South Region playoffs

[cnu85]

MHB,

It's been awhile since I had to look up a word....progeny....I like it.

Llama....CNU will take caer of "bidness" the rest of the year. Not to worry.

Anyone know who CNU will replace Chowan with on the schedule next year?

[mandfense]

However, if JHU loses to a 3-3 Muhlenberg team this year, then the Centinnial Conference should be stripped of its automatic bid and receive no consideration for Pool C at all!     LOL

I agreed with you Josh, but I didn't want to jinx it by saying anything before the game.   

Interesting scenario with the Hardin-Simmons loss today.  Looking ahead a little bit, IF they run the table, does a 10-0 JHU get the #1 seed in the South?  JHU and Ferrum are currently the only 2 undefeated South region teams.  Scary.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

However, if JHU loses to a 3-3 Muhlenberg team this year, then the Centinnial Conference should be stripped of its automatic bid and receive no consideration for Pool C at all!     LOL

I agreed with you Josh, but I didn't want to jinx it by saying anything before the game.   

Interesting scenario with the Hardin-Simmons loss today.  Looking ahead a little bit, IF they run the table, does a 10-0 JHU get the #1 seed in the South?  JHU and Ferrum could be the only 2 undefeated South region teams.  Scary.

Trinity (TX) will go 8-0, so I can see them getting the #1 seed.

They currently have 4th highest QoWi ranking, but that will drop with their final three games being against the three bottom feeders of the SCIAC.

[mandfense]

Forgot about Trinity.  And Thiel as well.  Oops.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Oh, and Thiel is still undefeated at 6-0.

If they win next versus Thomas More, they'll likely be 9-0 come seeding time.

But even so, I still see Trinity (TX) getting the #1 seed.

[Josh Bowerman]

I agree.  Based on today's results, and assuming teams that are supposed to win out do, I think the seeds are:

1.  Trinity
2.  Thiel
3.  Hopkins
4.  UMHB
5.  W&J
6.  HSU
7.  Salisbury
8.  Ferrum

That's one big IF, considering today's games, though.

[mandfense]

I agree.  Based on today's results, and assuming teams that are supposed to win out do, I think the seeds are:

1.  Trinity
2.  Thiel
3.  Hopkins
4.  UMHB
5.  W&J
6.  HSU
7.  Salisbury
8.  Ferrum

That's one big IF, considering today's games, though.

I agree with Trinity at #1, but you're forgetting a certain team in those seedings that Kid wouldn't be too happy about. 

I think Thiel or W&J get shipped out of the South.  Probably W&J if Thiel stays undefeated since they should keep the undefeated team in region.

Regardless of seedings, I think JHU/Salisbury and Ferrum/Bridgewater 1st round matchups are inevitable and geographically feasible.

[Josh Bowerman]

Thanks for calling me on that, mandfense.  You are right.  I'd put B'water in where W&J is--because I think since the geography is roughly equal, the committee will not ship the conference champ out of region.

Lack of sleep due to poker last night is my only excuse.   

I'd say a HSU trip to Trinity is likely, as well.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Haha, no harm no foul

I could see...

1 - Trinity (TX)
2 - Johns Hopkins
3 - Salisbury
4 - Thiel
5 - Ferrum
6 - Mary Hardin-Baylor
7 - Bridgewater/W&L
8 - Hardin-Simmons

MHB winning will likely send W&J to the East Region.

[gordonmann]

W&J could go east, but so could Salisbury/Wesley or JHU.  They are all a reasonable drive to Rowan or Delaware Valley.

If JHU wins out, Salisbury might be the team that gets shipped to the east.

Just out of curiousity, why would you guys put Ferrum #8 if they finish undefeated?

[mandfense]

How about these matchups?

Hardin-Simmons AT Trinity - Geographically makes sense
Salisbury AT Johns Hopkins - Battle for the best team in Maryland
Bridgewater AT Ferrum - Ditto for Virginia
Mary-Hardin Baylor AT Thiel - 3 Texas teams means 1 is going to have to travel.

[Josh Bowerman]

My seedings were based on my personal assessment of the strength of teams after today's games.  I think that Ferrum is the weakest team in the field, undefeated or not. 

If UMHB's loss weren't to Howard Payne, I'd have rated them #2.   As-is, I think they slide a bit, but still get a home game--which is big considering the ASC conference champ--should HSU win out--probably get shipped to Trinity for a road playoff game in the first round.

And remember, seeding is irrelevant anyway--geography trumps it all.

[Llamaguy]

Still quite a few spoiler games left Gentleman. Too early to make a call, as "down the stretch they come"!

10/29
Salisbury at Wesley
BC at W&L
Thomas More at Thiel
ETBU at UMHB
Centre at DePauw

11/5
W&J at Thomas More
Widener at Salisbury
Johns Hopkins at Hampden-Sydney

11/12
Thomas More at Mt St. Joe's
Wabash at DePaul
Rose-Hulman at Centre
CNU at Ferrum

Time to sort it out on the field, then scratch our heads once the selection committee picks the at-larges.

[Ralph Turner]

2005 has been the year of the opposite outcome.  IN women's basketball, McMurry knocked the Cowgirls out of the playoffs and beat them 2 of 3.  This fall, Hardin-Simmons volleyball swept McMurry this year.  That happens as often as McMurry beats HSU in football.

Next Saturday night at Shotwell Stadium, McM and HSU meet for what should be a very intesting game.  Either HSU is shell shocked or they come out mad.  McMurry can play their best game of the season or they can flop.

This should be fun.  I wish it were on the new turf that McMurry will install on campus in the off-season so we could play the game there, but Shotwell will be a nice facility for the game.  I would love to have 6500-7000 there.

[Ron Boerger]

I have the title for this week's feature story:

"What would you like with your can of Whoop-Ass?" 

Look at what happened in the true South region alone:

Undefeated Wesley gets pounded
Undefeated HSU gets pounded
Undefeated Trinity FINALLY pounds someone
W&L loses
CNU loses
W&J pounds someone helpless, as usual 

Outside the south, and those guys in Alliance lose an OAC game for the first time since '99.  Wow.   Road playoff games for Mount Union in my lifetime?? 

Somehow I have a feeling my editor will change the title if I submitted a column that way