tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82201216118282425312024-02-27T01:43:50.368-05:00The CIS BlogNews and notes on U SPORTS - even if we refuse to change our nameScott Hastiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08081415078301065374noreply@blogger.comBlogger3210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-62594438642711395522020-02-29T13:47:00.000-05:002020-02-29T13:47:27.043-05:00Women's basketball bracketology: Brock beating Ryerson would benefit Calgary, we think The lingering overthink with the bracket for the women's Final 8 is spurred by <a href="http://www.cisblog.ca/2020/02/womens-basketball-ryerson-ottawa-is.html" target="_blank">presumptive at-large team Calgary</a> being <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">second nationally in the Ratings Report</a>. Canada West runner-up Alberta is eighth in the Ratings Report, and fifth among the teams likely to compete next week. But the at-large team has received a lower seed than its conference's qualifiers for the last five years, so that should inform the confidence interval with putting the Dinos below their provincial-brethren Pandas.<br />
<br />
The avoiding-same-conference-matchups principle heavily dictates this stab at the bracket. Ryerson handled Brock in a recent regular-season game and should be a fairly heavy favourite in the Critelli Cup, with a high seed at stake. If there are no further surprises, the bracket ought to look like this. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West champion). </b>Right where we had them from the start.</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (OUA champion). </b>Have won seven in row since an overtime loss to reigning champion McMaster on Jan. 29, and now they could get the same seed that the Marauders had last March. Where was that Final 8 again? Transitive powers.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West finalist).</b> The Pandas surpass Laval, the RSEQ favorite, in SRS and Elo.</li>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ champion). </b>The Quebec representative has been seeded fourth or higher every year since 2015. If UQAM pulls the upset against the Rouge et Or tonight, the AUS representative should draw into the 5 vs. 4 quarterfinal. </li>
<li><b>Brock (OUA runner-up). </b>Lost by 15 points at Ryerson four weeks ago. </li>
<li><b>UPEI (AUS champion).</b> The Panthers and <b>Jenna Mae Ellsworth</b> looked the part of conference favourites in a 73-60 semifinal win against UNB on Saturday. They face the Memorial-Acadia winner on Sunday afternoon.<br /><br />The AUS champ has lost five consecutive 6 vs. 3 quarterfinals at nationals, all by single-digit margins. Hello, storyline.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (at large).</b> Shoo-in as a wild card. </li>
<li><b>Carleton (host).</b> No playoff wins.</li>
</ol>
But there will need to be contingency planning. If Brock upsets Ryerson, it will be chaos because, honestly, no one will have a solid case for the No. 2 seed. Calgary would rate it on merit if not for one bad shooting night against Alberta. But let's entertain that possibility. Brock winning two away games over strong opposition would be more impressive than Laval winning two home games against mid-level opposition, and Calgary losing their play-in game at home.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Saskatchewan (CW1)</li>
<li>Alberta (CW2)</li>
<li>Brock (OUA champion)</li>
<li>Laval (RSEQ)</li>
<li>Calgary (at large)</li>
<li>UPEI (AUS champion)</li>
<li>Ryerson (OUA2)</li>
<li>Carleton (host)</li>
</ol>
From an OUA perspective, that would be a<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_CIS_Women%27s_Basketball_Championship" target="_blank"> reprise of the 2016 bracket</a>. Ryerson won the Critelli Cup on Ottawa's court, and consequently the Rams were the No. 5 seed while the Gee-Gees were bumped down to No. 7.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-41396796222582163772020-02-28T12:12:00.001-05:002020-02-28T14:49:08.675-05:00Men's basketball bracketology: Western seeded higher than Ottawa; right for the wrong reasons, or vice-versaSometimes a bug creates a feature. Some might also joke Western celebrating after cashing in on unearned privilege is very on-brand.<br />
<br />
The Mustangs undeniably did the work in dramatic and difficult fashion with a 104-103 instant-classic overtime win against Laurier in their OUA semifinal game on Wednesday. The atmosphere in London, Ont., and the game's finish probably did more for the profile of basketball on those campuses than a pair of
decisive Carleton and Ottawa wins would have on Wednesday. It is a net positive for the conference if one believes exciting league playoffs are a goal in a market-driven sport.<br />
<br />
But a less visual truth is that the OUA divisional alignment and playoff format set the bar unequally. Western, as the top team in the OUA West, was seeded higher for the playoffs than Ottawa, Ryerson and Laurentian, who all either topped or matched the Mustangs' 16-6 conference record and also beat Western on the floor. One can credit the OUA for embracing the arbitrary chaos of a one-off, single-elimination tournament and also say it needs a tweak. As others have pointed out, imagine the outcry if Ottawa was not the Final 8 host team?<br />
<br />
It is also likely to contribute to a scenario where the sixth-best team in Ontario's regular season ends up seeded No. 5 at the Final 8. Before explaining that, though, it is worth pondering how, say, alien visitors would seed five of these six basketball teams an eight-team tournament. <br />
<br />
From U Sports Hoops' <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">Rating Report</a>:<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
table.tableizer-table {
font-size: 14px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}
</style>
<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>U Sports</th><th>RPI</th><th>SRS</th><th>Elo</th><th>SUM</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Ottawa</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>16</td></tr>
<tr><td>Calgary</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>20</td></tr>
<tr><td>UBC</td><td>6</td><td>10</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>29</td></tr>
<tr><td>Western</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>35</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bishop's</td><td>25</td><td>25</td><td>23</td><td>28</td><td>101</td></tr>
<tr><td>UQAM</td><td>27</td><td>26</td><td>22</td><td>27</td><td>102</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One does not envy the seeding committee, clearly. They have a weird situation where the likely at-large and host teams have a better body of work than three berth winners. Does Carleton really deserve to play Calgary instead of Bishop's or UQAM? Does Dalhousie, assuming an AUS title for the Tigers, really deserve to play Ottawa instead of Western?<br />
<br />
No and no, but that's where we are.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
In another timeline, where regionalism and the Top 6 rule were not things, Calgary-Ottawa would be a tailor-made 4 vs. 5 quarterfinal, while the RSEQ winner would be sentenced to play Carleton. The 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 half of the draw would shape up nicely with Dalhousie against UBC and Alberta and Western — rematch of the championship game from the last Final 8 that did not include Carleton, y'all! <br />
<br />
The Top 6 rule — a conference champion cannot be seeded lower than No. 6 — is what it is; it's not sacrosanct, but it is not going away before Sunday evening. The less-discussed unintended consequence of the rule is its effect on seeding the at-large team and host teams which did not win an automatic berth.<br />
<br />
The rule took effect for the 2011-12 season. That was also the last season that an at-large team was seeded higher than a qualifier from its conference. Lakehead, who went 20-2 in the OUA regular season that winter, was seeded No. 4 while Ryerson, 13-9 in the regular season, was seeded No. 7. An at-large team can still crack the top 6 — see No. 3 Ottawa in 2015 and '16, or No. 5 Acadia in 2013 — but they were still lower than the conference's berth winners.<br />
<br />
Host Ottawa has created an across-the-board better body of work than Western. But the margin between 2020 Gee-Gees and 2020 Mustangs is not as great it was between 2012 Thunderwolves and 2012 Rams. Based on studying the history, the seeding committee can give Western the higher seeding. They don't have to, though, and that reality is what makes this so darn fun and frustrating.<br />
<br />
Based on that, and the potential added bonus of having Carleton and Ottawa separated, I think that gets us back to the following jury-rigged bracket:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Carleton (OUA)</li>
<li>Dalhousie (AUS)</li>
<li>Alberta (CW1)</li>
<li>UBC (CW2)</li>
<li>Western (OUA2)</li>
<li><i>Quebec champion</i></li>
<li>Ottawa (host)</li>
<li>Calgary (at large)</li>
</ol>
At least there is an argument Ottawa rates a higher seed than Calgary.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-81956132226223089902020-02-23T19:53:00.000-05:002020-02-23T19:55:58.189-05:00Men's basketball bracketology: A flipping complicated editionCarleton-Calgary at the Final 8 is going to happen two rounds earlier than we have been used to seeing recently, once all the dust settles. <br />
<br />
The penultimate weekend of conference playoffs was choice, if you value unlikelihoods. First UBC crossed the Rockies to <a href="https://canadawest.org/game/mbball/british-columbia-vs-calgary/32002" target="_blank">upset Calgary and earn a tournament ticket</a>. Laurier and<b> Ali Sow</b>, the OUA's bracket buster, won <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/show-game-report.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Gameid=M20200222LAKWLU" target="_blank">two road games in a row </a>to set up a violet clash (sorry) against Western to decide who gets to represent the part of Ontario beyond Barrhaven. Thirdly, Alberta was seconds from being thrown into the at-large berth consideration hopper on Sunday, until <b>Brody Clarke</b> <a href="https://canadawest.org/game/mbball/manitoba-vs-alberta/32004" target="_blank">made an overtime-forcing shot that gave the Golden Bears the overtime momentum to outlast Manitoba</a> on Sunday.<br />
<br />
