Previewing 2018 USTA League Nationals - The top men's 18 and Over 3.5 teams

Most sections and areas are now playing their USTA League regular seasons, some have even completed them and had local or state/district playoffs.  So it seems like a good time to take a look at who the top teams are and who may be vying to make it to Sectionals and Nationals.

The metric I'll be using is the top-8 average for each team using my Estimated Dynamic NTRP Ratings and for these lists include the top-40 teams and ties.  And to keep a little intrigue and anonymity, I'll be listing the area for the teams but not the team names.  Contact me if you are interested in a report with the team specifics and more details.

The 18 & over 4.0 women and men have been previewed, as have the 3.5 women, now the 3.5 men.

Rank	Location	Average
1	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	3.76
2	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.67
3	TEXAS / HOUSTON	3.66
4	SOUTHWEST / CENTRAL ARIZONA	3.63
4	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - LAKE NORMAN	3.63
6	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.61
6	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.61
6	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - CLARKE OCONEE - COTA	3.61
6	TEXAS / SAN ANTONIO	3.61
10	SOUTHERN / TENNESSEE / TN - KNOXVILLE	3.60
10	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / SOUTH MIAMI/DADE	3.60
10	TEXAS / DALLAS	3.60
13	NORTHERN / NORTHERN / TWIN CITIES - 2018	3.59
13	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2018	3.59
13	FLORIDA / REGION_3 / HILLSBOROUGH	3.59
13	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.59
17	INTERMOUNTAIN / UTAH / UT-SALT LAKE CITY	3.58
17	TEXAS / DALLAS	3.58
17	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - HUNTSVILLE - 2018	3.58
17	SOUTHWEST / GREATER EL PASO	3.58
17	MID ATLANTIC / VIRGINIA / NOVA	3.58
17	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.58
23	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - MOBILE 2018	3.57
23	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - COLUMBUS - CORTA - 2018	3.57
23	SOUTHERN / NORTH CAROLINA / NC - CAPITAL AREA (Ral)	3.57
23	NEW ENGLAND / NORTHERN CONNECTICUT	3.57
27	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - CLARKE OCONEE - COTA	3.56
28	MIDWEST / WISCONSIN / MADISON	3.55
28	TEXAS / SAN ANTONIO	3.55
28	NORTHERN / NORTHERN / TWIN CITIES - 2018	3.55
28	MIDWEST / CHICAGO	3.55
28	SO. CALIFORNIA / SO.CALIFORNIA / SAN GABRIEL VALLEY	3.55
28	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.55
28	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.55
28	FLORIDA / REGION_4 / ORANGE/SEMINOLE/LAKE	3.55
28	FLORIDA / REGION_8 / BROWARD	3.55
28	MID ATLANTIC / MARYLAND / HOWARD COUNTY	3.55
38	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2018	3.54
38	SOUTHERN / ALABAMA / AL - BIRMINGHAM - 2018	3.54
38	TEXAS / FORT WORTH	3.54
38	SOUTHERN / GEORGIA / GA - ATLANTA - 2018	3.54
38	TEXAS / CORPUS CHRISTI	3.54
38	MISSOURI VALLEY / ST. LOUIS / St. Louis Local Leagues	3.54
38	MISSOURI VALLEY / HEART OF AMERICA	3.54

Yes folks, that is a 3.5 team with a top-8 average of 3.76!  Yes, it was an early start league team and they had a umber of players bumped up to 4.0, so since they are from Florida and Florida makes these players ineligible starting January 1st, the team won't actually be as strong.  But I'm not trying to filter out these ineligible players yet so they lead the way for now.

But even the 7 teams tied for 38th are at 3.54, so a bunch of strong 3.5 teams out there.

If you are interested in a report like the above with even more information for your local league flight or to scout any level of playoffs, a flight report will fit the bill.  Not only will you get the top-8 average for each team, but the overall average and a summary showing how each team has played their courts so you can see if they are stronger/weaker in singles vs doubles and if they tend to stack or not.  Contact me if interested.