT stranger things have happened. |
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Post by vbfan4life on Apr 7, 2003 21:45:19 GMT -5
Lewis, Penn State, Hawaii, Pepperdine at large
I would love to see Pacific instead of Pepperdine winning the at-large bid though. Do you think that Pacific can get the at-large bid if they come in 2nd in the MPSF tournament?
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Post by VBCrusin on Apr 8, 2003 15:16:23 GMT -5
Hey vbfan4life... I'm sure you would love to have Pacific win the "at large" instead of Pepperdine or Hawaii. BUT the only way Pacific will goto the NCAA Final is if they WIN the MPSF Tournament. The "at large" will go to the team with the best record, but not winning the MPSF (that's assuming the NCAA will award the at large to the MPSF). Since most of the MPSF is in the top 10, the MPSF probably will most likely get the bid. As far as finishing 2nd in the MPSF Tournament, that is NOT how they choose the "at large." Remember last year, Hawaii lost the MPSF Final to Pepperdine...the "at large" was between Hawaii and BYU. Hawaii won the "at large" and eventually the NCAA Final. You better pray that Pacific wins the MPSF...Although, you better check with Coach Scates, because nowadays, most of the prayers come out of Pepperdine & BYU. |
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Post by vbfan4life on Apr 8, 2003 19:49:34 GMT -5
Hey vbfan4life... I'm sure you would love to have Pacific win the "at large" instead of Pepperdine or Hawaii. BUT the only way Pacific will goto the NCAA Final is if they WIN the MPSF Tournament. The "at large" will go to the team with the best record, but not winning the MPSF (that's assuming the NCAA will award the at large to the MPSF). Since most of the MPSF is in the top 10, the MPSF probably will most likely get the bid. As far as finishing 2nd in the MPSF Tournament, that is NOT how they choose the "at large." Remember last year, Hawaii lost the MPSF Final to Pepperdine...the "at large" was between Hawaii and BYU. Hawaii won the "at large" and eventually the NCAA Final. You better pray that Pacific wins the MPSF...Although, you better check with Coach Scates, because nowadays, most of the prayers come out of Pepperdine & BYU. As much as I would like to see Pacific win the MPSF tournament, I am more of a Hawaii fan at heart. I wish that Pacific would peak next year and not this year since Hawaii will be losing its valuable seniors - Brian N., Costas T., Tony C., and Eyal Z. I think Hawaii will have a maybe top 8 team, but unfortunately will most likely not be final four caliber next year since Pepperdine's team is still pretty young and LBSU will be much better by next year. Every time I go to a Pacific vs UH game I cheer for both sides - wear Hawaii sweater and UOP colors. I think Pacific can still get the at-large bid if Pepperdine and BYU lose their first round games in the MPSF tournament, although the chances of that happening are like 0.0000000000000001% or so and they end up coming up second in the MPSF. Only if things can go the way I want it to... |
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Post by sweetieVBfan on Apr 8, 2003 20:43:51 GMT -5
i wonder how pablo's rankings and scorings would do with the crazy season we've had on the men's side. i'm actually VERY curious.
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Post by NET on Apr 8, 2003 23:19:56 GMT -5
If Penn State loses the EIVA (not likely), it will be to George Mason rather than Rutgers. Penn State plays at George Mason this weekend so we will learn if Mason has any reasonable hope.
That said, here is my Final Four prediction:
EIVA: Penn State
MIVA: Lewis
MPSF: Pepperdine
at large: Hawaii
Pepperdine to win it all.
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Post by Beachy on Apr 8, 2003 23:52:32 GMT -5
Where's he going to law school?
...some one asked this of Wachtfogel....
Wachtfogel does bring back the idea of a student athlete but he did not BA in 3 years, MBA in 4 and law school in the fall as Bookum said.....7 years total, making him close to 25 y/o...wrong! He just turned 21 last Nov. He is one of the youngest seniors in D1 volleyball. He did earn his BA in 3 years but he has not rec'd his MBA yet but probably does have plans. He is in his first year of grad school at UOP ( which may be law) When many of us complain about the older athlete dominating the younger ones, Aaron proves the case the other direction.
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Post by 007 on Apr 9, 2003 0:14:51 GMT -5
Sorry UH fans, but your team ain't gonna be playin in the Final Four this year.......you can take that to the bank, and book em Dan Oh!
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Post by bling on Apr 9, 2003 0:20:20 GMT -5
Sorry UH fans, but your team ain't gonna be playin in the Final Four this year.......you can take that to the bank, and book em Dan Oh! people said the same thing last year. so keep saying what you say. seems to be working for Hawaii. |
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Apr 9, 2003 0:51:56 GMT -5
Sorry UH fans, but your team ain't gonna be playin in the Final Four this year.......you can take that to the bank, and book em Dan Oh! Quoted twice 007 ? I'm sure it's far from a record . Your prognostication talent, or lack thereof ; would better be utilized in a Vegas sports book or keno lounge, or at a roulette table. Well it wouldn't be a total loss, heck the drinks are always on the house. Free fuzzy navels, or fuzzy nipples, whatever your taste. In Hawai'i we'd call your prediction "lose money"  . My final four predictions Waves Nittany Lions Ramblers Warriors The Warriors over the Waves (3-2) in an exciting final. |
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Post by Toad on Apr 9, 2003 9:05:10 GMT -5
tigfan: if you are really from pacific, how can you say Penn St is mediocre at best? They are one of only 2 teams to beat BYU at home this year. They lost to Hawaii in 4 in their first game of the year and to LB, but their best player was injured in the LB match. They havent done anything else this year but consistently win. Sure they play crap teams but they have shown that can compete with the tops of the MPSF. They also smoked Pepp in preseason. That doesnt mean much but they still beat them quite handily. I dont think you have any right to judge something you know nothing about.
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Win or lose, it was a great match. Even though Pepperdine was a little off that night, Hawaii played the match of their lives. They deserved the win, and think about it...their very FIRST NCAA Championship. It was a biggy for an underdog!
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