FB: Region 4 fan poll

[wally_wabash]

Were I to pick the top four seeds right now I would pick, in order:
Mount Union
Wesley
St. Thomas
UW-Oshkosh

I personally would pick Linfield in front of Oshkosh here, but the West RAC made that choice for me. 

My next four? 
Linfield
Hardin-Simmons
Johns Hopkins
Wheaton

[Neverwas]

Wesley at two, in front of UST, due to 2014 semi's appearance?

[wally_wabash]

Wesley at two, in front of UST, due to 2014 semi's appearance?

Yeah, that's my thinking at the moment, but I don't think it would be wrong to place St. Thomas ahead of Wesley.  Eventually I think Rowan sneaks into the East rankings though, which probably keeps Wesley ahead of St. Thomas. 

[USee]

Hmmmm. So UWO and HSU were not in the playoffs last year and St Thomas lost in round 1. Why would they be picked as #1 seeds over unbeaten Linfield? Is it because the West RAC ranked them that way? are the top teams in each RAC used to pick #1 seeds? If "regions" don't matter why wouldn't Linfield, and for that matter Wheaton and Wabash be considered ahead of UWO and St Thomas since they all had better playoff records last year (all else being equal)

[wally_wabash]

Hmmmm. So UWO and HSU were not in the playoffs last year and St Thomas lost in round 1. Why would they be picked as #1 seeds over unbeaten Linfield? Is it because the West RAC ranked them that way? are the top teams in each RAC used to pick #1 seeds? If "regions" don't matter why wouldn't Linfield, and for that matter Wheaton and Wabash be considered ahead of UWO and St Thomas since they all had better playoff records last year (all else being equal)

Yes- I can pick Linfield in front of Hardin-Simmons because I have that latitude.  I don't have the latitude to pick Linfield over Oshkosh or St. Thomas because the West RAC already put them in an order that I'm (as the national committee) reluctant to undo.  My personal opinion here is that the West RAC has goofed.  I think Linfield should be #1 in that region. 

As far as Wheaton and Wabash go, I don't think all else is equal.  Wheaton and Wabash have poor SOS's and have no results vs. RROs.  They're just kind of there, undefeated and without much else to crow about at the moment. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Is it because the West RAC ranked them that way? are the top teams in each RAC used to pick #1 seeds? If "regions" don't matter why wouldn't Linfield, and for that matter Wheaton and Wabash be considered ahead of UWO and St Thomas since they all had better playoff records last year (all else being equal)

The regions don't matter in the sense that there isn't a "West" / "East" / "North" / "South" bracket but the regional rankings do matter in determining the top seeds.  If the national committee thought the top 4 seeds all came from the West, they can do that.  What they can't do is make the West #2 a top seed without making the West #1 a top seed.

[USee]

But if Wheaton or Wabash end up with 2 wins v RRO's, does that change the equation?

[wally_wabash]

But if Wheaton or Wabash end up with 2 wins v RRO's, does that change the equation?

Certainly.  I don't think that puts either into the top 4 overall, but it makes for an interesting conversation. 

[USee]

I just want one of them to get into the zip code of UWO/HSU/St Thomas and see what the committee does with the "past tournament performance" thing.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Is it because the West RAC ranked them that way? are the top teams in each RAC used to pick #1 seeds? If "regions" don't matter why wouldn't Linfield, and for that matter Wheaton and Wabash be considered ahead of UWO and St Thomas since they all had better playoff records last year (all else being equal)

The regions don't matter in the sense that there isn't a "West" / "East" / "North" / "South" bracket but the regional rankings do matter in determining the top seeds.  If the national committee thought the top 4 seeds all came from the West, they can do that.  What they can't do is make the West #2 a top seed without making the West #1 a top seed.

But if my understanding is correct, the national committee DOES have the authority to flip-flop the #1 and #2 seeds in a region - problem solved.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Could Rose-Hulman possibly get to the table? Obviously first they have to win out. But ahead of them IWU, John Carroll, and DePauw all have potential 2nd losses still coming and if Olivet loses one of their final games (which isn't as likely) would it be possible that Rose rises up above everyone to be the first C discussed or would IWU still be ahead with the superior SoS?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Could Rose-Hulman possibly get to the table? Obviously first they have to win out. But ahead of them IWU, John Carroll, and DePauw all have potential 2nd losses still coming and if Olivet loses one of their final games (which isn't as likely) would it be possible that Rose rises up above everyone to be the first C discussed or would IWU still be ahead with the superior SoS?

Possible, but moot.  IWU is gonna whup Wheaton by 29+!

(With Artie Checchin apparently hors de combat, Wheaton, who was already a significant favorite, becomes an almost prohibitive favorite.  But that didn't keep me from giving the highest pick to IWU in the pickems - I need a 'Hail Mary' to get to the top half [this probably will instead guarantee last among those who picked all the weeks].  I specified 29+ because a win by 1-27 [28 would be unknown territory] would give the AQ to NCC; 29+ and IWU would be the AQ. )

[wabashcpa]

Attaboy Ypsi - go big or go home!

[wally_wabash]

North Region Fan Poll through Week 10:


1- Mount Union (9-0)        80 points (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
2- Wheaton (9-0)            70 points (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3)
3- Wabash (9-0)             66 points (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)
4- North Central (6-3)      55 points (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5)
5- Franklin (7-2)           42 points (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7)
6- Illinois Wesleyan (7-2)  33 points (5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 10, x)
7- Albion (8-1)             29 points (5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9, 10, 10)
8- DePauw (8-1)             23 points (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, x)
9- Wittenberg (7-2)         16 points (6, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, x, x)
10- John Carroll (8-1)       9 points (8, 9, 9, 10, 10, x, x, x)

ORV:
Ohio Northern (7-2)          8 points (8, 8, 10, 10, x, x, x, x)
Olivet (8-1)                 5 points (8, 9, x, x, x, x, x, x)
Rose Hulman (7-2)            4 points (7, x, x, x, x, x, x, x)



The NRFP is voted on by: Captain_Joe08, Dr. Acula, FCGrizzliesGrad, Li'l Giant, Mr Ypsi, NCF, USee, and wally wabash.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Week one was a long time ago, but still disappointed to see Franklin above IWU.   Dontcha think the Titans could have squashed that lineup of tomato cans as solidly as Franklin did?  Personally I did move Albion above IWU, but they do have only one loss (to a decent Trine team), while IWU has two losses (though to MUCH tougher teams).  I suspect that Albion vs. IWU would be a helluva game, and although I suspect IWU would win, I'm gonna respect 8-1 vs. 7-2.

And what the heck is with the #7 vote for RHIT??!!  Good grief, they are not even on my top 15 list for the North any more.