This week's DI Poll...

[hockeyplayer]

Can someone please give me a reasonable explanation for Wisconsin not moving up in this week's poll? Regardless of the fact that they played an under-.500 team (Niagara) this past weekend, Dartmouth beat lowly Yale, then lost to Princeton 5-2; St. Lawrence was convincingly swept by Harvard; and Minnesota tied a game with Ohio State before pounding them 6-0.

Harvard moving up to #1 ... that's fine. I just don't understand the reasoning behind Minnesota staying near the top after TYING Ohio State, and let's not get into why they jumped up to #1 after SPLITTING a series with the Badgers.

Also, it seems to me that Dartmouth's been on a bit of a slide lately, evident by their loss to Princeton. If the second half of the season is weighted more heavily than the first, and lately they've lost to Duluth and Princeton, why is Dartmouth still ranked atop the polls? It makes little sense.

Furthermore, I will not deny that St. Lawrence has been on quite a tear lately. However, they lost twice this weekend. Again I revert back to the Minnesota/Wisconsin series a few weeks ago: Wisconsin went 1-1, but dropped in the rankings. How can any team in the top five lose twice and stay in the same position? I'm not proposing that they be tossed out of the polls, but perhaps a swap with the Badgers into 5th would be more realistic.

Finally, yes, I know that the polls are decided by strength of schedule, common opponents, etc. I'm not looking for any mathematical answers. I'm just curious to see if anyone else out there finds it odd that a team that has played nothing but outstanding this entire season is seemingly parked at #5 in the polls?
:confused:

[ARM]

When you look at the vote totals, there is very little separating Dartmouth/St. Lawrence/Wisconsin in the polls. Some voters agree with you, others don't. As for Wisconsin being behind Minnesota, I think that is due to two factors. Head-to-head, Minnesota won 3 of 4, with Wisconsin's only win being in OT. Plus, They each won 14 out of 16 non-conference "points", while most would agree that the Gophers had the tougher opponents.

I think the Gophers might be getting a little slack in the polls due to benefit of the doubt. Their play took a dip when they lost players. As many pointed out, that shouldn't be the case if those players aren't coming back. Now that Darwitz returned, it justifies a little grace in the polls.

[skatinfiend]

...and using some basic criteria, MN has a better record overall and is higher in the conference standings than WI. Plus, to add to ARM's point about missing players, Darwitz was out of the lineup for the WI overtime win.

The Badgers are definitely a dangerous team, though, and clearly some voters did choose them ahead of Dartmouth and St. Lawrence. At least no one gave Dartmouth a first place vote this week. ;)

[hockeyplayer]

I appreciate your response to Minnesota's ranking in the polls. Though I did discuss in my post what happened a few weeks ago when UW and UM went head-to-head, I am actually more interested in what people think about the entire top 5 rankings for this week. Thanks for the replies though ... definitely something to think about.;)

Take care.

[dave1381]

USA Today / AHM poll
http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/ncaa_d1_wpoll022404/

3. St. Lawrence (still). Dartmouth and Wisco tied four fourth. Three points separating the bunch. This poll also has 6-to-8 extremely close.