BB: Central Region Rankings

[sportsguru4]

I think we're picking nits here and missing the point. Beating a team with a .570 win% or a .600 win% is a good win. .570 or .580 is a great OWP (does any team in the central have a better one?).  Yes, the SLIAC teams hurt the OOWP but IWU, Case, and Emory help it.

Point is, there's a perception that WashU is beating on the SLIAC while other teams have played more difficult schedules and had better records. That's not true.

I really do not have an issue with Washington U's schedule.  They play teams in the area.  Not much else they can do.   

I am more worried about several other things. 

- They have played 26 games and are 4 games above .500.
- They tend to play a lot of 7 inning games for double headers. 
- The appear to have only 1 true threat as a pitcher.  As highlighted last week when they played Beloit and Webster.  They threw Rogoff 1st game against Beloit (7 inn) then almost were 10 run ruled the next 3 games.

They were absolutely manhandled by Webster.

I think no question if game 1 was a nine inning game against Beloit that Wash U also loses that game. They appear to have very thin pitching depth and Beloit was a hit away from winning that game. I think if they played 2 more innings then they definitely win that game but anyways that's not what happened, I just think Wash U is very vulnerable on the mound and that was exposed last weekend by BC and Webster.

[BigPoppa]

Top in-region winning percentages:
1.   Webster   SLIAC 11-1 .917
2.   North Central  CCIW 13-3 .813
3.   Buena Vista  IIAC 12-4 .750
4.   Greenville SLIAC 12-4 .750
5.   Central  IIAC 14-5 .737
6.   Wheaton  CCIW 11-4 .733
7.   Simpson  IIAC 10-4 .714
8.   North Park  CCIW 12-5 .705
9.   Illinois College MWC 8-4 .667
10.   Carthage CCIW 8-5 .615
11.   Coe IIAC 11-8 .579
12.   Beloit  MWC 9-7 .563

My rankings of the region:
1. Wheaton
2. North Central
3. Webster
4. Buena Vista
5. Carthage
6. Central

[keithhernandez]

Do you guys think if WashU wins out its last nine games (Knox, Webster, Milikin, Chicago(4), Depauw(2)) they can get a Pool B bid with a 24-12 record this year?

[HITandRUN463]

Top in-region winning percentages:
1.   Webster   SLIAC 11-1 .917
2.   North Central  CCIW 13-3 .813
3.   Buena Vista  IIAC 12-4 .750
4.   Greenville SLIAC 12-4 .750
5.   Central  IIAC 14-5 .737
6.   Wheaton  CCIW 11-4 .733
7.   Simpson  IIAC 10-4 .714
8.   North Park  CCIW 12-5 .705
9.   Illinois College MWC 8-4 .667
10.   Carthage CCIW 8-5 .615
11.   Coe IIAC 11-8 .579
12.   Beloit  MWC 9-7 .563

My rankings of the region:
1. Wheaton
2. North Central
3. Webster
4. Buena Vista
5. Carthage
6. Central

I think this is a huge week in games.  Wheaton has a big series against North Central College.  Any predictions for the series?

[BigPoppa]

BigPoppa's Central Region Rankings Preview:
1. North Central
2. Webster
3. North Park
4. Central
5. Carthage
6. Buena Vista
7. St. Norbert

[theoneandonly]

You wouldnt have greenville in your top in the region? I find this hard to believe. Also what do you think about Neeces performance this season.. Will hands down be a 1st team all region, I definatly look for his name to be on the All American list.

[BigToughGuy]

I have to agree with Big Poppa on leaving Greenville out of the rankings.  They are 19-5 in-region I believe, but their strength of schedule is ranked 356 out of 368.  They have losses to Knox (3-23 this season) & MacMurray (2-26 this year), which there is absolutely no excuse for.  Those two teams are brutal.  They also haven't played the top two teams in their own conference yet.  Losing 2 of 3 to a very average Wash U team doesn't help them either. 

I agree that Neece's stats are absolutely outrageous regardless of the competition.  He should be considered for both All-Region and All-American teams.  However, the stats would be toned down slightly if it weren't for the cupcake schedule.

[droppinbombs47]

With the regional rankings coming out tomorrow I would like to hear some people's predictions.  Here are mine for good measure and how I would rank them according to my research on the strength of schedule.

1) Buena Vista
2) St. Norbert
3) North Central
4) Carthage
5) Webster
6) Coe
7) North Park

[CCIWFan]

1. Buena Vista
2. St. Norbert
3. Webster
4. North Central (Ill.)
5. Carthage
6. Ripon
7. North Park

[BigPoppa]

All records are in-region records:

1. North Central (20-5) Really on a roll right now. Augustana and IWU series on deck for the Cards with Rockford U of Chicago between.
2. Webster (21-1) SoS may hurt their in-region ranking
3. North Park (18-8) Finish CCIW with a sneaky Wheaton and Carthage
4. Central (20-8) I see only one IIAC team getting in so the tourney will be for everything
5. Carthage (16-8) Should pile up three more in-region wins this weekend before facing North Park next weekend. Solid SoS will help them.
6. Buena Vista (20-8) I see only one IIAC team getting in so the tourney will be for everything
7. St. Norbert (11-6) I have no idea what to think of them. Last year, they got a bid based on SoS and promptly fell apart in the regional. Another solid SoS could help them, but they need to roll through the rest of the MWC season.

[TheSportsFan]

1. North Central
2. Buena Vista
3. Webster
4. Carthage
5. Central
6. St. Norbert
7. North Park

[upandin]

1. Buena Vista 
2. North Central 
3. St. Norbert 
4. Webster
5. Carthage
6. Wartburg
Just out:
Coe
NorthPark
Beloit

[BigPoppa]

I'd really like to put the 20-5 Greenville team in the regional rankings, but look at their schedule! Other than the WashU and St. Norbert games, they have played virtually no one worth mentioning and still somehow lost games to Knox AND MacMurray. Their fate may be decided by the series with Webster and that is only if they sweep Fontbonne to end the season.

GREENVILLE (20-5)
1-2 Wash U
1-0 Platteville
2-0 Cornell
1-1 Knox
1-1 St. Norbert
3-0 Principia
3-0 Blackburn
3-0 Eureka
3-0 Westminster
2-1 MacMurray
4/30 Webster
5/1 Webster
5/7 Fontbonne
5/8 Fontbonne

[BigPoppa]

Crunching the number form those who have submitted a regional ranking, this is what the consensus opinion is:
1. North Central
    Buena Vista (tie)
3. Webster
4. St. Norbert
5. Carthage
6. Central
7. North Park
8. Coe
9. Wartburg
    Ripon (tie)

[Gregory Sager]

3. North Park (18-8) Finish CCIW with a sneaky Wheaton and Carthage

NPU is 22-11.