Atlantic Region - 2019-20

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Does SOS figure in the committee selection process. Five of the seven CAL U losses were to #1, #2 twice, #5 and #6.

It is a factor. However, I tend to be a believer in the BOAT theory that nothing ultimately hurts more than losses.

My personal opinion is Cal is a worthy team -- and very well may beat IUP tomorrow night in the Angelo Dome. That said, it always goes back to November. People say 'its early' ... blah blah blah. That's total garbage thinking. Losses on opening weekend -- as Cal suffered -- count just the same.

Boat has long argued that a win over a 3-23 team is still better than a loss to a 23-3 team. And, he's proved it in the metrics. SOS always gets a lot of hype this time of the year but I think to a large degree ... that's all it is. Hype.

Nobody knows this better than IUP fans. For years Joe liked to play a He-Man schedule in the non-conference. And, they'd lose one here and there. They missed two NCAAs because of it in the past decade ... where one win over anybody instead of that 'good loss' would have sent them dancing.

Years when the league is good -- like this one -- you can make a case there's no point in playing more than one good OOC game. In Cal's example this year they already have to play IUP, UPJ, Mercyhurst and Gannon all twice. That's 8 quality games right there. Not to mention another couple in crossover. So, playing a Bowie State and Charleston to open the season does come with risk. Cal lost those two games by 3 combined points. Had you won those two ... the Vulcans could be as high as a 4 seed right now.

A wild Regional awaits. There won't be an easy game on the board. And, wait until Mercyhurst gets that 7 or 8 seed and no doubt wins in Round 1.

[CALUPA69]

The poster INKBLOT does a nice regional rankings using much of the actual criteria used by the committee. He posted his updated rankings yesterday.

1. IUP (18-2) [1]
2. Shippensburg (18-4) [2]
3. Fairmont State (15-5) [5]
4. West Liberty (18-4) [4]
5. Charleston (17-5) [3]
6. Pitt Johnstown (15-5) [9]
7. Virginia State (16-7) [6]
8. West Virginia State (14-6) [10]
9. California (14-7) [8]
10. Fayetteville State (16-6) [7]

Virginia State got a nice win last night over Bowie State, but it's not likely that would have changed the above.

Of note, Fairmont State continues to get a lot of love in this projection and several others.

Breaking down FSU's season:

D2 record: 11-5 MEC, 15-5 overall

Best wins: @Bowie, Charleston, @WVSU, Shippensburg, Wheeling, WVSU, Glenville State

Losses: Davis & Elkins, Glenville State, @ND, @WL, @Charleston
They have (4) wins against projected Top 10 teams. So, the two bad losses (6-16 D&E and 8-14 ND) don't appear to be hurting them too much ... although had they won them they could be the No. 1 seed right now in the metrics. Maybe.

It's nice to see the PSAC West with three teams in the Top 10 ... and a fourth, Mercyhurst, cannot be far behind.

Does SOS figure in the committee selection process. Five of the seven CAL U losses were to #1, #2 twice, #5 and #6.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The poster INKBLOT does a nice regional rankings using much of the actual criteria used by the committee. He posted his updated rankings yesterday.

1. IUP (18-2) [1]
2. Shippensburg (18-4) [2]
3. Fairmont State (15-5) [5]
4. West Liberty (18-4) [4]
5. Charleston (17-5) [3]
6. Pitt Johnstown (15-5) [9]
7. Virginia State (16-7) [6]
8. West Virginia State (14-6) [10]
9. California (14-7) [8]
10. Fayetteville State (16-6) [7]

Virginia State got a nice win last night over Bowie State, but it's not likely that would have changed the above.

Of note, Fairmont State continues to get a lot of love in this projection and several others.

Breaking down FSU's season:

D2 record: 11-5 MEC, 15-5 overall

Best wins: @Bowie, Charleston, @WVSU, Shippensburg, Wheeling, WVSU, Glenville State

Losses: Davis & Elkins, Glenville State, @ND, @WL, @Charleston
They have (4) wins against projected Top 10 teams. So, the two bad losses (6-16 D&E and 8-14 ND) don't appear to be hurting them too much ... although had they won them they could be the No. 1 seed right now in the metrics. Maybe.

It's nice to see the PSAC West with three teams in the Top 10 ... and a fourth, Mercyhurst, cannot be far behind.

[jrshooter]

They have improved, though. Gordy may be layup-challenged, but she's a fierce rebounder and defender. Pettis and Green are turning into solid PSAC players.

[Ship69]

Kristy Trn could be on the brink of another breakout at Shippensburg. I can't imagine a backcourt playing better than Ariel Jones and Destiny Jefferson right now.

The two guards are playing very well, but I'd like to see better interior defense. It's been matador-style at times this season.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Kristy Trn could be on the brink of another breakout at Shippensburg. I can't imagine a backcourt playing better than Ariel Jones and Destiny Jefferson right now.

