2012 Playoffs: Bracket Reactions & more

[SUADC]

I am not sure why we use polls they do not mean anything. We have what is rated the best conference in the nation the WIAC, and a team that is rated #13 in the nation and they are passed up. Honestly I respect other conferences and programs but I feel a team like UW Platteville is better than 3/4 of the teams in the playoffs. But every year you see teams with high seeds that are not justified. I also know some conferences are extremely weak and still manage to pull out multiple invites to the playoffs. When will common sense and knowledge of strong conferences and teams be allowed to grace D3. A few years back the committe chose to send the #1 team in the nation on the road for 2 games by giving them a lower seed. They showed that the people making the decisions for playoffs lack knowledge and common sense. I hope some day they get it right.. Best of luck to all playoff teams.

I aggree that UW-Plattville is better than some teams, but not 2/3. It was once believed that no East team could beat a so called West team out West. However, like Pat indicated, the rankings do hold true come playoff time.

[kochrym]

Everyone is wondering who was the last team selected? The assumption is Bridgewater State, which in my opinion was a truly baffling choice. Actually it was Rowan, even more baffling. The individual who announced the bracket said Rowan was the last Pool C team selected. Or maybe he meant that Rowan happened to be the last Pool C that he announced as making the bracket. His statement confused me. Anyway the bracket is interesting. The only bad decision was placing Mt. Union and Mary Hardin Baylor in the same half of the bracket. That should be a possible final not a possible semi final.

[Pat Coleman]

Everyone is wondering who was the last team selected? The assumption is Bridgewater State, which in my opinion was a truly baffling choice. Actually it was Rowan, even more baffling. The individual who announced the bracket said Rowan was the last Pool C team selected. Or maybe he meant that Rowan happened to be the last Pool C that he announced as making the bracket. His statement confused me. Anyway the bracket is interesting. The only bad decision was placing Mt. Union and Mary Hardin Baylor in the same half of the bracket. That should be a possible final not a possible semi final.

Rowan was the last one to be named. (Meaning Ohio Wesleyan and the rest had no hope thereafter.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tough draw for the CCIW.  Just hours after Pat & Company projected NCC to have won the bracketing lottery (playing CUC, surely one of the worst #2s in d3 history)), they go TO Cal Lu, and if they survive go TO Linfield! 

Am I hearing some respect for a SCIAC Team? I thought NCC was pretty tough?

I always have respect for the top teams in the SCIAC.  Overall, the league is pretty suspect, but the top is generally quite good (see NCC @ Redlands, 2011).

[emma17]

Tough draw for the CCIW.  Just hours after Pat & Company projected NCC to have won the bracketing lottery (playing CUC, surely one of the worst #2s in d3 history)), they go TO Cal Lu, and if they survive go TO Linfield!  Meanwhile, Elmhurst not only doesn't host, they travel TO a 10-0 Coe!

OUCH!

Not really....CUC has the offense where it can drop 40 points on a team on a daily basis. Their D leaves much to be desired but has made several game changing plays during the season. CUC however still has a tough out in Bethel to deal with in the first round.

CUC (which of course SHOULD be CURF ) is a great story and I've been cheering them on all season.  But quite honestly I have them a 3-4 TD underdog to either NCC or Bethel (even if the game IS in River Falls!).

Apparently being an AQ from a conference that got 2 teams in the playoffs, and could have gotten 3 in, and being a historically strong team in winning or sharing the conference title 7 years in a row in a very tough conference, means nothing, or little at best. 

Past performance means diddly to the NCAA except when divining undefeated teams apart from each other. Bethel's RR was a lot lower than Concordia.

AndOne was talking about NCC, not Bethel or Concordia-M.

Still, the principle holds. Past performance matters not one whit, nor should it.

Nor should it?  What if a team went a couple rounds into the playoffs in 2011 and returned the majority of its starters?  You don't think experience is an important part of what makes a team good?  I'm not referring to any particular team, but for those that refuse to put any weight on past performance, you are disagreeing with the opinion of most every coach I've ever heard talk about the subject. 

[smedindy]

Last year is not this year when selecting teams for the post-season.

Otherwise you self-perpetuate and no one new gets to break in. Just because a team returns a lot doesn't mean another team has gotten better and surpassed them.

[bluenote]

The only bad decision was placing Mt. Union and Mary Hardin Baylor in the same half of the bracket. That should be a possible final not a possible semi final.

