Softball Tourney Selection Show

Submitted by freelion on May 12th, 2019 at 9:03 PM

I'm a sucker for a selection show. Go Blue!

freelion

May 12th, 2019 at 9:10 PM ^

SEC Bias! Florida gets the overall 5 seed despite a .500 record in the conference. Bullshit!

RoseInBlue

May 12th, 2019 at 9:22 PM ^

Plus Michigan stumbled early in the season which basically set this in stone.  It hurt their RPI and they had no chance to recover during conference play.  I've said it plenty of times before but B1G softball really doesn't help anyone.

Wolverine Devotee

May 12th, 2019 at 9:21 PM ^

Given that the NCAA brackets local mid majors I'm guessing we will face UofD in the Opening Round (if we host). Horizon League autobid team usually goes to our regional. 

Wolverine Devotee

May 12th, 2019 at 9:37 PM ^

15 Michigan will face Saint Francis on Friday at 4:30pm in the Opening Round of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional.

DePaul vs James Madison is the game that will happen before ours. 

DePaul is an old nemesis from past NCAA Tournaments in the early 2000s so that's interesting. James Madison beat us but it was early on in the season when we were struggling. They're gonna be a tough out.

I like our chances because this team isn't even in the same zip code as they were back in March when that game was played. We're one of the hottest teams in the country right now. 

Indy Pete - Go Blue

May 12th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^

Pete F may be pleased, but this Pete is definitely not.  Your knowledge of SEC softball could make one question what the F in your last name stands for.   Thankfully you have a track record of consistent and intelligent support of the Michigan Wolverines, so I wont assume he is your uncle or anything. 

Solecismic

May 12th, 2019 at 9:54 PM ^

Positive: the NCAA seems OK with the Big Ten again. Northwestern at 16 is a surprise. So is Minnesota potentially hosting a super-regional.

Negative: James Madison develops pitchers like no other small school. They won't come in here intimidated. They're good. As in senior Megan Good.

Uh-Oh: If it's off to a super-regional, it's going to be UCLA. Michigan beat the Bruins early, and it might have been Beaubien's best game this season. But they faced UCLA's number-two pitcher and only got four very timely hits. UCLA's ace is one of the top five pitchers in the country.

rob f

May 12th, 2019 at 9:54 PM ^

Virginia Tech Hoosiers ??

... that's what the screen graphic just showed as they played a short clip of the Hokie gals celebrating their selection.

ESPulleeze!N

oldblue

May 12th, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^

I don't care what Minnesota did early, it doesn't justify them being a 7 and us 15! Is there any way this is fair? Sorry for not being a very knowledgeable softball fan.

Solecismic

May 12th, 2019 at 10:16 PM ^

It's fine. They took on as hard a non-conference schedule as anyone and they did really well. Amber Fiser is a terrific pitcher.

And, honestly, as tough as James Madison is, Minnesota's regional is crazy. Both Georgia and Drake are ranked teams and Georgia is probably unhappy enough about not hosting one.

Dawggoblue

May 12th, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^

Yes, this is 100% fair.  The Big Ten schedule isn't balanced, Michigan avoided NW and MN in the regular season, as well as just facing MN in the title game.

Also, if you are familiar with almost every college sport, non conf schedule is going to be weighted heavily as its the one part of your schedule you can control.  MN had the hardest non conf schedule on the year and did pretty good with that schedule. 

Michigan might be a couple spots lower than I thought they would be, but MN deserves a top 8 seed.

Solecismic

May 12th, 2019 at 10:39 PM ^

I think she would agree, but she certainly won't say anything but positives about another Big Ten school. It's in everyone's best interests to have more strength in the conference.

Here we're talking about the top team in the Big Ten losing an All-America player in Kendyl Lindaman this year. Lindaman transferred to Florida where she only started at catcher half of the time. Simply because she didn't think the Big Ten schedule could prepare her for playing on the national team.

Michigan Arrogance

May 13th, 2019 at 7:14 AM ^

I don't notice a huge difference b/t M's and Minn.'s Schedules. Both have double digit losses overall. Both have solid OOC schedules to start. Minn lost to every SEC team they played. They did beat Tex 2/3.

I have to assume their mid majors were mid level RPI teams, where as M's RPI probably got dragged done by playing directional M. and MSU.

Dawggoblue

May 12th, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^

Bama fans are melting down on the level of MSU fans after the basketball bracket came out.  It's awesome.

Kewaga.

May 13th, 2019 at 12:56 AM ^

Sorry to threadjack...

But does anyone (WD?) know if Michigan's Women's Lacrosse will receive points in the Director's Cup this year?  And if so how much, I couldn't find the scoring structure anywhere.

GO BLUE!!!