Sunday November 12 posts....show tournament projections and pros and cons for last 4 in

[TennZip]

speaking of power 5.....the Big Ten got 1 team into the tournament

Indiana, the tournament champion

[BigGreenTruck]

7 minutes ago, TennZip said:

speaking of power 5.....the Big Ten got 1 team into the tournament

Indiana, the tournament champion

 

That's all they deserved. If the power structure existed in soccer like it does in football and basketball then the B10 would be the MAC equivalent. It seems to always be Indiana and seven midgets. That may change somewhat with UCLA and Washington joining next year. Even Maryland was better off as an ACC school for soccer.

 

I was hoping to see Akron pop up but it wasn't to be. Is Jared Embrick's seat getting a lil warm I wonder. Akron made the NCAAs the past two years but the two before that were lackluster. From a few games I seen of Akron this year it always looked like the back line was getting beat over the top. Way to many runs where the Akron back line was chasing the ball.

[NYC ZIP]

3 hours ago, Zip_ME87 said:

Probably need to stop the over reliance on backward passing and monkeying around inside our own penalty area. Build forward, connecting through the midfield to creative wingers and forwards who more often than not get into the other team's penalty area taking shots and second chance rebounds.

 

 

I think losing Malik to injury had a huge impact on that dynamic attacking piece. He was having his best year as a Zip prior to getting hurt. I also suspect that Clapier had a nagging injury that limited his effectiveness all year. 

Also, it’s always bad to depend on other teams to win their conference tournaments, rather than just taking care of your own business in season.

Zips have some experience coming back, some good, young players waiting to step up and a good recruiting class coming in. I’m optimistic for 2024.

[Zip_ME87]

2 hours ago, NYC ZIP said:

Zips have some experience coming back, some good, young players waiting to step up and a good recruiting class coming in. I’m optimistic for 2024.

 

I'm definitely optimistic for 2024 but contend that some poor habits need to be overcome. In addition to our 2024 recruits, I'm looking forward to seeing Caleb Borneo and Nathan Ferguson in action with our team.

 

Edit: It is very disappointing to be talking about Zips Men's Soccer's next season this early in November.

 

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by Zip_ME87

[Blue & Gold]

31 minutes ago, Zip_ME87 said:

 

Edit: It is very disappointing to be talking about Zips Men's Soccer's next season this early in November.

 

💯 I clicked over to FloFC to cancel my subscription a month earlier than I had hoped I would. 😢

 

*Didn't cancel b/c FloSports is also carrying the men's basketball Cayman Islands Classic.  So I'm gonna hold on to it for another 9 days.

[YipaZip]

So very disappointed this years Zips were overlooked. I thought we would be in the tournament ahead of some others. The reasoning for Kentucky and Pitt getting in at .500 would be interesting to know. How good can a team really be winning 6 games (Pitt)? 

 

I believe that if Clapier and Malik were not injured for the end of the season, it would all be different. This Zips team were killing it when fully healthy in August/September. And lets be very clear about this.... VERY GOOD TEAMS came to Cub Cadet and got a good beating. Notre Dame didnt get near our goal and are a #4 seed. Crazy.

 

With regards Coach Embick future, he is safe. No question he is the right man for the job. This is a coach who has had opportunities to leave for the pros. We cannot let him go anywhere else!

[BigGreenTruck]

1 minute ago, YipaZip said:

So very disappointed this years Zips were overlooked. I thought we would be in the tournament ahead of some others. The reasoning for Kentucky and Pitt getting in at .500 would be interesting to know.

 

Kentucky has a win over #1 Marshall and #2 WVU. Once Johan Cedergren started coaching this years team and not trying to do what he done last year Kentucky started to actually play decent. Pitt is in solely on ACC bias, has to be. 

[fknbuflobo]

3 hours ago, Zip_ME87 said:

 

I'm definitely optimistic for 2024 but contend that some poor habits need to be overcome. In addition to our 2024 recruits, I'm looking forward to seeing Caleb Borneo and Nathan Ferguson in action with our team.

 

Edit: It is very disappointing to be talking about Zips Men's Soccer's next season this early in November.

 

 

The A-Roo flag came down for the year before High School Soccer even crowned a champion. 

Sad.

[SBZipfan]

2 hours ago, BigGreenTruck said:

Pitt is in solely on ACC bias, has to be. 

 

Using RPI numbers, Pitt's strength-of-schedule was #1, Akron's was #85. Pitt's best win was over #15, Akron's over #24. Pitt's worst loss was to #27, Akron's to #99. 

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/akron.html

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/pittsburgh.html

[Zip_ME87]

6 hours ago, SBZipfan said:

Using RPI numbers, Pitt's strength-of-schedule was #1, Akron's was #85. Pitt's best win was over #15, Akron's over #24. Pitt's worst loss was to #27, Akron's to #99. 