Alberta, UBC and host Ottawa are confirmed for nationals. Calgary, by my count, would be the <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/mbb2019/atlargebid.php" target="_blank">first team in five out of the 10 at-large berth criteria</a> once Carleton and Dalhousie earn berths. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The second half of the bracket is going to be the antithesis of fun. The seeding committee will likely have to arrange host Ottawa, the RSEQ champion who by rule cannot be lower than six, the wild-card berth recipient and the second OUA representative. <br />
<br />
<br />
The seeding rules state, <b><i>"(T)eams 5 through 8 can only be flipped one spot (up or down) to try to avoid first round match-ups of teams from the same sport conference."</i></b> It does not spell out whether that might extend to avoiding same-conference semifinal matchups, or namely a same-city matchup. Does that mean we cannot factor for common sense, which is that would make little practical sense to have Carleton and Ottawa both in the 1/8/4/5 half of the bracket when the tournament is in Ottawa? <br />
<br />
If it's possible, the RSEQ champion might bump up to the 4 vs. 5 quarterfinal so Ottawa could be in the 2/7/3/6 grouping, away from presumptive No. 1 Carleton. That also creates a potential need to flip the 7 and 8 seeds with Calgary and the OUA's second qualifier, even if it ends up being Laurier.<br />
<br />
That creates this most likely scenario:<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA champion). </b>The Ravens get the benefit of the doubt when they host Ottawa in a play-in game. Carleton has not lost one of those in 14 years.</li>
<li><b>Dalhousie (AUS champion).</b> Big-game experience will count for a lot at the AUS Final 6.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West champion). </b>Probably glad they do not have to see Manitoba's<b> Rashaun Browne</b> for a while! The UBC-Alberta Canada West final should decide seeding.</li>
<li><b>UBC (Canada West automatic).</b> Thunderbirds fifth-years <b>Manroop Clair</b> and <b>Jadon Cohee</b> weren't ready to finish their careers. The hypothetical bad news<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>McGill (RSEQ champion). </b>This makes sense if the flipping rules are extrapolated to cover a potential semifinal, as noted. </li>
<li><b>Ottawa (host).</b> Another brilliant bit of <i>lawyered!</i> in the seeding rules is section 4.2.4.5, starting in part: <b><i>"The schedule will be set such that the Friday evening draw will include one of the host area teams."</i></b> That might mean Ottawa can opt to play in the daytime draw and have a more restful Friday night than Carleton. </li>
<li><b>Western (OUA automatic).</b> Laurier lost all four regular-season games that Sow was unable to play, including two close contests against the Mustangs in November. The Golden Hawks are 9-3 since the start of January, so this isn't a gimme for Western.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (wild card).</b> The flu is a momentum killer.</li>
</ol>
There are a few alternates worth pondering:<br />
<br />
<b>Scenario B: </b>Ottawa defeats Carleton in the OUA semifinal and captures the Wilson Cup, while everything else goes to form. The OUA has said it will hold a special bronze-medal game if Ottawa reaches the Wilson Cup, which would give Carleton a second chance to qualify.<br />
<ol>
<li>Dalhousie</li>
<li>Ottawa</li>
<li>Alberta</li>
<li>Carleton</li>
<li>UBC</li>
<li><i>RSEQ champion</i></li>
<li>Calgary</li>
<li>Western / Laurier winner</li>
</ol>
<b>Scenario C: </b>Someone, anyone, defeats Dalhousie in the AUS final on Sunday and Tigers get the wild card. Keeping the Tigers third would make the most sense and UBC gets into the top four ahead of an OUA semifinalist Ottawa. The Gee-Gees then have an all-time Chips on Both Shoulders quarterfinal against Alberta.<br />
<ol>
<li>Carleton</li>
<li>Alberta</li>
<li>Dalhousie (wild card)</li>
<li>UBC</li>
<li><i>AUS champion </i></li>
<li><i>RSEQ champion</i></li>
<li>Ottawa </li>
<li>Western / Laurier winner</li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-183234274689607662020-02-23T18:40:00.003-05:002020-02-23T18:40:49.425-05:00Women's basketball: Ryerson-Ottawa is kind of important after Calgary's stumbleThe Ryerson-Ottawa play-in game on Wednesday is a do-or-done affray for both Top 5 teams, since Calgary's defeat in the Canada West playoffs has put the Dinos at the top of the at-large queue.<br />
<br />
The wild-card criteria categories for the women's basketball Final 8 is fairly straightforward, consisting of (1) winning percentage in all games; (2) RPI for non-conference and regular-season games; (3) playoff advancement, how many wins from claiming an automatic berth and (4) Simple Ranking System score for all non-conference and regular-season games, excluding playoffs. Any team which is the only one to lead multiple categories after the conference playoffs gets the berth.<br />
<br />
That means it would go to the Dinos, who contrived to lose to Alberta despite attempting <i>42</i> more shots from the floor than the Pandas in an 80-78 game last Friday. Calgary is first in Category 2. In Category 1, their .862 all-games winning percentage is also higher than what any of the four OUA semifinalists would have after a defeat on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>For purposes of simplicity, this assumes chalk with higher-ranked teams winning. Alberta outranks RSEQ first-place finisher Laval in <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">RPI, SRS and Elo ranking</a>, which seems like a basis for the Pandas to vault to the No. 3 seed. This setup reduces the likelihood of any same-conference semifinal matchups. The last time both reps from a two-berth league were on the<br /><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West champion). </b>All they do lately is win. Easy to match them up against host Carleton. <b><br /></b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA champion).</b> Home to Ryerson on Wednesday thanks to a two-point away win against the Rams in January. Ryerson returning the favour would not be a shock.<br /><br />Western would host either team in the Critelli Cup, but has lost to both teams.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West automatic).</b> Could complicate seeding matters further if they defeat Saskatchewan in the Canada West final.</li>
<li><b>Western (OUA automatic).</b> Dodged a scare from McMaster with a 64-63 OUA quarterfinal victory last Saturday. Won by nine at Brock in their first matchup against the Badgers.</li>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ champion). </b>Got first place in the RSEQ on the margin of four close wins against Bishop's. </li>
<li><b>UPEI (AUS champion). </b>The Panthers have not made the nationals <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/champ-appearances.php?Gender=WBB" target="_blank">since 1998</a>. Acadia, which UPEI just edged out for first in the Atlantic, last made the nationals in ... 2019. So the sentimental choice is evident. </li>
<li><b>Calgary (at large).</b> Attempt 36 threes, retrieve 27 offensive rebounds and lose. C'est la vie in 2020. </li>
<li><b>Carleton (host).</b> Get two full weeks to prepare for nationals.</li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-23500953499011306142020-02-12T11:54:00.000-05:002020-02-12T11:54:37.992-05:00Women's basketball bracketology: Saskatchewan, then Ottawa? Sure.The two big conferences are posing challenges. Out west, Calgary wrested the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs from Saskatchewan on the margin of <a href="https://canadawest.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/boxscores/20200125_17ac.xml?view=boxscore" target="_blank">an all-time character win on the Huskies' court on the last full weekend of January</a>, but Saskatchewan is well, Saskatchewan, and grades out <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">No. 1 in the ratings report</a>. <br />
<br />
Ottawa moved up to No. 1 nationally and has also clinched first overall in OUA, as far as I can tell. If they rate a <br />
<br />
So at first glance, giving Canada West the Nos. 1 and 3 slots with the OUA's berth winners going 2 and 4 makes the most sense. Ryerson and Western <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/wbb2019/atlargebid.php" target="_blank">both have a better wild-card case than UBC</a>, whose RPI-determined route to nationals includes a potential conference semifinal/play-in game at Saskatchewan.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West champion).</b> The Huskies led Canada West in effective shooting (the only field-goal percentage acknowledged on this blog) and were second in offensive rebounding. Those traits tend to show up in a playoff environment.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA champion).</b> Can you think of a more aptly named shooting wing than <b>Tyra Blizzard</b> for a team in our snowy nation's capital? The Gees do not have to leave their own city for the rest of the season.<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Calgary (Canada West auto-berth). </b>The Dinos' only home defeat in league play was to Alberta, their potential semifinal opponent. Just putting that out there.</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (OUA auto-berth).</b> The Rams' final regular-season is a little easier than Brock's as they battle for first in the OUA Central. They also own a 12-point regular-season win against potential semifinal opponent Western. Near as one can tell, Western still needs to defeat Windsor this weekend to finish second in OUA.</li>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ champion).</b> Hello, total chalk pick. The Bishop's Gaiters' three losses to Laval have all been by single-digit margins and the little engine that could from Lennoxville <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/teamseason.php?Season=2019-20&Gender=WBB&Team=Bishops" target="_blank">was very competitive against good Ontario squads in the fall</a>.</li>
<li><b>Acadia (AUS champion). </b>The Atlantic is a pick'em between Acadia (<a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">No. 15 in the Ratings Report</a>), UPEI (No. 18) and Memorial (No. 20).</li>
