Poll Ballots - Week One

As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  The polls are based on games played through Sunday of each week.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. Niagara Falls (AA) - After watching Falls and Canisius twice each, including seeing both lose in the same day, I was no closer to knowing who was better than in September.  I really think the two teams are in toss-up territory...if they played ten times, I think it's a 5-5 split.  Ultimately, I went back to last year, when Falls won by 19 at Canisius and also considered that the Wolverines were the team that beat Jamestown and Aquinas last year, before falling by three to state finalist Jamestown in the rematch.  Both Falls and Canisius graduated two key seniors, and in my mind, Canisius lost more from last season, while Falls gained more this season.

Time will tell - although they won't play each other this year, they will have some common opponents to look at...Timon, Ken West, and Bishop Kearney.  Other possiblilties include Cathedral Prep and Aquinas (Canisius plays each, while Falls is likely to wind up seeing both depending on its results in the Burger King Classic and sectionals).

2. Canisius (MMA) - See Above.

3. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - No shame in the loss at Niagara Falls.  Scheduling those type of games this year (they also host Bishop Kearney in January and travel to Aquinas in February) will only help them.

4. St. Joe's (MMA) - Only loss is to Dallas Jesuit and already boast wins over McKinley, Lockport, and Williamsville East.

5. Jamestown (AA) - They lost enough from last season that I don't think they'll be back in the state title game.  But the two-time defending AA champs bring back enough to be a top ten team once again.  Besides, when's the last time these guys weren't a top program?

6. McKinley (A1) - In a season with no clear cut favorites in Class A or the Yale Cup, I'll give the Macks the early nod over the other teams in each. 

7. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans get tucked in behind the team that ended their season last year.

8. Kenmore West (AA) - On paper, the Blue Devils look like a team that could wind up higher on this ballot, but with no games played yet and a quarterfinal exit last year, they start out here.

9. Riverside (A2) - They have talent, but lack depth. 

10. Hutch-Tech (A1) - Only result so far is a 12-point win over Cheektowaga, which was a better resume than any other team vying for this last spot.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - In the Huskies 80-51 win over East, 72 of their points came from underclassmen.  Most people by now are at least familiar with the names Sam Eckstrom and Nick Schmidt.  But wait until you see Max Portlow, who reminds me of Blair Helton, or Wil Bathurst, who didn't even play varsity last year and came off the bench to drop 20 on East. 

2. St. Mary's (MMA) - A 5-0 start against teams from WNY, and the closest of those games was a 14-point win against Amherst.

** Programming Note - I can't wait until 6:30 tonight!!! (Olean @ St. Mary's)

3. Depew (B1) - I liked what I saw from these Wildcats in their season opening loss to Class AA Will North enough to put them here.

4. OTC/MEC (C1) - They got rattled big time in the opening eight minutes against Canisius.  But to their credit, they played them even the rest of the way and that included outscoring the Crusaders by five in the second quarter. 

5. Tonawanda (B1) - The defending ECIC IV champs have opened 3-0. 

6. East (B1) - The defending overall Class A champs have opened 0-3.  A little perspective is all that's neccasary.

7. Lackawanna (B1) - The Steelers looked every bit as good as last season's B1 champs in their pounding of CG Finney.

8. Maple Grove (C2) - Batavia head coach Buddy Brasky couldn't say enough good things about the Red Dragons, who played his team closer than Olean did. 

9. Silver Creek (C2) - In what looks like a loaded CCAA II, I picked these Black Knights for this spot after a 3-0 start.  Remember the name Zeddy Williams.

10. Panama (D) - There might be other teams who deserve this spot, but I thought the Class D favorites deserved the early nod after beating last year's overall Class B champ, Cassadaga Valley.

 

** Ranking the small schools was especially difficult this early.  I didn't rank any N-O teams, City Honors hasn't played yet, I-Prep is 0-2 but faced two quality opponents, don't know what to make of MST Seneca beating West Seneca West & Pioneer, Salamanca & Westfield could be better than Silver Creek, and I won't see Archbishop Walsh until they play Lackawanna tonight.  This poll could look entirely different in a month after more results roll in.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[Food For Thought]

Has a league ever seen such a dramatic fluctuation from one year to a following year such as ECIC 1? Last year they league top to bottom was very strong, this year I don't think any of the teams will be better than what Jamestown, North, and Lancaster were last year.