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/akron.html

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/pittsburgh.html

 

THANK YOU.

 

RPI, which includes strength of schedule, among other factors and therefore is not as biased as polls and a team's fans supports Pitt and Kentucky making the NCAAT ahead of our Zips. I wanted our team in the NCAAT as much as anyone, but they were not snubbed or overlooked. Their resume was not good enough.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by Zip_ME87

[fknbuflobo]

6 hours ago, SBZipfan said:

 

Using RPI numbers, Pitt's strength-of-schedule was #1, Akron's was #85. Pitt's best win was over #15, Akron's over #24. Pitt's worst loss was to #27, Akron's to #99. 

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/akron.html

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/pittsburgh.html

Pitt deserves to be in the tournament; Zips clearly do not.

[TennZip]

Pitt is hosting a first round game.  The committee felt that Pitt was one of the best 32 teams in the country.

At large selections....that are having to play on the road....are Seattle, James Madison and Kentucky.

Those 3 at large teams were probably the last 3 teams.   As mentioned by Big Greent Truck and others, how a team finishes the year...matters to the committee.  Kentucky had wins over Marshall and West Virginia late in the season.  Akron finished the year 0-2-3.   A win against either Butler or Marquetts probably would have earned the zips a spot in the tournament.

Pitt also had a head to head win over Denver.   Denver is also an at large team and they are hosting a home game..   Denver was probably one of the last 4 in.

    The Big East really had a down year this year.   That hurt the Zips in RPI.    

Also, the zips had 9 wins.  However, 3 of the wins were over 3 of the 17 lowest ranked teams in college soccer

211 teams in Div. 1.  Akron had wins over N. KY (206) ; SIU (199) and Niagara (195).   Cleveland State was 166 so that also did not help the zips.  Depaul was 118.    So, the zips had 9 wins...but only 4 wins over teams in top 87.   The loss to #99 Creighton crushed the zips in RPI.

 

   SB Zip fan, Big Green Truck and I have tried to show why the committee liked Kentucky and Pitt.  Just to be Slightly contrary....Akron and Pitt had one common opponent...Notre Dame.  As YipaZip pointed out, the Zips completely dominated Notre Dame in a 0-0 tie.   Pitt played Notre Dame in Pitt's last regular season game.  Notre Dame beat Pitt 6-0.     

 

I suspect that the Zips will have a much tougher out of league schedule next year in case that the Big East has another down year.

[Blue & Gold]

21 minutes ago, Zip_ME87 said:

 

THANK YOU.

 

RPI, which includes strength of schedule, among other factors and therefore is not as biased as polls and a team's fans supports Pitt and Kentucky making the NCAAT ahead of our Zips. I wanted our team in the NCAAT as much as anyone, but they were not snubbed or overlooked. Their resume was not good enough.

 

 

Agreed.

Here is the ABJ's brief article about the Zips not making the NCAAT.  But, like you said, I don't agree with the title.

 

[NYC ZIP]

There are opportunities for the AD to get creative and take advantage of the NCAA conference realignment and get some meaningful non conference games.

 

Hey Washington / UCLA coming to Ohio State on Friday? How about playing us on Tuesday and make a week of it. 
 

Same for Stanford, Cal and SMU playing ACC games against Pitt. 
 

Increases opportunities for SOS improvement, meaningful wins far more than beating up on Niagara does.

[fknbuflobo]

1 hour ago, NYC ZIP said:

There are opportunities for the AD to get creative and take advantage of the NCAA conference realignment and get some meaningful non conference games.

 

Hey Washington / UCLA coming to Ohio State on Friday? How about playing us on Tuesday and make a week of it. 
 

Same for Stanford, Cal and SMU playing ACC games against Pitt. 
 

Increases opportunities for SOS improvement, meaningful wins far more than beating up on Niagara does.

I like that.  Have you ever considered becoming an AD?

[BigGreenTruck]

9 hours ago, SBZipfan said:

 

Using RPI numbers, Pitt's strength-of-schedule was #1, Akron's was #85. Pitt's best win was over #15, Akron's over #24. Pitt's worst loss was to #27, Akron's to #99. 

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/akron.html

 

https://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/2023/07/pittsburgh.html

 

Pitt was a mid to low level ACC team this who couldn't hang with the upper half of the Top 25 this year. Marshall manhandled them back on Sept 5th in a 3-1 win. With about 75% possession and a lucky goal by Pitt when GK Perrota tripped on a save attempt. 

 

If JMU plays like they did against Marshall in the regular season they can beat this Pitt team on Thursday.  

