MPSF Pre-Season Poll

[CApolo]

I'll start, my prediction (as of today):

1. USC
2. UCI
3. CAL
4. Stanford
5. UCLA
6. Pepperdine
7. UCSB
8. Beach
9. UOP

[Lefties4Ever]

Why UCI ahead of Cal, Stanford and UCLA???

I think USC is clearly the top of the field this year. Cal will have to suffer through loss of key players and would still be second. Stanford will "upset" UCLA by playing as a team. UCLA will drop some fourth quarter games again this year and that is why UCI finishes ahead of them.

1.) USC
2.) Cal
3.) Stanford
4.) UCI
5.) UCLA
6.) Pepperdine
7.) Long Beach
8.) UOP
9.) UCSB

[CApolo]

[b]USC GAINS TOP SPOT IN 2007 MPSF PRESEASON WATER POLO COACHES

[CApolo]

Why UCI ahead of Cal, Stanford and UCLA???

I think USC is clearly the top of the field this year. Cal will have to suffer through loss of key players and would still be second. Stanford will "upset" UCLA by playing as a team. UCLA will drop some fourth quarter games again this year and that is why UCI finishes ahead of them.

1.) USC
2.) Cal
3.) Stanford
4.) UCI
5.) UCLA
6.) Pepperdine
7.) Long Beach
8.) UOP
9.) UCSB

Lefty, It appears the MPSF coaches agree more with you on the pre-season order.

[NORCAL]

I am basing some of this on observing the Men's National Championship, and some on the rosters as I understand them.

USC had the best finish at the tournament, and they were missing the 6 Junior team players, Krumpholtz, Ligtenberg, Rappel, Sardo, Sagehorn and Artukovich as well as Clark. This team will be a lot better with these 7 players.

CAL was missing Warden, who would have helped them enormously, as well as White.

UCI didn't participate.

UCLA was missing Lapin, and he will make their defense much better. But also Davidson, Hohl and Sbutega. These 3 will add lots to their offensive production.

Stanford did not participate.

Pepperdine was missing Hewko, JP MacDonnell and Hamilton. Still no hole-set.

Here are my predictions:

MPSF Regular Season finish:

1. USC
2. UCLA
3. CAL
4. UCI
5. Stanford
6. UCSB
7. Pepperdine
8. LBSU
9. UOP

MPSF Tournament (at CAL):

Round 1:
USC over LBSU
Pepp over UCLA (1st round upset as Pepp peaks at tournament time)
CAL over UCSB
UCI over Stan

Round 2:
USC over UCI (this will be a great game - USC depth gives them the edge in OT)
Cal over Pepp

Finals
USC over CAL (Trojans will be too good this year)

USC advances to NCAA as conference Champions.
CAL gets at large bid to NCAA

[Lefties4Ever]

NorCal,

Why the inconsistancies with your MPSF Tourney at Cal and your final MPSF predictions?

[NORCAL]

NorCal,

Why the inconsistancies with your MPSF Tourney at Cal and your final MPSF predictions?

There are two separate predictions...MPSF regular season finish, and MPSF tourney results.

I think CAL has a lot of players stepping into new roles and it will take them time to gel. But UCLA has a strong core of experienced starters and they will start out better, but I think CAL will be stronger by the end of the season. So I had UCLA finishing ahead of CAL in the regular season...but CAL finishing ahead of UCLA in the MPSF tournament (and pulling the At-large bid to the NCAA's)

Bottom line: CAL will improve throughout the year, and will peak at tournament time. Hosting the MPSF's can only help their chances.

[ayan143]

Cal will have to suffer through loss of key players and would still be second. Stanford will "upset" UCLA by playing as a team. UCLA will drop some fourth quarter games again this year and that is why UCI finishes ahead of them.