<li><b>Western (wild card).</b> The Mustangs, as noted, outrank and outflank UBC in <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/wbb2019/atlargebid.php" target="_blank">most of the at-large berth criteria</a>.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (host).</b> Leading Ottawa through the first three quarters and a bit in the Capital Hoops Classic suggests they will be a tough out at the nationals.</li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-74626289274964945072020-02-12T11:53:00.001-05:002020-02-12T11:53:41.956-05:00Men's basketball bracketology: Nightmare Scenarios editionAt this stage, we know Carleton, Dalhousie and Alberta are sitting pretty, conference playoffs seeding-wise. Ottawa is both No. 4-ranked nationally, the fourth playoff seed in their own league and has no grounds to complain about the latter, since they are the Final 8 host team.<br />
<br />
Far be it to point out that with three clear powers in east, west and central Canada and a competitive host team, U Sports could just borrow the Memorial Cup format and stage a 10-day tournament over the March Break to decide the national champion. It would require changing a lot of travel plans and student-athletes missing more school, but it still might be neater and tidier than <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">debating Manitoba vs. Ryerson for the wild-card berth</a>. And all of that will be tidier than the Iowa Caucus.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏀 U SPORTS Top 10: <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a> 1⃣<a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChaseTheGlory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChaseTheGlory</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViserHaut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViserHaut</a><br />
<br />
🔗EN: <a href="https://t.co/Iz8zvdQVQd">https://t.co/Iz8zvdQVQd</a> /🔗FR: <a href="https://t.co/Mo9cxoAhUw">https://t.co/Mo9cxoAhUw</a> <a href="https://t.co/hS3o5gHD2w">pic.twitter.com/hS3o5gHD2w</a></div>
— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1227292259709849601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
Carleton, of course, has actually lost a game, which creates a two-for-one situation: it confirms they will win another championship since Carleton, according to lore, does better when it bleeds their own blood and foments a winter-of-discontent vibe. And the cottage industry of OMG-the-Ravens-are-vulnerable narratives gets to keep the lights on for a few weeks. The fact that sixth man extraordinaire <b>Isiah Osborne</b> only played 24 minutes in Carleton's recent tilts with Ryerson (88-82 win on Jan. 25) and Ottawa (68-67 loss last Friday) due to injuries and foul trouble does seem like an important data point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Rather than write a bracket — I cannot state with certainty who will win the RSEQ and receive the No. 6 seed and neither can you — it seems better to go through the current Top 10 and list the best/worst case for each team, and the commensurate effect on the rest of the bracket.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA East).</b> Carleton has not lost an auto-berth game since 2006 (and they still won the national championship as a wild card). However, these Ravens' two lowest offensive outputs have both come against the Ottawa Gee-Gees and big man <b>Marlon Kordrostami</b>. <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/mbb2019/oua-playoffs.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20" target="_blank">The city rivals are on a collision course to meet again in the OUA semifinal</a> at the Ravens' Nest on Feb. 26.<br /><br />Suppose Ottawa wins. Carleton would have to host a bronze-medal game as a play-in to the Final 8, but their overall strong season would have to be balanced against the reality of being the de facto second qualifier out of OUA.<br /></li>
<li><b>Dalhousie (AUS).</b> Could move into the No. 1 seed by winning out down east while Carleton takes on water in the OUA playoffs. <br /><br />Of course, the Atlantic is the lone conference across the country that requires its best and brightest to play in <i>two</i> neutral-floor, big-stage tournaments. Any of the things could happen. <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/mbb2019/atlargebid.php" target="_blank">Dalhousie is ahead of Alberta in most at-large criteria, if it comes to that</a>. They would merit a higher seeding than the RSEQ champion. But two smaller-sized eastern conferences both have to be in the top six, so yes, Dalhousie has as much chance to be a No. 1 seed as a No. 7. <br /></li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West).</b> Canada West has not had its champion draw a No. 3 seed since 2014, when the very same Golden Bears were placed there behind Ottawa and Carleton.<br /><br />Alberta has the straightforward scenario of winning two games to qualify, and then winning Canada West to strengthen their seeding argument. Their potential auto-berth game opponents are Manitoba and Victoria, though, and neither smacks of a gimme. If Peak Alberta is on the floor, they will be fine.<br /></li>
<li><b>Calgary (Canada West).</b> The Dinos' path includes a potential semifinal against either UBC or Saskatchewan. The Thunderbirds have been determined to be suspect, while the Dinos already beat Saskatchewan handily twice in Saskatoon. If Calgary wins a berth, it's hard to see them not being in the top four since they have been highly ranked all season.<br /></li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA East / host).</b> Ottawa unlocked the Ignore at Your Peril badge by defeating Carleton last week. Before hosting the Final 8, there's a garnet-and-grey gauntlet for <b>Calvin Epistola</b> and cohorts. Ottawa has lost this season to both Laurentian and Ryerson, <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/mbb2019/oua-playoffs.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20" target="_blank">their most likely OUA quarterfinal opponents</a>. The first-year bracket playoff format in OUA also means facing Carleton in the semifinal. Survive that somehow, and Ottawa most likely goes on the road for the Wilson Cup, although that is no certainty.<br /><br />If Ottawa regresses or just has an off night at the worst time, they end up No. 7 or No. 8, with their seeding subject to flipping in order to avoid Carleton in the quarterfinal. There is no way the rivals will be on the same side of the draw.<br /></li>
<li><b>Laurentian (OUA East).</b> Should we start a petition to let the Voyageurs become the sixth team in the RSEQ? They have a French team name and everything. Just the mere fact they have a name, for now at least, puts them one up on McGill. <br /><br />Laurentian grades out as the <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">fifth-best team in OUA per the Ratings Report, where OUA East brethren</a> Queen's also ranks ahead of McGill at No. 11.<br /><br />The Laurentian-Ryerson game on Feb. 15 will decide fifth place in OUA, but the vanquishee that night might stand to benefit. They will, in most likelihood, go to Western for the 6 vs. 3 OUA quarterfinal instead of being in the 5 vs. 4 game against Ottawa.<br /></li>
<li><b>Ryerson (OUA Central). </b>Ryerson will need to win two road playoff games in order to get into wild-card consideration. A fifth-place Ryerson faces a route through Ottawa and Carleton. A sixth-place Ryerson will have to go through Western and Lakehead, although not necessarily in the order. <br /><br />Explaining a scenario where both Ryerson and Manitoba's progress stopped at the conference semifinal stage requires bullet points within the listicle to determine who has priority for the wild card, based on the 10-point criteria that <b>Martin Timmerman</b> is tracking:<br /><br /><ul>
<li><b>Regular-season conference record:</b> Manitoba<br /></li>
<li><b>Strength of schedule (from RPI):</b> Ryerson <br /></li>
<li><b>Games versus other teams under berth consideration or already qualified:</b> Manitoba, but in pencil. The Bisons' qualifying games consist of going 1-1 against Saskatchewan. Does that still count if Saskatchewan is knocked out in the Canada West quarterfinals? Ryerson is 1-4 and that win will stand since it was against Ottawa. Even a 1-4 record rates ahead of 0-0.<br /></li>
<li><b>Record in CIS non-conference games: </b>Manitoba is 4-2 and Ryerson is 2-1, for an identical .667 win percentage<br /></li>
<li><b>Average Top 10 ranking after Nov 15, 2019: </b>Manitoba, but Ryerson is currently ranked higher<br /></li>
<li><b>Conference game record versus teams with greater than .800 winning percentage: </b>Ryerson<br /></li>
<li><b>Conference game record versus teams with greater than .650 winning percentage: </b>Manitoba, with a Sharpie<br /></li>
<li><b>Conference game record versus teams with greater than .500 winning percentage: </b>Manitoba<br /></li>
<li><b>Conference game record versus teams with less than .500 winning percentage:</b> Ryerson<br /></li>
<li><b>Playoff performance: </b>TBD</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />That comes out as 5-3-1 for Manitoba, but Ryerson might be able to flip the third and fifth criteria.<br />.</li>
<li><b>Lakehead (OUA Central).</b> On Jan. 24, the Thunderwolves kept Laurentian to 59 points and 35.8 per cent effective shooting, while Voyageurs star<b> Kadre Gray </b>had almost as many turnovers (12) as shot attempts (13). <i>That </i>Lakehead team is the one which controls their destiny for finishing second in Ontario and making the southerners make a playoff trip to Thunder Bay. <br /><br />However, their Final 8 resumé is dog-eared. In their five games, Lakehead has allowed an average of 84.8 points, including 90-plus in last weekend's road defeats at Western and Windsor. Even a quarterfinal against Queen's seems perilous, typed the guy whose capacity for self-delusion has him convinced that The Gaels Are Actually Good. Has anyone noticed Queen's is 9-1 against the OUA Central and West?<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>UBC (Canada West).</b> The long and short of it for the the Lotuslanders is that they have <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/mbb2019/atlargebid.php" target="_blank">no wild-card case to speak of</a>, so it is beat-Calgary-or-bust for the Thunderbirds. <br /><br />Is it trolling to point out that the recent precedent for a team crossing the Rockies to win a Canada West semifinal in Calgary's Jack Simpson Gym was Thompson Rivers beating UBC in 2016? </li>
<li><b>Manitoba (Canada West).</b> Eighteenth nationally in both RPI and SRS while Ryerson is seventh and sixth, respectively, but hey, regionalism!</li>
</ol>
Also Receiving Votes, if humans still voted in the poll<br />
<ul>
