2007 Playoff Field

[smedindy]

Case's reputation, I think, precedes them. But this is not the Case of old!

[DanPadavona]

Anybody ready to take a flier on the NEFC winning its first playoff game this weekend?  Given Hartwick's extreme inconsistency, including a loss to WNEC, I have to believe a Curry victory is a very real possibility Saturday.

Taking a look at the independent computer ratings services:

* Massey has Curry ranked 15 spots higher than Hartwick
* Laz Index rates Hartwick as a 7 point favorite on a neutral field
* My computer power ratings put Curry as a 5 point favorite on a neutral field

[Spence]

Spence--It's clear you don't post (or read) on football much.

FYI last year's UAA champ CMU  beat the SCAC champ in the playoffs and CWRU (a 5-5 team) beat the ODAC champ in the regular season.

The UAA isn't as weak as some folks think.  But if Whalen can't play I wouldn't bet on them either.

So basically I'm an idiot who doesn't have a clue. But then you pretty much agree with me and say you wouldn't bet on them either?

Beating the ODAC champ doesn't gain many points in my mind. I used to live in Virginia. In order to avoid angering folks, I won't give my opinion of the play down there.

Bottom line, Case got lucky that Cap got sent out to Whitewater. All four teams in that half of the Whitewater draw are pretty much coin flips by Massey's Margin of Victory rating, which is IMO the best small school rating out there. Cap is rated 2nd in the bracket. Ohio Northern's rated ahead of Case, and B-W is only two spots behind.

Not sure that half the OAC couldn't win the UAA.

[ADL70]

"If Whalen can't play."  Read before posting.

Then you agree that the bottom half of the bracket is about even.

I  agree that CWRU would probably finish fifth in the OAC, but there are several playoff teams that would be second division OAC teams.

My quarrell: "'I'd take whoever plays Case."

[Spence]

"If Whalen can't play."  Read before posting.

Then you agree that the bottom half of the bracket is about even.

I  agree that CWRU would probably finish fifth in the OAC, but there are several playoff teams that would be second division OAC teams.

My quarrell: "'I'd take whoever plays Case."

Well, perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration. But I hate the fact that teams like them and Curry get high seeds, and it happens regardless of sport in D-III it seems.

Case got a very favorable draw, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see them lose to Widener, even though Widener is no great shakes either.

People on the baseball board know well that I believe the best teams should be in the field regardless of what conference they're from or if they happened to win theirs. Case isn't one of the 32 best teams in D-III, they're just not.

[VOJ]

OK. The first thought I had as the brackets were shown was "Is the NCAA on crack?".

After studying the brackets, I'm sure they are. This is just crazy.

MUC is hosting the "East Region".

Whitewater is hosting the "North Region".

W&J bracket looks OK.

Central gets the gift of the day in having WWW elsewhere.

Interesting. Very interesting.

We've been taking about wanting to see some new teams come to Alliance in the playoffs, but we were thinking North Central, Franklin or Case. We got our wish, but with eastern team.

Interesting indeed.

I think the NCAA finally listened to all the griping that has been going on about the powers of the West having to see each other before a regional final or national semi-final...two years ago Linfield was a number 1 seed, UWW a 2 and SJU a 3 when in fact those three teams and Mount should or could have been number one seeds in various regions...Mount in the East UWW in the North, Linfield in the South(someone has to fly there anyway) and SJU in the West...

I think its a great bracket with one execption...Central should have been the 3rd of the 4 number ones with W&J the 4th...everyone seems to bag on the East for being weak, but truth be told its the south...MHB had two shots at UWW one where Beaver was out of the lineup and on their homefield and could not win, then they came north and got spanked, kind of like Wesley did, just my two cents, but I think its the way it should have been...I bet had SJU not lost, they would have been the number 3 number one with the south being number 4

[VOJ]

All the arguments about D-I going to a playoff system can be thrown out of the window after this year's D-3 selection committee proved to us that a playoff system also does not work.  How this group leaves the Northwest Conference Champion Whitworth Pirates out of this disgraceful playoff tree in incomprehensible.  Many of this year's players were on the team that went unbeaten and to the second round of the playoffs last year.  To be a top 25 team for much of this season, lose it's only D-III game to a top 25 team (in their first game of the year) which got a 5 seed, have the best take away defense in the country and to go 5-0 in a tough conference that has produced 2 National Champions since 2000 and not get in is a travesty.  My guess is after beating #12 Linfield a couple of weeks ago and ending their season, their representative who is on this selection committee did not end up fighting for his own conference.  

Whitworth is the 33rd best team...no doubt, but here is the the thing, you had a chance at a pool B berth and didn't measure up, your conference gets an A spot next year, yes those kids miss out on an opportunity, but having seen your team last year, I am not sure they are better than UWEC, the last team in who took your bid, sorry

[VOJ]

With a new system every year, it's clear the NCAA realizes they are still trying to get it right.

When teams have to schedule several years in advance, it's hard for them to adjust to ever changing criteria.

Playing good teams works under any system, I think. The other system was too easy to game, as it were, where you could play middling teams that had good records because they played bad teams.

