Preseason top 6-10. Big time movers and shakers or play it safe? What would Gatsby do?

Yes, my friend. Yes, it will be so fast.

One month away from fall ball. Let’s get it going.

Just to ruin the suspense. You won’t find Simon Fraser in the top 6-10. You won’t find Michigan in this list either. What does that mean for both teams?

10. Duluth

Oh the pride and joy of Minnesota. Circle March 15, 2010 as the turning point in the Bulldogs’ season. The one goal loss was the premiere regular season victory that Duluth hasn’t gotten since the BYU game in 2008. Duluth went on to to lose to Colorado State and Michigan before nearly being doubled up by Chapman in the second round, the official ceiling for the Bulldogs. The good news is the core returns and help is on the way. How much of the core? How about well over 300 points. Nesser and Whiteis are gone on the defensive end but Coach Graff brought in 11 poles this fall. The Harvard grad knows how to run a program. Is the year the glass ceiling breaks?

9. Cal Poly

The Mustangs are finally ready to break through in 2011. Three of last season’s four losses game in overtime and three of four regular season losses were against playoff teams. Leading scorer Colin Mason is gone but Matt Graupmann, the WCLL version of Trevor Yealy returns. The Stangs return 7 of their next 8 leading scores, faceoff man Matt Rudow, 2 of their top 3 defensive middies, both long stick middies, and all three goalies who just so happen to be rising juniors. Depending upon their draw at Denver, Cal Poly could be an elite 8 team. Marc Lea has gone a great job building this program.

8. BYU

The Cougars finished with 6 losses in 2010 which is very un-BYU even if they were to Chapman, Colorado, Colorado State, and Michigan. The biggest losses from 2010 come in the form of graduation. Elliot Grow and Britton Cone, two of the best MCLA players of all time, are gone. The silver lining of 2010 is the Houghton twins are back and will have to play bigger roles if the Cougars have any desire of returning to form.

7. Virginia Tech

After three losses to Florida and Florida State by a combined 4 goals, the Hokies missed out on a chance to go to Denver. The loss of a 58 point point attackman sounds would hurt a lot of teams but Kevin Hayden (47,19) and David Stanton (29.28) return as do six of the next seven highest point scorers. Starting goalie Kevin Ria returns as well. In fact, the Hokies only graduated five players. Expect these guys to make the elite 8 in 2010.

6. Chapman

Has the sun set on the Panthers? Martin, Whitcomb, and Small are gone. Wood has yet to be replaced. The cupboard is not dry yet and if they can find a reasonable replacement for Wood the Panthers will be in good shape next spring to make another deep run at Denver. Watch for Madison Fiore and Andrew Clayton to take command of the offense. Matt Walrath might be the best long stick middie in the country in 2011. RED ALERT: If Chapman doesn’t find a coach as dedicated as Coach Wood, the program will slide back to mediocrity.

More imagery from Duluth camp

In an effort to join the party, the Gophers posted this on Facebook last night.

I’ll see you your D2 football stadium and raise you the newly constructed TCF Bank Stadium.

UMLL power struggle engaged.

Notes

Top 1-5 tomorrow

412 Lax shorts on sale shortly

UGA frat boys get destroyed by an alum

If you aren’t watching the Denver Boston game on ESPN3 right now you’re not a fan of the game, even though Denver rolled over and died for Boston heading into the 4th.