WASH U
NCAA Rank/Blog Power Rank/Slam Tennis Rank: #7/#9/#7
Power 6: 70
How they got here: We all know how they got here. Wash U was the last Pool C Selection in this year’s draw. While the Bears had a fantastic year, some would say that they should have been the first team out. But I will save that for another article. Wash U beat top 5 foe Amherst earlier in the year on Spring Break and that essentially jettisoned them into the Tournament. With a fourth place UAA finish and some wins over CMU under their belt, Wash U represents the #7 overall seed.
Why they can win: They can win because they got the easiest draw in the tournament. Kalamazoo will be their opponent in the Sweet 16 most likely. That team has not come close to beating anyone in the top 20, let alone the top 10. Wash U will easily get through and that’s all I’ll really say about it. I do want to mention that Hillis and Neves have had great years at the top while the Bears have ridden a revolving door at the bottom to keep things fresh and opponents on their toes.
How they can be beaten: They could be beaten by a team that could match their firepower at the top of the lineup and plays disciplined Doubles. There is a team that does those things in the Central Region that could have been a #2 seed in their region. That teams name is Kenyon. Kenyon should have been in this region.
Player to watch: Ethan Hillis. One of the best in the country, and he has great parents.
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: 99.8%
KALAMAZOO
ITA Rank/Blog Power Rank/Slam Tennis Rank: #27/#30/#36
Power 6: 65
How they got here: After a one year sabbatical from the NCAA tournament due to sanctions placed on them last year, Kalamazoo is back after winning their conference with ease as they always do.
Why they can win: This team has no shot at Wash U so we will focus on their match against UWW instead. They beat UWW 5-4 earlier in the year on the strength of two doubles wins and taking #1, 5, and 6 singles. The good news for Kzoo is that they are the clear favorites at #1 and #5 and should come out of doubles with at least one point. If Kzoo takes the doubles again I don’t see how they lose this one. They are a deep enough team to handle UWW throughout the lineup and should be able to eek out a win here and there in the singles portion.
How they can be beaten: I kind of mapped it it above but UWW needs a 2-1 lead to start. KZoo ripped the doubles last time but we all know that doubles is more fickle than the fashion industry. Whitewater is surely motivated after losing earlier in the year and a golden opportunity to make the Sweet 16 because of the NCAA. I’ve always viewed UWW as a team that can step up when it counts – now would be the time. If KZoo loses one of the bottom two singles matches, we’ll be calling NewCentral for the barn Insurance.
Player to watch: Tytus Metzler – the younger Metzler brother took two Ls to UWW last time out. We’ll see about this time.
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: 0.05%
UW-WHITEWATER
ITA Rank/Blog Power Rank/Slam Tennis Rank: 35 on Slam Tennis
Power 6: 61
How they got here: Pool B! The Warhawks basically scheduled every other Pool B team in contention despite the geographical challenges. While they lost to TCNJ, their win over UC Santa Cruz (and later over UW Eau Claire) secured their spot as the second Pool B team (even though there somehow turned out to be 3 spots)
Why they can win: They’ve have a lot of good battles this year and lost 5-4 to Kzoo, so that’s definitely a winnable match. There’s a big gap between them and Wash U, but they played them already this year so maybe they’ll come up with some impeccable strategy to turn an 8-1 loss into a win.
How they can be beaten: If they go down in doubles against Kzoo or Wash U, I don’t think they’ll be able to overcome that. Even though their singles has been overall solid, they are outgunned at the top of the lineup and that would leave the margins too slim, as they’d probably need to win 3-6 singles.
Player to watch: Alex Gray- he’s had a number of good wins in big matches, and most of his losses have been competitive as well.
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: 0.05%
ROSE HULMAN
ITA Rank/Blog Power Rank/Slam Tennis Rank: NR/NR/NR
Power 6: 60
How they got here: Winners of the Heartland Conference with a 5-2 victory over Earlham.
Why they can win: Because anything is possible?
How they can be beaten: They don’t have the depth to compete with the top dogs. They should beat Illinois Tech but have no shot against Wash U.
Player to watch: Ian Landwehr. He’s ranked #14 in the Central and has the game to compete with anyone in the region. He will likely have his singles match with Hillis be unfinished.
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: <.01%
ILLINOIS TECH/PRINCIPIA
ITA Rank/Blog Power Rank/Slam Tennis Rank: NR/NR/NR, NR/NR/NR
Power 6: 54/56
How they got here: Illinois Tech cruised through the NACC tournament, which according to their athletics website, is the first conference title in any sport in school history. No one—including Principia—knows how they made it, but they somehow received a Pool B bid, so here they are.
Why they can win: There’s still tennis to be played, so they still have an opportunity. That said, it would take a heroic effort from every member of either team to tree on everything to beat even Kalamazoo, let alone the hosts: Wash U.
How they can be beaten: They’re liable to get swept and lose a quick two points in singles to any of the teams above.
Player(s) to watch: Pol de Santiago, Jules Kitchingman
Odds of making the NCAA Quarterfinals: <.01%
…damn, epitomizeS
Can I just say….I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this blog. Pulling no punches and rightly so. Yet, I’m a Midwest guy and Frank Barnes epitomize class and coaching smarts. So a shout out to every guy on the UWW team and props to Casey Johnson at KZoo. I wish them all well!