Shea and Vandy make the tourney

[jeff30189]

Congrats to Shea on taking Vandy dancing, albeit as a 12th seed in a play-in game. That losing streak late in the season really hurt, but glad they get to go.

I really hate it that they have to play Columbia, who is a huge story in their own right being an at large Ivy program who had a great year and got rewarded as well. Their reaction is what makes this time of year so special. Wish they could both win and advance.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[cuzinvinny]

So where where is the play in game played?

 

[ochoopsfan]

So where where is the play in game played?

The Vandy v Columbia game is in Blacksburg, VA

The winner will play Baylor.

 

[maple]

Congrats to Coach Ralph!

 

[Dillon77]

Congrats to both Coach Ralph and Coach Griffith of Columbia. Save for that Tourney loss to Princeton, they've played awfully well down the stretch. Interesting that the Lions have to play two UConn-alums-turned coaches two games in a row.

 

[Jackalope]

Congrats to both Coach Ralph and Coach Griffith of Columbia. Save for that Tourney loss to Princeton, they've played awfully well down the stretch. Interesting that the Lions have to play two UConn-alums-turned coaches two games in a row.

Sorry, you should be saying that two Uconn-alums-turned coaches will be playing each other!

 

[Dillon77]

Sorry, you should be saying that two Uconn-alums-turned coaches will be playing each other!

???

Excuse me, even on my second cup of coffee, I'm not following.

• Columbia, coached by Lion alum Megan Griffith, played and lost to Princton Tigers, coached by UConn alum Carla Berube;
• They next will play the Vandy Commodores, coached by UConn Alum Shea Ralph.

The winner of Columbia will play Baylor.

So....what am I missing in your comment? Thanks for explanation.

 

[ochoopsfan]

???

Excuse me, even on my second cup of coffee, I'm not following.

• Columbia, coached by Lion alum Megan Griffith, played and lost to Princton Tigers, coached by UConn alum Carla Berube;
• They next will play the Vandy Commodores, coached by UConn Alum Shea Ralph.

The winner of Columbia will play Baylor.

So....what am I missing in your comment? Thanks for explanation.

Dont forget, Vandy also has Director of Player Development, Lou(KLS) and Director of Student Athlete Success and Community Relations, Kyla Irwin, too!! Both sit on the bench for each game.

 

[YoDore]

Dont forget, Vandy also has Director of Player Development, Lou(KLS) and Director of Student Athlete Success and Community Relations, Kyla Irwin, too!! Both sit on the bench for each game.

You mad at Kevin Demille? Assistant coach and recruiting director.

 

[Dillon77]

Dont forget, Vandy also has Director of Player Development, Lou(KLS) and Director of Student Athlete Success and Community Relations, Kyla Irwin, too!! Both sit on the bench for each game.

Thanks, that's great for the "Husky South!"

 

[Dillon77]

I took it to mean that Columbia will have played 2 games in a row again UConn connected coaches, Princeton in the Ivy League Championship and then Vandy in the NCAAT.

Thanks...but I thought that's what I posted (maybe not specific enough with the names....)
Congrats to the entire staff of Princeton, Columbia and Vanderbilt!! Let the games continue.

 

[Zarathustra]

Congrats to Shea on taking Vandy dancing, albeit as a 12th seed in a play-in game. That losing streak late in the season really hurt, but glad they get to go.

I really hate it that they have to play Columbia, who is a huge story in their own right being an at large Ivy program who had a great year and got rewarded as well. Their reaction is what makes this time of year so special. Wish they could both win and advance.

QUITE THE SCENE OF INFINITE HAPPINESS! GO LIONS! (May the best team win.)

 

[Centerstream]

Thanks...but I thought that's what I posted (maybe not specific enough with the names....)
Congrats to the entire staff of Princeton, Columbia and Vanderbilt!! Let the games continue.

You did post that and is why I deleted my reply. I apologize for my reply.

 

[Jackalope]

???

Excuse me, even on my second cup of coffee, I'm not following.

• Columbia, coached by Lion alum Megan Griffith, played and lost to Princton Tigers, coached by UConn alum Carla Berube;
• They next will play the Vandy Commodores, coached by UConn Alum Shea Ralph.

The winner of Columbia will play Baylor.

So....what am I missing in your comment? Thanks for explanation.

oop's I misread the bracket. Sorry for not paying attention!

 

[TN-Gamecock]

GO Vandy, GO Vandy, GO Vandy...

 

[huskyd]

In his pre-tourney remarks, Coach mentioned both Carla and Shea. Anyone thinking what I'm thinking?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

While I am happy for our girl Shea I think the south of the Mason Dixon line bias is what has them playing.

 

[PhilipVU94]

Congrats to Shea on taking Vandy dancing, albeit as a 12th seed in a play-in game. That losing streak late in the season really hurt, but glad they get to go.

