Zip_ME87

When you get to the NCAA Tourney, there are very few unworthy teams. There may be a few among the automatic qualifiers, but for the most part, with only 48 teams out of ~200, any opponent is dangerous. The 2017 Zips need to stop slouching and feeling entitled. It's post season time, and our team needs to show they want it more than their opponent. That was not readily apparent yesterday.

WMU drew a record crowd (1500+) when the ZIps visited earlier this season. Having been there, the crowd looked sizable, but since they don''t sell tickets to regular season matches, and do not have turnstiles, I don't know how they count or how accurate their count could be, If the weather is as crappy as it is predicted to be, I do not foresee a large number of fans sitting out in that weather when they can watch at home on ESPN3.

This was right on and has been so worrisome this season... “We talked about this all year with this group,” Embick said. “One of the things I emphasized to them was despite how well we’ve played and the wins we’ve gotten, we haven’t found our way back into games when we’ve given up the first goal. “At some point, we’re going to be down and we have to come from behind and do what we do. Today was a perfect opportunity and perfect example of what we preach to them.”

If Gaucho Dan's formula is correct [matches the NCAA"s], then RPI is bogus in that I do not see how Stanford could be ranked ahead of Akron. Akron's strength of schedule and opponents strength of schedule are both better than Stanford's. SOS is significantly better. (1 additional loss seems to be the difference.) 11 Stanford Record 15-2-1 RPI 0.6154 SOS 71 OSS 21 12 Akron Record 15-3-1 RPI 0.6116 SOS 46 OSS 18 Reference: http://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/search/label/RPI Rank

I think it will be extremely difficult for the NCAA Tournament Committee to give all 4 top seeds to 1 conference. Depending upon how the final RPI plays out, I could see #3 or #4 being skipped for the next highest RPI ranked team not in the same conference [i.e., likely skipping an ACC team for a B1G team].

All I meant is that it would be deserved if WMU's RPI rank is 4 or higher. I agree that they might still not get a top 4 seed but could be difficult to skip over depending upon who the other potential top 4 seeds are. Looking at current RPI, it's not likely that WMU's will be 4 or better. So, this is probably a moot discussion anyway. As you stated, I don't see an "unknown" MAC Tourney Champion getting a top 4 seed [without a top 4 RPI]. In my original response, I should have qualified what I meant by "deserved"...only if RPI 4 or better. 1 Wake Forest 2 North Carolina 3 Duke 4 Indiana 5 Louisville 6 Clemson 7 Western Michigan 8 Notre Dame 9 Michigan State 10 Virginia 11 Stanford 12 Akron

I recall 1 year under Caleb Porter that the Zips should have been seeded higher than we were. If you're going back to Ken Lolla days, I'm not sure the RPI supported your claim. I would still contend that the Zips' recent soccer reputation as well as RPI would have gotten us into the NCAA Tourney even with a loss today and a team other than WMU winning the MAC Tourney. Thankfully, however, we don't need to be concerned about that scenario.

Not if WMU wins the MAC Tournament. [Top 4 seed would be deserved.] You sound like the ACC weenies when the Zips got the #1 seed in 2009. They were talking differently when it was over even though Akron was runner up. (0 goals given up in 2009 NCAA Tournament)

I'm not sure why the hostility with the all caps. None of us will know for sure how that would have played out. With rpi & rankings as they are, the committee may have had no choice. And by the way, Akron has a contemporary reputation in NCAA soccer that would have made it almost impossible for the committee not to have put the ZIps in the tournament in this situation. You cannot compare Zips' Mens Soccer ability to get into the tournament with Mens Basketball's. Zips Mens soccer actually defeats Top 25 teams.

No. That ship sailed some time ago and good riddance. I got my satisfaction when the Zips beat his team for the National Championship in 2010. I don't need to see him again.

Congrats to second-team honorees, --- Pau Belana, Niko De Vera, and Nate Shultz.

Also congrats to Stuart Holthusen, Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, and Manuel Cordeiro for being named to All-MAC First Team!

http://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/9/2017-mac-mens-soccer-postseason-awards-announced.aspx congrats to Joao Moutinho on being named MAC Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year

Hell if NCAA Soccer followed NCAA Football, that UVU match would be completely forgotten. It was the first game of the season. Look how they treat early season blOSU losses in grid iron football.

I think the ESPN3 broadcasts may also hurt attendance. Video is better than ever and casual fans sit at home where they can eat/drink and not have to come in person. Also, I’m not sure anyone currently connects with the students the way Caleb Porter did. Opponents may have found him arrogant, brash, cocky, but I think our fans loved his attitude and confidence. I admit besides winning the national championship, one of the greatest moments in Zips Mens Soccer history was when the 4th official rolled up his flag and went home in the elite 8 match vs Cal due to Caleb. You just can’t get that kind of excitement watching at home.

Teams ahead of the Zips in RPI need to lose to open the spots for the Zips to move up. Zips have a good shot at top 8 as stated, maybe higher.

WMU wins 1-0 #2 Akron plays #3 SIU-E

Flora looks a lot different than when I was there earlier this season. They must have completely redone the landscaping. That storm really darkened the place at 1 pm, too.

Sunday 10 am WMU v BGSU final regular season match http://www.wmubroncos.com/schedule.aspx?path=msoc

And another...

For those who don't have twitter accounts...

WVU defeated SIUE 2-1; so, MAC standings are: WMU: 4-0, 12 points Akron: 4-1, 12 points SIUE: 2-3, 6 points WVU: 1-2-2, 5 points BGSU: 1-2-1, 4 points NIU: 0-4-1, 1 point WMUvBGSU postponed as mentioned above. If BGSU defeats WMU, BGSU will have 7 points & be the 3 seed with SIUE as the 4 seed If BGSU ties WMU, BGSU will have 5 points, SIUE will be 3 seed & tiebreaking procedures will apply for 4 seed WVU or BGSU (didn't look them up) If WMU defeats BGSU, BGSU will have 4 points and be eliminated from MAC Tourney; SIUE 3 seed, WVU 4 seed

I made a mistake calling this one. This is undecided at this time.

Thank you Barth-Luther, Stuart, Nate, Pau, Sam, Nathan, Dener, Manel, and Niko. You (all of the players), coaches, and staff are the reason I LOVE Zips Mens Soccer so much. Go Zips! #2ndStar