NAQT ICT, and BCS-like "Luck"

Viking Squirrel <*geertgen22_at_ratatosk22.yahoo.invalid*> · Mon, 07 Apr 2003 16:36:31 -0000

Dan wrote, 

> I will be the first to admit (because Adam and Mike have not yet 
> posted) that Maryland's third place finish is a bit of a fraud, 
since we got crushed by Michigan B and probably would have had a 
worse fate had we faced Michigan A.
> 
OK, I will be the second to admit this, only it wasn't just a bit of 
a fraud.  We did not face the first, fourth, fifth, or seventh ranked 
teams in the tournament.  We did face the second and sixth ranked 
teams (Berkeley A and Michigan B), who beat us 430-210 and 365-125 
respectively.  Our playoff wins were over teams ranked 5, 6, 9, and 
10 entering the playoffs (we were #8), but 8-11 at the end. 

Fortunately for everyone involved, NAQT avoided a complete 
embarrassment.  The only real difference between third and fourth is 
a trophy, of which Michigan has more than enough first and second 
place trophies to fill a large room already.  Suppose, however, that:

(a) Berkeley A loses a game either to Michigan B or their other 
opponent (Florida?).  Maryland, with its wonderful resume, as shown 
above, "earns" second, and the right to face Chicago in the final.

(b) Michigan A wins the protest adjudication (or the make-up game) 
vs. Berkeley A, and Yale A beats Berkeley C in its last game.  At 
that point, Michigan A and Berkeley A would have each been 12-3, with 
two losses each to Chicago and a split with each other.  Who makes 
the final -- Michigan or Berkeley?  If you said "Yale A," you would 
be correct, on a schedule almost as weak as ours.

With this said, I am very proud of the way my team played in the 
playoffs, and at least this should solidify us as a Top 10 team, my 
goal for this season.  And yeah, we will keep our trophy. :)

Yet I'm guessing this will be the last and only year NAQT uses this 
ranking system.  While I don't think Maryland may have even been the 
fifth or sixth-best team there on paper, I think we earned that based 
on our playoff play.  Anything above that, though, was quite suspect.

Adam Fine
Captain, Maryland Shamgods 