Top 25 rankings

[K-Mack]

OK, I don't think I asked my question right, so not sure if you understood it.

Predetermined sites were in effect in years beyond 1998, they were just never needed.

There was a scenario in 04 maybe, when Del Val was the 1 seed in the South (I think, not the East) and would have hosted Mount Union in the semis ... if they had gone on to win their bracket.

Without digging out the book, I'm guessing that was the year Bridgewater ultimately went out to MUC.

Not saying that couldn't have been the case under seeded brackets, but pretty sure I remember the discussion over it being determined at random during Selection Sunday.

Maybe not though.

[Pat Coleman]

That's not the same thing. Those aren't predetermined -- there are regions who will host if the same seed advances in both. That has been the status quo since 1999.

But that's not really predetermined. Before 1999, it was decided before the season started that, for example, East would travel to West. That would be true even if the East's No. 1 seed played the West's No. 4 seed. That's how Mount Union had to occasionally play road games in the playoffs, because the North would only host every other year.

[sjfcclimbing]

That's not the same thing. Those aren't predetermined -- there are regions who will host if the same seed advances in both. That has been the status quo since 1999.

But that's not really predetermined. Before 1999, it was decided before the season started that, for example, East would travel to West. That would be true even if the East's No. 1 seed played the West's No. 4 seed. That's how Mount Union had to occasionally play road games in the playoffs, because the North would only host every other year.

OK, I said I would quite when Fisher loss and it came alot sooner then I thought. They are still a great team but they do have issues (glad we don't have any more night games) and big problems now with SC and AU ahead. I am not sure you folks have total agreement on this so feel free to work it out.

[gordonmann]

Del Val was the top seed in the East in 2005 when they lost to Rowan at home in the regional finals.

[K-Mack]

That's not the same thing. Those aren't predetermined -- there are regions who will host if the same seed advances in both. That has been the status quo since 1999.

But that's not really predetermined. Before 1999, it was decided before the season started that, for example, East would travel to West. That would be true even if the East's No. 1 seed played the West's No. 4 seed. That's how Mount Union had to occasionally play road games in the playoffs, because the North would only host every other year.

Gotcha.

So, for those following at home, here's what you need to know:

There are regions who will host if the same seed advances in both. That has been the status quo since 1999.

[K-Mack]

With regard to the actual top 25, I was curious about how it would shake out.

I won't give away all of my thoughts for the column, but we are now at the point where there are weird triangles or quadrangles voters have to deal with. Some score strings help (i.e. Olaf crushed Gustavus, who beat Willamette, who beat Linfield) and some don't (Wesley lost to Montclair, who lost to TCNJ, who lost to 4-0 Muhlenberg ... so is the CC stronger this year than the NJAC or ACFC, or are they just fluky results?)

OK, the second one not a great example of what I'm trying to get at. Empire 8 maybe, is Hartwick that good? One close win might be a fluke, two you have to consider them real. But how real?

At this point, you have a lot of teams (especially those who play decent competition) with blemishes, and you have to figure out how heavily to weight certain blemishes.

Also there's the issue with so many top 25 teams losing that a team could have bad week but win (St. John's) or just play a first-year opponent (W&J, Trinity) and move up much more than that particular win should.

At this point, you're almost better off stripping it down to zero and re-ranking on entire bodies of work (which some people do each week anyway)

Anyway ... that might re-appear in ATN in a more well-thought-out manner

[Pat Coleman]

Hartwick losing its only road game by four touchdowns has to be a red flag until they go on the road again.

[K-Mack]

Hartwick losing its only road game by four touchdowns has to be a red flag until they go on the road again.

At WNEC no less.

Maybe it means the NEFC is the new Eastern power conference.

Ooh, would you look at the time, must be time for me to go. 

[DutchFan2004]

Pat and K-Mack,

When do you two sleep? 

[Ron Boerger]

Sleep is highly overrated.   

[sjfcclimbing]

That's not the same thing. Those aren't predetermined -- there are regions who will host if the same seed advances in both. That has been the status quo since 1999.

But that's not really predetermined. Before 1999, it was decided before the season started that, for example, East would travel to West. That would be true even if the East's No. 1 seed played the West's No. 4 seed. That's how Mount Union had to occasionally play road games in the playoffs, because the North would only host every other year.

Gotcha.

So, for those following at home, here's what you need to know:

There are regions who will host if the same seed advances in both. That has been the status quo since 1999.

So who hosts who this year, if they are of the same seed?

[Pat Coleman]

It's announced with the bracket on Selection Sunday.

[K-Mack]

Pat and K-Mack,

When do you two sleep? 

I can't speak for Pat, but approx. between 5 and 9 a.m. and then whenever my kids nap.

This is part of the reason why I don't do the Hoops site. I can only keep that pace up for 4 months or so.

Pat is a freak of nature.

As for your karma, Dutch, I'm doing all I can to get you close to zero, bruh. What ARE you saying to those Wartburg guys to tick them off so?

[Pat Coleman]

DF2004 dropped some politics commentary on the board a couple weeks ago and went from minus-2 to ... something lower.

I manage to sleep 6 or so a night.

[K-Mack]

DF2004 dropped some politics commentary on the board a couple weeks ago and went from minus-2 to ... something lower.

I manage to sleep 6 or so a night.

Ah, politics. Nothing like that, race or religion to draw folks' ire.

I also sleep six hours on a good night, and can get to 8 when combined with a solid, well-timed nap from the children.

I do NOT consider sleep overrated. It's like pizza, even the bad sleep (Airplane middle seat, passenger seat of the Patmobile) is still pretty good.