Official 2010 PLAYOFFS reaction thread

[WittFan]

The way I read the NCAA's selection/seeding rules, if Trine and DePauw had met in the regular season and Trine had won, the committee would still have to seed Depauw higher because Depauw would still hold a big lead in the only primary criteria differentiating the two: "strength-of-schedule (only contests versus regional competition)." It makes no sense to me that regional strength-of-schedule should outweigh a head-to-head result. Am I reading this right?

Can anybody explain why the selection criteria gives priority to "in-region" results if the playoff brackets aren't segregated by region?

[jknezek]

I don't think it matters much since W&L isn't really a factor, but I was surprised they lost out to H-S in getting a home game. W&L lost 2 games in September, granted they weren't the best opponents, but they were 2 of the first 3 weeks of the season and then rolled through their schedule including 2 ranked opponents. They beat H-S end of season when both teams knew the season was on the line with everything to play for. You could point to the number of underclassmen starting and playing for W&L (only 7 seniors both sides of the ball) as a mitigating factor in the slow start. In this case, I think the H2H should have been a deciding factor. Then again, lacking a pedigree and with only one other playoff appearance (an absolute slaughter by Wilkes a few years ago), it's hard to complain too much. Of course I would have loved to see the game in Lexington VA but just can't make the drive to Cincy...

[Bwana]

While as an ODAC guy I was pleased to see HSyd get an at-large bid, I am baffled how-just in terms of common sense-W/L got seeded below the Hamsters.  I can imagine the Generals strength of schedule was somewhat low, but balance that against starting 1-2 and finishng with seven straight wins.  You would think the hot hand would get a better deal...especially over a team they beat hea to head.

[smedindy]

The single most surprising seed to me was DePauw #3 in the NCC bracket, over also 9-1 (but far more impressive) #4 ONU, undefeated #5 Witt (whose point differential against Wabash vis-a-vis DePauw was SIXTY-FOUR points, separated by only ONE week)), and undefeated #6 Trine.

Perhaps the selection committee didn't hear the Monon Bell result?!

SOS ratings:

DePauw:39th
ONU:147th
Witt:175
Trine:202

Perhaps the selection committee looked at the whole season and not just the Monon Bell game?!?!

SOS:

Wabash - 15
Coe - 135
Montclair - 136

"Explain the logic underlying that conclusion..."
"Well, it's so clean..."
"It's certainly uncontaminated by cheese..."

[jknezek]

W&L lost 2 games in September, granted they weren't the best opponents, but they were 2 of the first 3 weeks of the season and then rolled through their schedule including 2 ranked opponents.

Corrected -- 1 nationally ranked (H-S) and 1 regionally ranked though receiving national votes (R-M).

[retagent]

Maybe the committee takes into account English comprehension and spelling.

[WesleyGrad2008]

I can't believe Wesley (my alma mater) is the # 1 overall seed . If they get to the semifinals they won't have to travel to Whitewater or Mt. Union for a change. I think the way they gutted out their season and how they over came devastating injuries, they will get to the finals and have a great chance of winning it all.  Go Wolverines!!!
On a side note could someone tell me how St. Lawrence got in with a 5-5 record??

[Mr. Ypsi]

I can't believe Wesley (my alma mater) is the # 1 overall seed . If they get to the semifinals they won't have to travel to Whitewater or Mt. Union for a change. I think the way they gutted out their season and how they over came devastating injuries, they will get to the finals and have a great chance of winning it all.  Go Wolverines!!!
On a side note could someone tell me how St. Lawrence got in with a 5-5 record??

They won their conference.  Automatic qualifier.

D1 'March Madness' sometimes has teams with actual losing records for the same reason.

[religion_major]

While as an ODAC guy I was pleased to see HSyd get an at-large bid, I am baffled how-just in terms of common sense-W/L got seeded below the Hamsters.  I can imagine the Generals strength of schedule was somewhat low, but balance that against starting 1-2 and finishng with seven straight wins.  You would think the hot hand would get a better deal...especially over a team they beat hea to head.

