Postseason Home Fields

[KidSilverhair]

The IHSAA has spoken, the postseason manual is out, and here’s the word on site assignments for playoffs. As I suspected, they are leaning really hard on RPI.

For the first round, district champions will host (except the district champion with the lowest RPI, they’ll have to travel). They will bracket the first two rounds with an attempt to seed by RPI (given limitations of district champions and geography as a last resort). The attempt will be made to not pair a district champ with a runner-up from that district, but it sounds like if a third team from a district makes it in they might pit them against their district champ.

For the second round, home field goes by straight RPI. Not head-to-head, not winning percentage, not District finish - so even someone wrapping up their district in Week 8 is going to be watching those RPI numbers and rooting for all their nondistrict foes to win.

For the semis at the Dome the state will seed by RPI; number 4 vs number 1, number 3 vs number 2. That is interesting and welcome, I think - try to get the two best teams into the championship. But the east-west divide for the semis/championship is gone.

Here’s the copy for the postseason manual. Anything else good in here that I missed?



SITE ASSIGNMENTS CLASSES 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, A, 8-PLAYER
For the first round games:
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for first round contests.
When a district champion plays a district champion, the district champion with the highest RPI will be the home team.
When a district champion plays an at-large qualifier, the district champion will be the home team.
For the quarterfinal-round games:
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for quarterfinal round contests.
For semifinal round games:
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for semi-final round contests.
All teams will play in the UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls. The IHSAA will use the RPI to seed the remaining 4 teams in each class. The team with the highest RPI will play the team with the 4th highest RPI and the team with the 2nd highest RPI will play the team with the 3rd highest RPI. The two teams with the highest RPI’s will be considered the home teams.

CLASS 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, A & 8-Player PLAYOFF ASSIGNMENTS/PAIRINGS
CLASS 4A 3A, 2A, 1A, A & 8-Player:
1st Round-
District Champions have the opportunity to host

In Class 4A, one at-large qualifier with the highest RPI will have the opportunity to host.
In Classes 3A, 2A, and 1A, one district champion with the lowest RPI will be a traveling team.
In Class A, two district champions with the lowest RPI’s will be traveling teams.
All attempts will be made to avoid champions and runner-ups from the same district playing in the first round. Champions and additional qualifiers from the same district beside the runner-ups could be assigned to play each other in the first round.
Preset brackets will be made for the playoffs through the quarterfinals.
All attempts will be made to create as close to a “true” bracketing format using the RPI to seed to the first two rounds. Geography will be the final factor when creating brackets.
Quarterfinal Round-
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for quarterfinal round contests.
Semifinal Round-
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for quarterfinal round contests.
The IHSAA will use the RPI to seed the remaining 4 teams in each class. The team with the highest RPI will play the team with the 4th highest RPI and the team with the 2nd highest RPI will play the team with the 3rd highest RPI. The two teams with the highest RPI’s will be considered the home teams.
Final Round-
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for final round contests.
The two semi-finalist winners will play in the final round. The team with the highest RPI will be considered the home team.

 

[Iowasportsnut]

The IHSAA has spoken, the postseason manual is out, and here’s the word on site assignments for playoffs. As I suspected, they are leaning really hard on RPI.

For the first round, district champions will host (except the district champion with the lowest RPI, they’ll have to travel). They will bracket the first two rounds with an attempt to seed by RPI (given limitations of district champions and geography as a last resort). The attempt will be made to not pair a district champ with a runner-up from that district, but it sounds like if a third team from a district makes it in they might pit them against their district champ.

For the second round, home field goes by straight RPI. Not head-to-head, not winning percentage, not District finish - so even someone wrapping up their district in Week 8 is going to be watching those RPI numbers and rooting for all their nondistrict foes to win.

For the semis at the Dome the state will seed by RPI; number 4 vs number 1, number 3 vs number 2. That is interesting and welcome, I think - try to get the two best teams into the championship. But the east-west divide for the semis/championship is gone.

Here’s the copy for the postseason manual. Anything else good in here that I missed?



SITE ASSIGNMENTS CLASSES 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, A, 8-PLAYER
For the first round games:
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for first round contests.
When a district champion plays a district champion, the district champion with the highest RPI will be the home team.
When a district champion plays an at-large qualifier, the district champion will be the home team.
For the quarterfinal-round games:
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for quarterfinal round contests.
For semifinal round games:
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for semi-final round contests.
All teams will play in the UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls. The IHSAA will use the RPI to seed the remaining 4 teams in each class. The team with the highest RPI will play the team with the 4th highest RPI and the team with the 2nd highest RPI will play the team with the 3rd highest RPI. The two teams with the highest RPI’s will be considered the home teams.

