PHOENIX, Arizona, February 5. THE College Swim Coaches Association of America NCAA Men's Division I Swimming and Diving Rankings proved to be explosive this time around with four new teams moving into the top 25, and Texas ascending to the top of the throne. Tennessee, Harvard, Princeton and UNLV made their way into the top 25 with Tennessee and Harvard making some particularly strong moves upward. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Notably, Swimming World<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n
\n1. TEXAS (5-2, Big 12 1-0)
\nLast Poll: #7<\/b><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\n1st, Southwest Collegiate Plunge
\nW, #8 Indiana, 185-115
\nL, #2 Michigan, 194-106
\nDiving, Phill Hansel Invite
\nU.S. Winter Short Course Nationals
\nGeorgia Fall Invitational
\nL, #9 Auburn, 166-132
\nW, #12 Georgia, 132-109
\nSince last poll<\/i>
\nW, TCU, 133-88
\nW, #1 Arizona, 166-125
\nW, SMU, 184-108<\/p>\n
After stumbling a bit with a loss to then No. 9 Auburn prior to the last poll, the Texas Longhorns found redemption with an upset conquest over then top-ranked Arizona in Austin on Senior Day. The victory shot Texas up to the top spot. It was obvious that the meet meant a lot to the team.<\/p>\n
“We definitely wanted to win this meet,” UT head coach Eddie Reese said. “We had been working really hard for a long time. This was one of the best meets we've ever had.” And, that's saying something when a living legend like Reese ranks a meet “as one of the best.” <\/p>\n
On top of it just being an outstanding college dual meet, it proved to be historic as Michael McBroom set an NCAA record in the 1000-yard free with a blistering time of 8:43.48.<\/p>\n
“I had eyed the 1000 free all week in training, and I knew that I wanted to have one good swim today in my senior meet,” McBroom said. “I decided to throw a (jammer) suit on for that swim. I wanted to lay it on the line and see where I could go.”<\/p>\n
\n2. MICHIGAN (7-0, Big Ten 5-0)
\nLast Poll: #T1<\/b><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\nW, #25 Wisconsin, 172.5-115.5
\nW, #13 Minnesota, 170-124
\nW, @ #5 Texas, 194-106
\nW, #8 Indiana, 223-77
\n6th, Purdue Invitational, split squad
\n1st, Hawkeye Invitational
\nMike Peppe Invitational
\n1st, Orange Bowl Classic
\nW, Eastern Michigan, 196-133 (20-yard meet)
\nW, Purdue, 153-90
\n2nd, SMU Classic
\nSince last poll<\/i>
\nW, #10 Ohio State, 251-75<\/p>\n
Since the last poll, Michigan had a two-day competition against traditional Big Ten rival Ohio State, and Mike Bottom and the Wolverines certainly weren't kind hosts as Michigan delivered a 251-75 thumping to the visiting Buckeyes. With Ohio State keeping its divers home, Michigan collected 17 of 18 event wins against Ohio State, running Bottom's Big Ten dual meet record to an impressive 25-1 since taking over at Michigan. <\/p>\n
\n3. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (5-0, Pac 12 2-0)
\nLast Poll: #3<\/b><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\nW, #14 NC State, 173-119
\nW, #17 Arizona, 181.5-109.5
\nW, Arizona State, 144-82
\nU.S. Winter Short Course Nationals
\nW, Hawaii, 150-54
\nBruin Diving Invitational
\nW, Wisconsin 145-109
\n1st, SMU Classic
\nSince last poll<\/i>
\nIdle<\/p>\n
After the Trojans light up the SMU Classic, they went home and focused on training with a pair of big Pacific 12 road meets coming up on their docket against California and Stanford this weekend. USC then closes out the season with a two-day tango against Utah in Salt Lake City. <\/p>\n
\n4. FLORIDA (7-0, SEC 5-0)
\nLast Poll: #T5<\/b><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\n1st, All Florida Invitational
\nW, @ #9 Georgia, 192-104
\nW, @ #12 South Carolina, 166-128
\nW, #21 Texas A&M, 197-98
\nW, #19 Florida State, 166-134
\n2nd, Ohio State Invitational
\n3rd, SMU Classic
\nW, Florida Atlantic, 178-111
\nSince last poll<\/i>
\nW, #5 Auburn, 167-133
\nW, Tennessee, 208-92<\/p>\n
Florida remained undefeated in both overall and Southeast Conference action with a pair of big wins against then No. 5 Auburn and Tennessee since the last poll. Marcin Cieslak had a monster day against Auburn with a trio of wins in the 200 fly (1:45.96), 100 fly (47.65) and 200 IM (1:46.99). <\/p>\n
\n5. AUBURN (5-1, SEC 4-1)
\nLast Poll: #T5<\/b><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\nW, #20 Alabama, 175-68
\nW, #22 LSU, 213-87
\nW, @ Kentucky, 205.5-94.5
\nGeorgia Invitational
\nAuburn Diving Invitational
\nTennessee Diving Invitational
\nW, #4 Texas, 166-132
\nW, Texas A&M, 189-111
\nRalph Crocker Invitational
\nSince last poll<\/i>
\nL, #5 Florida, 167-133<\/p>\n
The Auburn Tigers concluded their regular season with a loss against then No. 5 Florida on Senior Day. The loss was a first this year, leaving Auburn at 5-1 on the season and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Senior Kyle Owens led the way for Auburn with a pair of wins in the 100 back (47.78) and 200 back (1:44.84). Meanwhile, Marcelo Chierighini took home titles in the 50 free (19.84) and 100 breast (43.36). <\/p>\n
\n6. CALIFORNIA (4-0, Pac 12 2-0)
\nLast Poll: #4<\/b><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\nW, Pacific, 141-107
\nW, #25 Wisconsin, 158-125
\nExhibition, #3 Stanford
\n1st, Georgia Invitational
\nBruin Diving Invitational
\nSince last poll<\/i>
\nW, #1 Arizona, 159-134
\nW, Arizona State, 163-126<\/p>\n
California had a strong Arizona swing, sweeping both Arizona and Arizona State in the process. Senior Tom Shields really turned it on against Arizona, as the 2012 NCAA Swimmer of the Championships captured the 100 (46.54) and 200 (1:46.02) fly events to lead California to the road win. Then, with rain pouring down in Tempe, the Golden Bears still managed a strong outing to claim a victory against the Sun Devils just hours after Shields took part in an amazing cover shoot for the March issue of Swimming World Magazine<\/i>. <\/p>\n
We even sent out a sneak peek of the shoot on Twitter!<\/p>\n
\nHere ya go #swimmingworldfanclub<\/a> Sneak peak of @beefytshields<\/a> cover shoot! Look out @nathangadrian<\/a> @ryanlochte<\/a> twitter.com\/SwimmingWorld\/…<\/a><\/p>\n
? SwimmingWorld (@SwimmingWorld) January 28, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n