View from the Corner Desk

Rankings 1/7

I had The Mining Journal’s UPSSA vote this week. (Craig Remsburg and I often trade, depending who is working the weekend, and so has Monday off.) The Mining Journal is the boys voter for the north-central Upper Peninsula, while Westwood broadcaster Bill Sparks has the girls vote.

Anyway, you’ll find my boys vote below, and my view on the girls. I’ve written about rankings in the past, but here’s a quick primer. I think most people who know the real power teams are out there. I’d say there’s five or six boys teams expected to really do things in ABC, and four pretty decent teams in Class D.

I like to look for quality wins, like Negaunee beating Escanaba on the road. Road wins are important, too. So I like to look at opponents records. Beating a bunch of one- or two-win teams does nothing for me, and doesn’t prep a team for later on. Plus I figure schedules will eventually even out some. I also take into consideration top players on the teams, are they game-changers? But I obviously don’t get to see every team in action, nor a team enough times to really get a great feel. So I put less importance on my judgement there. I do try to read articles about the good games and good teams and keep up with their goings on. For instance, The Mining Gazette had a nice article last Thursday about Houghton’s tough schedule and how it’s hurt their record but prepped them for the postseason. So I throw that all together, check out head-to-head matchups between the teams and make my best guess at making a poll that reflects not just who beats who, but who I think would beat who the rest of the year.

Anyway, here we go:

ABC

1. Negaunee (8-0) -- Nothing much to add. They could run the tables, but it’s going to take going into Marquette and coming out with a ‘W.’ Their Norway matchups should be interesting. I think they run the table in the Mid-Pen Conf anyway.
2. Marquette (7-2) -- These kids like the assist stat. Against Calumet, they were looking to set each other up to score. Quite likely they have the best bench in the UP as well, which can only help the starters in practice.
3. Escanaba (5-3) -- Escanaba has 3 losses, true. Two came to Negaunee. Can’t fault them for that now, can I? They’re big and a good team, and they beat Houghton.
4. Norway (8-0) -- Undefeated, but only quality wins are against Manistique. I don’t know what to think really. I think they’d lose to the above three. I don’t know about the below two. But for now, fourth felt fine to me.
5. St. Ignace (5-2) -- They beat Escanaba in St. Ignace but lost pretty bad to Rudyard in their most recent game. I really had a hard time choosing between Iggy and Houghton for No. 5, but the deciding factor for me was the common opponent of Esky. Houghton lost, St. Ignace won.

Just off the list -- Houghton (4-3) -- You can’t fault them for losing to Marinette and Green Bay Preble: a Class C school vs. bigger, better talent from Wisconsin. Ultimately, the battle testing should pay off. And to be honest, I expect them to be third in my final poll of the season. But for right now, they’re just barely off it.

D

1. Cedarville (7-0) -- Cruising. Going to be interesting when the real season begins. They outscore opponents by an average of 85-45. HOLY COW. I wish they could play Negaunee or Marquette!
2. E-TC (6-0) -- Wins over Jeffers and Watersmeet, both teams on this poll, and the Watersmeet game was on the road.
3. Forest Park (7-0) -- Undefeated, and beat Watersmeet on the road, too, in a close game.
4. Watersmeet (6-2) -- Can fault them for losing at home. I gave them the edge over Jeffers due to the schedule.
5. Jeffers (6-1) -- Defense holds opponents to 35.5 points per game. Not bad. Need a bit tougher schedule to move up.

Girls

ABC

1. Westwood (8-0) -- Yeah. Beating Houghton on the road is going to keep them here even if they have a stumble along the way. Outscore opponents by average 15 points.
2. Houghton (8-1) -- Lost to a heck of a team. Shouldn’t absorb too many defeats the rest of the year.
3. Iron Mountain (8-1) -- Tonight’s game at Westwood will be more telling if I’m right on my third ranking. Scoring differential of +10 PPG.
4. St. Ignace (8-1) -- Quality wins over Sault (6-3) and Cedarville (7-1) on the road.
5. L’Anse (7-1) -- Beat 7-1 Chassell to start the year. Lost to Houghton in a good game.