CLASS 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, A & 8-Player PLAYOFF ASSIGNMENTS/PAIRINGS
CLASS 4A 3A, 2A, 1A, A & 8-Player:
1st Round-
District Champions have the opportunity to host

In Class 4A, one at-large qualifier with the highest RPI will have the opportunity to host.
In Classes 3A, 2A, and 1A, one district champion with the lowest RPI will be a traveling team.
In Class A, two district champions with the lowest RPI’s will be traveling teams.
All attempts will be made to avoid champions and runner-ups from the same district playing in the first round. Champions and additional qualifiers from the same district beside the runner-ups could be assigned to play each other in the first round.
Preset brackets will be made for the playoffs through the quarterfinals.
All attempts will be made to create as close to a “true” bracketing format using the RPI to seed to the first two rounds. Geography will be the final factor when creating brackets.
Quarterfinal Round-
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for quarterfinal round contests.
Semifinal Round-
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for quarterfinal round contests.
The IHSAA will use the RPI to seed the remaining 4 teams in each class. The team with the highest RPI will play the team with the 4th highest RPI and the team with the 2nd highest RPI will play the team with the 3rd highest RPI. The two teams with the highest RPI’s will be considered the home teams.
Final Round-
The RPI at the end of week 9 will be used to determine site assignments for final round contests.
The two semi-finalist winners will play in the final round. The team with the highest RPI will be considered the home team.

This is interesting, you can already see an undefeated team who will finish 10-0 will probably have to travel to be the away team against a team they smacked earlier in the year, who could come in 9-1 because of a better RPI. I'm thinking it could happen to Xavier.

Another could be a Lewis Central (10-0) vs. Sergeant Bluff (9-1) rematch.

It's funny/interesting because the state won't accomdate a school when they request to play a tough non district schedule, but they lean on RPI so heavily. I'm a big fan of RPI, it's a good indicator. But when a school asks to play the best teams and trys to schedule tough oppenets outside of district play... And the state doesnt grant a single request or the requested teams refuse it effects RPI. That's why you play the game, it will all shake itself out. The better teams will win whether at home or on the road IMO.

 

[screwloose]

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
1: Sergeant-Bluff-Luton(#1)
2: Carroll(#36)
3: Independence(#17)
4: Cedar Rapids Xavier(#4)
5: Clear Creek-Amana(#2)
6: Solon(#5)
7: Pella(#9)
8: Bondurant-Farrar(#16)
9: CB Lewis Central(#3)

AT-LARGE BIDS
SC Heelan(#6)
North Scott(#7)
Spencer(#8)
Harlan(#10)
Western Dubuque(#11)
Oskaloosa(#12)
Waverly-Shell Rock(#13)

FIRST ROUND, Quartered
36: Carroll @ 1: Sergeant Bluff-Luton
6: SC Heelan @ 16: Boundarant-Farrar

13: Waverly-Shell Rock @ 2: Clear Creek-Amana
7: North Scott @ 17: Independence

8: Spencer @ 3: CB Lewis Central
10: Harlan @ 9: Pella

12: Oskaloosa @ 4: Cedar Rapids Xavier
11: Western Dubuque @ 5: Solon

 

[KidSilverhair]

It’s a really interesting thing to think about, those second-round games. I think in general it would be fairly tough for an 9-1 team to end up with a better RPI than a 10-0 one - it would take a really weak OPW on the part of that 10-0 squad, and at least with the eastern Iowa teams (Xavier, North Scott, Solon, Clear Creek-Amana) they end up with a lot of common opponents, which means those teams help or hurt everyone equally.

But, it could happen (Sergeant Bluff-Luton has the best RPI in Class 3A at the moment, and they have a loss). There’s a ton of variables playing into RPI, so it’s nearly impossible to predict with any degree of certainty. I mean, right now Xavier is ahead of Solon only because of that 25% share of OOPW (their WP and OWP are exactly the same).

 

[KidSilverhair]

I’m gonna try this explanation again, more clearly maybe.

The postseason manual also defines how to deal with ties at the top of districts, mainly to figure out home field for the first round, but it also treats two-way ties quite differently from ties with three or more teams.

