SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side, or you can find the poll embedded at the bottom of this post.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers to predict the winner of the men’s NCAA Championships:
RESULTS
Question:
- Texas – 74.5%
- Cal – 14.0%
- NC State – 8.3%
- Florida – 1.5%
- Indiana – 1.7%
About three quarters of voters saw Texas’s third-straight NCAA title coming, while only 14% voted for the next-best contender.
Those numbers seem low for Texas, who were heavily favored to win this year’s title. The poll was also open during the first few days of the meet, though we closed it as of Saturday. The Texas men did get 16% more of the vote than Stanford’s women did, and both were pretty evenly considered frontrunners for their respective titles.
We’ve noticed a trend in these polls, and that’s that on the college level, team loyalty often trumps logic in these polls. Fans of contenders are more likely to vote for their own team, even if the odds are well stacked against them.
Cal earned 14% of the vote – they were considered the only real threat to Texas, and did finish second despite a number of high-profile DQs. NC State pulled about 8% of the vote. That’s probably higher than their realistic chances to win, but also seems low, given how passionate, loyal and outspoken their fanbase seems to be.
Indiana earned 1.7% of the votes. They were more of a wild card going in, given their massive diving advantage, but the team actually slipped in the results to 7th place. Florida was the lowest vote-getter from our choices, though they actually finished 3rd overall.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks voters whether Caeleb Dressel is the greatest short course yards swimmer in history:
Loading ...
ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner
Eddie is the best swimming coach ever. His long term sustained success in the sport is truly remarkable. He won in the 80s and he is still killing it in 2017? That is a statement of dominance. There is no comparison. Eddie is the best swimming coach ever.
And talking about predictions, I must work on my “world trials barometer” and make my first picks for next US championships.
But I need to know if Missy will be there or not. And if yes, in what sort of shape she will be. Anyone knows if she plans to swim in Mesa next month? Or does she take a year off to refresh and rebuild her body and her mental to come back stronger for 2019 and 2020?
Hot take: If she took off a year to refresh, she will be toast when it comes to qualifying for national teams in individual events. Not only with the ground she will be losing to younger athletes, it has seemed clear to me that over the last several years that her level of fitness drives a lot of her ability, and taking off a year will set her fitness baseline level too far back to be able to overcome.
The wave she made during 2011-2013 seasons was huge. But she cannot surf it forever. It’s time to make long term career plans, get married, have a family and live the life that will bring satisfaction to her, to her loved ones and to many other people who value such an extraordinary character.
P.S. even if she returns to her personal bests (that is the event of low probability) it won’t be enough already to be among top swimmers. Of course I’m not talking about her records at 200BK LCM and 200FR SCY. Those times won’t get approached by anybody including her for many years ahead.
It was clear that Texas would easily win. Like Stanford on the women’s side.
It was a no suspense year.
how did 25% of people miss this?
Not everyone has a small amount of common sense i guess.
tnemETATS#
#STATEment
what place was ncst last year?
#onetoomanycaffenepills
NC State had the highest finish of any team without an individual winner. They win the Team Award.