1st Round (this Thursday) & 2nd Round (this Sunday)
Northwestern at
AKRON (winner plays at #6 SMU in 2nd round)
Western Illinois at
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (winner plays at #2 Creighton in 2nd round)
Link to Brackets
They gave us such a low seed. Makes me think they wouldn't have given NIU an at-large invite if we didn't win the MAC.
Six at-large teams were seeded below NIU. You're right, if the Huskies had lost to WMU in the MACC, they would have probably been the first or second team not invited to the tourney. (Hypothetically, if Akron would have made the finals and beaten NIU, the Huskies would probably had been the first one out or last one in.)
Happily, you didn't have to worry about that. I believe this is the FIRST time MAC soccer has had two teams in the tourney. I expect every MAC team to be even better next season, whereby the league could just be knocking for three or (dare say) four teams on the Big Pitch.
Meanwhile, good luck and let's go 2-0 this Thursday!
Yet teams like UCF (#42 RPI) and Georgia St (#40 RPI) got in as at-larges.
(11-14-2011 10:41 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: [ -> ]Yet teams like UCF (#42 RPI) and Georgia St (#40 RPI) got in as at-larges.
It's typical. The MAC getting no respect, when it has the returning National Champs!
This whole have and have-not system in the NCAA is anti-American.
Or maybe it isn't, old-boy's network and all.
This is why I'm torn between wanting NIU to stay in a MAC that will grow to its full potential and wanting to bolt for a "big" conference. Nothing against the MAC itself necessarily, more of a vote against the system.
GO MAC!
Since NIU didn't have to worry about getting an invite, there is really no sense in wringing our hands or griping about what would have happened otherwise. (It's probably our knee-jerk reaction, as MAC fans are so conditioned on being hosed by NCAA selection committees!)
(11-15-2011 10:50 AM)Howl-n-Prowl Wrote: [ -> ] (11-14-2011 10:41 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: [ -> ]Yet teams like UCF (#42 RPI) and Georgia St (#40 RPI) got in as at-larges.
It's typical. The MAC getting no respect, when it has the returning National Champs!
This whole have and have-not system in the NCAA is anti-American.
Or maybe it isn't, old-boy's network and all.
This is why I'm torn between wanting NIU to stay in a MAC that will grow to its full potential and wanting to bolt for a "big" conference. Nothing against the MAC itself necessarily, more of a vote against the system.
GO MAC!
I guarantee you NIU isn't lower on the "pull" ladder than Georgia State. We don't know that we wouldn't have gotten an at large bid. Maybe geography had something to do with the selection and bracket forming...
Either way, lets kick WIU's ass and move forward...
(11-15-2011 11:17 AM)Okie Chippewa Wrote: [ -> ]Since NIU didn't have to worry about getting an invite, there is really no sense in wringing our hands or griping about what would have happened otherwise. (It's probably our knee-jerk reaction, as MAC fans are so conditioned on being hosed by NCAA selection committees!)
Exactly. You're in. Just win baby. Prove you belong.
Final regular season RPI
NIU #24
Akron #30
With an RPI of 24 they would have had no excuse to not include us as an at-large.
(11-15-2011 04:46 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: [ -> ]With an RPI of 24 they would have had no excuse to not include us as an at-large.
Then again, with an RPI of 24 there's no way NIU should have been seeded so low. To have to face #2 seed Creighton if they advance is BS.