SELC Tourny

[Brendan Barry]

When is the official release date on eligible teams for the SELC tourny?

[Ken Lovic]

Division A
A lot depends on this weekend.

Teams already in: Wake, UF and FSU

Key Games:
GT vs NC State (GT wins and they are in)
UGA vs Vandy (UGA wins and they are in, or a win over UT)
VT vs ECU (VT wins and they are in or a win over NCSU)

that would be 6.

Seedings will not be determined until next weekend:
Key Divisional Leader games:
UF vs FSU
UGA vs GT
VT clinches North with wins over ECU and NCSU this weekend

[gobblerlax05]

even though i am a manger of the sqaud i just told the star players about this and they are ready!

[Saul C]

even though i am a mangr of he sqaud ju i just told y star players about this and they are ready!

Have another.....

[DCLax21]

Food for thought:

What is the league's point in having north and south divisions in the SELC-B? It doesn't seem like the conference is big enough to support that. I am obviously biased on this fact, but the fact that Davidson is not included in the tournament is mind blowing. As returning champs after a double overtime winner, victories over Wake, NC State and Franklin Pierce and having only lost two games this year (a come from behind one goal victory from elon, and another overtime thriller with App. State) the tournament is really losing a lot not having them in. Since both their losses were "north" losses, Davidson is eliminated from the tournament with a 7-2 record. If anyone thinks i'm out of line here, let me know, but i think the league needs to reconsider the whole "north/south" division situation.

[Ken Lovic]

Like has been said on this board before.... You have done a nice job pointing out your dislike, but what are your suggestions? If you are going to be so anti-North/South, come up with an idea instead of criticizing what has been in place ALL SEASON! Where were your issues with this in January?

Not big enough? there are 12 teams, do you suggest one division? No way that could be a good idea, how do you choose games? The A Division has only 3 more teams and has 3 divisions.

I know this was put in place to help with regional coverage of the league. Covering Florida to Virginia it makes more sense to help the smaller schools out by making a North/South so that travel can be more reasonable.

There are always going to be detractors and I appreciate that cause it helps us in making decisions and seeing all sides but again, provide alternate ideas. Criticizing does not help. I am sure Davidson is a very good team but the point of mandatory games is just that- got to win the ones that count towards post season.

[Kevin OBrien]

Food for thought:

What is the league's point in having north and south divisions in the SELC-B? It doesn't seem like the conference is big enough to support that. I am obviously biased on this fact, but the fact that Davidson is not included in the tournament is mind blowing. As returning champs after a double overtime winner, victories over Wake, NC State and Franklin Pierce and having only lost two games this year (a come from behind one goal victory from elon, and another overtime thriller with App. State) the tournament is really losing a lot not having them in. Since both their losses were "north" losses, Davidson is eliminated from the tournament with a 7-2 record. If anyone thinks i'm out of line here, let me know, but i think the league needs to reconsider the whole "north/south" division situation.

Basically, in order to have a fair and measurable tournament field, you have to have a number of required games. To get that number of required games it's in the interests of the teams to divide up into two divisions (6 teams each). The teams play everyone in their division (5 games) and then play 1 team from the other division. As the B grows (and has a divisible number of teams...see the 15 teams in the A, with 5 in each group) a division is necessary rather than just one large mass. It makes for much easier, clearer and fairer process to determine who goes to the tournament and the seedings in the tournament.

In Davidson's situation, they missed out on a trip by losing to the team that won their division (Elon) and the team that is #2 in their division (App State). Emory is in a like position.

From my perspective, just with the growth of the B in recent times and the probable future additions of new teams (see Kennesaw State, Sewanee, UTChat, and Coastal Carolina) it might be a good idea to look into a new division structure similar to the A, and sending more than 4 teams to the championships. That last part brings in a few new elements, such as added costs for each B team (the whole reason there are only 4 teams going from the B) and added games (which might be a strain on the tourny site).

As for Davidson not being invited specifically, if you can't win the games required, then you can't go to the tournament.

As for the tourny losing a lot by not having them, I don't think the tournament will lose anything. Saying that (in my opinion) disrespects the teams in the tournament field, two of which have beaten Davidson.

