NCAA Division 1 Softball Regionals

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Feb 15, 2017
920
63
Mizzou is my hometown D1 team. Last 2 years have been hard to watch. Poor defense, poor baserunning, sub-par pitching, fighting against an offense that should win much more than it loses. They were embarrassed today, 9-1 loss in 5 to Tulsa. I'm now rooting for them to bring a top level coaching staff that can recruit (and keep) some top level pitchers.

There is a hometown NAIA team for us to cheer on. They just made it to back to back world series.

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Misery reaps what it sews. Not sure they even belong in the tourney in the first place as well.

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Jan 31, 2015
249
43
Roger that.

D1 softball is DD's dream, but she's realistic given her current abilities and what she sees in the top tier D1 schools. If we lived in SEC or PAC-12 areas, perhaps it would be a different story, but DD would be more than happy playing D1 for a B1G or ACC school.

BTW, Notre Dame is one of her *dream* schools, but I told her she would have to get a full ride to go there, since I grew up HATING Notre Dame football (GO NAVY!), and I could NEVER write a check to Notre Dame. ;-) Plus, DD played a showcase tournament in Ohio last fall where they faced a 14U pitcher throwing 62 mph who was already committed to Notre Dame, so she knows she has some work to do before she's Notre Dame prospect material. ;-)

Again, it's good to dream, but it's just as important to manage expectations, afaic. ;-)


B1G and ACC are crappy softball conferences. To be fair, so is the bottom half of the Big 12.

I live in MN and DD knows half the team so I need to pull for them. A friend has a DD at Notre Dame so I want them to win too. It can be a crappy softball conference and still be a great school or the perfect fit. Just sounded like the priority was D1 softball and if so why not shoot for the best conference. I think you clarified later a top computer science program was her #1 criteria.
 
Nov 3, 2012
480
16
Pretty amazing that all of the top 16 seeds advanced with no upsets. I know South Carolina was on the ropes and UCLA was sweatin a little bit and Baylor gave Texas A&M a run but you would of thought that you might of seen an upset or two. Most of the seeded teams easily got through. Does this mean that the home field advantage is big? Is that the top 16 teams are that much better than the rest of the field. I also think Mid-majors are losing ground. In past years, we've had James Madison or Louisiana Lafayette's get through. But the power conferences are dominating.

Also, again a poor showing by the BIG conference. Disapointed in Michigan. Northwestern, Minnesota and Ohio State weren't bad, but couldn't win. ACC and Big 12 with just one team each also disappointing. SEC and Pac 12 dominate. Again, does the weather in the East and Midwest handicap these teams, or is it the talent going south or to the West coast ?
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Pretty amazing that all of the top 16 seeds advanced with no upsets. I know South Carolina was on the ropes and UCLA was sweatin a little bit and Baylor gave Texas A&M a run but you would of thought that you might of seen an upset or two. Most of the seeded teams easily got through. Does this mean that the home field advantage is big? Is that the top 16 teams are that much better than the rest of the field. I also think Mid-majors are losing ground. In past years, we've had James Madison or Louisiana Lafayette's get through. But the power conferences are dominating.

Actually I think the mid-majors are getting much better - there were almost no complete massacres, most of the games were very competitive and most of the run ruled games came in the later innings. What it does show - and this should come as no surprise - is that the mid-majors just lack the depth of the top teams. I saw several top pitchers on several mid-majors that would be great Power Conference pitchers, but apart from Drake (who got matched against Oregan unfortunately) none of them really had two star arms. Also the back-end of all the mid-majors lineups were just not scary.

Also once you end up in the losers bracket there is really no way to get back with one pitcher. It is just too stressful on one arm against a top team who have only played one game and have better back-up arms.

And yes it is a major advantage to be 'seeded' in a regional:
The 'seeded' team gets the easier of the first game match-ups (as they should) and then get the winner of the 'harder' game - where that team has likely stressed out their #1 pitcher. Look at the Kentucky regional - Kentucky gets to beat up on an over matched UIC, Notre Dame and Michigan have a tough game against each other and then have to front up against a well rested Kentucky team. So you have home advanatge PLUS you have the easiest games/path to get out of the regional.

Also, again a poor showing by the BIG conference. Disapointed in Michigan. Northwestern, Minnesota and Ohio State weren't bad, but couldn't win. ACC and Big 12 with just one team each also disappointing. SEC and Pac 12 dominate. Again, does the weather in the East and Midwest handicap these teams, or is it the talent going south or to the West coast ?

Michigan... ugh... they are going to need to do something soon because they are now not reliably getting out-of-state talent which is a real issue. I know their conference record was once again great but they have fallen back and some of the other schools are starting to ramp it up a bit.

Minnesota didn't hit at all which was a surprise.

Impressed with Northwestern and Ohio State coaching (Hillhouse's pitching comments noted...) who really got a lot out of what they had. Ohio State in particular looked terrible early in the year when I saw them in Florida. The BIG are just going to have to upgrade everything in general to compete but I think they are starting. Hopefully Indiana can put together a full season next year - at the end they may have been the 2nd best team in conference. Michigan State better be bringing on some pitching to replace their senior. But in general the BIG have the same issue the mid-majors have - lack of depth in rosters and across the whole roster.

