BB: Top Teams in West Region

[108 Stitches]

I thought the same thing TexasBB when I posted it. I don't get it, but it will probably more apparent when the Regional rankings come out next month, I would think they would be on the list fairly high.  Massy has them 13th overall.

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cbase2015&sub=11620

[TexasBB]

UTT took 2 out of 3 from CTX on the Tornados home field. Up until this series, Tyler had not played very well against good teams on the road, so this was very impressive. The first game was a 16 inning marathon won by UTT in which there were 13 pitchers used who combined for 46 Ks. 

[108 Stitches]

Week 9 top West teams

#   School (1st votes)   Rec   Pts   Prev.
1   Cortland State (20)   27-2   620   1
2   Frostburg State (5)   31-3   599   4
3   UW-Whitewater   21-4   578   2
4   Salisbury   24-4   526   3
5   Kean   26-8   492   5
6   Birmingham-Southern   30-7-1   479   6
7   Heidelberg   24-6   458   8
8   Shenandoah   23-7-1   431   6
9   Wooster   24-5   367   12
10   Wartburg   26-7   325   13
11   UW-Stevens Point   19-9   323   7
12   Concordia (Texas)   25-8   261   11
13   Misericordia   21-6   256   15
14   Linfield   27-10   250   16
15   Baldwin Wallace   21-7   243   18
16   Trinity (Texas)   25-10   183   17
17   Millsaps   25-10   179   10
18   Pacific Lutheran   26-9   177   rv
19   Methodist   29-8   156   22
20   Randolph-Macon   22-7   154   19
21   Rhodes   27-11   128   20
22   Ohio Northern   24-7   105   23
23   Cal Lutheran   25-10   101   rv
24   Rowan   22-8   78   rv
25   Mary Washington   27-7   76   rv
Dropped out: No. 14 St. Thomas (Minn.), No. 21 Southern Maine, No. 24 John Carroll, No. 25 Thomas More.

Others receiving votes: Tufts 69, UW-La Crosse 67, Southern Maine 64, St. Thomas (Minn.) 63, Webster 58, Adrian 42, Thomas More 35, John Carroll 25, Wesleyan (Conn.) 24, Oswego State 23, Texas Lutheran 22, Emory 11, Texas-Tyler 11, Bridgewater (Va.) 9, Concordia-Moorhead 9, Ill. Wesleyan 9, Bethel (Minn.) 7, Carthage 6, Clarkson 3, La Roche 2, Marietta 1.

[SoCalSoxFan]

5 in the top 23... not bad for late April.

12   Concordia (Texas)   25-8   261   11
14   Linfield   27-10   250   16
16   Trinity (Texas)   25-10   183   17
18   Pacific Lutheran   26-9   177   rv
23   Cal Lutheran   25-10   101   rv


1) I think it is looking strong for either Linfield or Pac Lu to get a Pool C pick for Western Region.

2) With Trinity's 15-5 out of region record, they'll also get strong consideration for Pool C if they can't get by Tex Lu in SCAC regional.

3) In the back of my mind, it wouldn't surprise me if ASC runner-up gets a Pool C; especially if Tex-Tyler finishes strong after taking 2 of 3 from Concordia TX.  If TT ends up 30+ wins, and hosting, it would get high consideration; as will Concordia.

4) SCIAC will probably only get Pool A (although, surprisingly PP was awarded Pool C 2 years ago with 29-14;  when 6 of those losses were against CLU and Linfield)

[CrashDavisD3]

IF Cal Lu loses the SCIAC Pool A do they get a Pool C?

Same goes for Linfield in the NWC?

I say yes...

[SoCalSoxFan]

IF Cal Lu loses the SCIAC Pool A do they get a Pool C?

Same goes for Linfield in the NWC?

I say yes...

CD3,

I think Linfield is a yes.  I'm not as confident about CLU. 

