Softball Regionals

[swok34]

Questions and projections off the bracket

By Graham Hays
ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=2869099

SCHEDULE:

Tucson Regional
Tucson, Ariz.
May 18
No. 1 seed Arizona (39-12-1) vs. N.C. A&T/ Howard
Pacific (34-22) vs. Mississippi St. (34-25)


Columbus Regional
Columbus, Ohio
May 18
Ohio St. (38-16) vs. Canisius (27-19)
Cal St. Fullerton (34-20) vs. No. 16 seed Virginia Tech (47-14)


Ann Arbor Regional
Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 18
No. 9 seed Michigan (43-11) vs. Eastern Mich. (27-20)
Louisville (36-23) vs. Oregon St. (39-21)

Hempstead Regional
Hempstead, N.Y.
May 18
Hofstra (40-13) vs. Harvard (31-13)
Albany (N.Y.) (33-15) vs. No. 8 seed Baylor (45-13)


Knoxville Regional
Knoxville, Tenn.
May 18
No. 5 seed Tennessee (54-5) vs. Furman (21-34-1)
Winthrop (48-16) vs. North Carolina (45-19)


Los Angeles Regional
Los Angeles
May 18
Hawaii (46-11) vs. UC Santa Barb. (30-21), 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Loyola Marymount (45-16) vs. No. 12 seed UCLA (36-16), 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Gainesville Regional
Gainesville, Fla.
May 18
No. 13 seed Florida (46-20) vs. Stetson (44-20)
Texas (33-18) vs. Georgia Tech (53-13)

College Station Regional
College Station, Texas
May 18
Houston (42-16) vs. La.- Lafayette (46-16)
Sam Houston St. (37-24) vs. No. 4 seed Texas A&M (40-10)

Amherst Regional
Amherst, Mass.
May 18
No. 3 seed Oklahoma (52-6) vs. Colgate (25-22)
Long Island (33-20) vs. Massachusetts (37-12-1)

Carbondale Regional
Carbondale, Ill.
May 18
Missouri (38-22) vs. Southern Ill. (40-14)
Mississippi Valley (29-26) vs. No. 14 seed DePaul (41-11)

Tuscaloosa Regional
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
May 18
No. 11 seed Alabama (51-7) vs. Tennessee Tech (48-17)
California (33-30) vs. Florida St. (44-23)

Lincoln Regional
Lincoln, Neb.
May 18
Nebraska (37-18) vs. Georgia (43-26)
Creighton (39-12-1) vs. No. 6 seed Washington (35-16)

Provo Regional
Provo, Utah
May 17
No. 7 seed Arizona St. (49-15) vs. Southern Utah (29-29)
Brigham Young (41-18) vs. Cal Poly (39-15)

Palo Alto Regional
Palo Alto, Calif.
May 17
Stanford (33-19-1) vs. Fresno State (46-16)
Cal St. Northridge (23-21) vs. No. 10 seed LSU (52-10)

Columbia Regional
Columbia, S.C.
May 18
No. 15 seed North Carolina St. (41-19) vs. South Carolina (34-23)
Penn St. (26-23) vs. Oregon (42-17)

Evanston Regional
Evanston, Ill.
May 18
Illinois St. (42-15-1) vs. Notre Dame (31-22)
Wright St. (25-33) vs. No. 2 seed Northwestern (45-11)

[labcoatguy]

So what's the reasoning behind sending OU to Massachusetts when there's a perfectly good field with Marita Hynes's name on it here in Norman? If OU had done worse in the regular season, would they have then been able to host?

[MsProudSooner]

Someone on Insider sent an email and got the following reply:

I am not sure independent judges are necessary because the information you shared is a direct result of the restriction placed on the bracketing process from the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet.

NCAA Bylaw 31 states that once the committee seeds the top 16 all other teams must be placed in the bracket geographically. In other words, put the bracket together creating the least number of flights. Also the committee must separate conference opponents in regionals. As you can imagine this provides many challenges for the committee as they try to put this jigsaw puzzle together.

