Texas Edges California for Top Spot in CSCAA Men’s Division I Coaches Poll

PHOENIX, Arizona, February 20. WITH conference championships underway, and just a handful of dual meets left before the final poll next week, the College Swim Coaches Association of America NCAA Men's Division I Swimming and Diving Rankings have Texas edging California for the top of the mountain. The rest of the rankings remained remarkably stable as most teams have been mostly idle since the last poll.

The goal of the CSCAA rankings committee this year will be to produce an in-season poll of the 25 best performing teams in rank order at the time of each poll. The poll is not designed to predict the results of the NCAA Championship, but rather which teams would win head-to-head against other teams in the country.

Specifically, the poll committee does not differentiate between the types of meets, or the status of a specific team in terms of rested vs. unrested, when considering votes. Further, rankings are only based on performances that have taken place up to that point in the season, with an emphasis on action from the previous poll.

Notably, Swimming World has been invited as a media member as part of the polling process, and now has a vote in each poll. Jason Marsteller is serving as Swimming World's representative on these calls.

1. TEXAS (5-2, Big 12 1-0)
Last Poll: #1

Results
1st, Southwest Collegiate Plunge
W, #8 Indiana, 185-115
L, #2 Michigan, 194-106
Diving, Phill Hansel Invite
U.S. Winter Short Course Nationals
Georgia Fall Invitational
L, #9 Auburn, 166-132
W, #12 Georgia, 132-109
W, TCU, 133-88
W, #1 Arizona, 166-125
W, SMU, 184-108
Since last poll
Idle

Texas completed its regular season, and has been focused on hosting the Big 12 Championships in Austin at the end of the month.

2. CALIFORNIA (6-0, Pac 12 3-0)
Last Poll: #6

Results
W, Pacific, 141-107
W, #25 Wisconsin, 158-125
Exhibition, #3 Stanford
1st, Georgia Invitational
Bruin Diving Invitational
W, #1 Arizona, 159-134
W, Arizona State, 163-126
Since last poll
W, CSU Bakersfield, 135-113
W, #3 Southern California, 175.5-120.5

After taking down then-No. 1 Arizona and then-No. 3 Southern California in the last month, two-time defending champions California moved up to second in the nation behind Texas. With one more meet against No. 7 Stanford on the docket, the Golden Bears could potentially knock off the now-idle Longhorns for the top position.

Tom Shields led the way for California against the Trojans with wins in the 100 fly (46.10) and 200 free (1:34.68), while freshman Jacob Pebley took the 100 (47.84) and 200 back (1:43.55). Additionally, freshman Josh Prenot claimed the 200 breast (1:57.37) and 200 IM (1:47.35) events against USC.

3. MICHIGAN (8-0, Big Ten 6-0)
Last Poll: #2

Results
W, #25 Wisconsin, 172.5-115.5
W, #13 Minnesota, 170-124
W, @ #5 Texas, 194-106
W, #8 Indiana, 223-77
6th, Purdue Invitational, split squad
1st, Hawkeye Invitational
Mike Peppe Invitational
1st, Orange Bowl Classic
W, Eastern Michigan, 196-133 (20-yard meet)
W, Purdue, 153-90
2nd, SMU Classic
W, #10 Ohio State, 251-75
Since last poll
W, Michigan State, 168-81
Michigan First Chance Meet

Michigan closed out its undefeated regular season with a victory against in-state Big Ten foe Michigan State. In Spartan country, the Wolverines set seven McCaffree Pool records in what turned out to be a shellacking. Mid-year addition from Denmark, Andres Lie Nielsen, made an impact by taking down Tom Dolan's pool record in the 500 free with a 4:22.23. That mark stood 18 years.

4. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (6-1, Pac 12 3-1)
Last Poll: #3

Results
W, #14 NC State, 173-119
W, #17 Arizona, 181.5-109.5
W, Arizona State, 144-82
U.S. Winter Short Course Nationals
W, Hawaii, 150-54
Bruin Diving Invitational
W, Wisconsin 145-109
1st, SMU Classic
Since last poll
L, #6 California, 175.5-120.5
W, #9 Stanford, 156-139

The Trojans split a pair of Pacific 12 battles, taking down then-No. 9 Stanford after suffering a loss to then-No. 6 California. Vlad Morozov shined against California with wins in the 50 free (19.32) and 100 free (42.83), before returning against Stanford with victories in the 50 free (19.33) and 100 free (43.07). The win against the Cardinal proved to be historic as it was USC's first win against Stanford since 2006, and first win in Palo Alto since 1997.

5. FLORIDA (7-0, SEC 5-0)
Last Poll: #4
Results
1st, All Florida Invitational
W, @ #9 Georgia, 192-104
W, @ #12 South Carolina, 166-128
W, #21 Texas A&M, 197-98
W, #19 Florida State, 166-134
2nd, Ohio State Invitational
3rd, SMU Classic
W, Florida Atlantic, 178-111
W, #5 Auburn, 167-133
W, Tennessee, 208-92
Since last poll
Idle

Florida has been idle since besting the Tennessee Volunteers to close out the season. The Gators are currently in College Station, Texas, for the Southeastern Conference Championships this weekend.

6. AUBURN (5-1, SEC 4-1)
Last Poll: #5

Results
W, #20 Alabama, 175-68
W, #22 LSU, 213-87
W, @ Kentucky, 205.5-94.5
Georgia Invitational
Auburn Diving Invitational
Tennessee Diving Invitational
W, #4 Texas, 166-132
W, Texas A&M, 189-111
Ralph Crocker Invitational
L, #5 Florida, 167-133
Since last poll
Idle

The Auburn Tigers have been idle since a loss to Florida, and are currently competing in the Southeastern Conference Championships in College Station, Texas.

7. STANFORD (4-1, Pac 12 2-1)
Last Poll: #T9

Results
2nd, Pacific Invitational
W, #25 Wisconsin, 184-104
Exhibition, #5 California
1st, Arena Invitational
Ohio State Invitational (diving only)
W, Pacific, 159-92
Bruin Diving Invitational
W, Arizona State, 171.5-113.5
W, #1 Arizona, 173-115
Since last poll
L, #3 Southern California, 156-139

Stanford suffered its first loss of the season with a close call against then-No. 3 Southern California. Stanford's battle against No. 2 California is next up this weekend before focusing on the Pacific 12 Championships in Federal Way, Wash., at the beginning of next month.

8. INDIANA (8-3, Big Ten 4-1)
Last Poll: #7

Results
W, @ Kentucky, 196-104
W, #25 Tennessee, 183-117
L, #2 Michigan, 223-77
L, #5 Texas, 185-115
W, #24 Penn State, 182.5-170.5
W, #8 Virginia, 177-176
U.S. Winter Short Course Nationals (split squad)
Ohio State Invitational (split squad)
W, #6 Ohio State, 150-148
W, #18 Iowa, 172-126
W, #14 Louisville, 193-107
Since last poll
L, Evansville, 155.5-78.5 (split squad)
W, Purdue, 179.5-118.5 (split squad)

Indiana split a pair of in-state dual meets during the weekend of Feb. 8-9. In the spotlight meet of the weekend, the Hoosiers took down their top rivals the Boilermakers with wins in 13 of 16 events. Eric Ress put on a show in the backstroke events, capturing wins in the 100 (48.39) and 200 (1:46.07).

Meanwhile, IU took a surprising loss as the team needed to get an extra competition day in for some of its athletes due to convoluted NCAA rules. So, seven swimmers wound up competing against the entire Evansville team, with IU entering only eight of 15 events. The meet might as well have been called an exhibition, but the loss still counts on the books.

