Ok, let me try this again.  I was confused as to how the NCAA
committee could go from point A (3/10 poll) to point C (3/17 poll)
by going through point B (the games during that week).
 
Point A: 3/10 NCAA poll:
 
The following were the East positions in that poll:
 
1. Maine (Rank 1)
2. BU (Rank 7)
3. UNH (Rank 8)
4. St. Lawrence (Rank 10)
5. Providence (Rank 11)
6. Clarkson (Rank 13)
 
 
Point C: 3/17 NCAA poll:
 
Again, the East positions:
 
1. Maine (Rank 1)
2. St. Lawrence (Rank 7)
3. BU (Rank 9)
4. UNH (Rank 10)
5. Clarkson (Rank 11)
6. Providence (Rank 12)
 
 
Now, point B "discussion":
 
In my prior note, I couldn't
understand how St. Lawrence jumped over both BU and UNH, since I thought
that St. Lawrence's tourney performance was "equal" to UNH.  At this
point I CAN understand the argument that St. Lawrence made the
jump based upon won/loss record AND a tourney title.  Arguments about
HE/ECAC comparitive league strength are like arguments about
religion.
 
I was also disappointed that BU stayed above UNH, but going 1-1 in
the tourney DURING THIS WEEK does not clearly boost one team
(UNH) over a team that didn't play (BU) DURING THIS WEEK.
There are other factors here that smell
(the Parker bias, UNH's second place HE finish vs. BU's fourth
place finish, UNH's head-to-head season advantage over BU), but
(1) it's been pointed out to me that none of those facts
affect the ranking, and (2) THE GAMES during the week of point
b surely didn't, in themselves, clearly lead to a switch.
 
Now for an inconsistency: if you buy into the St. Lawrence jump,
which I guess I'm prepared to do (so please don't
give me any more grief about that), how
do you buy into the Clarkson jump over Providence?  They both had
identical tourney records.  In addition, I can't believe strength of
schedule could then cause the jump, since all of the "strength" rankings
I've seen have Providence's opponents FOR THIS WEEK ranked above Clarkson's.
So why the jump here?  Could it be that the NCAA committee is deviating
a bit just to position the seedings for the NCAA tourney? (since there
are no games between this ranking and the upcoming Sunday
choices of the selection committee)
 
 
L. Latour
UMaine
 
P.S.  It was pointed out to me that the NCAA committee should never be
confused with logicians.  I suppose not.  I'm just fascinated by all
the jockeying that's going on here.  I'd like to hear from
those experts and/or cynics in the "audience".
 
P.S. 2:  (No pun intended)  Could somebody please explain Parker's
role in the NCAA selection committee to me?  Does he excuse himself
when the committee discusses BU? (Ha Ha)  Does anybody on the committee care
whether or not a bias exists.  I've heard so much about this that I
would like someone to set the record straight.
 
I'm ready.  I've nailed down the water bottles.