In an effort to clarify the regional hosting criteria, please review the following:

First and foremost the committee tries to provide an opportunity for the top 16 seeds to host and look to give the host to the higher seed when choices need to be made For example Texas A&M (#4) and LSU (#10) share the same geographic area and since the same schools can drive to both, the committee selected the higher seed to host (Texas A&M). Also, as a point of clarification, a committee member is not involved in any discussions and for that matter is not even in the room, when their team is being discussed.

Secondly, the geographical proximity is huge. In the sport of NCAA softball (like many other sports) there are a greater number of softball programs in the east and fewer in the center of the country. Also, a number of the automatic qualifiers are in the east which means seeds have to travel and automatic qualifiers, especially in the east, need to host.

For example, there were no teams selected within driving distance (350 miles) of Oklahoma and Arizona State (that are not in their conference) so both teams had to travel.

There were teams within driving distance of BYU, UMASS, Hofstra and South Carolina , so they had an opportunity to host.

I am sure this is more information than you wanted but I think it is important that fans understand the process. Although the committee may not agree with every policy determined by the Championship/Competition Cabinet, they have the responsibility and obligation to abide by these policies and do so with the utmost.

Thank you for your comments. I appreciate that softball has such a caring fan and hope you enjoy the championship.

Sharon.

SHARON K. CESSNA
NCAA
DIRECTOR OF CHAMPIONSHIPS
P.O. BOX 6222
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206
Phone: 317/917-6519
Fax: 317/917-6210
SCESSNA@NCAA.ORG

[Row6Seat10]

Go Big 12!!

For those interested; huskers.com is offering FREE LIVE VIDEO :cool: for every single game played this weekend in the Lincoln Regional. You can find the free audio/video of each game by clicking on the following link!

huskers.com (http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=110&SPID=34&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=747427)

The first game starts Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm which pits Washington against Creighton,
followed at 7:00 pm with Georgia against the Huskers.

[spooky]

I understand why they set up the hosting assignments the way they do, but I don't think it's a good system. It's obvious they view hosting as a perk because they say they try to get the Top 16 to host, but if they do view it as an advantage, then they need to assure that the right to host is equitably applied, not like it is where 8 of the 16 national seeds have to travel while 8 get to host.

As it is in the Big 12, the opportunity to host is based not completely on how well our teams do, but how many other teams in this area make the tournament. If Tulsa, North Texas, UTA, Texas State, La. Tech make the tourney, then there are enough <350 miles teams for 2-3 deserving Big 12 teams to host, but if, like this year, many of those 2nd tier teams don't make it, then only one host opportunity exists. And in areas like the east coast with few Top 16 quality teams, but alot of #2-#4 seeds, then they get the host spots, at the expense of teams like OU and Baylor who have earned it.

I know they're trying to reduce travel ,but other sports such as baseball and tennis manage to reward ALL the Top 16 seeds with a host spot, without sacrificing the bracket integrity or breaking the bank financially. Not sure why the softball committee is so much more hung up on geography then the other sports.

[ChipperF1]

"Not sure why the softball committee is so much more hung up on geography then the other sports.

Part of it is the same reason you have the push for Northern home teams in baseball. A lot of schools in the east are looking at cutting back baseball and softball because they perceive a limited chance to compete for championships due to weather. Teams in the south and west have often played 8-10 games before Hofstra or UMass have played their first 1 or 2.

I can understand why Baylor and Oklahoma fans are upset. I don't feel Nebraska deserves to host (I think Nebraska could be the fourth best team in the regional), but I see both Baylor and OU getting to a SuperRegional.

Baylor only has to worry about Hofstra. Hofstra's a team with good speed on the basepaths and good defense. Pitching has been suspect most of the year.

Oklahoma could mercy-rule their entire group. I've seen Colgate this year and UMass this year. Neither have seen a team with the all-around depth of Oklahoma. I have a good friend who is former UMass softball player who believed the Minutewomen have a free ride to the SuperRegional..And then I showed her some OU games this year -- The kid gulped very hard.

Every year in every NCAA Championship, somebody gets boofed. But once the ump says "PLAY BALL", its all about win or go home.