Thank you vicariously. Doubt that it matters much that it came in a streak, but it was the result of playing most of the SEC teams better than them in a row by pure scheduling quirk. The Dores were actually too consistent, almost without fail beating those below them, mostly winning h2h vs other bubble teams, but without a really big win. More variance would have probably won us a couple of seed lines.

 

[Blueconn]

Dont forget, Vandy also has Director of Player Development, Lou(KLS) and Director of Student Athlete Success and Community Relations, Kyla Irwin, too!! Both sit on the bench for each game.

Lou and Kyla clinch it ….Shea stepping forward is what we’ve known would happen…like, for over 20 years ! The younger 33 and Kyla and Tournament Shea know the Dance. Go Commodores, yes UConn.

 

[Justaguy]

Congrats to both Coach Ralph and Coach Griffith of Columbia. Save for that Tourney loss to Princeton, they've played awfully well down the stretch. Interesting that the Lions have to play two UConn-alums-turned coaches two games in a row.

I really want to root for Columbia but I cannot root against Shea. It's a conundrum.

 

[ochoopsfan]

You mad at Kevin Demille? Assistant coach and recruiting director.

No, but I dont recall him playing for UConn WBB in the past.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Can someone help me understand why an 11 seed would still have to compete in a "play-in" game? And there's even a "play-in" game for a 12 seed. I can understand- sort of- a play-in for the lowest seeds, the 16's. But why in the world would relatively well-seeded teams be forced into a play-in? Seems really random and unfair to those teams.

 

[darkstar1]

Can someone help me understand why an 11 seed would still have to compete in a "play-in" game? And there's even a "play-in" game for a 12 seed. I can understand- sort of- a play-in for the lowest seeds, the 16's. But why in the world would relatively well-seeded teams be forced into a play-in? Seems really random and unfair to those teams.

Because many conference tournament winners, which get automatic bids, are simply not as good as many teams that don’t even make it into the field. To fill the field at 64, there are play in games for those 11 and 12 seeds. All of the lower seeds are automatic bids being rewarded for being conference champions.

 

[fomalhaut]

Can someone help me understand why an 11 seed would still have to compete in a "play-in" game? And there's even a "play-in" game for a 12 seed. I can understand- sort of- a play-in for the lowest seeds, the 16's. But why in the world would relatively well-seeded teams be forced into a play-in? Seems really random and unfair to those teams.

Because the 16's earned their way into the tournament by winning their conference championships, while the 11's and 12's got picked by a bunch of people sitting in a room looking at spreadsheets. Some of us think all the play-in games should be at-large teams. The NCAA can't even seem to decide how they want to do it, with two games 16 vs. 16, one 11 vs. 11, and one 12 vs. 12. That makes no sense whatsoever: Auburn and Arizona are seeded 11th, but have to play in, while three 12s get into the main bracket immediately.

 

[From France]

I don't think Shea will forget to get a phone call to Carla

 

[PhilipVU94]

Can someone help me understand why an 11 seed would still have to compete in a "play-in" game? And there's even a "play-in" game for a 12 seed. I can understand- sort of- a play-in for the lowest seeds, the 16's. But why in the world would relatively well-seeded teams be forced into a play-in? Seems really random and unfair to those teams.

It's purely about NCAA balance of power -- politics, if you like that word, or consensus-building, or compromise.

The NCAA is nothing more than a thin veneer over committees made up of college ADs and conference commissioners -- and at the highest level, presidents. As the number of conferences has grown and threatened to take away the number of at-large spots, some new compromise had to be worked out. So far in both women's and men's, the compromise has been half the First Four of AQs (16-seeds) and half of AL (usually 11s, occasionally 10s or 12s).

There isn't some cabal full of external folks called "NCAA" that bosses the schools around and just can't make up its mind who is more deserving. It's the schools themselves who have negotiated a balance of power that everyone is sorta-OK with...

...for now, which will all fall apart when the football factories secede and ruin everything else. But for now, I'll enjoy it even in its imperfection.

 

[PhilipVU94]

...while the 11's and 12's got picked by a bunch of people sitting in a room looking at spreadsheets.

Rhetoric aside, hopefully the spreadsheets reflect on-court performance. Would you prefer a tournament with only AQs? No Stanford, Ohio State, UCLA, LSU... ?

 

[From France]

Rhetoric aside, hopefully the spreadsheets reflect on-court performance. Would you prefer a tournament with only AQs? No Stanford, Ohio State, UCLA, LSU... ?

No but conferences should be limited to 5 or even four Teams in so that all mid majors could have 2 seats, march should be in sports recognition. For me there is no reason a # 9 team in his own conference has more recognition than a #1 in a lower conference wins the regular champion tititle but misses in the conference tournament.
It is just a rule the rich get richer.
There is no fair play in the qualifying rules.
Every Regular or Tourament Champions should be qualified, then the at large with the remaining places

 

[From France]

That is what the SPORT should be, IMO