Pool C -- 2015

[D3MAFAN]

E8/NJAC  VS NWC is nice.
This is a national tournament. ( Thanks ExTartanPlayer).

It would have been more interesting if this was 2011.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Fun Facts:

Mount Union Quadrant

1 North (Mount)
6 East
1 South (Hopkins)

UW-Oshkosh Quadrant

4 North (ONU, Franklin, Wheaton, Lakeland)
4 West (UWO, CSS, UWW, St. Norbert)

Linfield Quadrant

2 West (Linfield, Whitworth)
2 East (Salisbury, Cortland)
4 South (Huntingdon, Hendrix, UMHB, HSU)

St. Thomas Quadrant

4 West (UST, La Verne, Dubuque, St. John's)
2 South (TMC, W & L)
2 North (Wabash, Albion)

One of the reasons I wanted to post this is that, in several different places, I saw discussions of where the potential top seeds would be sent.  Whether that was a literal reference to a region, or just an insinuation that each seed would end up in a quadrant that was mostly full of teams from the same region...I wanted to highlight that this isn't how it actually happened.  The top seeds' path to the semifinals will be:

Mount: East region team, East region team, South/East region team

UWO: West region team, North region team, West/North region team

Linfield: West region team, East region team, South region team

St. Thomas: West region team, West region team, North/South region team

Notice something interesting about that?  None of the top seeds will get to the semifinals without playing a team from at least two different regions.  In Linfield's case, three different regions.  So we really need to stop talking about things like "If three West region teams get top seeds, which one will be sent North/South?"  Because three West region teams have gotten top seeds, and (as it currently stands) none of them will be playing exclusively teams from one region. 

[wesleydad]

Fun Facts:

Mount Union Quadrant

1 North (Mount)
6 East
1 South (Hopkins)

UW-Oshkosh Quadrant

4 North (ONU, Franklin, Wheaton, Lakeland)
4 West (UWO, CSS, UWW, St. Norbert)

Linfield Quadrant

2 West (Linfield, Whitworth)
2 East (Salisbury, Cortland)
4 South (Huntingdon, Hendrix, UMHB, HSU)

St. Thomas Quadrant

4 West (UST, La Verne, Dubuque, St. John's)
2 South (TMC, W & L)
2 North (Wabash, Albion)

One of the reasons I wanted to post this is that, in several different places, I saw discussions of where the potential top seeds would be sent.  Whether that was a literal reference to a region, or just an insinuation that each seed would end up in a quadrant that was mostly full of teams from the same region...I wanted to highlight that this isn't how it actually happened.  The top seeds' path to the semifinals will be:

Mount: East region team, East region team, South/East region team

UWO: West region team, North region team, West/North region team

Linfield: West region team, East region team, South region team

St. Thomas: West region team, West region team, North/South region team

Notice something interesting about that?  None of the top seeds will get to the semifinals without playing a team from at least two different regions.  In Linfield's case, three different regions.  So we really need to stop talking about things like "If three West region teams get top seeds, which one will be sent North/South?"  Because three West region teams have gotten top seeds, and (as it currently stands) none of them will be playing exclusively teams from one region.

Well, on paper Mount looks like they got the easiest bracket.  Figured I would throw that out there to start the whining/discussion about bracket strength.

[D3MAFAN]

Fun Facts:

Mount Union Quadrant

1 North (Mount)
6 East
1 South (Hopkins)

UW-Oshkosh Quadrant

4 North (ONU, Franklin, Wheaton, Lakeland)
4 West (UWO, CSS, UWW, St. Norbert)

Linfield Quadrant

2 West (Linfield, Whitworth)
2 East (Salisbury, Cortland)
4 South (Huntingdon, Hendrix, UMHB, HSU)

St. Thomas Quadrant

4 West (UST, La Verne, Dubuque, St. John's)
2 South (TMC, W & L)
2 North (Wabash, Albion)

One of the reasons I wanted to post this is that, in several different places, I saw discussions of where the potential top seeds would be sent.  Whether that was a literal reference to a region, or just an insinuation that each seed would end up in a quadrant that was mostly full of teams from the same region...I wanted to highlight that this isn't how it actually happened.  The top seeds' path to the semifinals will be:

