FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Great interview with La Crosse QB Keyser Helterbrand on this week's d3football.com podcast.  Plus a short flash comment from Coach Janus. Both of them acquitted themselves very well. Worth a listen.

Thanks! They were both great!

[fredfalcon]

The positive comments aboutUWRF are all appreciated. I do think we have to wait until after next Saturday to make a final assessment. The slip from number 7 to number 11 surprised me after losing by only 3 to LaCrosse.

[timmyturtle]

So....

If Whitewater beats Eau Claire and receives an NCAA bid and...

If Oshkosh beats River Falls and Platteville beats Stout, who goes to the Isthmus Bowl?

I'm pretty sure it would be Oshkosh

[D3fanboy]

Well, my flavor of the day is UWRF.

Oshkosh leave a sour taste in your mouth?   

They sure ran out of steam after that heartbreaking loss to Mt Union in 2017. I think UWO was the last WIAC team to beat North Central.

what an absolute classic of a D3 football game...-1000 degrees, huge lead, monster comeback, momentum swings back and forth...such a shame it's not in the ESPN+ archives or youtube

[bleedpurple]

Here's a notion to discuss, as it is being on the MIAC board. If, and it may be a big if, the Johnnies get an at large bid, are they seeded higher than the MIAC Pool A? When, not if, UWW gets in, are they a higher seed than UWL.? (I know there are no seeds, right )

Just one opinion, but I'm guessing the Johnnies would be higher than their Pool A MIAC counterpart. For UW-W/UW-L it will be tough to say. The criteria might be close enough to let the head to head tip the "seed" La Crosse's say. IMO, even more important than "seed" is placement. I've seen years where the higher seeded WIAC team actually had the significantly tougher second round game. I'm assuming La Crosse would have had the higher "seed" last year.  Neither WIAC team made it out of the first round, so the point is moot. But La Crosse's second round game would have been St. John's. UW-W's second round game would have been Alma.

[hazzben]

My assumption is that if both BU and SJU win, and SJU gets selected, they'd get a higher seed. Pool A vs C doesn't seem to be as significant as the advantage SJU would have in SOS, RRO, and regional ranking (assuming Region 6 committee will have them slotted above BU). Granted, sometimes a higher seed doesn't actually mean an easier route, but that's a whole other convo.

The sheer amount of options out there for how to structure things around all these Midwest and Great Lakes teams makes for a fascinating exercise.

[bleedpurple]

My assumption is that if both BU and SJU win, and SJU gets selected, they'd get a higher seed. Pool A vs C doesn't seem to be as significant as the advantage SJU would have in SOS, RRO, and regional ranking (assuming Region 6 committee will have them slotted above BU). Granted, sometimes a higher seed doesn't actually mean an easier route, but that's a whole other convo.

The sheer amount of options out there for how to structure things around all these Midwest and Great Lakes teams makes for a fascinating exercise.

It sure does! This bracket ought to be really interesting!

I'm pretty sure I heard either the current national chair or a previous one say that Pool A vs Pool C is ignored completely when "seeding" the teams. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure once the field is set, Pool A vs Pool C is ignored in arranging the bracket.

[timmyturtle]

That's the way I understand it as well...once the 32 teams are set they basically "reseed" the best they can having to deal with the geography component

[palum]

So....

If Whitewater beats Eau Claire and receives an NCAA bid and...

If Oshkosh beats River Falls and Platteville beats Stout, who goes to the Isthmus Bowl?

I'm pretty sure it would be Oshkosh

Last year the Isthmus Bowl broke tie by choosing the last team to make the NCAA playoffs. If they use the same criteria this year it would mean River Falls would be playing in their 3rd straight Isthmus Bowl. Platteville went to the Playoffs in 2016 and Oshkosh went a couple of years ago.

[cubs]

Week #2 Regional Rankings released....

Region 6           
1   UW-La Crosse   6-1   8-1
2   UW-Whitewater   8-1   8-1
3   St. John's   7-2   7-2
4   Linfield   8-0   8-0
5   Bethel   7-2   7-2
6   UW-River Falls   7-2   7-2
7   Whitworth   7-0   8-0

[bleedpurple]

Week #2 Regional Rankings released....

