Third Regional Rankings Just Released

The third and final set of Regional Rankins were released right around lunchtime today and here's how things stand in the all-important West Region with records being current: 


1.  Wartburg                                                           22-3   14-2
2.  Bethel                                                               24-1   19-1
3.  Loras                                                                22-3   13-3 
4.  Whitman                                                          23-2   15-1
5.  Augsburg                                                         21-4   17-3
6.  UST                                                                 21-5   16-4
7.  Simpson                                                          18-8   10-6
8.  George Fox                                                     19-6   11-5


So things kind of played out the way I thought they would at the top as Wartburg was shoved up to the number-one spot in the West Regional rankings and Bethel slid up as well to the number-two position as both teams recorded huge wins this last week over their main competition (Loras and Augsburg).  Loras is still in excellent shape, however, in the third position and Whitman remains in the fourth spot as they're the heavy favorite in the NWC Playoffs.  To me, the real surprise is Augsburg getting up to the fifth spot after being taken to the woodshed last Wednesday night at Bethel and having to scrape out a late victory over GAC this last Saturday while UST; after routinely taking care of business against both St. Olaf and SMU in the regular season finales and then holding off a good St. Kate's team last night in the MIAC Playoff Quarterfinals, trades spots and gets moved down to the sixth spot.  I'm not really sure if I understand the reasoning for this one by the Committee as it's almost like they're being punished for winning the games they were supposed to win (at least on paper) while Augsburg gets rewarded for having it's tail-end handed to them in a lackluster performance against Bethel and coming back from behind to beat GAC in the fourth period this last Saturday.  Hey, I'm open to anyone out there with both ears if someone can tell me as to the "why".

But to me, that pales in comparison with leaving Simpson in the seventh spot after they were dismissed by Coe last night in the ARC Quarterfinals in Cedar Rapids.  Yeah, their overall record is "okay" at 18-8 but save for the upset win they had at home in Indianola over Wartburg back on 1-22, what other real "quality" wins over a regionally-ranked opponent do they have to support this ranking?  And keep in mind, the Storm would pay in spades for that upset win when they had to go up to Waverly for the rematch with Wartburg and got boatraced by the Knights by a 102-62 count.  Again, I'm just trying to understand why they're being rewarded so handsomely for this (and hey, nothing against the program or Head Coach Brian Niemuth).  While George Fox didn't beat Whitman in the regular season, they don't have an embarrassing loss on their resume.  I think a case could be made for Bethany Lutheran out of the UMAC despite the fact that they don't have any wins against any regionally-ranked teams. 

Fire away with thoughts.....