WBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Oglethorpe 83, Rhodes 71.  There were live stats thru the Rhodes athletic site. 

[pbrooks3]

Rhodes played a strong game today against Oglethorpe.  Rhodes' chance at getting to the tournament now probably hinges on Centre beating Sewanee next Sunday.

[pbrooks3]

The 3rd and 4th seedings for the SCAC tournament on the east side are coming down to the final week. Centre has a shot at #3 if they can win at Sewanee on Sunday.  This scenario would then allow Rhodes to crawl into #4, and Sewanee would be out. Now if Sewanee beats Centre, then Rhodes is out. Sewanee and Centre would be tied with 4 wins each. If the tie-breaker after head-head games is # of wins in the division, then Centre would get the #3 based on 3 Eastern Division wins versus 2 for Sewanee. I have no expertise in these matters.

I hope Centre wins regardless because I'd like a solid #3 and a victory. It would also be fun to see Rhodes make the tourney, too. Chelsea Goodman, put this team on your back Sunday and let's get the Lady Colonels a victory.

[sewanee tiger]

Actually, I think it would be fun to see the Sewanee Lady Tigers make the tourney instead of Rhodes. Then again, I'm a little bit biased.

And yes, a huge key to this game for Sewanee will be how well we guard Chelsea Goodman. I like our chances because we will have Steffi Renninger available this time. Steffi did not play in the game in Danville in January (not using that as an excuse, of course). Also, it is Senior Day, and Courtney Childress will hopefully have a big game.

As I see it, Centre is already locked into the #3 seed. If Centre owns the tie-breaker over Sewanee due to wins in the division, then Centre should also get the tie-breaker over Rhodes since Centre beat Rhodes twice.

Anyway, it should be a very good game, and I'm looking forward to seeing it in person.

[DPULefty22]

Did a little amateur bracketology tonight, and I just wanted to confirm that pbrooks and sewanee tiger are both correct. UOS is in a win-and-in situation by virtue of having the tiebreaker over Rhodes. Just one win gets the purple-clad Tigers into the Tourney. If they sweep the weekend and Centre gets beat in Atlanta, they can go as high as the three seed... but with DPU coming to the mountain on Friday night, that's not terribly likely.

Centre, on the other hand, needs just one win to secure the #3 seed.

[pbrooks3]

Steffi Renninger is a nice player - I've seen her play twice this season against Hendrix and Rhodes. She's a good athlete and has a balanced game. I'm a little partial, too, and I would like to see Ashley Farrell and the other 5 Rhodes seniors play a little more.

[pbrooks3]

Actually, I think it would be fun to see the Sewanee Lady Tigers make the tourney instead of Rhodes. Then again, I'm a little bit biased.

And yes, a huge key to this game for Sewanee will be how well we guard Chelsea Goodman. I like our chances because we will have Steffi Renninger available this time. Steffi did not play in the game in Danville in January (not using that as an excuse, of course). Also, it is Senior Day, and Courtney Childress will hopefully have a big game.

As I see it, Centre is already locked into the #3 seed. If Centre owns the tie-breaker over Sewanee due to wins in the division, then Centre should also get the tie-breaker over Rhodes since Centre beat Rhodes twice.

Anyway, it should be a very good game, and I'm looking forward to seeing it in person.

sewanee tiger, you're absolutely on target.  I verified through the SCAC office what the tie breakers are:

(1)  Best record in head-to-head competition between the tied teams
(2)  Divisional record
(3)  Divisional record against top teams in descending order
(4)  Cross-divisional record
(5)  Cross-divisional record against top teams in descending order
(6)  Coin flip

Assuming Sewanee beats Centre but loses to DePauw, Centre gains the #3 seed based on tie breaker 2 - divisional record; Sewanee #4 seed
If Centre beats Sewanee and DePauw beats Sewanee, then Centre gets #3 seed based on tie breaker 1 - best head-to-head record; Rhodes #4 seed
Should Sewanee win against both Centre and DePauw; Sewanee gets #3 seed; Centre #4 seed

[DPU3619]

Trinity's still making a strong case.  They have a solid region ranking is good and their OWP and OOWP are exceptional.

Here's the latest region ranking:

1 Howard Payne 23-0 21-0
2 Oglethorpe 20-3 18-3
3 McMurry 20-3 20-2
4 Trinity (Texas) 17-5 16-4
5 Piedmont 20-3 16-3
6 Christopher Newport 18-4 17-3

Problem is that they'd be the third Pool C from both the South region (Oglethorpe/DePauw will be one and Howard Payne/McMurry will be the other) and they'd also be the third Pool C from the SCAC.  But, they're going a long way towards making it very tough to leave them at home.  Early projections over on the Pool C board have them in as the 14th Pool C.  Not sure I can disagree with that.

DePauw still 3rd in the Great Lakes behind undefeated Thomas More and Hope.

[pbrooks3]

Sewanee Tiger, I too plan to make the Centre games on the mountain this weekend.  I think what makes this game special is both teams really want to win.  I would expect your Tigers to be ready for this game given they'll probably need the win to make the tourney if they can't upset DPU on Friday.  Centre wants this for momentum going into the tournament.

[Ralph Turner]

Trinity's still making a strong case.  They have a solid region ranking is good and their OWP and OOWP are exceptional.

