MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

OK, Dave McHugh has basically indicated that a strong SOS isn't gonna help you unless you win a majority of those games. So NCC probably won't get much credit for beating #s 7, 9, and 2 along with the other schools Greg mentioned above or for losing to undefeated BU by 2. They also won't get any credit for being in a conference that features two of the best teams in the country as well as two other very tough unranked teams. Right or wrong, that's the rules. And I'm not talking only about NCC, but teams like NPU and IWU. Sometimes I think that it sure would be nice to be a very good team in a generally inferior conference. Just crush most of your conference competition on a pretty regular basis. 
But absent of that scenario, what's the answer to what is the best way to get into the national tournament? It's a three part answer that amounts to a phrase we've all heard before, "just win baby." Rule #1-No non NCAA D3 teams. Rule #2-No wearing yourself out with long distance travel, especially by bus. If you can fly to a tournament in a nice location where you know you are ging to play two also-rans, that's OK. Rule #3-especially if you are in a situation like NCC, NPU, & IWU-work your butt off to schedule as many non-conference games as possible against teams that are as bad as possible.
If the likelihood of losing 4-6 conference games is high due to being n a super tough conference, then pack your non-conference schedule with as many "easy" wins as possible, because it sure seems that what the selection committee wants most of all---is WINS. So, go 11-0 or 10-1 (9-0 or 8-1 next yr),  in non-conf., and 9-5 or 10-4 in conference, and you're in! If SOS isn't going to be strongly considered, then give 'em what they seem to want-wins!

I don't think it is 'play bad teams' as much as it is 'play teams with good records accumulated against weaker competition'.  If the schedule plays out the way you hope it will, and you win the games you play, then you get both the W/L and some level of SOS benefits.

North Central did themselves no favors with a very tough non-conference schedule.  And losing to Aurora and Benedictine -- teams that are probably (in Aurora's case) and definitely (in Benedictine's case) stronger than usual, and teams that a tournament-bound North Central team would usually beat -- have helped to put the Sons of Warden behind the eight ball from a Pool C standpoint.  They will need to finish very strong to have a chance for an at-large berth assuming they do not win the AQ.

[voxelmhurst]

Halftime:
Augustana 47
Elmhurst 47

Eric Leonard leads all scorers with 13 at the half. Huge job by Leonard and Peyton Wyatt coming in after Wuest had to leave with 2 fouls early.

[joehakes]

The selection committees often work into Monday morning on those weekends for what it's worth.  The selection can take until midnigh, then pairing teams and placing them in appropriate parts of the bracket can be another few hours.  When I chaired the men's DIII soccer committee, my night ended at 5 a.m.  on Monday, after which I promptly turned the wrong way on a one way street in Indianapolis.  Fortunately, there was only one other car on the road at that time.  Unfortunately, that car had red lights on top of it that spun around in a hypnotic manner.

SOS, winning percentage and record against ranked opponents all are factors in selection.  The last one refers to the NCAA regional rankings, not polls.  An additional view of looking at a team will also take into account how many ranked teams they played.  That is a slightly different take than the way that SOS is measured and may be a help in deciding between teams. The committees put a lot of time and effort into the process and believe me, when you are down to three spots left in Pool C and you have 5 or 6 teams that could reasonably go in, you realize that you are deciding for a team whether their successful season was really successful enough.  It's a stark reality at that point.

[79jaybird]

FT differential with ~6minutes was AC 32 EC 18

those at the game was this-  questionable/favorable officiating or   was it EC carelessness?   

[Mr. Ypsi]

The selection committees often work into Monday morning on those weekends for what it's worth.  The selection can take until midnigh, then pairing teams and placing them in appropriate parts of the bracket can be another few hours.  When I chaired the men's DIII soccer committee, my night ended at 5 a.m.  on Monday, after which I promptly turned the wrong way on a one way street in Indianapolis.  Fortunately, there was only one other car on the road at that time.  Unfortunately, that car had red lights on top of it that spun around in a hypnotic manner.

SOS, winning percentage and record against ranked opponents all are factors in selection.  The last one refers to the NCAA regional rankings, not polls.  An additional view of looking at a team will also take into account how many ranked teams they played.  That is a slightly different take than the way that SOS is measured and may be a help in deciding between teams. The committees put a lot of time and effort into the process and believe me, when you are down to three spots left in Pool C and you have 5 or 6 teams that could reasonably go in, you realize that you are deciding for a team whether their successful season was really successful enough.  It's a stark reality at that point.

And for seniors on those teams, you are deciding whether their athletic career ends or continues!  I'm glad I'm just a nobody on a chat site (whose opinions carry no consequences)  rather than someone making those decisions.

[mr_b]

Final from Chicago: North Park 93, Carthage 86 in OT.  The Red Men battled back from 44-30 at the half to take an 81-80 lead with 0:14 left. Juwan Henry's FT sent the game to OT.  Henry had a Herculean effort with 47 points.

[Augie6]

Augie beats Elmhurst 97-84.  Game was tied at halftime, 47-47.  Augie pulls away late to get the win.

[USee]

Augie beats Elmhurst 97-84.  Game was tied at halftime, 47-47.  Augie pulls away late to get the win.

The battle for 2nd team status goes to Augie.   

[iwu70]

IWU over WC by 10.  Hang'n in there.

NPU over CC in OT.  Juwan Henry truly amazing -- 47 points.  Talk about carry a team on your back!!!

Not surprised Augie won at home over EC.

IWU'70

[Titan Q]

IWU 75
Wheaton 65

http://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=3491&path=mbball

* Andy Stempel: 14 pts, 5 reb
* Trevor Seibring: 13 pts, 4 reb
* Bryce Dolan: 12 pts, 4 assists
* Ryan Coyle: 9 pts, 10 reb

* Jonathan Berntsen: 19 pts, 8 assists
* Michael Berg: 15 pts, 15 reb
* Murad Dillard: 13 pts, 7 reb, 4 assists


IWU trailed 40-31 at the half but played well in the 2nd.

