Insane!
SEC Tennis
- Thread starter TopDawg
- Start date
I haven't looked it up, but I think McEnroe was something like 29 in the rankings while he was playing at Stanford. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken on this.
UF with a couple nice additions - going to be back to title contender status soon, even if probably not this year
floridagators.com
Florida Men's Tennis Add Two Top-Ranked Juniors from Poland - Florida Gators
Both Olek Orlikowski and Borys Zgola will join the Gators for the Spring 2023 season.
floridagators.com
a questionable decision that hurts the Gators’ ability to be a top team this year:
floridagators.com
yes, his trajectory has been nearly vertical the past year
no, it wouldn’t have hurt him to spend a year playing near the top of an SEC lineup, probably would have helped him
Abedallah Shelbayh Turns Professional - Florida Gators
Shelbayh played one season for the Gators and is currently ranked No. 524 in the ATP Singles Rankings.
floridagators.com
yes, his trajectory has been nearly vertical the past year
no, it wouldn’t have hurt him to spend a year playing near the top of an SEC lineup, probably would have helped him
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Was he better than Siimar and Goodger last year? Amazed that he was not in the top 6 last year.a questionable decision that hurts the Gators’ ability to be a top team this year:
Abedallah Shelbayh Turns Professional - Florida Gators
Shelbayh played one season for the Gators and is currently ranked No. 524 in the ATP Singles Rankings.
yes, his trajectory has been nearly vertical the past year
no, it wouldn’t have hurt him to spend a year playing near the top of an SEC lineup, probably would have helped him
may have been similar and they got the seniority nod - certainly had good results in offseason
That’s a tough one and probably premature in spite of his recent run. He hails from Jordan and trained at Rafa’s academy where most players go pro. So that could have played into his decision. Agree it could have been mutually beneficial for him to return for at least one more yeara questionable decision that hurts the Gators’ ability to be a top team this year:
Abedallah Shelbayh Turns Professional - Florida Gators
Shelbayh played one season for the Gators and is currently ranked No. 524 in the ATP Singles Rankings.
yes, his trajectory has been nearly vertical the past year
no, it wouldn’t have hurt him to spend a year playing near the top of an SEC lineup, probably would have helped him
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
huge gigantic loss for Kentucky. They probably would have been the NCAA team favorite with Diallo playing at #1.
SEC certainly taking some big hits to their lineups
but a decision that makes sense
The experience at the Davis Cup probably clinched it. That and his recent win over Ben gives him the confidence to give it a shot. Looking at his record in the pros he’s had some ordinary losses. He’ll want to minimize those on tour
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
Cracked racquets in their Great shot podcast has 3 SEC teams in their forecast of top 10-Tenn, Kentucky, and GA. Tenn was at 5, but now Kent Hunter who was a transfer to Tenn announced his week he would not be playing his last year of eligibility. I'd never heard of Kent before; he has an interesting back story-from Compton, at one time homeless with his family, he rose from jr college to Cal to LSU and then was offered a spot at Tenn as a grad transfer. Amazing to me that he was able to coordinate all those credits to earn his undergraduate degree after attending 3 schools! Tenn would have been his 4th team. This roster change should make the competition between those 3 teams even closer. this spring. Too bad for Kentucky to lose Diallo-they could have won it all but it was 100% the right choice for Diallo. Gabe went from 900 at the end of the school year to low 200s in less than 2 months.
Links to Great Shot Podcast top 10 previews: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/great-shot-podcast-tennis-podcast/id1290618412
Links to Great Shot Podcast top 10 previews: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/great-shot-podcast-tennis-podcast/id1290618412
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Tennessee like a number of other schools are overloaded with very good transfers that won’t start, but could be high contributors at other very good programs. It’s almost as if some of these programs are taking good transfers to keep them from playing as potential competitors for other schools.
Hunter would have given Tennessee a seriously strong lineup. He was a good/very good player for LSU: An All-SEC Second Team member during the 2021-22 season with the Tigers, Hunter logged a 16-4 overall singles record, including a 7-3 mark in SEC singles play. Hunter was 5-1 at the No. 2 singles spot and 11-3 at the No. 3 position.
