Pool C

[ronk]

Here are my final picks...
1 Augustana
2 Randolph-Macon
3 UW-Oshkosh
4 Hamilton
5 St Thomas
6 Williams
7 Loras
8 Marietta
9 York
10 Middlebury
11 MIT
12 Rochester
13 Wooster
14 NJCU
15 Capital
16 Plattsburgh 20-6/.769 WP/.529 SOS/6-6 vs RRO
17 Wheaton 19-8/.704/.574/4-5
18 Salisbury 19-8/.704/.575/4-7
19 E Connecticut 20-7/.741/.557/2-5
20 Centre 21-5/.808/.530/1-1

Almost picked Gordon 23-5/.821/.522/2-3 as #20, & could see Ramapo 18-9/.667/.569/8-5 despite the low WP

19 of my final picks are the same.  I just have Ramapo instead of Eastern Connecticut.

I'd take Whitworth over Centre - 3 losses to highest ranked team in West Region and possibly the nation.

In your hoopsville panel picks, I'd take Ramapo over Laroche, a clear winner in 2 of the 3 criteria.

[Gregory Sager]

I just think that the elimination of the WP-to-SOS formula by the NCAA is going to open up the committee to leaning a bit more towards WP than it has in the past -- and that that'll obviously pave the way for teams such as La Roche and Centre.

[Smitty Oom]

I learned that I really dislike the RRO criteria. Like MIT Strength of Schedule is .555 yet only one game against a regionally ranked opponent, compare that to Capital who had 10 or so results but still managed the same SOS. It seems to be counting SOS double for them and almost negating the SOS for the engineers. Bob noted it is hard to only play one regionally ranked team in the northeast, which seems to be true so I get that this may not be the best example, but still. Their schedules were measured to be equal. So capital played more top teams than MIT but in order to have the SOS equal out the must have played a lot more lower tier teams, no?

I know it is the primary criteria and that's the way it is, but I just didn't like how it was factoring in/deciding some of those final descisions when a team like Ramapo gets 13 regionally ranked results cause the NJAC is the only worthwhile confernce in the weak Atlantic. Ryan made a small comment along these lines during the show but you guys didn't delve into it, which is understandable. And just to be clear I'm not saying I dislike the picks, you used the criteria the way it is supposed to be used. Not trying to shoot the messenger here.

[KnightSlappy]

I like:

Augustana
Williams
Loras
Hamilton
Randolph-Macon
Middlebury
UW-Oshkosh
MIT
Wooster
St. Thomas
York (Pa.)
Wheaton (Ill.)
Salisbury
Marietta
Rochester
Capital
Centre
Plattsburgh State
New Jersey City

Then pick one of:
Eastern Connecticut
Whitworth
Gordon
Ramapo

I think maybe La Roche is my 20th pick.

[TheOsprey]

I think La Roche proved that they are NOT tourney worthy.   They lost to who? @ home in their conference championship.   And for their "gawdy" record--  just who? did they beat.  They will be smoked in the first round.☠

Their conference does not deserve two bids even if they only lost their final game.  Every team left on the table would defeat them easily IMO.

[sac]

I think La Roche proved that they are NOT tourney worthy.   They lost to who? @ home in their conference championship.   And for their "gawdy" record--  just who? did they beat.  They will be smoked in the first round.☠

LaRoche played against Calvin and Hope in Holland this year.  I saw most of their Calvin game and all of the Hope game.  They are good enough to be in the NCAA Tournament.  I doubt anyone would "smoke" them.

First game of the year probably the best team they played this year.  Marietta 91 LaRoche 87

[TheOsprey]

Yeah, I watched the entire Hope game and they looked good, but that was about two months ago.  I doubt they even get in the tournament.  Give me the next WIAC or CCIW team ahead of them.

[TheOsprey]

And to be honest with the HOOPSVILLE gang, I very much enjoyed the discussion.  I've seen stronger records by teams in stronger conferences get left out over the years.  It would be nice if the cheap NCAA would have a first four at this level.  RIGHT!!!😔 Nighty- night y'all. 🛏

[sac]

And to be honest with the HOOPSVILLE gang, I very much enjoyed the discussion.  I've seen stronger records by teams in stronger conferences get left out over the years.  It would be nice if the cheap NCAA would have a first four at this level.  RIGHT!!!😔 Nighty- night y'all. 🛏

First 24 would be better.

[Pat Coleman]

Here are my final picks...
1 Augustana
2 Randolph-Macon
3 UW-Oshkosh
4 Hamilton
5 St Thomas
6 Williams
7 Loras
8 Marietta
9 York
10 Middlebury
11 MIT
12 Rochester
13 Wooster
14 NJCU
15 Capital
16 Plattsburgh 20-6/.769 WP/.529 SOS/6-6 vs RRO
17 Wheaton 19-8/.704/.574/4-5
18 Salisbury 19-8/.704/.575/4-7
19 E Connecticut 20-7/.741/.557/2-5
20 Centre 21-5/.808/.530/1-1

Almost picked Gordon 23-5/.821/.522/2-3 as #20, & could see Ramapo 18-9/.667/.569/8-5 despite the low WP

19 of my final picks are the same.  I just have Ramapo instead of Eastern Connecticut.

I'd take Whitworth over Centre - 3 losses to highest ranked team in West Region and possibly the nation.

Who did they beat?

[ronk]

Agreed, no difference in the win, but more quality vrro results.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Agreed, no difference in the win, but more quality vrro results.

Losing three times to one team is hardly a quality vRRO at this point.  You've established you're not as good as the best team in the country.  Doesn't prove a whole lot.

You can look at Stevens Point - they played one of the best schedules you might imagine this year, but they got that late win over Oshkosh and a whole list of losses to good teams to show for it.  If they'd've won even one or two of those games, I think they'd've been in easy.

They're still on the bubble, I guess, but there is such a thing as too many good losses.

[ronk]

Agreed, no difference in the win, but more quality vrro results.

Losing three times to one team is hardly a quality vRRO at this point.  You've established you're not as good as the best team in the country.  Doesn't prove a whole lot.

You can look at Stevens Point - they played one of the best schedules you might imagine this year, but they got that late win over Oshkosh and a whole list of losses to good teams to show for it.  If they'd've won even one or two of those games, I think they'd've been in easy.

They're still on the bubble, I guess, but there is such a thing as too many good losses.

Not when it comes to the criteria of results when comparing Centre with 2 and Whitman with 4.

[thebear]

Same thing could be said for LaRoche, sure they had 20 games in their weak conference - they were 19-1, but they did try to move up in class by scheduling Marietta, Hope, Calvin, John Carroll, Carnegie-Mellon [UAA], in most years those would be 5 quality opponents, this year all but Marietta had down years, but that's not LaRoche's fault for scheduling them.

[fantastic50]

With widespread agreement on the first 18 selections, I am predicting that somebody gets all 20 correct today.