Season long look at UL's trek through the Baseball RPI rankings

[Cajun Express]

_ Yes. _

Balancing regionals aside, is there any competitive difference in a three seed vs a two seed. In other words does it matter which you are, if so how?.

[Kernel]

Balancing regionals aside, is there any competitive difference in a three seed vs a two seed. In other words does it matter which you are, if so how?.

The major difference is that as a #2, you get to play a #3. Whereas, as a #3 seed, you first must play a #2 seed, a theoretically stronger team.

[Cajun Express]

_ The major difference is that as a #2, you get to play a #3. Whereas, as a #3 seed, you first must play a #2 seed, a theoretically stronger team. _

Got it, was not thinking. In the old six team regionals there was a big advantage to being a 2 vs 3 now not as much.

[CajunRed]

_ The major difference is that as a #2, you get to play a #3. Whereas, as a #3 seed, you first must play a #2 seed, a theoretically stronger team. _

If you end up as a "2"... but then play the "3" (which, if not for you beating them out for the 2 spot, would have been a "2"), are you not playing about the same level of team?

[GoneGolfin]

Got it, was not thinking. In the old six team regionals there was a big advantage to being a 2 vs 3 now not as much.

Yes, the #3/#4 loser got the shaft as they often had to play the #1 seed in round two (Winner of the #1/#6 game).

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

If you end up as a "2"... but then play the "3" (which, if not for you beating them out for the 2 spot, would have been a "2"), are you not playing about the same level of team?

That is a big assumption on your part ... that they "would have been a #2".

Except for one year (2002), the NCAA does not simply assign teams to regionals based on pure geography. They attempt to assign real #2 and real #3 seeds to the various regionals. If the NCAA thinks that a team is a #2 seed, they are not going to send them to a regional as a #3 seed because of geography.

If you are referring to the lowest #2 seed in the field getting paired with the highest #3 seed in the field, then you are correct ... the seeding does not matter.

Brian

[rhineaux]

_ That is a big assumption on your part ... that they "would have been a #2".

Except for one year (2002), the NCAA does not simply assign teams to regionals based on pure geography. They attempt to assign real #2 and real #3 seeds to the various regionals. If the NCAA thinks that a team is a #2 seed, they are not going to send them to a regional as a #3 seed because of geography.

If you are referring to the lowest #2 seed in the field getting paired with the highest #3 seed in the field, then you are correct ... the seeding does not matter.

Brian _

Is this your only job? And if so, are you guys hiring? not that i need a job right now, but you have to have one of the coolest ones around.

[GoneGolfin]

Is this your only job? And if so, are you guys hiring? not that i need a job right now, but you have to have one of the coolest ones around.

Job? No, I am just a fan. College baseball is simply one of my hobbies.

In the real world I am a software architect and engineering director for a publicly traded software company.

Brian

[DaddyCajun]

I am starting a list of potential UL interviews for the Womens Basketball Coaching position vacated by a sorely missed and great coach, J Kelly Hall.

This is nothing official it is just listing of coaches that Stevie P, and others may have mentioned for conversations sake at the very least.

Todays listing is: Former UL Player and Princeton Grad, Sherri Murrell!!!!!

Sherri Murrell resigns after 5 years as WSU head coachAssociated Press Womens College Basketball News Wire

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State women's basketball coach Sherri Murrell, whose teams compiled a 27-114 record over five years, has resigned.

Murrell, 39, said she lacked the energy to continue. Her teams posted a Pacific-10 Conference record of just 8-82.

The Cougars went 5-24 this season, finishing last in the Pac-10 for the fourth time in five years. They won only one of 18 conference games.

WSU athletic director Jim Sterk said Murrell told him Wednesday night she planned to resign. She met Thursday with her players to tell them her decision prior to the formal announcement at a news conference.

Sterk said athletic officials will begin a search for her replacement immediately.

"It's obviously a very emotional time for Sherri Murrell, her coaches and team and all of us who have worked with her," said Sterk, who last month told Murrell she could expect to stay at
least another year. "She's leaving the program in better shape than when she arrived."