If two teams tie: The team that won the game between the two head-to-head is considered the district champion. The other team, though, is NOT considered an automatic qualifier as a district winner; they go in the at-large RPI pool with all the other runners-up.

If three or more teams tie, and none of them have defeated all the others: The district champion and playoff host is determined by RPI. BUT all the other teams ARE automatically included in the playoffs, without having to compete RPI wise with other runners-up.

That seems odd to me. Let’s say Carroll, Boone, and Webster City end up tied in D-2. That district has pretty poor RPIs - it’s very unlikely any at-large qualifier would be coming out of there. BUT in this case, all three teams are considered “automatic” qualifiers, taking up three of the 16 available spots. If at the same time Decorah and Independence tie for the D-3 title, the winner of their game is considered the champion, but the loser might not get in if their RPI doesn’t get them in the top 14 (because two D-2 teams with relatively poor RPIs are now taking up playoff spots). It’s an unusual scenario, sure, but I’m not sure why the state would treat two-way ties differently than three-way ties.

(The manual is very clear, saying the head-to-head loser in a two-way tie is placed in the “at-large” pool, while teams in a three-way tie are “potential automatic” qualifiers. The “potential” wording is there to protect against a rash of ties that might end up with more than 16 “automatic” qualifiers.)

 

[fmclonefan]

This is all going to be very interesting!! I think the RPI will eventually shake out (after week 9) and be pretty accurate with the statewide seedings. Still a whole lot of games to be played that will have huge implications.

So, as the playoffs are going will the RPI's be updated reflecting the games played in the playoffs or is the RPI after week 9 it and that is what all the playoff match ups will be based on? I'm assuming it is the RPI after the regular season that is it, but I guess I don't know that for sure. In thinking about it, the playoff games may not make that much of an overall difference in the RPI as each team will go up a bit after each win.

So, SBL could end up the highest seeded team in 3A even though LC pounded them. LC does have a stronger schedule remaining, so will probably straighten itself out at the end.

 

[LincolntwspFarmer]

Yet - - - - the State says they want the "BEST" 16 teams from each class.
Now, however, comes the "ya but" they also want each District's Champion to be an automatic playoff contender - "even though they might not be ranked in the top RPI 16 index. So, here we go - see District 2, which Carroll is most likely predicted to win - yet as of today, they are ranked #36 on the State's RPI index. 36!!!!!! and the state says they want the best 16 teams from each class? If that's true, just because you're a "district champion" that should not now - or ever - qualify you for a playoff position then. If the State's goal is to have this new RPI index compilation , then they should stick to that goal of the top 16 ranked RPI teams, and not let in a 36th ranked team (granted that is the current ranking as of today). If the playoff teams were announced today, the top 16 would be:
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 1
Clear Creek-Amana 2
Lewis Central 3
Xavier, CR 4
Solon 5
Bishop Heelan 6
North Scott 7
Spencer 8
Pella 9
Harlan 10
Epworth, WD 11
Oskaloosa 12
Waverly-SR 13
Decorah 14
Storm Lake 15
Bondurant-Farrar 16

 

[KidSilverhair]

So, as the playoffs are going will the RPI's be updated reflecting the games played in the playoffs or is the RPI after week 9 it and that is what all the playoff match ups will be based on? I'm assuming it is the RPI after the regular season that is it, but I guess I don't know that for sure.

Yup, just regular season games count towards RPI. It won’t change through the playoffs.

 

[KidSilverhair]

There seems to be some consternation about “undeserving” district champions making the playoffs. Come on - winning your district should earn you a playoff spot. That should be the first goal of any team, getting that district title. Teams don’t choose their districts, they have no control over who they have to play in the district, if you earn that top spot of course you should make the playoffs.

Now, with 9 districts the champion with the worst RPI gets penalized by having to go on the road in the first round, and I think that’s fair.

Sports in general is just like this. Look no further than baseball; the Cubs won 95 games, but lost the game that decided the division and then lost the wild card game - so their 95 wins (second best in the NL) got them a seat on the couch watching eight other teams play for a chance at the World Series. Them’s the rules, that’s how it goes.

I don’t think the “best” 16 teams necessarily match the “most deserving” 16 teams, and that’s okay. You take your champions, you fill out the field with the next-best runners-up; does anyone really think the 16th or 17th best RPI team that doesn’t get in because a champion from a weak district “took their spot” really had a chance to make it to the Dome anyway?

