BB: General New England Discussion

[dubbc]

GNAC...
You have made some good points on an at large bid for suffolk and Id have to agree with you... Here is some more info to consider, the number of quality opponents suffolk has played is right up there with any team in NE. A team should not be penalized for scheduling the best available teams in the region day in day out.  Of their 10 loses 6 of them are to teams that have already clinched a tourney bid and 2 of the other ones are to ECONN and TCNJ (most likely will both receive bids)
If you look at both williams and amherts schedule the number or quality in region opponents is not even close to Suffolk or even Roger Williams for that matter.  I'd put both of the ahead of those nescac teams. (granted everything could change this weekend... looking forward to it

on another note, c2 can we please put babson to bed for they year.... they have no shot at an at large bid with they way they folded down the stretch, good year but should not even be considered

[Rick Vaughn]

Suffolk lost two today to St. Joes.  That just strengthens the case for a 2nd NESCAC team or a 3rd LEC team.  Or both.  Williams, Amherst, ECSU, and USM all have to be very happy to see those losses.

[hockeyfan77]

Suffolk lost two today to St. Joes.  That just strengthens the case for a 2nd NESCAC team or a 3rd LEC team.  Or both.  Williams, Amherst, ECSU, and USM all have to be very happy to see those losses.

Yes: USM likes to see that: as well as them beating Eastern 14-3 today...

[kscer]

The 31 wins, beating ECSU so badly and the Suffolk losses should move USM up in the rankings. There are three very, very good teams playing in Keene in the LEC Tournament. KSC, USM and ECSU and they all deserve to compete at the regionals.

[TheGNAC]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I think Suffolk may have screwed themselves by dropping both games today. Although much of the selection is based on statistics, so we could see some surprises next week.

Anyway, I don't think Suffolk losing affects Williams or Amherst's chances of getting a bid - thy were ranked too low to leap over Suffolk, barring either of them beating Trinity, which isn't happening. However, Southern Maine has to be very happy to see Suffolk lose. Although the Huskies dropped both games head-to-head with Suffolk, they beat up on ECSU today, and one more win in the LEC tournament should secure them the 2nd at-large bid.

Right now, I think it breaks down like this for the at-large;

1. ECSU/Keene
2. USM
3. Suffolk
4. Amherst
5. Williams

[kscer]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I think Suffolk may have screwed themselves by dropping both games today. Although much of the selection is based on statistics, so we could see some surprises next week.

Anyway, I don't think Suffolk losing affects Williams or Amherst's chances of getting a bid - thy were ranked too low to leap over Suffolk, barring either of them beating Trinity, which isn't happening. However, Southern Maine has to be very happy to see Suffolk lose. Although the Huskies dropped both games head-to-head with Suffolk, they beat up on ECSU today, and one more win in the LEC tournament should secure them the 2nd at-large bid.

Right now, I think it breaks down like this for the at-large;

1. ECSU/Keene
2. USM
3. Suffolk
4. Amherst
5. Williams

Three bids to the LEC? Is that possible?

[TheGNAC]

Wouldn't surprise me, since they're the most deserving.

FYI, there's talk of the CWIW in the Midwest getting 3-4 at-large bids, and that's just one conference.

Definitely a possibility all three of those teams are playing in a regional next week.

[OshDude]

Wouldn't surprise me, since they're the most deserving.

FYI, there's talk of the CWIW in the Midwest getting 3-4 at-large bids, and that's just one conference.

Definitely a possibility all three of those teams are playing in a regional next week.

If you're thinking of the Central Region's CCIW, there are only two at-large contenders and with one AQ: Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana. One of those will get the Pool A, another will get a Pool C and the other will be on the bubble.

[TheGNAC]

Ah, I must've misread that, then. Isn't Wheaton (Ill.) also in contention?

[OshDude]

Ah, I must've misread that, then. Isn't Wheaton (Ill.) also in contention?

Very, very good team, but Wheaton isn't in the running. The Thunder need to win the CCIW.

[Rick Vaughn]

A post on the LEC board asked who would be the one to beat Trinity.  I would like to remind you who ended the last 30+ game winning streak by a Trinity team. 

[RedDevils36]

How about another LEC Tourney win over KSC by USM, 8-4? 

I'm pretty sure USM has all but sealed their fate with that win, regardless of a tourney championship.

[Rick Vaughn]

GNAC, I am obviously biased toward Williams, but why do you insist on saying Amherst has a better chance at an at large over Williams every time.  Amherst's best wins are a DH sweep of St. Joes and Keene St, while Williams has wins over Keene, RPI, and So Maine.  Also Williams has 24 wins to 22 for Amherst.  Finally, Williams won the NESCAC West title.  Amherst did win the head-to-head, which is big, but Williams holds the advantage in everywhere else.

[TheGNAC]

Rick, I'm just going with the regional rankings. Amherst is ranked ahead of Williams, therefore, pending an Amherst loss to Williams, they will receive the bid before Williams. Only reason -- I haven't seen either team play in person, and based on what I know of both teams I'd say Williams is the better ballclub. However, all that matters is what the committee is thinking, and right now they're leading towards Amherst.

[Rick Vaughn]

The regional ranking may hold importance when determining an at large, but I get the sense that they do not hold as much water when ranking the teams within the regional.  I am pretty sure Williams was 4th or 5th in NE going into the regional last year, but were given the 3 seed.  That is why I am slightly skeptical of regional rankings.  Do you have any knowledge of similar situations?