wisconcin is still best

as much as it pains me to see Colorado win, i'm REALLY glad Wisconsin didn't win

Why did Wisconsin lose? Too many games. You run 3/4 of a race and then drop? Dumb move. It showed when they sucked nuts in the last 5k.

I agree.

I will never understand Wisconsin's strategy of half-assing races for 3/4 of the season. Wisconsin comes across as overconfident- even arrogant. They should have taken a page out of Stanford or Colorado's playbook and developed a team strategy for the race. Instead, they were all over the place, and they fell on their faces in the second half of the race.

Colorado yes, but Stanford? i think i'd burn a page from their play book before i'd try to replicate it.

dean moriarty wrote:

I agree.

I will never understand Wisconsin's strategy of half-assing races for 3/4 of the season. Wisconsin comes across as overconfident- even arrogant. They should have taken a page out of Stanford or Colorado's playbook and developed a team strategy for the race. Instead, they were all over the place, and they fell on their faces in the second half of the race.

Wisconsin is definitely not arrogant or overconfident. Have you ever talked to them to make such a statement?!?! After the race they were saying the same things people here are saying (Colorado ran unbelievable, they deserved the win, they [the Badgers] didn\'t run up to their ability).

In response to strategy, the Badgers did have a strategy. Bairu, Teg, & Solinsky were cut loose to run at the front - for the win if it worked out. Their 4-7 guys were supposed to pack it up and run together. This is similar to last year (Bairu was cut loose, the others were told to stay together until the last mile or 1k).

The Badgers didn\'t run horribly, just not their best races. Teg & Solinsky were 9th & 10th at 9k, they only dropped a few spots (12th & 16th) - hardly falling on their faces. Spiker was one that didn\'t have a good race, and that\'s why he\'s decided to come back next year.

Congrats to the Buffalo\'s on a great race!

Wisconsin won the first 5k. They probably won the first 9 k. The race was 10 km.

"The Badgers didn't run horribly, just not their best races. Teg & Solinsky were 9th & 10th at 9k, they only dropped a few spots (12th & 16th) - hardly falling on their faces."

The most important 1K of the season and your top 2 guys together give up 9 places. Something is definately wrong there. If that's not falling flat on your face there should be an investigation.

Whups, I was talking about Stanford of LAST year. Sew up the team win first!

Based on the fact that they train "through" almost every race during the season, yes, I would say that Wisconsin was overconfident. Redshirting three potential All-American runners to prepare for the championship in 2005? This also suggests they were overconfident.

I agree with your assessment, but I think that Colorado was able to use that stretegy because they were in the underdog role. They were able to gamble as they did because if they lost and came in second or third, no big deal, they weren't expected to win anyways. Wisconsin, on the other hand, as the favorites, needed a safer strategy of sending their big guns near the front, which ultimately failed because Teg and Solinksy faded, and because Spiker ran worse than expected.

Are you saying that Wisconsin was conservative and trying not to lose.

Yes, I think they were conservative and trying not to lose. They usually don't fade in races, and they faded yesterday. But, they typically race the way they did yesterday, so it probably wouldn't have been smart anyway to hang back ala Colorado, who has much more experience with the come-from-behind strategy.

yes wisco lost. It is a fact i am sure the coach would have loved to run one of those freshman or anthony ford. But look at next years team it is just as good as this years ford is capable of being where teg was this year. They can put 3 in the top 10 with bairu, solinsky and ford and with that talented freshman class they will have a better 4 and 5 to choose from

Colorado will also be just as good next year.

I heard josh spiker said he was gonna use his medical redshirt and be back for next year. is that true? if so then wisconsin will be even stronger saying he doesn't bomb like he did this year. also, wisconsin is getting brandon bethke, a 14:22 3 miler from california also. They will be very strong next year and challenge colorado for the title. i believe their top 7 will be:

bairu, solinsky, ford, withrow, spiker (if he is indeed returning), wagner, lockhart, and nelson (if spiker doesn't return). that leaves out stuart eagon, bryan culver, and ben gregory who are all capable of running top 7. I predict colorado will win next year with wisconsin a close 10-15 points behind with stanford and arkansas a real close 3rd and 4th.

I really love this would of, should of, could have crap. If you are going to say that "if" the race was tommorrow then blah blah, why don't we just throw in another would if. Would if Ritz stayed this year and didnt go pro. MMMMMmmmmm.... lets see here. Now correct me if i am wrong he got first last year. Ahhh yeah no one could argue he wouldn't have taken that title this year easily. Then another would if, ummm where was Billy Nelson. I have no info on the guy except the fact that he got like 12th last year at Nats and well that pretty much speaks for itself.

But to end all disputes my god grow up and stop lying to your selves Wisconsin got beat. The race was ran yesterday end of story. There is alot expected of runners and its not always the guy that has the fastes time in the record books that wins every time. Its those that can show up no matter what the day or what the conditions. Wisconsin didnt show up. So please stop this its really stupid, this NCAA cross country not BCS football crap, " blah blah blah I speculate this is the best team blah blah blah".

NO THE TITLE IS IN STONE! COLORADO WINS

WEll well well...it is settled Colorado is the best. Great post above this one.

Additionally, to all who said wisc was unbeatable....yeah they had alot of great talent and they were racing well...but against who? This ncaa race showed that against real competition, they faultered. Simply put, they are good, but it was overflated. They still are good, being so close to Colorado...but the basis of labeling pre-ncaa's as unbeatable was on their performances on fast courses with no competition. It was close afterall between the two teams, with Colorado the victor!!!!

Hell ya!!!!

GO CU!!!!

Wisco had an off day (not terrible) and Colorado ran very, very good. That's all!! why all of the crazy accusations?

Wisco has a plan and it usually works. For the past years they have run very nicely when it counted!!!

Why do you think that Pre would have won the 5k if it was held a day later? The 5k final WAS actually held a day later than scheduled, because of the Israeli Hostage situation they had a day of mourning and everything was pushed back a day.Some feel that this extra day gave Viren more rest from his 10k race. Not sure if the Silver & Bronze medalist were in the 10 also. (Bronze was Ian Stewart, yes?)

kojo wrote:

If the Munich 5k race was a day later, Pre would have lapped the competition.