 

[KidSilverhair]

And again, there’s still three games left. Clear Creek-Amana still has to play Assumption and North Scott; Spencer still has Sergeant Bluff-Luton and Heelan; Bondurant-Farrar still has Norwalk; Xavier has Western Dubuque. That RPI top-16 listing is going to change quite a bit.

 

[leeps]

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
1: Sergeant-Bluff-Luton(#1)
2: Carroll(#36)
3: Independence(#17)
4: Cedar Rapids Xavier(#4)
5: Clear Creek-Amana(#2)
6: Solon(#5)
7: Pella(#9)
8: Bondurant-Farrar(#16)
9: CB Lewis Central(#3)

AT-LARGE BIDS
SC Heelan(#6)
North Scott(#7)
Spencer(#8)
Harlan(#10)
Western Dubuque(#11)
Oskaloosa(#12)
Waverly-Shell Rock(#13)

FIRST ROUND, Quartered
36: Carroll @ 1: Sergeant Bluff-Luton
6: SC Heelan @ 16: Boundarant-Farrar

13: Waverly-Shell Rock @ 2: Clear Creek-Amana
7: North Scott @ 17: Independence

8: Spencer @ 3: CB Lewis Central
10: Harlan @ 9: Pella

12: Oskaloosa @ 4: Cedar Rapids Xavier
11: Western Dubuque @ 5: Solon

Decorah will be D3 champ, not Indy. Even if Indy did win, Decorah would be top 16 RPI and an at large selection.

 

[screwloose]

leeps,

Perhaps. But for this exercise, I took the team with the best district record and used overall record as a tiebreaker. And, no, Decorah would NOT have been in the field last week. They were #14 overall in RPI and there were three automatic qualifiers below them that would have made the field.

 

[LincolntwspFarmer]

Last week - week 6, dist 2 had not one team in the top 16 RPI index - you know, the State said they wanted the "top 16 teams" in the playoffs with their 'new RPI index' - - - - oh but before the top 16, they will let each district champion in the playoffs, - so 9 champions (regardless of quality or RPI index rank) and then the next top 7 rated teams from their RPI - wow. This week #7, 2 districts - District 2 and District 8 - neither of these 2 districts have a top 16 team. This week #7, the leader in Dist 2 is Carroll with a RPI rank of 30 - and - District 8 has a leader with a RPI index rank of 21 and the 2nd ranked team in D-8 has a RPI rank of 20. Go figure, this is the State's way of getting what they claimed would be the "Top 16 teams in Class 3-A - wow. It seems to me that the state totally missed on this by letting "each district winner" in regardless of their RPI ranking. I know this is their first year / attempt - to allegedly refine the playoff system to (as they say) "get the best / top 16 teams into the playoffs. - - - and I know there are 2 weeks / games to go yet and changes are coming to the rankings, but - - - -

 

[leeps]

Last week - week 6, dist 2 had not one team in the top 16 RPI index - you know, the State said they wanted the "top 16 teams" in the playoffs with their 'new RPI index' - - - - oh but before the top 16, they will let each district champion in the playoffs, - so 9 champions (regardless of quality or RPI index rank) and then the next top 7 rated teams from their RPI - wow. This week #7, 2 districts - District 2 and District 8 - neither of these 2 districts have a top 16 team. This week #7, the leader in Dist 2 is Carroll with a RPI rank of 30 - and - District 8 has a leader with a RPI index rank of 21 and the 2nd ranked team in D-8 has a RPI rank of 20. Go figure, this is the State's way of getting what they claimed would be the "Top 16 teams in Class 3-A - wow. It seems to me that the state totally missed on this by letting "each district winner" in regardless of their RPI ranking. I know this is their first year / attempt - to allegedly refine the playoff system to (as they say) "get the best / top 16 teams into the playoffs. - - - and I know there are 2 weeks / games to go yet and changes are coming to the rankings, but - - - -

This really is a major improvements over past years formats. I believe they district champ getting in automatically is the right move. I also think that an at large 7 bid selection based on overall RPI is a nice format. The old way really did not work and this is much improved.

 

[ISUChip]

Last week - week 6, dist 2 had not one team in the top 16 RPI index - you know, the State said they wanted the "top 16 teams" in the playoffs with their 'new RPI index' - - - - oh but before the top 16, they will let each district champion in the playoffs..........

Your horse is dead. Stop beating it.

 

[LincolntwspFarmer]

Some people don't believe you can sell a dead horse.