I'm guessing he would have played at the 4 or 5 spot for the Vols--behind Monday, Bicknell, Hudd and Matsui, and maybe that didn't sit well with him. I'm just guessing--who knows. Strange to quit tennis now, on the cusp of a new season, when you're with a truly stout team...but individuals have their reasons. Vols now have Kozlov (another LSU transfer who's played well recently), Diaz, Prata and Rodriguez competing for the last two singles spots.
I'm guessing he would have played at the 4 or 5 spot for the Vols--behind Monday, Bicknell, Hudd and Matsui, and maybe that didn't sit well with him. I'm just guessing--who knows. Strange to quit tennis now, on the cusp of a new season, when you're with a truly stout team...but individuals have their reasons. Vols now have Kozlov (another LSU transfer who's played well recently), Diaz, Prata and Rodriguez competing for the last two singles spots.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Tennessee....even with Kent Hunter.....would not have been the #5 team in the nation.
I have not been following the cracked racquets top 10......who will be the top 4 teams ? (according to Gruskin?)
I have not been following the cracked racquets top 10......who will be the top 4 teams ? (according to Gruskin?)
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
Gruskin isnt finished with his top 10-# 1 and 2 will be previewed next week. So far 3 Mich 4 Texas 5 Tenn 6 TCU 7 Stanford 8 Kentucky 9 Georgia 10 USC. The top 2 have to be Virginia, OSU, or Baylor-one of those 3 wont be in top 10. Of course Gruskin, as a Mich alumni (was on national champ Mich club team a few years back), has a strong MIch bias, and his cohort Chris H whose nephew played 6 for Miss State when it was top 10 or top 16 may lean towards SEC, These guys tend to overrank Stanford every year; Stanford has all the pieces but never can put the puzzle together. I am tempted to take a Feb drive to Orlando (MIL lives there) to see GA play Stanford and USC at Lake Nona as I have not seen PAC team live in action-see if Stanford lives up to the hype. Watched a lot of SEC teams at conference tourney in Athens in April. Will be interesting to see how Tenn is without Walton and Kentucky without Diallo. Looking forward to watching Quinn at GA. Best matches watched were 2017 NCAAs in Athens-saw Norrie, Rinderkech, Wolf, Torp play on the back courts at Athens, and 3 of the 4 will qualify for MD slams.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
thank you much for detailed response. Sounds like Basavareddy will still be dealing with wrist injury and won't be available for the Lake Nona matches. Quinn will have too much firepower for Arthur Fery. Dostanic and Learner Tien....will probably match up with Quinn and Henning. That should be good tennis. I think that Texas is probably over ranked at 4. Woldeab is very inconsistent. I still expect that the Baylor coach will add 1 to 2 last minute top foreign players before the spring season starts. Ohio State will really miss Vocel in singles and doubles. I sure don't see them as #2 in the nation. Stanford at #7 is an absolute joke. They will struggle at 4 thru 6. ITA rankings come out on January 4...but they almost totally rely on last year. Johannus Monday was a great #2 for UT. I don't see him as being a dominant #1. Ayeni will really help Kentucky. Their last minute addition of Jaden Weekes......makes them better than #8 in the country.
Would UT still be #6 with Kent Hunter? We may never know now. https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2023/01/04/division-i-mens-rankings-jan-4/
On another note, would like to see the SEC conf. ranked. There's a couple of teams that if they don't make a few surprise spring roster adds are headed for a tough season.
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
Florida better get a lot out of its 5 freshmen; I cant see Axel Nefve from Notre Dame playing higher than 3 or 4 vs GA, Tenn, KY, and SC. The other FL upperclassmen didnt play much singles except Bonetto. The Polish freshman has the highest UTR at just under 13.5. Jonah Braswell, Micah's bro, should get play as a freshman. Cant see FL finishing much higher than 5 unless they get another new guy or two in with pro experience. Texas A&M could edge out FL for 5-similar UTRs but more experience. Auburn had a good run at the end last year-saw Auburn beat SC at conference champs in Athens-Tyler Stice beat SC's #1. However Tyler must have had a tough summer and/or fall-his UTR has dropped below 13 despite playing a lot of matches. Hope he is back in dual match shape-he is fun to watch when he is on.
