I’ll try to simplify this the best I can. The way d3tennisguy and I see things, Whitman is the 7th overall seed and Trinity TX is the 8th overall seed. Both of these teams need to be flown somewhere due to the 500-mile rule. The other team that is causing a dilemma is Gustavus. They have several teams who can travel to them, but there’s no obvious #2 seed that can go there. We don’t want a scenario where Whitman or Trinity TX is the regional #1 seed and Gustavus is the #2 seed. That’s not fair. The solution is to give Midd the 8th overall seed and have Whitman and Trinity both fly to Gustavus to battle it out for an Elite 8 berth.
Bowdoin gets a little screwed here as they have to travel and face NC Wesleyan rather than host Midd. I’m not sure which I’d rather have. My bracket last year was also dependent on TCNJ putting in a bid to host and they didn’t so this particular scenario may backfire. If NC Wesleyan doesn’t go north and meet one of the NESCAC teams somewhere in the Mid-Arlantic states, they will most likely get shipped to Emory, which is terrible for them. I’d be pleased if the bracket ended up this way. I think it is pretty fair.
If I think of another scenario that’s better, I will post it.
1. Amherst*, MIT, Vassar, Wilkes, Elizabethtown
2. Emory*, Washington & Lee, Mary Washington, UT-Tyler, Earlham
3. Williams*, Skidmore, Baruch, Marywood, NYU-Poly
4. Kenyon*, Wash U, Kalamazoo, Whitewater, Ohio Northern, PSU-Behrend
5. CMS*, Cruz, Cal Lutheran, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands
6. Bowdoin, NC Wesleyan, TCNJ*, Drew, Grove City, PSU-Harrisburg
7. Whitman, Trinity (TX), Gustavus*, Luther, Grinnell, Concordia
8. Middlebury*, Johns Hopkins, Stevens, UMass Dartmouth, Nichols
Scenario 2 (without filler teams – my apologies to them I’m just too lazy)
1. Amherst*, MIT, Vassar
2. Emory*, NC Wesleyan, W&L, Mary Wash, UT-Tyler
3. Williams*, Skidmore
4. Kenyon, Gustavus, Whitewater*
5. CMS*, Cruz, Cal Lu, PP, Redlands
6. Bowdoin*, Middlebury
7. Whitman, Johns Hopkins*
8. Trinity (TX), Wash U*, Kalamazoo
Scenario 3
1. Amherst,* MIT, Vassar
2. Emory*, NCW, W&L, Mary Wash, UT-Tyler
3. Williams*, Skidmore
4. Kenyon, Gustavus, Whitewater*
5. CMS*, Cruz, CLU, PP, Redlands
6. Bowdoin, Johns Hopkins, TCNJ*
7. Whitman, Wash U*, Kalamazoo
8. Middlebury*, Trinity (TX)
With this bracket, 4 through 8 are all very intriguing regionals. We could potentially have a few #2 seeds in the Elite 8 and maybe even a #3 if Gustavus finds some magic.
Gustavus could have a chance in that region if they can get a little rain and play the type of doubles they showed Emory indoors
Agree that they definitely could. Gustavus will either host or get sent to Whitewater. If they host, it’s extremely likely both Trinity TX and Whitman get sent there and any of those 3 could come out of it.
Earlham can’t go to Emory. What if Bates gets in over Wash U? Why should Whitman, Trinity(TX), and Gustavus have an easier route to the Final 8 than Middlebury, JHU,Bowdoin,NC Wesleyan,CMS,Cruz,Kenyon, and Wash U? This doesn’t seem too fair.
You’re correct on Earlham. Not sure how I messed that up because I even looked it up before I did it. What scenario would you propose that is “fair” and works?
You are right with Gustavus being a problem. The NCAA Committee needs to get Whitewater to host. Send Trinity(TX) there. They have gone there before. Gustavus and Wash U both go there as well. Then send Tyler to Emory. Gives them the 5th team they need. Whitman goes to Kenyon as the #2 seed. We will see how strong either team is with a #4 team playing a #9 or #10 team. This balances out the regions except for Calif. No help there.
If Wash U doesn’t make it. Then Trinity and Gustavus still battle it out. Who knows, Whitewater may play well on a day.
Don’t mind this actually but Whitman really gets screwed here having to be #2 seed in the regional. I’m with you that they probably aren’t as good as their ranking, but their ranking says they deserve a #1 seed and that’s why I’m giving it to them.
I like this scenario except you end up with one massive region: Gustavus, Whitewater, Wash U, Trinity, Luther, Grinnell, and Concordia in one region. I’m not sure the NCAA would have one 7-team region and two 4-team regions.
I’m positive that UWW put a bid in to host. Does this help at all?
No way Bates beats Middlebury! They are just not there yet. They are no better than Carniege.
Concordia is 443 to Kenyon. So they could go there.
Where is the 4 team regional?
Emory’s region would be 4 teams without Earlham, but without Concordia, a 6-team region is fine. That happens all the time
Isn’t there some type of consideration for teams who “put themselves out there”? What I mean to say is Trinity has no bad losses except Skidmore but they’ve beaten a lot of good teams. Whitman has one good win but havent really exposed themselves to good teams in the teens. With that in mind I’d favor giving Trinity a 1 seed over at least Whitman and I think also Middlebury. That seems “fair” to me as they definitely deserve a 1 seed more than the other two. Just my thoughts could be way off base here
Mary wash and UT-Tyler are both over 500 miles from Emory so how would that work?
Tyler has to be flown no matter what. How far is Mary Wash from Emory?
587 miles
I think the NCAA rule actually states that it’s 500 miles as the crow flies. The straight-line distance from Fredericksburg to Atlanta is 495 miles. It sucks for the Eagles, but the NCAA is willing to go great lengths to save some money (or, rather, willing to make teams go great lengths. ha… ha… ha….)
Isn’t this Emory’s girls turn to host this year?
I thought the Emory women hosted last year, and that was why Emory and NCW met half-way
Last year eleven team got into the national championship that were not ranked. Eleven nationally ranked teams were not entered into the tournament. Any ideas for a better system? The best teams should get a chance to play in the national championship.
Do you think that Wheaton College has any chance of getting a nats bid this year. The bid that was taken away from Non-AQ schools was 100% theres for the taking, and they ended the season winning the CCIW and on a 12 match win streak. Only bad losses being Luther and TCNJ. Obviously not a team able to compete against the best schools in the region (i.e. WashU and Kenyon), but can definitely play some solid tennis towards the top of the lineup.