College Softball News

Bracketology 5.0

It is the final week of the season before selection Sunday night when we find out the field of 64. Many questions still remain as majority of country will be in conference tournament action. Here how we see the field as of now with some news and notes that may help predict what we will see on Sunday night.

**Bold numbers in parentheses represents the number of teams from a given conference to receive an NCAA tournament bid. Number is parentheses behind team names represents current RPI**

ACC (5)
Florida State (5) , North Carolina (29) Virginia Tech (24) , Louisville (36), Notre Dame (34)

American (3)
South Florida (31) Tulsa (26), Houston (39)

Big East (1)
St John’s

Big 12 (4)
Oklahoma (1) , Texas (6) , Oklahoma State (12) , Texas Tech (19)

Big Ten (6)
Minnesota (8),Northwestern (11) , Michigan (16), Ohio State (37), Wisconsin (38), Illinois (44)

Pac-12 (5)
UCLA (2) ,Washington (3) , Arizona (4), Stanford (27), Arizona State (28),

SEC (13)
Alabama (7), LSU(9), Florida (10), Tennessee (13), Ole Miss (17), Auburn (21), Kentucky (15), Arkansas (22) , Mississippi State (32), South Carolina (20), Missouri (30), Georgia (25), Texas A&M (45)

A-10 (1)
Fordham

America East (1)
UMass Lowell

A-Sun (1)
Lipscomb (40)

Big Sky (1)
Weber State

Big South (1)
Longwood (74)

Big West (1)
Cal State Fullerton (46)

CAA (1)
James Madison (14)

C-USA (1)
North Texas (55)

Horizon (1)
Illinois-Chicago

Ivy (1)
Harvard

MAAC (1)
Monmouth

MAC (1)
Miami (Ohio)

MEAC (1)
Bethune-Cookman

MVC (1)
Drake (23)

MWC (3)
Colorado State (35), Boise State (33), UNLV (43)

NEC (1)
LIU-Brooklyn

OVC (1)
S.E. Missouri

Patriot (1)
Boston U

Southern (1)
North Carolina-Greensboro

Southland (1)
Sam Houston State

Summit (1)
North Dakota State (49)

Sun Belt (1)
Louisiana Lafayette (18)

SWAC (1)
Texas Southern

WAC (1)
Seattle

WCC (1)
BYU

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HOSTS AND VISITORS

No. 1 OklahomaNo. 16 Kentucky
2 - Arizona State2 - Virginia Tech
3 - Texas A&M3 - Ohio State
4 - UMass Lowell4 - St. John's
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No. 2 UCLANo. 15 Northwestern
2 - Cal State Fullerton2 - Mizzou
3- UNLV3 - Notre Dame
4 - Monmouth4 - UIC
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No. 3 FSUNo. 14 Ole Miss
2 - USF2 - Louisiana
3 - Mississippi St3 - Lipscomb
4 - Harvard4 - LIU Brooklyn
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No. 4 AlabamaNo. 13 Michigan
2 - Stanford2 - Georgia
3 - Illinois3 - Lousiville
4 - SE Missouri4 - Miami (OH)
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No. 5 WashingtonNo. 12 Oklahoma State
2 - Colorado State2 - Arkansas
3 - Seattle3 - Tulsa
4 - BYU4 - Fordham
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No. 6 ArizonaNo. 11 Florida
2 - South Carolina2 - UNC
3 - Boise State3 - Wisconsin
4 - Weber State4 - Bethune Cookman
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No. 7 TexasNo. 10 Tennessee
2 - Auburn2 - JMU
3 - Houston3 - Longwood
4 - Sam Houston St4 - UNCG
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No. 8 MinnesotaNo. 9 LSU
2 - Drake2 - Texas Tech
3 - NDSU3 - North Texas
4 - Boston U4 - Texas Southern

To keep reading use the promo code “postseasonpush” to sign up for a one year subscription. Below you’ll find the data, information, and resumes for our host bubble teams and overall bubble programs as well as the official requirements facilities must “check off” in order to host postseason action. This could come into play largely this year (as it has in past seasons).

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Last 4 In:
UNLV (43), Illinois (44) , Texas A&M (45), Boise State (33)

First 4 Out:
Oregon State (41), San Jose State (47), Indiana (48), Southern Illinois (42)

Next 4 Out
UCF (51), Louisiana Tech (50), Liberty (52), Wichita State (62)

In Mix to Host: James Madison, Louisiana

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BUBBLE TEAMS

Teams, Records versus top 25, top 50, and strength of schedule.
*organized by strength of conference according to overall conference RPI

TEAMTOP 25TOP 50 SOS
SEC
Texas A&M6-156-2017
Pac-12
Oregon State0-122-1523
Big Ten
Illinois3-97-1537
Indiana2-43-1170
American
Houston1-34-983
UCF0-64-1665
Mountain West
Boise State1-14-771
UNLV0-06-562
San Jose State0-06-467
C-USA
Louisiana Tech1-21-4149
A-SUN
Liberty0-43-895
MVC
Southern Illinois1-34-390

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BUBBLE HOST TEAMS

Teams, Records versus top 25, top 50, and strength of schedule

TEAMTOP 25TOP 50SOS
Michigan2-513-1031
Northwestern2-515-725
Oklahoma State6-811-1214
Ole Miss12-1117-165
Kentucky12-1418-201
JMU4-44-546
Louisiana0-12-1105
Texas Tech6-98-948
South Carolina8-1211-1518

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Some notes to keep in mind this week.