It does seem like a lot of rosters are small per website: Ole Miss currently just with 6, Arkansas with 7-even some of the top teams have 9 or less. Only Kentucky (12) and Texas A&M (14) have large rosters. Coaches are probably trying to get some last minute spring guys through Compliance.
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College father
New User
It’s hard to look beyond Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia for sec - but surprised by the continued lack of respect to South Carolina.
last year finished 10 ranked, beat Kentucky, no. 1 Tennessee on the Road, undefeated at home. Unlucky to draw Virginia first round NCAA away. No.1 doubles team in country.
I was looking at those smaller rosters and thinking the same thing about possible spring adds to the rosters. Still no changes as of today for the two mentioned. We'll see.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
the SEC coaches will do a vote in January...on where each team will finish.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Georgia settles in first of men's tennis preseason poll
The Southeastern Conference announces the men's tennis coaches' preseason poll with the Bulldogs chosen to finish first in the league for the 2023 season.
www.secsports.com
The quality of tennis...in the SEC ...has really dropped. Florida lost all 6 starters and they are picked to finish 5th in the league. Several schools in the league....seem to accept mediocrity. The 2 schools in Mississippi were both top 10 in the 90's.
Right on. That’s where I was going with my earlier post. I keep checking their rosters for an update, still no changes.Georgia settles in first of men's tennis preseason poll
The Southeastern Conference announces the men's tennis coaches' preseason poll with the Bulldogs chosen to finish first in the league for the 2023 season.
The quality of tennis...in the SEC ...has really dropped. Florida lost all 6 starters and they are picked to finish 5th in the league. Several schools in the league....seem to accept mediocrity. The 2 schools in Mississippi were both top 10 in the 90's.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Maybe new coaches at LSU and Arkansas will make improvements. Alabama and Auburn will continue to be poor to mediocre...with their current coaches. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are going no where. I know that this is Duvenhage's last year but Vanderbilt is awful. It is really disappointing to see how far....that the SEC has fallen. Credit to Josh Goffi for working hard and making SC competitive.
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
Auburn has improved I think-I watched them beat South Carolina at SEC conference in May. With coach Bobby Reynolds who reached ATP 63 as a pro, Auburn was ranked23(?) at the end of last season. Not top 16 like the top 4-5, but not bad. Now it's way beyond time for Alabama to get a new coach...
bobleenov1963
Hall of Fame
Nick Saban has to sign off on the new tennis head coach at Alabama, just as Kirby Smart has to sign off on tennis coach at Georgia. Kirby Smart's wife is a very good tennis player in her own right. Football is king at both the Dawgs and Crimson Tide.
UF competing really well today in singles
T&T make a great dubs team, as they did in the fall
Grant stepping up big time at #2 after previously being a singles reserve, taking first set off the elder Braswell
younger Braswell for UF can be a future pro, just rock solid groundies and clearly loves the competition, shades of Oliver Crawford
No they won’t win NCAAs this year, but not unreasonable for them to target top 10 - and if Braswell/T/T stick together for a few years from this freshman class, watch out, back to competing for a banner
T&T make a great dubs team, as they did in the fall
Grant stepping up big time at #2 after previously being a singles reserve, taking first set off the elder Braswell
younger Braswell for UF can be a future pro, just rock solid groundies and clearly loves the competition, shades of Oliver Crawford
No they won’t win NCAAs this year, but not unreasonable for them to target top 10 - and if Braswell/T/T stick together for a few years from this freshman class, watch out, back to competing for a banner
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Blake Croyder defeated Cornut Chauvinic in the fall.
Today, Blake Croyder lost at 5 singles
Miguel Perez Pena has stepped his game up this spring.
I was also very impressed by Florida's competitiveness against Texas. Will Grant has always been a good doubles player. Huge win today over Micah Braswell. Last weekend, Bailly of Texas defeated Ethan Quinn 3 and 4. Outstanding scores today for Jonah Braswell against Bailly
I think that someone referred to Florida State earlier this week as a middle of the pack ACC team. Cornut Chauvinic gives them a great anchor at #1. Makes everyone else better. They are not in Virginia's class.. But, I think that they match up very favorable against Wake Forest, UNC, NC State and Duke.. At the end of the season, FSU will finish somewhere between 2 and 4 in the league. They are not middle of the pack. Barnaby Smith is a nice add for that team.