Also, the teams are the ones that make the decisions, not the exec...just in case clarification was needed.

[DCLax21]

Mr. Lovic,
I mean you no disrespect, but what is the point of getting angry with me. I mentioned at the beginning that it was just food for thought. I did not know you wanted me to come up with ways to fix the system. There is no need to criticize me for not liking the system. I never said the league is not smart enough to come up with a better system. All I am saying is I don't think it's right that a team full of guys that have proven themselves against very tough opponents has to sit at home.

The point of my e-mail was to start a commentary on ways the conference might be more exciting during the playoffs. I never made any personal comments toward you and think that it shows a lack of respect that you made this a personal issue with me.

But putting that behind, one reason why multiple divisions works in A is because you invite more teams to the tournament. I think there were 3 dominant teams in the SELC-B this year. I would think there could be a way that the playoffs could include all three of the dominant teams. If your argument is that the SELC-B is a big conference, then invite more than 4 teams to the tournament. I'm just throwing ideas out there, please do not make this personal.

[DCLax21]

Again,
I'm not trying to disrespect anybody in the tournament already. I think the teams in the tournament are great teams. If George Mason had been left out of the basketball tournament, and an ESPN announcer said the tournament was losing something without them, no one would blink. IT's not an insult to Florida to hear that people think George Mason would be a great team to have in the tournament.

Considering that app state and davidson went to double overtime in last year's tournament and again during this season, if davidson had made it, and app state had not. I would think the same thing of app state because they're a great team.

For anyone else that wants to reply to these posts, please do not mention again that I am disrespecting any team. Because it is just not true and any assumption that I am is an insult to me

[Benko]

It would be nice if playing one game against a team from the opposing North/South division counted as an out of conference game to help make a team eligible for an at large bid to National Tournament.
You would still have to play at least one team outside of the SELC-B to be eligible but at least we would get little help towards the post season.

[Ken Lovic]

There was no personal attack Ben, I was just looking for an answer from you or even others before they starting chiming in on a negative side as opposed to creating positive dialog. Postings and e-mail lack one thing, ability to "feel" what the person is trying to convey. I was not dis-respecting Davidson nor you, I am sorry if if felt that way.

Kevin did point one important fact. We came to the fall meeting with 2 different plans based on the membership vote. Part of our problem this past fall was also not knowing who was going to be in the Div B. We had some teams apply but it was still up to membership vote.

Some good teams get left out of the tournament, both in conference play and national play. Limits are a lot of the reason these decisions are made. I know Buff and i are tossing around 6 teams from B next year with the addition of some new teams but then that presents a facility issue for us next year. we could not play at a facility with one field.

I congratulate Davidson on a great year and am sorry they will not be back to defend.

[Brendan Barry]

It also seems to me that the way it is set up now is that we dont play enough of the "out regional area" games. I mean I love going to Florida to play games, but its odd that we played 4 games there. Any way we could drop one more game in our region and substitute it for another out of region game? We could have an alternating game per season, play Team A from the North in year one, then Team B from the Central in year two, then go back to Team A in year three and so on. It just seems unfortunate that the SELC is not more of an intergrated conference. Like you said, we only have 15 teams.

[Danny Hogan]

We could have an alternating game per season, play Team A from the North in year one, then Team B from the Central in year two, then go back to Team A in year three and so on. It just seems unfortunate that the SELC is not more of an intergrated conference. Like you said, we only have 15 teams.

too much fluctuation with new teams/teams moving divisions. Only 15???

[lc03]

This is something we should bring up in the league meeting next year. Elon was in a similar situation last year. I think we have too many good teams to only send 4 but I also understand that that would cause space and budgeting problems. Maybe another solution would be to have a play in game before the tournament between the #2 and #3 teams in each conference with the #1 seed getting a bye ? I do however think this is an issue that should be brought up and discussed at the annual league meeting.

[aulax1]

At least the SELC has divisions to seperate teams. Whe I look at the league that I coach in (SWLL), we have 14 teams with no divisions. The way our tournament works is that the top 6 teams in the league qualify for the Tournament. Every year you will have good teams that get left out.