WBB: NESCAC

MVP · February 17, 2012, 09:45:13 AM

Bballfan13- I agree, seedings should be based on current season results. Amherst has certainly earned #1 ranking year after year and in particular this year. But it is hard to ignore the diss that the Babson team has received and successfully overcome. Like you said Babson should move up, but is not holding their breath for a higher regional ranking next week. Like past years they will be forced to win on the road.

NH NESCAC Fan · February 17, 2012, 11:11:55 AM

Wow. Bravo to all of you for your passion about the women's game in general, and your loyalty to your, or your child's, school, in particular. I don't follow this stuff nearly as closely as all of you seem to, but I think it is important to remember that the only thing that the ladies on any of these teams can do is the best that they can. If they all go out on the court and practice and play as hard as they can then they can and should feel proud about whatever they accomplish. The kids have absolutely no control over where they are seeded. Presumably the rankers (?) have some type of system in place for a large majority of their decisions, but I am also certain that subjective bias comes into play as well. But it is out of the kids' control.

Do the Babson parents, players, coaches and fans feel they should be ranked #2? Clearly they do. Do the UNE folks think they should be? Probably. The same can probably be said for Tufts, and who knows who else. But all the ladies can do is their best, and let the chips fall where they may. They should not be distracted by perceived slights. At the end of the day, whether a team is ranked 1st, 2nd or 10th doesn't matter. You have to beat the best to be the best.

Stepping down off the soapbox, I think all of these athletes should be commended for the commitment that they make year in and year out. Whether they are 24-0 or 3-21, they show up and do their best. The time commitment combined with the academic workload these ladies have is impressive. They should be proud of themselves for that, and should be applauded by all of us simply for their effort.

sumfun · February 17, 2012, 02:48:04 PM

Well said, NH Fan. The ultimate pay off is these kids go on to do great things in life. They know how to balance a heavy workload, use their time wisely, and lead others. So many of the lessons they learn playing a sport will come in as handy as the knowledge from the classroom.

MVP · February 17, 2012, 07:44:56 PM

Well said. That truly is what the D3 experience is all about.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 20, 2012, 09:25:56 PM

Just to point this out... Babson has an SOS through LAST Sunday's games of .492 and has played just one regionally ranked opponent - a win. UNE has an SOS of .551 and has played four regionally ranked opponents, all-be-it 1-3. That is some of the factors when it comes to regional rankings... not sure it means Babson should be as low as they are, but it does make more sense why UNE may be that high.

Also, not sure anyone here has realized it, but Amherst will probably end up on the road for the first weekend in the NCAA tourney.

bsc73 · February 20, 2012, 10:02:47 PM

Babson has played 4 regionally ranked teams as of last Sunday (yesterday) and has a 2 and 2 record.

bsc73 · February 20, 2012, 10:05:44 PM

Quote from: NH NESCAC Fan on February 17, 2012, 11:11:55 AM
Wow. Bravo to all of you for your passion about the women's game in general, and your loyalty to your, or your child's, school, in particular. I don't follow this stuff nearly as closely as all of you seem to, but I think it is important to remember that the only thing that the ladies on any of these teams can do is the best that they can. If they all go out on the court and practice and play as hard as they can then they can and should feel proud about whatever they accomplish. The kids have absolutely no control over where they are seeded. Presumably the rankers (?) have some type of system in place for a large majority of their decisions, but I am also certain that subjective bias comes into play as well. But it is out of the kids' control.

Do the Babson parents, players, coaches and fans feel they should be ranked #2? Clearly they do. Do the UNE folks think they should be? Probably. The same can probably be said for Tufts, and who knows who else. But all the ladies can do is their best, and let the chips fall where they may. They should not be distracted by perceived slights. At the end of the day, whether a team is ranked 1st, 2nd or 10th doesn't matter. You have to beat the best to be the best.

