BB: Pool B

[Ralph Turner]

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ncaa/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/0422regionalrankingsNR-DIIIBB.pdf

Who on this list is POOL B BID ELIGIBLE teams.

St Scholastica, Ithaca, Salisbury and York PA.

That leaves 2 bids open for the likes of Chapman, Emory, WashStL, Bethany Lutheran, Baruch, Susquehanna, Wesley, etc.

[Ralph Turner]

This topic is to discuss the Pool B teams for the playoffs.

Here is the link for the FAQ on national playoff criteria for 52 Pool B teams.

For the 2009 season, the 52 Pool B teams are listed by region:

Central Region:  (3) (2)
Univ. of Chicago
Nebraska Wesleyan  (Only played 3 games this season vs D-III schools and has the NAIA tournament scheduled on the school's webpage).
Washington U St Louis (UAA)

Mid-Atlantic:  (5)
Drew (LAND)
Juniata (LAND)
Moravian (LAND)
Scranton (LAND)
Susquehanna (LAND)

Mideast:  (2)
Case Western Reserve (UAA)
Finlandia

Midwest:  (7 -- all UMAC)
Bethany Lutheran
College of St Scholastica
Crown
Martin Luther
MN-Morris
Northland
Northwestern

New England:  (6)  (7)
Becker (NECC)
Brandeis (UAA)
Elms (NECC)
U Maine-Presque Isle
Newbury (NECC)
Southern Vermont (NECC)
Daniel Webster (to the NECC in 2009 from the GNAC in 2008)

New York:  (11)

Baruch (CUNYAC)
City College of New York  (CUNYAC)
Ithaca (E8)
John Jay (CUNYAC)
Lehman  (CUNYAC)
Rochester Institute of Technology (E8)
St John Fisher (E8)
College of Staten Island (CUNYAC)
Stevens Tech (E8)
US Merchant Marine Acadmey (LAND)
Utica (E8)

South:  (14)

Catholic (LAND)
Emory (UAA)
Gallaudet (CAC)
Huntingdon (GSAC)
LaGrange (GSAC)
Mary Washington (CAC)
Maryville (GSAC)
Piedmont (GSAC)
Rust
St Mary's MD (CAC)
Salisbury (CAC)
Stevenson (CAC)
Wesley (CAC)
York PA (CAC)

West:  (3 4 )

Chapman
CSU-East Bay
Univ of Dallas
Menlo

EDIT:  Menlo added to the list when confirmed by Menlo Coach Matt Daily.

The handbook came out early with 5 Pool b bids, which could be verified to all who did the calculations.

The NCAA came out with a Jan 22, 2009, update and a Feb 17, 2009, "second" update.  There are still gross errors in the second update, but I calculate the Pool B bids at 6.

For the record, this is how I calculate the Pool B bids.  I believe this makes a difference this season, because the #6 Pool B team may not be better than the #14 Pool C team.  That is the nature of the 54th bid.

In the CSAC, Baptist Bible is not competing in the NCAA or as a member of the CSAC.  Daniel Webster is no longer in the GNAC, but is in Pool B (the NECC)

That gives 303 teams in the 35 Pool A conferences.  That also gives an access ratio of 1:8.657.

If there are 52 Pool B schools excluding Neb Wesleyan but including Daniel Webster, then 52 / 8.657 = 6.007 which "truncates to the nearest whole number", 6 bids.

Once again, we have a error in the Handbook, not to mention gross inaccuracies such as University of Minnesota, Morris listed as a Pool B school in the New England Region, and University of Maine, Presque Isle being listed in the UMC conference.  By the way, Southern Vermont competes in the NECC.

Pool B
Independents/Non AQ (7)
Becker College (NECC)
Brandeis University (UAA)
Elms College (NECC)
University of Maine at Presque Isle
(UMC)
University of Minnesota, Morris (UMC)
Newbury College (NECC)
Southern Vermont College

So, it looks like the Pool B bids are 6 for 2009.

[wustlfan37]

How does strength of schedule factor into the teams vying for Pool B spots?  For example, one of the teams mentioned above, Bethany Lutheran, has an excellent record but has beat up on an extremely weak UMAC conference.  Any insight?

[BaseballFan]

How does strength of schedule factor into the teams vying for Pool B spots?  For example, one of the teams mentioned above, Bethany Lutheran, has an excellent record but has beat up on an extremely weak UMAC conference.  Any insight?

The committee still determines the OWP and OOWP for each team. On April 20th Bethany Lutherans OWP was .454 which isnt very good and really shows the weakness of their schedule.  Im just not sure if they take the 6 best pool B teams but they must also look where that team would be ranked in their region.

My main question is say the 7th best pool B team (saying 6 get bids) but are ranked 5th in their region will they the 6th bid over the 6th best pool B team that is ranked 8th in their region? Pool Bs can always snag a C bid but if they are ranked 8th in the region they probably wouldnt get this. I think this scenario would only be considered where a pool B team was in a tough region with a weaker group of pool B teams nationally.

