2024 AAC Conference Tournament

[flyingMoose]

From the Bracketology geek on VT -

I am still showing the cut line at ~44.


Per figstats, the Rice RPI is at 42. There is more to consider than just the RPI, but at least Rice is in the last-four-in, first-four-out conversation.

[Critter's Pa]

i wonder if will draw the top seed in our first match wherever we are sent.

We might get to play the second seed in in the bracket if we go to Kansas or Nebraska just because we played them earlier in the year, especially if WSU and the other lower seeded team have similar resumes. Basically, statically interchangeable. I'm sure it all depends on who gets in. We might get lucky.

I think Izzi will be missed as well. While I look forward to seeing how Sarah Musial, presumably Izzi's successor, will perform it's a lot to ask a redshirt freshman to be able to immediately replace the production of a 5th year senior.

I would argue that Izzi is one of the best setters we have ever had at WSU. She is now #5 all time in assists/set. Unless we go deep into the NCAA tourney, I doubt she will make the top 10 in assists (#10- Feekin 2755). She now has over 2500 assists in two years. Give her two more years at 1000+ sets/year (like she did her sophomore year at San Diego) and she is in top 4 territory. Two years at 1250 each and she takes the #1 spot from Hiebert.

If Coach was contemplating switching to a 5-2, and he thought there would not be a huge drop off to having Sarah in the rotation, that speaks well of where she is - her skill level and a grasp of the system. I hope she gets the nod to start next year. Whoever takes over for Izzi and Swifty will have big shoes to fill.

I totally agree that Morgan is the heart and soul of the team. Morgan, Izzi and Annalie, make up a lot of the leadership on this team. I wonder who is going to step up to the plate next year?

[flyingMoose]

No doubt about that. Perhaps even more so than we missed Frosty and Sophia. Morgan was the heart and soul of this team.

I think Izzi will be missed as well. While I look forward to seeing how Sarah Musial, presumably Izzi's successor, will perform it's a lot to ask a redshirt freshman to be able to immediately replace the production of a 5th year senior.

The reason for my Question -

Again on VT, the poster on the thread about AQs noted that the Shockers won the NIVC last year and are in the NCAAs this year. He seemed to suggest that a young team had gotten older and better. I doubt this team is better than last year's, but the two are not far apart. As noted, Izzi was terrific, providing some missing offense this year, and Morgan was an absolute beast when she could smell the finish line of a set.

[flyingMoose]

The cute little kick-save by the FAU libero is at the 2:00 mark of these highlights.

[WuDrWu]

Someone mentioned this earlier, but a BIG factor today was fatigue. FAU, especially their stud OHs Rosada and Robine, were clearly worn down and just didn't have their usual explosive bursts as the match went on.

Then when Lambo brilliantly went to Sarah, literally everything got blocked or tipped. The match was over.

We were fresh with options including Sarah with no miles on her and even Gracie if we wanted to get cute. Lambo and Katie had a fantastic week, especially off the court where they had the girls burn their troubles earlier in the week. Flushing those issues clearly made them better.

Back row returned to top status and Katie was excellent. Annalie, Reagan and Grace were solid, and the rotation with Grace serving was dynamite all weekend. She served great.

Looking at the field last year, I feel confident we'll be a 3. I would like for the team to be sent somewhere they haven't been, but knowing the NCAA, I'm all but certain we're going to Lincoln or Lawrence. So be it. They will enjoy the 2 week build up and get to relish in the unique experience that is the NCAA tournament.

Could not possibly be happier for this group. Those smiles are worth absolutely everything.



I have no idea what next season will hold. With NIL and the portal, it's really silly to even project. (Yet I will do exactly that). I would assume we'll scour the portal for a possible setter. Not doing so would seem irresponsible. I hope Sarah is the next Chelsey Feekin but that's somewhat unlikely, to say the least.

If Gabby can get healthy and rehab, she's an elite talent and with Katie, Grace and Reagan we'd be more than serviceable in the back. Alyssa has a lot of upside, but that also makes her ripe for pickings from the portal, and I'm certain she'll be hearing from folks. I personally don't expect Brooklyn to return (just my opinion, no insight and I REALLY hope she does return). Maddie and Emerson need to improve but again, are more than serviceable and I really like Gracie. But without an elite level setter it's not going to matter much. We need a setter or Sarah to be fantastic out of the gate and we need a STRONG middle and a reliable, scoring OH. And none of that is easy.