  • Of all the mid-major teams that were nationally seeded in top 16 and hosted since 2008, the 2015 James Madison team has the fewest top 50 wins with nine. Every other mid-major that has hosted had it least 10 wins vs top 50.
  • 2016 James Madison has record for hosting from lowest RPI Conference as the CAA was ranked 8th in 2016 which is lowest conference RPI for a mid-major to host. In 2008 Long Beach State was a national seed coming from the Big West conference which was ranked 10th – the lowest for a national seed. Long Beach State did not host that year as they traveled to Iowa City where they end up losing Iowa. In 2010 Hawaii, who was nationally seeded 16th, came from the 9th strongest conference that year but did not host as they played in Stanford Regional. Every other mid-major team to earn a national seed and host came from at least from a top 8 conference. That is bad news for James Madison this season as CAA is ranked 12th.
  • Since 2005 when the current format for NCAA Tournament began, only 7 out of 134 SEC teams that finished with a .500 or better overall record missed the NCAA Tournament. Of the seven, only two of them missed the NCAA Tournament with a RPI under 50. 2006 Mississippi State had RPI of 49 with 33-28 record and Ole Miss in 2005 which had RPI of 50 with 30-28 record. LSU in 2005 missed NCAA Tournament with 31-23 and RPI of 51.
  • Since 2010, the best RPI team not to host is Minnesota in 2017 at 12
  • Since 2010, the worst RPI team to host is Stanford at 2011, Notre Dame in 2015 and Georgia in 2016 at 19.

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Miscellaneous notes: here are the requirements for a facility to host a regional which could come into play this season, especially with Northwestern. 

PROSPECTIVE HOSTS – FACILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. Field dimensions: The distance of the outfield fences shall not exceed 235 feet. Outfield fences shall be a minimum of 190 feet in left and right fields (200 preferred). If a portable fence is used, it must be placed at a distance of 200 feet in left and right fields, and 220 feet in center field. All portable fencing must be secured so as to prevent balls from rolling under. The outfield fence is required to be a minimum of four feet but highly recommended to be a minimum of six feet. Please see the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Softball Rules Book for future requirements.

2. Backstop, sideline and outfield fences must enclose the playing field. 

3. The infield must be skinned; the outfield must be natural grass or grass-like synthetic surfaces.

4. There must be a minimum of 25 feet and a maximum of 30 feet from home plate to the backstop.

5. The facility must be enclosed in order to charge admission, with minimum seating capacity of 500 unobstructed-view seats.

6. Concessions and an athletic training facility must be available on site. If permanent facilities are not available, tents may be used to meet this requirement.

7. Restroom facilities must be available, readily accessible and reserved exclusively for student-athletes and team personnel during the course of the game (e.g., permanent restrooms). Adequate restrooms at the facility also must be made available for the spectators. Student-athletes must have access to permanent restroom (private and team-useonly) facilities.

8. An electronic scoreboard, public address system (including backup, if possible).

9. A warmup area must be provided for the two non-playing teams. Minimally, designated restricted areas for throwing and stretching only must be provided to teams in the immediate proximity to the playing field.

10. On-site parking must be provided for teams, tournament personnel and umpires.

11. A covered interview area must be provided separate from spectator and hospitality areas.

12. A tarp must be available for inclement weather.

13. Dugouts must be covered and enclosed from spectators.

14. Internet access must be available for use at press row (radio, internet, phone, fax).

15. Press box: Institutions are required to have minimally a three-sided, covered press box with internet access and telephone.

16. Two separate bullpen areas of comparable composition to the competition field (dirt is preferred) and distance from dugouts must be provided. Bullpens must be separated from the spectator access area. Dirt bullpens are required at the Women’s College World Series.

17. A full complement of grounds crew personnel must be on site at all times during practice and competition.

18. Umpire facilities: A private dressing area (to accommodate both males and females) must be provided. Portable locker rooms, recreation vehicles, etc., may be used; however, a tent does not fulfill this requirement.

19. In order to host preliminary rounds, a lighted facility is required. (Minimum lighting requirement for television is 125 footcandles).

20. Hosts must provide, in the participant manual, a list of equipment available to all teams (i.e., screens, pitching machines, etc.) and a list of indoor facilities.

21. Videotaping: All team camera locations will be located in the center field area and be unmanned. The site representative or a designee will check them periodically to ensure they are operational. The host will provide three-foot-high platforms in both right- and left-center fields approximately 20 feet from center field. Teams that do not comply with these policies will forfeit all video footage. (See camera protocol on page 31 for specifications.)

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