Pool B

[PA_wesleyfan]

OHHH I wondered what those lil *s and .s were for

Did they have to separate you two at the game today?

[Foss]

The Northwest Conference may be sweating a Pool B Bid, especially if Pac Luth, Willamette, Linfield and Whitworth have the usual NWC knock-down/drag-out.

Ralph, it IS early mayhem in the NWC. It's last two conference winners find themselves behind the eight ball as both Linfield and Whitworth already have a regional loss. If Whitworth, Linfield, PLU (much improved this year and scoring a boatload of points), and Willamette (who just upset Linfield) all beat up on each other to where all end up with 2 or more regional losses, then I can see where the league might be in jeopardy. But unless that happens I don't see how at least one NWC team gets a Pool B bid. It has received at least one Pool B bid every season since joining DIII in the late 90's, not to mention winning two championships with those bids. There is no clear cut favorite in the NWC right now, but I would be surprised if the conference's best team at the end of the regular season did not receive a Pool B this year. Of course starting next season, we probably won't see the words "Pool B" and "NWC" in the same sentence anymore.

[d-train]

The Northwest Conference may be sweating a Pool B Bid, especially if Pac Luth, Willamette, Linfield and Whitworth have the usual NWC knock-down/drag-out.

Ralph, it IS early mayhem in the NWC. It’s last two conference winners find themselves behind the eight ball as both Linfield and Whitworth already have a regional loss. If Whitworth, Linfield, PLU (much improved this year and scoring a boatload of points), and Willamette (who just upset Linfield) all beat up on each other to where all end up with 2 or more regional losses, then I can see where the league might be in jeopardy. But unless that happens I don’t see how at least one NWC team gets a Pool B bid. It has received at least one Pool B bid every season since joining DIII in the late 90’s, not to mention winning two championships with those bids. There is no clear cut favorite in the NWC right now, but I would be surprised if the conference’s best team at the end of the regular season did not receive a Pool B this year. Of course starting next season, we probably won't see the words "Pool B" and "NWC" in the same sentence anymore.

The Linfield game vs. SOU can't help...and might hurt - at the very least it hurts because it's not an opportunity for a regional D3 win. Same goes for Whitworth's game vs. Azusa (but as a tenth game, it's not as big a deal).

[Foss]

The NWC team in the best position right now is PLU. Undefeated and plays no non-D3 teams. They also have a road win against a WIAC team. Every season is a little different. For instance, Wiillamette got in in '04 with only 5 regional wins, and finished second in the conference.

[K-Mack]

Great for people who check the schedule.

I beg to differ.

[Pat Coleman]

Guess I'm not following -- are you saying you looked at the Wash U page and didn't understand it?

[K-Mack]

Guess I'm not following -- are you saying you looked at the Wash U page and didn't understand it?

I'm saying there aren't probably five people alive who stare at the schedule pages more than I do, and if you "mark regional games on the schedule to avoid confusion," well, it's only working so well. Clearly it's not as obvious as you think it is.

I realize that's all you can do let people know, but if you're going to be a smart aleck about it, I think you know full well we can go back and forth for days.

And now back to everyone else's regularly-scheduled Pool B conversation.

Hey, how about some who's in, who's struggling fan analysis?

Salisbury
PLU
Wesley
Wash U.
CMU
Linfield
Willamette?

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure you had actually seen it and were actually talking about team schedule pages, since we kind of have schedule data all over the site.

[SU Backer]

    Keith......fan analysis on Pool B- from my ACFC perspective. I think Salisbury will have to run the table to get in. I think a loss anywhere will relegate them to a ECAC bowl bid-which would be a shame, because I feel they are one of the top 32 teams in the country. I think Wesley has earned a playoff bid, due to recent past performance,  (as long as they don't lose before then) if they would beat SU. As long as SU handles Geneva this week (no small task, good team, long bus ride, etc.), both teams' playoff hopes hinge on their matchup late this month. I feel confident that game will determine the ACFC champion as well. If Wesley loses to Salisbury I don't see how WC gets in with 2 losses. There are some very good teams that are in the mix for those Pool B bids, and a good case could be made for all of them. Question; is Salisbury also in the mix for a Pool C bid?

[Pat Coleman]

Anyone not selected in Pool B is eligible for Pool C.

[Foss]

Keith, Another fan's analysis for early Pool B on the West Region (NWC) teams that you mentioned:

Willamette (2-1 in-region, 2-3 overall including 2 losses to non-D3 opponents).

Would very likely need to win out and go 7-1 in-region (7-3 overall, with two of the losses against scholarship programs). Bad loss against an unranked in-region team and a good win over then #12 (now #23) ranked in-region Linfield.