Murrell, who was a head coach at George Fox University and at University of the Pacific before coming to WSU in 2002, was an assistant at Pepperdine, Brigham Young and Portland State after
finishing her playing career at Pepperdine.

Murrell said last season sapped her energy, and it wouldn't be fair to her players to continue.

"I put my heart and soul into this program," she said. "Unfortunately, the results didn't match the expectations."

Murrell said she has no immediate job prospects.

Sterk said Murrell's decision was "more about where the program was; her disappointment about not winning more games, taking them further, those kinds of things."

Cougars' women's teams have finished near the bottom of the conference since 1990, but Sterk and Murrell said WSU can have winning teams. Sterk pointed to the men's basketball team, which was picked to finish last but was the No. 2 team in the Pac-10 and went to the NCAA tournament.

Asked if former Washington coach June Daugherty, fired last month after her team lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, would be considered as WSU seeks a replacement, Sterk
replied: "Nothing would prevent her from being a candidate." He said a selection committee would look at numerous candidates.

Team captain Katie Appleton said Murrell's decision came as a surprise.

"I know that Coach Murrell and the staff put in a lot of hard work and I know they gave it their best shot," she said. "As a team, we wish Coach Murrell the best of luck. We love her and we hope she does well in the future."

[DaddyCajun]

Sherri Murrell
WSU Head Women's Basketball Coach Sherri Murrell Resigns

Women's Basketball Press Conference: Katie Appleton | Sherri Murrell | Jim Sterk

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State Head Women's Basketball Coach Sherri Murrell has resigned, Cougar Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced Thursday.

Murrell, who became the sixth coach to lead the WSU program in March 2002, owned a 27-114 record during her five-year tenure with the Cougars. WSU student-athletes garnered 18 academic honors and seven athletic accolades from the Pacific-10 Conference during her time in Pullman. The Cougars placed one student-athlete on the All-Pac-10 Academic First Team during each of Murrell's five seasons.

"This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make," said Murrell. "I put my heart and soul into this program and I'm excited for the future at Washington State. This was a very young team that I worked with this year. They're going to win next year, I believe that."

"I want to thank the Cougar family for their incredible support and for the lifelong friendships that have developed over the years," Murrell continued. "I thank Jim Sterk and President V. Lane Rawlins for their commitment to this program and staff. I have the utmost respect for this administration and university. I truly love my team and leaving them was the hardest part of this decision. I know these young women will be successful and will continue to improve this program. I appreciate all their hard work and dedication."

In a press conference Thursday, Murrell expressed that she does not, as yet, have a plan for her future.

Murrell recruited and coached four-year letterwinner Kate Benz, the Cougars' all-time leading rebounder with 899 boards and the 11th student-athlete to score 1,000 points in WSU women's basketball history. As a sophomore in 2005, Benz became the first Cougar to lead the Pac-10 in rebounding and repeated the feat in 2006.

"It was a very difficult decision for Sherri," said WSU Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. "I respect her, I respect her coaches, and I wish her the very best. We were obviously very excited when Sherri came here and sad to see her resign. She put her heart and soul into her job, and she is very well-respected as a professional and an individual in the department and in the community. She's leaving the program in better shape than when she arrived."

WSU student-athletes coached by Murrell occupy 17 spots on Cougar career top 10 lists and nine on WSU single-season top 10 lists. In 2005-06, Katie Appleton and Amanda DuRocher each made 50 treys to set the WSU freshman record for 3-pointers in a season.

"I know that Coach Murrell and the staff put in a lot of hard work and I know they gave it their best shot. As a team, we wish Coach Murrell the best of luck. We love her and we hope she does well in the future. We wish her success," said sophomore guard and team captain, Katie Appleton.

Sterk stated he and a council of administrators would begin the search for a new head coach immediately and said his number one concern was the welfare of the team, especially that of the student-athletes.

Current WSU assistant coaches Mark Lewis, Lisa Fisher and Tara Sanchez are all under contracts that expire June 30.

Washington State Cougars General Releases