I have no problem with that decision.....

[wally_wabash]

Tough draw for the CCIW.  Just hours after Pat & Company projected NCC to have won the bracketing lottery (playing CUC, surely one of the worst #2s in d3 history)), they go TO Cal Lu, and if they survive go TO Linfield!  Meanwhile, Elmhurst not only doesn't host, they travel TO a 10-0 Coe!

OUCH!

Not really....CUC has the offense where it can drop 40 points on a team on a daily basis. Their D leaves much to be desired but has made several game changing plays during the season. CUC however still has a tough out in Bethel to deal with in the first round.

CUC (which of course SHOULD be CURF ) is a great story and I've been cheering them on all season.  But quite honestly I have them a 3-4 TD underdog to either NCC or Bethel (even if the game IS in River Falls!).

Apparently being an AQ from a conference that got 2 teams in the playoffs, and could have gotten 3 in, and being a historically strong team in winning or sharing the conference title 7 years in a row in a very tough conference, means nothing, or little at best. 

Past performance means diddly to the NCAA except when divining undefeated teams apart from each other. Bethel's RR was a lot lower than Concordia.

AndOne was talking about NCC, not Bethel or Concordia-M.

Still, the principle holds. Past performance matters not one whit, nor should it.

Nor should it?  What if a team went a couple rounds into the playoffs in 2011 and returned the majority of its starters?  You don't think experience is an important part of what makes a team good?  I'm not referring to any particular team, but for those that refuse to put any weight on past performance, you are disagreeing with the opinion of most every coach I've ever heard talk about the subject.

No.  Every year needs to be it's own closed system.  Does past experience matter?  Yes, it does.  It should help teams that have been in the playoffs and have the extra games and have the extra practice time that should manifest itself over the course of 10 games.  That's the advantage that playoff teams from previous years have.  They don't need any extra advantages on Selection Sunday.

[retagent]

I'm not seeing much love for the "West" Region on here. To assume that  UMHB and UMU are the 2 best teams in the country assumes an awful lot. I wouldn't think there is a hair's difference between the Top 4, or 5. Meaning, you can lump UST, Linfield, and probably UWO in with the 2 previously mentioned here. There may also be a couple more I'm not familiar with who might be considered.

[SUADC]

I'm not seeing much love for the "West" Region on here. To assume that  UMHB and UMU are the 2 best teams in the country assumes an awful lot. I wouldn't think there is a hair's difference between the Top 4, or 5. Meaning, you can lump UST, Linfield, and probably UWO in with the 2 previously mentioned here. There may also be a couple more I'm not familiar with who might be considered.

We will see in these next couple weeks...it does make for some interesting conversations.

[kygriz]

Don't know very much about Adrian other than the fact that I recall the schools playing one another in the past. Nice win yesterday retaining the Victory Bell for now 8 years in a row.....offense is always there for the GRIZ........this year the defense has been consistently impressive, shutting out 4 opponents in a row.....looking forward to Saturday!!!!

[ndoc]

I still think the selection committee got this wrong...Bethel over Concordia?

I know the tie breaker is head to head between the two, but I don't think this looks at the whole picture.  Concordia lost by a point to Bethel on a magical comeback and played St. Thomas well, while Bethel lost to an un-ranked team and got absolutely trounced by St. Thomas. 

You could argue the committee was trying to be "fair" and not slipping in a 3rd team from a conference when that team is 8-2 over some team like Bridgewater, I'd say three from the MIAC before Bridgewater.  However, if that doesn't happen and its bethel vs Concordia, you can't take the team that has a 37-0 loss. 

Pat - you've seen both teams play in person, in your opinion - which team looks more solid througout?

[smedindy]

The West committee had to have Bethel over Concordia and that result, as weird as that result was, it carries weight.

[HScoach]

^ I agree.  Fluke or not, the ledger says it was a Bethel win.  Therefore Bethel had to go before CM.

[desertcat1]

Tough draw for the CCIW.  Just hours after Pat & Company projected NCC to have won the bracketing lottery (playing CUC, surely one of the worst #2s in d3 history)), they go TO Cal Lu, and if they survive go TO Linfield! 

Am I hearing some respect for a SCIAC Team? I thought NCC was pretty tough?

I always have respect for the top teams in the SCIAC.  Overall, the league is pretty suspect, but the top is generally quite good (see NCC @ Redlands, 2011).

So Cal lutes are for real. so be ready ..