Great Lakes Region

[ScotsFan]

<insert picture of me banging my head against a wall>

You mean like this?



I think it's easier to try and guess what the power ball numbers are going to be than it is trying to figure out what exactly the NCAA is going to do when it comes to selecting and bracketing the tournament. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

<insert picture of me banging my head against a wall>

You mean like this?



I think it's easier to try and guess what the power ball numbers are going to be than it is trying to figure out what exactly the NCAA is going to do when it comes to selecting and bracketing the tournament. 

Actually, Pat and others have gotten pretty proficient about selection.

Bracketing, not so much!

[Pat Coleman]

The NCAA have an amazing number of ways to bracket teams, not to mention the ability to take what we project and intentionally change them.

[Pat Coleman]

I would say matching the NCAA on bracketing is a near-impossible task. My goal isn't to match the NCAA on bracketing as much as show them and fans what's possible.

I don't lose any sleep over how the bracket matches. Actually, I don't lose any sleep over the number of teams we get right either, but at least we do keep track of that.

[Gregory Sager]

I would say matching the NCAA on bracketing is a near-impossible task. My goal isn't to match the NCAA on bracketing as much as show them and fans what's possible.

I don't lose any sleep over how the bracket matches. Actually, I don't lose any sleep over the number of teams we get right either, but at least we do keep track of that.

Frankly, I wish that the committee actually looked at your bracket suggestions. Last year's Bracket Of Death was an atrocity and a derogation of duty, as far as I'm concerned. I fully understand the need to keep every matchup possible within the 500-mile limit, but they could've easily re-jiggered the bracket a bit and prevented one section from having almost the entire upper half of the Top 25 poll without violating the 500-mile constraint.

[Mr. Ypsi]

For the record, my quip was not meant as a criticism.  I generally find your brackets more 'sensible' than the ones that actually arrive - while still being financially responsible, you've shown how to avoid having a Bracket of Death.

[Pat Coleman]

Not worried, Ypsi. I know there are people -- heavy users of the boards -- that seem to hate everything we do. But I know you're not one of them.

[sac]

or maybe the operators of this board can't take criticism or don't like it when people point out the obvious. 

[Pat Coleman]

Actually, no, I don't mind criticism at all. I think you mistake me for the 2005 Pat Coleman. But I find it interesting that people have so many bad things to say about us behind our back, yet put on a smiley face to our face. Why bother with such hypocrisy? Life's too short.

[HopeConvert]

I can't understand why St. Thomas didn't get sent to Stevens Point and Hope to Kenosha. Geographically it would have made so much more sense.

Plus, I still haven't availed myself of the chance to see John Dowie's handiwork to the south, and am dying to do so.

[Pat Coleman]

That would have put two MIAC teams at one regional when it was possible to avoid it without violating the 500-mile limit. Also, the committee may have felt it was more appropriate in terms of seeding to send St. Thomas to a lower-seeded host team's site.

[HopeConvert]

That would have put two MIAC teams at one regional when it was possible to avoid it without violating the 500-mile limit. Also, the committee may have felt it was more appropriate in terms of seeding to send St. Thomas to a lower-seeded host team's site.

Cool. Thanks.

I guess they didn't take my schedule into consideration. Shocking. 

[Pat Coleman]

I guess they didn't take my schedule into consideration. Shocking. 

St. Thomas      20-3     .870     .544     .538    .542
Hope    16-3    .842    .543    .504    .530

Regional winning percentage and SOS are bolded.

[wooscotsfan]

Final NCAA Rankings for the Great Lakes Region released today:

   Team, In-Region Record, Overall Record
1. Wooster 23-4 23-5
2. Hope 16-3 21-7
3. Wilmington (Ohio) 20-6 21-7
4. John Carroll 18-6 20-6
5. Calvin 15-4 19-9
6. Wittenberg 17-7 21-7

[KnightSlappy]

Here's my Great Lakes regional RPI rankings (including this year's new home/neutral/road strength of schedule weighting as laid out in the NCAA handbook).

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2011/01/peek-at-great-lakes-regional-rankings.html

It's easier for me to format the tables on the blog than it is using the forum table code here.

Spoiler: Olivet is #1.