No thanks. I would much rather be in a pool with Clemson or Duke as the top seed. No need to play the RPI game, just need wins. I have no idea what has to haappen for us to end up in a pod with either of those two teams. I'll leave that up to someone else to figure out.
That's sorta my point. I think that we are more likely to beat Wake than we are to beat Clemson. Wake is there just because they have to be. Sure, winning the ACC tourney is nice, but their goal is to be ready for the NCAA tourney. This includes getting their mid-level pitchers some game action. Clemson would be playing all out for the chance to be a top-8 seed, so they are going to be focused and do everything they can to win.
I have wondered if this is a function of the #1 overall ACC team feeling pretty secure in being a top 8 national seed regardless of ACC Tournament performance OR the format. Pool winners only need to win 1st 2 games of their tournament... any ACC team... any season ... can do that.
The format HEAVILY favors top 8 seeds. 1-1 pool ties go to the winner.
Interestingly, the #2 seed (lower of the two division winners) has won their pool 4 out of 5 seasons. #3 and #4 do better than #1, but not better than random. It could be, as you say, just a function of the randomness of baseball.
I think that has the most to do with it. True that the top 4 each have an advantage IF all 3 teams go 1-1 in their respective pool. But that doesn't mean they WIIL win pool if they go 1-1. The most likely outcome of these things is 2-0, 1-1, 0-2. ...not that all go 1-1.
I think 6 is the BC/ND winner, 7 is UNC and 8 is the BC/ND loser