[CrimsonHelmet]

"...Pitching has been suspect most of the year..."

Unfortunately, in softball, pitching is the name of the game.

Look at Texas. When they had Osterman, they contended each year. Before Cat, and now after, not so much. You have to have great pitching.


Side note, I listened to Matt Coatney doing Husker Baseball the other night against Creighton. You did a good job, Matt. But take it easy on your players, LOL......

[giraffespots]

In case anyone doesn't know, UMass is airing ALL its regional games on its website for free through CSTV. Just go to the UMass athletics website, open the softball home page and you will find a link that says something like "view live free".

[swok34]

Two teams have advanced to their Super Regional and will play one another:

Arizona State and LSU

For everyone else, Sunday is the day of reckoning. The only slight upset I see is #15 seed NC State and #16 seed Virginia Tech have been eliminated. All other seeded teams are still alive. Nebraska was eliminated today, otherwise all other Big XII teams are still playing. 12th seed UCLA was eliminated in a late game vs Loyola Marymount. This is the first time in 20 something years that UCLA will not be booking a flight to Oklahoma City. It's also the first year in many that they have a new coach with Sue Enquist having retired this past year.

All times Eastern.

Tucson Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Arizona (41-12-1) vs. Pacific (36-23), 3 p.m.
Game 7 -- Arizona (41-12-1) vs. Pacific (36-23), if necessary, 5:30 p.m.

Columbus Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Ohio State (40-16) vs. Cal St.-Fullerton (36-21), 1 p.m.
Game 7 -- Ohio State (40-16) vs. Cal St.-Fullerton (36-21), if necessary, 3:30 p.m.

Ann Arbor Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Michigan (45-11) vs. Oregon State (41-22), 1 p.m.
Game 7 -- Michigan (45-11) vs. Oregon State (41-22), if necessary, 3:30 p.m.

Hempstead Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Baylor (47-13) vs. Albany (35-16), noon
Game 7 -- Baylor (47-13) vs. Albany (35-16), if necessary, 30 minutes after first game

Knoxville Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Tennessee (56-5) vs. Winthrop (50-17), 2 p.m.
Game 7 -- Tennessee (56-5) vs. Winthrop (50-17), if necessary, 4:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Hawaii (48-11) vs. Loyola Marymount (46-17), 5:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 7 -- Hawaii vs. Loyola Marymount (46-17), if necessary, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)

Gainesville Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Florida (48-20) vs. Texas (35-19), TBA
Game 7 -- Florida (48-20) vs. Texas (35-19), if necessary, TBA

College Station Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Houston (44-16) vs. Texas A&M (42-11), 2 p.m.
Game 7 -- Houston (44-16) vs. Texas A&M (42-11), if necessary, 30 minutes after first game

Amherst Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Oklahoma (54-6) vs. Massachusetts (39-13-1), noon
Game 7 -- Oklahoma (54-6) vs. Massachusetts (39-13-1), if necessary, 2:30p.m.

Carbondale Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- DePaul (43-11) vs. Missouri (40-23), 1 p.m.
Game 7 -- DePaul (43-11) vs. Missouri (40-23), if necessary, TBA

Tuscaloosa Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Tennessee Tech (50-17) vs. Alabama (53-8), 1:30 p.m.
Game 7 -- Tennessee Tech (50-17) vs. Alabama (53-8), if necessary, 4 p.m.

Lincoln Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Washington (37-16) vs. Georgia (45-27), 2 p.m.
Game 7 -- Washington (37-16) vs. Georgia (45-27), if necessary, 4:30p.m.

Provo Regional
Arizona State (52-15) advances to the Super Regional round

Palo Alto Regional
LSU (55-10) advances to the Super Regional round.

Columbia Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Oregon (44-17) vs. South Carolina (36-24), 1 p.m.
Game 7 -- Oregon (44-17) vs. South Carolina (36-24), if necessary, 4 p.m.

Evanston Regional
May 20
Game 6 -- Northwestern (47-11) vs. Illinois State (44-16-1), 1 p.m.
Game 7 -- Northwestern (47-11) vs. Illinois State (44-16-1), if necessary, 3:30p.m.