Unlike the NCAA DI basketball turnaments, there is no trend criteria for figuring the seedings.  Whether W&L's 2 losses came at the beginning of the season or the end of the season does not matter.  The moral of the story is that if you want to play a home game, win the games that you should win.  Speaking as another ODAC guy, I am glad that the conference got two teams in this year, but there is no way that any two loss team should host a game, particularly a team with two losses and W&L's SOS.

[religion_major]

W&L lost 2 games in September, granted they weren't the best opponents, but they were 2 of the first 3 weeks of the season and then rolled through their schedule including 2 ranked opponents.

Corrected -- 1 nationally ranked (H-S) and 1 regionally ranked though receiving national votes (R-M).

National rankings on d3football.com or in the AFCA poll are not a selection or seeding criteria.    If they were, UW-Whitewater would be the #1 overall seed, not Wesley.  The regional rankings are the only rankings that matter based on the NCAA criteria. 

[smedindy]

In any sport, the NCAA cares not a whit about rankings by outsiders. And the tools like RPI and SOS are just tools and not absolutes. It comes down to people in the room.

[jknezek]

National rankings on d3football.com or in the AFCA poll are not a selection or seeding criteria.    If they were, UW-Whitewater would be the #1 overall seed, not Wesley.  The regional rankings are the only rankings that matter based on the NCAA criteria. 
[/quote]

That actually doesn't change anything. Nationally ranked H-S was also regionally ranked, so they beat 2 regionally ranked teams if you prefer. Shrug. It really doesn't matter as I don't think either W&L or H-S will be a player. But after flying up to see W&L get minced by Wilkes a few years ago, I hate having to miss this one because we lost out on the home game and it's just too far for me to travel. All water under the bridge and here's hoping for a good tournament with no injuries for all involved!

[smedindy]

Still, 2 regional losses means something. Again, the moral of the story is win your games, and then win the playoff games. That takes care of everything. This isn't the BCS, thank goodness!

[bleedpurple]

In any sport, the NCAA cares not a whit about rankings by outsiders. And the tools like RPI and SOS are just tools and not absolutes. It comes down to people in the room.

That's probably the strongest argument for UW-W getting a number one seed.  It comes down to people in the room. People assumedly have brains. Brains are to use logic and exercise judgement.  In other words, when strict use of criteria leads to a nonsensical result, judgement is exercised to produce a result that makes sense. Otherwise, let's fire the committee and program a computer.

Of course there are criterion based arguments for the #1 seeds that were chosen.  That's not the point anyone is making.

Keith, isn't the foundation of a reasonable bracket getting the four best teams number one seeds?  Shouldn't the committee be able to get that right?

And it seems that UW-W would have to travel to UMHB as well.  Nice.

Please don't get me wrong. The last thing I'm worried about is any of this costing UW-W a trip to Salem.  That will be played out on whatever field the road leads to.  UW-W hasn't had a chance to play "angry" for awhile. They left an awful lot of points on the field this year (ONE MILLION handoffs up the middle in the fourth quarter of almost every game).  Maybe they need to open it up a bit.  

Oh and as far as that precious "Strength of Schedule" criteria, I guess we'll find out how well that holds up for teams when they line up against UW-W (and against Mount Union too for that matter) during the playoffs.  At the end of the day, NCC may have preferred to have UW-W stay in the west.  We will find out soon enough.

[bleedpurple]

I can't believe Wesley (my alma mater) is the # 1 overall seed . If they get to the semifinals they won't have to travel to Whitewater or Mt. Union for a change. I think the way they gutted out their season and how they over came devastating injuries, they will get to the finals and have a great chance of winning it all.  Go Wolverines!!!
On a side note could someone tell me how St. Lawrence got in with a 5-5 record??

I'm thinking you aren't alone in this.

And as far as the whole "they won't have to travel to Whitewater or Mt. Union for a change...".  I'm actually looking forward to UW-W putting that whole thing to rest. Maybe we'll bring our cannon with us.