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Post by BigDigEnergy on Jun 24, 2024 7:41:44 GMT -5
Otsuka made it!! Tomita is a great alternate choice. I think we were 12/12 for the predictions right? Haha |
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Post by BigDigEnergy on Jun 24, 2024 7:52:03 GMT -5
Otsuka made it!! Tomita is a great alternate choice. I'm so happy he made it! Coach Blain confirmed that Kai is 3rd OH and the last OH slot was between Otsuka and Tomita. Hardest pick was also between Yamamoto and Ogawa. I remember it was shared here how the USA Team was informed of their selection. The Japan team is the opposite. It was announced in front of everyone... because that's what Yuki Ishikawa told Coach to do when he consulted him  The details of the selection are here: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/1bee7669e95c61c20254461e51c26608f592567cHow refreshing it is to be able to read and learn about the coach thought process in deciding the 12(13) players! Coach Blain seems like a very thoughtful and awesome coach. |
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Post by Disc808 on Jun 24, 2024 8:19:48 GMT -5
Otsuka made it!! Tomita is a great alternate choice. I'm so happy he made it! Coach Blain confirmed that Kai is 3rd OH and the last OH slot was between Otsuka and Tomita. Hardest pick was also between Yamamoto and Ogawa. I remember it was shared here how the USA Team was informed of their selection. The Japan team is the opposite. It was announced in front of everyone... because that's what Yuki Ishikawa told Coach to do when he consulted him The details of the selection are here: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/1bee7669e95c61c20254461e51c26608f592567cI do wonder the reason why Yuki pushed for it to be announced in front of everyone. Must have been tough for Tomita and Ogawa. Maybe to make sure team is aligned in their goals and because alternate+1 will travel to VNL finals? Team culture does look strong so I think Tomita/Ogawa will be great sports about it |
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Post by bruinsgold on Jun 24, 2024 9:02:39 GMT -5
Otsuka made it!! Tomita is a great alternate choice. I'm so happy he made it! Coach Blain confirmed that Kai is 3rd OH and the last OH slot was between Otsuka and Tomita. Hardest pick was also between Yamamoto and Ogawa. I remember it was shared here how the USA Team was informed of their selection. The Japan team is the opposite. It was announced in front of everyone... because that's what Yuki Ishikawa told Coach to do when he consulted him The details of the selection are here: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/1bee7669e95c61c20254461e51c26608f592567cOof reading this article, I feel for Ogawa and for Coach Blain having to make the choice. Ogawa was so good when he got the chance this VNL, but his serve receive was shaky at times. That's something Yamamoto excels at, as well as his incredible defensive plays. I also feel for Tomita who I thought had it in the bag after Week 2. He's definitely the better passer of him, Kai, and Otsuka, but his offensive is the weakest. Interesting that, if they get into a real bind, Coach Blain says they'll move Kai to MB. But it's been a treat to see Kentaro healthy all VNL. He's been a difference maker in the middle these last 2 weeks! |
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Post by bAnthony on Jun 24, 2024 11:57:24 GMT -5
I feel like the men teams have more parity and competitiveness to it than women’s. There are just so many teams who can beat another and it doesn’t matter which groupings they were drown from. And that’s always so fun to watch! I did kinda like the amount of games (as a fan) from the previous format. There’s less margin for error, teams have to be ready and don’t have as many matches to play themselves into contention. Plus, there’s a possibility that a team only wins 1 pool game and makes a Cinderella run to the medal rounds lol. Yeah, I think they continue to water down the competition to make it more of a "participation" and "celebration" event than making it the pinnacle of the sport, but the Olympics have often had artificial importance put on them because of the TV deals. Any time you take a "best third place teams" and compare numbers between uncommon opponents you have thrown the illusion of a valid and fair competition out the window. The FIVB watered down the World Championships to essentially a weekend rec tournament. The VNL took the fair competition of the WL and made it based on who had an easier schedule, and the Olympics are following suit. That being said, I am more excited about this field than I have been in a number of quads. |
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Post by Disc808 on Jun 24, 2024 21:04:55 GMT -5
I don’t know where to put this, but Japan already released their Olympic roster. expected names. Their Tokyo roster had 2 current University students (Ran Takahashi, Tatsu Otsuka), and for Paris, they are bringing Masato Kai who is in his 3rd year of college. It’s pretty interesting, besides Canada, Japan’s youth/university system is one of the more similar systems to the NCAA system. They’ve managed to incorporate youth and made long term investments in many of the players on the roster. It’s definitely out of necessity since they don’t have as large a talent pool or as many vets. But it’s clearly been a valuable part of their improvement. Makes me wonder how much better USAV could be if they found better ways to incorporate younger generations and had the same amount of money/support that JVA gives. |
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Post by Disc808 on Jun 25, 2024 16:40:24 GMT -5
My prediction:
France, USA, Brazil, Egypt
Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Germany
Japan, Italy, Argentina, Serbia
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Post by akbar on Jun 25, 2024 17:42:17 GMT -5
My prediction: France, USA, Brazil, Egypt Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Germany Japan, Italy, Argentina, Serbia Would love this |
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Post by BigDigEnergy on Jun 25, 2024 19:14:34 GMT -5
My prediction: France, USA, Brazil, Egypt Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Germany Japan, Italy, Argentina, Serbia That pool 2 looks really tough. I like Japan’s chances to move to the top 8 from that pool. |
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Post by momorabbit on Jun 25, 2024 19:35:40 GMT -5
My prediction: France, USA, Brazil, Egypt Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Germany Japan, Italy, Argentina, Serbia Why want USA to be together with France(huge home crowd) and Brazil loll. This is so tough.. |
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Post by Disc808 on Jun 25, 2024 19:49:26 GMT -5
My prediction: France, USA, Brazil, Egypt Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Germany Japan, Italy, Argentina, Serbia Why want USA to be together with France(huge home crowd) and Brazil loll. This is so tough.. I tried to pick what I thought was fair! Poland drawing Italy/USA would be insane so I slotted Slovenia who has been known to beat Poland in the past. And then I was like a pool with Egypt shouldn’t be too skewed so that was my justification lol. I put Italy with Japan because I think Italy is a medal favorite and that matchup has produced bangers in the past as well |
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Post by gobruins on Jun 26, 2024 2:43:20 GMT -5
My prediction: France, USA, Brazil, Egypt Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Germany Japan, Italy, Argentina, Serbia Why want USA to be together with France(huge home crowd) and Brazil loll. This is so tough.. Being in the pool with Egypt pretty much guarantees passage to the quarter finals. |
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Post by akbar on Jun 26, 2024 6:07:41 GMT -5
Going with this.
Pool 1
France
USA
Brazil
Egypt
Pool 2
Poland
Italy
Argentina
Germany
Pool 3
Japan
Slovenia
Canada
Serbia
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Post by BigDigEnergy on Jun 26, 2024 10:51:19 GMT -5
Pool draw is in less than 10 minutes!
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Post by mnbadger on Jun 26, 2024 10:52:42 GMT -5
As someone who hasn't followed the non-NCAA realm for that long, even shorter for the men's game in general, this just feels like a really good Olympic field. All of the potential pool mixes create really fun match-ups. And sure, Egypt likely doesn't take a match, but are they good enough to steal some sets here and there? Those random sets could be enough to keep a 3rd place pool placement out of the knockout rounds.
Similar sentiments on women's side, though the difference between the french men and women make for one less competitive team in the women's field.
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