tricky geographical coincidence for regionals

[Regionals]

Right now, Towson, Maryland, and George Washington are ranked 33, 34, and 35. The closest regional for all three teams is clearly Penn State. It looks like the top 28 NQS cutoff in a month may be above 196, and it's hard to see any of these 3 teams getting above 196 for their NQS.

If they remain above 37th but below 28th, and the committee sticks with geography, then all three teams would end up at Penn State. That would mean another year when a top 28 team has to be in the play-in round. It also doesn't help matters that the current teams in 26th-28th are Southern Utah, Utah State and Arizona State. Based on geography, they should be sent to either Utah or Washington.

If we are still facing this issue next month, and the committee were willing to overlook geography to keep top 28 teams out of the play-in round, maybe they could send the lowest ranked out of the MD/DC teams to Tuscaloosa. But that would potentially result in other geography messes, like sending Iowa and CMU out to Seattle (based on current rankings).

 

[Beamer]

Regionals posting about Regionals. Handle checks out.

 

[irichluck21]

Yeah, it's silly to continue to have the unseeded teams.
Just seed like basketball and have it be consistent.

I know non-revenue sports have to travel to the closest location if they are within a certain mileage from the host, but still seems like an outdated approach.

Especially with the play in mind set. Imagine being ranked 26th and having to do the play in while #33 gets a first round bye.

Or change the rules so that 28-36 are set in for play in and the other teams go to closest regional.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

The unseeded teams is so fucking stupid. There is no reason to not seed all of them and let them travel to the appropriate regional.

This is made even stupider by the fact that UCLA is now a part of the Big 10 and is already traveling cross-country to meets. If they have to do it during the regular season, it should be expected of every team in post season.

 

[irichluck21]

Agreed since the power conferences are now coast to coast.

However, it is in the NCAA regulations that non-revenue sports, that is how regionals is selected. If you are within 400 miles of the host...you go.

However, this effects play in.

Its crazy that Towson currently at 33 would avoid the play in, with the current scenario.

#27 would have to go to play in, which is currently Utah State.

Washington and Central Michigan are still close to moving up higher.
Ball State, Illinois, Iowa State, Pitt aren''t too far away.

Right now the difference between 27 (ASU/Utah State) and Pitt (41) is .795

still plenty of meets and conference championships to go.

 

[RedBirdie]

I'm sure GW can put together a few more bars disasters and juuuuuuust miss out on regionals again.

 

[Regionals]

We’re now counting on teams to fall out of the top 36 so fairness can prevail?

I was going to include the “way out” solutions in my first post, but it felt a bit mean.

 

[RedBirdie]

I'm a GW fan. I'm just cynical about them being able to maintain this newfound ability to be vaguely competent on bars after being so bad on the event for so many years. They had an opportunity to make regionals last year and absolutely melted down on bars at EAGL championships. I'm not over watching that disaster.

 

[Regionals]

I'm a GW fan. I'm just cynical about them being able to maintain this newfound ability to be vaguely competent on bars after being so bad on the event for so many years. They had an opportunity to make regionals last year and absolutely melted down on bars at EAGL championships. I'm not over watching that disaster.

I get you, since I also love GW. The Delayney DeHaan glow-up has been incredible. Once she gets beam to be more consistent, she will really be one of the most phenomenal AAers in NCAA.

 

[irichluck21]

So I created what I think the regionals would look like and there is even more of an issue.
Penn State is currently 27th.

Washington is currently tied for 37th and not able to qualify a full team to home regionals.

Penn State:
(1) Oklahoma
(8) Michigan State
(9) Kentucky
(16) Arkansas
(17) Michigan
(23) Ohio State **
(27) Penn State (host)
(33) Maryland ** (avoids play in)
(35) Towson ** (play in)
(36) George Washington ** (play in)
--this is a huge mess as PSU is host. Ohio State, Maryland, Towson, and GWU are all within 400 miles of Penn State so all of these teams must go. That means Michigan would be the one team moved out.

Washington:
(2) LSU
(7) Missouri
(10) Georgia
(15) Minnesota
(18) Denver
(22) Arizona
(25) Arizona State
(29) Boise State (play in)
(34) Central Michigan (play in)

Utah:
(4) Florida
(5) Utah (host)
(12) Stanford
(13) Auburn
(19) Nebraska
(21) Southern Utah **
(26) Illinois
(30) Utah State ** (play in)
(31) BYU *** (play in)
Utah State, So. Utah, and BYU must all be at Utah regional as they are within 400 miles.
Not only is BYU covered by the 400 mileage radius with Utah, but BYU must be in this regional as UTAH is the Wed, Thurs, Saturday meet.

Alabama:
(4) UCLA
(5) Cal
(11) Oregon State
(14) Alabama
(17) Michigan
(20) NC State **
(24) North Carolina **
(28) Clemson ** (play in)
(32) Iowa (play in)

With Michigan (17) technically supposed to go to the Penn State but now forced out due to the other 5 teams below them that MUST be placed at Penn State due to mileage. Michigan is the only team that can move. The Alabama regional is the only group missing a team, so Michigan would be placed in the Bama regional.

 

[Regionals]

With Michigan and Arkansas almost tied in NQS right now, it'll be interesting to see if they trade rankings. Michigan at #16 helps somewhat with the mess, but you still have a team in the 30's avoiding the play-in. Maryland has more meets left than most/all other teams, but getting a 3-ish tenth rise in NQS is a very big task.

 

[Regionals]

Another terrible thought- Penn State is kind of precariously in the top 28. If they fall to 29, there's no way the committee would let two teams ranked 29-36 avoid play-ins, let alone in the same regional, right?