Today, Blake Croyder lost at 5 singles
Miguel Perez Pena has stepped his game up this spring.
I was also very impressed by Florida's competitiveness against Texas. Will Grant has always been a good doubles player. Huge win today over Micah Braswell. Last weekend, Bailly of Texas defeated Ethan Quinn 3 and 4. Outstanding scores today for Jonah Braswell against Bailly
I think that someone referred to Florida State earlier this week as a middle of the pack ACC team. Cornut Chauvinic gives them a great anchor at #1. Makes everyone else better. They are not in Virginia's class.. But, I think that they match up very favorable against Wake Forest, UNC, NC State and Duke.. At the end of the season, FSU will finish somewhere between 2 and 4 in the league. They are not middle of the pack. Barnaby Smith is a nice add for that team.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Is Bonnetto injured? I would think that he would definitely play ahead of Grief if he is healthy. I really liked Bonnetto's game last year when I saw him play. I see that one of the 2 Polish players is playing in the Australian Open Juniors. Will that Polish player be able to help the team when the Australian open is over?
agree on NB, surprised he didn’t play vs Texas, no inside info in injury status
and no idea if the Poles are playing this year or being held in reserve til next year
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
In a former KY vs current KY player match at Cleveland Challenger, Diallo decimates grad student Ayeni 1,1. Ayeni at ATP 404 has the highest ATP ranking of a current college player; Ethan Quinn of UGA is next highest at #463. Ayeni plays 2 for Kentucky.
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I will be interested to see Ayeni in person at UVA on Friday. I am going to the match, along with a dozen or so relatives of the players.
Last weekend, we had 125 relatives of the women's players skipping the basketball game to watch women's tennis.
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
I guess the bright side for KY is that Ayeni losing early in Cleveland means that he was back with plenty of time to get ready for VA. Do you know if GT will ever host men's ACC tennis champs? Got to see most of the SEC teams play in Athens in April since UGA hosted SEC championship. I have been to some GT matches in past years but I forgot which ACC teams they played.
Relatives
There are _two_ Zgola brothers. The older, Borys, is on UF roster. The other, Goran, is not, and that's the one that played in AO juniors this year.
The second Polish junior player, the one that reaches semis where he lost to Tien who is on USC roster, is probably not going to play college tennis at all.
Wonder if Tien will travel with USC to Lake Nona this weekend. Would be good to see him make his collegiate debut against Quinn & Co
optimaltennis
Rookie
ACC tennis championships have often been in Rome, GA, which is less than a three hour drive from ATL. While coaches would like to host on their own campus (makes it easier to ask athletic department for facility upgrades), it is unlikely that will happen in the near future as I hear both Rome and Cary will be hosting for the next few years.
jcgatennismom
Hall of Fame
Do you know why Draxl didnt play? How long was the match? I had planned to livestream, lost track of the time, turned it on and saw KY had lost 4 1st sets so I thought VA had it in the bag at home esp with KY w/o Draxl. We always hear about the top guys-the Ayenis, Draxls, etc but it is exciting to see 2/3 crucial singles points came from freshmen. I know u are a VA fan, but on the bright side for you, this match will show the Cavs what they need to work on. Could be another rematch in Fs or SFs of Indoors...Would love to see VA play KY again or either Mich/OSU vs KY/VA in Fs/SFs. The good news also about having to play out all the lines is that 3 players each for KY/VA will get credit for singles wins which helps towards earning a high ITA ranking with Challenger WCs for top 20 on the line.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
Both Virginia and Kentucky were missing their #1 players. Rodesch did not play for Virginia.
collegetennisisthebest
Rookie
abysmal effort this week by the employees at USTA national campus
18 zillion employees and no live scoring ...for 4 great college tennis teams
18 zillion employees and no live scoring ...for 4 great college tennis teams
Clemson_tennis
Legend
Georgia gets the win over SC in Chicago