<li> <b>Western (OUA West).</b> Mustangs guard <b>Nikola Farkic</b> leads OUA in both assists and steals and, on top of that, has a 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio. None of the conference's other top 10 playmakers have a ratio above 2. He is pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good, but leaven that with the acknowledgement his team faced Guelph, Waterloo and Algoma twice apiece.<br /><br />Western still has a mathematical possibility of slipping past Lakehead to finish second in the OUA, which means avoiding Ryerson in the quarterfinal. Given that Tanor Ngom had 23 points, 23 rebounds and three blocked shots when the Rams beat Western in January, it seems incumbent that the Mustangs try to avoid that matchup problem.</li>
</ul>
Someone has to win Quebec. It's in the rules.<br />
<ul>
<li> And the RSEQ title was captured by, I do not know, McGill?</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-77636405625740985082020-01-30T12:46:00.000-05:002020-01-30T12:46:12.328-05:00Men's Basketball Bracketology 2020, Brody Clarke is back edition<a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/muted-madness/e/66396398" target="_blank">Consider the bear poked</a>. Five weeks out from the Final 8, it is worth it to begin bracketing.<br />
<br />
At first blush, there is a parity paradox which will wend its way down-bracket when, wait for it, it comes to whether the wild card team will be a semifinalist out of Canada West or Ontario. It is easier at this point to identify three clear worthies out west — Calgary, <a href="https://canadawest.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/boxscores/20200124_w3bw.xml?view=boxscore" target="_blank"><b>Alberta</b> with <b>Brody Clarke</b> back</a> and Manitoba <a href="https://canadawest.org/standings.aspx?standings=42" target="_blank">are all north of .600 in conference RPI</a> and <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/standings-overall.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Focus=CIS" target="_blank">above .800 in overall win percentage</a> — than it is to identify how the hierarchy of OUA falls into line behind the Behemoth off Bronson Ave. that is the Carleton Ravens. Ontario is clearly the most competitive conference, with a good five teams one could see getting hot in the playoffs and winning an auto-berth. <br />
<br />
The first principles are just to help to foster understanding of the seeding rules. Conference tournament winners must be seeded in the top six; same-conference matchups in the quarterfinals are frowned upon but not forbidden; and common sense just suggests that Carleton and host Ottawa will be on opposite sides of the draw. But the OUA's three-division format and 12-team playoff bracket might make that tricky.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Ultimately, this first attempt has Carleton-Team Wild Card and the runners-ups of our two largest conferences playing in the daytime pod. Alberta-Concordia and Dalhousie-Ottawa would be the evening quarterfinals.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA champion).</b> Well, duh. Carleton's focus is always on winning the national championship, but this group will probably want to go all out for the Wilson Cup.</li>
<li><b>Dalhousie (AUS champion).</b> Strong non-conference schedule might mean that the wild card is up their sleeve, just in case.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West champion).</b> Putting Canada West's auto-berth winners 3-4 to separate them makes the most sense. Alberta hosts Calgary on <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/teamseason.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Team=Alberta" target="_blank">Thursday night in the front end of a home-and-home that will essentially decide the conference's top playoff seed</a>. Martin Timmerman's scenario planner <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/wbb2019/cw-rpi-scenario.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20" target="_blank">says the Golden Bears likely need a sweep to get the top seed</a>.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (Canada West rep).</b> Guesstimating that the Dinos probably have the best tournament odds out of Canada West, as a strong record also gives them a wild-card fallback. </li>
<li><b>Lakehead (OUA rep). </b>This is where it gets tricky. The <b>Isaiah Traylor</b>-led Thunderwolves have a clearer path to being OUA's No. 2 playoff seed, which will earn them a play-in game in Thunder Bay. They also defeated Ottawa at Ottawa in November and that might be a factor in seedings.<br /><br /><b> </b></li>
<li><b>Concordia (RSEQ champion). </b>Presumptive favourite after their
sweep against McGill last weekend. Soapbox moment: the RSEQ is the one
league that should play best-of-three or two-game, totals-points series
to spark interest in their playoffs.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (host).</b> Hey, a national champion (Brock in 2008) has emerged from this position more recently than it has from the 3, 4 or 6 seed — facts. <br /><br />The OUA's three-division, bracketed-playoffs formats has Ottawa boxed into the No. 4 seed. That means laying out for a week ahead of a quarterfinal against, say, either surging Ryerson or Laurentian with an on-a-mission <b>Kadre Gray</b>, coming off an on-campus playoff win. The reward for the survivor is a semifinal at the Ravens' Nest </li>
<li><b>Ryerson (wild card).</b> Ryerson and Laurentian would be the 5 and 6 seeds if OUA playoffs started this weekend, but <a href="https://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-combined.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2019-20&Sort=SUM" target="_blank">both have a better SoR than Manitoba</a>, Canada West's third-best team.<br /><br />That Laurentian-Ryerson regular-season finale in Toronto on Feb. 15 looms large. It is entirely possible the loser will be better off, finishing sixth and going into the Lakehead-Western half of the playoff bracket while the winner ends up in the Ottawa-Carleton half.<br /><br />Recency is a factor. Ryerson is 6-1 so far in January and minus some charity-stripe yips against Carleton, they would be 7-0. It is foreseeable that they could win a quarterfinal at Western and Ottawa and be a tough out in a play-in game at Lakehead or Carleton. <br /><br /></li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-48783468569354827082019-11-05T12:00:00.000-05:002019-11-05T13:37:43.419-05:00Football: Top 10, Conference Championship Saturday editionFirst things first, while the revolution will not be televised, our national championship game will be, on an MBN, so hurray! <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
THIS JUST IN: We'll have full coverage of the 2019 Vanier Cup live from Quebec City on November 23rd! <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPORTSca</a> <a href="https://t.co/fl66IDaODj">pic.twitter.com/fl66IDaODj</a></div>
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics/status/1190738954053509120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
And now the national ballot. Acadia is No. 4.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈Football Top 10: <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternMustangs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WesternMustangs</a> top final poll of season / Top 10 Football : Western domine le dernier scrutin de la saison<a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LCFca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LCFca</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChaseTheGlory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChaseTheGlory</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViserHaut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViserHaut</a><br />
<br />
🔗EN: <a href="https://t.co/D8uY5cD6N8">https://t.co/D8uY5cD6N8</a> /🔗FR: <a href="https://t.co/G6NkwX4buz">https://t.co/G6NkwX4buz</a> <a href="https://t.co/gSVSmCtQJM">pic.twitter.com/gSVSmCtQJM</a></div>
— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1191779600801652741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
On (the KISS) principle, I opted to only rank the 15 teams that were extant last weekend. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
It would take forever to audit this statement, but the relative parity this season has been wild, making the weekly vote a challenge. But consider the fact that three teams that finished below .500 and/or out of the playoffs had a positive point differential.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Laurier, +57. </b>The Golden Hawks ended up playing left out after finishing seventh in OUA.</li>
<li><b>Mount Allison, +33. </b>All of the Mounties' six defeats this season were by 10 or fewer points. Naturally, they won by at least 11 every time during their three-win hot streak that salvaged their season. </li>
<li><b>Regina, +22.</b> The Rams finished 3-5 but actually outscored their opposition after blowing out Manitoba in their finale. Both Canada West semifinalists were in the red in points-for and against. If you wondered how Regina was ranked No. 10 after their season finished, there's your answer, Fishbulb.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Conversely, four teams, including one still alive, were in the red.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Bishop's, -60.</b> A bit misleading since <b>Cherif Nicholas</b>' Gaiters lost by 40 at Acadia in their too-early Aug. 24 opener, and also had a three-touchdown defeat at Mount Allison when they were already assured home field for the Atlantic semifinal.</li>
<li><b>Alberta, -34.</b> Resilience and resourcefulness in September, regression once the first snow flew in October. </li>
<li><b>Carleton, -33.</b> Those Ravens were one punt protection away from going to Western for an OUA semifinal.</li>
<li><b>Manitoba, -22.</b> Have to love the Bisons going for two and the win at Calgary after connecting on a tip-drill Hail Mary pass with no time left. Sports are in the experience business and that goes for the competitors too, so far better to put it all on one play than the arbitrariness of the mini-game format in overtime.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Here is what I sent in.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Western (8-0 OUA, hosting Yates Cup) — </b>The Mustangs' margin of victory in the regular season over the last seven seasons, counting back from this fall: 14.5, 36.9, 35.1, 30.6, 35.5, 32.9 and 36.3 back in 2013, the last time they had to go out West for the Mitchell Bowl — and got pumped 44-3 by Calgary. <br /><br />They have been pushed more this season and that might work in their favour on Nov. 16, if they get by McMaster.</li>
