Prep Polls — Good or Bad?
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the first Washington State AP Prep Basketball Poll will be published. Some people love the polls, some don’t give a hoot. For me, I think they’re great as long as you keep them in perspective. They’re merely tools to help fans enjoy the season a little more.
To be honest, they’re horribly inaccurate. You know why? Here’s how they’re voted on. All the prep sports writers from around the state are invited to vote (though all rarely do.) There are really only about 12 who vote on a weekly basis. We all have knowledge of teams in our own area, but know little, if anything about other teams statewide.
We’re basically taking educated guesses on teams statewide, and, the longer you’ve been around, the better your guesses are. Year to year, you learn which leagues are generally the strongest. But then again, due to cycles of athletes, you stil never really know. That’s what is great about state tourney time. You finally get a glimpse of the teams you vote on all season to see if they’re legit or not.
For me, I take the poll seriously when I vote. I won’t be a homer, and just put a local team on there because they’re local. You try to make a good estimate if a certain team might fare well with other good teams around the state and vote based on that. The most important thing to me is to make sure a good, deserving local team doesn’t get overlooked.
Over the years, our track record is pretty solid. Rarely have we had a team overlooked.
Off the top of my head, some local teams who should be voted fairly high next week are W.F. West’s boys, maybe Winlock, although they’ve sputtered a bit lately, maybe Tenino, and perhaps Napavine. For the girls, we’ll vote White Pass up there in the 2Bs, and also Napavine, and perhaps Mossyrock. In the 1As, Onalaska and Toledo will get votes, but likely no one in the 2As.
Then, we’ll look at scores and records statewide, and put our best guesses down. Unfortunately, I don’t think every prep writer goes to these lengths, but they should.
The best part of the poll is it gives a team a little extra pride, and, as we know, everyone loves to strive to be No. 1.
Did we miss anyone? Let me know.
To be honest, they’re horribly inaccurate. You know why? Here’s how they’re voted on. All the prep sports writers from around the state are invited to vote (though all rarely do.) There are really only about 12 who vote on a weekly basis. We all have knowledge of teams in our own area, but know little, if anything about other teams statewide.
We’re basically taking educated guesses on teams statewide, and, the longer you’ve been around, the better your guesses are. Year to year, you learn which leagues are generally the strongest. But then again, due to cycles of athletes, you stil never really know. That’s what is great about state tourney time. You finally get a glimpse of the teams you vote on all season to see if they’re legit or not.
For me, I take the poll seriously when I vote. I won’t be a homer, and just put a local team on there because they’re local. You try to make a good estimate if a certain team might fare well with other good teams around the state and vote based on that. The most important thing to me is to make sure a good, deserving local team doesn’t get overlooked.
Over the years, our track record is pretty solid. Rarely have we had a team overlooked.
Off the top of my head, some local teams who should be voted fairly high next week are W.F. West’s boys, maybe Winlock, although they’ve sputtered a bit lately, maybe Tenino, and perhaps Napavine. For the girls, we’ll vote White Pass up there in the 2Bs, and also Napavine, and perhaps Mossyrock. In the 1As, Onalaska and Toledo will get votes, but likely no one in the 2As.
Then, we’ll look at scores and records statewide, and put our best guesses down. Unfortunately, I don’t think every prep writer goes to these lengths, but they should.
The best part of the poll is it gives a team a little extra pride, and, as we know, everyone loves to strive to be No. 1.
Did we miss anyone? Let me know.
posted by sam bakotich at
10:38 AM
1 Comments:
don't forget about the Forks Spartans..so far this season they have beaten both the teams you have listed.. maybe as an underdog they could use your vote.. same league.. well till the end of the season. I'll keep reading you..
Post a Comment
<< Home