May wanna look a little West. Just sayin'

Courtney Alexander, Justina Mascaro and Natalie Myers.

Granted, Tom is very deep and the ball gets spread to many scorers, so they don't get the individual stats of some others. But, they get an awful lot of W's.

[jrshooter]

Kristy Trn could be on the brink of another breakout at Shippensburg. I can't imagine a backcourt playing better than Ariel Jones and Destiny Jefferson right now.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Based on records only; the PSAC usually gets a lot of respect in WBB, particularly the West. PSAC gets three this year.

We'll see how it plays out. The CIAA and MEC each have three really good teams -- with really good records.

For California to stay alive ... the Vulcans can't take many more losses. They have 6 losses now -- more than double the MEC and CIAA top teams. Cal also has a loss to a way-under .500 Mercyhurst -- and a brutal remaining schedule (IUP, @Edinboro, Gannon).

There's always that 'get hot for a week and win the tournament' free pass to the real postseason. Edinboro could be a real dangerous team in a one-and-done. Same with Shippensburg and Shepherd.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Virginia State hammered Bowie State last night. That's a season split with each winning on its own floor. It's also Bowie's 10th loss so that's about it for them pending a CIAA Tournament title.

[Golden89]

An updated look at the WOMEN'S Atlantic Region race (listed in number of total losses only with a cut-off of 7 losses):




As of now, the PSAC is on pace to likely get just two teams in to the field. The MEC and CIAA are on pace for three teams each.

IUP plays both @California and Gannon this week.

Based on records only; the PSAC usually gets a lot of respect in WBB, particularly the West. PSAC gets three this year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

An updated look at the WOMEN'S Atlantic Region race (listed in number of total losses only with a cut-off of 7 losses):


IUP (16-0, 18-1)
Lincoln (11-1, 22-3)
Bowie State (9-2, 19-3)
Notre Dame (13-3, 19-3)
Virginia Union (9-2, 18-3)
Glenville State (14-2, 18-4)
Charleston (12-3, 17-4)
Gannon (14-3, 18-5)
------------------------------------------------
Shepherd (11-5, 17-5)
California (10-6, 16-6)
Shippensburg (13-4, 16-7)


As of now, the PSAC is on pace to likely get just two teams in to the field. The MEC and CIAA are on pace for three teams each.

IUP plays both @California and Gannon this week.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Big game in the CIAA tonight as Bowie State visits Virginia State.

Bowie State won the first meeting in Double OT and has won 6 of its past 7 games.


BSU and Gannon are two hot 9-loss teams. Bowie also has head-to-head wins over both California and Gannon. They are certainly a team capable of winning the CIAA.


There doesn't appear to be a dominant team in the CIAA this year. I'd probably start assuming now they are getting two teams in to the Regional.

[IUP24]

Based on the contenders list at this point, this sets up very frighteningly for Mercyhurst to find their way into the field as like a 7 or 8 seed. Fairmont or WVSU drop a couple games, Gary might squeak in if he keeps winning. As we all know, the wild card is always the CIAA tournament.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

MEN'S

There's a big one in today in West Virginia. Charleston visits West Liberty at 4 p.m. Huge Regional implications.

Other than that, it was a fairly uneventful weekend for the top teams in the Atlantic. Eight losses is still the cut-off -- Glenville State fell out yesterday. Order below is based on number of losses only.


IUP (14-2, 19-2)
Shippensburg (15-2, 19-4)
West Liberty (13-3, 18-4)
Pitt-Johnstown (13-4, 19-5)
Charleston (11-5, 17-5)
Fairmont State (11-5, 16-5)
Fayetteville State (7-6, 18-6)
West Virginia State (10-6, 15-6)
------------------------------------------------------
Virginia State (9-2, 16-7)
West Chester (9-7, 15-7)
Mercyhurst (12-5, 14-7)
California (11-5, 15-7)
Johnson C. Smith (9-4, 15-7)
East Stroudsburg (10-7, 14-8)
Wheeling (9-7, 12-8)

Updated to reflect yesterday's game.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

MEN'S

There's a big one in today in West Virginia. Charleston visits West Liberty at 4 p.m. Huge Regional implications.

Other than that, it was a fairly uneventful weekend for the top teams in the Atlantic. Eight losses is still the cut-off -- Glenville State fell out yesterday. Order below is based on number of losses only.


IUP (14-2, 19-2)
Shippensburg (15-2, 19-4)
West Liberty (12-3, 17-4)
Charleston (11-4 17-4)
Pitt-Johnstown (13-4, 19-5)
Fairmont State (11-5, 16-5)
Fayetteville State (7-6, 18-6)
West Virginia State (10-6, 15-6)
------------------------------------------------------
Virginia State (9-2, 16-7)
West Chester (9-7, 15-7)
Mercyhurst (12-5, 14-7)
California (11-5, 15-7)
Johnson C. Smith (9-4, 15-7)
East Stroudsburg (10-7, 14-8)
Wheeling (9-7, 12-8)