At this point, I think the outcome of ASC conf tourney will decide who Pool C is.
Tex-Tyler is 16-1 at home; and should win 3 more against Howard Payne, raising total record to 30-10 prior to ASC tourney.  As the host team, that bodes well for West Pool C consideration.  TT has recent strong play (13-2 in last 15 with 2 of 3 from Concordia)
The offset is, TT doesn't have a lot of out of conference to benchmark (although they split with Trinity early in Feb when both were figuring out their rosters). 
Concordia could be 31-8 going into ASC tourney. 
I would think, economics being a role, TT or Concordia will get strong consideration for Pool C unless either have a weak ASC tourney.


Of the 4 Western conferences, SCIAC is least likely to get a Pool C bid.... in my opinion.
SCIAC best chance would be if Trinity soundly defeats TT in SCAC tourney
and for Concordia to struggle in their last 6 games/ASC tourney (they are 5-4 in last 9 games)


The good news is:  all the above mentioned teams control their own destiny.   Just win and all speculation and what-ifs go away.

[108 Stitches]

Boy the West is an enigma this year, I really don't know what is going to happen, the SCAC has TLU and Trinity and either one could win the conference, the ASC with UTT and Concordia, the SCIAC is a toss up I think and the NWest appears to have an upcoming battle for their conference with a number of teams in play. I would think that 6 teams could emerge from this but it is really hard to tell at this point and until we see the Regional rankings who has a pool C shot. I am thinking that UTT has a very good opportunity even if they don't win the ASC by hosting.

[Westside]

Massey Ratings has West Region teams at:

6. Linfield
7. PLU
8. Texas-Tyler
9. Concordia (TX)
19. Texas Lutheran
29. Trinity (TX)
35. Whitworth
37. Pomona Pitzer
40. Texas-Dallas
43. Cal Lutheran
44. Pacific
45. Redlands

Honestly, I could see any of those teams besides Pacific making the tournament. I think that the NWC sends two teams this year. PLU is pretty much a lock, in my book. Massey Ratings have 6 NWC teams in the top 12 of Strength of Schedule, and I think that helps them.

This is such a muddled year in the West. I still don't see anyone running away with this thing.

[TexasBB]

There is quite a difference in the two ratings systems, not even in the same ballpark. Massey has 4 West teams in the top 10! I note that Massey has recognized UT Dallas, which is quietly making a run having won 10 straight. They are 17-7 in the ASC and swept UT Tyler at Dallas earlier in the season. They started out rough but have improved dramatically as the season has progressed. They are 21-13 on the season. They of course are nowhere to be found on the D3baseball rankings.  Not sure which one is more accurate but Massey seems to better reflect current winning trends.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

D3 polls are strictly opinions of Knowledgeable Baseball people. From the site:

he D3baseball.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. Full members of NCAA Division III are eligible.

Massey is stats driven. Problem with Massey is they have a tendency to miss data, when games are not in the system the team is probably not correctly represented. They do eventually seem to catch up, that is why there is such volatility in there poll. It is not uncommon to see teams moving as much as 20 spots up or down from week to week.   

The two really cannot be compared.

[CrashDavisD3]

As we know neither poll has any bearing on playoff spots. Pool A is won by winning conference tourney's in the West. Pool C seems to have a real slant to teams with high SOS(strength of schedule) which teams in the West don't have. Regional rankings can be misleading too. Being regionally ranked does not guarantee a Pool C bid but not be regionally rank does seem to guarantee you wont get a Pool C bid.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

You have to be ranked high eegionally as well. If you are regionally ranked at 7 or 8, you will probably never get on the board during the selection processed.

[BamColt]

Where are these members  who vote located?

[TexasBB]

UTT defeated Centenary last night in an non-conference game in Shreveport La. 8-3.  UTT has played 8 games against the top 3 teams of the SCAC and is 5-3 against them.

2-1 against TLU
2-1 against Centenary
1-1 against Trinity

[SoCalSoxFan]

I thought the same thing TexasBB when I posted it. I don't get it, but it will probably more apparent when the Regional rankings come out next month, I would think they would be on the list fairly high.  Massy has them 13th overall.

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cbase2015&sub=11620

d3baseball.com has a note stating that first Regional rankings will come out on April 23rd.   Looking forward to its release.

Mid-page on the 2015 Playoff Central page:
•Regional Rankings - Week 1 - To be released April 23