Who will be in MN. (A division)

[Bluevelvet]

Yes, I know it's early. Yes, some teams have not started their season, but this appears to be inside track to MN.
(A division).

UMLL-AQ
GRLC-AQ
PCLL-AQ
LSA-AQ
PNCLL-SFU & Oregon
CCLA- Michigan & Oakland
SELC-FSU, FL, Ga Tech
RMLC-BYU, CSU, Colorado
WCLL UCSB, SSU, AZ

That is 17 teams for 16 spots. Who will falter and why? (SFU, FL, Ga Tech?) Who will break into the elite 16 (Texas, Texas Tech, TAMU, Miami OH, Utah, UCSD, Cal Poly, Chapman, New Hampshire?)


*continuation of WCLL discussion*

[onpoint]

I don't think the SELC will get more than two, and unless they really show up in their out of conference games, they will be lucky to get two. Florida's loss to TAMU will hurt them but they do have some good OOC games ahead of them (Texas, Chico, Michigan Invitational). If they don't win at least three of those games, I don't think they will go unless they win the SELC. I think you are probably right, though. We won't see more than one team from the first four conferences unless there are some major OOC wins by those conferences. We will see what Texas and Texas Tech bring to the table. All three LSA teams have scheduled aggresively so they will need to show something in those games in order for two LSA teams to go. Utah needs a strong showing against Arizona today and probably a victory over Poly or TAMU or at least one upset in conference to really have any serious designs on going. At preseason #15, I would think that SFU would have to pretty much sweep their OOC games against ranked Poly, Chico and Chapman to really have a shot too. Those at-large bids are absolutely up for grabs. My take:

Pretty much ins barring disaster:
WCLL: UCSB, Sonoma, Arizona
RMLC: CSU, BYU, CU
SELC: Florida State
CCLA: Oakland and Michigan
PNCLL: Oregon
LSA: AQ
UMLL: AQ
PCLL: AQ
GRLC: AQ


That to me leaves two spots open for discussion between about 15 teams. This is going to be the most hotly contested at-large battle in the MDIA's history and there are sure to be some pretty disappointed teams out there.

[benji]

Wouldn't be surprised at all to see two teams from the LSA this year... Thanks to some great OOC scheduling and the cooperation of otherwise unfamiliar teams.

[CATLAX MAN]

Wouldn't be surprised at all to see two teams from the LSA this year... Thanks to some great OOC scheduling and the cooperation of otherwise unfamiliar teams.

I would be very surprised. The AQ obviously gets in, but the at-large would probably have to be rated in the Top 15. Not going to happen.

[LaxC21]

IF the Texas teams can hold off Oakland this weekend then that may not be a very big stretch.

[CSUalum32]

Wouldn't be surprised at all to see two teams from the LSA this year... Thanks to some great OOC scheduling and the cooperation of otherwise unfamiliar teams.

I would be very surprised. The AQ obviously gets in, but the at-large would probably have to be rated in the Top 15. Not going to happen.

i agree with you. especially after the first few weeks of the season, granted it is early. yes, LSA has some big OOC games but they need to show well in those games, not just have them scheduled. i think that FSU will be the only team from the SELC, i agree with the forum that most teams in the championship field:

RMLC: CSU, BYU and CU
WCLL: UCSB, Noma and Arizona
CCLA: Michigan and Oakland
PNCLL: Oregon and Simon Fraser
UMLL: Minnesota-Duluth
SELC: Florida State
GRLC: AQ
Pioneer: AQ
LSA: AQ

[bbandlax]

I'll throw my hat in the ring....

CSUalum32 said

RMLC: CSU, BYU and CU
WCLL: UCSB, Noma and Arizona
CCLA: Michigan and Oakland
PNCLL: Oregon and Simon Fraser
UMLL: Minnesota-Duluth
SELC: Florida State
GRLC: AQ
Pioneer: AQ
LSA: AQ

I agree with most of CSUalum32's picks (I can't believe how often I am agreeing with CSU guys now days. I am getting too far from my roots, however I still can't wear green in good conscience. )

His list leaves out 1 team. I will be shocked if both the RMLC and the WCLL have only 3 teams each in MN. (Has the WCLL ever only had 3 teams at Nationals, maybe in '97?). I think that last spot will go to either UCSD or Utah, and I'll give the nod to UCSD.

CCLA - of course UofM should win the AQ, however I am not sold on Oakland over Miami, OH.
LSA - I think A&M will pull out in their tourney.
GRLC - Lindenwood (this is basically an uneducated guess, the only GRLC team I have seen in two years has been in St. Louis
PCLL - BC, but who really knows at this point, it seems like they cant start their season up there until late April.

[BClax16]

PCLL - BC, but who really knows at this point, it seems like they cant start their season up their until late April

BC starts it season March 7th with a trip to California, playing Stanford, Cal, Davis, and Chico

[Gregg Pathiakis]

PCLL - BC, but who really knows at this point, it seems like they cant start their season up their until late April

BC starts it season March 7th with a trip to California, playing Stanford, Cal, and Chico

You're right for most teams, though. The teams that don't travel out of conference yet aren't able to start playing outdoors until March for the most part. We might get a few good days in February, but nothing that you can plan ahead for. We had temps in the 50's last week and then we get like 6 inches of snow over the last week. This is why we've stressed the importance of travelling to our teams. It might put them at a disadvantage when playing against teams that have been practicing since early in the winter, but it gives them that early startup that they need.

[Larsen]

quote: (Has the WCLL ever only had 3 teams at Nationals, maybe in '97?).

It was only an 8 team tournament in 1997 with 7 AQ's. It was pre-determined that the number 2 team out of the WCLL would get the final spot. Arizona got the AQ, UCSB the at-large.

I guess whittier is no longer associated with the WCLL but they used to be. They would play in the WCLL post-season back then, even as a d3 team. They won it in '97, beating arizona. UCSB beat Sonoma in the consolation game to get the at-large bid.

What year did the tournament field expand to 16 teams?

[Sonny]

If my memory bank is working well today, we went to 12 teams in 1999 and then 16 teams in 2000.

[reLAX10]

Sonny,

I think the move to 16 teams was 2001, because I was on a Top 10 Illinois team in 2000 that did not get to go to nationals due to AQs in a 12 team field.

[ISULAX22]

I dont understand how you could have lindenwood winning the GRLC, I think it comes down to ISU, U of I or Lindenwood. ISU hasnt ever lost to Lindenwood, the fall U of I and ISU game was solid, and Missouri opened up 0-5, just something to think about, i dont think there really is a domination for the GRLC

[Mike Messina]

Just so were all in agreement that its going to be Michigan and Oakland. The advance news should really free up my spring...

[laxfan25]

Just so were all in agreement that its going to be Michigan and Oakland. The advance news should really free up my spring...

Might as well start packing the suntan lotion for your early season vacation coach!