BB: Regionals (New England) Harwich '08, '11, ECSU '09, '10

[KSCfan]

So as we go into selection weekend.....

Wheaton is in -Newmac champ
WNEC is in CCC Champ
Bridgewater State is in MASCAC Champ
St Joes is in GNAC Champ
Husson is in NAC champ
Mitchell or Southern Vermont will be in on WED NECC

NESCAC this weekend
LEC this weekend

Should be interesting to see what happens. 

[gap to gap]

WNEC pulling out of the losers bracket has to make a few LEC and NESCAC teams relax.  Wasn't a lock that they would have gotten an at large but never know what could come up in those meetings and over 35 wins would have been a good argument.  LEC tournament should be a good one.  The top teams have all struggled at times this year but I think Eastern and Keene need to be the favorites.  If they take care of business and get to the finals both sould be in.  Of course UMB  going to a place they just dont lose ball games.

Are Amherst and Tufts both in if one wins the NESCAC?

And for all the KEENE fans I am going to say it was nice to Coach Howes team start to get some recognition in this past poll.

[wildthngvaughn]

If Amherst wins, I don't see why Tufts should get in.  Looking at their schedule, it is extremely weak.  Besides Eastern (W) and maybe Brandeis (L) they play nobody in the region.  They also play a southern style schedule, where they play 3 weekend games and maybe 1 midweek game.  Meanwhile teams like Keene St. are playing 6 or 7 games a week against some of the best teams in the region. 

[wildthngvaughn]

That being said, there is no gaurantee that Keene should be in.  They have a couple really bad loses and just got swept by Eastern.  If they don't do some damage in the LE tournament then they shouldn't get in either.  With the addition of a NECC automatic bid and the possibilty of 3 NJAC teams getting in, is there a chance that 0 New England teams get an at-large bid?  What is Brandeis' situation?  Can they qualify for a pool B bid as an independent?  If that happens, that really could mess with the New England Region. 

[gap to gap]

Keene has to get to the Little East Finals.  I don't think they can get in if not.  But you must remember they have beaten WNEC twice, Brandeis, Amherst, and Husson (a tournament team).  Totallyagree about Tufts.  Play no body.  I know the NESCAC limits number of contests but the southern trip they have should go against them and the committee needs to do that.  It is about regional record not overall and yes they have a good regional record but thats easy when a tough week is a double header and one midweek game.  Problem is the committee has failed to hold that against them in the first few polls.  Number 3 comes out tomorrow should be interesting to see how the committee moves teams around with only a few games left.

[Hobbesy]

Brandeis can earn an pool B bid but I dont think they will.  They have a had a better season than seasons past but still not better than Chapman, St. John Fisher etc...

As far as the NESCAC-

I think Tufts will win the tournament and Amherst will receive an at-large bid.

For the LEC-

I think Keene and Eastern will play in the final...both receiving bids to the tournament

This is how I see it right now:

1. NESCAC winner
2. Wheaton
3. ECSU
4. WNEC
5. NESCAC Loser
6. St. Joe's
7. Keene St.
8. NECC winner

Husson goes to New York and Bridgewater St. goes to Mid-Atlantic region

[OshDude]

I think Husson is locked into NE due to mileage.

[Hobbesy]

Good Point

two scenarios

Amherst wins NESCAC

1. Amherst
2. Wheaton
3. Tufts
4. ECSU
5. St. Joe's
6. Keene St.
7. Husson
8. NECC Winner

Bridgewater to Mid-Atlantic and WNEC to New York

Tufts wins NESCAC

1. Tufts
2. Wheaton
3. ECSU
4. WNEC
5. Keene St.
6. St. Joe's
7. Husson
8. NECC Winner

Bridgewater St. to Mid-Atlantic and Amherst to New York

Also could be skewed by winner of NECC.  If Southern Vermont wins they can be shipped to New York or if Mitchell wins they could be shipped to Mid-Atlantic

[kscer]

I agree KSC has to play for the final to make it, as does ESCU this year. There are too many good teams this year. That said, I think Keene and Mitchell/SO Vermont will travel west because the NCAA is cheap and they are the closest to the NY and Mid Atlantic (esp So VT)

[D3Cast]

Check back on Monday for webcast information about the NE regional.

Hmm. Guess that's not going to be much of a surprise, now, is it?

-s

[Stump]

Good Point

two scenarios

Amherst wins NESCAC

1. Amherst
2. Wheaton
3. Tufts
4. ECSU
5. St. Joe's
6. Keene St.
7. Husson
8. NECC Winner

Bridgewater to Mid-Atlantic and WNEC to New York

Tufts wins NESCAC

1. Tufts
2. Wheaton
3. ECSU
4. WNEC
5. Keene St.
6. St. Joe's
7. Husson
8. NECC Winner

Bridgewater St. to Mid-Atlantic and Amherst to New York

Also could be skewed by winner of NECC.  If Southern Vermont wins they can be shipped to New York or if Mitchell wins they could be shipped to Mid-Atlantic

This weekend certainly didn't help NE chances for 2 at large bids. My guess would be the only way two at large go to NE is if Bowdoin wins NESCAC

That being said: here are my latest guesses:

1) Tufts (as long as they don't collapse and lose 2 to Bowdoin before the rain comes tomorrow)
2) Wheaton
3) ECSU
4) WNEC
5) St. Joe's
6) RIC
7) Husson
8) Bridgewater

Mitchell shipped out to NY or Mid-Atlantic(or Mitchell and Bridgewater swap places)or ECSU or WNEC are shipped to NY and everyone else moves up a spot

If Bowdoin wins NESCAC:
1) Wheaton
2) ECSU/WNEC(other goes to NY)
3) Tufts
4) St. Joe's
5) RIC
6) Husson
7) Bowdoin
8) Bridgewater

ECSU or WNEC to NY, Mitchell to Mid-Atlantic?

[kscer]

Remember the NCAA is looking for balance in the tournaments. With upsets and auto bids to weaker conferences weak regional fields may develope.They want the best teams possible in the regionals...so when teams with losing records win their conference and teams with thirty wins are left out  that's not what the powers want. So they may make choices for pool b and c that surprise us.

[gap to gap]

stump you need to look at the regional rankings.  tufts will be 1 and wheaton and wnec did not play so they should be 2 and 3.  Amherst gets in and stays in NE they are 4 becasue they beat eastern who is no lock.

The regional rankings are there because thats what seedings come from. 

[JustAFan]

Tufts wins the nescac. Game called in bottom of 1 with tufts ahead 5-0 and bases loaded. 

[wildthngvaughn]

Here are my seedings
1.  Tufts- NESCAC (really week schedule but they are #1 in the polls)
2.  WNEC- TCCC (38-9 with wins over Eastern and Wheaton)
3.  Wheaton- NEWMAC (29-10 they beat who they had to beat)
4.  St. Joseph's- GNAC (30-13 made a run last year, can they repeat it)
5.  ECSU- (32-11 rep and Amherst losing 3 of last 4 got them in)
6.  Husson- NEAC(29-15 with 2 pitchers that could do some damage)
7.  Brigdewater St-MASCAC(23-15 no great wins but won when they had too
8.  Mitchell- NECC(23-9-1 have a #1 to be competitive if not 2 and out)
9.  RIC- LE (21-18 Great run to win are still only 3 games over .500)

New York-  One of the nine will be sent but the committee has never been too predictable, so it could be anyone below the top 3 seeds.