Mount: East region team, East region team, South/East region team

UWO: West region team, North region team, West/North region team

Linfield: West region team, East region team, South region team

St. Thomas: West region team, West region team, North/South region team

Notice something interesting about that?  None of the top seeds will get to the semifinals without playing a team from at least two different regions.  In Linfield's case, three different regions.  So we really need to stop talking about things like "If three West region teams get top seeds, which one will be sent North/South?"  Because three West region teams have gotten top seeds, and (as it currently stands) none of them will be playing exclusively teams from one region.

Although I have my gripes about the selection, I like the fact that you will see some teams faceoff against teams that they traditionally wouldn't play. The matchups are going to be great from start the finish.

[AO]

Franklin hosting doesn't surprise me based on the past (they hosted WashU two years ago in a surprising home 1st round game) ... I was expecting maybe a Franklin-Albion matchup... but Ohio Northern? Can't wait to hear about the Polar Bears getting a Pool C.

The West RAC had to have kept Whitworth ahead of Platteville which is the only way these selections make sense.  So in round 5 you're picking from RPI, ONU, Whitworth, and Guilford.  I guess you can like ONU there, because...they beat John Carroll?  I don't know.  Is that enough to trump an extra loss and an SOS deficit to Whitworth and Guilford?  For me it isn't, but the committee voted otherwise. 

Then you bring Olivet in and you can pretty much toss a coin between Whitworth, Guilford, and Olivet.  They're basically the same team profile-wise. 

Maybe LaVerne got ranked at the end which would have helped Whitworth, but we didn't see a reason to do that.  Doesn't mean it didn't happen though.

The final blame still needs to be placed on the national committee.  If they liked Platteville over Whitworth, they should have reorganized the regional rankings to reflect that.

If LaVerne was ranked last night, there's not a compelling reason to flip UWP and Whitworth.  It's close, but if the regional committee ranked Whitworth (with a RRO win) ahead of UWP, that's defensible, even if I would disagree.

If La Verne was ranked, then maybe Whitworth wasn't the last pool C and Platteville did get to the board?

[ExTartanPlayer]

Fun Facts:

Mount Union Quadrant

1 North (Mount)
6 East
1 South (Hopkins)

UW-Oshkosh Quadrant

4 North (ONU, Franklin, Wheaton, Lakeland)
4 West (UWO, CSS, UWW, St. Norbert)

Linfield Quadrant

2 West (Linfield, Whitworth)
2 East (Salisbury, Cortland)
4 South (Huntingdon, Hendrix, UMHB, HSU)

St. Thomas Quadrant

4 West (UST, La Verne, Dubuque, St. John's)
2 South (TMC, W & L)
2 North (Wabash, Albion)

One of the reasons I wanted to post this is that, in several different places, I saw discussions of where the potential top seeds would be sent.  Whether that was a literal reference to a region, or just an insinuation that each seed would end up in a quadrant that was mostly full of teams from the same region...I wanted to highlight that this isn't how it actually happened.  The top seeds' path to the semifinals will be:

Mount: East region team, East region team, South/East region team

UWO: West region team, North region team, West/North region team

Linfield: West region team, East region team, South region team

St. Thomas: West region team, West region team, North/South region team

Notice something interesting about that?  None of the top seeds will get to the semifinals without playing a team from at least two different regions.  In Linfield's case, three different regions.  So we really need to stop talking about things like "If three West region teams get top seeds, which one will be sent North/South?"  Because three West region teams have gotten top seeds, and (as it currently stands) none of them will be playing exclusively teams from one region.

Well, on paper Mount looks like they got the easiest bracket.  Figured I would throw that out there to start the whining/discussion about bracket strength.

