This Week (and kind of next) in the Central: March 8-15, 2019 – A 5000′ View

This Week (and kind of next) in the Central: March 8-15, 2019 – A Five Thousand Foot View

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of UTR, it was the age of TRN, it was the epoch of ON IT, it was the epoch of post-match handshake lines, it was the season of Pool-A selections, it was the season of five Pool-C spots, it was the spring of forehands, it was the winter of backhands, we had everything before us, we nothing before us, we were all going direct to NCAAs, we were all going direct the other way — in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its nosiest bloggers insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of competition only.

#1 U Chicago: Idle

#8 Wash U Spring Break: (vs. Millsaps (March 10), vs. #15 CMU (March 11), vs. #9 Wesleyan (March 12), vs. Hampton-Sydney (March 12), vs. #7 Amherst (March 14))

#12 Gustavus Adolphus: vs. Macalester and Luther (March 9)

#13 Kenyon Spring Break: (vs. Coe (9-0, March 7); vs. #9 Wesleyan (March 10); vs. #7 Amherst (March 11); vs. #14 Case (March 13); vs. Millsaps (March 14); vs. #17 Trinity TX (March 15))

#14 Case Western Spring Break: (vs. Scranton & #15 CMU (March 9); vs. Millsaps & Hampden-Sydney (March 11); vs. #17 Trinity Tx (March 12); vs. Austin & #13 Kenyon (March 13); vs. #7 Amherst & Dickinson (March 15)

#24 Kalamazoo: Idle

#25 Denison: Idle

#35 Oberlin: Idle

#38 Carleton: Idle

Wash U, Kenyon, and Case all fly south to begin their spring breaks this week. Which means that Wash U, Kenyon, Case, Amherst, Wesleyan, and CMU will all be there to help muddy up the Pool C picture. Each of the central teams will play at least three Pool C relevant matches (bolded above). A look in to each of their springs break will follow with a special emphasis on the bolded matches, but the match up by match up previews will be laid out later in the week – possibly in a twitter thread: a blog favorite. Also GAC plays some of their banner men of the North. 

#12 Gustavus Adolphus vs. Macalester and Luther (March 9):

Neither Macalester nor Luther has the firepower to compete with a split-GAC team at the moment. Both Macalester and Luther lack the requisite depth to compete with GAC, but we’ve seen some split or resting-matches get a little shaky for the favorites. GAC hasn’t ever been known for overlooking any of their banner men, and should set up another patisserie this weekend. I expect a lot of carbs to be dealt out, and it will be a massive moral victory for either squad if they can get any closer than 2-7. I predict another 18-0 weekend from GAC. 

Wash U Spring Break: vs CMU, Wesleyan, and Amherst

Best Case Scenario: The best case scenario for the Bears would be to back up their nail biter victory over CMU in more conclusive fashion. To meet their NESCAC foes in the Florida heat and fell both Pool C colleagues. Probably a special emphasis on the Hillis v Amherst storyline going into possibly the Pool C swing match of the weekend for the UAA-NESCAC relationship. Best Case Wash U hops shotgun in the Pool C Honda Civic.

Worst Case Scenario: The worst case scenario is that CMU’s top 2 players don’t both lose and CMU upsets Wash U. The loss sends them reeling into a matchup with an upstart, young, and promising Wesleyan team before Amherst lays down a personal beatdown sending the Bears back to St. Louis 0-3 in important matches.

Blogger Picks:

newCentral: Wash U: 2-1 defeating Amherst and Wesleyan

ASouth: Wash U: 1-2 defeating Wesleyan

Kenyon Spring Break: vs. Wesleyan, Amherst, Case, Trinity TX

Best Case Scenario: Kenyon avenges their myriad losses to top tier NESCAC teams by defeating either Amherst or Wesleyan. They follow that 1-1 effort with a beatdown of their Ohio rival: Case. They use their bigger games (on the whole) to go up on Case after doubles before defeating them at their comparative strengths. Kenyon then cleans out a Trinity Tx team that is itching to become relevant again and end their break 3-1. 

Worst Case Scenario: The NESCAC maintains their dominance over Kenyon and gives Kenyon two Ls to start the break. Case continues their doubles play and sweeps Kenyon before stealing 2 singles points in an objectively stolen match. Kenyon, now 0-3 and mentally exhausted, face a Trinity Tx team that follows a doubles lead and split mentality to defeat Kenyon 5-4. Kenyon goes 0-4 and relegates themselves to a Pool A 3 seed in this one. 

Blogger Picks:

newCentral: Kenyon: 2-2 defeating Case and Trinity TX

ASouth: Kenyon: 2-2 defeating Case and Trinity TX

Case Spring Break: vs. CMU, Trinity TX, Kenyon, Amherst

Best Case Scenario: Case doubles is back! They continue their doubles excellence away from the Cleveland Indoors and the home crowd and go up in all four of these matches before stealing 2-3 singles matches in 5-4 wins (a la Pomona that one year). Kanam and Chen legitimize themselves as national contenders and start an extensive and diverse resume. They quickly take care of Trinity. But they win three 5-4 matches against CMU, Kenyon, and Amherst after doubles sweeps. And thus begin a discussion about the weight of doubles in a dual match. 

Worst Case Scenario: Case is revealed to be a product of a fast indoor coupled with a home court advantage and lose all four matches outdoors. CMU stomps Case in revenge, while Amherst reveals to us why their in a conversation unto themselves – one that hasn’t heard of Case. Trinity’s newest player channels his legend brother to give Case an oppositional dose of Krimbill in a heroic 5-4 upset. 

Blogger Picks:

newCentral: Case: 1-3 defeating Trinity TX

ASouth: Case: 1-3 defeating Trinity TX

With love,

newCentral.