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Post by mahina on Nov 15, 2006 18:16:29 GMT -5
Hearing people talk about how Hawaii will host the 1-2 rounds strikes me as just wishful thinking. Have you guys been paying attention the last few years? I don't think they will host. All I hope is that they don't get sent to the furthest hosting site with the lowest temperature to play a ranked team in the first two rounds despite the used-only-when-convenient-geographical-restriction policy. If they don't get to host, they should at least only have to go to the west coast.
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Post by jgrout on Nov 15, 2006 18:34:05 GMT -5
If UH makes the tournament, they will be in the Honolulu regional bracket... as one coach put it, if the NCAA didn't put a tournament team in its own regional's bracket, no likely attendee would bid (of course, non-attendees can bid, as UW-Green Bay did in 2004).
There is a good chance that Hawai'i will be sent to the mainland to a sub-regional to minimize travel (it isn't necessarily about dollars... I've heard it claimed that Hawai'i has tried to guarantee expenses, including air fares, in sub-regional bids... but about how many teams travelling how many hours). If I were a Wahine fan, I wouldn't be worrying about that... I'd be worrying about the draw. Even if the Wahine win out and snag a top 16 national seed, they could end up in a sub-regional with a team that just missed one... think Stanford and Florida in 2004, or Stanford and Santa Clara in 2005.
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Post by mahina on Nov 15, 2006 18:37:30 GMT -5
Yes, I think everyone has pretty much agreed and been saying that Hawaii will be placed in its own regional if they make it there. The discussion is whether they will get sent on the road for the 1-2 rounds and there's some disagreement as to that.
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Post by Wolfgang on Nov 15, 2006 19:02:15 GMT -5
For some reason, I just had a laughable flashback to that wunnerful season when USC played New Hampshire in the NCAA first round and the media (or was it Mick Haley?) proclaimed New Hampshire as a powerhouse team. Hawaii should be so lucky to meet such an intimidating foe this year in the NCAAs.
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Post by BearClause on Nov 15, 2006 19:29:39 GMT -5
For some reason, I just had a laughable flashback to that wunnerful season when USC played New Hampshire in the NCAA first round and the media (or was it Mick Haley?) proclaimed New Hampshire as a powerhouse team. Hawaii should be so lucky to meet such an intimidating foe this year in the NCAAs. That was a writer from the Daily Trojan back in 2003. Most hilarious rant I've heard of in a while (short of "We need to hold these people accountable!"). www.dailytrojan.com/media/paper679/previousarchive/V150/N67/04-long.67s.shtml
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Post by beachman on Nov 15, 2006 21:26:03 GMT -5
Maaan, anything can happen. Last year, Hawaii was sent off to Texas, of all places! They came out of it unscathed but still...Texas?!?! I just don't see them in California: the committee probably wants them to return home to host (and play) in their own regionals so they're not going to put them in the same sub-regional as Stanford or the LA teams. (unless they ship Stanford off, but unlikely since Stanford is one of the top teams and they're not hosting a regional this year and it would be "nice" if they at least get a sub-regional). Probably the Midwest or the Great Plains states. Could Hawaii host? I don't know. I just don't see the NCAA sending three teams to the Islands....that's why I think that Hawaii will travel, plus their ranking and RPI isn't going to be an ally for them either I suspect!
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Post by southie on Nov 15, 2006 21:35:25 GMT -5
If the top 8 teams stay close to where they are I think:
1) Nebraska will be the top overall seed; they're supposed to be placed closest to their campus; that would be Texas, but same conference; I say they get placed in the Gainesville, FL regional; Gators probably will be a #3 seed in that regional. I can see a PAC 10 team being sent there as a #2 seed since they will spread out the PAC 10 teams.