[BigPoppa]

A Pool B team's regional ranking means nothing. They are determined nationally against other Pool B teams. They might have a better chance of gaining a Pool C bid if they conference favorites win the Pool A bids.

[BaseballFan]

A Pool B team's regional ranking means nothing. They are determined nationally against other Pool B teams. They might have a better chance of gaining a Pool C bid if they conference favorites win the Pool A bids.

Im just asking questions to get a better handle on the selection of pool B so dont think this as questioning your answer because I dont really know.

If this is the case to compare them against all other pool B teams, then it seems to me that your in region records and OWP dont mean as much. To me in region records and in region OWP apply to the region because it shows where you sit in the region. Ill create a made up example to pick the last Pool B

Team A 32-8 (29-6) OWP in region .520 from the South region (regionally ranked 7th)
Team B 29-11  (26-7) OWP in region .575 from the Midwest region (regionally ranked 5th)

Just seems to me that how you do in your region should at least make some difference in pool B selection and C for that matter. Because if it doesnt then the only thing it seems good for is regional ranking.

[BigPoppa]

I think your in-region record matters more than your regional ranking.

[Ralph Turner]

A Pool B team's regional ranking means nothing. They are determined nationally against other Pool B teams. They might have a better chance of gaining a Pool C bid if they conference favorites win the Pool A bids.

Im just asking questions to get a better handle on the selection of pool B so dont think this as questioning your answer because I dont really know.

If this is the case to compare them against all other pool B teams, then it seems to me that your in region records and OWP dont mean as much. To me in region records and in region OWP apply to the region because it shows where you sit in the region. Ill create a made up example to pick the last Pool B

Team A 32-8 (29-6) OWP in region .520 from the South region (regionally ranked 7th)
Team B 29-11  (26-7) OWP in region .575 from the Midwest region (regionally ranked 5th)

Just seems to me that how you do in your region should at least make some difference in pool B selection and C for that matter. Because if it doesnt then the only thing it seems good for is regional ranking.

I think your in-region record matters more than your regional ranking.

I put the Pool A's into the Regional Rankings on the blog site to reimnd us that the Pool A teams come off the table first.  If there are nothing but Pool A's ahead of the Pool B's then that is probably good.

As it looks for Pool B, I don't think that there will be more than 6 Pool B teams in the final regional rankings.

[BigPoppa]

I put the Pool A's into the Regional Rankings on the blog site to reimnd us that the Pool A teams come off the table first.  If there are nothing but Pool A's ahead of the Pool B's then that is probably good.

As it looks for Pool B, I don't think that there will be more than 6 Pool B teams in the final regional rankings.

I agree. I am not sure if that makes a stronger or weaker tourney, but it certainly makes the Pool B bids easier to hand out.

[DIIIBASEBALLFAN]

Any insight on the where teams stand after last weekend games for Pool B bids....

Of course In-Region, OWP, etc... are not easily calculated without spending some time on this.

Whose in, Whose out, Whose on the bubble ?

[BigPoppa]

Somehow, I think Chapman may have played their way back into the tourney. Still, they need a nice weekend vs. UT-Dallas next week to solidfy a bid.

I am not sure what to think of WashU.My pre-season call on them was they would still be hanging around when the bids were released and I think I am right. They will be one of the teams sweating it out for a Pool B bid. They have a HUGE double-header with Webster (23-0 in SLIAC... 3-11 outside SLIAC play) this week. Could make or break their chances.

[Ralph Turner]

Somehow, I think Chapman may have played their way back into the tourney. Still, they need a nice weekend vs. UT-Dallas next week to solidfy a bid.

I am not sure what to think of WashU.My pre-season call on them was they would still be hanging around when the bids were released and I think I am right. They will be one of the teams sweating it out for a Pool B bid. They have a HUGE double-header with Webster (23-0 in SLIAC... 3-11 outside SLIAC play) this week. Could make or break their chances.

Chapman is playing University of Dallas Crusdaers, the Catholic school in Irving, not the University of Texas at Dallas Comets in Richardson.

[BigPoppa]

Somehow, I think Chapman may have played their way back into the tourney. Still, they need a nice weekend vs. UT-Dallas next week to solidfy a bid.

I am not sure what to think of WashU.My pre-season call on them was they would still be hanging around when the bids were released and I think I am right. They will be one of the teams sweating it out for a Pool B bid. They have a HUGE double-header with Webster (23-0 in SLIAC... 3-11 outside SLIAC play) this week. Could make or break their chances.

Chapman is playing University of Dallas Crusdaers, the Catholic school in Irving, not the University of Texas at Dallas Comets in Richardson.

Thanks for clarifying, Ralph. I was going off memory... at least I had the right city

[wustlfan37]

Who are your Pool B teams as of right now?  I know a lot hinges on this week but here are mine:

Salisbury
St. Scholastica
Ithaca
York
Chapman
WashU

[JohnnyU]

Looks about right to me.