Stepping down off the soapbox, I think all of these athletes should be commended for the commitment that they make year in and year out. Whether they are 24-0 or 3-21, they show up and do their best. The time commitment combined with the academic workload these ladies have is impressive. They should be proud of themselves for that, and should be applauded by all of us simply for their effort.

bsc73 · February 20, 2012, 10:08:47 PM

Unfortunately it does matter where you are ranked. The seedlings determine if you get to host the first and/or second round and it also determines if you are selected as an at large selection.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 20, 2012, 11:40:40 PM

Sorry about my previous post with Babson at 1-0... I was reading from the NCAA SOS report. It should have read 1-2... but, that 1-0 could have been a typo... since as it has been pointed out to me, the two losses are to teams now ahead of them in last week's regional rankings.

NH NESCAC Fan · February 21, 2012, 09:15:51 AM

To follow up on Dave's earlier post re: Amherst playing the first weekend on the road. This is a true statement. Apparently, if the Amherst men win the NESCAC tournament they would presumably be the #1 seed coming out of the northeast. The men's and women's tournaments begin on the same weekend, and as I understand it, the same school cannot host both the men's and women's tournaments, and because the women hosted last year the men would host this year. My details may be all goofy, but that is essentially how it was explained to me.

So, if the #1 ranked team in the country has to play their opening round games on the road, then no one should complain about anything...ever! (I'm just kidding people...don't go getting all crazy on me)

amh63 · February 21, 2012, 10:06:29 AM

Trying to catch up a bit while traveling and relaxing with family in the Sunshine state. Enough time birdwatching and shopping. Seems that the NCAA frenzy is sticking its head into the board. Other than the UAA, which has no tournament, there is another weekend of play to watch one's team. Then the "fun" that is out of all our control begin.....selection, where the selected teams play and hosting questions enter.....yes, the discussions of fairness in hosting will be discussed.
Back to the specifics of NCAA rules on hosting. Bucket on the MBB conference board gave them. Basically, When a school...Amherst here...has both men and women teams ranked enough to host, the odd and even year rule enters. Since Amherst's women team hosted last year...odd year..through the sectional...they would have to play the 1st and 2nd round games on the road. The Amherst's mens team will have the opportunity to host the first two rounds. If both teams advance to the sectionals..3rd and 4th round...The wpmen's team will have the right to host and the mens team will go on the road. This situation occurs because both Amherst teams are ranked at this time tops in the regional rankings. Their rankings will likely hold even if they do not win their conference. Last year the Amherst's mens team reached the elite 8, but was not ranked high enough in the regionals to enter the hosting picture....and the odd and even year rule did not come into play.
Back to kicking sand for me. Hope to be back to catch at least the regional games live.

Maine 1 · February 21, 2012, 10:08:32 AM

It would make sense that the only reason that Amherst women would not host is that the Amherst men would be hosting. However, it does not make a lot of sense that the defending national champion, and undefeated and number one team (assuming they win the NESCAC title this weekend), would have to play another team on their home court.

sumfun · February 21, 2012, 11:59:18 AM

After the long haul on the road in January and early February, I think Amherst should be fine on the road the first weekend. It's to their advantage to be able to host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 while the men travel....assuming both teams are still in the tourney at that point.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 21, 2012, 12:18:30 PM

There is no "does not make sense that the defending national champion, and undefeated and number one team, would have to play another team on their home court" clause in the championship rules.

In the effort to be fair to mens and womens teams who all deserve to host, the NCAA has a rule in place that as described already gives the men the right to host in even number years in the first weekend and the women the right to host in the second weekend. Amherst would not be the first #1 team or defending champion to be on the road in the first weekend (Hope has had to go on the road in the second weekend for no reason what-so-ever).

Now, there is one loophole that *might* come into play. The men's committee *could* decide that Amherst deserves a first-round bye - giving them their first game on Saturday. I am not sure if this has been thought through or considered, but that could leave open the chance the women could host that weekend and a double-header would take place on Saturday with a men's and women's game being played at LeFrank. HOWEVER, this is just a thought... not sure it is something that will realistically take place... it is just a possibility.

amh63 · February 21, 2012, 02:42:15 PM

"Bucket"'s post on the MBB board of the rules did state something about 3 or 4 team sites...which I inferred to be cases of bye situations. Appeals were stated to be useless. Whatever the situation it will be revealed by next Monday and we all can moan and complain again. Meanwhile, Amherst and other hopefuls must focus and play well in the games this weekend.

WBB: NESCAC

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