Pat, that didn't work a couple of years ago for an 8-2 UWEC team that had a win against the J's and was left out of the playoffs...that is part of the reason UWEC and SJU don't play anymore

[Pat Coleman]

With a new system every year, it's clear the NCAA realizes they are still trying to get it right.

When teams have to schedule several years in advance, it's hard for them to adjust to ever changing criteria.

Playing good teams works under any system, I think. The other system was too easy to game, as it were, where you could play middling teams that had good records because they played bad teams.

Pat, that didn't work a couple of years ago for an 8-2 UWEC team that had a win against the J's and was left out of the playoffs...that is part of the reason UWEC and SJU don't play anymore

In the old system, true, only beating good teams worked. But you don't beat good teams if you don't play them.

[Knightstalker]

I like the fact the NCAA put what they considered the four best teams as the number one seeds but they should have gone one step further and seeded the regions using some common sense.  In my opinion in the East MUC should be playing either Curry or Hartwick in the first round.  SJF should be playing the one that MUC is not playing.  RPI should be facing Ithaca and TCNJ should be playing Hobart.  Although I feel that RPI, Ithaca, Hobart, TCNJ and SJF are all just about even, but still better than Hartwick or Curry.
Hartwick did beat SJF and Ithaca but I don't think it happens again if they play.

[ADL70]

"If  Case isn't one of the 32 best teams in D-III, they're just not.

I never said they were.  But neither is Widener.  The d3.com poll sems to think they're 25th best though.

[Schwami]

I like the fact the NCAA put what they considered the four best teams as the number one seeds but they should have gone one step further and seeded the regions using some common sense. 

I suspect it is a bit of a fluke that it worked out that way this year.  If there were a 10-0 team from the E8,  LL, NJAC or MAC, they would have been the #1 seed and Mt. Union would not have been moved to the East.  Heck, as smedindy suggested, a 9-1 SJF would probably have been the #1 seed if they were in as a Pool A team instead of a Pool C.

[repete]

All the arguments about D-I going to a playoff system can be thrown out of the window after this year's D-3 selection committee proved to us that a playoff system also does not work.  How this group leaves the Northwest Conference Champion Whitworth Pirates out of this disgraceful playoff tree in incomprehensible.  Many of this year's players were on the team that went unbeaten and to the second round of the playoffs last year.  To be a top 25 team for much of this season, lose it's only D-III game to a top 25 team (in their first game of the year) which got a 5 seed, have the best take away defense in the country and to go 5-0 in a tough conference that has produced 2 National Champions since 2000 and not get in is a travesty.  My guess is after beating #12 Linfield a couple of weeks ago and ending their season, their representative who is on this selection committee did not end up fighting for his own conference. 

Whitworth is the 33rd best team...no doubt, but here is the the thing, you had a chance at a pool B berth and didn't measure up, your conference gets an A spot next year, yes those kids miss out on an opportunity, but having seen your team last year, I am not sure they are better than UWEC, the last team in who took your bid, sorry

I don't know, VOJ. the field would probably have been stronger if they'd booted Ithaca and included Whitworth.

I know the poll has nothing to do with playoff selection but if the Pool B's and C's are used to try to flush out the bracket with quality, it might point to flaws in the system when only 7 West teams advanced. The most reliable ranking out there has eight West teams in the top 19. The West, clearly a better region, had one 2-loss team selected. The East, which apparently chooses not to participate in the Stagg these days, had four teams advance with 2 losses.

What's Ithaca's best win? Cortland State? Whitworth had Linfield, Pacific Lutheran and a WIAC win. (Yeah and it lost to Azusa, which meanwhile might have been the most inconsistent small college football team I've ever seen. Lost on last-second FG to a decent d-1aa scholarship team,  Nicholls State.)

Three teams from the Empire 8 and none from the NWC? Sure, folks can cite and spin numbers but on a gut level it sure doesn't feel right.

[Bob.Gregg]

Whitworth is NOT the 33rd best team, not by a long stretch.

Whitworth IS the best team NOT selected.  There's a big difference.

[smedindy]

"If Whalen can't play."  Read before posting.

Then you agree that the bottom half of the bracket is about even.

I  agree that CWRU would probably finish fifth in the OAC, but there are several playoff teams that would be second division OAC teams.

My quarrell: "'I'd take whoever plays Case."

Well, perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration. But I hate the fact that teams like them and Curry get high seeds, and it happens regardless of sport in D-III it seems.

Case got a very favorable draw, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see them lose to Widener, even though Widener is no great shakes either.

People on the baseball board know well that I believe the best teams should be in the field regardless of what conference they're from or if they happened to win theirs. Case isn't one of the 32 best teams in D-III, they're just not.

Well, most of the WIAC would be playoff teams if they took the best 32 teams period. But that's not fair or right or just or true. You have conferences - and the conference champs should be included. Otherwise, why have a tournament AND conferences? The Pool B thing is a wrinkle but it's also fair to include all teams that would be passed over. Face it, you take care of business and you're in. Even in the OAC, you take care of everyone but Mt. Union, you're in. Yes, Baldwin Wallace and John Carroll are better than several teams, but you know what? They had a chance to win a playoff bid, and they didn't take care of business. So be it.