NCAA North Region

[Durantula]

Yes, I agree with you midwest, it just would be depressing to be an undefeated St. Norbert player and see that you are barely in the top ten of the region.

[Ambush004]

I don't see any team on St. Norberts schedule worth starting a conversation about.  Therefore, they should not be expecting much of a ranking.  Play the best to be the best.

[lastguyoffthebench]

St Norbert  SOS: 331

Luther        SOS: 213   (should finish out the year with only 3 blemishes)

Wrong region, but the same can be said for

Lycoming (one solid opponent out of 12 games)    SOS: 218   (Won't make the tourney this year; Mid-Atlantic is too stacked; I imagine their NCAA ranking is about 6 or so.   Behind Messiah, F&M, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Scranton, Eastern who will get the auto bid)

Colorado College (only beat Kean 1-0, but only lost to Trinity 1-0... other than that haven't really played anyone)  SOS: 209

NYU who is 10-1 has beaten alot of cupcakes;  7th in East region.  SOS: 315

[Durantula]

Let's say Luther does end the season with three blemishes-- would that be enough to get an at-large bid even though they do not have a signature win (best win is probably St. Olaf)? and St. Olaf could go down after they play Wartburg and St. Thomas anyway.

[mjan]

St Norbert  SOS: 331

Luther        SOS: 213   (should finish out the year with only 3 blemishes)

Wrong region, but the same can be said for

Lycoming (one solid opponent out of 12 games)    SOS: 218   (Won't make the tourney this year; Mid-Atlantic is too stacked; I imagine their NCAA ranking is about 6 or so.   Behind Messiah, F&M, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Scranton, Eastern who will get the auto bid)

Colorado College (only beat Kean 1-0, but only lost to Trinity 1-0... other than that haven't really played anyone)  SOS: 209

NYU who is 10-1 has beaten alot of cupcakes;  7th in East region.  SOS: 315

NYU will rise or fall in UAA play, nice win vs Rochester to start

[lastguyoffthebench]

I was thinking NYU falls hard in UAA.   Three blemishes should be enough for Luther, and making the IIAC title would lock them in. 

[MidwestAficionado]

Yes, I agree with you midwest, it just would be depressing to be an undefeated St. Norbert player and see that you are barely in the top ten of the region.

It would be more depressing if you were on a 2 or 3 loss team who played a top 100 schedule and challenged themselves but got rewarded less than a ****e team who played a cupcake schedule and had a better record. It's a very simple fix, Norbert's should schedule harder to prove they belong.

[dontshootthegoose]

I believe Norbert's will have their first real test of the season when they host UWW on sunday, after playing Lake Forest the day before.

[D3 Scout]

After their win last night UWW is finally at the door knocking asking to be let in to the tournament discussion at 7-3-2. Do bad results hurt them?

I think that door opens up if they get to 9-3-2 and add wins of St. Norbert and UW Superior to their resume. At this point of their season they cannot afford to lose a conference game. Pool B bid or bust for UWW.

St. Norbert has to win against UWW or a blemish that leads to no automatic bid will see their SOS keeping them out of the Tournament (Depauw can testify).

[Durantula]

Who are other Group B teams outside of Wisconsin?

[Durantula]

And how many group bids are let in the tourney?

[lastguyoffthebench]

Who are other Group B teams outside of Wisconsin?

SAA does not receive an AQ:   Berry, Birmingham Southern, Centre, Hendrix, Millsaps, Oglethorpe, Rhodes, Sewanee...    Centre has tied Emory and OWU, lost to Kenyon and Thomas More.  If they beat Berry and Birmingham Southern, they could possibly challenge a Wiscy team for that spot.

I think its 1 Pool B; and 20 Pool C (where Pool B teams can also qualify)

[Christan Shirk]

Check out my post in the National Perspective thread: http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=8213.msg1612588#msg1612588

The SAA DOES receive an AQ starting this year.  Their 2-year waiting period is up.

Thus, by my count and math, there are 42 AQs, 1 Pool B berth, and 18 Pool C berths.

Also, by my count there are 10 Pool B teams, two of which will declare for other tournaments, meaning eight teams fighting for one Pool B berth.

Pool B teams in 2014:
   Maine-Presque Isle
   St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)
   Maranatha Baptist (I think they'll delare for the NCCAA tournament instead)
   UW-Oshkosh
   UW-Platteville
   UW-Superior
   UW-Whitewater
   Findlandia
   Nebraska Wesleyan (I think they'll delare for the NAIA tournament instead)
   UC Santa Cruz

[MidwestAficionado]

Watching Luther play a very average Platteville team. Can someone who's followed Luther all year tell me why they are so highly regarded? And please don't read me what they did in 2013, it's 2014.

[D3 Scout]

So looking at those Pool B teams it is a four horse race.

UC Santa Cruz: 7-4-1 (Important Games Remaining: Chapman, Claremont, Trinity) (Best Win: North Park)

UW Whitewater: 7-3-2 (Important Games Remaining: UW Superior, UW Oshkosh, St. Norbert) (Best Win: North Park)

UW Superior: 8-4 (Important Games Remaining: UW Whitewater, St. Olaf, St. Scholastica) (Best Win: N/A)

UW Oshkosh: 8-5-1  (Important Games Remaining: UW Whitewater, St. Norbert) (Best Win: UW Superior)(Tied: @Loras)

What will make this interesting is if UW Superior beats UWW and then UWW beats UWO. Leaving a three way tie atop the WIAC.