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STX-WSL Texas Boys Top 10
Related:
1. St. Mark's: 6-0
2. Highland Park: 4-1
3. Dallas Jesuit: 5-1
4. Austin: 3-2
5. The Woodlands: 5-0
6. Strake Jesuit: 7-2
7. Dallas Episcopal: 6-1
8. Coppell: 4-0
9. St. John's: 4-3
10. Westwood: 3-0
WSL updates its Texas Top 10 every Sunday during the season
2. Highland Park: 4-1
3. Dallas Jesuit: 5-1
4. Austin: 3-2
5. The Woodlands: 5-0
6. Strake Jesuit: 7-2
7. Dallas Episcopal: 6-1
8. Coppell: 4-0
9. St. John's: 4-3
10. Westwood: 3-0
WSL updates its Texas Top 10 every Sunday during the season
JD
Juan Diego Catholic High School is the best team in the nation
Sour Grapes
All aspects of the risk/reward are valid. Certainly they have nothing to gain. The THSLL has several issues that they will never be able to work through. First you would absolutely have to seperate Public/Private schools. One would think that the private schools couldn't be touched as far as caliber of teams. The advantages are so overwhelming it shouldn't be close. The sport is part of the school curiculum, which allows them to practice everyday. They have no city boundaries, they actively recruit. They also are able to use private resources to provide scholarships. Not all practice this, however several do. The current THSLL admits the inherant problems of trying to blend the public and private schools in one league may not be possible. So as to your earlier concerns. Coppell or any other DII team is NOT allowed to "play for it all" Texas should be trying in every way to promote it's lacrosse league and players. As long as the top teams are scared to play the best compitition. Texas will never progress past a few good hot spots. Fortunately for some of the players, the collegiate level doesn't seem to be concerned about what division a player is in as long as he can play. This is why in Texas summer lacrosse is far more important than the Spring season.
coppell and every other D2
coppell and every other D2 team that could plausibly be one of the top ten best teams in texas should be out of the rankings. they have NO chance of winning it all since they dont have the balls to play division one lacrosse. when they decide to move up, they can be ranked in the top 10.
Sour Grapes
I assume your with one of the DI Houston Teams that didn't fair so well against them this week end. I agree with your thoughts, but you should take your issues up with THSLL. or find a place for them to play.
i agree with your assessment
i agree with your assessment that coppell may very well be a talented team. their inclusion in these rankings is the only thing i question because i can tell you right now, two months in advance, that they will not win the division one championship. wont even make the 12 team state tournament. if there was a d2 ranking, put them number one. but since they choose not to be contenders for the D1 lacrosse championship, otherwise regarded as the "tournament to determine the state champion of texas", they should not be ranked
Sour Grapes
I think we should all acknowledge Coppell is an excellent team and would be a contender in DI. I have been hearing chatter about getting rid of the DI and DII designations and forming one grouping next year. I am for this particularly in the North as there needs to be more than 6 teams in DI. We need the DIII structure for new programs. As for playing Coppell, it does not do anything for the DI programs. They are better served playing notable out of state teams like those coming in this year. It provides better recognition on the national level. If a DI team beats Coppell its no big deal they are supposed to, if they lose, the downside is too great. In the end move to DI or be happy in DII. They will win DII again this year and most likely next as well, but when the current crop of Juniors graduates there is nothing left. That's the other aspect of DI, having a substantial and ongoing feeder program to maintain competitive levels.
New Top Ten
1. St. Mark's--Not better than the Scots, but must be #1 given last week's victory
2. HP--One game doesn't make a season. There will be some payback in the St. Mark's game that counts.
3. Dallas Jesuit--Just because they haven't lost, but they have played weak sisters and haven't looked good doing it. Should handle ESD this week.
4. Woodlands--Especially after the St. Johns beat down. Looking like the best team in Houston. Kinkaid and Houston Episcopal will feel the wrath this week.
5. Strake Jesuit--Played St. Mark's close; OT victory over ESD not as close as the score. St. Thomas and Lamar should provide playing time for backups this week.
6. Austin--Toughest early schedule counts for something and no real competition in the Central so may not lose another game the rest of the season.
7. ESD--Overrated; likely to fall from here starting with loss to Dallas Jesuit this week.
8. St. John's--Tough back to back losses to HP and Woodlands. Likely to rise as only 1 more tough opponent this season.
9. Coppell--Should be playing in D-1. No excuse for not doing so. You too, Cy-Fair.
10. Westwood--Only because undefeated. Cupcake schedule is ridiculous and should not be rewarded with higher ranking.
Too Early -
Agree with your analysis for the most part. It's liable to shake out very close to the way it finished last year, at least at the top. The gap between the top two and the rest is closing.
1.H.P. or S.M.
1.H.P. or S.M.
