BB: Central Region Rankings

[OshDude]

Those numbers change every day.

And I also think those are the national SoS numbers, and the regional committees only make decisions based on regional SoS.  I could be wrong though...

The numbers on the SOS template are regional.

[BigPoppa]

My guess as to the rankings this week: (last week's spot)

1. Coe (1) 3-0 (since last regional ranking)
2. Carthage (2) 6-0
3. WashU (6) 3-1
4. Buena Vista (3) 3-2
5-7. North Park (NR) 3-1, Illinois Wesleyan(4) 3-2, North Central (NR) 3-2

*Dropped out: Augustana (5)

[mwunder]

New rankings updated today according to the NCAA website:


CENTRAL         
1   Coe                           22-9   24-10
2   Illinois Wesleyan           20-9   22-12
3   Buena Vista                19-11   20-13
4   Carthage                    16-5   23-8
5   Augustana (Ill.)           14-11   21-11
6   Washington-St. Louis    28-15   29-17

Appears pretty up-to-date as well since the only game not in here on Carthage's schedule would be the May 3rd game vs. Concordia Mequon.  IWU's last game is also not included in the calculations it would appear.

[Gregory Sager]

So Illinois Wesleyan drops two out of three to an Elmhurst team that's won roughly one out of every three regional games it's played, and yet the Titans climb two spots in the poll. Meanwhile, Carthage goes undefeated over the week, and drops two spots.

Color me confused.

[mwunder]

So Illinois Wesleyan drops two out of three to an Elmhurst team that's won roughly one out of every three regional games it's played, and yet the Titans climb two spots in the poll. Meanwhile, Carthage goes undefeated over the week, and drops two spots.

Color me confused.

That makes two of us...

[cubs]

1 Coe 22-9 24-10 (--)
2 Illinois Wesleyan 20-9 22-12 (+2)
3 Buena Vista 19-11 20-13 (--)
4 Carthage 16-5 23-8 (-2)
5 Augustana (Ill.) 14-11 21-11 (--)
6 Washington-St. Louis 28-15 29-17 (--)

The number in parentheses is the change from Regional Ranking #1.  Four of the six teams stay right where they were, which I would be would be the most of any of the Regions.  By contrast, all six of the Midwest Region teams changed spots, with one falling out altogether (St. Olaf.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

So Illinois Wesleyan drops two out of three to an Elmhurst team that's won roughly one out of every three regional games it's played, and yet the Titans climb two spots in the poll. Meanwhile, Carthage goes undefeated over the week, and drops two spots.

Color me confused.

That makes two of us...

Make that three of us, and I bleed green!

[BigPoppa]

New rankings updated today according to the NCAA website:


CENTRAL         
1   Coe                           22-9   24-10
2   Illinois Wesleyan           20-9   22-12
3   Buena Vista                19-11   20-13
4   Carthage                    16-5   23-8
5   Augustana (Ill.)           14-11   21-11
6   Washington-St. Louis    28-15   29-17

Appears pretty up-to-date as well since the only game not in here on Carthage's schedule would be the May 3rd game vs. Concordia Mequon.  IWU's last game is also not included in the calculations it would appear.

So, so confusing. Not sure how Carthage goes 6-0 between rankings and DROPS two spots.

[augie_superfan]

Even as an Augie fan I find it pretty ridiculous that they are still ranked.  Their SOS of .568 is the highest among the about top 10 candidates in the region but I still can't believe that it holds so much weight.  Luckily for the teams on the outside looking in, even if Augie can complete the week at 6-0, their SOS will take a major hit.  It'll probably end up in the 0.53 range depending on how it all plays out.  Both NCC and NPU should raise theirs above 0.51-0.52 which should probably get both of them placed ahead of Augie when you factor in the head to head results.

I'm also surprised that Chicago hasn't overtaken Wash U.  Now, I think Chicago should not be ahead of either NCC or NPU but I also don't think Wash U should be ranked.  Chicago went 3-0 against Wash U.  Chicago has a bit lower Win % but obviously that is not the largest factor.  It must be the 13 vs. 5 games vs. regionally ranked teams even though overall, they have the same SOS.