Here's the latest region ranking:

1 Howard Payne 23-0 21-0
2 Oglethorpe 20-3 18-3
3 McMurry 20-3 20-2
4 Trinity (Texas) 17-5 16-4
5 Piedmont 20-3 16-3
6 Christopher Newport 18-4 17-3

Problem is that they'd be the third Pool C from both the South region (Oglethorpe/DePauw will be one and Howard Payne/McMurry will be the other) and they'd also be the third Pool C from the SCAC.  But, they're going a long way towards making it very tough to leave them at home.  Early projections over on the Pool C board have them in as the 14th Pool C.  Not sure I can disagree with that.

DePauw still 3rd in the Great Lakes behind undefeated Thomas More and Hope.

Wes, with respect to Trinity, I think that Trinity might just pull it off.

McMurry and Oglethorpe come off the table in very quick fashion.  Trinity has a good record against potentially regionally ranked teams. To wit,

HSU (a 70-51 win) is projected to play HPU in the second round on a neutral floor.

George Fox (a 53-55 loss) is solid at #2 in the West.

Carthage is second in the CCIW.

One other factor for Trinity (using reverse "geographic proximity" logic), Pool C Trinity could come to Abilene (McMurry) on Thursday night, and the winner goes to HPU on Saturday.

(In 2006, HSU was the "last" Pool C bid, and went to the Final Four.)

[FlightofthePetrel]

With Oglethorpe sitting at #2 in the Regional rankings and Piedmont/Maryville looking to get the AC from the GSAC what are Oglethorpe's chances of hosting a first round game?  I know we don't have the biggest game but we do have a 20-3 record and have made the tourney the past 2 years.  It sure would be a GREAT reward for these ladies to play a NCAA tournament in front of their home fans.

Any thoughts Ralph or Pat?

[Ralph Turner]

With Oglethorpe sitting at #2 in the Regional rankings and Piedmont/Maryville looking to get the AC from the GSAC what are Oglethorpe's chances of hosting a first round game?  I know we don't have the biggest game but we do have a 20-3 record and have made the tourney the past 2 years.  It sure would be a GREAT reward for these ladies to play a NCAA tournament in front of their home fans.

Any thoughts Ralph or Pat?

I think that Oglethorpe needs to be solidly in the "Top 16", and then have three teams around them that are within the 500-mile radius to be bussed into Atlanta.  I think it is better for Methodist to earn the USAC Pool A.

The frightening thing for Oglethorpe is that Atlanta is less than 500 miles away from Crestview Hills, KY.  Oglethorpe could be bussed to Crestview Hills, KY to be on the other side of the bracket in the first round.

[Ralph Turner]

Wilmington OH is 496 miles by my calculation on msn.mappoint from Atlanta.

That might be another team to bus to Oglethorpe.

[FlightofthePetrel]

I think that Oglethorpe needs to be solidly in the "Top 16", and then have three teams around them that are within the 500-mile radius to be bussed into Atlanta.  I think it is better for Methodist to earn the USAC Pool A.

Would there be an consideration to the fact that Oglethorpe beat Methodist twice this year by an average of 29 points?  

Maybe it would be more economical for the NCAA to bus Methodist here along with a short hour and a half bus ride for Piedmont  and throw in some 3rd team...? (I'm not very good with the location of the top schools that have a chance of getting in.)

I have a feeling that the only chance OU would make it to the top 16 would be if they win out... that means beating Depauw twice... I just don't know if that will happen.  Then again if they win out they'll earn the Pool A bid and I think the host spot would take care of itself that way.

You just posted while I was typing mine... OU went to Wilmington last year for the tourney and Wilmington made the return trip this year.  That would be an interesting bracket   OU, Methodist, Piedmont, Wilmington.  I have a feeling that Wilmington (a non top 25 team) would be the favorite to come out of it... since they beat OU earlier this year.  It also seems like it would be one of the weakest brackets in the tournament.

[Ralph Turner]

Good morning, FotP!

I think that Oglethorpe needs to be solidly in the "Top 16", and then have three teams around them that are within the 500-mile radius to be bussed into Atlanta.  I think it is better for Methodist to earn the USAC Pool A.

Would there be an consideration to the fact that Oglethorpe beat Methodist twice this year by an average of 29 points? 


Maybe it would be more economical for the NCAA to bus Methodist here along with a short hour and a half bus ride for Piedmont  and throw in some 3rd team...? (I'm not very good with the location of the top schools that have a chance of getting in.)

I think that the overwhelming consideration is travel cost.  Of the 63 teams selected, Methodist is lower ranked and doesn't have to be "flown" to Oglethorpe. 

I have a feeling that the only chance OU would make it to the top 16 would be if they win out... that means beating Depauw twice... I just don't know if that will happen.  Then again if they win out they'll earn the Pool A bid and I think the host spot would take care of itself that way.

Yes, I agree about the Pool A slot.  Pool A and you definitely host a first round bracket.  Pool C, and you probably travel.

You just posted while I was typing mine... OU went to Wilmington last year for the tourney and Wilmington made the return trip this year.  That would be an interesting bracket   OU, Methodist, Piedmont, Wilmington.  I have a feeling that Wilmington (a non top 25 team) would be the favorite to come out of it... since they beat OU earlier this year.  It also seems like it would be one of the weakest brackets in the tournament.

IMHO, "weakest bracket" does not matter.  Finding a bracket that the Selction Committee can construct inside the travel budget and within the 500-mile busing radius is the more important factor.  The "weak first round bracket" just becomes the #4 seed in the second round bracket.

Good luck, Petrels!