Well said sportsfan, looks like you have a good pulse on the IIAC. 

I would have taken Coe over BV as well.  Coe swept BV last season at Coe. That being said BV showed up in the regional unlike the Kohawks.  This year they will play in Storm Lake, a tuff place to win. 

I would love to hear about projected top newcomers around the region.  It has been pretty quiet this off season. 

Well it's almost here.  Doesn't seem right with the fact that winter has not come yet.  Looking forward to hearing how Dubuque is going to make noise in the IIAC this year.  Ha ha.  I think it will be another year of 3.  A 3 team race at the top with Warburg, BV, and Coe.  And another race to not join Dubuque and Cornell in the bottom 3.  A lot of good IIAC players graduated last year. Should be fun to see who steps in. 

I think Baranowski was the #1 going into the season, but Wade Morris has been their best most of the season.  Wonder if they wanted a Sr. on the mound in game 1?  Judging by the box score it would have been fine if the Kohawks could have put more then 2 on the board.  Loosing 3-2 is not a pitching and D  problem, the Ripon pitcher just must have been better because he shut Coe down. 

Pappa you were not that far off.  I think most people agreed with your predictions, even the IIAC coaches.  Coe just crashed the party and was the surprise team you thought Central may be. 

Coe was picked to win the IIAC in 2010 and that just didn't pan out.  In 2011 everyone knew Coe had some solid players led by Nick Stien, Player of the year in my opinion.  The surprise was on the mound, with only one returning starter from 2010, they posted a 3.05 team ERA in conference play.  They went 12-3 vs the teams in the tournament. Very solid team in all phases. 

BV was not quite the offensive power they were in 2010 but still a very solid lineup.  They have been playing without one of those top arms (Wuebker) for most of the season.  One would think, he could have given them a 2 game swing to be neck in neck with Coe.  They were 10-5 vs teams in the tournament.  In the end being swept buy Coe was the difference. 

Wartburg opened the IIAC also being swept by Coe. Judging by the numbers, they rebounded quite well, leading the conference in both ERA and Batting Average to finish the regular season.  Watson was the Ace most of the IIAC thought he would be.  Pitcher of the year in my opinion.  They were 8-7 vs teams in the tournament.

Central has a stud on the mound in Pullium.  He is one of the best in the league, but they just didn't win games against the top teams.  They were 4 – 11 vs. the teams in the tournament.  Two of those wins were surprisingly vs conference champ Coe.  Maybe that is a sign of what is to come.  In the end you have to win series to be a contender. 

Luther was another surprise team.  Reynolds and Lindmark are in the running for player and pitcher of the year.  They were 6-9 vs teams in the tournament.

Simpson has a ton of upper classmen and some solid pitching.  I think they were probably underrated from the start.  Being swept by Coe last weekend dropped them from 2nd to 4th.  They were 5-10 vs teams in the tournament.

Loras and Dubuque just played down another level from the rest of the pack.  They were not bad teams, just stuck in a tuff conference battle. 

Cornell was just bad.   

Should be a great tournament, with some great matchups. 

Couldn't agree more.  The system we have for pool C is flawed but fair.  Pool A should be the focus.

I do not know who is on the committee, but I have been told that it is coaches from different schools, in each of the regional conferences.   The people on this board that seem to know the in and out's of this process have painted the picture that these rankings are strictly a numbers game.  (In-region winning % and SOS.)  I would hope that some head to head results and coaches opinions play a part as well.  In the end, those coaches, from those conference schools, have to speak up for the best representatives from their conference.  Sounds like NP and NC are not getting any love from the CCIW coaches.  Looks like most of the people on this board are saying the numbers are invalid and that the numbers are giving undeserving teams more credit than they should get.  Maybe the fans on this board should decide the rankings.  HA HA HA   At the end of the season lets all just hope that the Central region has some deserving teams to get Pool C bids.  If no one has respectable #'s the national committee will not take any of them from our region.   If the "better teams" (in the opinion of this board) are ranked, but have crappy #'s, then we will only be cheering for our AQ's
Kind of funny I don't remember anyone feeling bad for Webster when they had a crappy SOS and the best record in the region.  O-ya that's because they are not part of the almighty CCIW. 

Those numbers change every day.

