Pool C Amateur Predictions and Prizes

[Gregory Sager]

Yes! NPU hosts!

[jknezek]

Both Roanoke and Ogelthorpe get in from South Atlantic. Surprised about that.

[Shooter McGavin]

Shooter's Pool C Predictions
1. Amherst
2. F&M
3. RPI
4. Conn
5. CNU
6. OWU
7. Central
8. Williams
9. Rowan
10. ONU
11. Getty
12. Rochester
13. Kalamazoo
14. Swat
15. Middlebury
16. Hope
17. WPI
18. Otterbein
19. Trinity
20. Loras
21. Brandeis/Lycoming/Clarkson/Wheaton (Ill)/Haverford/Ithaca/Colorado

NE: 5
East: 2
MA: 4
SA: 2
GL: 3
Cen: 2
North: 2
West: 1

17/21 

[Gregory Sager]

Chicago's women are hosting a pod, which is why the male Maroons have to go on the road. I didn't see that coming, because the U of C women were only ranked third in the region last week.

[Gregory Sager]

Surprise of the day: Hope not only got in as an at-large, but the Flying Dutch are actually hosting a pod.

[Domino1195]

Both Roanoke and Ogelthorpe get in from South Atlantic. Surprised about that.

I did have Roanoke on the bubble but I thought their SOS was too low versus other candidates.

I wavered on K'zoo and Hope - kept switching back and forth - but I DID NOT see Hope hosting!  But my three biggest swing-and misses:  No way Trinity over Swarthmore or Haverford - no way.  Clarkson's SOS - I thought would have increased enough this week to go with a good RvR - need to see the data sheets.  WPI I didn't consider because of RvR - splitting hairs with last teams in.  Trinity sends a bad message to teams who play ranked opponents AND gets results . . .

WPI	11-2-4	1-1-3	0.576	11-2-4
Trinity (TX)	9-4-2	0-3-1	0.591	10-5-2
Roanoke	13-1-3	1-0-2	0.543	14-1-3
Haverford	9-5-3	2-3-2	0.624	9-5-3
Swarthmore	11-3-3	2-3-1	0.593	11-3-3
Clarkson	10-4-3	3-1-2	0.527	10-4-3

Edit - sorry - missed Swat selection - but substitute Williams for Swat in the rant!

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity (TX) not only gets a bid they don't deserve, but get to host this weekend.   I don't get it. 

[Flying Weasel]

I know we get told over and over again that geography/travel/bracketing does NOT factor into at-large selections (and it isn't supposed to according to the Manual), but the committees, men's and women's, just keep giving the cynics reason to remain cynics, because a great majority of the real head scratchers involve someone from the West getting in when they didn't seem to deserve it or not getting in when it seemed they did.

[FelixCloudy]

I know we get told over and over again that geography/travel/bracketing does NOT factor into at-large selections (and it isn't supposed to according to the Manual), but the committees, men's and women's, just keep giving the cynics reason to remain cynics, because a great majority of the real head scratchers involve someone from the West getting in when they didn't seem to deserve it or not getting in when it seemed they did.

Amen!  So mad I bothered to try to understand the at large bid system.  However, I am told it will become clear once the final rankings are released.  Hope so - cause right now I would say that teams that play very hard schedules will not be doing that in the future as much. 

[blooter442]

Trinity (TX) not only gets a bid they don't deserve, but get to host this weekend.   I don't get it.

I know we get told over and over again that geography/travel/bracketing does NOT factor into at-large selections (and it isn't supposed to according to the Manual), but the committees, men's and women's, just keep giving the cynics reason to remain cynics, because a great majority of the real head scratchers involve someone from the West getting in when they didn't seem to deserve it or not getting in when it seemed they did.

Narrator: It was geography.

Looking at the first weekend, that Messiah pod should be a lot of fun. While I think Oneonta will ultimately end up facing Messiah on Sunday, I think Babson will give the Red Dragons a real run for their money. As for hypothetical 2nd Round matches, would also be intrigued to see Tufts-WPI and Rochester-Kenyon.

[Gregory Sager]

FW, to which specific West Region team do you allude when saying it got a Pool C berth that didn't deserve it, and whom do you feel that it knocked out? Are you alluding to Trinity (TX) or to Colorado College, or to both?

I'll admit that I'm surprised that they both got bids.

However, I am told it will become clear once the final rankings are released.  Hope so - cause right now I would say that teams that play very hard schedules will not be doing that in the future as much. 

That should be interesting reading, indeed.

[FelixCloudy]

Narrator: It was geography.

LOL... Exactly what I asked in the first place!!!  Totally got played...

[susanc]

Here's a pod that makes little sense:

North Park - Host
Pacific Lutheran (Washington)

Colorado College
Gustavus Adolphus (Minnesota)

Gustavus has been receiving votes on and off on D3 site rankings and is forced to play a mid 20's ranked team first round.

[D3Grad]

Unfortunate but ultimately self made for UST to not make the playoffs.  I am curious with even 1 win out of all those ranked matchups do they get a bid given the choices of today?  A learning lesson for UST to make sure to get a result in all games next year as it is to be the final D3 season.  Interesting the MIAC got 3 bids last year (a bit undeserved) and zero this year.  The ebb and flow of the conference makes it hard for teams to get ranked wins vs conference opponents.  Typically Macalester and Carleton receive regional rankings aiding the cause.  Good luck to Gustavus and hope they represent the conference well. 

[Gregory Sager]

Thing is, though, I don't see how this helps the tournament budget. There are typically two flights needed for the bracket's first weekend when the West Region pod is held in Texas. That's been the case in seven of the last eight tournaments. But this year there are three flights needed: one for Pacific Lutheran to get to NPU, one for Colorado College to get to NPU, and one for CMS to get to Trinity (TX).

In other words, giving another Pool C berth to a West Region team actually costs the tourney extra money this year.