If I was coaching in the BIG (or one of the non-seeded power conference teams) I would be putting out the 'want-to-transfer' feelers to players like the Drake Pitchers, the #1 from Tulsa and so on to add to their pitching depth. Yes I know it is technically not allowed, but it doesn't mean it isn't happening all the time (*cough* FSU *cough*)
 
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
SEC and Pac 12 dominate. Again,

success breeds success...

OPTION #1: the BEST players in the country want to play for strong programs with a consistent history of success. (read: most of the pac-10 and sec)
OPTION #2: players want to play in the historically strong and successful conferences, even if not on a historically successful team (read: Arkansas)
OPTION#3: Players want to play for a DI P5 conference.

That is the reality of it.

BUT!... some really close finishes this weekend that could have really changed the outcome of the supers.

Felt really badly for Hofstra, especially. Tough way to go down... A good reference for a pitcher with ZERO control of her emotions.

To be fair to James Madison: Megan Good out for season. She is an absolute ACE on any team in any conference.

Most impressed with: Northwestern. Who says smart kids can't play ball? They really made a nice run of it, IP's be damned...
Second most impressed with: Georgia. Lose their ace pitcher for the season, but still have the firepower to win. (BIG bats don't hurt)
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
If I was coaching in the BIG (or one of the non-seeded power conference teams) I would be putting out the 'want-to-transfer' feelers to players like the Drake Pitchers, the #1 from Tulsa and so on to add to their pitching depth. Yes I know it is technically not allowed, but it doesn't mean it isn't happening all the time (*cough* FSU *cough*)

The Drake pitcher is very good. DD compared her favorably to.... um, THAT pitcher. You know the one, lol

There are some “What are they doing here” pitchers in that conference. I gotta leave it at that.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Actually I think the mid-majors are getting much better - there were almost no complete massacres, most of the games were very competitive and most of the run ruled games came in the later innings. What it does show - and this should come as no surprise - is that the mid-majors just lack the depth of the top teams. I saw several top pitchers on several mid-majors that would be great Power Conference pitchers, but apart from Drake (who got matched against Oregan unfortunately) none of them really had two star arms. Also the back-end of all the mid-majors lineups were just not scary.

Also once you end up in the losers bracket there is really no way to get back with one pitcher. It is just too stressful on one arm against a top team who have only played one game and have better back-up arms.

And yes it is a major advantage to be 'seeded' in a regional:
The 'seeded' team gets the easier of the first game match-ups (as they should) and then get the winner of the 'harder' game - where that team has likely stressed out their #1 pitcher. Look at the Kentucky regional - Kentucky gets to beat up on an over matched UIC, Notre Dame and Michigan have a tough game against each other and then have to front up against a well rested Kentucky team. So you have home advanatge PLUS you have the easiest games/path to get out of the regional.



Michigan... ugh... they are going to need to do something soon because they are now not reliably getting out-of-state talent which is a real issue. I know their conference record was once again great but they have fallen back and some of the other schools are starting to ramp it up a bit.

Minnesota didn't hit at all which was a surprise.

Impressed with Northwestern and Ohio State coaching (Hillhouse's pitching comments noted...) who really got a lot out of what they had. Ohio State in particular looked terrible early in the year when I saw them in Florida. The BIG are just going to have to upgrade everything in general to compete but I think they are starting. Hopefully Indiana can put together a full season next year - at the end they may have been the 2nd best team in conference. Michigan State better be bringing on some pitching to replace their senior. But in general the BIG have the same issue the mid-majors have - lack of depth in rosters and across the whole roster.

If I was coaching in the BIG (or one of the non-seeded power conference teams) I would be putting out the 'want-to-transfer' feelers to players like the Drake Pitchers, the #1 from Tulsa and so on to add to their pitching depth. Yes I know it is technically not allowed, but it doesn't mean it isn't happening all the time (*cough* FSU *cough*)

The SEC will continue to dominate until the PAC12, ACC, and B1G pony up the $$$. If you look at the top programs in the country most make significant investments, most of which are never seen by the casual fan.
 
Nov 3, 2012
480
16
If I was coaching in the BIG (or one of the non-seeded power conference teams) I would be putting out the 'want-to-transfer' feelers to players like the Drake Pitchers, the #1 from Tulsa and so on to add to their pitching depth. Yes I know it is technically not allowed, but it doesn't mean it isn't happening all the time (*cough* FSU *cough*)[/QUOTE]

Actually, Purdue in rebuilding mode with there 2nd year coach, in an indirect way did that. They were able to get the redshirt Freshman Bates to from FSU to Purdue. Maybe they were a beneficiary of the musical chairs of all the girls transferring.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Pretty amazing that all of the top 16 seeds advanced with no upsets. I know South Carolina was on the ropes and UCLA was sweatin a little bit and Baylor gave Texas A&M a run but you would of thought that you might of seen an upset or two. Most of the seeded teams easily got through. Does this mean that the home field advantage is big? Is that the top 16 teams are that much better than the rest of the field. I also think Mid-majors are losing ground. In past years, we've had James Madison or Louisiana Lafayette's get through. But the power conferences are dominating.

Also, again a poor showing by the BIG conference. Disapointed in Michigan. Northwestern, Minnesota and Ohio State weren't bad, but couldn't win. ACC and Big 12 with just one team each also disappointing. SEC and Pac 12 dominate. Again, does the weather in the East and Midwest handicap these teams, or is it the talent going south or to the West coast ?

I think we’re left with:

A) Home field advantage actually is a big deal in softball.

B) Members of the selection committee are geniuses.
 

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