2011 NCAAs

I am in 3 NCAA pools and everyone in all 3 of these pools is picking Cal to win. Are they that good or are other teams not that good this year? This is the first time I can remember this happening. Usually Texas, Stanford, Auburn, and Arizona get picked by someone. Some observations on the picks: The following were unanimous picks by everyone in the pools. Individual Winners: 500 Free- Dwyer 400 IM Dwyer 200 Med Relay Cal 100 *** Dugonjic 800 Fr Relay GatorNation 100 Free Adrian The best race of the meet according to the pool will be The Staab/Shields 100 Fly battle came out 8 for Shields and 6 for Staab. American and NCAA Record threats seem to be in the 1650 Free, 100 Fly, 200 IM, and 200 Free. Cal could take all 4 relays except the 800 Free Relay and last year they did that but did not win the meet. The only school I remember taking all 5 relays was Stanford in 1992. Seniors to watch in there final meet will be Adrian, Dyer, and Staab. These 3 swimmers have a chance to win 3 events but I would say two would be a safer bet. Adrian in the 100 Fly, and both Staab and Dyer are long shots to win the 100 Free. Tom Shield is the SO to watch in the meet and he could win both 100 and 200 Fly. The FR to watch out for is Michigan's Kyle Whitaker seeded 2nd in both IM events. My picks are: 50 Free and 100 Free - Nathan Adrian 200 Free - Bret Fraser 500 Free and 400 IM - Conor Dyer 100 Fly and 200 IM - Austin Staab 1650 Free - Martin Grodzki 100 Back - Eric Ress 200 Back - Marco Loughran 100 *** - Damir Dugonjic 200 *** - Scott Spann 200 Fly - Tom Shields 800 Free Relay - Florida All Other Relays - Cal

I am in 3 NCAA pools and everyone in all 3 of these pools is picking Cal to win. Are they that good or are other teams not that good this year? This is the first time I can remember this happening. Usually Texas, Stanford, Auburn, and Arizona get picked by someone. Some observations on the picks: The following were unanimous picks by everyone in the pools. Individual Winners: 500 Free- Dwyer 400 IM Dwyer 200 Med Relay Cal 100 *** Dugonjic 800 Fr Relay GatorNation 100 Free Adrian The best race of the meet according to the pool will be The Staab/Shields 100 Fly battle came out 8 for Shields and 6 for Staab. American and NCAA Record threats seem to be in the 1650 Free, 100 Fly, 200 IM, and 200 Free. Cal could take all 4 relays except the 800 Free Relay and last year they did that but did not win the meet. The only school I remember taking all 5 relays was Stanford in 1992. Seniors to watch in there final meet will be Adrian, Dyer, and Staab. These 3 swimmers have a chance to win 3 events but I would say two would be a safer bet. Adrian in the 100 Fly, and both Staab and Dyer are long shots to win the 100 Free. Tom Shield is the SO to watch in the meet and he could win both 100 and 200 Fly. The FR to watch out for is Michigan's Kyle Whitaker seeded 2nd in both IM events. My picks are: 50 Free and 100 Free - Nathan Adrian 200 Free - Bret Fraser 500 Free and 400 IM - Conor Dyer 100 Fly and 200 IM - Austin Staab 1650 Free - Martin Grodzki 100 Back - Eric Ress 200 Back - Marco Loughran 100 *** - Damir Dugonjic 200 *** - Scott Spann 200 Fly - Tom Shields 800 Free Relay - Florida All Other Relays - Cal