<li><b>Laval (7-1 RSEQ, hosting Dunsmore Cup)</b> — Three wins from from Vanier Cup No. 11. Book it. Quebec goes down east for the Uteck Bowl and Laval, again, is hosting our national championship.</li>
<li><b>McMaster (6-2 OUA, at Western for Yates)</b> — First year of Ptaszek 2.0 and Mac are heading to London for the Yates, just like they did during the Marauder Autumn in 2011.</li>
<li><b>Montreal (6-2 RSEQ, at Laval for Dunsmore) </b>—Well, Les Bleus are known to win a Dunsmore on the road.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (5-3 CW, at Calgary for Hardy Cup) </b>— Better point differential than the Dinos, whom they defeated a month ago. Everyone and their bot army seems to think Calgary can be had, and that Ontario's best team can get to the Vanier through a western semifinal. Laval did that in 2010 and '16, but Ontario teams have lost 13 consecutive semifinals in Western Canada dating to Queen's in 1968.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (6-2 CW, hosting Hardy Cup) — </b>Only the Dinos know how they'll respond to the narrowest of escapes against Manitoba. Some teams will react to that by retrenching and rolling and sometimes it lays bare that they've vulnerable. </li>
<li><b>Manitoba (4-4 CW, eliminated) —</b> So <b>Brian Dobie</b> is the new <b>Tom Osborne</b>.</li>
<li><b>Acadia (8-0 AUS, hosting Loney Bowl) </b>— Eighth seems like an appropriate place for the monsters of the Maritimes. Consider it an allusion to our crying need for an eight-team Vanier Cup tournament, although six teams would be a compromise.</li>
<li><b>Guelph (6-2 OUA, eliminated) </b>— Year 1 for Gryphons coach <b>Ryan Sheahan </b>ended the same way that his father <b>Pat Sheahan</b>'s first season in OUA with Queen's did in 2001. Required a last-minute touchdown to escape from a quarterfinal game at home, followed by a loss to the No. 2 seed in the semifinal.<br /><br />The difference? Sheahan the Elder navigated a conference change after the dissolution of the old O-QIFC, where Queen's had only six wins in its final three seasons (including Pat's first in 2000). Ryan Sheahan took over a perennial top-four team.<br /><br /> </li>
<li><b>Waterloo (4-4 OUA, eliminated) — </b>The Warriors almost upended like Western like it was 1999, falling 30-24 in the semifinal. The Mustangs' depth just allowed them to control the margins: getting a takeaway to squelch a Warrior fumble in the score zone; a 54-yard kickoff return immediately after a go-ahead Waterloo TD; and those two interceptions by all-name team frontrunner <b>Kojo Odoom</b>, including one he housed to create a 13-point lead.<br /><br /><b>Tre Ford</b> is heading into his fourth season and CFL draft year. Will be interesting to see whether Waterloo has the supporting cast synced up with their lodestar in 2020.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (4-4 CW, eliminated) </b>— Predictably regressive actions and outcomes from Alberta, who knew? The
Golden Bears won four in a row by an average 6.5-point margin. Then they
lost four in a row to fall short of the Hardy. </li>
<li><b>Bishop's (4-4 AUS, at Acadia for Loney Bowl) </b>— Other than the Acadia-aligned, who is not cheering for the Gaiters in their first trophy game since 1994?</li>
<li><b>McGill (3-5 RSEQ, eliminated) </b>— A greater mind could come up with some complicated simile between the Quebec conference and the results of the federal election. Both had the red team that no one wanted to win; the blue team with all the money and none of the charisma, and the alternatives that are all claiming victory in the harsh face of reality-based outcomes. </li>
<li><b>Concordia (2-6 RSEQ, eliminated)</b> — Is Sherbrooke, which beat Montréal but missed the playoffs, the Green Party or the Bloc Québecois in this?</li>
<li><b>Mount Allison (3-5 AUS, eliminated) </b>— Nice character to rally from an 0-4 start.</li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-89939128421861850392019-10-01T12:30:00.000-04:002019-10-06T20:17:04.229-04:00Football Top 10: So, Montréal, then, and how to acocunt for Alberta and Guelph's surges<i>A carpenter's shirt pocket, the Boston Bruins' top four defencemen and this week's ballot. What is four number twos?</i> The choice at the top of this week's ballot was whether to double down on Montréal after some finishing issues nearly cost them in a 20-17 win against Concordia, or to elevate Western after it romped over woeful Windsor. Ultimately the Carabins still have the loudest statement win, against my No. 2, Laval, so it's a vote for them.<br />
<br />
The next level of the pantheon involves how to sort out the hierarchy of Canada West, with Guelph and McMaster slotted in somewhere. Alberta and Guelph are posting better results than the one-loss teams, Calgary and McMaster, that they lost to at home in the first week of the season. Recency reduces the weight of those results.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Montréal (5-0 RSEQ). </b>Lack of finish nearly cost them in the three-point win against Concordia; they've had seven missed field goals on the year and the rest of the RSEQ has only biffed 10.</li>
<li><b>Laval (3-1 RSEQ)</b>. Imagine what they were thinking during the fourth quarter of Montréal's game on Friday.</li>
<li><b>Western (6-0 OUA). </b>The last two defences <b>Chris Merchant </b>and Co. see in the regular season are ninth and third in OUA.</li>
<li><b>Guelph (4-2 OUA).</b> Better results than McMaster had against three common opponents, plus that season-opening game against the Marauders feels like so long ago.</li>
<li><b>McMaster (4-1 OUA).</b> Would be interesting if they were playing Guelph this week.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (4-1 CW). </b>On a four-win streak entering their rematch with Calgary.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (3-2 CW). </b>Well, if the head-to-head result from five weeks ago counts for so little, then the Huskies' 14-point win against Calgary deserves a reward. </li>
<li><b>Calgary (4-1 CW).</b> Probably underrated; will regain their usual perch if they assert themselves authoritatively against Alberta.</li>
<li><b>Waterloo (4-1 OUA). </b>At Western, home to Laurier and at McMaster for the last three, so Tre Ford and cohorts are in tough.</li>
<li><b>Acadia (5-0 AUS).</b> Still flawless after the long trip to Lennoxville. </li>
<li><b>Manitoba (3-2 CW).</b> Just squeaked by Regina at home, suggesting they're closer to fifth in Canada West than first, even though they are only a game back.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (3-2 OUA).</b> Offensive regression has caught up to them big-time.</li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (3-1 AUS).</b> Got better on their bye week, apparently.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (2-3 OUA). </b>Get the nod over Laurier (also 2-3) due to a tougher schedule. </li>
<li><b>McGill (2-3 RSEQ). </b>McGill leads the RSEQ Rump Legislature Round-Robin with Concordia and Sherbrooke and also tallied a conference-most 16 sacks. </li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-90679861507578397502019-09-17T11:45:00.000-04:002019-09-17T15:14:22.722-04:00Football Top 10: Western takes over No. 1; Montréal tops my ballot ... #UAgreeBack and forth, back and forth for a good solid hour over whether Montréal vaults to No. 1 for beating Laval, or Western goes up a notch after another clinical TKO of an OUA middleweight. At least it takes your mind off self-flagellating over why you ever talked yourself into believing in <b>Kirk Cousins</b>.<br />
<br />
This is where we are information-poor due to the aversion, skittishness, fear of the unknown, that has stood in the way of having interlocking play during the regular season. Without it, there is really no way to compare conference quality between central Canada's two solititudes in September and October, when it's actually needed. Whose play to date looks more impressive, really?<br />
<br />
The national poll went with Western No. 1, then Montréal, Laval and Calgary. Five of the top 10 slots are occupied by OUA teams, which might seem bad for optics, but there is also some vote-splitting since there is so much parity among six or seven teams in the conference.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 There’s a new leader on top of the U SPORTS Football Top 10 national rankings! / Il y a un nouveau leader du Top 10 national de football U SPORTS !<a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LCFca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LCFca</a> <br />
<br />
🔗EN: <a href="https://t.co/C8xgb9yTfF">https://t.co/C8xgb9yTfF</a> /🔗FR: <a href="https://t.co/xBg8miQF92">https://t.co/xBg8miQF92</a> <a href="https://t.co/lSyFvXRFAo">pic.twitter.com/lSyFvXRFAo</a></div>
— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1173978490586222592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <br />
My ballot and specious reasoning is below the jump.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Montréal is going into its bye week with a complete set of wins over the rest of the RSEQ, none of which involved actually leaving their home city:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li> 10-3 win at Concordia, 18-9 home win against Sherbrooke, 34-4 win at McGill, 23-18 home win against Laval</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Western, the team everyone loves to hate for running up the score, has won all four of their games by 13 to 17 points.<br />
<ul>
<li>32-19 win at Laurier, 40-23 home win against Queen's, 34-17 win at McMaster, 40-23 home win against Carleton. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
In other words, the choice was between two 4-0 teams with one really impressive victory and a light travel schedule that would make a Canada West athletics administrator weep bitter tears. Ultimately, a love for big shiny things won out, so I settled on Montréal at No. 1.<br />
<br />
If only we had interlock. If only Kirk Cousins didn't force throws into double coverage on first and goal.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Montréal (4-0 RSEQ).</b> Exactly 28 days until they play their next meaningful game, which would be the return match against the Rouge et Or in Ste-Foy. Win or lose by four or less and the Carabins would host the Dunsmore Cup. Question: do they want to? We all remember how it turned out in 2016. And in 2004. </li>
<li><b>Western (4-0 OUA). </b>Chance for a statement win at Guelph on Saturday in what stands as a potential Yates Cup preview. It would make a great game for TV, but there's 5.2 billion reasons why we're not seeing it. <br /><br />The four teams Western has defeated, by the way, have a combined record of 6-9.</li>
