Just in case anyone is still undecided about which D3 school to attend, this list may help on the baseball side. I don't think anyone publishes a ranking that includes every D3 baseball program, so this list may help give you an idea how they all compare. NCAA uses SOS as part of the equation when determining who will get selected to the NCAA Tournament.
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Thanks MAD,
Actually I prefer Massy Ratings (for a bunch of sports including D1 baseball) as they have an analytical ranking of pretty much all teams, both D1-D3, and NAIA. Their rankings are a little skewed at the beginning of the season because of a lack of data points, but it catches up by now and it list most of the schools.
http://www.masseyratings.com/r...se2016&sub=11620
The problem with SoS for West teams in particular is that it has little bearing on overall ranking, because of the distance of travelling in the West & areas of the South.
As you pointed out D3baseball.com does a great job and you can look into conferences to get a better idea on the current and historical W/L and ranking of the various schools.
BOF posted:Thanks MAD,
Actually I prefer Massy Ratings (for a bunch of sports including D1 baseball) as they have an analytical ranking of pretty much all teams, both D1-D3, and NAIA. Their rankings are a little skewed at the beginning of the season because of a lack of data points, but it catches up by now and it list most of the schools.
http://www.masseyratings.com/r...se2016&sub=11620
The problem with SoS for West teams in particular is that it has little bearing on overall ranking, because of the distance of travelling in the West & areas of the South.
As you pointed out D3baseball.com does a great job and you can look into conferences to get a better idea on the current and historical W/L and ranking of the various schools.
Thanks for the link. Massey Ratings are great. It offers comparison of teams across regions and across divisions.
How do you read the SOS and other headings on the Massey ratings? Thanks.
Turn 2 posted:How do you read the SOS and other headings on the Massey ratings? Thanks.
Yes, thanks for the Massy Ratings link but how do you read the headings?
Are you asking for a description of the heading abbreviations? If so, click on "Key" next to "Predictions" and "Matchup". If you're asking about how the ratings are calculated, see the "Information" section off of the home page.
I like Massey' as well. But in the beginning of the season it leans strongly toward the West and the South, Regions of the country that play Early and can stretch out their season. Those schools can sometimes play 2 or three games a week for the season. While Teams form other regions do not get out doors until April. It is not unusual for some far northern teams not to get a home game until May some years.
While the condensed schedule forces northern team to develop pitching depth, The position players are still playing just as many games as there Southern and western counterparts. But in a condensed time frame.
I like SOS. It awards teams for scheduling good competition. I know that is tough in the west, But teams are starting to do it. Many of the western teams are now going to Arizona for spring break. It can be tough and it comes at an expense. There are so many other advantages playing in a warm weather climate that I would not complain too much about SOS. And another thing about Masseys, you can put up gaudy stats in power and offense if you play a lot of weak teams. So in some ways it rewards playing weak teams. If you sort Masseys, on SOS, you will see that you do not see a non- southern or western team until Marietta at 43. Compare that to D3 baseballs listing, they have Marietta at number 6. Case Western is Number 1 on the D3 baseball site, But number 48 on Masseys.
SOS is one of the major components for POOL C and POOL B bids to the regional. Win your conference and get a POOL A bid. If you rely on POOL C or POOL B you are competing against all the teams Nationwide.
It is pretty clear from the D3 Championship manual, that it is about access and not determining the best team. Many good teams get left home every year. While teams from terrible conferences or teams that got hot at the right time and win there conference tourney that get in. I don't fault the way they pick Pool C or Pool B teams. I do not necessarily like the Pool A. I have to feel sorry for the Empire 8, They are doing what they can to get 7 members and qualify for a pool A bid. But they just lost Ithaca to the Liberty League so they are back to square one.
@OWU, I appreciate this info b/c I have never understood the methodology in the Pool selections or the utility in the SOS ranking on the D3Baseball site (when, for example, Cal Tech is ranked 125 and Oxy is 225 or Trinity (TX) is at 135) and what this adds to the conversation. Thx for the input!
BishopLeftiesDad posted:... Many of the western teams are now going to Arizona for spring break. It can be tough and it comes at an expense.
My son's school has taken to doing TWO trips just to increase their SOS. They won 32 games last year, including the regular season championship, made it to the final game of the conference tournament, but lost, and were left in the cold, thanks to a relatively weak SOS. Coaches decided to add a second trip. So they went to Arizona and to Texas. Probably will pay off this year. They made the tournament final again, and I suspect that even if they don't win the torment, their significantly improved SOS will get them an at large bid.
Slugger Dad, I think you are correct. CLU has set themselves up well for a pool C if they do not get the A.
BishopLeftiesDad posted:Slugger Dad, I think you are correct. CLU has set themselves up well for a pool C if they do not get the A.
They decided to leave nothing to chance this year!
