Tennis Message Board
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| Subject: UCLA |
| Posted by: PTWahoo14 on Wed Jan 23 2013 2:38:32 PM |
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Message:
I most definitely, without a doubt, don't disagree with calling us the favorites. But I don't want to underestimate
the other teams because I firmly a couple of them are right on our heels. Especially, UCLA. I see them as our biggest threat this year. Here's my idea of UCLA's lineup... UCLA: Other than doubles, which is always a seesaw battle, I think they could potentially hurt us at 2-5 singles. Marcos Giron - Is the projected no. 1 right now. He was always a top 5 junior player in the nation and ended ranked 1 in his class. He's currently ranked 12th in college and is definitely not expected to beat JJ or Domijan at this time. Adrien Puget - could land anywhere from 2-4. He just beat USC's Gomez and Hanfmann in easy straight sets (beat them both last year as well) at the Sherwood Cup in Cali. He also took down teammate Giron in straights, before losing to USC's Sarmiento 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the finals . And he had a ton of chances to win in the last set. He was always their most reliable player (best win-loss record) for a reason, while playing down at 5 the last couple years. Coming in to college as the 11th highest ranked Junior in the world, he really could have been playing higher up in the line up from the start. I've always been a fan. And he easily has the ability to beat a fully healthy but rusty Frank and a rookie Styslinger. The small potential to upset Jenkins or Domijan is also there, imo, too. He's dangerous. Dennis Novikov - could play anywhere from 2-4. I think we all know about his upset of rising star Jerzy Janowicz at last years US Open, as well as pushing veteran Julien Benneteau really far. I've personally never had high hopes for him but he's got a lot of hype behind him and some good results. Could definitely beat a rusty Frank and hang with the healthy Frank (I think it's a good matchup for Novikov because he has so much power) and could beat Styslinger if he plays at 4. And he'd be no pushover at 2, despite being the underdog. Clay Thompson - could play anywhere from 2-4. Again we already know about him as UCLA's previous 1/2 alongside Meister. Always considered overrated, he was still good enough to hang with some of the best number 2s from last year. If UCLA doesn't stack, he'll stay at 3 or most likely 4 where he could definitely be a danger to Styslinger (less dangerous for Frank). Denis Mkrtchian - currently ranked 41. He was a very consistent number 6 for UCLA last dual season (went 2-1 against USC's Quiroz), he again beat Quiroz this fall, and pushed Ole Miss's number 1 to a tight three setter. In the Juniors he was ranked about where Ryan Shane and Harrison Richmond were coming in, plus he's got a year of college experience on them. I like Justin or Ryan Shane to win that one if they play him, but I don't see it as an easy match. I'd only give them the 60-40 edge. He'll be one of the top 3 #5 players this year. Karue Sell/Max TabaTruong - Sell, the redshirt freshman, just beat one of Baylor's top players, Mate Zsiga. Then, in the next round of the Sherwood cup, he pushed Hanfmann to 6-2 2-6 6-2. He also had a good Junior career in the ITF getting a career high ranking of 33. And Tabatruong was okay for UCLA two years ago at 6. IIRC, he was the winning match for them when they upset USC in the regular season. Although idk what happened to him since. I guess he was pushed out of the starting lineup. I must admit I might be heavily underestimating how good Frank will be by the end of the year after having so much time off. In fact, I find it easy to imagine our top 3 going undefeated until the NCAA singles. But I still see UCLA as very very good. Worst part is that all of the guys mentioned still have at least another year of college eligibility left. If we win it this year, but they keep all their starters and add Mackenzie McDonald to their line up, then I see our roles as completely reversed. We'd be the defending champions who lost some valuable seniors and they'd be the one loaded with talent, heavily favored to win it all. |
| Current Thread: |
I think this year will be the beginning of our dynasty in tennis -- Hoos in da house Wed Jan 23 2013 1:41:14 AM |
Re: I think this year will be the beginning of our dynasty in tennis -- FarWestern Sat Jan 26 2013 7:49:09 PM |
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We're fortunate to be able enjoy the Boland Era -- 22903 Wed Jan 23 2013 4:56:26 PM |
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A USC fan said after the final in Athens, we might win the next 10, personally -- hoosdaman33 Wed Jan 23 2013 2:08:52 PM |
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Not just late Jan admits but some schools (tOSU and UCLA) are on the quarter -- CharlestonSC Wed Jan 23 2013 8:59:13 PM |
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Fwiw: OSU just switched to the semester system. UCLA & Stanford are still on 1/4 ** -- 22903 Thu Jan 24 2013 9:56:52 AM |
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Yep, OSU is going to figure out how to rent a pro just for May one of these days ** -- hoosdaman33 Wed Jan 23 2013 10:03:51 PM |
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And play him at #3. ** -- Automator Thu Jan 24 2013 3:28:30 PM |
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I wonder who they will use as an Uzawa goat this year ** -- Hoosbro Wed Jan 23 2013 10:38:43 PM |
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Van Engelen has been playing #2 for them so far this year. ** -- Automator Thu Jan 24 2013 3:29:12 PM |
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That is without Blaz Rola available; he will be #3 -- Clark Thu Jan 24 2013 8:05:06 PM |
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If only it were that easy... -- PTWahoo14 Wed Jan 23 2013 8:25:00 AM |
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I agree with you, but this year barring injury or cramping problems, both of -- 1969hoo Wed Jan 23 2013 11:45:04 AM |
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UCLA -- PTWahoo14 Wed Jan 23 2013 2:38:32 PM |
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They are starting #1 Puget, #2 Giron. . .#5 Thompson. It's the UCLA Shuffle!!! -- 22903 Wed Jan 23 2013 5:03:09 PM |
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Very true. Good points. ** -- PTWahoo14 Thu Jan 24 2013 10:45:43 AM |
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Hate when this happens ** -- PTWahoo14 Wed Jan 23 2013 2:39:13 PM |
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UCLA -- PTWahoo14 Wed Jan 23 2013 2:38:32 PM |
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My current focus: National Team Indoor tournament -- Clark Wed Jan 23 2013 11:37:10 AM |
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I would agree that this year's Duke team will be the -- CT Wahoo Wed Jan 23 2013 8:28:23 PM |
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What we need to have the whole way through the season and the NCAA's is a... -- Hoosbro Wed Jan 23 2013 4:49:24 PM |
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Exactly. This is the mindset champions have. -- PTWahoo14 Wed Jan 23 2013 11:49:38 AM |
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Ditto. But another reason to be excited about this year's team -- 2CentsWorth Wed Jan 23 2013 3:36:51 PM |
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Dubs do help, but we won the dubs point vs USC in finals last year. -- breen Thu Jan 24 2013 8:47:57 AM |
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You make an interesting point re dubs -- 2CentsWorth Thu Jan 24 2013 11:23:51 AM |
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Dubs point will be a lot more valuable this year without an automatic like SJ -- PTWahoo14 Thu Jan 24 2013 10:49:12 AM |
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There could be another Elite #1 out there like Somdev or Stevie -- Hoosbro Thu Jan 24 2013 4:32:53 PM |
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Or Alex, or Mitchell. ** -- breen Fri Jan 25 2013 9:09:25 AM |
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Meant to say we had "one" pre-season top-10 dubs team last year ** -- 2CentsWorth Wed Jan 23 2013 3:41:25 PM |
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