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Post by Mocha on Nov 24, 2014 15:06:58 GMT -5
That seems to be one of the flaws of guaranteeing host schools, it may be unfair to not send the top seed to the closest regional. But enough speculating, Wednesday can't get here fast enough.
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Post by hammer on Nov 24, 2014 15:14:27 GMT -5
I like Stanford's chances if Strickland passes to Bugg. Some of those passes might get not even make it to Bugg if Inky is on the front line.
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Post by tomclen on Nov 24, 2014 15:30:58 GMT -5
If this was Bizarro-World and you did a reverse poll...which outcome do you vote for that will NOT happen...I'd bet that one thing that won't happen is a Stanford Sweep.
I think Stanford can win this match...in 5, maybe 4 close sets. I also think UW can win..and could sweep.
I'd predict Stanford will be very loose for this match, other than remaining undefeated, they're not playing for much in this match. Even if they lose, they will still be solo Pac-12 champs (barring bizarre circumstances Friday). And losing this match would actually remove some pressure from Stanford. They can go into the tournament with a fresh loss under their belt and just have a large target on their back...not a super-large undefeated target.
Washington has the HCA of course, but they also have more to prove. I'd bet on a Washington win and I might place a side wager on a UW sweep.
Not saying Washington has everything to play for and Stanford just doesn't care. But I do think Stanford has so much locked up at this point, they can relax.
Of course I won't be flabbergasted if Stanford wins...but I don't think there's any chance they can pull off a sweep.
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Post by hammer on Nov 24, 2014 15:59:25 GMT -5
Does a Stanford win guarantee they stay in the West coast through the tournament? a 3 loss Washington program as the #8 seeds who will still have more top 25 wins than Wisconsin (and a head to head over them) and North Carolina and almost Twice as many top 25 wins than Florida, and PSU? yeah, I don't see that happening. Now, if Washington loses to Stanford AND Washington State, then lets talk. I'm trying to figure out what is at stake in this match other than pride? Stanford has their undefeated record, so I guess that is one thing. But Stanford already has the Pac-12 title (or at least a tie but high probability of winning it outright against Cal on Friday if they lose to UW) and the NCAA #1 seed. I can see either UW or Stanford being motivated one way or the other if a win or a loss guarantees avoidance of PSU in a regional.
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Post by hammer on Nov 24, 2014 16:05:14 GMT -5
If this was Bizarro-World and you did a reverse poll...which outcome do you vote for that will NOT happen...I'd bet that one thing that won't happen is a Stanford Sweep. I think Stanford can win this match...in 5, maybe 4 close sets. I also think UW can win..and could sweep. I'd predict Stanford will be very loose for this match, other than remaining undefeated, they're not playing for much in this match. Even if they lose, they will still be solo Pac-12 champs (barring bizarre circumstances Friday). And losing this match would actually remove some pressure from Stanford. They can go into the tournament with a fresh loss under their belt and just have a large target on their back...not a super-large undefeated target. Washington has the HCA of course, but they also have more to prove. I'd bet on a Washington win and I might place a side wager on a UW sweep. Not saying Washington has everything to play for and Stanford just doesn't care. But I do think Stanford has so much locked up at this point, they can relax. Of course I won't be flabbergasted if Stanford wins...but I don't think there's any chance they can pull off a sweep. Remember how people were complaining about the Pac-12's unbalanced schedule being a bit unfair to Stanford. In an ironic twist it now appears to be unfair to UW because they were never given a chance to beat Stanford on the road, and that could have been a difference maker.
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Post by Cruz'n on Nov 24, 2014 16:11:54 GMT -5
If this was Bizarro-World and you did a reverse poll...which outcome do you vote for that will NOT happen...I'd bet that one thing that won't happen is a Stanford Sweep. I think Stanford can win this match...in 5, maybe 4 close sets. I also think UW can win..and could sweep. I'd predict Stanford will be very loose for this match, other than remaining undefeated, they're not playing for much in this match. Even if they lose, they will still be solo Pac-12 champs (barring bizarre circumstances Friday). And losing this match would actually remove some pressure from Stanford. They can go into the tournament with a fresh loss under their belt and just have a large target on their back...not a super-large undefeated target. Washington has the HCA of course, but they also have more to prove. I'd bet on a Washington win and I might place a side wager on a UW sweep. Not saying Washington has everything to play for and Stanford just doesn't care. But I do think Stanford has so much locked up at this point, they can relax. Of course I won't be flabbergasted if Stanford wins...but I don't think there's any chance they can pull off a sweep. Remember how people were complaining about the Pac-12's unbalanced schedule being a bit unfair to Stanford. In an ironic twist it now appears to be unfair to UW because they were never given a chance to beat Stanford on the road, and that could have been a difference maker. Yes, Hammer, the schedule is completely unfair to Washington. They have to stay home, while Stanford has to travel to Seattle. Totally unfair to Washington.
