That's the problem w pre-season rankings. Everyone has trouble moving past last year and really looking at this year's teams. Navy for instance. Because they made the final 4 they are ranked top ten. They had a great run last year. They are not top ten this year. 9-7 over a very mediocre Ohio State team? Same with Penn State. Yup, they've made two straight final 4's. This year, they aren't as good and lose right out of the gate to Towson. They will not make the final four this year. Their ranking is too high.
Anyone want to bet that Notre Dame is not the 15 best (preseason ranking) team in the country? They looked pretty bad yesterday against BC, who is also ranked too high. Unless they get Kent back (who might redshirt), they are going nowhere.
Final 4: Maryland Northwestern SB Syracuse
Book it.
I guess you are the only one who can rank teams in the preseason.
Not surprised at upsets. What is surprising is the fact that more programs can not compete with the top teams on a more consistent basis.
ND is one of 10 teams that has finished the season ranked in the Top 20 in each of the past six years. Some believe they consistently under achieve but they are always a Top 20 team.
Navy, much like Stony Brook has been doing very well in recent years. Navy is 81 - 21 over the past five seasons averaging 4 losses per year. They have not played the most difficult schedule but they proved last year that they can compete.
Penn State has not only gone to the Final Four the past two seasons they are also one of the Top 10 programs who have finished in the Top 20 in each of the past six years.
Boston College was in the Final Four last year and they have finished the season ranked in the Top 20 in five of the past six seasons.
There are a lot of great schools out there that have not been able to compete with the top programs on a consistent basis.
Why is Michigan not able to compete? Why has Georgetown not been better? Why are Penn & Princeton the only Ivy's that compete? What has happened to Loyola? Why can't Villanova be more Competitive? What about William and Mary? Has Hopkins fallen off?
Stony Brook has found a way to bring in some great players, Navy obviously brought in some very good players. USC without question had been successful in bringing in some excellent players.
Is it just that the top players want to go to the top programs?
Can some coaches not identify talent?
Are the coaches at the top programs simply better at everything?
Does anyone besides Stony Brook have a chance at being a newcomer to The Final Four?
Since you needed to be a DB...
Thanks for the recap on ND, Navy, Penn State and BC. Well aware of what they have done in the past. Was not commenting on whether they were top 20 teams. The 20th team in the country is not close to a national championship in women's lacrosse. And specifically, was talking about who was ranked too high or low preseason THIS year. So rather than listing past resumes, why don't you actually respond by telling us, is Penn St ranked correctly at #4? How about Navy at #10? ND at #15? BC at #6 if Kent doesn't play.
Anyone can restate past statistics and then just throw out four million questions. How about an actual forward looking thought? You know, a prediction.
Or do you just want to throw out DB comments and then say absolutely nothing again.
What was Navy ranked at the beginning of last year? Oh, thats right Not in The Top 20 yet they were pretty close at the end. What Teams would you have ranked higher this year? You just told us Penn State, Boston College, Notre Dame and Navy were all overrated? If you can not use last years performance when doing preseason rankings what should you use? Approximately 75% of the players return for each program and the top programs consistently bring in the top recruits. Who should be ranked?
I don't think the post had DB comments. I think the point was why can some other teams not be more competitive on a consistent basis? Upsets happen from time to time. sometimes early in the year sometimes in a conference tournament and sometimes in the NCAA Tournament but for the most part it is the same 10 or 12 teams that fight it out for the Final 8 and eventual Final 4. As good as Stony Brook has been they have not made it past the Final 8. Navy did it, Boston College did it, why can't some of these other schools manage to be more competitive annually? Is it Coaching? Are there not enough quality players to go around?
Didn't SB lose to MD by 1 in the semi final last year???