3. Dj or Coppell
3. D.J. or Coppell
5. Woodlands
6. Strake
7. E.S.D.
8.9.10. St. John/ Austin / Westlake
The rankings are fun but most of the top group know right where they shape up compared to the others. Top two are clear top 2, Coppell has much better talent than either, but suspect coaching. They should absolutely be D1. THSLL requires relationship with the High School and Field for game /practice, they currently have neither. Played their only home game at Parish H.S. ( 5 maybe 6 College D1 players in their Junior class) The top 2 will not give them a game. That comes from the top 2 not Coppell. Next season will be their last dance. D.J. has the most upside, Top group of coaches and very good talent from the 2014 class, Very little senior contribution this year, but will likely be at the top for a few years starting next year or soon after. ESD will face reality this year and for a few more, but top notch program will find a way back. I don't know the south and central pipeline very well. Teams with top youth programs will always be prominent. Woodlands and ??. It usually runs in cycles and the South will have their chance soon, but not this year. The new 12 team format,is good to get some attention for more programs. There will likely only be 3 teams with a chance. D2, everyone playing for second, and it is great to see some of the d3 programs setting good foundations.
Too early
I agree with your rankings and think most of your points are valid. Programs do run in cycles, and those with successful feeder programs consistently dominate. But it's unfair to compare lacrosse programs at private schools with community-based or public school programs. In MD, CT, NY, MA, PA and DE they play in separate leagues. Teams play games outside their league, but the outcome is generally not reflected in their respective league rankings.
Coppell is a good example of a peaking team - they can beat or play nearly even with all but a handful of D1 teams right now. The talent level drops after next season but the 2012 team will be respectable. After that, they'll return to the middle of the pack. They are a community-based team, with 20% of the players coming from outside Coppell. All that talent will disappear with a move to D1.
At present, Northern teams dominate because they've been around longer and have better feeder programs. Give the SA, Austin and Houston teams a couple more years and they'll give the North a run for their money.
New Top Ten
I think you have it pretty well scoped here. One comment on DJ and playing the weak sisters, with all of the chatter on the SM victory over HP in the scrimage game dont forget DJ beat SM just prior to that in a scrimmage as well. Also DJ schooled Austin in their invitational in February. Agree on ESD. Just the start of a slide to the middle of the pack. I see the same thing for HP after this year. The DII team was nothing special last year and over the last few years the youth program has not impressed. DJ is on the rise for sure and the big question will be can the emerging teams from the South and Central stake their claim for elite status in TX.
I think you need to see all
I think you need to see all the teams play before you can pass Judgement. For instance I would not call the Woodlands, while they are a good team, the best team in Houston.
Rankings
Should really be scrambled after this week's action. Big Win SM over HP, Big Win Strake over ESD, DII Coppell over 2 ranked DI's, Austin falling by only 2 to HP (tied at half).. Things are changing.. D J not pretty but all W's.
Rankings Scramble
You are right on the money. In the North the landscape is definitely changing, HP and ESD are on the decline. HP will be tough this year still but after that there is not much in the tank. SM and DJ are going to sit at the top over the next few years fighting it out which should make for some great lacrosse. The other regions are making great strides as well. With respect to Austin, didn't they come up to the DJ invitational and get spanked pretty bad by the hosts?
What Happened?
All of the experts (LaxGuru) that post on this site said ESD is “in a slide” and "are on the decline". You also said that DJ was “underrated”!
What Happened
Friends, no doubt ESD played an excellent game, perhaps the best they have so far this year. They came out fired up and ready to play. It was a great win for them. Jesuit dropped too many passes and the ground ball game was terrible. Too many second and third chances as well for ESD. Clearly Jesuit has some questions to answer and I think the coaches need to rethink things to a great degree. The raw talent is there. Who on the team has the sack to step up against the elite teams? Solid long pole play and also between the pipes was not matched by Middie D. The offense mailed it in. They have never played well against a D that comes out to play them rather than sitting back and waiting. Hats off to ESD although I will say just as much as ESD had an excellent game DJ had one of their worst. I would dare say they looked intimidated and the upperclassmen leadership did not kick in. There are a number of games left and most likely Jesuit will make the top four in the division and get to the playoffs and we will see what happens from there. I call 'em like I see 'em with regard to which teams are on the rise and which are not and it will take more than one game to change that. The key for Jesuit is what they, team and coaches, learn from this loss and how they respond.
AGREED
LaxGuru sounds like Whodey3000 on laxpower. Alot of "fluff" about Jesuit, but the same result everytime. SM is losing alot after this year as well as HP, who will be down next year but they wont soon after that. ESD should be the favorite next year. And I think its funny how guys say, SM and DJ will dominate for the next few years. SM loses alot this year and DJ just lost to a team that is just as young as they are!! The whole ESD squad comes back next year!! Just tired of hearing the same few people tout Jesuit and again they perform the same year in and year out.
PS-- HP "schooled" DJ at their own invitational. And I say that because invitationals or scrimmages dont mean a thing.