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Post by ay2013 on Nov 24, 2014 16:14:32 GMT -5
a 3 loss Washington program as the #8 seeds who will still have more top 25 wins than Wisconsin (and a head to head over them) and North Carolina and almost Twice as many top 25 wins than Florida, and PSU? yeah, I don't see that happening. Now, if Washington loses to Stanford AND Washington State, then lets talk. I'm trying to figure out what is at stake in this match other than pride? Stanford has their undefeated record, so I guess that is one thing. But Stanford already has the Pac-12 title (or at least a tie but high probability of winning it outright against Cal on Friday if they lose to UW) and the NCAA #1 seed. I can see either UW or Stanford being motivated one way or the other if a win or a loss guarantees avoidance of PSU in a regional. IMO, for Stanford, the outcome of this match has NO bearing on whether or not they are in a regional with Penn State. Washington, maybe, as they flirt with the #3 or #4 seed. a win probably gives them the #3 seed an a very decent chance that they are paired with a #6 Penn State. A loss means they are most likely going to be #4 or at worst #5, and with a very little chance of being in a regional with PSU. IMO the biggest factor for PSU being in a regional with Stanford is the Florida/Texas match. If Florida wins, I think that may push them above PSU, and PSU takes that #8 seed. I think the general consensus is that we'd all prefer to keep the top Big 10 schools away from the top Pac-12 schools until the final four, mostly because the large imbalance of Big 10 scheduling means that if we WERE to have those two conferences meet, it would most likely be PSU/Stanford and Wisconsin/Washington AND it would all be on the same half of the bracket which means only one of those teams could reach the title match. That inevitably leaves a bracket with PSU and Wisconsin matching up with Texas and Florida State. So I say go with (1)Stanford/(8)Florida, (2)Texas/(7)Penn State, (3)Washington/(6)North Carolina, (4)FSU)/(5)Wisconsin and be done with it.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Nov 24, 2014 16:21:45 GMT -5
I'm trying to figure out what is at stake in this match other than pride? Stanford has their undefeated record, so I guess that is one thing. But Stanford already has the Pac-12 title (or at least a tie but high probability of winning it outright against Cal on Friday if they lose to UW) and the NCAA #1 seed. I can see either UW or Stanford being motivated one way or the other if a win or a loss guarantees avoidance of PSU in a regional. IMO, for Stanford, the outcome of this match has NO bearing on whether or not they are in a regional with Penn State. Washington, maybe, as they flirt with the #3 or #4 seed. a win probably gives them the #3 seed an a very decent chance that they are paired with a #6 Penn State. A loss means they are most likely going to be #4 or at worst #5, and with a very little chance of being in a regional with PSU. IMO the biggest factor for PSU being in a regional with Stanford is the Florida/Texas match. If Florida wins, I think that may push them above PSU, and PSU takes that #8 seed. I think the general consensus is that we'd all prefer to keep the top Big 10 schools away from the top Pac-12 schools until the final four, mostly because the large imbalance of Big 10 scheduling means that if we WERE to have those two conferences meet, it would most likely be PSU/Stanford and Wisconsin/Washington AND it would all be on the same half of the bracket which means only one of those teams could reach the title match. That inevitably leaves a bracket with PSU and Wisconsin matching up with Texas and Florida State. So I say go with (1)Stanford/(8)Florida, (2)Texas/(7)Penn State, (3)Washington/(6)North Carolina, (4)FSU)/(5)Wisconsin and be done with it. While PSU could be the #7 seed, its unimaginable they would, and wouldn't be screwing PSU, but rather the #2 seed. Ordinarily I would really be looking fwd to the heavyweight battle between UW/Stanford, but there just really isn't much, if anything at stake. I guess Stanford would like to be undefeated, but in the end that doesn't matter much. The coaches and players are competitors and rivals so I'm sure they feel a lot different about it than I do. Its funny and how the rpi and rankings have been shaped by FSU and their two wins vs Nebraska and Florida, who are way better than they were at that point. Forget about FSU's late losses, look how many wins the eeked out in 5. I don't see Carolina, FSU hanging with the big boys in two weeks.
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 24, 2014 16:24:45 GMT -5
It's silly to wonder how the outcome of this match is going to affect a matchup with PSU. We have NO BASIS for knowing exactly what seed PSU is going to have. It's pretty reasonable to think Stanford is going to have the number 1 seed if they win. If they don't win, then, well, maybe #1 or maybe Texas gets #1? Washington could be almost anywhere from 2-8, depending on whether they win out and how the committee does the seeding.
So NOBODY KNOWS. It's just stupid to be talking about whether the winner or the loser "avoids Penn State" or "gets Penn State".