<li><b>Laval (2-1 RSEQ).</b> Gave up 14 points off turnovers in fewer than 2½ minutes at Montréal and had to play uphill all day. The Rouge et Or still haven't lost a league game to anyone other than Les Bleus since 2003.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (3-0 CW). </b>They humoured UBC for about 25 minutes, then scored 37 points in the following 20 minutes. It ended up with a 47-13 scoreline, which confirmed the Dinos an<b>d Adam Sinagra </b>are potent and UBC is really, really bad. It is hard to reward a team that played down to the competition for a third of the game.</li>
<li><b>McMaster (3-1 OUA). </b>The Marauders had their second game where the opponent's only touchdown came on a return.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (2-1 CW). </b>That's just good trolling by the Huskies defence. They should get an extra point for that.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/ashbernstein_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashbernstein_</a>, Baby Shark was played as the burn song when the U of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saskatchewan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Saskatchewan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Huskies?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Huskies</a> came out at Mosaic Stadium Friday night. After Nelson Lokombo's pick-six in a Huskies 44-9 win over the U of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Regina?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Regina</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rams?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rams</a>, he was the TD celebration. Lol. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USports</a>. <a href="https://t.co/l3lbpoN6y1">pic.twitter.com/l3lbpoN6y1</a></div>
— Darren Steinke (@StanksSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/StanksSports/status/1172966989377261569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> </li>
<li><b>Guelph (3-1 OUA).</b> Getting <a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2019-20/schedule?teamId=kth9thzz5w4su934" target="_blank">outgained by 50 yards per game but being 3-1</a> is on-brand for the ever-opportunistic Gryphons.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (2-1 OUA). </b>Scoring 22 unanswered to win creates an afterglow but voters have to look at why the team was in such a predicament. The Gee-Gees defence is going to keep them in games, but 150 yards' total offence is troubling. I may have them too high.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (2-1 CW). </b>The Golden Bears' <b>Brad Launhardt</b> took his offence 75 yards in 33 seconds on the winning drive against Manitoba.</li>
<li><b>Manitoba (1-2 CW).</b> Have been in every game during a challenging early schedule. Change one play against Alberta and they are 2-1.</li>
<li><b>Toronto (2-1 OUA).</b> The Varsity Blues last defeated Queen's in 1975; fully expect that to change on Saturday, since they have an offence with<b> Clay Sequiera </b>and the Gaels haven't found much of an identity.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All aboard the Clay Sequeira hype train! 🚂🚂 <a href="https://t.co/FUo9kL7gPV">https://t.co/FUo9kL7gPV</a></p>— Carlos Verde (@Carlos77Verde) <a href="https://twitter.com/Carlos77Verde/status/1173983214546890752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <br /> </li>
<li><b>Acadia (3-0 AUS). </b>The Axemen and <b>Hunter Guenard</b> are averaging 52.7 points after three weeks. That 2001 Saint Mary's team averaged 60, so Acadia actually has to step it up to threaten that mark.</li>
<li><b>Sherbrooke (1-2 RSEQ).</b> The Vert et Or make an appearance since they defeated McGill in what looks like an ugly conceded-safety and field-goal fest, where 56 of the 75 yards that Sherbrooke's last-minute winning drive covered came via McGill penalties. Sherbrooke has also had in a respectable showing against Montréal. </li>
<li><b>Waterloo (2-1 OUA).</b> Have a lot to prove at Carleton on Saturday. The Ravens love to run the ball between the tackles and Guelph wore out Waterloo in the rushing phase last Saturday. <b>Tre Ford</b>,<b> Tyler Ternowski </b>and<b> Dion Pellerin</b> are a great set of triplets, but they don't play defence. </li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (2-1 AUS).</b> Second guesses based on the boxscore are a fool's paradise. But amateur game theorists probably saw how it slipped away from Saint Mary's, who led Acadia for about six minutes in the third quarter on Saturday. The Huskies failed on third-and-1 in their own zone and Acadia went back in front on a Guenard touchdown pass two plays later. Saint Mary's had third-and-1 again on the next possession. So they punted and gave up a big return. They didn't score again.<br /><br />The dollar-store psychology is pretty obvious: it didn't work the first time, so don't risk it again. The first instance doesn't dictate the second, though.</li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-47678050758516108992019-09-10T12:20:00.000-04:002019-09-10T12:24:40.846-04:00Football: Week 3 Top 10; Laval-Western-Calgary at the top, make a space for Alberta, and we're stanning the U of T... #UAgreeRight back where we started from — Laval, Western and Calgary 1-2-3 on our ballot, in keeping with the national consensus. <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="fr">
🏈Football Top 10: Vanier Cup champion Laval once again unanimous pick at No. 1️⃣ / Les champions de la Coupe Vanier font à nouveau l’unanimité<a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LCFca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LCFca</a> <br /><br />🔗EN: <a href="https://t.co/UV6BmIH9e9">https://t.co/UV6BmIH9e9</a> /🔗FR: <a href="https://t.co/xBUoJpx4wt">https://t.co/xBUoJpx4wt</a> <a href="https://t.co/U9eEZvWf9v">pic.twitter.com/U9eEZvWf9v</a></div>
— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1171456933808594945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
It is great fun to harsh on the traditional heavyweights and over-reward teams early in the season, but the hierarchy is setting.<br />
<br />
An adjustment to slotting 15 teams involves starting with a mini-power ranking with each conference — the top six from Ontario, best four out of Canada West, two or three from Quebec and two from down east in AUS. Here's how it would seems to shake out.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>AUS </b>— Acadia, Saint Mary's<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Canada West</b> — Calgary, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta </li>
<li><b>OUA </b>— Western, McMaster, Ottawa, Guelph, Toronto, Waterloo</li>
<li><b>RSEQ </b>— Laval, Montréal, McGill</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
That gets us to the following ballot<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Laval (2-0 RSEQ).</b> Just hurry up and get to the mutually assured destruction between the Rouge et Or and Les Bleus this Saturday.</li>
<li><b>Western (3-0 OUA). </b>They still scored 34 points at McMaster, despite not having a single play go longer than 23 yards. Carleton, which has been a tough matchup for the Mustangs, is in London this week.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (2-0 CW). </b>Lone Canada West team to hit the quarter-pole at 2-0.</li>
<li><b>McMaster (2-1 OUA). </b>The only passing TD the Marauders have allowed came on a play-action pass on the first snap after a sudden change in their zone. Only a one-spot drop after they made Western earn their victory.</li>
<li><b>Montréal (3-0 RSEQ).</b> The Carabins ended a drought of 33 possessions without an offensive touchdown during their cross-town takedown of McGill. We are supposed to believe <b>Anthony Calvillo</b> and his quarterbacks have no language barrier. </li>
<li><b>Manitoba (1-1 CW).</b> That win against Saskatchewan could prove to be anomalous over time, since they were plus-7 on takeaways. The Bisons and quarterback <b>Des Catellier </b>will need to show they can march the ball 70, 80 yards on the regular.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (1-1 OUA). </b>Have already thrown a season's worth of interceptions — nine — in two weeks. Once they figure it out, they will be dangerous. The Gee-Gees rate higher than Guelph since their 13-point margin of defeat at McMaster was less than the Gryphons' 15-point margin when they hosted McMaster. Last year was last year; don't tell ELO, though.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (1-1 CW). </b>Left the U of S on my Sept. 2 ballot despite their 24-point margin of defeat at Manitoba, since they moved the ball but had some serious stepondickitis with all the turnovers. The response was a 40-7 win against UBC, whose decline makes the Independence Pirates look like a model of stability.</li>
<li><b>Guelph (2-1 OUA).</b> The <a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2019-20/players/clarkbarnesobdd?view=gamelog&pos=kr" target="_blank">official stats</a> do not credit <b>Clark Barnes</b>, Guelph's Frosh Flash, with the first of the three kickoff-return touchdowns he has torn off is as many weeks. But it happened. There was video of it on the internet.<br /><br />Guelph hosts Waterloo and <b>Tre Ford </b>in a playoff rematch on Saturday. Off to Costco for the popcorn!</li>
<li><b>Alberta (1-1 CW). </b>Tough call here between the gritty Golden Bears who eked out an 18-17 win at Regina, either of the OUA's fireworks shows at Waterloo and U of T, or Acadia, who has grilled 50-burgers in both of their games. Good thing we're ranking 15 teams so it's not the "all" of one 10th-place vote or nothing. I put an ineffable value on road wins, especially in Canada West, so the Golden Bears have shown they're entitled to their innings.</li>
<li><b>Toronto (2-1 OUA).</b> Our Sager-sense says the Waterloo <b>Tre</b>s will get more voter support than the Toronto <b>Clay</b>s due to the Warriors' narrow (33-30) head-to-head win in Week 1. <br /><br />However, from the way-too-early opener to Week 3, teams go through a development that's more rapid than that of a small child. That game was Toronto's first in a new system under offensive coordinator <b>Tom Denison</b>. And Toronto winning 38-34 at Laurier last week looks slightly more earned the Waterloo's similar last-minute 45-42 win at Windsor, since the Varsity Blues were facing a legitimate defence. <br /> </li>
<li><b>Waterloo (2-1 OUA).</b> What is the soaked-in-confirmation-bias justification for saying that, Super Chief?
