Report scores, discuss upcoming games, WCLL week 12

[Bluevelvet]

Rabbit-
I am not lobbying for UCSB. I am lobbying for whoever is in the playoffs next year. Notice that I said "in the future".
The same argument applies if UCSD beats Santa Barbara in the 1st round or UCSD beats Sonoma in the semi finals. So it has nothing to do with UCSB. I merely used UCSB as an example.
I find it difficult to believe that UCSB was moved from division to division in order to give them an advantage. That is pretty ridiculous. Why would the rest of the WCLL allow them to move for those reasons?
Kind of a lengthy impassioned post refuting something that was never said or proposed.

[Hackalicious]

Seems very uneven bracketing with 3 of the top 5 teams in the country on one side of the bracket and none on the otherside. Based on rankings, UCSB would have an easier path to the finals by losing to UCLA today and playing #11 AZ and #10 Cal Poly rather than #5 UCSD and #2 Sonoma. Of course, they would never purposely do this, but it illustrates how lopsided the seedings are this year.

2 top 5 teams will not make it to the finals. The real final will probably be the semi final game with UCSD/UCSB vs. Sonoma St. The final could be anti-climatic.

The first round is fine as it stands (with travel considerations and regional rivalries preserved). But I would suggest that, in the future, the final four be seeded according to ranking in the latest MDIA poll. With #1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3 regardless of division. That seems a fairer way to seed year in and year out.

The WCLL used to do its own internal poll that could seed the final four. (It's "coming soon" on the web site.) Or you could do it by some formula, like the way they break ties.

I think one consideration in how it's set up now is to try to mix the play between division. Hypothetically, you could have the top five teams in the country in one division and three of them wouldn't even make the WCLL quarterfinals. Some other team could win just two games the whole season to take 2nd in a 4-team division, and make the playoffs.

I think this is the trade-off with league and divisional play. I think it's good to encourage regional competition, even when teams aren't equals. Otherwise, you could have a bunch of independent teams that play any schedule they want and would make the playoffs based on polls only. (Which works for Notre Dame football.)

[Bluevelvet]

I think this is the trade-off with league and divisional play. I think it's good to encourage regional competition, even when teams aren't equals. Otherwise, you could have a bunch of independent teams that play any schedule they want and would make the playoffs based on polls only. (Which works for Notre Dame football.)

I didn't propose any change in who makes the playoffs. Only in how the final 4 are seeded once they make it to the final four.

[NomaBlueCollar]

UCSB 8 - UCLA 4

[SDSULAX]

The way that the WCLL championship games were seeded was approved 2 seasons ago by the BOD. Just because everything seems so one sided this year does not necessarily mean it will be that way next year, and the rotation changes anyway.

[Bluevelvet]

Craig-
I understand that the seedings rotate and that it was decided in the past. I still belive that my suggestion is a more fair alternative and should be considered by the board.

If you seed the final four by the latest MDIA poll (#1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3):
** There would still be a variety of matchups
** The top teams would be more likely to meet in finals every year
** Keeps the regional rivalries and minimizes travel in the first round.

This suggestion is only for the final four (after the teams make the final four).
It is for future consideration, not this year.
Just a suggestion.

[Lefty]

Does the NCAA tournament reseed???

Nope, and they got a pretty good thing going on over there. I say leave it.

[Bluevelvet]

Does the NCAA tournament reseed???

Nope, and they got a pretty good thing going on over there. I say leave it.

Lefty-
The NCAA and the MDIA don't have to re-seed because they seed based on the polls from the start. The WCLL uses a system where the first round winners are randomly matched up in the final four. The matchup changes every year and is based on division. This year it is LA vs. North and Central vs. South. Last year it was LA vs. South and Central vs. North.
When you use a system that is basically random, you get lopsided brackets.

[Sean Lenihan]

bluevelvet has a very good point. I personally feel it has serious merit. It will only take one year in which a highly ranked team gets bounced in the WCLL quarter finals (and then miss Nationals) to really get people to see the wisdom in this proposal.

It wouldn't hurt at all to seed in future years. Any one of the 4 divisions could be LOADED with ranked teams, or MORE than one of the 4 divisions could be filled with ranked teams. The South is already there and the LA division could be very good next year. Seeding the playoffs could end up serving the league well to ensure that the WCLL sends the best (and most) representatives to the National Tournament.

[NomaBlueCollar]

Utah 10 - Sonoma State 9

[Hackalicious]

Utah 10 - Sonoma State 9

Upset of the year.

[CATLAX MAN]

It will only take one year in which a highly ranked team gets bounced in the WCLL quarter finals (and then miss Nationals) to really get people to see the wisdom in this proposal.

The first part of your statement (a highly ranked team getting bounced in the quarters) will happen this year. Either UCSB or UCSD will not make it out of the 1st round.

[WCLLPREZ]

Gentlemen,

This issue was discussed at the WCLL Annual Meeting this fall and it went nowhere. Didn't even come to a league vote but tabled in discussion. If the teams affected by it have no problem with it, why are you guys beating it into submission on the message boards.

[onpoint]

Because SB could be negatively affected?

[OldPoly75]

Because SB could be negatively affected?

No way? Couldn't be.

Geezo peezo, this is getting so old. So what if 3 of the top 5 are in the same bracket, at least 2 of them are going to lose anyway, and with the parity possibly all 3, big flipping deal. If any of those three miss out on a trip to Dallas I'll buy breakfast for anyone who shows up at Canyon Cafe on the Thursday after selection day. Get over it. Like my boss says when the raises come:

"It is what it is. Can't do anything about it, so don't bother whining."