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Post by tomclen on Nov 24, 2014 16:28:19 GMT -5
Stanford should be a #1 seed even if they lose at UW...unless they also lose to Cal. Losing both of those matches seems highly unlikely.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Nov 24, 2014 16:31:29 GMT -5
It's silly to wonder how the outcome of this match is going to affect a matchup with PSU. We have NO BASIS for knowing exactly what seed PSU is going to have. It's pretty reasonable to think Stanford is going to have the number 1 seed if they win. If they don't win, then, well, maybe #1 or maybe Texas gets #1? Washington could be almost anywhere from 2-8, depending on whether they win out and how the committee does the seeding. So NOBODY KNOWS. It's just stupid to be talking about whether the winner or the loser "avoids Penn State" or "gets Penn State". what percentage of things discussed here aren't "silly" or "stupid"
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Post by mikegarrison on Nov 24, 2014 16:36:39 GMT -5
It's silly to wonder how the outcome of this match is going to affect a matchup with PSU. We have NO BASIS for knowing exactly what seed PSU is going to have. It's pretty reasonable to think Stanford is going to have the number 1 seed if they win. If they don't win, then, well, maybe #1 or maybe Texas gets #1? Washington could be almost anywhere from 2-8, depending on whether they win out and how the committee does the seeding. So NOBODY KNOWS. It's just stupid to be talking about whether the winner or the loser "avoids Penn State" or "gets Penn State". what percentage of things discussed aren't "silly" or "stupid" I have just had my fill of ridiculous, frustrating, baseless speculation about stuff today. (Work, not Volleytalk, but my frustration spilled over.)
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Post by volleyfan24 on Nov 24, 2014 16:40:58 GMT -5
It's silly to wonder how the outcome of this match is going to affect a matchup with PSU. We have NO BASIS for knowing exactly what seed PSU is going to have. It's pretty reasonable to think Stanford is going to have the number 1 seed if they win. If they don't win, then, well, maybe #1 or maybe Texas gets #1? Washington could be almost anywhere from 2-8, depending on whether they win out and how the committee does the seeding. So NOBODY KNOWS. It's just stupid to be talking about whether the winner or the loser "avoids Penn State" or "gets Penn State". I would like to add I don't think Washington or Stanford care if they face Penn State. Washington should want them for revenge, Stanford already beat them at home I don't think playing on a neutral court would favor Penn State any more than Stanford.
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Post by alwayslearning on Nov 24, 2014 16:50:53 GMT -5
It's amusing reading all this talk about how nothing is at stake in this match. Maybe nothing is at stake from the Volleytalk speculator's point of view regarding tournament seeds. It may turn out that something really was at stake. We can speculate 'til the cows come home.
What everyone is missing is that this match means a lot to the people who matter most -- the women who will be on the court Wednesday. Pride means a lot. An undefeated season means a lot. A victory over a conference archrival means a lot. This is going to be a helluva match.
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Post by ay2013 on Nov 24, 2014 16:50:57 GMT -5
IMO, for Stanford, the outcome of this match has NO bearing on whether or not they are in a regional with Penn State. Washington, maybe, as they flirt with the #3 or #4 seed. a win probably gives them the #3 seed an a very decent chance that they are paired with a #6 Penn State. A loss means they are most likely going to be #4 or at worst #5, and with a very little chance of being in a regional with PSU. IMO the biggest factor for PSU being in a regional with Stanford is the Florida/Texas match. If Florida wins, I think that may push them above PSU, and PSU takes that #8 seed. I think the general consensus is that we'd all prefer to keep the top Big 10 schools away from the top Pac-12 schools until the final four, mostly because the large imbalance of Big 10 scheduling means that if we WERE to have those two conferences meet, it would most likely be PSU/Stanford and Wisconsin/Washington AND it would all be on the same half of the bracket which means only one of those teams could reach the title match. That inevitably leaves a bracket with PSU and Wisconsin matching up with Texas and Florida State. So I say go with (1)Stanford/(8)Florida, (2)Texas/(7)Penn State, (3)Washington/(6)North Carolina, (4)FSU)/(5)Wisconsin and be done with it. While PSU could be the #7 seed, its unimaginable they would, and wouldn't be screwing PSU, but rather the #2 seed. Ordinarily I would really be looking fwd to the heavyweight battle between UW/Stanford, but there just really isn't much, if anything at stake. I guess Stanford would like to be undefeated, but in the end that doesn't matter much. The coaches and players are competitors and rivals so I'm sure they feel a lot different about it than I do. Its funny and how the rpi and rankings have been shaped by FSU and their two wins vs Nebraska and Florida, who are way better than they were at that point. Forget about FSU's late losses, look how many wins the eeked out in 5. I don't see Carolina, FSU hanging with the big boys in two weeks. Me either which is why it would be a crying shame if we get a 4/5 matchup of FSU/North Carolina like we did with Missouri and Florida.
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