Path to Lax Big ten Tournament
- Thread starter JJboys38
- Start date
Thanks for posting. No matter what we are in and in 2 of 8 scenarios we are 3rd seed.
That 3 goal differential thing is the dumbest thing I've ever seen.
Doesn't look like any scenario where we play Hopkins unless we both make it to the finals.
Not sure who I'd rather face first, Maryland or Penn St.
@ Penn St. is going to be a tough ask. To play them 5 days later on our home turf though, I don't know. Tough to beat any team twice in less than a week like that.
I still think Maryland is the best team in the country. Until I see Penn St. win huge games in do or die situations, they haven't. They still have never won an NCAA game. Can they roll through the B1G tourney and NCAA tourney having never done it even once in their history?
The B1G is so good.
Doesn't look like any scenario where we play Hopkins unless we both make it to the finals.
Not sure who I'd rather face first, Maryland or Penn St.
@ Penn St. is going to be a tough ask. To play them 5 days later on our home turf though, I don't know. Tough to beat any team twice in less than a week like that.
I still think Maryland is the best team in the country. Until I see Penn St. win huge games in do or die situations, they haven't. They still have never won an NCAA game. Can they roll through the B1G tourney and NCAA tourney having never done it even once in their history?
The B1G is so good.
The three goal is ridiculous but only comes into play in one scenario of the eight. Thought we would need to play games this weekend to see if it matteredin tiebreaker. Apparently not. (IF WE LOST TO PENN STATE BY ONLY ONE AND JHU LOST BY MORE THAN ONE WE SHOULD BE 3RD SEED )
They've never had a duo before like Ament and O'Keefe. And what's somewhat scary is they are relatively young. An upset in the B1G tourney is possible as they are definitely going to the NCAAs. And any Final Four team this year can win it all. But as far as the 1st round of the NCAAs against an AQ team they are about as much of a lock as you can get.
Agree on the last part. They are fun to watch, mostly because they play very reckless. Their offense can score. Their D has gotten better, but I want to see them to it in a close game where they aren't able to fling the ball around as easily in a one a done situation.
It's why I favor Maryland. They are like professionals. They win in different ways, and they have seen in all. That team doesn't get rattled and plays their best when it matters most.
Penn St. is a great watch. They have great shooters and athletes. But I still think their D is susceptible and playing such a loose style, well, I am going to need to see it done when it's deep in the fourth and they are in a 1 goal game.
They still have never won a playoff game. They will get it this year, but will they get em all. I have my doubts.
I don't think that's been announced but you'd have to imagine we'll be the late game. I hope so at least. It'll be a rush to get there by 5.
And if Towson, Denver and/or Loyola get upset in their tournaments both OSU and, presumably Cornell, are both at risk. Bank on the ACC getting 4 at-large bids. Add the 2nd place teams in the B1G and the Ivy League. That leaves 2 spots open. No upsets it's OSU and Cornell. But if there are 3-5 teams going after 2 spots then the question is who gets bumped? I actually think Denver gets left out if that happens, but can't say the same for Loyola and Towson. Meanwhile Marist makes travel plans.
That would make sense but remember the people running this tournament are the same people who determined the tie breaker
They really need to fix this tournament. It’s not just us. Too many mediocre teams get in and good teams left out every year.
Way too many AQ’s.
Way too many AQ’s.
I think they need to determine the "power conferences" in lacrosse. Then just take the highest ranked team from all the other conferences like they do for the New Years bowls in football.
Either that or have play in games between the lesser conferences.
SoCon vs. whatever some of those other small ones are.
On a side note, I really hope OSU gets in to the NCAA tourney. It's a good precedent for the B1G.
SoCon vs. whatever some of those other small ones are.
On a side note, I really hope OSU gets in to the NCAA tourney. It's a good precedent for the B1G.
There is already one play in game...I would argue it would be good to add another...which then creates another "at-large" spot....what's it gonna hurt...the play in game participants are based off conference RPI (I believe)
I think last year the MAAC played the NEC in the play in game...so just add one more game...maybe it's the SoCon champ vs the next lowest conference AQ winner...
Again that frees up another spot for the power guys...likely the ACC, B1G or Ivy...
Food for thought...
I'll be in Happy Valley on Sat...see how it goes down
That would help. But the real problem is a combination of the number of AQs combined with potential upsets in the weaker conference tournaments. Until recent history, say the last 10 years, the NCAA tended to have a smaller tournament field than was justified by the number of strong teams. It was an 8 team field until 1981, 10 from '81-'86, 12 from '87-'02 and then 16. Historically, the talent justified a 12 team field by the mid 70's and a 16 team field by the late 80's. AQs began in the 2000's. Problem is, with a lot of the weaker conferences you have at most 1 team that is worthy of a bid. And if they get upset in their conference tournament you end up with a team that simply doesn't belong. One possible solution would be for the NCAA to have the right to select the regular season winner over the tournament will for the weaker conferences. They'd scream, but it's not like they're losing a lot of revenue.
Gonna be a tough one to grab I think. I like the idea of playing them again less than a week later on our home field.
Hopefully like the 2007 Giants playing the Pats tough in the regular season finale and then doing what we all remember in the Super Bowl.
This is why you play the games.
I am doing anything I can do make their offense do things that aren't their strengths. Specifically, don't slide to Ament. Make him a one on one goal scorer. I don't care if he scores 10 goals. I don't want him getting 10 assists and getting everyone else involved. The team feeds off it and starts rolling down hill when that happens. It's unstoppable then.
Conversely, make those great shooters the have feeders. Slide early and often to them. They are skilled, they will find the open guy. It may look ugly and we will give up some easy ones, but playing it straight does not work against this team.
Make them do something other than their primary skill.
This is a real chess match. Knowing we are likely to play them again in a few days, do we show our hand. Give them something that is the opposite of what they will see next game? I love this aspect of it all.
So UNC beats Syracuse in the ACC play-in game. Does this mean the ACC gets 5 at large bids or does it mean they're down to 3 and that Cornell and OSU (baring tournament shockers) are safe? With the Baltimore mafia involved I'm always a little nervous.
Given the ACC scenario I think Denver would be playing with fire if they don't win this year.
Playing out how I thought it might.
The B1G needs to go to all teams making the tournament.
OSU loses to Michigan to finish regular season 8-4 (1-4 in B1G) and fail to qualify for the conference tournament. I would not count on seeing them get an at-large bid.
We will be the 4 seed unless we upset PSU and Maryland beats JHU.
Only an ACC team would make the tournament with a 1-4 conference record.
OSU is 9th in RPI. Bad for us they lost will drop out of top ten. They need at least a 12 RPI to get in depending on conf. tournaments. We beat Michigan and dropped 2. so 3 or 4 maybe. The RPI is so stupid.