3rd regional rankings: Coe, Platteville out; Millikin back in

Here are the pertinent numbers for the Central and Midwest regions, according to the third NCAA regional rankings (and my own records against in-region ranked teams). Below the official rankings are the numbers of top contenders that are currently unranked in both both regions.

I think at least the top six in both rankings are in the correct order. The entire Midwest rankings are logical; it all depends on how you weigh results against common opponents, results against ranked teams and head-to-head results at the 7-9 spots. If you agree that Wartburg’s body of work isn’t worthy of inclusion – I think it’s worthy – the Central rankings are probably spot-on, too. However, a swap of Bethel and Cornell at the bottom is another possible point of contention. It’s a swap that I would support on a conference call.

These are the last rankings that we will see before Monday’s selection show. The national committee adjusts these rankings, if necessary, after all conference tournaments are completed.

Central Region(1st week, 2nd week), in-region, strength of schedule, record vs. in-region ranked 1 (1,1). Washington 17-1 .649 9-1 2 (2,2). St. Thomas 27-3 .599 8-3 3 (3,3). Concordia-Moorhead 19-3 .597 5-3 4 (4,4). Northwestern 26-5 .504 5-3 5 (7,5). Saint Benedict 16-9 .623 3-9 6 (6,6). St. Scholastica 24-6 .523 4-5 7 (NR,7). Cornell 21-5 .524 3-3 8 (8,8). Bethel 20-8 .557 3-5 Dropped out: No. 8 Coe.

Team, in-region record, strength of schedule, record vs. in-region ranked Wartburg 19-10 .583 4-9 Coe 26-3 .455 2-1 Gustavus 18-9 .556 1-9 Augsburg 14-11 .570 2-7 Central 19-8 .498 1-4

Midwest Region(1st week, 2nd week), in-region, strength of schedule, record vs. in-region ranked 1 (1,1). Carthage 24-3 .639 12-3 2 (3,2). Elmhurst 26-4 .590 9-3 3 (2,3). Chicago 24-4 .595 8-4 4 (NR,6). UW-Eau Claire 18-11 .585 7-8 5 (4,5). UW-Whitewater 19-6 .562 4-5 6 (6,4). UW-Stevens Point 25-6 .524 2-5 7 (6,NR). Millikin 14-7 .544 2-5 8 (8,7). Wheaton 17-10 .577 1-9 Dropped out: No. 8 UW-Platteville.

In-region record, strength of schedule, record vs. in-region ranked UW-Platteville 17-12 .575 2-9 Dominican 23-5 .502 1-5 St. Norbert 24-6 .452 1-5

-Ricky Nelson