NCAA Regional Preview: Bowdoin Region
Happy Tuesday, boys and girls. We’re back with our 2nd NCAA Regional preview, and this time are taking a closer look at the region of the tournament’s top overall seed region, the Bowdoin Regional. Bowdoin is hosting a region for the 3rd consecutive year, but for the first time in 5 years will not have to go through MIT in that region. This year, the Polar Bears drew the Liberty League champs, everybody please welcome the RPI Engineers to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament! The Engineers are psyched to be here, and will bring a barrage of red to this regional (seriously, check the hair). The 3rd nationally ranked team in this regional comes from the Empire 8, where Stevens once again dominated the conference. Saying there are three nationally ranked teams is a little misleading, as neither D3RegNEC, D3Tree (both of whom actually wrote more than I did for this preview), nor myself gives anybody much of a chance at upsetting Bowdoin. Let us know what you think in the comments below, and remember that you have until Thursday morning to sign up for our Bracket Challenge!
No. 1 BOWDOIN
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: 99.4%
Power 6 Rating: 74.02
How they got here: By winning the NESCAC, which just happened to be the strongest conference in the country this year. The Polar Bears avenged an earlier loss to Midd with a 5-3 win over the Panthers in the tournament finals.
Why they can win: They are the most solid team, top to bottom, in the entire country. They play excellent doubles. They have a deep senior class. They have been here before, and come away victorious. They have an excellent coach who has taken this team from perennial top-15 to perennial top-5 in just a few short years, which somewhat unheard of. To be frank, they can win because they are the most complete team in the country.
How they can be beaten: As you can tell by the odds, it’s VERY unlikely. That’s what makes Bowdoin so damn good, they are so solid at every spot that even if one or two guys have a bad day, the other four pick them up. It would take a herculean doubles performance from RPI, mixed with Sebas playing his best tennis and probably a Niguidula win at #4.
Player to watch: Jerry Jiang. The Bowdoin junior has been the most vulnerable singles spot for the Polar Bears so far this year, but was playing some good tennis at NESCACs, where he was up a set and a break on Cam Daniels (Wes) in the semis, partnered with Wolfe to get Bowdoin’s only doubles point against Midd in the finals, and was up a break in the 3rd set against Schlanger who happens to be one of the best #4’s in the country. If JERRY is back to form, it makes it very difficult to pick against Bowdoin.
RPI
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: .5%
Power 6 Rating: 68
How they got here: RPI won the Liberty League tournament on Sunday with a 5-2 win over Skidmore.
Why they can win: RPI plays aggressive doubles and if they are firing on all cylinders they can smother you. If everyone gets red hot maybe they sweep doubles vs Bowdoin and then squeak out two singles points. They’ve had good wins at just about every singles spot this year at one point or another. If everything clicks perfectly at the same time maybe we get some RPI magic?
How they can be beaten: Inexperience and just simply being outgunned in the talent department. RPI has done a much better job this year than in the past of maximizing what they’ve got, but what they’ve got will only take them so far. Bowdoin is better at every position, so to answer how they can be beaten—the simplest answer is that they can be beaten by a team that’s just straight up better than them.
Player to watch: Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez. He was my player of the week this week and I feel any RPI will need him to continue playing well if they’re to make any noise.
STEVENS
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: .1%
Power 6 Rating: 65
How they got here: Stevens won the Empire 8, which they’ve absolutely dominated with ease for a while now. No other team in the conference is even close to being regionally ranked.
Why they can win: They’re not going to win the regional, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Ducks could beat RPI. They played down in Florida over spring break and while RPI won 7-2, all six singles matches were close. A doubles sweep from RPI ended the match before it could really get tight, but if Stevens can shore up their doubles and take a lead it’s possible some of the close singles matches go their way.
How they can be beaten: Doubles is a weak spot. In matches vs Coe, Mary Wash, Kenyon, Sewanee, RPI, and Brandeis they only won 2 doubles points. Singles wise, they haven’t had any real standouts either. Keegan Morris had a promising start to the spring but missed some time and hasn’t been the same player since.
Player to watch: Will Persson. The senior has steadily improved throughout his four years and will likely be playing #2 singles behind Danny Polk. He’s played at #1 a decent amount this year though, so hopefully by moving down a spot he’s able to turn some of his tight losses into wins. One of the more consistent players on a team that’s had a lot of guys disappear and then reappear, he’ll surely be looking to end his career on a high note.
RAMAPO/YESHIVA/SALEM STATE
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: 0%
Power 6 Rating(s): Ramapo – 55, Yeshiva – 54 , Salem State – 42
How they got here: Ramapo won their 6th straight GNAC tournament 5-1 over Regis College. Yeshiva won their 5th straight Skyline championship 5-0 over Merchant Marine. Salem State upset 1 seed UMass Boston (who had beaten them the past 7 meetings) 5-1 in the LEC championship.
Why they can win: They can’t
How they can be beaten: Singles 2-6 are simply too weak to compete. Top spot may be able to avoid a loss before 5 victories are achieved.
Player(s) to watch: Willen Feygin, the Roadrunner #1 is far and away the best player among these three schools. Feygin has a solid 10.87 UTR and notched a resounding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mitchel Sanders (TCNJ) a few weeks ago. Adam Rosemblaum, Yeshiva’s top player will get a chance to avenge his 6-3, 6-4 loss vs. Willen Feygin of Ramapo in the first round. Rosemblaum (UTR 10.31) has had some success this season at the top spot and has been moderately competitive against top players (6-4, 6-2 L to Murphy of WIlkes)