Pool C -- 2014

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Which could also mean that UWW and Mount Union could be bracketed into the same semi-final, creating a new Stagg pairing regardless. 

WHD

I don't think that has to happen.  Projecting all the way out the semifinals is probably dangerous anyway, but either way, if the committee is planning for the top seeds to get to the semis and are worried about travel four weeks into the tournament, Wesley is driveable to Alliance and UMHB is either going to have to fly or be flown to no matter what.  I'd bank on Whitewater and UMHB on one side, Wesley and Mount Union on the other side. 

I'm not sure what the official mileage calculator is for the NCAA (probably sponsorship dollars available there!), but google maps tells me UMU and UWW are 502 miles apart which equals a flight.  So I think you're safe either way.

NCAA Calculator says UWW and Mount are 507 miles apart.

Misisng an opportunity there.  The NCAA Mileage Calculator powered by Mapquest.  That could totally fund an extra flight or two.   

The Google Maps NCAA Mileage Calculator presented by Dr Pepper

[ExTartanPlayer]

Misisng an opportunity there.  The NCAA Mileage Calculator powered by Mapquest.  That could totally fund an extra flight or two.   

I like Google Maps!!

/true 'dat
//double true

Hahahahaha

+K

[wally_wabash]

Interesting stuff coming today.  Things I'm looking for:

- Bethel's placement relative to the UW schools (who I think are playing a virtual play-in game this week...if not a direct play-in, definitely an elimination game)
- Is the South RAC going to pick an order between TLU and Centre this week?  Is there more thought that needs to be given to ranking Hardin-Simmons instead of E&H...which dominos its way into TLU's profile. 
- Will North Central jump Wabash in the North rankings?  I don't think they should, but you honestly never know. 
- What happens in the East?  Does Montclair fall out entirely?  St. Lawrence also?  And if either fall out, who gets in?  Ranking Buffalo State or Utica gives SJF a brownie point that they need desperately.  Maybe Morrisville State played their way into the rankings.  Maybe Rowan? 

[USee]

I would be surprised if NCC is ahead of Wabash as well. I am also interested in who shows up at the bottom of each region's rankings, potentially changing the strength of those ranked higher by adding RRO's. In particular who shows up at bottom of the North and the South.

[USee]

Who knew in late September when the regional air traffic control facility in Aurora was set on fire, cancelling hundreds of flights, that our Pool C picture would be affected. But Chicago had its game against West Region #10 cancelled as a result of that incident and it could have implications on both teams come selection Sunday.

[desertcat1]

Who knew in late September when the regional air traffic control facility in Aurora was set on fire, cancelling hundreds of flights, that our Pool C picture would be affected. But Chicago had its game against West Region #10 cancelled as a result of that incident and it could have implications on both teams come selection Sunday.

Usee.

I see U see we all see..

the cats will take care of one team this sat for you . The Dogs are going down. Cats want another  shot at the John's . And others ... IF they bring their A game..   

[USee]

DesertCat-

I have little doubt that will be the case. Which is why I posted that today vs next week! 

[wally_wabash]

Who knew in late September when the regional air traffic control facility in Aurora was set on fire, cancelling hundreds of flights, that our Pool C picture would be affected. But Chicago had its game against West Region #10 cancelled as a result of that incident and it could have implications on both teams come selection Sunday.

It's not just those two teams either, USee.  Let's say Chicago and Pacific played and Pacific won the game.  That second loss probably takes Chicago out of the rankings which then impacts Bethel's profile profoundly.  8-2, 1-2 vs. RROs with one narrow win over St. Thomas and two pretty bad losses to Wartburg and St. John's makes Bethel much less attractive than they are with that 2-2 RRO record.   And if Chicago had won the game with Pacific, I'm not sure they'd get a lot more than a little SOS boost and whatever benefit of the doubt capital comes along with having played and beaten the NWC co-champion, but I think we might be taking Chicago's chances at initiation a little more seriously. 

[USee]

Great points. The randomness of that simple circumstance has impact that is difficult to measure. Looking forward to your "picks" after today's RR.

[AO]

Who knew in late September when the regional air traffic control facility in Aurora was set on fire, cancelling hundreds of flights, that our Pool C picture would be affected. But Chicago had its game against West Region #10 cancelled as a result of that incident and it could have implications on both teams come selection Sunday.

It's not just those two teams either, USee.  Let's say Chicago and Pacific played and Pacific won the game.  That second loss probably takes Chicago out of the rankings which then impacts Bethel's profile profoundly.  8-2, 1-2 vs. RROs with one narrow win over St. Thomas and two pretty bad losses to Wartburg and St. John's makes Bethel much less attractive than they are with that 2-2 RRO record.   And if Chicago had won the game with Pacific, I'm not sure they'd get a lot more than a little SOS boost and whatever benefit of the doubt capital comes along with having played and beaten the NWC co-champion, but I think we might be taking Chicago's chances at initiation a little more seriously.

This illustrates my main issue with the RROs.  A win vs. #11 and #10 is valued wildly different.  Bethel also handled Concordia, who should be knocking on the doorstep of the regional rankings but if they're not #10 it doesn't count.   Perhaps each region should get to rank more or less teams depending on how strong the region is.

