Monday, January 08, 2007

A little late to the party...

Each week, the DC Sports Bog has been doing a local college hoops poll, and each week I simply forget to turn in my ballot by the noon Monday deadline. Well not this week folks - the William and Mary Tribe have inspired me to get my votes in this week, mainly because W&M never gets any hoops pub but deserves some love this week (more on that in a moment). On to this week's rankings...

1. Maryland (14-2, 0-1)
Apparently, the Terps have joined the MAAC, beating Siena and Iona in their last two games. Quick, most famous Iona alum? Jeff Ruland. The Terps are #1 by default this week, but another key win or two by the Hoyas or the Hokies (yes, the Hokies) and Maryland drops. By my count, they've beaten two decent teams and lost to the two best teams they've played. They're the Notre Dame of college hoops - though I'm sure Strawberry and Vasquez could've covered LSU's wide receivers better.

2. Georgetown (11-3, 1-0)
Saturday's thrashing of Notre Dame at the phone booth is a good start for this team, but the three early season losses keep them from claiming the #1 slot. For teams that miss out on Greg Oden in next year's draft, I would take a long hard look at Roy Hibbert. He's really starting to display an all-around game fit for the next level. I will be at the Georgetown/Villanova game tonight courtesy of Dennis and his employer, and the Hoyas should win this one handily. I look forward to berating Mike Nardi all night.

3. Virginia Tech (11-4, 2-0)
Huge win, huge win, for Seth Greenberg's crew over Duke Saturday. Makes up for that Sean Dockery traveshamockery last year. And forget the Duke lacrosse case - I think Greg Paulus should press assault charges after that posterization by Deron Washington (plus Washington blocked his game-winning attempt). The wins over Iowa and ODU help the Hokies' cause, and their game in a week against Carolina could get VT the #1 slot.

4. Virginia (9-4, 1-0)
Yikes, crushing loss at home to Stanford yesterday. The wins over Arizona to start the year and Gonzaga a week ago had the Cavs primed for a jump before yesterday. Good luck playing at soon-to-be-#1 UNC Wednesday night. By the way, is it a rule that Stanford must always have a set of twins on their team (this year it's 7' twins Brook and Robin Lopez)?

5. Virginia Commonwealth (11-3, 3-0)
CAA represent in this week's rankings. Not exactly a glowing resume for VCU, but they are tied atop the competitive CAA, and honestly, who the hell has George Washington beaten to be ahead of them? No one, that's who.

6. George Washington (10-3, 1-0)
Again, this team has beaten absolutely no one. I'm not even sure they should stay in the Top 10, but when you look at the dregs left (sorry Howard, Richmond, VMI, etc.) I guess I'll cut Karl and his boys some slack. By the way, Carl Elliot is the Jess Settles of the A-10.

7. Old Dominion (10-4, 3-0)
Solid team so far this year, with all 4 losses being what Jay Bilas would consider "quality losses". I think we're looking at the CAA winner (over VCU and Drexel) and potential 1st round sleeper come March. I like the inside-out combination of Lithuanian Valdas Vasylius and guards Brian Henderson and Drew Williamson.

8. William and Mary (9-4, 2-1)
Ah yes, the darlings of this week's ranking. From NR to 8th today...that's what six straight wins will do for you, including a road defeat of George Mason in that span. This is the best team Williamsburg has seen since my senior year. That team went on to win 20, and of course lost in the 1st round of the CAA tourney. Beat Georgia State tonight and it's the second best CAA start in school history. It's a shame MASN or Comcast don't air more Tribe games, because the whitewash that is their starting line-up is startling. There's enough gangly white kids on the floor at all times you'd think you were watching a YMCA pick-up game. One other thing...William and Mary coach Tony Shaver: Hitler, Craig Escherick or state trooper?

9. Loyola (Md.) (7-6, 3-1)
A little more love for the MAAC. Beat Siena tomorrow night and Loyola is in first place in the MAAC, which I think is shocking. Plus, Navy, American and Towson belong nowhere near a list of Top 10. Loyola gets bonus points for housing my brother for part of his college education.

10. George Mason (6-7, 0-3)
I think it's very safe to say the shine is off last year's Cinderella story. If the loss to my Tribe didn't do it, the loss Saturday to ODU certainly did. In fact, they only remain on this list because I saw Jim Larranaga at last week's Dematha/St. John's game.

22 comments:

T.J. said...

Website of the day:
http://remaincalm.org/aliensam.html

rob said...

drexel wins the caa going away - it won't be close. you heard it here first.

T.J. said...

Bruiser Flint is definitely capable of screwing things up.

Anonymous said...

You're missing the National Champiosnhip game to hagn out with Mike Nardi and Co.?

I'm offended, and hurt, and offended.

T.J. said...

I will be watching the game in the box, and will probably just miss the 4 hour halftime show as we speed back home.

And Curtis Sumpter is hurt you forgot him.

Geoff said...

Don't get too psyched about that Ioan W for Maryland--Iona is the only winless team in division I.

Whitney said...

I'd say Coach Shaver looks to have a bit of a Tim Kazurinsky look going. Give him Chuck Swenson's stature and he might get mistaken for him at parties.

Geoff said...

DeMathat versus GMU...

T.J. said...

Wow, you are correct - Iona sucks balls.

Whitney said...

Geoff's posts are so laden with typos that I am starting to wonder if his name is really spelled "Jeff."

Not that there's anything wrong with typos.

Anonymous said...

That should work out nicely for you Teej. Oh yeah, fuck Curtis Sumpter and his 85 year old knees.

T.J. said...

Curtis, much like Carl Elliot, seems to be on the Settles 10 Year Plan.

Anonymous said...

He and Nardi have both been around for ages.

Geoff said...

Whtni--fcuk ewe.

T.J. said...

Somebody just shoot me right now...

T.J. said...

Tribe beat Georgia State last night - that's 7 straight...

Whitney said...

A quick quote from TJ's favorite head coach:

"When we head into the next season, we start over at 0-0," Mangini said. "I really believe that."

You know... he might be right.

T.J. said...

They don't call him the Mangenius for nothing.

He also said Chadwick, like all his players, will have to compete for his starting job.

T.J. said...

Mr. Bookman?

ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) - Police say a security guard at the Anderson County Library fired his gun at a car after the driver triggered a security alarm.

Geoff said...

I remember when leaving one study hall at Swem Library Ashley Griffith hid a copy of a novella called "Great Gay in the Morning" in my bookbag, and the alarm when off--and hilarity ensued.

T.J. said...

OK, Clemson is now 17-0 (3-0) in the ACC. Can we at least get them ranked in the Top 10?

Dennis said...

And the Tribe's only gonna get better - 5 starters are 2 Freshman, 1 Soph, and 2 Juniors....get pumped. Side note on the white-wash thing - one of the "white" guys is from Lithuania (also our leading scorer and the dude who came up with a huge steal against Northeastern to win the game), so clearly he doesn't count.