Region 6           
1   UW-La Crosse   6-1   8-1
2   UW-Whitewater   8-1   8-1
3   St. John's   7-2   7-2
4   Linfield   8-0   8-0
5   Bethel   7-2   7-2
6   UW-River Falls   7-2   7-2
7   Whitworth   7-0   8-0

Barring the unforseen:

La Crosse looks to be the highest "seeded" in the Region. With adding UW-RF to their SOS numbers, the Eagles nudged to even with UW-W in SOS. UW-W will probably regain the slight edge in SOS this coming week, but I don't know if it will be enough to change the rankings.

If UW-W is the first Pool C selected, the Johnnies should be in great shape as well. They have the #5 SOS in the country and are 2-1 against RR opponents.

If Linfield and Bethel hold serve, then UW-RF is up next from the West.  They will  have two cracks at breaking into the tournament if the Johnnies immediately follow UW-W in Pool C. River Falls has two losses, a very strong SOS at .588 (17th), and 0-2 record vs RRO. In comparison, Wheaton (Likely Top Region 5 candidate) has one loss, an SOS of .524 (65th), and 1-1 RRO. UMHB's demise hurts UW-RF for sure. UW-0 Having a better season could have helped Wheaton as well.

Barring carnage, things don't look rosy for the Linfield/Whitworth loser.

[D3fanboy]

Week #2 Regional Rankings released....

Region 6           
1   UW-La Crosse   6-1   8-1
2   UW-Whitewater   8-1   8-1
3   St. John's   7-2   7-2
4   Linfield   8-0   8-0
5   Bethel   7-2   7-2
6   UW-River Falls   7-2   7-2
7   Whitworth   7-0   8-0

Barring the unforseen:

La Crosse looks to be the highest "seeded" in the Region. With adding UW-RF to their SOS numbers, the Eagles nudged to even with UW-W in SOS. UW-W will probably regain the slight edge in SOS this coming week, but I don't know if it will be enough to change the rankings.

If UW-W is the first Pool C selected, the Johnnies should be in great shape as well. They have the #5 SOS in the country and are 2-1 against RR opponents.

If Linfield and Bethel hold serve, then UW-RF is up next from the West.  They will  have two cracks at breaking into the tournament if the Johnnies immediately follow UW-W in Pool C. River Falls has two losses, a very strong SOS at .588 (17th), and 0-2 record vs RRO. In comparison, Wheaton (Likely Top Region 5 candidate) has one loss, an SOS of .524 (65th), and 1-1 RRO. UMHB's demise hurts UW-RF for sure. UW-0 Having a better season could have helped Wheaton as well.

Barring carnage, things don't look rosy for the Linfield/Whitworth loser.

dont be shocked if the Region 5 committees shoves a 7-3 Wash U in as a tie in 7th place to get Wheaton another RRO

[bleedpurple]

Week #2 Regional Rankings released....

Region 6           
1   UW-La Crosse   6-1   8-1
2   UW-Whitewater   8-1   8-1
3   St. John's   7-2   7-2
4   Linfield   8-0   8-0
5   Bethel   7-2   7-2
6   UW-River Falls   7-2   7-2
7   Whitworth   7-0   8-0

Barring the unforseen:

La Crosse looks to be the highest "seeded" in the Region. With adding UW-RF to their SOS numbers, the Eagles nudged to even with UW-W in SOS. UW-W will probably regain the slight edge in SOS this coming week, but I don't know if it will be enough to change the rankings.

If UW-W is the first Pool C selected, the Johnnies should be in great shape as well. They have the #5 SOS in the country and are 2-1 against RR opponents.

If Linfield and Bethel hold serve, then UW-RF is up next from the West.  They will  have two cracks at breaking into the tournament if the Johnnies immediately follow UW-W in Pool C. River Falls has two losses, a very strong SOS at .588 (17th), and 0-2 record vs RRO. In comparison, Wheaton (Likely Top Region 5 candidate) has one loss, an SOS of .524 (65th), and 1-1 RRO. UMHB's demise hurts UW-RF for sure. UW-0 Having a better season could have helped Wheaton as well.

Barring carnage, things don't look rosy for the Linfield/Whitworth loser.

dont be shocked if the Region 5 committees shoves a 7-3 Wash U in as a tie in 7th place to get Wheaton another RRO

Very possible. And we won't find out until the brackets are set because the final rankings are not made public beforehand.

[emma17]

Out of curiosity, where would UMHB stand in the regional rankings had they beaten HSU?

[The Third Division]

0-3 vs RRO so my bet is "not regionally ranked"