9. VIRGINIA (8-1, ACC 3-0)
Last Poll: #8

Results
W, Navy, 162-124
W, @ Pittsburgh, 159-130
W, #12 South Carolina, 160-126
W, #24 Penn State, 198-155
L, #7 Indiana, 177-176
2nd, Georgia Invitational
Tennessee Diving Invitational
W, #22 North Carolina, 194-106
W, Duke, 153-140
W, #17 Virginia Tech, 202.5-167.5
W, Wisconsin, 185-163
Since last poll
Cavalier Invitational

Virginia tuned up for the postseason with the Cavalier Invitational in Charlottesville, Va. The women's team opens up with the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships this weekend, while the men compete at ACCs next weekend.

10. ARIZONA (5-3, Pac 12 1-3)
Last Poll: #T9

Results
W, Hawaii, No Score Reported
W, UNLV, 180.5-114.5
W, Denver, 187-113
L, #6 Southern California, 181.5-109.5
Arizona Diving Invitational
U.S. Winter Short Course Nationals
Bruin Diving Invitational
L, #4 California, 159-134
L, #9 Stanford, 173-115
W, SMU, 165-134
L, #7 Texas, 166-125
Since last poll
W, Arizona State, 179-105

Arizona claimed its first Pacific 12 win of the season, trouncing in-state rivals Arizona State during Senior Day in Tucson. Senior Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or had a particularly strong meet with wins in the 100 (44.88) and 200 free (1:36.98).

11. GEORGIA (7-3, SEC 3-2)
Last Poll: #12

Results
W, @ Georgia Tech, 161-133
L, #1 Florida, 192-104
W, Missouri, 151-147
W, Emory, 114-83
Georgia Invitational
Tennessee Diving Invitational
W, SCAD, 206-48
W, NC State, 144-112
L, #4 Texas, 132-109
L, Tennessee, 161.5-132.5
W, #23 South Carolina, 209-85
W, Alabama, 205-93
Since last poll
Harlem Shaking!

We usually would just say that Georgia has been idle since closing out the regular season, but they have been far from that. The Bulldogs have drawn a boatload of attention for their Harlem Shake video, now up to nearly 20 MILLION views on YouTube.

Sophomore Conor Sweeney, junior Jameson Hill and junior Will Freeman joined the Morning Swim Show to discuss the phenomenon.

12. TENNESSEE (4-4, SEC 2-1)
Last Poll: #11

Results
W, UNC-Wilmington, 175-118
W, Kentucky, 194-106
L, Indiana, 183-117
W, Louisville, 168.5-131.5
L, Ohio State, 176.5-123.5
Tennessee Invitational
Tennessee Diving Invitational
L, Virginia Tech, 166.5-133.5
W, Georgia, 161.5-132.5
L, Florida, 208-92
Since last poll
Harlem Shaking!

Tennessee isn't getting the same level of viewership as the Georgia Bulldogs when it comes to the Harlem Shake videos, but it is still significant when the Volunteer video has surpassed the two MILLION mark.

13. OHIO STATE (7-2, Big Ten 1-2)
Last Poll: #13

Results
W, Cleveland State, 178-104
W, Kenyon, 171-110
W, Denison, 193-98
W, @ #13 Tennessee, 176.5-123.5
Cleveland State Invitational
Ohio State Invitational
W, Wright State, 177-102
L, #10 Indiana, 150-148
W, #18 Iowa, 183-105
W, Cincinnati, 152-133
L, #1 Michigan, 251-75
Since last poll
Ohio State Winter Invitational

The Buckeyes warmed up for the Big Ten Championships at the end of the month with a quick two-day Ohio State Winter Invitational in Columbus. OSU finished the meet with a lion's share of event titles at the competition.

14. MINNESOTA (6-1, Big Ten 4-1)
Last Poll: #14

Results
L, @ #2 Michigan, 170-124
W, #25 Wisconsin, 191-100
W, #19 Iowa, 165.5-132.5
NTS, Minnesota Grand Prix
Jean Freeman Invite
W, Hawaii, 182.5-103.5
W, North Dakota, 198-90
W, #18 Purdue, 209-144
W, Wisconsin, 196-157
Since last poll
Minnesota Challenge

Since the last poll, Minnesota held a two-day meet to gear up for the Big Ten Championships scheduled for the end of the month in Bloomington, Ind.