Based on current posted stats on D3.com SOS page
Rank = IR Win% + SOS      IR Win % / (Rank)                   SOS / (Rank)
1.Coe (8)                               22-9 .710(3)                         .561 (5)
2.Buena Vista (11)               20-10 .667(7)                    .570 (4)
3.ILL Wesleyan (12)               20-9 .690(4)                          .546 (8)
4.Augustana (15)                14 -11 .560(12)                   .570  (3)
5.Carthage (16)               16-5 .762(2)                          .516 (14)
6.Wartburg(17)                   16-11 .593(11)                    .552 (6)
7.Webster(18)                     21-10 .677(6)                      .527 (12)
8.Wash U   (18)                      28-15 .651(9)                     .540 (9)
9.Ripon   (19)                      15-8 .652(8)                       .530 (11)
10.Grinnell(21)                     11-11 .500(14)                    .550 (7)
13.North Park (23)               23-6 .793(1)                        .494 (22)

Do they post the sos #'s and region winning percentage #'s anywhere? Im guessing that would give some perspective on these rankings. 

Most years, in the IIAC, it takes a .500 record to get in the tournament.  That is 12 wins.  Looks like that is playing out once again.  This means: 
Cornell would have to go 11-1 vs. Wartburg – Coe – Central – BV 
Dubuque would have to go 7-2 vs. Luther – Loras – Wartburg
Loras would have to go 7 -2 vs. Dubuque – BV – Wartburg

Games, this year, have been much closer (score) across the board.  It seems the new bats have definitely changed the game.  All in all, things are playing out the same as always.   Midway through the IIAC schedule and 3 teams have played themselves out of contention, 3 teams are within striking distance of a title, and 3 teams are knocking on the door to make a late run. Should be a fun 3 weeks.

Ha ha ha. That was funny

I don't think "Polishing terds" is a Augie original either.  Coaches across generations have been polishing terds.  Some more than others. 

I would like to take a crack at this one.  Let me say that judging by the upcoming conference matchups I think a lot of questions can be answered in the next couple weeks.  In the CCIW the top teams need to play each other.  As of now they have all just beat on Millikin, Elmhurst, and Wheaton. Can't wait to see how some of these matchups go.  The CCIW has 5 teams that could be in the mix come May.   In the IIAC I think they also have 5 teams that can be in the mix.  Again the problem is the top 3 teams have not played each other yet.  In the SLIAC, it still goes through Webster, unfortunately for them they have to win them all to get any respect.  Wash U is having a good year. Being an independent is tuff, but I like that they are going out and playing regional teams.  The MWC is a mess I don't know that there is a regional caliber team in there, but if I had to choose one now it would have to be Beloit.  I guess?  Here is my top 10 as of today.

1.   Carthage   Clear cut right now
2.   Augustana   Wheaton is the only sub-par loss
3.   Webster      Some good In-region wins, Bad loss to Greenville
4.   Buena Vista    This week will be telling, but I still think they are the best in the IIAC
5.   Ill Wesleyan   I think they can be the next best CCIW team.  Good Split with Augy
6.   Wash U       Have played the most big games, Have won the most big games
7.   Simpson      Was a surprise early, but should have been swept at Wartburg. 
8.   Coe      Have had some sub-par losses, Match-up with BV this weekend will be telling
9.   North Park   I think they will end up further up this list but they have to prove they are top 3 CCIW
10.   North Central   Probably where they belong, taking 2 of 3 from NP helped to bring NP down the list.

Should be fun to see things play out in the next couple weeks. 

It's just a whole new world now.  Big schools in BCS conferences like Iowa have less budget constraints.  They don't have to fill their schedule with regional opponents anymore.  They are more likely to schedule games vs schools in areas where they would like to recruit.  Or playing in things like the big ten vs big east challenge.  I think the separation of talent between small school and Major DI has gotten much bigger over the years, even at a school like Iowa that has not had much national success over the recent years.  
I don't disagree with the idea of them playing different small schools around the state. I just don't think a school like Iowa would commit to something like that, there is no benefit for them.   I'm not sure why they have been playing Coe over the past couple years, the games have not been very competitive.  I know they played Kirkwood in the fall. And I think they played Mt. Mercy a few years back if I remember right.  Maybe it is just a Cedar Rapids thing?