Third Regional Rankings Announced 2-21-18

No changes in the first five spots in the all-important West Region but questions still abound nonetheless:


1.  Wartburg                   25-0  16-0
2.  UST                          23-2  18-0
3.  CSB                          22-3  16-2
4.  George Fox              22-3  15-1
5.  Whitman                  22-3  14-2
6.  Claremont-Mudd-Scripps        22-3  15-1
7.  GAC                        21-5  14-4
8.  Bethel                      18-8  13-5


Now, just like last week, I really have no argument at all with the first four spots.  Those four teams are where they should be and that's really fine with me.  But it gets interesting after that.  Whitman, out of the NWC, stays cemented at the fifth spot despite the fact that it had to settle for a split this last week of the regular season; getting upset by Willamette (which isn't necessarily a "bad" loss but still) and then beating a down-trodden Linfield team to close out the regular season.  So Whitman wasn't "punished" at all for their split.  Interestingly here, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps out of the SCIAC comes out of nowhere after they beat Chapman this last Saturday to get put into the sixth spot and Chapman now falls out of the rankings altogether.  The NCAA, for whatever reason, seems to still want to punish GAC despite the fact that they lost to a ranked team (CSB) and then closed out by beating St. Kate's this last Saturday and then followed that up last night by thoroughly dismantling the Wildcats in Lund Arena in one of the MIAC Playoff Quarterfinal games.  Bethel slips to the eighth position and its loss to SMU last night seals their fate. 

Again, my question to the Committee is that, if they're so intent on punishing GAC, why isn't Whitman punished the same way?  And HOW in God's name does Claremont-Mudd-Scripps come out of nowhere and jump over GAC for Christ's sake? 

Feel free to fire away with thoughts.