Well, the way both of these Air Raid attacks are getting their yards raises questions. Toronto and<b> Clay Sequiera </b>won
the game within the game in the passing phase, averaging 10.1 per
attempt to Laurier's 8.0 while their defence housed an interception.
They rushed sparingly. <br /><br />With Waterloo, on the other hand, more than half
of their yardage came on the ground, where they rushed for 335 yards at
12.4 per clip. A lot of that could be on the quality of the defence they
faced; remember Windsor allowed a Western back to set a rushing record last season while playing less than three full quarters. </li>
<li><b>Acadia (2-0 AUS). </b>The 10 through 13 slots are fairly interchangeable. Acadia gained more yards rushing than St. FX's entire offence did last Friday.</li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (2-0 AUS).</b> Best wishes for the Maritimes as Hurricane Dorian does its thing.</li>
<li><b>McGill (1-1 RSEQ).</b> Quebec's third-best team played its second-best and lost by 30 points. Insert the Pam Beesly-Halpert "YEP" gif. </li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-20760759954198715652019-08-27T12:30:00.000-04:002019-09-01T13:55:58.551-04:00Football: Laval, Western, McMaster are my 1-2-3 ... #UAgree?There is a format change for the football top 10 this season. Voters are now being asked to slot 15 of the 27 teams, so one can just imagine that Canadian Football Twitter will have some bun fights extraordinaire about those Nos. 8, 9 and 10 spots come about Week 6 of the regular season. The tabulated votes are weighted with the Elo Rating System that the national office has embraced for most of its team sports.<br />
<br />
Official Top 10 before the jump, my ballot below. Here's the official one <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
U SPORTS Football is back, and so is the National Top 10 rankings / Le football U SPORTS est de retour et avec lui le Top 10 national<a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFL</a> <br /><br />🔗EN: <a href="https://t.co/gGgtet4AHy">https://t.co/gGgtet4AHy</a> / 🔗FR: <a href="https://t.co/vfrJNfpyDj">https://t.co/vfrJNfpyDj</a> <a href="https://t.co/UWzdRnlwPA">pic.twitter.com/UWzdRnlwPA</a></div>
— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1166385010473127938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
How each team's ranking broke down along media-vote and ELO lines is easy enough to find. Laval, Western, Saskatchewan and Ottawa's tallies were 50/50. Montréal's and McMaster's were like 48/52.<br />
<br />
Calgary and UBC did better with the human voters, while Carleton and St. Francis Xavier were elevated by ELO.<br />
<br />
As an 11-year voter, I treat it as a cascading series of snap decisions, especially early in the season, and try to eyeball it with recent conference strength.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Another arbitrary simplification is deciding upfront to have a quota from each conference. With the 15-team requirement that breaks down to 6 from Ontario, 4 from Canada West, 3 from the RSEQ and 2 from AUS.<br />
<br />
How I voted:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ).</b> <i>Jusqu'à ce que quelqu'un prouve le contraire</i>. Scored the second-most points of Week 1 by dumping 41 on Sherbrooke.</li>
<li><b>Western (OUA). </b>Run that Laval quote through Google Translate. Maybe someone is coming out of the OUA's seven-team pointy-ball peloton to challenge the Purple Ponies. Or not.<br /><br />By the way, does anyone know when was the last time Western's offense only ran 51 plays? </li>
<li><b>McMaster (OUA). </b>Two-touchdown win at Guelph with both teams in their first game with new head coaches looks impressive.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (CW). </b>Basic default pick. No one in Canada West has played yet. Calgary was third in media points (235) but <i>eighth</i> in ELO points (152). Somewhat conversely, No. 7 St. Francis Xavier had meager media support (44 points) but was fourth in ELO points (228).</li>
<li><b>Montréal (RSEQ).</b> About the lowest one can rank the Carabins as long as they have a schedule that 97 per cent guarantees they will go no worse than 6-2.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA). </b>Bye team in Week 1 visits McMaster on Sunday.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (CW). </b>No idea what the hierarchy is in Canada West so we'll send some faith the green dogs' way.</li>
<li><b>Concordia (RSEQ). </b>They limited Montréal to 10 points.</li>
<li><b>Manitoba (CW).</b> The third team out of the last four that people often seem to overlook, but I don't have the receipts to say that.</li>
<li><b>UBC (CW).</b> Bearish on the T-Birds till their post-<b>Michael O'Connor</b> offence shows what it can do.</li>
<li><b>Laurier (OUA). </b>Might be giving them too much credit for staying within two scores of Western. <b>Connor Carusello</b> passed for 360 yards, but there was a lot of catch-up on that burger.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA).</b> Better to focus on how <b>Jack Cassar </b>and <b>Shalheem Charles-Brown</b>, and the Ravens defence helped grit out an 18-12 win at Queen's. Carleton had an exceptional amount of early-season entropy — 20 penalties, three lost fumbles including a strip-sack that became a safety, and a field goal that would have iced the game in the final 90 seconds was blocked. <b>Tanner DeJong</b> only tried 18 passes, but four were chunk-yardage shots downfield that kept the Ravens going in a field-position game. </li>
<li><b>Waterloo (OUA).</b> The Warriors' wondrous <b>Tre Ford</b> matching his 2018 interception total in the first half of Week 1 might seem notable, but ipso facto, it takes time for receivers and quarterbacks to make adjustments and those limited Aug. 25 offensive schemes might make D-backs more emboldened about jumping a route. <br /><br />Waterloo went scoreless on 11 out of 12 possessions at one point against the U of T, but produced an 84-yard drive to regain their cushion when it was needed.<br /><br /> Stat of the week: the U of T and the Toronto Argonauts' quarterbacks passed for 935 yards on Sunday. Both teams lost.</li>
<li><b>Acadia (AUS). </b>High score of the week with 53 points against Bishop's. Where have you gone, <b>Tommy Europe</b>?</li>
<li><b>St. Francis Xavier (AUS).</b> Mount Allison outgained the X-Men by 150-plus yards and its D made three interceptions, which added up to six points. Feels like a metaphor for my life.</li>
</ol>
Next week's Top 10 (15) will come out a day later due to the Labour Day holiday. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-48321643595207338892019-03-03T12:29:00.000-05:002019-03-03T12:59:44.429-05:00Bracketology: Say Elo to Carleton at No. 1 over Calgary? Probably, and for the sake of scheduling, go Dalhousie TigersThe case for Calgary centres on an unblemished ramble through an entire conference season; the case for Carleton is almost everything else.<br />
<br />
The latter is what matters more, and it might have been the iceberg that yours truly was ignoring during this whole exercise. Historically, overall record does not have the heaviest sway with the Final 8 seeding committee. So, Carleton's good, and thorough, almost-in-doubt-but-never-really-close 20-point win in the Wilson Cup, the Ravens are force-feeding some crow. Whether Carleton really wants to go in as the No. 1 seed — <a href="http://www.cisblog.ca/2019/02/bracketology-how-will-carleton-avoid-no.html" target="_blank">while there is no cause-and-effect, they have done better as a 2 or a 3</a> — is another story.<br />
<br />
It feels like the last two decades of university basketball were summed up in one basket in the fourth quarter. Down 18 in the fourth quarter, Ryerson gets a little careless with the inbound pass. Carleton's <b>Munis Tutu</b> steals and bats the ball back into court to create the extra possession. A ball screen, two dribble drives and a tight block-to-block bounce pass later, <b>Mitch Jackson</b> lays it in.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> MBKB 🏀<br />
<br />
Defence ➡️ offence as the steal from Munis Tutu on the inbound play makes its way around to Mitch Jackson for the finish inside!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuestForTheCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QuestForTheCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WilsonCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WilsonCup</a> 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/IQcc8v8QpC">pic.twitter.com/IQcc8v8QpC</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1102036690242338816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
The invaluable U Sports Hoops site that Martin Timmerman compiles includes five rankings: the contentious Elo Rating that the university sport's branding office has embraced, Ratings Percentage Index, <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-srs.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2018-19" target="_blank">Simple Ranking System (through games on Feb. 23)</a>, <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/pppinfo.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2018-19&Sort=PPPDiff&Category=University" target="_blank">Points Per Possession Differential</a> and last week's <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-top10.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2018-19" target="_blank">Top 10 coaches' poll</a>. (There is a longer explanation on the five at the bottom.) <br />
