sid21
11-21-2009, 10:31 PM
d1 power rankings from an interested observer. realistically who might be the best 10 teams in the country. i dont care if youre unbeaten in a weak region, ill take a 6-6 team in a tough region if theyre better. trying to start some d1 talk thats much needed here. what do you think. tell me how wrong/right/dumb i am!
1. Lindenwood (10-0-0)
Obviously the best team in the nation. An upset in the national title game last year disrupted a 7 year streak of national championships. Despite losing more talent (Brandon Barnette, Travis Fudge, Jeff Hill, and Mike Thiefault) than most programs will ever have, LU has still stayed on top, beating UMSL 3 times already this year by a combined score of 23-9.
2. UMSL (9-3-0)
Defending national champions lost 50% of last year's roster, including the irreplaceable PJ Tallo and captain Adam Clarke. They've already lost 3 times to Lindenwood, the last of which wasn't close at all, but they're still the 2nd best team in the nation. The gap behind them might be closing a bit though.
3. Buffalo (8-0-0)
After losing 2-1 to UMSL in the national semifinal last year, Buffalo lost their starting goaltender Richie Latona and high-scoring forward Joe Malinowski. They've recovered just fine though. Chris Kendall is a top contributor and they're till on top of the East and dominating right now. Rhode Island should be their best competition and Buffalo beat them 10-3 earlier this month.
4. Michigan State (4-0-0)
They appear to have brought back virtually the same team that lost to Lindenwood in the Final 4 at nationals last year. They've already shown they're clearly better than Ohio State this year but they will face a new challenge for supremacy in the Midwest from last year's DII national runners-up Central Michigan.
5. Central Florida (4-0-0)
UCF returns a comparable squad to last year's team which took eventual national champions UMSL to a very close game in the Sweet 16 at nationals. They always seem to be in contention in the final rounds at nationals and this year should be no different.
6. Central Michigan (0-0-0)
They haven't played a game yet but last year's DII national runners-up haven't lost any major players and have added Mike Kowalski from Eastern Michigan as well as talented freshman Brandon Dare. They should challenge Michigan State for the Midwest title and be competitive deep into playoffs at nationals in April.
7. Florida Atlantic (3-1-0)
Central Florida's biggest challenger in the Southeast, FAU was a solid DII team last year that ran into a very good Missouri State team in the playoffs at nationals. With strong goaltending plus the addition of Lindenwood sniper Mike Thiefault, they figure to be competitive in their new division this season.
8. Mizzou (6-6-0)
Don't let their .500 record fool you, they play the toughest competition in the nation. Their 6 losses are all against Lindenwood and UMSL, the top 2 DI teams in the nation, and St. Charles CC, the best junior college team in the NCRHA. While they can't handle those top-tier teams they've proven they can handle most anyone else, losing a close game to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 at nationals last season. This year, they benefit from additions of Ryan Maxwell and Jake Amlong as well as a huge pick-up in goaltender Mark Langreder.
9. Arizona State (7-1-0)
They appear to have significantly upgraded last year's team with talent like Tyler Koressel and Stephen Sperry and are leading the West right now. After losing to Long Beach State in October, ASU won the rematch 6-3 this month. They seem to be the best in the West right now but time will tell how they will stack up against the best of the rest.
10. Long Beach State (6-2-0)
Despite some losses, Long Beach's biggest change was an upgrade in net with the addition of freshman Brandon Jones. They've done well at nationals the past 2 seasons with their playoff runs ending at the hands of UMSL in 2008 and Lindenwood in 2009. They have a big challenge from ASU out West but they should still be competitive with anyone at nationals in April.
Just missed:
Rhode Island - The East is usually really competitive but don't know what to think of URI after losing 10-3 to Buffalo. Are they really that far off?
ULL/North Texas - Don't know which team is even the best in the Southwest. Once I do, still not sure I'd put either in the top 10.
Ohio State - Pretty good team, not sure they are there quite yet.
1. Lindenwood (10-0-0)
Obviously the best team in the nation. An upset in the national title game last year disrupted a 7 year streak of national championships. Despite losing more talent (Brandon Barnette, Travis Fudge, Jeff Hill, and Mike Thiefault) than most programs will ever have, LU has still stayed on top, beating UMSL 3 times already this year by a combined score of 23-9.
2. UMSL (9-3-0)
Defending national champions lost 50% of last year's roster, including the irreplaceable PJ Tallo and captain Adam Clarke. They've already lost 3 times to Lindenwood, the last of which wasn't close at all, but they're still the 2nd best team in the nation. The gap behind them might be closing a bit though.
3. Buffalo (8-0-0)
After losing 2-1 to UMSL in the national semifinal last year, Buffalo lost their starting goaltender Richie Latona and high-scoring forward Joe Malinowski. They've recovered just fine though. Chris Kendall is a top contributor and they're till on top of the East and dominating right now. Rhode Island should be their best competition and Buffalo beat them 10-3 earlier this month.
4. Michigan State (4-0-0)
They appear to have brought back virtually the same team that lost to Lindenwood in the Final 4 at nationals last year. They've already shown they're clearly better than Ohio State this year but they will face a new challenge for supremacy in the Midwest from last year's DII national runners-up Central Michigan.
5. Central Florida (4-0-0)
UCF returns a comparable squad to last year's team which took eventual national champions UMSL to a very close game in the Sweet 16 at nationals. They always seem to be in contention in the final rounds at nationals and this year should be no different.
6. Central Michigan (0-0-0)
They haven't played a game yet but last year's DII national runners-up haven't lost any major players and have added Mike Kowalski from Eastern Michigan as well as talented freshman Brandon Dare. They should challenge Michigan State for the Midwest title and be competitive deep into playoffs at nationals in April.
7. Florida Atlantic (3-1-0)
Central Florida's biggest challenger in the Southeast, FAU was a solid DII team last year that ran into a very good Missouri State team in the playoffs at nationals. With strong goaltending plus the addition of Lindenwood sniper Mike Thiefault, they figure to be competitive in their new division this season.
8. Mizzou (6-6-0)
Don't let their .500 record fool you, they play the toughest competition in the nation. Their 6 losses are all against Lindenwood and UMSL, the top 2 DI teams in the nation, and St. Charles CC, the best junior college team in the NCRHA. While they can't handle those top-tier teams they've proven they can handle most anyone else, losing a close game to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 at nationals last season. This year, they benefit from additions of Ryan Maxwell and Jake Amlong as well as a huge pick-up in goaltender Mark Langreder.
9. Arizona State (7-1-0)
They appear to have significantly upgraded last year's team with talent like Tyler Koressel and Stephen Sperry and are leading the West right now. After losing to Long Beach State in October, ASU won the rematch 6-3 this month. They seem to be the best in the West right now but time will tell how they will stack up against the best of the rest.
10. Long Beach State (6-2-0)
Despite some losses, Long Beach's biggest change was an upgrade in net with the addition of freshman Brandon Jones. They've done well at nationals the past 2 seasons with their playoff runs ending at the hands of UMSL in 2008 and Lindenwood in 2009. They have a big challenge from ASU out West but they should still be competitive with anyone at nationals in April.
Just missed:
Rhode Island - The East is usually really competitive but don't know what to think of URI after losing 10-3 to Buffalo. Are they really that far off?
ULL/North Texas - Don't know which team is even the best in the Southwest. Once I do, still not sure I'd put either in the top 10.
Ohio State - Pretty good team, not sure they are there quite yet.