FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[GRIZ_BACKER]

What I was saying, my friend, is that there was one criteria where North Central does not have an advantage over Franklin. I know you said 'almost every' but that's still a primary criteria.

And I didn't say I thought Franklin would BE the #3. I'm hedging because I am never going to be certain what the committee will do until they do it.

If the seeding were done like the NCAA Men's D1 basketball (based on more complete knowledge) NCC would be the 2 and a lot of thought would go into IWU being the 3.  Bash would get a 4 and FC a 5.  I am not basing this on region or other formula.  I am basing this on the level of competition played and beaten.  IWU beat Wheaton and played NCC. Witt is a quality win for Bash but Witt is not the same level this year as in years past.  Franklin has only lost to UWW (hats off for scheduling top competition but a loss is a loss).  That said I think still that NCC gets a 2 and Bash a 3 and FC gets a 4 and hosts IWU.  But if I were to go to Vegas I don't honestly see FC or Bash beating NCC (even on a good day) and IWU at best would be a toss-up.  Just my opinion.

[USee]

I think Wabash is solidly in line for a #2 or a #3 seed. That's an important distinction from a #4/5 seed as you won't play the region #1 seed until the regional final. The bad news is it looks to me like we are headed for UWW as the #1 and NCC as the #2/3. Best case for Bash is they get the #2 seed (they should be ahead of NCC in seeding, who has a loss) and would host them in round 2 for a chance to play at the Perk for the regional final. Best case is UWW stays west with St Thomas and UMU goes east. Bash is the #1 seed and hosts NCC in the regional final in December. That seems a stretch as the committee has a set a precedent of picking the top 4 seeds and building brackets around them. The lack of a true #1 in the east looks like UMU goes that way and UWW gets moved from St Thomas in the West.

[aueagle]

The Bishops did a good job on the webcast from Selby...After the "student" announcers weak job of
play-by-play and the embarrassing  interview of OWU football great Steve Chase, the "brass" of AD Ingles
and the baseball & basketball coach took the booth over...and gave the game a more professional image
over the air. The best part is when OWU great Wally Hood came on. Great insight by the x-college coach...I'd rather hear
from an announcer from outside the OWU staff on a telecast, but it was funny how all that shook-out....
bishopowu: I know you saw it too....your impression?
Welcome Oldcaveman...another LG.....
Always talk of the playoff seeds...I checked this out...Redlands (7-1) lost by 4 to Cal Luthern  (7-1) who lost by 1 to undefeated Linfield...and those guys play 9 games?  Not as bad as the NESCAC that thinks 8 ballgames is enough.
BW takes the Evil Empire down to the wire, but lost to 4-4 Capital...just thought it was interesting.

[BashBacker#16]

GrizzBacker,

Have you seen Wabash play this year?  I'm just curious how you make the comment about not being able to beat NCC.  In watching the scores (I haven't seen Franklin play this season) I could make the comment that they aren't as good as they (FC) have been in the last couple of years (certainly without Rupp - he was REALLY good).  I would love to see a Wabash/Franklin matchup.

It will be interesting how the brackets shake out.

[BashBacker#16]

In comparing Franklin and Wabash - I think the Bash D clearly gives them the edge if this matchup were to happen. 

Just my 2 cents.

[smedindy]

I can't see NC leaping Wabash for the #2, but of course I'll wait until the RRs come out to think through this more.

[smedindy]

I'd love to see 'Bash play NC, Franklin or IWU this year.

But we gots a game to win first!

[BashDad]

IWU beat Wheaton and played NCC. Witt is a quality win for Bash but Witt is not the same level this year as in years past.  Franklin has only lost to UWW (hats off for scheduling top competition but a loss is a loss).

Uh. How do you reconcile the contradictions here? I'm confused.

[bold emphasis mine]

[BashDad]

Does anyone know if video of the Witt game, like the other home games at Bash this year, will be held on the "schedule" page of the website for reviewing?

I certainly wouldn't mind taking a second look.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

IWU beat Wheaton and played NCC. Witt is a quality win for Bash but Witt is not the same level this year as in years past.  Franklin has only lost to UWW (hats off for scheduling top competition but a loss is a loss).

Uh. How do you reconcile the contradictions here? I'm confused.

[bold emphasis mine]

My whole contention that seeding strictly based on formula is one thing and would certainly benefit both Bash and FC but seeding based on quality of competition and quality wins favors NCC.  I would put FC behind Bash based on competition and Bash behind NCC on the same measure.  I don't think Bash would be 10-0 if they played NCC's schedule. (Redlands, Wheaton, and IWU all would be fully capable of winning the NCAC and HCAC) I am pretty confident FC wouldn't be 9-1 with NCC schedule.  Just being realistic.

[BashDad]

I watched part of that NCC/Wheaton game. I'm totally aware of the caliber of that team. With some of these Mount games accumulating, I could even argue that NCC would win should those two teams meet in December. The Cardinals look super, super good.

If I was making a list, NCC would def be above Wabash right now. IWU would be close and Wheaton would be def behind. 

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I watched part of that NCC/Wheaton game. I'm totally aware of the caliber of that team. With some of these Mount games accumulating, I could even argue that NCC would win should those two teams meet in December. The Cardinals look super, super good.

If I was making a list, NCC would def be above Wabash right now. IWU would be close and Wheaton would be def behind.

I think most of us are on the same page in that regard. FC is in the mix somewhere but no real evidence for comparison.  FC generally plays better in the playoffs than the SOS suggests but hard to predict for sure.  I can say this  We played UWW and they are 100% rock solid at every position and two deep.

[WABCOL86]

Griz-

Wabash is trying mightily to get to that point as well.  Right now, I would say Wabash can be competitive with almost any other D3 program except the top two.  Even there, until depth became an issue we could do a few things.  What really amazes me is that Wabash does much of it with homegrown Indiana talent (haven't seen FC roster to know, or Trine's either).  I would like to see us get there in my lifetime.  LOL

[USee]

I think what we are seeing (and I think we will see in December) is the top 2 have become the top 3. NCC is that 3rd team. Now obviously that can be interpreted as complete conjecture as the top 2 are there because we have 6+ years of history. NCC gave UWW their closest game last year but other than that they haven't done anything but flame out about the same time as every other team come December. My "theory" is based on my observations over the last 30 years of division 3 football including all the Augustana teams and every UMU and UWW championship team. NCC looks, smells, and feels like they are in that category. I would NOT want them in my bracket on Sunday.

All that said, Wabash is a solid #2 seed if they win Saturday and will host NCC in round 2 in my opinion.

[aueagle]

DePauw lost to Gheny by 7...Bash beats Gheny by 6....Tigers on a 3 game glide...Vegas has it at 14 plus.
A 4-4 team at Blackstock...The Bell...and those guys have nothing to lose...and they all remember 2010.
You LG's make me nervous with all this playoff & comparison talk....It's Monon Bell...Focus Power, c'mon.
I'd like to see another 47 on the board, but, in the 111 games played on either of the two campuses,
the home team has posted a 53-50-9 record. I'd table the talk on of "seeding" for next Sunday...Monday....
But, hey...what do I know...It's Puppy Week in Delaware.