BB: Central Region Rankings

[Gregory Sager]

NPU's got the automatic bid from the CCIW, and, since Wesleyan picked up three wins in the CCIW tourney, my guess is that the Titans will get a bid as well. What I'm wondering is: a) who's going where; and b) will the committee send one of the CCIW teams to Memphis and the other to Whitewater?

I'd love for NPU to go to Whitewater, so that I can see the Vikings play, but everyone around the NPU program seems to feel that the Park will be flying to the Volunteer State this week, courtesy of the NCAA.

Perhaps it's neither here nor there, but IWU could bus to Millington while NPU would have to fly as you stated.

My thoughts exactly. And, being well aware of the NCAA's cost-conscious manner of seeding D3 tourneys, that's why I tend to think that NPU will go to Wisconsin while IWU will go to Tennessee.

NPU is within driving range of Etta as well.

That scenario hadn't even occurred to me. I can't tell you how much I dislike the idea of NPU getting sent to southeastern Ohio, and not simply because Marietta's there.

[OshDude]

Yeah, I'm with you on not going to Etta. Just thought I'd throw it in there.

[D3Vike11]

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3

Updated regional Rankings:

Wash U
Chicago
North Park
IWU
Coe
St. Norbert

How is it that Chicago is ranked #2, IWU #4 yet Chicago doesn't get an at-large bid while IWU does. Chicago had a higher SOS. Could it be that since IWU was within driving distance to Rhodes that they gave it to them? I sure hope that's not the reason.

[Gregory Sager]

Good question. Chicago, as an independent, was Pool B -- but the rule is that, once the Pool B slots have been filled, the remaining Pool B teams are then eligible for Pool C berths. The inclusion of IWU while the Maroons were -- uh, marooned outside of the tourney field is a head-scratcher.

Also, the rankings got NPU's in-region record wrong. It's 28-10, not 27-11.

[izzy stradlin]

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3

Updated regional Rankings:

Wash U
Chicago
North Park
IWU
Coe
St. Norbert

How is it that Chicago is ranked #2, IWU #4 yet Chicago doesn't get an at-large bid while IWU does. Chicago had a higher SOS. Could it be that since IWU was within driving distance to Rhodes that they gave it to them? I sure hope that's not the reason.

Great question.  Chicago's snub makes no sense.  They should be furious.   

[Ralph Turner]

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3

Updated regional Rankings:

Wash U
Chicago
North Park
IWU
Coe
St. Norbert

How is it that Chicago is ranked #2, IWU #4 yet Chicago doesn't get an at-large bid while IWU does. Chicago had a higher SOS. Could it be that since IWU was within driving distance to Rhodes that they gave it to them? I sure hope that's not the reason.

Great question.  Chicago's snub makes no sense.  They should be furious.

As a lowly peon from the ASC, I am glad that the snub occurred to a UAA team.

IMHO, snubs of the conferences such as the UAA, the NESCAC and the NCAC get more attention than snubs of the ASC, the UMAC or the NEAC.

Maybe something productive will arise from this.

[BigPoppa]

My Preseason look at the region:

1. North Park- They have continued to improve every year that Luke Johnsnon has been at the helm. Return All-American pitcher Nick Soldano.

2. Webster- Solid program that steamrools the SLIAC every year. They have upgraded their non-conference schedule so we should get a true feel for the strength of this program early on.

3. Illinois Wesleyan- All-American Kevin Callahan bring his mighty bat back to IWU for another season. Titans are loaded with bats, but if they can find some decent pitching, they should stack up Ws by the handful.

4. WashU- Solid program that made some waves last season. This could be the season that they break through on a national level. They have been on the cusp for the past 5 years.

5. North Central- Arms, arms, and more arms! If they can squeeze out a few runs here and there they could easily be a contender in the region. Their pitching depth will make them a force to be recokned with if they can get deep into a regional.

6. Chicago- Many considered them the biggest snub of the 2012 NCAAs. Expect the Maroons to come out with a massive chip on their shoulder once the snow clear in The Windy City.

7. Insert random IIAC team here... such a balanced conference that it is tough to predict who will come out on top.

8. Carthage- One has to believe that last year's stumble was a blip on the radar. A coach does not get elected to the ABCA Hall of Fame if he cannot adjust to adversity. Augie Schmidt Field opens this season and I find it tough to believe he won't have a contending team on a field that bears his name.

9. Insert #2 IIAC team here... truly, I cannot predict this unpredictable conference


** I am well aware that the entire MWC has been left off of this list, but I'd likely be talking about St. Norbert College as the front-runner. Still, I am not certain that I see them in the top 9 slots in the region. Also, a second SLIAC team has been left off, but I am not even certain WHO would be in that spot (Spalding?)... but i'd likely place the CCIW's Wheaton and Augustana both ahead of those programs. Thoughts?

People jumped on me last spring when I touted North Park (CCIW champ and NCAA bid), Webster (NCAA Central region champ) and WashU (NCAA Bid). I missed on Carthage last year (likely due to my degree from that fine institution).

[D3Vike11]

My Preseason look at the region:

1. North Park- They have continued to improve every year that Luke Johnsnon has been at the helm. Return All-American pitcher Nick Soldano.

2. Webster- Solid program that steamrools the SLIAC every year. They have upgraded their non-conference schedule so we should get a true feel for the strength of this program early on.

3. Illinois Wesleyan- All-American Kevin Callahan bring his mighty bat back to IWU for another season. Titans are loaded with bats, but if they can find some decent pitching, they should stack up Ws by the handful.