Linfield (1-1 in-region, 1-2 overall, including 1 loss to a non-D3 opponent).

Would almost certainly need to win out and go 6-1 in region (one game upcoming against a non-D3 team). Good regional win against then #19 (now #21) ranked Hardin-Simmons. Horrible loss to unranked Willamette.

Whitworth (3-1 in-region and overall).

Would be sitting very good if they won out and had an 8-1 in-region record (one game upcoming against a non-D3 team). Depending on what happens with the other Pool B eligible teams, a 7-2 regional record may or may not get them in. Decent win against a WIAC member, lost to then unranked (now #25) Redlands.

PLU  (4-0 in region and overall).

Currently in the best position of any NWC team. Could sustain a loss and probably still get a Pool B bid with an 8-1 in-region record. As with Whitworth, a 7-2 in-region record would probably put them on the bubble. Have wins against the WIAC, SCIAC, and NWC.

This Saturday is PLU vs. Whitworth. Still to come: Whitworth/Willamette, Whitworth/Linfield, PLU/Linfield, and Willamette/PLU.

[Ralph Turner]

Keith, Another fan's analysis for early Pool B on the West Region (NWC) teams that you mentioned:

Willamette (2-1 in-region, 2-3 overall including 2 losses to non-D3 opponents which don't count).

Would very likely need to win out and go 7-1 in-region (7-3 overall, with two of the losses against scholarship programs). Bad loss against an unranked in-region team and a good win over then #12 (now #23) ranked in-region Linfield.  Linfield win loses its lustre if PLU beats them, too.

Linfield (1-1 in-region, 1-2 overall, including 1 loss to a non-D3 opponent which doesn't count).

Would almost certainly need to win out and go 6-1 in region (one game upcoming against a non-D3 team). Good regional win against then #19 (now #21) ranked Hardin-Simmons. Horrible loss to unranked Willamette.

Whitworth (3-1 in-region and overall).

Would be sitting very good if they won out and had an 8-1 in-region record (one game upcoming against a non-D3 team). Depending on what happens with the other Pool B eligible teams, a 7-2 regional record may or may not get them in. Decent win against a WIAC member, lost to then unranked (now #25) Redlands.  However, regional rankings are what count and not D3Football.com Top 25 rankings.

PLU  (4-0 in region and overall).

Currently in the best position of any NWC team. Could sustain a loss and probably still get a Pool B bid with an 8-1 in-region record. As with Whitworth, a 7-2 in-region record would probably put them on the bubble. Have wins against the WIAC, SCIAC, and NWC.

This Saturday is PLU vs. Whitworth. Still to come: Whitworth/Willamette, Whitworth/Linfield, PLU/Linfield, and Willamette/PLU.

I have thrown in my comments, too.

Remember that a Pool B team can earn a bid in Pool C.  However, the Conference champion may not get the bid this year.

[Ralph Turner]

    Keith......fan analysis on Pool B- from my ACFC perspective. I think Salisbury will have to run the table to get in. I think a loss anywhere will relegate them to a ECAC bowl bid-which would be a shame, because I feel they are one of the top 32 teams in the country. I think Wesley has earned a playoff bid, due to recent past performance,  (as long as they don't lose before then) if they would beat SU. As long as SU handles Geneva this week (no small task, good team, long bus ride, etc.), both teams' playoff hopes hinge on their matchup late this month. I feel confident that game will determine the ACFC champion as well. If Wesley loses to Salisbury I don't see how WC gets in with 2 losses. There are some very good teams that are in the mix for those Pool B bids, and a good case could be made for all of them. Question; is Salisbury also in the mix for a Pool C bid?

SU Backer, may I jump in here?

The tourney does not select the best 32 teams.  It provides equal access to the 22 conference champions and the remaining independent teams have equal access to the tournament by having the same access ratio of bids available.

Look at it this way.  Were the ACFC a formal conference, then the Wesley-Salisbury winner would probably get the Pool bid.  The loser would fall to Pool C.

All that we are asking the Pool B teams to be is among the best 3 of the initial group of 30 some-odd Pool B candidates, and then among the next best 7 teams that have not earned an automatic bid by being a conference champion or Pool B winner.

The game versus Geneva doesn't count in the eyes of the committee, because Geneva is a first year provisional team.  The same can be said for SUNY Morrisville and St Vincent.

[Foss]

Ralph, the wins and losses over ranked teams were just some extra tidbits for people to chew on.

[Pat Coleman]

But Ralph is right -- as a self-professed Pool B analysis, it just muddies the water.