BB: Central Region Rankings

[BigPoppa]

Here is what I see:


1. Carthage
2/3/4. Webster, IWU, Loras
5. WashU
6/7. Beloit, Luther
8. Chicago
9. Buena Vista
10. Wheaton


*There is a real mess behind Carthage right now. No idea what to do with 2-4. I could even see WashU slipping into the #2 or #3 spot. Wheaton is under rated and can make a big leap this week with a solid CCIW tourney.

[OshDude]

Here is what I see:


1. Carthage
2/3/4. Webster, IWU, Loras
5. WashU
6/7. Beloit, Luther
8. Chicago
9. Buena Vista
10. Wheaton


*There is a real mess behind Carthage right now. No idea what to do with 2-4. I could even see WashU slipping into the #2 or #3 spot. Wheaton is under rated and can make a big leap this week with a solid CCIW tourney.

I really hope Beloit is not there tomorrow. A .440 OWP shouldn't cut it. No love for SNC?

[BigPoppa]

Whether I put SNC in or not, the MWC tourney winner will be the only MWC bid. Still, I am not a huge SNC guy, put they can prove me wrong this weekend.

[JohnnyU]

How about...

1. Carthage
2. Loras
3. Illinois Wesleyan (Beat WashU twice)
4. WashU (Beat Webster 3 times)
5. Webster
6. Luther/Beloit

[BigPoppa]

How about...

1. Carthage
2. Loras
3. Illinois Wesleyan (Beat WashU twice)
4. WashU (Beat Webster 3 times)
5. Webster
6. Luther/Beloit

Makes sense, but I cannot see Loras at #2. Everything else is great.

[trip21]

Luther could be the new #2. They are ranked 19th in the most recent ABCA poll.

1. Carthage
2. Luther
3. IWU
4. Wash U
5. Loras
6. Webster/Chicago

[BigPoppa]

Not sure if the regional ranking means mnuch in the Central for anyone other than Carthage and WashU who are the only teams that have a shot a Pool B or Pool C bid. I said it two months ago... the Central is very weak in 2009 and will not match up against other regions very well for Pool C bids. A #2 central ranking may not even make the top ten in another region this year and remember that Pool C bids are all about national matchups, not regional.

[warrior35]

If Loras is the 2 seed in the region either they have gotten 50 times better since I saw them, or everyone else is a complete joke... which I know isn't the case.  Loras' record is decent, but they do not deserve a 2 seed.  Based upon what I've seen, and head to head records this is how I think the Central should look.  I think if Wheaton and Wesleyan do well in the CCIW tourney they could really help each other out as far as post-season rankings.

1. Carthage
2. Illinois Wesleyan (Beat WashU twice)
3. WashU (Beat Webster 3 times)
4. Webster
5. Loras
6. Luther

[JAdaPrince]

Need we remember that Webster defeated Illinois Wesleyan head to head, so the thought of IWU being ahead of Wash U cuz of its head to head win, should hold some weight when discussing Webster and IWU.

But hey, when teams are this evenly matched, does it really matter what seed you receive. The only difference could be the top seed, but other than that 2-6 are is a crap shoot. Regardless of what number is before the team name, the competitive factor will still be the same.

[BigToughGuy]

Need we remember that Webster defeated Illinois Wesleyan head to head, so the thought of IWU being ahead of Wash U cuz of its head to head win, should hold some weight when discussing Webster and IWU.

But hey, when teams are this evenly matched, does it really matter what seed you receive. The only difference could be the top seed, but other than that 2-6 are is a crap shoot. Regardless of what number is before the team name, the competitive factor will still be the same.

Very good point here.  Last year the #6 Seed from the Central Region (Webster) played the #5 Seed who was shipped in from the West (Linfield) for the Central Region Championship.  That being said, I think the #6 seed would be the least desirable this year having to face Carthage in the first round.  The #2 through #6 could all swap places and no one would notice.

[d3baseballnut]

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

I bet you luther will be higher.

Dude, ppl get off the IWU bandwagon....they have done nothing all year. I dont care who they have played. They do not deserve to make the tournament. 22-13 in region is hardly deserving of a Pool C bid.....let's get serious......

.....and Curry's bid is in doubt at 34-7???get real.

That cannot happen if these selections are truly done nationally..

[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

I bet you luther will be higher.

Dude, ppl get off the IWU bandwagon....they have done nothing all year. I dont care who they have played. They do not deserve to make the tournament. 22-13 in region is hardly deserving of a Pool C bid.....let's get serious......

.....and Curry's bid is in doubt at 34-7???get real.

That cannot happen if these selections are truly done nationally..

LOL. IWU has two bad in-region losses all year. Maybe should have won a game or two vs. Wheaton, but the others are OK thanks to Benedictine playing better at the end.

You might be correct that IWU is not #2. We'll see.

[Mr. Ypsi]

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

I bet you luther will be higher.

Dude, ppl get off the IWU bandwagon....they have done nothing all year. I dont care who they have played. They do not deserve to make the tournament. 22-13 in region is hardly deserving of a Pool C bid.....let's get serious......

.....and Curry's bid is in doubt at 34-7???get real.

That cannot happen if these selections are truly done nationally..

LOL. IWU has two bad in-region losses all year. Maybe should have won a game or two vs. Wheaton, but the others are OK thanks to Benedictine playing better at the end.

You might be correct that IWU is not #2. We'll see.

Everyone's putting Carthage on a whole different plane from the rest of the Central (and overall I don't disagree), but forgetting that IWU lost a 3-game series to them by a combined score of 6-5.  We may or may not beat them in the CCIW tourney, but we hardly quake in our boots over them.

BTW, IWU lost their two aces (Aronson and Kulavic) before the season even began, yet are still a close second in ERA in the conference.

[BigPoppa]

Here is what I see:


1. Carthage
2/3/4. Webster, IWU, Loras
5. WashU
6/7. Beloit, Luther
8. Chicago
9. Buena Vista
10. Wheaton


*There is a real mess behind Carthage right now. No idea what to do with 2-4. I could even see WashU slipping into the #2 or #3 spot. Wheaton is under rated and can make a big leap this week with a solid CCIW tourney.

I was WAY OFF this time... shocking to say the least:

Central Region Overall Record In-Region Record
1. Carthage 29-5 25-2
2. St. Norbert 21-11 19-10
3. Illinois Wesleyan 23-13 21-12
4. Coe 21-17 20-12
5. Loras 25-12 2011
6. Luther 27-11 25-11

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think the committee must be drawing names from a hat!

St. Norbert from nowhere to 2nd (must have been a helluva week!); Coe and Loras also new.  Webster, BV, and Beloit all drop out.  Wash U still no where to be seen.

I hereby withdraw from attempting to predict ANYTHING!