4. WashU- Solid program that made some waves last season. This could be the season that they break through on a national level. They have been on the cusp for the past 5 years.

5. North Central- Arms, arms, and more arms! If they can squeeze out a few runs here and there they could easily be a contender in the region. Their pitching depth will make them a force to be recokned with if they can get deep into a regional.

6. Chicago- Many considered them the biggest snub of the 2012 NCAAs. Expect the Maroons to come out with a massive chip on their shoulder once the snow clear in The Windy City.

7. Insert random IIAC team here... such a balanced conference that it is tough to predict who will come out on top.

8. Carthage- One has to believe that last year's stumble was a blip on the radar. A coach does not get elected to the ABCA Hall of Fame if he cannot adjust to adversity. Augie Schmidt Field opens this season and I find it tough to believe he won't have a contending team on a field that bears his name.

9. Insert #2 IIAC team here... truly, I cannot predict this unpredictable conference


** I am well aware that the entire MWC has been left off of this list, but I'd likely be talking about St. Norbert College as the front-runner. Still, I am not certain that I see them in the top 9 slots in the region. Also, a second SLIAC team has been left off, but I am not even certain WHO would be in that spot (Spalding?)... but i'd likely place the CCIW's Wheaton and Augustana both ahead of those programs. Thoughts?

People jumped on me last spring when I touted North Park (CCIW champ and NCAA bid), Webster (NCAA Central region champ) and WashU (NCAA Bid). I missed on Carthage last year (likely due to my degree from that fine institution).

Bold prediction: Chicago will be in the Top 3 by the end of the season. Everything else I pretty much agree with.

[BigPoppa]

Here is my first shot at a regional ranking now that everyone has a handful of games under their belts:

1. Webster 15-5 (SoS#69...a 3-4 stumble to start but ten in a row with a few over top notch programs)

2. IWU 12-4 (#85...They may have found some arms to go with their potent offense)

3. Wartburg 14-4 (#171...have they found the magic of years' past?)

4. WashU 14-8 (#45...Not as good as I expected them to be at this point, but showing signs of life... some great wins(IWU twice, Webster, North Park, SNC twice) are negated by terrible losses (Grinnell twice). Appear to have some solid arms in order to beat top squads but struggle when big dogs don't throw)

5. Augustana 14-4 (#87...another solid start... can they avoid the mid-late season slide that has always doomed them in the past?)

6. Spalding 16-4 (#289...Not the toughest schedule but they do have a great win over #1 Cortland State)

7. North Park 11-9 (#112...Not sure what to think of them yet... seemed to struggle out of the gate a bit but hard to bet againt a returning all-American on the hill)

8. St. Norbert College 6-3 (#123...Really just getting going at this point... should roll through the MWC again and pile up wins. Lost twice to IWU, once to WashU... no HUGE wins at this point which could change with a DH vs UW LaCrosse on the horizon)

9. Loras 8-3 (#244...a 5-0 IIAC start has them atop the field in Iowa...)

10. North Central 10-8 (#61... looks like they may have some great arms atop their rotation, but struggle a bit once forced to dig deeper)

[BigPoppa]

I thought for sure their would be some reaction or chatter related to my attempt at ranking the region. First NCAA regional rankings due out around April 26th.

[TheSportsFan]

Wartburg is very solid.  Loras is 8-4 and only 2-0 in the IIAC....nice to include a 2nd IIAC team, but there is no reason to believe Loras is a contender.

[TheSportsFan]

Top Central Teams - not based on the goofy "Region Rankings" rules (Overall Records):

1. Webster (26-6)

2. Illinois Wesleyan (23-7)

3. Wartburg (26-6)

4. Augustana (23-6)

5. Spalding (25-8)

6. Wash U (20-11)

7. Coe (20-9)

[BigPoppa]

My prediction of how the regional ranking would look if it came out today:

1. Webster
2. Augustana
3. IWU
4. Wartburg
5. WashU
6. Coe

[BigPoppa]

An Early Look at BigPoppa's Central Region Rankings:

1.   Illinois Wesleyan- I really, really like their chances to come out of this regional this year
2.   Wartburg- Time for Wartburg to return to what it was and should be
3.   Webster- Coming off a great season, but I think they are bit over rated at this point
4.   Augustana- Always possess BIG BATS, expect them to make some noise this year
5.   WashU- On the verge of finally breaking through?
6.   North Park- Lost some big arms but always in the mix
7.   St. Norbert- Great program hamstrung by a weak MWC schedule. Does a great job scheduling              WIAC teams to put them in position for a bid
8.   Wheaton- Two words: Trey Martin
9.   Spalding- Ready to make a run at Webster in the SLIAC
10.   Carthage- Just cannot imagine they'd miss the post-season a third straight year.

[BigPoppa]

An Early Look at BigPoppa's Central Region Rankings:

1.   Illinois Wesleyan- I really, really like their chances to come out of this regional this year
2.   Wartburg- Time for Wartburg to return to what it was and should be
3.   Webster- Coming off a great season, but I think they are bit over rated at this point
4.   Augustana- Always possess BIG BATS, expect them to make some noise this year
5.   WashU- On the verge of finally breaking through?
6.   North Park- Lost some big arms but always in the mix
7.   St. Norbert- Great program hamstrung by a weak MWC schedule. Does a great job scheduling              WIAC teams to put them in position for a bid
8.   Wheaton- Two words: Trey Martin
9.   Spalding- Ready to make a run at Webster in the SLIAC
10.   Carthage- Just cannot imagine they'd miss the post-season a third straight year.

Full slates of games in the next ten days should help to shake this up a bit.