Third Regional Rankings Released

I apologize for getting this one out a little late but wanted to touch on the latest NCAA Regional Rankings that were released yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon (2-22-17).  Here is how the all-important West Region currently looks:


1.  UST                                                             25-0  18-0
2.  Puget Sound                                                25-1  16-0
3.  Wartburg                                                     24-2   15-1
4.  GAC                                                           24-1   17-1
5.  George Fox                                                21-5   13-3
6.  Bethel                                                        22-4   16-2
7.  Whitman                                                    22-4   12-4
8.  Claremont-Mudd-Scripps                          18-8   13-3


I expected George Fox to make a significant move by virtue of its big win on the road at NWC rival Whitman this last Saturday night so the fact that they jumped from the seventh spot to the fifth spot is not all that surprising.  What did shock me and surprise me was that Wartburg leap-frogged GAC by going from the fourth spot to the third spot while GAC slipped to the fourth spot by simply winning its last two regular season games in convincing fashion.  Needless to say, I was quite perplexed by all this and I asked D3Hoops.com guru Pat Coleman about it to try and get some sort of explanation for it.  As I understand it, the ranking committee decided to shove Wartburg into the third position as the Knights have a 2-1 record over regionally rated teams while GAC's record against similar opponents stood at only 1-1 on the year.  Hence, the flip-flop.  I can't believe that this hurts GAC's chances in any way whatsoever but, IMHO, it seems like the Gusties are being unfairly punished for doing what they were supposed to do.  I know Wartburg is a great team and their head coach, Bob Amsberry, is a great coach and person.  That's not in question at all here.  What I question is how GAC had to pay the price for it.  How much it means in the end-all remains to be seen, of course and I'm sure it only fuels their burning fire and desire.

Bethel remains in the sixth spot but didn't get any favors from Whitman this last Saturday night when George Fox came in to Walla Walla and pulled off a gigantic upset and, as such, the Blues sunk from the fifth spot to the seventh spot this time around.  To get a better idea on how things may shake out on Selection Monday, the last Regional Rankings will be released on Sunday (2-26).