Div II-AA 1st Round Matchups

[3yardsandacloudofdust]

#7 E/M (McCallie) at #3 W (Briarcrest) (winner plays at #2 E/M Ryan)

# 4 W (St. Benedict) @ #5 E/M (Baylor) (winner plays at #1 W MUS)

#6 E/M (BGA) @ #4 E/M (MBA) (winner plays at #1 E/M Ensworth)

#8 E/M (JPII) at # 3 E/M (BA) (winner plays at #2 W Christian Bros)

[3yardsandacloudofdust]

#7 E/M (McCallie) at #3 W (Briarcrest) (winner plays at #2 E/M Ryan)

# 4 W (St. Benedict) @ #5 E/M (Baylor) (winner plays at #1 W MUS)

#6 E/M (BGA) @ #4 E/M (MBA) (winner plays at #1 E/M Ensworth)

#8 E/M (JPII) at # 3 E/M (BA) (winner plays at #2 W Christian Bros)

 

The potential paths of the #1 seeds are interesting. If the seedings hold up, Ensworth would have to beat archrival MBA and then beat archrival BA to get to the championship.

MUS would have Baylor and then Ryan to get to the championship.

[wrangler615]

I know the seniors on the Ensworth team are dying to play their childhood friends over at MBA just one last time!

[rollredroll]

The potential paths of the #1 seeds are interesting. If the seedings hold up, Ensworth would have to beat archrival MBA and then beat archrival BA to get to the championship.

MUS would have Baylor and then Ryan to get to the championship.

 

Indeed. MUS certainly has to be salivating at that bracket, as if they needed any help. While I think they win it all regardless, MUS on paper at least has a better opportunity to get starters out earlier in their matchups.

[owlbooster]

"If the seedings hold up, Ensworth would have to beat archrival MBA and then beat....BA??? Do I detect a little midstate bias here??? If the seedings DO hold up, they would play CBHS NOT BA....

[owlbooster]

RollRedRoll - you are right, MUS IS salivating at their bracket. Baylor and Father Ryan are the last two teams to eliminate the Owls from the playoffs - Baylor won 40-21 in 2006; FR won 21-14 in 2007. The MUS seniors remember well the 2007 loss to FR.

[WTNVol]

Well, there were certainly no tears on this board last year when MUS drew what most considered to be the tougher path to the championship game. They took care of business one game at a time last year while projected championship contender Ensworth hit a BA roadblock in the semis. Given the overall caliber of play in Div. II AA, I don't think either side of the bracket is a cakewalk. Go Owls!

[3yardsandacloudofdust]

"If the seedings hold up, Ensworth would have to beat archrival MBA and then beat....BA??? Do I detect a little midstate bias here??? If the seedings DO hold up, they would play CBHS NOT BA....

 

Your point is well taken. Although it it debatable whether or not being seeded #2 out of 4 is really higher than #3 out of 8, BA has to travel to Christian Bros to get the win and BA does not get the first round bye.

 

Ensworth's path looks tougher than MUS's whether it is BA or CBHS. Both teams look pretty formidable.

 

Just the luck of the draw.