[wally_wabash]

Who knew in late September when the regional air traffic control facility in Aurora was set on fire, cancelling hundreds of flights, that our Pool C picture would be affected. But Chicago had its game against West Region #10 cancelled as a result of that incident and it could have implications on both teams come selection Sunday.

It's not just those two teams either, USee.  Let's say Chicago and Pacific played and Pacific won the game.  That second loss probably takes Chicago out of the rankings which then impacts Bethel's profile profoundly.  8-2, 1-2 vs. RROs with one narrow win over St. Thomas and two pretty bad losses to Wartburg and St. John's makes Bethel much less attractive than they are with that 2-2 RRO record.   And if Chicago had won the game with Pacific, I'm not sure they'd get a lot more than a little SOS boost and whatever benefit of the doubt capital comes along with having played and beaten the NWC co-champion, but I think we might be taking Chicago's chances at initiation a little more seriously.

This illustrates my main issue with the RROs.  A win vs. #11 and #10 is valued wildly different.  Bethel also handled Concordia, who should be knocking on the doorstep of the regional rankings but if they're not #10 it doesn't count.   Perhaps each region should get to rank more or less teams depending on how strong the region is.

How do you determine "strong" in a way that isn't 1000 percent subjective and self-serving? 

I completely agree with your points about this particular shortcoming of the regional rankings system.  One thing that they could do to add a little bit of depth of the regional rankings and how they are considered is- and this is novel- let any team that has been ranked at any point during the regional rankings process count as a ranked opponent.  We'll call it "once ranked, always ranked" and it will be glorious. 

[AO]

Who knew in late September when the regional air traffic control facility in Aurora was set on fire, cancelling hundreds of flights, that our Pool C picture would be affected. But Chicago had its game against West Region #10 cancelled as a result of that incident and it could have implications on both teams come selection Sunday.

It's not just those two teams either, USee.  Let's say Chicago and Pacific played and Pacific won the game.  That second loss probably takes Chicago out of the rankings which then impacts Bethel's profile profoundly.  8-2, 1-2 vs. RROs with one narrow win over St. Thomas and two pretty bad losses to Wartburg and St. John's makes Bethel much less attractive than they are with that 2-2 RRO record.   And if Chicago had won the game with Pacific, I'm not sure they'd get a lot more than a little SOS boost and whatever benefit of the doubt capital comes along with having played and beaten the NWC co-champion, but I think we might be taking Chicago's chances at initiation a little more seriously.

This illustrates my main issue with the RROs.  A win vs. #11 and #10 is valued wildly different.  Bethel also handled Concordia, who should be knocking on the doorstep of the regional rankings but if they're not #10 it doesn't count.   Perhaps each region should get to rank more or less teams depending on how strong the region is.

How do you determine "strong" in a way that isn't 1000 percent subjective and self-serving? 

I completely agree with your points about this particular shortcoming of the regional rankings system.  One thing that they could do to add a little bit of depth of the regional rankings and how they are considered is- and this is novel- let any team that has been ranked at any point during the regional rankings process count as a ranked opponent.  We'll call it "once ranked, always ranked" and it will be glorious.

just spitballin' ideas  The NCAA seems opposed to objective data.  We could learn a lot from Offensive/Defensive efficiency and margin of victory but as we learned last year from the hoops chairman some committee members rely on the "eye test".

The Concordia win still won't count even if we go back to "once ranked always ranked".  Every team for 1st to worst should be ranked. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

One other example of the small-game-big-picture dominoes (just posting it here although it doesn't really affect the Pool C picture) is Husson's bid to win the ECFC title.

If Husson wins, they're in, and their only travel options in the first round sans flight are going to be MIT or Framingham-State-if-they-get-in (I think).

Just another example of how a single random game between two "regular" (i.e. non-top-25) D3 teams can have wild implications across the board.

[smedindy]

Interesting stuff coming today.  Things I'm looking for:

- Bethel's placement relative to the UW schools (who I think are playing a virtual play-in game this week...if not a direct play-in, definitely an elimination game)
- Is the South RAC going to pick an order between TLU and Centre this week?  Is there more thought that needs to be given to ranking Hardin-Simmons instead of E&H...which dominos its way into TLU's profile. 
- Will North Central jump Wabash in the North rankings?  I don't think they should, but you honestly never know. 
- What happens in the East?  Does Montclair fall out entirely?  St. Lawrence also?  And if either fall out, who gets in?  Ranking Buffalo State or Utica gives SJF a brownie point that they need desperately.  Maybe Morrisville State played their way into the rankings.  Maybe Rowan?

Life would be a lot easier if there were no upsets....

Though I can't really think how E&H wasn't ranked when the ODAC is usually a quality conference. I know their SOS is bad in this context thanks to Ferrum and Sewanee.

Because they weren't getting votes and not RR'd, and have generally been blah lately,  I didn't even realize they were 8-1. Yet here we are. If they beat Guilford I think they're have a legit case for a "C".

[ITH radio]

I don't think SLU falls out as their Coach is on the ERC. Besides 7-2 is still pretty good and SLU's SOS is very high (.6143) now after playing HOB. Plus they have the H2H over MoState who beat Montclair (last week's #8) H2H. I'm guessing SLU stays.