[PJB]

looking back on the NF-Canisius game from last year, NF had a huge advantage down low. NF graduated 2/3rds of that advantage and the replacements aren't nearly as effective from what I've seen so far.Crumpton seems to be on his own. Although Canisius does not have an equal to Lyons either, but I think White is the equal or very close to Nevins. I believe Canisius would be much more capable of handling NF this year, unfortunately they don't play

[McShea is God]

Hey TML wanna re think that Ken West will beat Falls post? Scoring 2 points over an 8 minute span like they did against Canisius won't get it done. I think so far w Falls only beating Timon by 1 at home and Canisius crushing Ken West by almost 30 - and yes I know it was 'close' at half - on a semi neutral court gives Canisius a big edge in the final poll. Olean Mary's was a great game. I really wanna thank Dan Gill 4 that coaches room in his office area. Seriously it is AWESOME! I will vote St Mary's 3 spots higher than they deserve every poll all year. That was GREAT!!!

PS - I must admit after 2.5 weeks of the year I miss J Paige. We just don't have a guy that good this year 2 watch. Damn that Sal!

[TML1000]

Never said theyll beat NF.....its not even worth posting critically on here...I did that on the blog. Whatever you take away from that, you take away. Yea....its pretty clear Canisius is the best team in the area.

[foot in mouth]

MiG,...r u on a mission 2 get coaches in trouble?

[Food For Thought]

How come I can't get stats on any game besides like the 3 featured on the original scrolling bar on the news' website?

[Lucky13]

Keith has been saying they're having a problem getting that working. They are usually on there the next day.

[Patrick Moran]

After watching last night's action at St. Mary's, I can see Olean and Canisius not only staying at the top of the polls all of this season, but next year as well too.

I hadn't seen Olean before last night, and man they can play well. The scariest part is NONE of their big contributors are seniors, and Bathurst and Ecstrom are only sophomores. That team is going to be very good for a while.

Canisius just looks (to me) in a class by themselves right now. They are so fundamentally sound, pass the ball excellent, play strong defense and have big guys who may not score well, but can rebound effectively. Adam Weir is someone who's really stepped up to become one of the best players in this area.

And with Weir, Aaron White and MacDonald all underclassmen, they are going to be just as, if not stronger next year too.

[hoopster]

Last year was an aberration. Olean is always excellent challenging for the sectional crown at least and usually more. I would be surprised if Canisius runs the table in the MMA, WNY's most competitive and toughest league.

[McShea is God]

Ya I agree don't c Canisius going unbeaten. Do think they have a great shot 2 get 2 the State Catholic final this year. No Long Island Catholic team even ranked in the State 2 start the year unike St Mary's last year, who lost everyone. Looks like Iona Prep-Canisius 2 c who gets 2 Glens and the Fed.

FINALLY State movied Luthern up 2 AA on the AIS side...c they decided 2 keep FOUR TIME defending champ Collegiate-who returns everyone-as the AIS B which is a total joke. They should have been moved 2 A.

[JPD]

NY Post says Long Island Lutheran was not allowed to move up. They are staying where they were last year.

[McShea is God]

Yes u r correct in the State poll we had them as a Top 5 AA but their association then said they would not b 'allowed' 2 move up. So we have 2 rank them as an A now. It's a DISGRACE that Luthern who has won 2 of the last 3 B Feds (1 year KILLING Jamesville Dewitt-some of u have heard of them) and Collegiate who has won FOUR STRAIGHT B Fed's r not moving 2 AA and A. Makes the Fed sort of a joke 2 b honest.

BTW Great job on the smatterings CC. However yes I will give u a team - Canisius - that would beat Olean besides Falls. U seem 2 b in love w Falls despite the fact everyone else seems 2 agree Canisius is the best team in WNY. Or maybe u just meant 2 say Canisius....what game r we going 2 later 2nite?!

[centercourt]

I said team in Section VI, not WNY, and was careful to word it that way.

I'll explain the difference later.