Oh, I had the same thought as soon as their bracket was posted.

[smedindy]

I'm still a bit baffled by ONU getting in. I can see Whitworth ahead of Platteville if LaVerne is ranked, but ONU in?

I feel bad for Guilford most of all.

[wesleydad]

Just playing what if here to see what others think.

Lets put the top 4 through to the round of 8, rank the potential opponents based on the match up in round 2

Mount - Wesley/Hopkins ranked 8 and 11
Oshkosh - UWW/Wheaten  ranked 5 and 6
Linfield - Huntingdon/UMHB or HSU  unranked and 12/13
St Thomas - Thomas More/Wabash  ranked 9 and 7

on paper it looks like Linfield has easiest round 3 game, then Mount, then St. Thomas, and Oshkosh has by far the toughest.  based on the Mount 1, St Thomas 2, Linfield 3, and Oshkosh 4 that would seem to be out of place.  Mount should have the easiest, then St Thomas with Linfield 3.  Will anyone be complaining that Linfield has an easier road to the semis based on rankings or what it looks like on paper.  I dont see much difference in the Wesley/Hopkins and Thomas More/Wabash games.  Out of all the teams that may make the final 16 Huntingdon is by far the lowest and the winner of the UMHB/HSU game has an easy round 2 game.  Linfield may not get much of a challenge either from the Cortland/Salisbury winner.  So on paper I would say that Linfield has the easiest bracket to come out of.

[wally_wabash]

If LaVerne was ranked last night, there's not a compelling reason to flip UWP and Whitworth.  It's close, but if the regional committee ranked Whitworth (with a RRO win) ahead of UWP, that's defensible, even if I would disagree.

If La Verne was ranked, then maybe Whitworth wasn't the last pool C and Platteville did get to the board?

I don't think there's any chance that Platteville could have been on the board and not been picked.  Their profile crushed Guilford, RPI, and ONU. 

[art76]

My two pennies: after having read comments on the D3 bracket selection page and above it is my opinion that Oshkosh will be playing Wheaton or Whitewater in round three and then taking it to Mount Union. I think if Mount Union meets up with Oshkosh they will be meeting their toughest opponent for the year.

On the other side of the bracket, St. Thomas and Linfield look to be the last two standing on that side of the bracket. By my count, that's three purple teams in the final four, and if Whitewater knocks off Oshkosh, then four out of four.

I am rooting for an Oshkosh Linfield Stagg Bowl, because I think they are the two best teams in the country.

PS. I have no horse in this race, being a Bethel Alumnus.

[02 Warhawk]

Fun Facts:

Mount Union Quadrant

1 North (Mount)
6 East
1 South (Hopkins)

UW-Oshkosh Quadrant

4 North (ONU, Franklin, Wheaton, Lakeland)
4 West (UWO, CSS, UWW, St. Norbert)

Linfield Quadrant

2 West (Linfield, Whitworth)
2 East (Salisbury, Cortland)
4 South (Huntingdon, Hendrix, UMHB, HSU)

St. Thomas Quadrant

4 West (UST, La Verne, Dubuque, St. John's)
2 South (TMC, W & L)
2 North (Wabash, Albion)

One of the reasons I wanted to post this is that, in several different places, I saw discussions of where the potential top seeds would be sent.  Whether that was a literal reference to a region, or just an insinuation that each seed would end up in a quadrant that was mostly full of teams from the same region...I wanted to highlight that this isn't how it actually happened.  The top seeds' path to the semifinals will be:

Mount: East region team, East region team, South/East region team

UWO: West region team, North region team, West/North region team

Linfield: West region team, East region team, South region team

St. Thomas: West region team, West region team, North/South region team

Notice something interesting about that?  None of the top seeds will get to the semifinals without playing a team from at least two different regions.  In Linfield's case, three different regions.  So we really need to stop talking about things like "If three West region teams get top seeds, which one will be sent North/South?"  Because three West region teams have gotten top seeds, and (as it currently stands) none of them will be playing exclusively teams from one region.