15. FLORIDA STATE (8-2, ACC 3-1)
Last Poll: #15

Results
2nd, All Florida Invitational
W, Florida Atlantic, 208-80
W, Duke, 186-112
W, UNC-Wilmington, 234-64
L, Virginia Tech, 162-136
W, Emory, 222-70
W, Florida Southern, 186-106
L, #2 Florida, 167-133
1st, Georgia Tech Invitational
W, South Carolina, 180.5-117.5
W, #25 Georgia Tech, 206-92
W, NC State, 164-136
Since last poll
Idle

Florida State had one of the earlier regular-season completion dates, having last swum on Jan. 19. The question will be if the Seminoles can shake the rust off by the time the men swim at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships nearly a month after their last meet.

16. NORTH CAROLINA (6-1, ACC 3-1)
Last Poll: #17

Results
W, #12 South Carolina, 168-132
W, #21 Texas A&M, 178.5-121.5
W, Virginia Tech, 173.5-126.5
2nd, Nike Cup
Ohio State Invitational
Tennessee Diving Invitational
W, Navy, 175.5-124.5
L, #15 Virginia, 194-106
W, Duke, 164-128
W, #22 N.C. State, 159-140
Since last poll
Idle

North Carolina has been idle since the last poll. The men's squad will be back in action at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships later this month.

17. TEXAS A&M (3-4, SEC 1-3)
Last Poll: #T18

Results
L, North Carolina, 178.5-121.5
L, South Carolina, 160-140
2nd, Southwest Collegiate Plunge
L, Florida, 197-98
4th, Phill Hansel Invitational
L, Auburn, 189-111
W, Incarnate Word, 138-98
W, LSU, 158-140
W, SMU, 142-92
Since last poll
Idle

Texas A&M has been idle since the last poll, and is currently playing host to the Southeastern Conference Championships.

18. HARVARD (9-0, Ivy 7-0)
Last Poll: #16

Results
W, Cornell, 207-93
W, Dartmouth, 207-93
W, Columbia, 192-108
6th, Georgia Fall Invitational
W, Brown, 206-90
W, Notre Dame, 264-100
W, Towson, 314-52
W, Yale, 292-61
W, Princeton, 200-153
Since last poll
W, Penn, 195-98

Harvard cleared its regular season with an unblemished record when it took down Penn, 195-98, since the last poll. The win gave the Crimson an Ivy League regular-season title for the eighth time under Tim Murphy. Murphy and Harvard have now gone unbeaten seven times.

19. LOUISVILLE (3-3, Big East 1-1)
Last Poll: #19

Results
W, Xavier, 182-75
L, @ #25 Tennessee, 168.5-131.5
L, #18 Notre Dame, 155.5-144.5
1st, Purdue Invite
U.S. Winter Short Course Nationals
Sarasota Invitational
W, Cincinnati, 184-104
4th, SMU Classic
W, Kentucky, 152-148
L, #8 Indiana, 193-107
Since last poll
Idle

Louisville has been idle since the last poll, and will next compete at the Big East Championships in Indianapolis at the end of the month.

20. IOWA (7-3, Big Ten 2-3)
Last Poll: #20

Results
W, @ Michigan State, 185-108
L, @ #13 Minnesota, 165.5-132.5
Hawkeye Invitational
W, Colorado College, 60-37
W, Austin College, 60-33
L, #6 Ohio State, 183-105
L, #10 Indiana, 172-126
W, Northwestern, 161-122
W, Notre Dame, 212.5-155.5
W, Missouri State, 246-122
Since last poll
W, Western Illinois, 128-80

Iowa celebrated Senior Day with a 128-80 defeat of Western Illinois. The event included some shorter distance events like the 50s of the strokes and the 100 IM.

