2023 Softball Post-Season Bracket

[Golden Eagle 368]

2 hours ago, AU1947 said:

And someone got smart at the end of the season because the game against Alabama State that was canceled due to "everything to lose - nothing to gain" quite possibly could have cost us to miss the whole show... 

I don't believe for a minute that a loss to Alabama State would have caused Auburn to miss the entire postseason.  I'm guessing there were 2 factors at play -  Maddie needed to rest before the SEC tournament (she herself has said several times over the past 2 weeks that her body is fatigued) - and - Dean thought a loss to Alabama State right before the SEC tournament might knock them out of a potential regional hosting gig...not out of the postseason.

 

2 hours ago, all4AU said:

@TigerTennis80 @Golden Eagle @AUBwins

We are the 2 seed and will be the home team Friday against Cal State Fullerton. Each regional was announced in this order: 1-4-3-2, with the 1 and 2 seeds opposing each other. 

The order they were announced is in the opening post:  Clemson, Cal State Fullerton, Auburn, UNC Greensboro.  By your criteria, Auburn is the #3 seed.  On Friday, Clemson will face UNC Greensboro and Auburn will face Cal State Fullerton.

Here's a link to an article on auburntigers.com that was posted after the selection show.  Looks like Auburn feels disrespected - hope that spurs them to dig deep and win the regional.  Quote from CMD in the article:

"No matter who you face in postseason, they are going to be a talented team," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We've got to show up and play clean softball. We've been there before. We know what to expect as far as the stadium and the crowd noise. There's some disappointment, but there is a lot of criteria that the committee goes over to make their decisions. You've got to brush that all aside and get ready to play."

https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/5/14/softball-no-16-auburn-punches-postseason-ticket-to-clemson-regional.aspx

[Golden Eagle 368]

28 minutes ago, AU1947 said:

Are you sure because everything I have seen has us the #3...

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/other-sports/news/ncaa-softball-bracket-2023-selections-live/pnzqk9plveepoaetudfwkjcm

This is the same information that is in the opening post of this thread...copied and pasted from that web site.

[Golden Eagle 368]

3 hours ago, AU1947 said:

So each committee determines more on what they see as more influential in their own ranking system according to the ESPN article and interview. Everyone was shocked about that team from West Alabama.. this was taken from the article....

"Six top-10 wins and strength of schedule were the key components to the seeding according to the chair of the committee. 

 

However, that's not how the previous committees had determined where teams should be in the bracket, relaying a lot more on RPI (Rating Percentage Index).

Alabama's RPI was 12th after the SEC Tournament. Consequently, the expectation was Florida State would be No. 5, with Alabama having to visit Tallahassee to have a shot at the Women's College World Series. "

 

So there is a LOT more that plays into the so called seeding and it all falls back on what the committee sees as important.  AND the strength of schedule (RPI) always plays a part and most of the time it is the most important. So my point is you need to have a strong RPI, with wins vs who, how you are playing at the end, that is what has traditionally been factors. They had to tweak their process this year....

And while we had a much better season this year the ball just bounced our way in several very close series wins.. we are still 103 in team BA in the overall rankings. And we played better than expected. Kudos to our team. 

Make it out of Clemson Regional and it is Oklahoma! Play the best right out the gate. 

My point exactly - it ISN'T, and never has been, ONLY about RPI.  If it were, they wouldn't need a selection committee. Louisiana would be hosting a regional, Alabama wouldn't be the #5 seed, etc. .  And almost every team has some close wins - credit Auburn for being in position to put away close games.

Sure seems like there was an agenda to ensure Alabama makes it to the WCWS this year...the easiest path to get there?  No tournament in 2020 due to COVID.  They made it in 2021 but were eliminated by Florida State who went on to play Oklahoma for the title (FSU won game 1 but OK won games 2 & 3).  In 2022, they hosted a regional as the #6 overall seed (so were in position to host the super regional) but Stanford won the regional and ousted Alabama from the tournament.  Maybe it's about ratings or giving Fouts another opportunity  to win a natty in her 5th and final year of eligibility or ??? but making them the overall #5 seed has stirred some controversy.  Kinda like Alabama football feeling entitled to be in the playoffs when their record doesn't merit it.

 

[all4AU 379]

1 hour ago, AU1947 said:

Are you sure because everything I have seen has us the #3...

