How this works: Here are the selection criteria. Six conferences have autobids: the America East, CAA, ECAC, Ivy, MAAC, and Patriot. The Big East gets theirs next year (not that the eventual champ will need it) and the NEC is a brand-new conference so I think 2013. Honestly, this is kinda just plug-and-chug with the numbers that the NCAA, but it takes some fiddling to get the geography right, and some guesswork as to which numbers they'll like better when there are deadlocks.
Also keep in mind that this isn't a prediction, it's an if-today scenario. And, autobids are handed out based on who has the best record so far, or in case of a tie, highest RPI. So:
Yes, the "first four out" section (or as I like to call it: Hokieland) is loaded with ranked heavyweights. That's why bracketology is not a prediction. If I had to pick the biggest surprise of the four it'd probably be 6-1 Maryland, their RPI weighed down by a truly assy non-conference schedule. My committee of one frowns upon loading their schedule with lightweights like Detroit and Bellarmine. MCLA teams (club lacrosse for the uninitiated) beat Detroit and Bellarmine. Like many teams, the toughest is yet to come for Maryland, but it's not a stretch to say they could be left out if they can't get at least one signature win in ACC play (and they already lost to Duke) or against the Hop. That's why it's called a bubble. Still, UMass and Hofstra can't be complacent.
I'm'a do this every Sunday, because it's fun.
4 comments:
Is Notre Dame really the number 2 seed? Is this by virtue of their strength of schedule so far or their Cinderella run to the finals last year?
Nope, nothing to do with last year's tournament. ND's SOS is sixth and their RPI and Quality Wins are 2nd each. They're 4-0 entirely against teams in that bracket and with only one of those at home. Impressive run so far, and I think at a minimum they'll get a seed in this year's tourney unless they lose all their statement-type games.
Agreed, it is never too early to start these predictions, I'm sure ESPN will be discussing said predictions for countless hours over the coming weeks.
Fair enough.
It is strange though to see a bracket without Maryland on it...
When was the last time one of the four ACC lacrosse teams was not in the tournament? (Not counting Duke a few years back during their fiasco...)
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