Great Lakes Region

[ScotsFan]

I think the NCAC is a one-bid league unless Wooster loses in the NCAC final.

As long as Woo, Cap, and Hope all win their auto bids, OWU is currently the first place GL pool C candidate - and I can't recall the GL ever not getting a pool C bid.

It's also not unusual for an upset or two to occur in either the OAC, MIAA or the NCAC conference tournaments...

I think I side more with Mr. Ypsi though.  If all fo the conference favorites garner the automatic bids from the GL Region and OWU loses in the NCAC finals, they should definately get some consideration for a Pool C, IMO.  I would think at that point it would come down to how many upsets happened across the country in all the other conference tournaments.  The fewer upsets, the better OWU's chances.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So which GL teams might you all say are in, even if they lose their conference tournament?

[Mr. Ypsi]

So which GL teams might you all say are in, even if they lose their conference tournament?

IF they have no more losses before their conference tourneys, I'd say Cap, Woo, and Hope are all locks for a C (and all would still be credible candidates even with one additional loss, though Hope's OWP/OOWP is a bit shaky).  I haven't done my homework on other teams ranked below OWU.

[smedindy]

It's also not unusual for an upset or two to occur in either the OAC, MIAA or the NCAC conference tournaments...

I think I side more with Mr. Ypsi though.  If all fo the conference favorites garner the automatic bids from the GL Region and OWU loses in the NCAC finals, they should definately get some consideration for a Pool C, IMO.  I would think at that point it would come down to how many upsets happened across the country in all the other conference tournaments.  The fewer upsets, the better OWU's chances.

When all is said and done, I think 'Berg may move ahead of OWU.

[smedindy]

And it seems so, since OWU just whizzed it's "C" chance down its leg after losing to Earlham. Yes, Earlham. A team that Oberlin beat TWICE!

[ScotsFan]

Nothing like following up your first sweep of Wittenberg in 50+ years with a loss to The EC?!    This is exactly what separates the haves from the have nots in the NCAC.  Losses like this one suffered by OWU are almost unheard of at Wooster...

And as Smeds pointed out, the Bishops only shot at making the post season is to win the NCAC tournament.  The EC shot down any hopes of a Pool C the Bishops thought they might still have today.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Something I saw on the Daily Dose from sac made me think of this. I looked in FAQ and didn't see anything so if I missed I apologize and please someone direct me accordingly. But I wonder are there any technical criteria to how the regional representatives rank teams? Of course only in-region games count and the NCAA makes use of something like RPI and I believe OWP and OOWP. But as sac noted it seems like the GL reps were looking at more than just the numbers, ie Hope women 2 and not 1, the men's side may be more accurate except it excludes 2 in region games for Hope, which may change things up.

[sac]

This is taken directly from the tournament handbook


The primary criteria emphasize regional competition (all contests leading up to NCAA championships); all criteria listed will be evaluated (not listed in priority order).
• Win-loss percentage against regional opponents.
• Strength-of-schedule (only contests versus regional competition).
- Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OWP).
- Opponents' Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OOWP).
[See Appendix B for explanation of OWP and OOWP calculations.]
• In-region head-to-head competition.
• In-region results versus common regional opponents.
• In-region results versus regionally ranked teams.
Note:
• Ranked opponents are defined as those teams ranked at the time of the rankings/selection process only.
• Conference postseason contests are included.
• Contests versus provisional and reclassifying members in their third and fourth years shall count in the primary criteria. Provisional and reclassifying members shall remain ineligible for rankings and selections.

--------------------------------------------------------------
The question most have is what does the committee do with the OWP and OOWP numbers, do they combine them in some way to get a single number.  Who knows.  In the case of the ladies its really hard to tell exactly what put Thomas More over Hope.

I haven't looked at the men's closely, I'm not positive Hope's 2 missing regional games would change things much.  Pat has calculated OWP and OOWP using the games that are all supposed to be regional.

[kiltedbryan]

So, to be clear, a game such as St. Thomas v. Wooster would not and does not have any bearing on the primary criteria, right?

• Strength-of-schedule (only contests versus regional competition).
- Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OWP).
- Opponents' Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OOWP).
• In-region results versus regionally ranked teams.

I read that to say that OWP and OOWP are calculated purely on the in-region games- and that "in-region" results only matter among other teams in the same region. 

Does the secondary criteria add in the "Results vs. teams ranked in other regions?" and the "overall DIII winning percentage?"

[Pat Coleman]

I think it was pointed out elsewhere that Thomas More is 2-0 against regionally ranked teams while Hope is 1-0.

[sac]

I think it was pointed out elsewhere that Thomas More is 2-0 against regionally ranked teams while Hope is 1-0.

I went over that, and I came up with a .002 difference in the strength of schedule when you combine the numbers.  Plus the 1 extra regionally ranked win.

Whatever was used to put Thomas More #1........its awfully close thats for certain.

This week Hope picks up another 2 in-region games to Thomas More's one, but the SOS numbers will probably favor TM by a slightly wider margin.

[sac]

Let me apologize ahead of time for the poll this week, its going to be a little late and sorry I didn't get around to a "how they fared".

I'm off to watch my favorite 6-8 Sophomore High School Center tonight.  I have visions of seeing him on ESPN someday playing for the big boys.

[David Collinge]

I'm off to watch my favorite 6-8 Sophomore High School Center tonight.  I have visions of seeing him on ESPN someday playing for the big boys.

[sac]

I'm off to watch my favorite 6-8 Sophomore High School Center tonight.  I have visions of seeing him on ESPN someday playing for the big boys.

That was just too easy.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm feeling cheated - our 'Big Boy' is only about 5'2" (though it might be close to 6'8" to the top of the burger).