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mid-season title pick!

Re: mid-season title pick!

Based on this years overall wins and loses. Any team can win or lose on any given night. There is no sure obvious pick. Not even for those die hard crazed Oswego or Elmira fans. My pick, the winner won't be a usual front runner, probably a first time national champ and definitely an underdog team. I am willing to eat my words on this one. LOL
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

There's a real log jam at the top, and I would guess this is one of those years where the national champion may not be the best team in the nation.
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

NUProf said:
There's a real log jam at the top, and I would guess this is one of those years where the national champion may not be the best team in the nation.
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Heck, a couple of years ago, it didn't even take a log jam :(
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

Seriously, as much as I hate to say it, Plattsburgh looks mighty good. Oswego has started to show their flaws, while the Birds are correcting theirs.
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

Oswego has two major flaws that keep them from being serious contenders for the title as it stands right now. First their passing on the outlets is atrocious and second the decision making in the offensive and defensive zone leaves a lot to be desired. Last year they were scoring goals on the first shot, this year they are not so they are either passing up the shots or shooting it over the net or right into the bread basket of the goalie. If they can either A) start scoring on those first shots or B) start shooting for rebounds and crashing the net they will be tough.

My three picks as it is now are Manhattanville because with what little I have seen of them they look good, although they have looked good in the past and have nothing to show for it. Plattsburgh because they are hitting their stride and just have a knack for winning important games and St. Norbert, because they haven't given me a reason not to pick them and they have arguably the best goalie in D3 in the form of BJ O'Brien.
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

Ok, I'll add my "homer" pick of SNC now that most of the Laker fans have selected their team. I would also add Manhattanville due to their offensive speed and skill. I will still say SNC due to the fact that shutdown defense typically wins against a good offense. I would say the SNC has definately shut down teams this year defensively and will continue to do so.
 
OSU2010 said:
It was a joke, I ment WI

but in all seriousness, I would have to go with Oswego, once they have Beckwith back they will get back into their groove.
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thanks, if you would have said MN I wouldnt have taken you seriously. :)
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

Toe Blake's Brother said:
Ok, I'll add my "homer" pick of SNC now that most of the Laker fans have selected their team. I would also add Manhattanville due to their offensive speed and skill. I will still say SNC due to the fact that shutdown defense typically wins against a good offense. I would say the SNC has definately shut down teams this year defensively and will continue to do so.
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I think their best asset is their three European defensemen.

von Sydow, Romanenko, and Gumenyuk are absolute studs. Mobile, puck-moving defenseman that not only play well in their own end but can be an asset on breakout passes and working the puck along the blue line.

They've got four solid lines that have all bought in to what Levinthal is preaching down there. If they can survive without getting too beat up in the west, they'll be a tough team to play in the NCAA's, especially AWAY from home.

This isn't your grandfather's Manhattanville anymore where they mucked it up and slowed the game down with a bunch of bruisers who couldn't skate. These guys can skate, play physical, and have offensive fire power spread out among all four lines.
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

I will wait for Manhattanville to show they can win in their own conference before I crown them champs. I realize they have been impressive outside of the ECAC-W but if they can't beat the teams in their own division they won't even make it to the tourney.

I look for SNC to come out of the West, and either Hobart or Neumann to come out of the East.

SNC will be the winner*


*If Beckwith returns and is as good as he was earlier this year, Oswego would be my pick. Without Beckwith, Oswego is a top 10 team, not top 5.
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

If the national championship game were played today, I think it would be between Plattsburgh or Manhattanville and St. Norbert.
They are probably the hottest teams today.

I'll bet there are many more teams this year than previous, that really believe they have a legitimate shot at it, so there will be a lot more "meaningful games" throughout DIII in the second half. Fun to watch !
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

Toe Blake's Brother said:
Ok, I'll add my "homer" pick of SNC now that most of the Laker fans have selected their team. I would also add Manhattanville due to their offensive speed and skill. I will still say SNC due to the fact that shutdown defense typically wins against a good offense. I would say the SNC has definately shut down teams this year defensively and will continue to do so.
Click to expand...

It is a lot of homerism man, but I have a lot of respect for the Green Knights - they beat the Lakers out last year with style, they hung tight in the most stalwart defensive effort many had ever seen in a championship game, and they look like THE leader of the West.

I know what OSU look like when they're firing on all cylinders, and yet with it being midseason, this is all wild (yet minimally calculated) speculation. There's nothing I'd like more as a Laker fan to see our clubs meet again in the post-season. So let's keep that homerism strong, shall we?:D
 
Re: mid-season title pick!

While I want to say Oswego, I'd have to go with SNC. They're a perennial powerhouse, and have the will to win especially after coming so close last year. Other teams like Mahattanville just don't seem as hungry for it as SNC. As for Platty they're looking at needing an at large bid if the SUNYAC continues they way it has so far which with Dan Jones finally firing on all cylinders and Beckwith set to return soon, things should look good for the Lakers who I'm guessing will go about as far as they did last season.
 
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