BB: Central Region Rankings

[BigPoppa]

It seems strange to me that no IIAC team could even be in the running for a Pool C bid.

If Carthage, Beloit, Webster and then the IIAC bid are 4 automatics, why wouldn't the IIAC get an at-large.  I feel they should be in consideration.

THe Pool C bids are handed out NATIONALLY, not regionally... the IIAC teams do not fare well against national contenders when put head to head on paper. They will be facing the likes of Millsaps, who lost their conference tourney, for a Pool C bid.

[theoneandonly]

NEW Central Region RANKINGS:

1. Carthage: 26-5/19-2
2. IWU: 21-10/ 19-9
3. Webster: 26-11/25-7
4. Buena Vista: 25-9/20-8
5. Luther: 23-11/21-11
6. Beloit:22-7/16-5

Im not sure what all factors into this but it looks like Webster should be sitting 2 and IWU going down to around 4. Im sure there are some differences obviously in stregnth of schedule. But like BigPoppa said, IWU just got swept by Wheaton, and that should have took them down a peg or two. Also Wash U is playing good ball and hosting a 22-8 Record, perhaps we should be be bumping Beloit or Luther?

[warrior35]

I'm not sure how much I like BV being in the 4 spot.  Seems a bit high to me for a team that's in 5th place in the IIAC, which I am not at all impressed with.  They also lost their series against Luther... but I guess the last loss wasn't factored in.

[theoneandonly]

Wow I didnt realize that. They are basically going to have to WIN their conference tourney, because I just dont see them getting a Bid as a 5th place team.

[BigPoppa]

Wow I didnt realize that. They are basically going to have to WIN their conference tourney, because I just dont see them getting a Bid as a 5th place team.

The IIAC, MWC and SLIAC teams all have to win their conference tourneys to gain bids. Not sure if anyone is strong enough to earn a Pool C, Webster included. The only team I see as strong enough for a Pool C should they fall is Carthage. For some reason, the NCAA still has IWU as #2 which means they might be leaning towards IWU as a second CCIW bid, but I think they need a deep run into the CCIW tourney for that to become a reality.

[JohnnyU]

looks like there could be a lot shuffling in this week's rankings...

[trip21]

My central region rankings:

1. Carthage (clear cut #1. 28-5. Have won 11 straight and 24 of 25. Even if they lose the CCIW tourney they should get a pool C bid and be a #1 or #2 seed in the regional tournament)

2. IWU (They've lost 4 of their last 6 to get to 23-13. That said, they're the only team here to beat Carthage. Still, their record is very marginal for getting a pool C bid if they cant win the CCIW tourney. Ie: they'd better at least reach the finals)

3. Wash U (Won 10 of 11 to get to 25-10. 2 statement wins [and 3 overall] over Webster should lock up a pool B bid.)

4. Webster (27-13. Quality wins against Keystone and IWU early in the season. 24-0 against the SLIAC. Hard to drop them any lower even with their struggles against quality competition. Doubtful for a pool C bid if for some reason they manage to lose to a SLIAC team in their tourney.)

5. Luther (27-11. The ILIAC has great parity this year. Luther, Loras, Wartburg, Coe and Buena Vista have all had good seasons but Luther has the best record and sits with Loras atop the league standings. Whoever wins the ILIAC tourney will be the only ILIAC team to go.)

6. Beloit (24-7 and hoping for a Ripon loss to give them a MWC berth. It's hard to say that they're better than St. Norbert (21-11)- theyre 2-2 against them and have played much worse competition- but there's no pool C bid in this conference anyway)

As it stands, I see the regional being: CCIW winner, ILIAC winner, SLIAC winner, MWC winner, Wash U, and the last spot being for Carthage if they lose or another region's pool C team if they win.

[TheSportsFan]

My Region Notes

Carthage is clearly the best team in the region with the impressive 28-5 record.

The SLIAC is clearly the weakest conference with their four playoff teams having a combined non-conference schedule of 18-43 (.295 win pct.)!!!  That includes Webster who holds a non-conference record of 3-13.  I wonder just how weak this conference is.

CCIW is obviously respectable.  That will be an interesting bracket to follow as other teams need Carthage to win so as not to steal a Pool C bid.  Their four playoff teams have a combined non-conference schedule of 41-25 (.621 win pct.).

I hear over and over how "bad" the IIAC is.  After looking into it I don't see it.  Five of the nine teams have twenty wins, and the 6 teams in the playoffs have a combined non-conference of 58-35 (.624 win pct.).  It seems that the IIAC is held against the fact that those top five or six teams beat up on each other making their conference records not look great.

Apparently it is better to play in a conference like the SLIAC, not lose a game, and get dominated outside of the conference than to play in the IIAC, compete heavily with teams in the conference, and also win the non-conference games.

