The pools for the D-I College Championships are here!
May 20, 2023 by Keith Raynor in News with 0 comments
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The seeding and pools for both the D-I College Championships were announced today by USA Ultimate. The return of the USAU rankings algorithm added clarity to seeding this season, although there were still points where the rankings would need to balanced against head-to-head matchups, potential regional rematches, and order of finish at regionals, which isn’t binding, but is likely considered.
Here are the pools and schedules for pool play at the 2023 College Championships!
D-I Women’s Division [FULL SCHEDULE]
Notes
- There’s only a single deviation from this year’s predictions, a single spot flip between two teams: no.13 SUNY Binghamton and no.14 Virginia. While Virginia is ranked in the algorithm well ahead of both no.12 Colorado State and Binghamton, they have head-to-head losses against both of those teams. Based on seeding across both divisions, that might have been a point of emphasis this year. Additionally, had UVA landed in either of the two spots above them, they would have been in a pool with fellow AC team, UNC.
- Pool D hosts both of this year’s regional rematches: no.4 Vermont & no.5 Tufts and no.9 Oregon and no.16 Victoria. Both of the higher seeds have prevailed in the head-to-head matchups this season, but there have been some narrow victories in those matchups.
D-I Men’s Division [FULL SCHEDULE]
Notes
- This year’s predictions were spot on, except for one group of teams, which we knew could be reorganized: no.3 Vermont, no.4 Colorado, no.6 Pittsburgh, and no. 7 Cal Poly SLO. Colorado’s 0-2 record vs. Vermont looks like the deciding factor between those two teams, helping boost Vermont ahead of three regional champions and a team they are ranked behind in the algorithm. Similarly, Pittburgh’s 1-0 record against SLO jumped them up despite the rank ordering.
- The first responses to USA Ultimate’s tweet announcing the seedings were all regarding the same thing: regional finishing order binding for Nationals seeding. While many of the initial complaints come from partisans rooting for the teams with the lower seeds, it remains a point of friction for some. Brown won New England but is behind both UMass and Vermont; Cal got seeded behind UC Santa Cruz, and Utah State got seeded lower than Washington.
- Another complaint: regional rematches. Colorado & Texas and Brown & UMass both got stuck together. There’s a tension between trying to maximize competitive balance vs. providing diverse matchups for teams.
