Post by The Cats on Jun 2, 2021 7:49:28 GMT -5
Both the Big South & ASUN received two bids to the NCAA regionals, the auto-bid as well as one at-large bid, while the SoCon only received an auto bid.
How/why did it happen?
Big South - Campbell (at large), Presbyterian (auto bid)
ASUN - Liberty (at large), Jacksonville (auto bid)
SoCon - Samford (auto bid)
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In the Big South, Campbell (35-16) won the Big South regular season but finished as the runner-up to Presbyterian College (22-21) in the conference tournament. In the ASUN, Jacksonville (16-32) beat Liberty (39-14) for the tournament championship.
The SoCon's RPI as a whole is #11, while the Big South came in at 17 and the ASUN at #18.
Individually, the Big South's Presbyterian comes in at #132 and Campbell at #38. In the ASUN, Jacksonville is at #209, while Liberty comes in at #36.
So, in both conferences, the very best team in the league, loses in their conference tournament, to a very poor team - which gets the auto bid. The important thing is, the best team made it to the championship, but lost there, not in an earlier round.
However, in the SoCon, the regular-season champion, Wofford 36-21 (RPI #60) is eliminated early and does not make the championship round. Samford 35-22 (RPI #54) wins the SoCon tournament and gets the auto bid. Had Wofford made it to the championship round and lost to Samford, I think there would have been a good chance for an at-large.
Thoughts? am I right or wrong? or does the selection committee dislike the SoCon?
??
How/why did it happen?
Big South - Campbell (at large), Presbyterian (auto bid)
ASUN - Liberty (at large), Jacksonville (auto bid)
SoCon - Samford (auto bid)
-------
In the Big South, Campbell (35-16) won the Big South regular season but finished as the runner-up to Presbyterian College (22-21) in the conference tournament. In the ASUN, Jacksonville (16-32) beat Liberty (39-14) for the tournament championship.
The SoCon's RPI as a whole is #11, while the Big South came in at 17 and the ASUN at #18.
Individually, the Big South's Presbyterian comes in at #132 and Campbell at #38. In the ASUN, Jacksonville is at #209, while Liberty comes in at #36.
So, in both conferences, the very best team in the league, loses in their conference tournament, to a very poor team - which gets the auto bid. The important thing is, the best team made it to the championship, but lost there, not in an earlier round.
However, in the SoCon, the regular-season champion, Wofford 36-21 (RPI #60) is eliminated early and does not make the championship round. Samford 35-22 (RPI #54) wins the SoCon tournament and gets the auto bid. Had Wofford made it to the championship round and lost to Samford, I think there would have been a good chance for an at-large.
Thoughts? am I right or wrong? or does the selection committee dislike the SoCon?
??