21. VIRGINIA TECH (9-2-1, ACC 3-1-1)
Last Poll: #21

Results
W, VMI, 281-33
W, Gardner-Webb, 269.5-45.5
L, @ #9 North Carolina, 173.5-126.5
W, @ Duke, 208-92
W, @ #15 Florida State, 162-136
W, @ UNC Wilmington, 232-68
W, @ Georgia Tech, 178-122
1st, H2Okie Fall Invite
Diving, Georgia Invitational
W, Tennessee, 166.5-133.5
T, NC State, 150-150
W, William & Mary, 160-97
W, Wisconsin, 204-155
L, #11 Virginia, 202.5-165.5
Since last poll
Virginia Tech Invitational

The Hokies closed out their regular season by hosting the Virginia Tech Invitational. The meet served as last-minute preparation heading into the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships later this month.

22. NC STATE (5-4-1, ACC 2-2-1)
Last Poll: #23

Results
L, USC, 173-119
W, East Carolina, 169-97
W, Duke, 178-117
1st, Nike Cup Invitational
L, Georgia, 144-112
W, SCAD, 212-43
T, Virginia Tech, 150-150
L, Florida State, 164-136
W, Georgia Tech, 194.5-103.5
W, UNC-Wilmington, 176-119
L, #16 North Carolina, 159-140
Since last poll
Idle

N.C. State has been idle since the last poll, and is locked into preparation for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in Greensboro, N.C., at the end of the month.

23. PRINCETON (6-2, Ivy 5-2)
Last Poll: #22

Results
Big Al Open
W, Penn, 168-130
W, Cornell, 211-87
W, Brown, 216-84
W, Dartmouth, 197-103
1st, Brown Open
W, Navy, 182-115
L, Harvard, 200-153
W, Yale, 290-63
Since last poll
L, Columbia, 158-138

Princeton took a surprising loss to Columbia this weekend heading into Ivy League Competition at the beginning of next week. Harrison Wagner swept the sprint freestyles against Columbia with wins in the 50 (20.71) and 100 (45.39).

24. PENN STATE (5-2, Big Ten 0-1)
Last Poll: #24

Results
W, @ West Virginia, 174-69
W, Villanova, 211-81
L, @ #7 Indiana, 182.5-170.5
L, #8 Virginia, 198-155
Georgia Invitational
Tennessee Diving Invitational
W, Missouri State, 171-124
W, Navy, 188-112
W, Towson, 186-101
Since last poll
Ohio State Winter Invite

The Nittany Lions completed the regular season with a two-day affair at the Ohio State Winter Invite as just a handful of the team made the trip to Columbus.

25. UNLV (8-1)
Last Poll: #25

Results
L, Arizona, 180.5-114.5
W, Denver, 151-149
W, BYU, 156.5-143.5
W, Utah, 149-146
W, Calgary, 176-107
Arizona Diving Invitational
3rd, Missouri Invitational
2nd, UNLV Winter Invitational
W, CSU-Bakersfield, 169.5-128.5
W, UC Santa Barbara, 155-143
Air Force Diving Invitational
W, Air Force,126-116
W, Wyoming, 166.5-131.5
Since last poll
Idle

UNLV has been idle since the last poll. The team's next competition is the MPSF Championships to be held in Monterey Park, Calif., this weekend.

Also received votes: Missouri, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Wisconsin
Dropped out: None

CSCAA Men's Division 1 Team Ranking Committee
Chair: Bill Roberts, United States Naval Academy; Steve Fletcher, Rider University; James Holder, Georgetown University; Braden Holloway, North Carolina State University; Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine; McGee Moody, University of South Carolina; Vic Riggs, West Virginia University; Dan Ross, Purdue University; Brian Schrader, Denver University; Dorsey Tierney-Walker, Arizona State University

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