Softball Selection Sunday

[CajunFan3406]

#11 or #12 seeding would have sent us to BR or UCLA respectively.

I would rather go to BR than Auburn but auburn is better than California In my opinion.

No, #11 sends you to Tuscaloosa and a #12 to BR.

[GoneGolfin]

The committee did not blindly defer to the RPI this year unlike years in the past. It wasn't just the Cajuns who were seeded different from their RPI. At a quick glance I don't see a pattern but obviously some other metrics came into play.

That could be a good thing or not......

Every year there are many teams that are seeded different than their RPI ranking (national seeds). This year differed from last year in that the Top 8 RPI were not Top 8 national seeds ... and the Top 16 RPI were not all national seeds.

It is obvious why Florida State was not awarded a Top 8 national seed with their #7 RPI ranking. As for Notre Dame over UCF, well ...

Brian

[Rebel02]

Looks like G5 schools in the top 16 were the big losers in this one. JMU with RPI of 12 and #15 seed and us with RPI of 11 and #13 seed. UCF and Hoftstra both top 16 and don't host while ND with RPI of 19 and can't even make it out of the first day of the ACC tourney get to host.

I can understand Hofstra not getting a top 16. It was either them or JMU getting a spot from the #7 RPI conference. Even though Hofstra won both games in the conference tournament, JMU swept the regular season series and had a 3-2 mark versus Hofstra. JMU also ran the table in the CAA (#7 RPI conference. Hofstra was also 3-8 versus the RPI top 25.

UCF had a weak SOS, was 2-2 versus RPI top 25, and won the #10 RPI conference. Overall resume wasn't that impressive despite the #15 RPI ranking.

I wouldn't have kept Arizona in the top 16. They were a terrible 5-14 versus the RPI top 25. IMO, they received the biggest help of any team.

Notre Dame also was a big winner from bias. 4-6 versus RPI top 25. #3 in the ACC (#4 ranked conference) and they were 1 and done in the tournament.

[Turbine]

Committee Knows Best.

I was under the impression that RPI already took all the scheduling quirks into lockdown consideration.

[jjlouv]

For those interested, a link to each school's reaction to being sent to Lamson...

Seeds
1. Cajuns (RPI 11) - 39W - 9L
2. Baylor (RPI 22) - 38W - 15L
- http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-...051015aaa.html
3. Miss St. (RPI 33) - 35W - 19L
- http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle...CLID=210082155
4. Weber St. (RPI 84) - 38W - 17L
- http://www.weberstatesports.com/View...DB_OEM_ID=8600

[GoneGolfin]

Brain do you have any idea what happened why we slipped so much. Is it a matter of not wanting us matched up with LSU or a rematch with Alabama. By not doing those things the committee felt they were doing us a favor by not sending us to the left coast for a super regional. I feel the sunbelt got no respect at all and they just threw us and S Al into any ole regional. I do feel good about our chances and Auburn isn't a far drive for a super regional.

As far as RPI is concerned, the Cajuns actually went up this week. Their RPI ranking dropped one spot because Tennessee had an excellent SEC Tournament performance (one of the risks I identified going into the week). Missouri finished a hair ahead of the Cajuns in the #10 spot. Meanwhile Tennessee and UCLA were also tightly packed with the Cajuns with Florida State was within spitting distance.

Had the Cajuns knocked off South Alabama Saturday, the Cajuns would have had the #7 RPI ranking at selection time (by the closest of margins over Florida State). I think in that situation, the Cajuns would have had the #9 national seed (still slotted behind UCLA and Tennessee). I think it would have also taken a win over Oregon and the #6 RPI to land a Top 8 national seed (given Tennessee's performance in the SEC Tournament).

As far as obtaining a #13 seed is concerned, I am not at all surprised they seeded Oklahoma ahead of the Cajuns. This would not have happened had Baylor won the Big XII. But Oklahoma did win the conference title of the #3 ranked conference (RPI) and the Cajuns failed to win the Sun Belt Tournament.

I cannot explain Arizona at #12 … makes no sense. By all significant measures, the Cajuns have the better resume. RPI (#11 vs. #16), NC RPI (#5 vs. #15), Last 10 games (6-4 vs. 4-6), vs. RPI Top 25 (5-5 vs. 5-14), vs. RPI 26-50 (8-2 vs. 8-3), and obviously RPI Top 50 (13-7 vs. 13-17). So what if Arizona played nine more games vs. the RPI Top 25 … they did not win more of these games than the Cajuns. Road record is basically a wash (10-7 vs. 9-6). It does make me wonder if there is not something to keeping UL out of a potential SR matchup in Baton Rouge. But whom on the committee would want this? I chalk it up to a mis-evaluation due to heavy favoriting of the elite conferences.

Brian

[jllanclos]

Every year there are many teams that are seeded different than their RPI ranking (national seeds). This year differed from last year in that the Top 8 RPI were not Top 8 national seeds ... and the Top 16 RPI were not all national seeds.

It is obvious why Florida State was not awarded a Top 8 national seed with their #7 RPI ranking. As for Notre Dame over UCF, well ...

Brian

Is there any possible reasonable justification for ever giving 5 top 8 seeds (and 7 top 16s) to one conference in any sport?

How do you win 5 conference games and get an at-large bid?

I'm fine with where WE are. But to say there's no SEC bias in softball is to deny the obvious. No?

[jjlouv]

By the way... they made damn sure that no matter what, only 1 SBC school could get to OKC. Lol

[jllanclos]

By the way... they made damn sure that no matter what, only 1 SBC school could get to OKC. Lol

That's fine with me, though, especially if South Alabama comes here next week.

Should things fall that way, I'd feel extremely grateful for the bye to the College World Series.

Has South Alabama ever won a 2 of 3 series against Louisiana?

[jjlouv]

That's fine with me, though, especially if South Alabama comes here next week.

Should things fall that way, I'd feel extremely grateful for the bye to the College World Series.

Has South Alabama ever won a 2 of 3 series against Louisiana?

You've lost it if you think it would be a "bye"... While I think we would win, USA has beaten us at least once in each of the last 4 conference tournaments (including once last year at Lamson). Hardly a walk in the park.

[Rebel02]

That's fine with me, though, especially if South Alabama comes here next week.

Should things fall that way, I'd feel extremely grateful for the bye to the College World Series.

Has South Alabama ever won a 2 of 3 series against Louisiana?

2009 and 2013.

[jllanclos]

You've lost it if you think it would be a "bye"... While I think we would win, USA has beaten us at least once in each of the last 4 conference tournaments (including once last year at Lamson). Hardly a walk in the park.

LOL I was kidding. S. Al is no joke. Wouldn't be surprised if they win at Auburn.

One thing's for sure: one way or another, should we survive this weekend, we'll have a good idea of our chances against Auburn from watching what transpires between them and USA there.

Nah... USA could beat us 2 of 3. That might be the most sick feeling I could have as a Ragin' Cajun.

But Weber State can swing it. Let's get into the winner's bracket before we buy Cotton Bowl tickets, or whatever. LOL