Personally, I find these regional rankings a complete joke.  I love Augie but they have not proven to be one of the top 6 teams in the region and should not be ranked.  I only hope that they do not stand in the way of a better team "getting to the table" on selection Sunday (or Monday).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie_superfan - agreed.  I was fully prepared for IWU to fall out of the rankings, or at least to #6, after losing 2 of 3 to mediocre-at-best Elmhurst - and they jump to #2?!  WOW, the DH sweep of (unranked) Webster must have been really impressive!

I expected Carthage to be #1 or #2, Augie out, and NCC, NPU, and IWU fighting for #5 and #6.  These rankings blow my mind.

[BigPoppa]

I am ok with Carthage being #4 as I thought they should have been there last week and was shocked they were #2. The issue I have is that they dropped after going 6-0 this week.

In my mind, the committee is simply making an adjustment for screwing it up the first week... either that or they are completely crazy. I am still in disbelief that Augustana is still ranked when North Park and North Central are not.

I GIVE UP!

[CCIWFAN6]

There is still a chance for the top 4 teams in the CCIW standings to make their resumes significantly better this weekend, even if they are not ideally positioned after this ranking.  North Park has 3 against Carthage while North Central has 3 against IWU. 

Even as a huge IWU fan, I cannot figure out how in the world they are #2.  Having watched them play a number of times this year, they do not pass the eye test for me as being a top 2 regional team.  They have no depth on the mound which has resulted in some very bad non-conference losses and only 2 notable non-conference wins (doubleheader sweep of an unranked webster team).

[mr_b]

I am ok with Carthage being #4 as I thought they should have been there last week and was shocked they were #2. The issue I have is that they dropped after going 6-0 this week.

In my mind, the committee is simply making an adjustment for screwing it up the first week... either that or they are completely crazy. I am still in disbelief that Augustana is still ranked when North Park and North Central are not.

I GIVE UP!

Possible explanations:

1. faulty dart board
2. defective magic 8-ball
3. ouija board with missing letters

[upandin]

I do not know who is on the committee, but I have been told that it is coaches from different schools, in each of the regional conferences.   The people on this board that seem to know the in and out's of this process have painted the picture that these rankings are strictly a numbers game.  (In-region winning % and SOS.)  I would hope that some head to head results and coaches opinions play a part as well.  In the end, those coaches, from those conference schools, have to speak up for the best representatives from their conference.  Sounds like NP and NC are not getting any love from the CCIW coaches.  Looks like most of the people on this board are saying the numbers are invalid and that the numbers are giving undeserving teams more credit than they should get.  Maybe the fans on this board should decide the rankings.  HA HA HA   At the end of the season lets all just hope that the Central region has some deserving teams to get Pool C bids.  If no one has respectable #'s the national committee will not take any of them from our region.   If the "better teams" (in the opinion of this board) are ranked, but have crappy #'s, then we will only be cheering for our AQ's
Kind of funny I don't remember anyone feeling bad for Webster when they had a crappy SOS and the best record in the region.  O-ya that's because they are not part of the almighty CCIW. 

[BigPoppa]

I do not know who is on the committee, but I have been told that it is coaches from different schools, in each of the regional conferences.   The people on this board that seem to know the in and out's of this process have painted the picture that these rankings are strictly a numbers game.  (In-region winning % and SOS.)  I would hope that some head to head results and coaches opinions play a part as well.  In the end, those coaches, from those conference schools, have to speak up for the best representatives from their conference.  Sounds like NP and NC are not getting any love from the CCIW coaches.  Looks like most of the people on this board are saying the numbers are invalid and that the numbers are giving undeserving teams more credit than they should get.  Maybe the fans on this board should decide the rankings.  HA HA HA   At the end of the season lets all just hope that the Central region has some deserving teams to get Pool C bids.  If no one has respectable #'s the national committee will not take any of them from our region.   If the "better teams" (in the opinion of this board) are ranked, but have crappy #'s, then we will only be cheering for our AQ's
Kind of funny I don't remember anyone feeling bad for Webster when they had a crappy SOS and the best record in the region.  O-ya that's because they are not part of the almighty CCIW. 

Point taken.