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/other-sports/news/ncaa-softball-bracket-2023-selections-live/pnzqk9plveepoaetudfwkjcm

Look closely at the link. Sporting News also misinterpreted this. It has Florida behind Loyola Marymount, which is also incorrect. Virginia Tech is the 2 in the Athens regional ahead of Boston University. All of the 2 seeds listed here are out of order. 

Edit: This was written by an intern and it shows. All of his "three" seeds have a higher rpi than the two's. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by all4AU

[Golden Eagle 368]

Bri Ellis has re-tweeted several posts critical of the bracket.  Here are a few

On May 7, Mathew Wallace:

Auburn's mark of 15 SEC wins has proven to be a good benchmark for potential regional hosts over time. The last SEC teams to reach 15 conference wins and not host were Kentucky and LSU in 2012.

On May 14

Justin Lee:

Auburn becomes the first SEC team in 11 years to win 15 conference games and not host a regional.

Lindsay Garcia:

L. O. L. O. L. O. L

UCLA softball alum & current pro player Jen Schroeder (in response to the Alabama seeding):

Lol, what?

Oregon software alum & current pro player Haley Cruse Mitchell:

You’d think by this point I wouldn’t be surprised by everything the NCAA softball selection committee does, yet here we are!

Bri Ellis:

WE NEED CLEMSON PACKED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU

[Golden Eagle 368]

Interesting tweet from Beth Mowins this morning:

…Seeds without a Power Conf opponent in their Bracket: ALAB, DUKE, LSU, UCLA.

Seeds with 2 Power Conf opponents in their Bracket: OU, TENN, ARK, UTAH…

[AUBwins 10,075]

6 hours ago, Golden Eagle said:

Interesting tweet from Beth Mowins this morning:

…Seeds without a Power Conf opponent in their Bracket: ALAB, DUKE, LSU, UCLA.

Seeds with 2 Power Conf opponents in their Bracket: OU, TENN, ARK, UTAH…

I'm more upset ALA gets the easy ride in their regional than their seeding. Yet Oklahoma gets 2 and they are clearly best team. 

[Golden Eagle 368]

4 hours ago, AUBwins said:

I'm more upset ALA gets the easy ride in their regional than their seeding. Yet Oklahoma gets 2 and they are clearly best team. 

Not only their regional, but their super regional as well.  They will play the winner of the Northwestern regional which only has 1 power conference opponent.

[AUBwins 10,075]

3 minutes ago, Golden Eagle said:

Not only their regional, but their super regional as well.  They will play the winner of the Northwestern regional which only has 1 power conference opponent.

Well.  If it wasn't the hard way, Auburn wouldn't do it LOL.  Hopefully we make magic and Maddie is unhittable.  Ride that arm as far as we can. 

[TuscaloosaTiger 285]

I was looking at Clemson's 2022-2023 softball schedule and their campus reporting on the regional. They appear very good and beat some of the teams that beat us, in some cases they won handily. Their reporters did not have much to say about the Clemson regional opponents, but they did indicate they are looking forward to Clemson playing Oklahoma in the super-regional, which may work in our favor. 

[Jad0003 410]

The video posted on Instagram has Lowe and Packer in a boot. Not sure if it is precautionary, but it appears some nagging injuries again for those two. It might explain why Lowe was icing her foot in the dugout during South Carolina.

[Golden Eagle 368]

3 hours ago, Jad0003 said:

The video posted on Instagram has Lowe and Packer in a boot. Not sure if it is precautionary, but it appears some nagging injuries again for those two. It might explain why Lowe was icing her foot in the dugout during South Carolina.

It was interesting when Lowe was icing her foot in the dugout last weekend she didn't seem to be injured and, in fact, came back in to pitch.  And Packer didn't seem to have any issues in CF or on the base paths.  Hope it's precautionary but it's definitely concerning.

[EagleEye67 1,940]

On 5/15/2023 at 10:41 AM, Golden Eagle said:

 

Sure seems like there was an agenda to ensure Alabama makes it to the WCWS this year..

 

It's called the "Montana Fouts Farewell Tour" 🙄

[Tiger1992 999]

15 minutes ago, EagleEye67 said:

It's called the "Montana Fouts Farewell Tour" 🙄

That didn't end when Penta beat her head-to-head? 😀