[Gregory Sager]

Overtime final from the crackerbox:

North Park 93
Carthage 86

Juwan Henry: 47 pts (15-29 FG, 4-9 trey, 13-15 FT)
Michael Hutchinson: 8 rebs
Darius Brown: 6 rebs
T.J. Cobbs: 3 stls

Brad Kruse: 19 pts, 12 rebs
Mike Stevenson: 16 pts
Sean Valentine: 12 pts, 7 rebs
Kiston Lee: 11 pts, 6 rebs
Ellis Matthews: 11 pts

This was something far less than NPU's best effort tonight, as Jordan Robinson and T.J. Cobbs fouled out and weren't significant factors. Give credit to a very scrappy Carthage outfit, which fought back from a 20-point deficit, and actually took a couple of leads, one at the very end of regulation. But in the end, Juwan Henry put on his Superman cape and let the Vikes ride on his back. He had one of the most remarkable games I've ever seen a player log in the crackerbox, as his 47 points (41 of them in regulation) tied Mike Barach for second all-time on the NPU single-game scoring record. (Jack Ecker's 54 against Carthage in '95 is the all-time high.)

A little too close for my liking, but the important thing is that the Vikes got the win. As I said last week, every CCIW win sounds like the CSO, smells like roses, and looks like Kate Upton.

[GoPerry]

Massey has IWU by 4 over WC at King tonight.  That feels a little light to me- the Thunder have their moments but just don't seem to have 40 minute sustainability these days.  Still, I doubt Coach Rose will overlook Wheaton tonight as Coach Schauer and crew are still working hard and hungry for that complete game victory.  If Berg can stay out of foul trouble, play Seibring to a standstill, and the team stay close on O/D rebounds, then Wheaton will  have a chance.

Hated being right on that . . .Thunder led by 9 at half; as much as 11 at one point. 

[AppletonRocks]

Final from Chicago: North Park 93, Carthage 86 in OT.  The Red Men battled back from 44-30 at the half to take an 81-80 lead with 0:14 left. Juwan Henry's FT sent the game to OT.  Henry had a Herculean effort with 47 points.

Any such thing as a "bad win"? 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The selection committees often work into Monday morning on those weekends for what it's worth.  The selection can take until midnigh, then pairing teams and placing them in appropriate parts of the bracket can be another few hours.  When I chaired the men's DIII soccer committee, my night ended at 5 a.m.  on Monday, after which I promptly turned the wrong way on a one way street in Indianapolis.  Fortunately, there was only one other car on the road at that time.  Unfortunately, that car had red lights on top of it that spun around in a hypnotic manner.

SOS, winning percentage and record against ranked opponents all are factors in selection.  The last one refers to the NCAA regional rankings, not polls.  An additional view of looking at a team will also take into account how many ranked teams they played.  That is a slightly different take than the way that SOS is measured and may be a help in deciding between teams. The committees put a lot of time and effort into the process and believe me, when you are down to three spots left in Pool C and you have 5 or 6 teams that could reasonably go in, you realize that you are deciding for a team whether their successful season was really successful enough.  It's a stark reality at that point.

Actually, the last three years the selection committee has not worked that late (on the men's side). Last year, I believe they were done by 9:30 PM ET. They do so much work going into the weekend that they are ready for most of it. They have learned what needs to be sweated and what doesn't. They do a lot more homework and grunt work going in then they used to in the past. Technology advancements have also helped greatly.

I don't know what has happened since you have served on the soccer committee, but I think a lot of committees can learn from the men's committee - which is saying a lot considering it wasn't that long ago (at least in my head) we wished they followed the women's committee's example more.

I also know for sure that the committee will focus more on quality wins than quality losses. Meaning, it might be nice that a team losses to a good team - but it is a loss and unless the committee has to get deep into the selection/ranking criteria, it will remain a loss. They rather see the wins a team puts together.

It is nice if a team puts together a strong SOS and we encourage teams to do so, but that doesn't mean it gives a team a pass if they can't win a significant number of the games on the schedule. Teams don't get a pass for losing games no matter how hard those games are unless they are in Division I where you can go into the tournament with a .500 record in conference and no one bats and eye (well, people do, but you get my point).

The key is, if you are going to challenge your team you are doing it for two reasons: get your team prepared for the season and tournament ahead; secure the best chance possible of making the NCAA tournament if you can't win the AQ. If the team can't meet the challenge in the first part, you put the second part in jeopardy. If you put a weak schedule together, you better hope you win the AQ or win enough games for the committee to lean on your WL%.

We know that the SOS certainly is a strong component, but it is not the only component and I think a lot of time people forget that. Sure, the SOS is leaned on because the committee works under the proven (to them) premises that a good barometer is .03 SOS is a difference of two games. But they are automatically incorporating the WL% in that scenario. Thus WL% takes on significance, because they adjust those numbers to find a common ground between teams they are comparing. There is still vRRO and many other criteria and we know for a fact all of that is considered.

But back to SOS, you can't argue "we played one of the best schedules in the country, we deserve to be in the tournament" while ignoring if a team can't win against their toughest opponents - thus where the vRRO comes into play. It is a delicate balancing game which comes down to this: prove you deserve to be in the tournament by winning games, especially against tough opponents.

[Augie6]

Augie beats Elmhurst 97-84.  Game was tied at halftime, 47-47.  Augie pulls away late to get the win.

The battle for 2nd team status goes to Augie.   

Maybe we'll even be able to get a couple guys on the 2nd team now that we beat Elmhurst