[fknbuflobo]

12 hours ago, BigGreenTruck said:

 

Kentucky has a win over #1 Marshall and #2 WVU. Once Johan Cedergren started coaching this years team and not trying to do what he done last year Kentucky started to actually play decent. Pitt is in solely on ACC bias, has to be. 

I agree with the Kentucky comments.  Nobody wants to play Wildcats right now.

 

I dislike ACC soccer elitism as much as anyone.  But Pitt deserve to be in, for reasons discussed above.

[YipaZip]

With regards the Zips SOS and conference realignment, one has to suggest that it was the uncertainty of the BigEast that stopped our Zips playing Pitt and Michigan State like we have in the past. It's not like Embick has been afraid to play the tough teams in the past. I would assume Northern Kentucky will be replaced with Ohio State or Michigan State on next years schedule. 

 

Any team who lose 6-0 isnt the top 32 teams in any country. Pitt lost 6-0 to ND. Anybody can look at a strength of schedule (SOS) and see that Pitt SOS was not number 1. Half of their six wins were against Fairleigh Dickenson (95rpi), Howard (201rpi) and Duquesne (101rpi). They also lost 1st round of their conference tournament at home. So essentially we are validating their acceptance in the tournament based on playing good teams and losing? 

Edited November 14, 2023 by YipaZip

[Reslife4Life]

Playing Ohio State should be a yearly occurrence, and I would like to see us play Pitt, MSU, IU, Penn State, among others. There is plenty of good competition in the surrounding area. And if we really do need to schedule a "lesser" opponent, keep the old MAC schedule alive and play Western Michigan or Bowling Green

[YipaZip]

 

6 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

Playing Ohio State should be a yearly occurrence, and I would like to see us play Pitt, MSU, IU, Penn State, among others. There is plenty of good competition in the surrounding area. And if we really do need to schedule a "lesser" opponent, keep the old MAC schedule alive and play Western Michigan or Bowling Green

Cannot possibly play Pitt, OSU, MSU, IU and Penn State along with the BigEast schedule. No one in the country plays a schedule that difficult. As a fan, it would be amazing. As a student athlete, it wouldnt be possible. 

 

 

 

[Zip_ME87]

7 hours ago, YipaZip said:

Any team who lose 6-0 isnt the top 32 teams in any country. Pitt lost 6-0 to ND. Anybody can look at a strength of schedule (SOS) and see that Pitt SOS was not number 1. Half of their six wins were against Fairleigh Dickenson (95rpi), Howard (201rpi) and Duquesne (101rpi). They also lost 1st round of their conference tournament at home. So essentially we are validating their acceptance in the tournament based on playing good teams and losing? 

 

I respectfully disagree. You're pointing out specific games that support your argument when the overall RPI calculation / rank account for all games and have Pitt at 30 and Akron at 41. Interesting how you were chiding me not too long ago because I didn't put much stock in the committee's top 16 / polls at the time. Now, you're complaining about the committee because they didn't go your way. LOL

 

[YipaZip]

2 hours ago, Zip_ME87 said:

 

I respectfully disagree. You're pointing out specific games that support your argument when the overall RPI calculation / rank account for all games and have Pitt at 30 and Akron at 41. Interesting how you were chiding me not too long ago because I didn't put much stock in the committee's top 16 / polls at the time. Now, you're complaining about the committee because they didn't go your way. LOL

 

.

Edited November 15, 2023 by YipaZip

[Zip_ME87]

22 minutes ago, YipaZip said:

Our RPI wasnt 40 when you were saying we shouldnt be a 3 seed. Completely different scenario. 

 

With regards Gaucho Dans method for the RPI, how can Hofstra have  SOS #9 but yet beat nobody good? (nobody good - based on their opponents RPIs). Their highest RPI win was 50. At some point it comes back to how many wins a team has (i assume if hofstra got seeded after beating nobody good). Then we get back to Pitt only winning 6 and 3 games were against rubbish opposition. 

amazing. lol. My point was I was surprised the committee wasn’t using RPI as I expected them to do then and the end of the season. 
 

In the past Gaucho Dan RPI has aligned very closely to NCAA RPI. I’ve not looked to see if the NCAA has posted their RPI so I don’t know how it compares this year. 
 

I trust that instead of arguing this post season’s selections our coaches are hard at work to determine what changes and improvements need to be made for next season. I’m looking forward to recruiting announcements and Spring games. 

[Blue & Gold]

7 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

Playing Ohio State should be a yearly occurrence

💯💯

[Blue & Gold]

7 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

Playing Ohio State should be a yearly occurrence, 

If we could play Ohio State & Michigan (or Penn State or MSU) every year it would bring a lot of credence to the UA from our predominantly B1G-centric community.