SB 2023: Regional Hosting or Not? NOT!

[Turbine]

The committee was not ignoring the Cajuns' RPI rank. They were in the discussion for a national seed. There were simply schools with better resumes for those final spots. Those schools also demonstrated acceptable performance vs. the RPI Top 25 and RPI Top 10. The Cajuns did not. They were not far away ... it might have been as small as holding the lead against UCLA in the 7th. Or instead, maybe a couple more RPI Top 25 wins. In no way was this surprising based on the specific and understandable criteria the committee has used in the past.

It is Baylor that should feel slighted, not Louisiana. Baylor did what the committee outlined ... even more than what Alabama was rewarded for ... but was passed over for a national seed.

Brian

Baylor of course, so turning attention away from Louisiana for a second, several teams could have legitimate gripes.

For example, when they double dipped on the RPI and gifted Alabama a "5-Seed" did they credit the teams that beat Alabama 18 times? Currently their resume says they beat a 5-seed, not a 12-RPI, but was it considered?

Were those teams credited for having beat a 5-seed?

I don't think they were, even though by the double bonus metrics used, those 18 wins would now be even more impressive.

When they double dip on something that is already counted, they zap credibility from somewhere else.

[CajunVic]

A fact is worth only what a fact is worth . . .

[GoneGolfin]

Baylor of course, so turning attention away from Louisiana for a second, several teams could have legitimate gripes.

For example, when they double dipped on the RPI and gifted Alabama a "5-Seed" did they credit the teams that beat Alabama 18 times? Currently their resume says they beat a 5-seed, not a 12-RPI, but was it considered?

Were those teams credited for having beat a 5-seed?

I don't think they were, even though by the double bonus metrics used, those 18 wins would now be even more impressive.

When they double dip on something that is already counted, they zap credibility from somewhere else.

Alabama was a RPI Top 25 win regardless. If considering Alabama as a Top 10 team meant something significant for a team (Ex. beating out a team for a Top 8 or Top 16 national seed ... or making the field of 64), they might very well have considered that in their thinking. They were obviously high on Alabama and a win over Bama would standout to them. It may have been part of the reason why Tennessee (3-1 vs. Alabama) snagged a #4 seed with a #8 RPI ranking. It may have played a role in Texas State making the field of 64. You certainly could have argued for other teams. But that was a big win and maybe the committee valued it more than just an RPI Top 25 win.

Brian

[DieHard 1280]

The committee was not ignoring the Cajuns' RPI rank. They were in the discussion for a national seed. There were simply schools with better resumes for those final spots. Those schools also demonstrated acceptable performance vs. the RPI Top 25 and RPI Top 10. The Cajuns did not. They were not far away ... it might have been as small as holding the lead against UCLA in the 7th. Or instead, maybe a couple more RPI Top 25 wins. In no way was this surprising based on the specific and understandable criteria the committee has used in the past.

It is Baylor that should feel slighted, not Louisiana. Baylor did what the committee outlined ... even more than what Alabama was rewarded for ... but was passed over for a national seed.

Brian

Hey Brian, I asked in a different thread and didn’t see a response so sorry if I missed it. My question was why was the team so shocked that they were not awarded for their #11? RPI? Is Glasco not aware of the reality in softball as far as what the committee looks at for determining national seeds? If so, I would think he could have set their expectations a little better. He has to know that the 2-9 record against top-25 seeds didn’t look good on their resume, and would be a detriment. Or do you think it was a combination of not getting a national seed AND being sent to BR for the trillionth time?

[CajunVic]

Hey Brian, I asked in a different thread and didn’t see a response so sorry if I missed it. My question was why was the team so shocked that they were not awarded for their #11? RPI? Is Glasco not aware of the reality in softball as far as what the committee looks at for determining national seeds? If so, I would think he could have set their expectations a little better. He has to know that the 2-9 record against top-25 seeds didn’t look good on their resume, and would be a detriment. Or do you think it was a combination of not getting a national seed AND being sent to BR for the trillionth time?

In speaking with a couple softball players at the baseball game on Sunday, they’re expectations were properly set.

It was definitely the combination of not getting a seed, and mostly being sent to BR again, which triggered the reactions of the players.

[GoneGolfin]

Hey Brian, I asked in a different thread and didn’t see a response so sorry if I missed it. My question was why was the team so shocked that they were not awarded for their #11? RPI? Is Glasco not aware of the reality in softball as far as what the committee looks at for determining national seeds? If so, I would think he could have set their expectations a little better. He has to know that the 2-9 record against top-25 seeds didn’t look good on their resume, and would be a detriment. Or do you think it was a combination of not getting a national seed AND being sent to BR for the trillionth time?

Sorry ... missed it.

I do not know what expectations were or were not set. But Glasco did have a quote in one of Foote's articles that indicated the team was following the prognostications of several of the softball sites ... and they all had the Cajuns in the field. Eric Lopez (Extra Inning Softball) was operating off of incorrect information that no team with an RPI ranking as high as 11 has ever been excluded as a national seed. When in fact Minnesota had just six years ago (2017) ... and under the same circumstances as that of the Cajuns. It was about performance against the national seed peer group (or lack thereof). This was the prime example (that made big news at the time) and precedent that concerned me.

“They saw Extra Inning Softball, D1 Softball and Softball America – everybody had them hosting,” UL coach Gerry Glasco said.

But even if you have those concerns ... and I am sure Glasco did ... you certainly keep them close to the vest and let the process play out.

Brian

[Turbine]

"In the past" it has been stated, the committee looked heavily at the last ten games. (exclusion/inclusion device of choice those years) I don't guess they looked at Alabama's 6-5 finish.

Or their 3-2 start where they lost to UCLA by a larger margin than Louisiana.

I wonder if 40-win Lehigh got a committee boost for beating 40-win Alabama.

[LouisianaB]

Ball don’t lie

[R1Letterman]

fifth seed bama needed three against the sixth place cusa team?

also central arkansas beat LIU by ten more runs than bama did, and bama advances without facing them.

meanwhile sdsu advances from ucla region without facing ucla, crazy crazy times

[Bandwagon King]

I hate LSU, but you know nothing about college softball. In no way should LSU be coming to Lafayette.

Why? Because they're better than UL? Or because it was so much sweeter winning at their house? You know what the odds are of beating a regional host at their place. Like Glasco said, they used the experience from all of those close losses to turn themselves into winners when the money was on the table. Whatever your philosophy, that was an outstanding gutsy performance for those women to keep their composure & keep the game in hand. Then one hell of a rally in the 7th & slam the door shut!

[JMV JustMyView]

Why? Because they're better than UL? Or because it was so much sweeter winning at their house? You know what the odds are of beating a regional host at their place. Like Glasco said, they used the experience from all of those close losses to turn themselves into winners when the money was on the table. Whatever your philosophy, that was an outstanding gutsy performance for those women to keep their composure & keep the game in hand. Then one hell of a rally in the 7th & slam the door shut!

Ask Roarman what I told him after we lost the first game. I told him I am not worried we will win 3 straight games. After the game he told me QUOTE you were correct.