2) Washington will be a #1 seed in their own regional. Would not be surprised if another PAC 10 team isn't a #2 seed in Seattle, as well
3) I see either UCLA, USC, or Stanford coming to Austin; think this depends on whether Penn State gets a #1 seed; I don't think the committee would put Penn State #1 in Hawaii since they can easily place the PAC 10 champion (if other than UW) there, and more in sync geographically with their region. So, Texas a #2/3 with a PAC 10 team #2/3. I have a feeling it is gonna be USC; think the committee would enjoy sending MickHaley to Austin
4) PAC 10 champ (if other than UW) goes here. Once again, the #2 seed is probably another PAC 10 team.
We'll know soon enough . . .
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Post by GatorVball on Nov 15, 2006 21:39:55 GMT -5
There's no way Florida is a #3 seed, unless they absolutely just tank down the stretch. They will be one of the top 8 seeds if they win out.
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Post by beachman on Nov 15, 2006 21:41:03 GMT -5
IF the NCAA wants to see 3 PAC-10 schools in the final four then they will spread em around.....I would be surprised if this happens as they DO NOT want three teams from the same conference in Omaha.....Hell, Nebraska may not even make it out of the Texas regional if U$C or UCLA get sent there folks....Florida will never see a regional final and PSU will not see Omaha either....I just don't see the committee wanting to take that chance.....could be wrong but I predict that 4 of the 6 PAC-10 schools will be spread out between the Seattle and Hawaii regionals. they may send the 5th and 6th teams from the conference East, but not the top 4......don't see that happening!
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Post by beachman on Nov 15, 2006 21:41:46 GMT -5
Yes, I think everyone has pretty much agreed and been saying that Hawaii will be placed in its own regional if they make it there. The discussion is whether they will get sent on the road for the 1-2 rounds and there's some disagreement as to that. They'll be in their own regional, they just won't be home the first weekend, thus may not make it back......as a participant!
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Post by southie on Nov 15, 2006 21:46:42 GMT -5
There's no way Florida is a #3 seed, unless they absolutely just tank down the stretch. They will be one of the top 8 seeds if they win out. Sorry, but if #1 overall seed Nebraska is sent to Gainesville, it's a moot point if the Gators are the overall #8/9 seed. I really believe a PAC 10 team will be sent here in that 8/9 slot.
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Post by GatorVball on Nov 15, 2006 21:48:07 GMT -5
I don't see them matching up NU and UF 2 years in a row.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 15, 2006 21:48:20 GMT -5
Beachman has a point. I doubt that Nebraska is in a regional with any of the top 5 Pac-10 teams.
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Post by southie on Nov 15, 2006 21:50:10 GMT -5
IF the NCAA wants to see 3 PAC-10 schools in the final four then they will spread em around.....I would be surprised if this happens as they DO NOT want three teams from the same conference in Omaha.....Hell, Nebraska may not even make it out of the Texas regional if U$C or UCLA get sent there folks....Florida will never see a regional final and PSU will not see Omaha either....I just don't see the committee wanting to take that chance.....could be wrong but I predict that 4 of the 6 PAC-10 schools will be spread out between the Seattle and Hawaii regionals. they may send the 5th and 6th teams from the conference East, but not the top 4......don't see that happening! Didn't they spread them out the last 2 years? Think all sports selection committees these days at least seed the top 8 teams. The PAC 10 will have UW, USC, UCLA, and Stanford as top 8 seeds. Could they be #1/2 in same regionals? Absolutely. Hard to believe they'd grou all 4 in just 2 regionals. I think those 4 get spread out.
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Post by beachman on Nov 15, 2006 21:54:00 GMT -5
Beachman has a point. I doubt that Nebraska is in a regional with any of the top 5 Pac-10 teams. Maybe the 5th or 6th team, which would be Cal and perhaps Oregon,,,,,but not Stanford, U$C, UCLA, or Washington.....just don't see them taking that risk.....Those 4 teams will be sent, two to Seattle(one being UDub) and two to Honolulu, I predict U$C and Stanford.....UCLA to Udub! Could make for some fascinating volleyball.....You are also going to have San Diego, Santa Clara, Cal Poly, LBS, Sac. State, St. Mary's, and Pepperdine in this mix as well...Some damned tough competition......
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