Full results:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2869180

[Bball Girl]

#1 Arizona
#16 Cal State Fullerton (originally unseeded)

#8 Baylor
#9 Michigan

#4 Texas A&M (way to go Aggies!)
#13 Florida

#5 Tennessee
#12 Hawaii (originally unseeded)

#3 Oklahoma
#14 DePaul

#7 ASU
#10 LSU

#2 Northwestern
#15 South Carolina (originally unseeded)

#6 Washington
#11 Alabama

Wow...when was the last time there were no Pac 10 Calif. schools left?
Glad to see ASU here!

[ChipperF1]

Game 6 -- Northwestern (47-11) vs. Illinois State (44-16-1), 1 p.m.
Northwestern wins 4-1!!! GO CATS!!!!!!!!

"Nebraska was eliminated today,
Beaten by Creighton. Rhonda Revelle falls short in postseason, again.

[BeBe]

Pretty good seeding on this one ... the 1-16 seeds advance to the round of 16.

[swok34]

Pretty good seeding on this one ... the 1-16 seeds advance to the round of 16.

Actually, they didn't. 12, 15 and 16 are all gone. The team that takes their place, i.e. Hawaii gets UCLA's 12 seed.

[BeBe]

Tricky. If you don't get it right, change it so it makes you look good. And seems rather deceptive to me.

Imagine if they tried that stunt in the NCAA basketball tournament (especially mens)...no more Cinderella's because the teams would gain the seeding of the team they beat.

[YCN]

--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Day Date CDT TV Game
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Fri May 25 6:30 PM ESPN Florida vs Texas A&M
7:00 PM ESPNU Hawaii vs Tennessee
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Sat May 26 11:00 AM ESPN DePaul vs Oklahoma
1:00 PM ESPN Texas A&M vs Florida
3:00 PM ESPN Texas A&M vs Florida &
ESPNU Tennessee vs Hawaii
5:30 PM ESPNU Tennessee vs Hawaii &
7:00 PM ESPN Cal State Fullerton vs Arizona
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Sun May 27 12:00 PM ESPN Oklahoma vs DePaul
2:00 PM ESPN Oklahoma vs DePaul &
ESPNU Arizona vs Cal State Fullerton
4:30 PM ESPNU Arizona vs Cal-State Fullerton &
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Thu May 31 12:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #1
2:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #2
6:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #3
8:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Game #4
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Fri Jun 1 6:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Game #5
8:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Game #6
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Sat Jun 2 11:00 AM ESPN WCWS Game #7
1:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #8
6:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #9
8:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #10
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Sun Jun 3 12:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #11
2:00 PM ESPN WCWS Game #12
6:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Game #13 &
8:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Game #14 &
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Mon Jun 4 7:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Finals Game #1
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Tue Jun 5 7:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Finals Game #2
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
Wed Jun 6 7:00 PM ESPN2 WCWS Finals Game #3 &
--- ------ -------- ----- --------------------------------
& = if necessary

[swok34]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=2877328

Poise Under Pressure

Graham Hays, ESPN.com
AMHERST, Mass. -- The clouds parted over this patch of New England on Sunday, blue skies and warmth replacing three days of gray, gloomy chill. For No. 3 overall seed Oklahoma, the mellowing meteorological picture had to seem like a sign from above, that it had passed the first obstacle thrown in its path on the road to a championship.

Oklahoma's Lauren Eckermann is known for her poise in the circle.
After a weekend of wet fields, frigid wind chills and tough competition, Oklahoma advanced to the super regionals with a 6-3 win against Massachusetts in Sunday's first game, eliminating the Minutewomen and avoiding the dreaded "if-game" nightcap.

The Sooners advance to face DePaul later this week in a best-of-three series at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., where most expected the team to open the tournament by hosting a regional. Instead, the Sooners headed to Massachusetts (briefly leaving the country altogether when the team charter flew through Canadian airspace after refueling in Dayton, Ohio) to play against a Minutewomen team with the nation's longest active home winning streak.

So much for the perks of winning the Big 12 tournament and entering the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 1 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.