Season #47 Predictions....
North Division W - L South Division W - L
#1. Castleton St. 15 - 1 #1. Thomas 13 - 3
2. Lasell 12 - 4 1T. MMA 13 - 3
3. Elms 9 - 7 3. Farmington 8 - 8
4. J. State 7 - 9 4. Presque Isle 6 - 10
5. Becker 4 - 12 5. Mt Ida 5 - 11
6. Husson 3 - 13 6. Salem State 1 - 15
Castleton State - I don't see alot of drop-off as RDB just reloads the gun and continues to roll. He returns 9 players, has 6 (quality) upperclassmen, and returns 4-5 guys who averaged 10+ PPG last season. His overall record will be determined by the first 10 games, but I just don't see him losing but one random game in the conference this season (if that).
Lasell - gets my vote for #2 in the North. They only lose one player from a NT team last season that went 11-5, they return 8 upperclassmen, and a very solid first 5 that put up about 65 pts by themselves last year and I wouldn't expect them to be anything but better, so I think they will improve at least one win. They are not in Castleton State's class right now but they might be that one loss looming out there.
Elms - gets my vote for 3rd at 9-7. They only have one senior, but still have a nice core of players and also went for a couple jucos so it appears the mission is to win now... not later. With 8 upperclassmen next season, they might begin ( return ) to being a force to be respected in the North very soon.
Johnson State - appears to be the wild-card in the North (again) this season. I put them 4th at 7-9, but they could just as ez end up 10-6 or better. 8 upperclassmen return from a 10-6 team and they bring back alot of scoring.... I just can't root for a sim coached team to beat humans.
I'd like to welcome NZ00 to Becker - I don't really expect awesome things from NZ his first season, as he graduated 6 kids from a sim coached team. However, from the early looks of his recruits he should have Becker up and playing respectable again in just a couple seasons. Becker and Husson "should" battle for 5-6th place in the North this season. and I give the nod to Becker on the shoulders of the 5 SR's they return.
I'd also like to welcome Jammer to the NAC at Husson - It truely pains me to list Husson last in any poll, in any world... as I have 3 Titles with Husson in 3 different worlds, and they are without a doubt my favorite DIII team to coach in HD.... Had (newmoon) not allready reserved / taken them last season, I would be struggling up in Bangor to right the ship instead of Jammer.... Husson returns 10 kids, but only 2 are seniors and 2 jr's... so I would have to expect them to struggle again this season, but hopefully improve a game or two from the 1-15 of last season.
1/29/2011 2:19 PM (edited)