NCAA Tournament format

Discussion in 'Volleyball' started by flash34, Oct 29, 2017.

  1. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    i think the new format for this year will be a huge game changer. As I understand it, the top 4 teams will host until the finals. That is a major advantage. Places like Nebraska, Penn State, Texas, Wisconsin, Stanford will be very difficult to keep out. It doesn’t always mean they advance but the odds just got better. It is REAL important to finish 1-4. With Texas currently at 3, a loss to Kansas most likely would drop us to 5 or 6. I think the idea to play in front of large crowds is important and correct. I am just glad the Horns are usually in the top four. It would be difficult to be in 5-15 spots and trying to break into a Finals. I have been interested in the discussions of this on the TV broadcasts. After a few years, it will be interesting to see if hosting gives the top four too much of an advantage. And I have to remember that the top four teams are there because they are very good and should be a favorite for that reason alone. It just gives them a little bit extra to play in front of their home crowd. In the meantime, seeing the playoffs at Gregory Gym until the Finals makes me smile.
     
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  2. cactus47

    cactus47 25+ Posts

    Lately, RPI has been more predictive than AVCA ranking when it comes to seeding. Texas is hanging around 5-6 in the RPI.
     
  3. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Ummm, I think this is the same as last year's change, just viewed from a different light.

    Last year's change was that after the regionals were complete, the top remaining seeds of each region would host. So if you were the top 4, then you would be the top seed in your region. And yes, if you won the regional, you (and your gym) would host the super-regional.

    Another way to look at this is this way. Suppose that Texas was listed number 5 or 6 in the RPI. And then, we were given the 2nd seed in a regional. Then, if another team upset the number 1 seed in the region and Texas won, then Texas being the remaining top seed would then host the super-regional in Austin.

    And because Texas would be the number 2 seed in the region, it would be doubtful that Texas would be given the opportunity to upset the number 1 team and host the super-regional.

    Factored into this rule change is the fact that you can't have the super-regionals ending up hosted in a small gym. They mentioned that Kansas (before they lost to Texas) would finally qualify to host regional tournaments next year when they build a new volleyball facility for the team because the new court would have the minimum number of seats that the NCAA requires to host a regional.
     
  4. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    I am sure you are correct. I wonder why the announcers were making such a big discussion about it? Guess if it is only the second year, it still is new. The rankings may change significantly before then. Typically the top programs in B10 and PAC12 have to play each other so there is opportunity to move down for them. If Texas takes care of business with the remaining teams there is a chance to move up. Of course we will have to beat KS at least once and probably twice. Florida doesn’t play a tough schedule so they may take a place we might have slipped into. The early loss to them may bite us twice. Our recent success in the finals should help if there are close calls to be made as to seeding. I get PAC12 and B10 and SEC networks so get to see a lot of volleyball. Fun to watch and speculate.
     
  5. TempestHorn

    TempestHorn 500+ Posts

    When announcers talk about it being new they mean new since last year. Last year the committee went straight RPI for the top 4 seeds. From my understanding, last year you had 4 teams with RPI well above teams ranked 5 and beyond. This year the Top 7 teams are all fairly close. The NCAA is releasing rankings Wednesday night during our match at KSU. I'm hoping this means they won't be following straight RPI. I don't like our chances of hosting if the committee goes straight RPI. I think last year there was a lot of noise about having 4 teams from one time zone and 3 from one conference as the Top 4 seeds. Given we have four conferences with teams in the Top 7, I'd much rather see the champions of the Big 10, Big 12, PAC-12 and SEC get to host.
     
  6. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    I was curious and looked up the RPI and the eventual overall seeding in the tournament:
    2014
    #2 RPI - http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2014WVBrpi1.html
    #2 Tournament - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NCAA_Division_I_Women's_Volleyball_Tournament

    2015
    #2 RPI - http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2015WVBrpi1.html
    #3 Tournament - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_NCAA_Division_I_Women's_Volleyball_Tournament

    2016
    #2 RPI - http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2016WVBrpi1.html
    #4 Tournament - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_NCAA_Division_I_Women's_Volleyball_Tournament

    So, the committee can always go with their gut feeling and not the factual RPI.

    That said, I was told that having Kansas lose the other day to ISU would hurt us in the RPI. I don't know how to cheer for other teams or not, based on the complexity of RPI's. Right now we're #6.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. flash34

    flash34 1,000+ Posts

    Why doesn’t volleyball have end of year conference tourneys?
    When we know who we play next?
     
  8. Malcom

    Malcom 1,000+ Posts

    #6??
     
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  9. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

  10. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

  11. 2003TexasGrad

    2003TexasGrad Son of a Motherless Goat

  12. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    My guesses are:
    1) Early season losses to FL and MN
    2) They view the Big 12 as weak competition
    3) None of our starters were out with injuries, but we didn't just blow the doors off in our games during the season

    The one everyone is laughing at is Kentucky. Everyone is predicting that Nebraska will steamroll them and reach the final 4. If Texas had gotten Nebraska's seed (#5), then we would have predicted we would steamroll Kentucky and reach the final 4. Then the Texas haters would have said, "Typical Texas. NCAA gave them an easy path to the final 4."

    Now, we have to beat Stanford and everyone knows that's gonna be hard.
     
  13. 2003TexasGrad

    2003TexasGrad Son of a Motherless Goat

    So why was Texas ranked 2 in both polls?
     
  14. giveemhell

    giveemhell 1,000+ Posts

    So if both Texas and Stanford win their first two rounds, Stanford will host and these tix I have for Gregory Gym December 8-9 become worthless?
     
  15. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Yes, and you'll get a refund from Texas Athletics.
    BUT, if Wisconsin can upset Stanford then suddenly we would host the Super Regionals because we're the next highest seed in our quadrant.
    Don't hold your breath!
     
  16. giveemhell

    giveemhell 1,000+ Posts

    Thanks for the clarification, racerx, although that's very disappointing news. I thought for sure we'd be hosting a Super, dammit...
     
  17. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    The "coaches" poll may or may not be voted by the coaches who may only glance up and see who beat who and quickly fill out their votes. Or, they hand their vote to an assistant and say, "Mmm, pick who you want". Then, the RPI is a mathematical construct based on wins and losses and also the same (coaches) poll number made by "someone" who has a vote.

    Finally, everything goes by gut feel by the committee and someone isn't going to be happy. They say that Texas has always given the "easy way" to the final 4, so no one is crying tears for us.
     
  18. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Don't toss those super Regional tickets until you see the results from Saturday night! (when I assume that Wiscy will have played Stanford by then)
     
  19. giveemhell

    giveemhell 1,000+ Posts

    I think Wisconsin is in Ames this weekend for the 1st/2nd rounds? If they win both matches, they will travel to Stanford (presumably) the following week, I think...
     
  20. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    My Bad, you're right. We have to hope Michigan (hunh?) knocks off Stanford. Mmmm, unlikely.
     
  21. 2003TexasGrad

    2003TexasGrad Son of a Motherless Goat

    I just can't think off the top of my head a team that was a consensus number 2 was not at least a top-four seed in men's or women's basketball or volleyball for that matter. Perhaps you know of other instances?
     
  22. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    ISU faces Wisconsin in second round, Dec. 02 at 6:30 PM.

    Texas will meet North Carolina State, Dec. 02 at 7:00 PM.

    Baylor will play Colorado, Dec. 02 at 8:00 PM.

    Kansas loses to Missouri 3-2.
     
  23. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

     
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  24. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Big 12 is down to Texas as ISU drops the match to Wisconsin 3-0 and Baylor goes down by the same score to Colorado.
     

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