The Daily Snitch--Pool 9
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of the IQA.
Today's Daily Snitch will look at Pool 9. Any questions about how teams will fare, email editorial@internationalquidditch.org.
Photo by Deanna Edmunds
Teams
No. 9 Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)
No. 18 Ball State University (Muncie, IN)
No. 38 Tennessee Tech University (Cookeville, TN)
No. 65 QC Carolinas (Winston Salem, NC)
No. 80 Silver Phoenixes (College Station, TX)
How They Got Here Hofstra qualified for the World Cup with their performance at the Northeast Regional Championship. The squad from Hempstead went 4-0 in pool play and earned the top overall seed in bracket play. A 130*-10 win over Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) sent Hofstra to the quarterfinals where they knocked New York University (New York, NY) out 60*-30. Hofstra's run ended in the semifinals with a 50*20 loss to Emerson College (Boston, MA).Ball State likewise made the semifinals at their regional championship - the Midwestern Regional Championship - and thus earned a World Cup spot. Pool play left them with a 4-0 record and the second seed entering bracket play. Ball State's first contest of the bracket was a strong 120*-20 victory over instate rival Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN). In the semifinals, Ball State and Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) fought a tight contest, but it was the latter squad that eventually prevailed, 200*-120.
Tennessee Tech had the most success of any Pool 9 team during the Regional Championships, as they finished second at the Southern Regional Championships to qualify for the World Cup. TTU finished third in their pool, and thus squared off against the second seed from the opposite pool, Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL). TTU won that matchup 110*-30 and then shocked the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL), who was at that point 7-0 in the tournament, 110*-50 in the semifinals. TTU's magic eventually ran out as they were stormed by the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL) 120*-0 in the championship match.
QC Carolinas, a newly formed community team from the Mid-Atlantic, qualified for the World Cup with their performance at that region's championship tournament. QC Carolinas finished 4-2 in their pool and earned the seventh seed entering bracket play. This set up a best-of-three series against Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA), in which QC Carolinas already held a 1-0 lead based on Carolinas 110-100* victory over Virginia Tech in pool play. In the second match of the series, Carolinas prevailed 100*-50, earning their spot at the World Cup and in the quarterfinals where they were promptly thwacked by the University of Maryland (College Park, MD), 180*-0.
The Silver Phoenixes' performance at the Southwestern Regional Championships earned them their invitation to Kissimmee. A 2-1 record in pool play gave the Silver Phoenixes the seventh seed in the bracket. A 90*-30 win over Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX) qualified the Silver Phoenixes for the World Cup. After successfully earning a World Cup berth, the Silver Phoenixes were knocked out of the bracket resoundingly by the University of Texas-Austin (Austin, TX) 300*-0.
Prediction
Hofstra has had a strong year, going 11-2 so far this spring, with both losses to the University of Maryland (College Park, MD). In total, Hofstra has lost just five times this year with defeats against Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY), Villanova University (Villanova, PA), and Emerson. Their competition has been strong too, as seven of their spring victories have been over World Cup squads. Hofstra is a strong team and will have no trouble advancing, but may have their hands full with a talented Ball State squad.
Ball State has looked sharp this year, dropping just two contests the entire season. Those two were a 70-60* loss to the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) and the loss to Marquette. In total, Ball State is 17-2 this season, with 11 of those wins over World Cup teams, including a victory over Marquette. In my opinion, Ball State is the top team in the Midwest, and they've shown that on the pitch with victories over seven different World Cup teams from that region. Ball State relies on Team USA seeker Tyler Macy to pull them out of close games, which he has all year. As the competition becomes tougher, seeker play will be crucial, and Ball State is well positioned for this. I think Macy will lead Ball State over Hofstra and to the top of the pool.
Tennessee Tech, QC Carolinas, and the Silver Phoenixes will all be locked in a battle for third, which I think could be very interesting. I think QC Carolinas is probably the least likely to advance. They have competed a fair amount, but at the end of the day, I don't think the concept of an “All-Star Team” can succeed at a tournament such as this, certainly not this one anyway. The players on QC Carolinas are spread across three states, and don't have the luxury of practicing with one another often. Ultimately, this will prove to be their downfall.
I'm going to take Tennessee Tech to take the third spot. I don't know what to think about this team, but after they came out of nowhere to make the finals at the Southern Regional Championship, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. They're a young team, and that inexperience may be harmful at such a huge event, but they defied the odds so extensively at their last tournament, I'm going to pick them to finish third on trust.
The Silver Phoenixes round out this pool. Reputationally they're viewed as a strong squad, based largely off their place as the “B-team” for Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). However, their performance hasn't justified the regard in which they're held. The Silver Phoenixes have just one win over a World Cup squad, an 80*-20 victory over Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK). In total, the Silver Phoenixes have just a 7-10 record this year, and if they can't even win half of their games, I can't foresee them pulling that off at the World Cup when they'll probably need at least two wins to advance.
Prediction
Ball State 4-0 (Eliminated in Sweet 16)
Hofstra 3-1 (Eliminated in Sweet 16)
Tennessee Tech 2-2 (Eliminated in Round of 36)
QC Carolinas 1-3 (Eliminated in Group)
Silver Phoenixes 0-4 (Eliminated in Group)
Best Games
Ball State def. Hofstra 90*-70
Tennessee Tech def. QC Carolinas 110*-50
QC Carolinas def. Silver Phoenixes 90*-80