Well, on paper Mount looks like they got the easiest bracket.  Figured I would throw that out there to start the whining/discussion about bracket strength.

We've been saying that all along...it's like that pretty much every year. Sorry east fans.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Fun Facts:

Mount Union Quadrant

1 North (Mount)
6 East
1 South (Hopkins)

UW-Oshkosh Quadrant

4 North (ONU, Franklin, Wheaton, Lakeland)
4 West (UWO, CSS, UWW, St. Norbert)

Linfield Quadrant

2 West (Linfield, Whitworth)
2 East (Salisbury, Cortland)
4 South (Huntingdon, Hendrix, UMHB, HSU)

St. Thomas Quadrant

4 West (UST, La Verne, Dubuque, St. John's)
2 South (TMC, W & L)
2 North (Wabash, Albion)

One of the reasons I wanted to post this is that, in several different places, I saw discussions of where the potential top seeds would be sent.  Whether that was a literal reference to a region, or just an insinuation that each seed would end up in a quadrant that was mostly full of teams from the same region...I wanted to highlight that this isn't how it actually happened.  The top seeds' path to the semifinals will be:

Mount: East region team, East region team, South/East region team

UWO: West region team, North region team, West/North region team

Linfield: West region team, East region team, South region team

St. Thomas: West region team, West region team, North/South region team

Notice something interesting about that?  None of the top seeds will get to the semifinals without playing a team from at least two different regions.  In Linfield's case, three different regions.  So we really need to stop talking about things like "If three West region teams get top seeds, which one will be sent North/South?"  Because three West region teams have gotten top seeds, and (as it currently stands) none of them will be playing exclusively teams from one region.

Well, on paper Mount looks like they got the easiest bracket.  Figured I would throw that out there to start the whining/discussion about bracket strength.

We've been saying that all along...it's like that pretty much every year. Sorry east fans.

Fun fact: over the last four years (2011-2014) Mount has been placed in a bracket laden with East teams ONE time.  Last year Mount played teams from the North, South, North, and South to reach the Stagg Bowl.  In 2013 Mount played teams from the South, North, South, and North.  In 2012 they played teams from the South, South, East, South (although if you want to throw Hopkins into the East for the purpose of this exercise since they're pretty far East, fine).  In 2011 they played teams from the North, South, North, and South.

1 of the last 4 /=/ "pretty much every year"

[02 Warhawk]

I'm just saying this year they have a bunch a east team in their region, hence the easy path. Also, in general, they seem to get the lightest path each post season (I am not talking about just east teams). As a UWW fan I wouldn't have it any other way.

[AO]

If LaVerne was ranked last night, there's not a compelling reason to flip UWP and Whitworth.  It's close, but if the regional committee ranked Whitworth (with a RRO win) ahead of UWP, that's defensible, even if I would disagree.

If La Verne was ranked, then maybe Whitworth wasn't the last pool C and Platteville did get to the board?

I don't think there's any chance that Platteville could have been on the board and not been picked.  Their profile crushed Guilford, RPI, and ONU.

Isn't Whitworth an easy pick over ONU if they have a regionally ranked win?

[wally_wabash]

If LaVerne was ranked last night, there's not a compelling reason to flip UWP and Whitworth.  It's close, but if the regional committee ranked Whitworth (with a RRO win) ahead of UWP, that's defensible, even if I would disagree.

If La Verne was ranked, then maybe Whitworth wasn't the last pool C and Platteville did get to the board?

Not necessarily if ONU had rolled up on various ballots of the committee members.  ONU was in play from the beginning.  Ballot inertia is a real thing. 
I don't think there's any chance that Platteville could have been on the board and not been picked.  Their profile crushed Guilford, RPI, and ONU.

Isn't Whitworth an easy pick over ONU if they have a regionally ranked win?