Last Four In: Southern Illinois, Elon, North Dakota, New Hampshire
First Four Out: Eastern Kentucky, Villanova, Fordham, Rhode Island, Richmond
I gotta tell ya. Picking a team to represent the A-Sun/WAC alliance is a real pain. Because of extra games being played within the Western, first played games don’t count in the standings. Case in point, Abilene Christian’s loss to Stephen F. Austin? As far as conference standings…who cares? It’s like a non-conference game. Between the two leagues, somebody gets an automatic. Central Arkansas at 2-4? Abilene Christian who just lost to a conference foe, but is technically still undefeated in league play and 4-2 overall?
Decision?: Going with Abilene Christian with the technicality and a winning record.
Picking the automatic bid from the Pioneer? Seemed like Davidson was a pretty safe bet. No, they were beaten comfortably by St. Thomas, a team who may be the best team in the conference and is ineligible because of some goofy transition rule, even though they play a complete conference schedule. Valparaiso is the only other undefeated team left in the Pioneer. But guess what? They have to play St. Thomas on November 5. And should the Tommies win, and go undefeated in conference, still no playoffs. And even better yet? Valparaiso and Davidson miss each other on their rotating schedules.
Decision?: Going with Valparaiso. Not sure they’re better or worse than Davidson, but they’re undefeated and at least they have a winning record.
While I’m griping, the Southland. Incarnate Word looked like the next big thing a couple weeks ago. Southeastern Louisiana ended that. The Lions looked every bit the part, beating UIW. Great, at least they were undefeated in conference play. Not anymore. They lose to Texas A&M-Commerce. Who? Oh yeah, another one of these ineligible transition rule mistakes that plays an entire conference schedule. Who’s leading the conference standings now? Northwestern State! What?! You betcha. Lucky enough to have played and beaten Lamar and Houston Bapt, err, Christian - name change. Only other undefeated? Of course, Texas A&M-Commerce.
Decision?: I can’t take Northwestern State, they give up over 43 points per game and they don’t have an offense like Fordham. Southeastern Louisiana gets the nod over Incarnate Word because that head-to-head win. Should they lose to anyone the rest of the way, they shall be banished from bracketology and sent into the lake of fire and brimstone, hypothetically speaking, of course.
Other than that, very little change this week. Swapping out William & Mary with Delaware after their showdown today. Eastern Kentucky does get moved out for the Abilene Christian addition. That spot came down to them and Austin Peay, who beat EKU head-to-head.
Bids By Conference
**Atlantic Sun (1): Austin Peay
Big Sky (4): *Montana, Sacramento State, Weber State, Montana State
Big South (1): *Campbell
Colonial (4): *William & Mary, Delaware, Elon, New Hampshire
Missouri Valley (4): *North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, North Dakota
Northeast (1): *Sacred Heart
Ohio Valley (1): *Southeast Missouri
Patriot (1): *Holy Cross
Pioneer (1): *Valparaiso
Southern (3): *Chattanooga, Samford, Mercer
Southland (2): *Southeastern Louisiana, Incarnate Word
**Western (1): *Abilene Christian
* denotes an automatic qualifier
** one of the champions between the Atlantic Sun and Western combined, will also receive an automatic bid