[Critter's Pa]

The reason for my Question -

Again on VT, the poster on the thread about AQs noted that the Shockers won the NIVC last year and are in the NCAAs this year. He seemed to suggest that a young team had gotten older and better.

It seems like there is an assumption by this person that a teams in the NIVC were subpar to all of the teams that made it to the NCAA tourney. That isn't true. There were lots of NCAA teams that last year's Shockers could have beaten. The NIVC is for teams that lost out because their conference might get two team in the tourney in a good year, unlike the bigger, higher ranked, conferences where five or more teams get NCAA post season spots.

If by older, they mean have more playing experience, don't ALL teams get older during the season? If by older, they mean took in a bunch of 5th year senior transfers, then yeah, the team got older, but my first point still stands as the season progresses (gain experience playing). I would also suggest that incoming transfers wouldn't have the experience of playing in last years NIVC matches, so they wouldn't benefit from the erroneous (IMHO) idea that the NIVC is a stepping stone to get into the NCAA tournament.

[RoyalShock]

When is the bracket announced?

[WstateU]

[WuDrWu]

When is the bracket announced?

Next Sunday.

[flyingMoose]

If by older, they mean have more playing experience, don't ALL teams get older during the season? If by older, they mean took in a bunch of 5th year senior transfers, then yeah, the team got older, but my first point still stands as the season progresses (gain experience playing). I would also suggest that incoming transfers wouldn't have the experience of playing in last years NIVC matches, so they wouldn't benefit from the erroneous (IMHO) idea that the NIVC is a stepping stone to get into the NCAA tournament.

Oops! My Bad!

This poster made a statement, and I inferred the suggestion. He did not remotely imply he had made any roster investigation that led to the suggestion I made. I put words in his mouth, so to speak.

The statement he made led me to wonder how the two teams compared. I wondered what other people thought about the two teams. Sorry for any confusion.

It seems like there is an assumption by this person that a teams in the NIVC were subpar to all of the teams that made it to the NCAA tourney. That isn't true. There were lots of NCAA teams that last year's Shockers could have beaten.

I think we agree there are AQs from weaker conferences, perhaps every #4 seed in each of the sixteen pods, that the Shockers would beat. Again, I appeared to make him say things he did not. Apologies again.

[flyingMoose]

Next Sunday.

5 pm CT on ESPN.

[flyingMoose]

Possible First Round host sites within (for bracketing purposes) NCAA driving distance -

Nebraska, Creighton, SMU, Kansas in "seeded" order

[Critter's Pa]

I would like for the team to be sent somewhere they haven't been, but knowing the NCAA, I'm all but certain we're going to Lincoln or Lawrence. So be it. They will enjoy the 2 week build up and get to relish in the unique experience that is the NCAA tournament.

Somewhere exotic... like Omaha? The team hasn't been there in a while, I don't think any current players have played there as a Shocker. It might be nice to go east, Pitt or Penn State (I think those are farther than travel guidelines), maybe Purdue if they get to host. Kansas might be a nice draw for us, same with SMU, but I hope we don't go south.

Could not possibly be happier for this group. Those smiles are worth absolutely everything.

Totally agree. Glad they get to continue their season.

I have no idea what next season will hold. With NIL and the portal, it's really silly to even project. (Yet I will do exactly that). I would assume we'll scour the portal for a possible setter. Not doing so would seem irresponsible. I hope Sarah is the next Chelsey Feekin but that's somewhat unlikely, to say the least.

If Gabby can get healthy and rehab, she's an elite talent and with Katie, Grace and Reagan we'd be more than serviceable in the back. Alyssa has a lot of upside, but that also makes her ripe for pickings from the portal, and I'm certain she'll be hearing from folks. I personally don't expect Brooklyn to return (just my opinion, no insight and I REALLY hope she does return). Maddie and Emerson need to improve but again, are more than serviceable and I really like Gracie. But without an elite level setter it's not going to matter much. We need a setter or Sarah to be fantastic out of the gate and we need a STRONG middle and a reliable, scoring OH. And none of that is easy.

I have an idea.


Dear Santa...

[1972Shocker]

Could not possibly be happier for this group. Those smiles are worth absolutely everything.

[flyingMoose]

... led me to wonder how the two teams [last year and this year] compared. I wondered what other people thought about the two teams.

During a short chat on VT on an associated subject, my "correspondent" agreed that last year's team was better. No matter. Last year's team is not playing this year. :)