FB: Midwest Conference

[scottie]

I agree that Ripons only way in would be via the AQ. If so then SNC would be out of Pool C consideration with 2 losses. The Scots then become fans of many teams. Whitewater, Wheaton, St. Johns, whomever plays St. Thomas, Linfield, Occidental, whomever plays Redlands and finally Oshkosh.

...which is why Ripon had not been in "Scottie's Three to Watch."   

Fortunately, this discussion will become much more clear by about 4:00 p.m. Saturday.  For the sake of the conference, as well as my nervous system, three teams should win out convincingly: Monmouth, SNC, and Wartburg. If so, despite the "counter-culture" that Scots4 (aka Debbie Downer) is introducing, the Green Knights could have a decent argument.

[FightnScot77]

Has anyone had a chance to observe a Ripon home matchup this year via Midwestconferencetv (PennAtlantic telecasts)?
Let's hope the aerial artistry of Tanney's picking apart of the secondary of RC will not be lost to us viewers (by a slow moving camera or failure to zoom in on the field).  Do they have college students broadcast their games or provide radio feed in of the play-by-play? Just wondering what to expect?

[PC]

With fear of being labled a conference hater I will add my two cents...

The best senario for the conference is for Monmouth to run the table and SNC and Ripon to play to a tie.  This gives Monmouth the best chance for a high seed which is ultimately gives them the best chance for success in the post season.  A post season win or two for Monmouth this year would help the conference in future years when the possibility for multiple births come up. 

Conversely a 3 way tie is a nightmare and assures the team that gets the bid a road game against a top 5 team... great if they pull off the upset, but unlikely.

I know this is not what anyone wants to hear if they are a senior at Ripon or SNC, but thinking long term...

[SNCOLDAD]

PC, I see your point and I will disagree. But that is OK. You are looking at how to build the reputation of the conference in the future. And at the same time trying to get Monmouth the easiest 1st and 2nd round games as possible. Not bad.

But I look at it from Roop's standpoint. Ripon lost their only non-con game. Not good. SNC beat Wartburg in their only Non-con game. Very good. Wartburg lost another game. Not good.

I am biased. I am not experienced in selections. But I believe that Monmouth going undefeated and SNC beating Ripon in a controlled fashion, not necessarily a blowout although that might help, and Wartburg finishing strong, real strong, might, just might get SNC some consideration for a spot. Those 2 St. teams in Minnesota also will have a lot of say as well as Wheaton.

I feel that 2 in this year moves our conference strength ranking higher than 1 getting a home game the 1st and 2nd round.

[PC]

A valid point, especially if you are biased...

But if Monmouth and SNC make it in it looks like SNC goes to Withewater in the first round and Monmouth at Wheaton (or best case Central).  The odds for either of those games do not favor the MWC.  This happens because the to find a lower seed for Monmouth to play you only have SNC to look at so they by default have to play a higher seed. 

If Monmouth runs the table and Ripon/SNC are still looked at as strong opponents, if increases Monmouth's value.  And more importantly it also increases the number of possibile teams for them to play in the first round.

I respect your thoughts on getting more people in, but if they both end in a loss (and possibly a bad loss), it will take some time for the selection committee to make that mistake(?) again.

[The Roop]

While Ripon and SNC could finish tied in the standings, there's this new thing called overtime which prevents them from playing to a tie.........................

A 10-0 Mt. Monmouth and a 9-1 SNC give the MWC the best chance at two teams making it. I'm not sure how much Wartburg will factor into SNCs Pool C chances considering that the WIAC isn't likely to have two teams in. Remember that if Whitewater runs the table the best Stevens Point can do is 6 in-region wins, I don't think that's enough.

After that you have to watch the CCIW and MIAC. The 3 team west coast scenario isn't likely to happen but at the moment it's still a possibility. So root for all the teams I said before and then for all the other conference favorites in the rest of the country.

While SNC will be the favorite in their remaining games, their schedule isn't exactly loaded with gimmes. So lets not shoot those eggs like fish cross the road.

[SNCOLDAD]

Man, are we good at prognosticating or what.  

I'll take my chances with a 2nd team from the MWC. And remember that Whitewater was moved to another bracket if I remember correctly last year.  

No matter. I would rather have 2 teams in the 32 than 1.

[The Roop]

Actually Whitewater was moved two years ago and Mt. Union was moved last year. I can see Whitewater being moved again as the west figures to be loaded enough without them.

[SNCOLDAD]

At my age there is not much difference between 1 and 5 years.

[BoBo]

I can see Whitewater being moved again as the west figures to be loaded enough without them.

You seem to forget that both the north and west have 10 schools each in the top 25 this week...both appear to be rather evenly loaded (using the poll as reference, though we know it doesn't factor into selections.)  In 2007, the north wasn't nearly as respresented when UWW and MUC were moved to different regions -- only MUC ranked in the top 11.  This year north and west both currently have 6 schools in top 15 if my counts are right.

[The Roop]

But what happens after all the AQs are determined ?? Not all of those ranked teams will get in unfortunately. With 6 AQs in the west and the NathCon winner fitting in either region there figures to be some swapping going around at bracketing time.

[The Roop]

Here's an idea for the NCAA to consider. Since they shamelessly caved in to the almighty dollar last year in the football and basketball playoffs. Keep Whitewater in the west and move Mt. Union to the east again. Since an 8 team west region cannot be completed in less than two flights, lets eliminate those west coast teams in the first round.

Send Linfield to Whitewater and Occidental to Mt. Union. That allows them to swap around the rest of the west and north regions as the bus routes dictate.

[MWCfan787]

Monmouth right now is prolly like the 5 seed in the west.  The best chance for MC to get a good seed and a home game and for a 9-1 snc team to get a bid is for teams like st. johns, st. thomas, linfield, central, and whitewater, to not stay undefeated.  This is a decent possibility since the two st. teams play each other and the others have tough remaining games left.  I'm pretty sure CCIW teams will stay in the north bracket.  At this point the moving I see happening possibly is Whitewater north and Mt. Union east if Wheaton loses a game.

[Maverick]

Picks for Week 6:

Beloit @ Illinois C. - BC
Knox @ Lawrence - LU
Lake Forest @ Grinnell - GC
Monmouth @ Ripon - MC
St. Norbert @ Carroll - SNC

Good luck Fighting Scots!  Can't overlook the Red Hawks at all, and I'm sure Coach Bell and the rest of his staff will have them ready to play.

[SNCOLDAD]

Maverick,
With you on all picks except one. That Lawrence - Knox game. I say the fans win by kicking the coaches through the uprights!!!