Stanford Men

[norcaltennisnut]

I am very dissapointed with the Pepperdine match scores yesterday. I did not see the match but the scores were very shocking to me. I have seen a couple of home matches this year with the loss to Fresno being the last. I don't want to over react but it seems like the coaches are not pushing the right buttons to motivate this group. I know that the Stanford standard has dropped a little on the men's side but the lopsided scores from yesterday are a little dissapointing. I am not saying that the coaches should be let go but it seems something or someone needs to revitalize the program. Hopefully we can get our groove back soon.

[socaltennnis]

People have an overexaggerated view of Stanford. This loss is not uncommon for Stanford. Losing to Pepperdine may be uncommon but losing to a top ten team for them is not. In recent NCAA tournament history, Stanford has only placed between Rd of 32 and Quarterfinals. Placing third or fourth in the Pac-12 this year would be considered perfectly normal for this team. Something to think about.

[ClarkC]

If you think the standard has dropped for Stanford, just wait till next year! Because Klahn and Thacher will be gone. Some good freshmen coming in, but that will be a young team with no elite-level guys available for #1 doubles and top two singles.

[floridatennisdude]

I think they are going to get pumped now that their men's basketball team won the NIT. That may have been weighing on them.

[tball2day]

.....................

[SoCal10s]

Originally Posted by ClarkC

If you think the standard has dropped for Stanford, just wait till next year! Because Klahn and Thacher will be gone. Some good freshmen coming in, but that will be a young team with no elite-level guys available for #1 doubles and top two singles.

those new recruits you mentioned will be less effective than the team they have now..

[jaggy]

Countdown to Feddy
5-4-3........

[Tennishacker]

Originally Posted by ClarkC

If you think the standard has dropped for Stanford, just wait till next year! Because Klahn and Thacher will be gone. Some good freshmen coming in, but that will be a young team with no elite-level guys available for #1 doubles and top two singles.

Time to start recruiting foreigners!

[Misterbill]

Time to start recruiting better talent, without regard to nationality.

[Tennishacker]

Originally Posted by Misterbill

Time to start recruiting better talent, without regard to nationality.

Misterbill, are you "hounding me"?

[norcaltennisnut]

How does #31 Santa Clara a week later lose to #7 Pepperdine by the same score of 6-1 that Stanford losses by, but wins more total games than #8Stanford. This is an interesting stat to look at:

SCU- Doubles won 18 games and won 7-5 at #1 doubles
Singles won 36 games and won 7-5, 6-3 at #5 singles

Stanford- Doubles won 16 games and won 8-7 at #1 doubles
Singles won 32 games and won 6-3, 6-4 at #4 singles

Santa Clara is #31 and should probably be in the 40's and Stanford is top 10. I agree Stanford is no longer one of the top programs in the country but this is a pathetic effort. Not to mention they barely beat Utah this past weekend 4-3. Not a happy Stanford Cardinal right now.

[bluetrain4]

Stanford tennis is kind of like Notre Dame football. So good, for so long, but the game has moved on, the game is deeper, there are many more top players available (many of whom don't want to or simply cannot, for academic reasons, attend Stanford), there are many more great programs.

Yes, Stanford still remains a blue blood program, an elite program, with great tradition and a lot of resournes. I assume they will eventually win more NCAA titles. But, the days of winning as much as they used to have passed. The landscape is much different.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by norcaltennisnut

How does #31 Santa Clara a week later lose to #7 Pepperdine by the same score of 6-1 that Stanford losses by, but wins more total games than #8Stanford. This is an interesting stat to look at:

SCU- Doubles won 18 games and won 7-5 at #1 doubles
Singles won 36 games and won 7-5, 6-3 at #5 singles

Stanford- Doubles won 16 games and won 8-7 at #1 doubles
Singles won 32 games and won 6-3, 6-4 at #4 singles

Santa Clara is #31 and should probably be in the 40's and Stanford is top 10. I agree Stanford is no longer one of the top programs in the country but this is a pathetic effort. Not to mention they barely beat Utah this past weekend 4-3. Not a happy Stanford Cardinal right now.

Just out of curiosity, why do you think SCU should be in the 40's?

[norcaltennisnut]

I have seen them play twice this year and I would agree they have come a long way in a short time but I think they are a little over ranked right now. Just my opinion. It will be interesting to see if they make the NCAA Tournament.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by norcaltennisnut

I have seen them play twice this year and I would agree they have come a long way in a short time but I think they are a little over ranked right now. Just my opinion. It will be interesting to see if they make the NCAA Tournament.

But with the exception of one bad loss to Arkansas, they have beaten everyone they should beat. The issue that they are having is that Maxime Armengaud is out for the year with a broken wrist/hand. If he was in the lineup at 3 where he should be, and Vinel was playing 4, followed by Pham at 5 and Osintsev at 6, they would be in a better condition, but after wins against BYU and Boise St., I think they are definitely a top 40 team.

Also, despite the 6-1 scoreline, they played Stanford pretty tough at the KOW (even though the level of play doesn't factor into their ranking).

[norcaltennisnut]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

But with the exception of one bad loss to Arkansas, they have beaten everyone they should beat. The issue that they are having is that Maxime Armengaud is out for the year with a broken wrist/hand. If he was in the lineup at 3 where he should be, and Vinel was playing 4, followed by Pham at 5 and Osintsev at 6, they would be in a better condition, but after wins against BYU and Boise St., I think they are definitely a top 40 team.

Also, despite the 6-1 scoreline, they played Stanford pretty tough at the KOW (even though the level of play doesn't factor into their ranking).

Woodrow, you make some good points. I was at the Stanford/Santa Clara match and was impressed with Santa Clara's scrappy play. Since they are missing their #3 I didn't think they were deep enough to be where they are at currently. It seems like you know the Santa Clara team better than I do. I will say that they have improved every year since the new coach came in and I have enjoyed watching them play over the past couple of years. Although I only catch about 2 maybe 3 matches a year.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by norcaltennisnut

Woodrow, you make some good points. I was at the Stanford/Santa Clara match and was impressed with Santa Clara's scrappy play. Since they are missing their #3 I didn't think they were deep enough to be where they are at currently. It seems like you know the Santa Clara team better than I do. I will say that they have improved every year since the new coach came in and I have enjoyed watching them play over the past couple of years. Although I only catch about 2 maybe 3 matches a year.

I don't know if they will make the NCAA tournament though. If they can beat USD, then for sure I think. If they lose to USD, then they would have to win every other match, and have a good run at the WCC tournament. Pepperdine is the runaway favorite to win the WCC though, so SCU has to have a great finish to the regular season.

[Clemson_tennis]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

I don't know if they will make the NCAA tournament though. If they can beat USD, then for sure I think. If they lose to USD, then they would have to win every other match, and have a good run at the WCC tournament. Pepperdine is the runaway favorite to win the WCC though, so SCU has to have a great finish to the regular season.

why do you say that? They are in good position in the rankings.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by Clemson_tennis

why do you say that? They are in good position in the rankings.

I'm just saying they can't have any major slips at the end of the year. They are not goin to get the WCC automatic bid, and with all the conference automatic bids, they are flirting with that area of bubble teams, especially if they have a bad loss or two near the end of the season.

[norcaltennisnut]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

I'm just saying they can't have any major slips at the end of the year. They are not goin to get the WCC automatic bid, and with all the conference automatic bids, they are flirting with that area of bubble teams, especially if they have a bad loss or two near the end of the season.

After seeing today's rankings I can't see Santa Clara making the Tournament unless they beat Cal Poly and USD with no other losses going into the WCC Tournament. I don't see them doing this.