BB: Central Region Rankings

[Gregory Sager]

As of Monday morning, March 1st:

CCIW: 5-0
MWC: 2-0
IIAC: 5-7
SLIAC: 1-5

Any head-to-heads yet between the four conferences?

[wustlfan37]

As of Monday morning, March 1st:

CCIW: 5-0
MWC: 2-0
IIAC: 5-7
SLIAC: 1-5

Any head-to-heads yet between the four conferences?

Coe beat Fontbonne on Sunday after splitting a DH with WashU on Saturday.

[BigPoppa]

Hey, Upandin- a month ago you told me you soon have your own central region rankings out. We are still waiting to see what you think. Still waiting on rosters or would it be easier to do once everybody plays 20 games? Take a chance and roll the dice...

[BigPoppa]

Augustana knocks off Beloit 6-5 in 10 innings.

[TurtleHead]

Augustana knocks off Beloit 6-5 in 10 innings.

Was a really good game.  Augustana is looking like a team that is going to be much better than the 4th best in CCIW and I am pleased at how Beloits starting pitching is shaping up. 

[BigPoppa]

Augustana knocks off Beloit 6-5 in 10 innings.

Was a really good game.  Augustana is looking like a team that is going to be much better than the 4th best in CCIW and I am pleased at how Beloits starting pitching is shaping up. 

Augie is off to a great start, but I still see them as 3rd/4th in the CCIW

[TurtleHead]

Augustana knocks off Beloit 6-5 in 10 innings.

Was a really good game.  Augustana is looking like a team that is going to be much better than the 4th best in CCIW and I am pleased at how Beloits starting pitching is shaping up. 

Augie is off to a great start, but I still see them as 3rd/4th in the CCIW

Game on the 4th with Rose Hulman will be very telling.

[BigPoppa]

Has anyone seen Rose-Hulman's shortstop Tim Tepe play in person? They guy puts up unreal numbers and is at it again this year.

[upandin]

Hey, Upandin- a month ago you told me you soon have your own central region rankings out. We are still waiting to see what you think. Still waiting on rosters or would it be easier to do once everybody plays 20 games? Take a chance and roll the dice...

Ok Pappa here is my best projection.  I know that the rankings will not be voted like this. There are just 2 many factors that effect voting. Many of them have nothing to do with the talent on the field.  The CCIW will always gets love from voters. The balanced IIAC will compete 1-7.  The MWC and SLIAC have to have someone finish in 3rd place. The Independents might make noise though I don't think any of them will have a great year.   

First I give love to the schools I think will win their respective conferences. Not enough of these schools play each other head to head to know so we have to wait until the regional to really find out. 
1.   Carthage  (CCIW Champ)  Here until someone in the CCIW steps up and competes with them.   
2.   Webster  ( SLIAC Champ) Will roll the SLIAC again, Non Conference schedule not as tuff this year
3.   Coe (IIAC Champ) Think they have the all around experience to make a run this year. 
4.   Beloit (MWC Champ) Early season hype should keep them in the minds of voters.
5.   Ill Wesleyan (CCIW # 2) Could be the team to bring Carthage back to the pack.
6.   Buena Vista (IIAC # 2) They have some dynamic players that could carry them if they get hot again.
7.   Wheaton (CCIW #3) Talented enough to be top 5 and just might be.  Show me first.
8.   St. Norbert (MWC #2) Going to continue to win in the MWC will be in it with Beloit all year.
9.   Augustana (CCIW # 4) New faces but always tuff to beat much like #10 not going to just go away
10.   Wartburg (IIAC # 3) Not going to just go away in the IIAC. Much like Augustana.

[BigPoppa]

Not bad. We just have different approaches as to how to rank them. You choose to place all conference champs above all conference #2s and that is fine. Good work and your input is always appreciated.

This will be fun to watch as it unfolds.

[Captain Morgan]

First I give love to the schools I think will win their respective conferences. Not enough of these schools play each other head to head to know so we have to wait until the regional to really find out. 
1.   Carthage  (CCIW Champ)  Here until someone in the CCIW steps up and competes with them.   
2.   Webster  ( SLIAC Champ) Will roll the SLIAC again, Non Conference schedule not as tuff this year
3.   Coe (IIAC Champ) Think they have the all around experience to make a run this year. 
4.   Beloit (MWC Champ) Early season hype should keep them in the minds of voters.
5.   Ill Wesleyan (CCIW # 2) Could be the team to bring Carthage back to the pack.
6.   Buena Vista (IIAC # 2) They have some dynamic players that could carry them if they get hot again.
7.   Wheaton (CCIW #3) Talented enough to be top 5 and just might be.  Show me first.
8.   St. Norbert (MWC #2) Going to continue to win in the MWC will be in it with Beloit all year.
9.   Augustana (CCIW # 4) New faces but always tuff to beat much like #10 not going to just go away
10.   Wartburg (IIAC # 3) Not going to just go away in the IIAC. Much like Augustana.

WOW! I am still trying to figure what you were thinkin with this ranking? Webster ahead of all of those other schools!!

[BigPoppa]

Give him a break, Captain. He gave it a shot. And he is one of the few who has actually attempted to rank the region.

[upandin]

First I give love to the schools I think will win their respective conferences. Not enough of these schools play each other head to head to know so we have to wait until the regional to really find out. 
1.   Carthage  (CCIW Champ)  Here until someone in the CCIW steps up and competes with them.   
2.   Webster  ( SLIAC Champ) Will roll the SLIAC again, Non Conference schedule not as tuff this year
3.   Coe (IIAC Champ) Think they have the all around experience to make a run this year. 
4.   Beloit (MWC Champ) Early season hype should keep them in the minds of voters.
5.   Ill Wesleyan (CCIW # 2) Could be the team to bring Carthage back to the pack.
6.   Buena Vista (IIAC # 2) They have some dynamic players that could carry them if they get hot again.
7.   Wheaton (CCIW #3) Talented enough to be top 5 and just might be.  Show me first.
8.   St. Norbert (MWC #2) Going to continue to win in the MWC will be in it with Beloit all year.
9.   Augustana (CCIW # 4) New faces but always tuff to beat much like #10 not going to just go away
10.   Wartburg (IIAC # 3) Not going to just go away in the IIAC. Much like Augustana.

WOW! I am still trying to figure what you were thinkin with this ranking? Webster ahead of all of those other schools!!

Webster may not be the top team if you are talking head to head.  But they will have a ridiculous record and should be in the regional baring an upset in the SLIAC tourny.  Their top 2 arms and returning offence will make them dangerous in that regional.  So yes they are up there as a regional favorite in my book.

[Captain Morgan]

But wasn't webster like 4-15 outside of the SLIAC last year? If they cannot win outside of thier own conference how can you make them a favorite? Unless you expect multiple SLIAC teams in the regional!

[BigPoppa]

Conference records through 3/4:

CCIW: 10-0
IIAC: 6-8
MWC: 2-3
SLIAC: 2-10

None of this means much at this point as most teams start this weekend and only a few of the games have been head-to-head between the conferences, but just something to chew on a bit.

Surprises to this point:
* Augustana is off to a 7-0 start.
* Beloit struggling out of the gate at 2-3 (losses to Augustana and Rose-Hulman... both should be in next week's rankings)
* IIAC at 6-8 is sort of surprising to me considering many of their matchups were against middle of the pack MIAC teams.
* SLIAC at 2-10, I am not sure if this is surprising to me or not as it follows suit with how the SLIAC fared last year out of league (Call me a CCIW homer or whatever, but the numbers speak for themsleves).