Top Region Records (based by Win pct.)
---------------------------------------------------
Carthage....................... (28-5).............CCIW
Washington U............... (25-10)...........IND
Luther ...........................(27-11)...........IIAC
Buena Vista ..................(26-12)...........IIAC
Loras.............................(25-12)...........IIAC
Webster........................(27-13)...........SLIAC
Illinois Wesleyan...........(23-13)...........CCIW

[warrior35]

The problem with stats is we don't have any idea how good the quality of non-conference opponents are.  I know that for many coaches, the location of the spring trip can be highly dependent on their philosophy.  Not all coaches are trying to find the best competition they can find, and even more that are trying to turn programs around just can't get games with quality opponents because of their previous year's record.  The IIAC games I watched this year were a little frustrating, because it just didn't seem like the quality of play was very good.  Maybe I caught them on an off-day?  I don't know, it just seems like the IIAC has lost a lot of the clout that it had in the early 2000's, capped off by Wartburg's run in 2005.  It seems like the pitching dropped off in the year following and just never has come back enough to do anything in the post-season for any of the IIAC teams.  I grew up watching IIAC baseball, and played in it for a year.  But, I do in fact believe it is down, contradictory to the stats.  Maybe they'll prove me wrong in regionals?  We'll see.

[wartburgalum]

I would probably agree that the IIAC is down a bit this year.  There definitely seems to be a shortage of high quality pitching within the conference.  I don't know if kids are deciding to go elsewhere of if it is just a sign of the times.  When I was at Wartburg we always had at least 4 legitimate starters and a solid bullpen, now it seems they can't even fill the rotation.

[BigPoppa]

CCIW Baseball Tournament
Carthage Baseball Field in Kenosha, Wis.
Date   Game   Teams
May 7   Game #2   #2 Illinois Wesleyan vs. #3 Wheaton (Ill.), Noon
May 7   Game #1   #1 Carthage vs. #4 Augustana (Ill.), 3 p.m.
May 8   Game #3   Game #1 loser vs. game #2 loser, 10 a.m.
May 8   Game #4   Game #1 winner vs. game #2 winner, 1 p.m.
May 8   Game #5   Game #3 winner vs. game #4 loser, 4 p.m.
May 9   Game #6   Game #5 winner vs. game #4 winner, Noon
May 9   Game #7   Repeat of game #6, if needed, 3 p.m.

My prediction: Winner-Carthage over IWU

IIAC Baseball Tournament
Game   Teams   Results/Time
1   #4 Wartburg vs. #5 Buena Vista   Thursday, 1:00 pm at Daniels Park
2   #3 Coe vs. #6 Simpson   Thursday, 1:00 pm at Veterans
3   Game 2 winner vs. #2 Luther   Thursday, 4:00 pm
4   Game 1 winner vs. #1 Loras   Thursday, 7:00 pm
5   Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser   Friday, 10:00 am
6   Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser   Friday, 1:00 pm
7   Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner   Friday, 4:00 pm
8   Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner   Friday, 7:00 pm
9   Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner   Saturday, 10:00 am
10   Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner   Saturday, 1:00 pm
11   Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner   Saturday, 4:00 pm (if necessary)

** Daniels Park is Coe College's home field located on Oakland Road NE
Bracket: http://www.iowaconference.com/men/baseball/tournament/2009_bracket.pdf

My prediction: Wartburg over Luther

SLIAC Tournament
Thursday, May 7
Game #1   #4 Fontbonne   vs.   #1 Webster   TBA
Game #2   #3 Greenville   vs.   #2 Maryville   TBA
Game #3   Game 1 loser   vs.    Game 2 loser   TBA
               
Friday, May 8
Game #4   Game 1 winner   vs.   Game 2 winner   TBA
Game #5   Game 3 winner   vs.    Game 4 loser   TBA
               
Saturday, May 9
Game #6   Game 4 winner   vs.   Game 5 winner   TBA
Game #7   If necessary           TBA

All locations Glik Park in Highland, Ill., except where noted

My Prediction: Webster over Maryville


MidWest Conference

All MWC tourney games will be played at St. Norbert College in DePere, WI.

North #1 St. Norbert vs South #2 Grinnell
South #1 Monmouth  vs North #2 Beloit

SNC over Beloit.

This should be a fun weekend of baseball to watch.

[cubs]

Monmouth thumped Grinnell, 15-4 in 7 inings today....

[warrior35]

Ok, so I know Beloit is 22-7 and only has 5 losses in region, but who the heck have they played?  Does anyone believe that Beloit should get a Pool C if they don't win their conference?  I have a hard time supporting any MWC school for a Pool C with their strength of schedule...

[trip21]

I think if Beloit loses to Ripon today they get no pool C and probably drop out of the central region rankings altogether. Even if they made it to the finals of the MWC I dont see them getting a pool C. Too many other strong teams that lost in conference tourneys already.

Anyone know when the next rankings come out? Is it wednesday?

[OshDude]

Here's how I think the RR should look tomorrow.
1. Carthage
2. Illinois Wesleyan
3. Loras
4. Washington
5. Luther
6. Chicago
Next four: Webster, St. Norbert, Coe, Buena Vista