Pool C -- 2014

[K-Mack]

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.

Am I making things up or didn't D3 used to have that?

That's the joke.

[jknezek]

Is it just me or are the regional rankings coming out much later at night this year?

[smedindy]

They need to get a new hamster to power the generator...

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Maybe they didn't have the money to pay the power or internet bill.

[wally_wabash]

Maybe the South RAC is deadlocked trying to break the TLU/Centre tie. 

[MonroviaCat]

Maybe the South RAC is deadlocked trying to break the TLU/Centre tie.

Rankings are up!

[MonroviaCat]

and I'm kind of scratching my head a little....

[D3AlumniParent]

Actually Muhlenberg swapped with Centre and are now tied with TLU for 5th. Not sure what the logic is in the order of those three after not much happening last week. 

SOUTH                        
1   Wesley   5-0   9-0               
2   Mary Hardin-Baylor   9-0   9-0               
3   Johns Hopkins   9-0   9-0               
4   Washington & Jefferson   9-0   9-0               
5   Texas Lutheran   7-1   8-1               
5   Muhlenberg   8-1   8-1               
7   Centre   9-0   9-0               
8   Thomas More   8-2   8-2               
9   Hampden-Sydney   7-2   7-2               
10   Hardin-Simmons   4-2   6-2

[smedindy]

Let's post 'em all:

EAST                        
1   Delaware Valley   9-0   9-0               
2   Hobart   9-0   9-0               
3   Widener   9-0   9-0               
4   Framingham State   8-1   8-1               
5   Ithaca   7-2   7-2               
6   St. John Fisher   6-2   7-2               
7   MIT   8-0   8-0               
8   St. Lawrence   7-2   7-2               
9   Rowan   6-3   6-3               
10   Husson   6-1   7-1            
   
NORTH                        
1   Mount Union   9-0   9-0               
2   John Carroll   9-0   9-0               
3   Wheaton (Ill.)   9-0   9-0               
4   Wittenberg   8-0   8-1               
5   Wabash   8-1   8-1               
6   North Central (Ill.)   7-2   7-2               
7   Franklin   7-2   7-2               
8   Heidelberg   7-2   7-2               
9   Chicago   7-1   7-1               
10   Adrian   7-2   7-2               

SOUTH                        
1   Wesley   5-0   9-0               
2   Mary Hardin-Baylor   9-0   9-0               
3   Johns Hopkins   9-0   9-0               
4   Washington & Jefferson   9-0   9-0               
5   Texas Lutheran   7-1   8-1               
5   Muhlenberg   8-1   8-1               
7   Centre   9-0   9-0               
8   Thomas More   8-2   8-2               
9   Hampden-Sydney   7-2   7-2               
10   Hardin-Simmons   4-2   6-2               

WEST                        
1   Wisconsin-Whitewater   8-0   9-0               
2   Wartburg   9-0   9-0               
3   Saint John's (Minn.)   8-1   8-1               
4   Linfield   7-1   7-1               
5   Wisconsin-Platteville   7-2   7-2               
6   Bethel (Minn.)   7-2   7-2               
6   Chapman   7-1   7-1               
8   Wisconsin-Oshkosh   5-1   5-4               
9   St. Thomas (Minn.)   7-2   7-2               
10   Pacific (Ore.)   6-1   6-2

[smedindy]

Now, I don't think Centre is screwed UNLESS "B" takes Framingham and not TLU.

A cynic could see this as a way to make sure the South gets two into "C", maybe. The committee would definitely see an undefeated team lurking behind Muhlenberg.

But...would Muhlenberg be taken after MTU / JCU, Del Val, Widener and Wabash, against Framingham and Bethel or a WIAC team?

And whither Oshkosh, Bethel, Platteville? Wow.

[MonroviaCat]

Now, I don't think Centre is screwed UNLESS "B" takes Framingham and not TLU.

A cynic could see this as a way to make sure the South gets two into "C", maybe. The committee would definitely see an undefeated team lurking behind Muhlenberg.

But...would Muhlenberg be taken after MTU / JCU, Del Val, Widener and Wabash, against Framingham and Bethel or a WIAC team?

And whither Oshkosh, Bethel, Platteville? Wow.

A cynic may also see this as a way for them to ensure/justify the TLU to MHB game in round 1

[Boxer7806]

Now, I don't think Centre is screwed UNLESS "B" takes Framingham and not TLU.

A cynic could see this as a way to make sure the South gets two into "C", maybe. The committee would definitely see an undefeated team lurking behind Muhlenberg.

But...would Muhlenberg be taken after MTU / JCU, Del Val, Widener and Wabash, against Framingham and Bethel or a WIAC team?

And whither Oshkosh, Bethel, Platteville? Wow.

Im a MASCAC guy so I'm rooting for Framingham St, but these rankings seem to suggest Framingham is getting the 2nd Pool B, and not undefeated Centre. I just can't see the committee leaving an undefeated team out of the tournament. The last time a Pool B was undefeated in the Northeast, a very weak Suny-Maritime team was given the 3 seed in the regional rankings and promptly lost by 60 in the first round.

Whats even more interesting looking at these rankings from an east perspective is this. If Del Val goes out and beats Widener, Framingham is positioned to be #3 in the regional rankings and probably the first east team off the board for Pool C. Everyone has been assuming that the Del Val vs Widener loser would be an automatic Pool C winner. These rankings, especially from a Widener view, make that look a lot more riskier now.

[USee]

Bethel behind Platteville is a significant development. That puts North Central in the drivers seat for 2 Loss teams unless Platteville is off the board before NCC shows up. That would require Wabash or JCU/Mt U loser to go after UWP, which isn't happening. So likely NCC and Platteville are on the board at the same time and Bethel is hosed. WOW.

[smedindy]

I think SJF may be the best two-loss team. The West also may be hedging and can bump Oshkosh up if they win Saturday...

[MonroviaCat]

Bethel behind Platteville is a significant development. That puts North Central in the drivers seat for 2 Loss teams unless Platteville is off the board before NCC shows up. That would require Wabash or JCU/Mt U loser to go after UWP, which isn't happening. So likely NCC and Platteville are on the board at the same time and Bethel is hosed. WOW.

I thought Platteville's jump was unwarranted after this past week but I also think they should have been ahead of Chapman last week so I guess this is a correction for last week's error....