<br />
Here is how the 11 teams in tournament consideration — <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/mbb2018/cisatlarge.php" target="_blank">Alberta, Laurier, New Brunswick and Ottawa are listed as candidates for the at-large berth</a> — are rated at this writing.<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
table.tableizer-table {
font-size: 13px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}
</style>
<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Elo Rating</th><th>PPPDiff</th><th>SRS</th><th>RPI</th><th>Top 10</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Carleton</td><td>Carleton</td><td>Carleton</td><td>Calgary</td><td>Carleton</td></tr>
<tr><td>Calgary</td><td>Ryerson</td><td>Ryerson</td><td>Carleton</td><td>Calgary</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ryerson</td><td>Calgary</td><td>Calgary</td><td>Ryerson</td><td>Ryerson</td></tr>
<tr><td>UBC</td><td>UBC</td><td>UBC</td><td>SMU</td><td>UBC</td></tr>
<tr><td>SMU</td><td>SMU</td><td>Alberta*</td><td>Alberta*</td><td>SMU</td></tr>
<tr><td>Alberta*</td><td>Alberta*</td><td>Ottawa*</td><td>UBC</td><td>Alberta*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Dal</td><td>Dal</td><td>SMU</td><td>Dal</td><td>Dal</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ottawa*</td><td>Ottawa*</td><td>Laurier*</td><td>Ottawa*</td><td>Laurier*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Laurier*</td><td>Laurier*</td><td>Concordia</td><td>Concordia</td><td>Ottawa*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Concordia</td><td>UNB*</td><td>Dal</td><td>UNB*</td><td>UNB*</td></tr>
<tr><td>UNB*</td><td>Concordia</td><td>UNB*</td><td>Laurier*</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>*not qualified</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The only ranking Calgary tops is the RPI, the system that greater mathematical minds most disdain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Whether the seeding committee takes each ranking on face value or looks at other factors is up to them. (As an aside, on a societal level, it is appalling how much we increasingly seem to conditioned to take everything at face value, with a case in point being the nothing-burger that is a semantic argument between the prime minister's office and a former attorney general, with smart people siding with the latter because the media tells them that is a way to feel woke.)<br />
<br />
For instance, Elo Rating has issues with <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/introducing-nfl-elo-ratings/?fbclid=IwAR20xaQNHu3JUILdLHOAYAXmfrBBETLcdnK6zpQiIFFAx3BWqiJLckl4wPA" target="_blank">properly accounting for margin of victory when favourites win, as FiveThirtyEight explained in 2014</a>. In our case, Carleton's <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/mbb2018/eloreport.php?Gender=MBB" target="_blank">52.1-point gain in Elo points for defeating Ryerson by 20 was much larger than the Rams' minus-25.2 penalty</a>. But Calgary's upgrade and UBC's downgrade, 15.6 points in either direction, was the same after <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/show-game-report.php?Gender=MBB&Season=2018-19&Gameid=M20190302CGYUBC" target="_blank">Calgary won by 15 points in the Canada West championship game</a>.<br />
<br />
The largest considerations for the seeding committee are probably whether they will want to avoid the possibility of intra-conference semifinals such as Carleton-Ryerson or UBC-Calgary. It has been known to come into play. The promoter might prefer grouping Dalhousie and Saint Mary's for the evening quarterfinals on Friday but it's not up to them.<br />
<br />
So here's a bracket that assumes a Saint Mary's win in the AUS championship game.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA champion). </b>Are they still good? Yes.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (Canada West champion).</b> There were tweets about<b> David Kapinga </b>being shaken up on Saturday. He still played 37 minutes.</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (OUA No. 2). </b>The Rams might be having an almost Raptors-esque pattern down the stretch. Two losses in the league, then do what needed to be done to qualify — beat Ottawa, win at Laurier — and then have a troubling outcome. </li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (AUS champion).</b> Is there a case for them at No. 3? Only if one makes too much out of Ryerson looking human.</li>
<li><b>UBC (Canada West No. 2)</b>. The first quarterfinal on Friday is at 12 noon Atlantic, or 8 a.m. Pacific, so the T-Birds should not be in that one. </li>
<li><b>Concordia (RSEQ champion). </b>Thank you, Acadia Rule. <br /><br />Still wincing from the combined 33.6 per cent effective shooting the Stingers and UQAM combined for in the first half on Saturday. Did they leave a gym door open?</li>
<li><b>Dalhousie (host).</b> Again, a 7-8 flip with the host and wild card. The Tigers are No. 7 in Canada, and holding off UNB in the AUS semifinal when the Varsity Reds had their season on the line seems impressive.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (wild card). </b>Top team in four of the nine categories used in the at-large selection, and tied for first in a fifth.<br /><br />Omen alert: Alberta faced Carleton in the 2008 quarterfinal. </li>
</ol>
If Dalhousie wins against Saint Mary's, by rule the Tigers must be in the top 6. Those who have been through the corn maze that is this clusterfudge of rules on top of rules probably has, "Results of regional playoffs must be respected" and "<a href="https://usports.ca/uploads/hq/Playing_Regs/2018-2019/180613_PlayingRegs_Basketball_%28M%29.pdf" target="_blank">a conference champion seeded 6 cannot be flipped to 7th</a>" memorized. <br />
<br />
That should create this seeding:<br />
<ol>
<li>Carleton</li>
<li>Calgary</li>
<li>Ryerson</li>
<li>UBC</li>
<li>Dalhousie (AUS champion)</li>
<li>Concordia</li>
<li>Saint Mary's (AUS rep)</li>
<li>Alberta (wild card)</li>
</ol>
Noon tipoff for Concordia-Ryerson on Friday. Given the state of Canada's transportation infrastructure and the location of the Halifax airport, take a late flight on Thursday out of Montreal or Toronto. The 6 a.m. flight on Friday is too risky. For disclosure's sake, the five ratings:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Elo Rating.</b> <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/introducing-nfl-elo-ratings/?fbclid=IwAR20xaQNHu3JUILdLHOAYAXmfrBBETLcdnK6zpQiIFFAx3BWqiJLckl4wPA" target="_blank">FiveThirtyEight probably has the best explainer on Elo and its strengths and flaws</a>.</li>
<li><b>Point per possession differential. </b>I used the "most games" option since it seems like a bigger sample than league games only. And bigger is better, correct?</li>
<li><b>Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).</b> That wonderful ranking system that does not include home and away performance, or margin of victory.</li>
<li><b>Simple Rating System (SRS). </b>For games through Feb. 23; SRS was <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/index4837.html?p=37" target="_blank">developed in-house at Sports-Reference.com and utilizes point differential and strength of schedule</a>. In the women's game, the RSEQ was a strength-of-schedule monster thanks to Laval and everyone basically riding Laval's coattails. </li>
<li><b>Top 10 ranking.</b> From the last national poll released Feb. 26, which was taken before the conference championship games and AUS Final 6.</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-24417321021944197432019-03-03T10:35:00.000-05:002019-03-03T13:37:21.470-05:00Bronze Baby Bracketology, Proved Me Wrong Kids edition: McMaster, Saskatchewan go in as conference champsHaley McDonald of Acadia had a conference-record 51 points, and that has some competition for Saturday's most impressive stat.<br />
<br />
Someone, somewhere, is none too surprised by how the last 24-ish hours have played out; that is the perk of a perpetually underexposed and underappreciated strata of basketball. Put another way: I <i>want</i> to be wrong about which teams are in which slots; the real goal is just that people understand the regionally and politically compromised process that is nationals seeding. (On a related note, please stop making sense about just seeding everyone 1 through 8 based on quality, or SRS.)<br />
<br />
Long story short, there was a weekend of the mild upset in the Maritimes, as McDonald turned it up to 11 — hey, Saturday was the 35th anniversary of the release of <i>This Is Spinal Tap</i> — to advance Acadia to an AUS final against Memorial, which was under .500 during conference play.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
GAME RECAP: McDonald breaks AUS record with 51 points as Axewomen edge Panthers to advance to AUS finals🏀🏆<br />
👇👇👇<a href="https://t.co/A9IJC0lues">https://t.co/A9IJC0lues</a> <a href="https://t.co/3g0dKsRBcM">pic.twitter.com/3g0dKsRBcM</a></div>
— AUS_SUA (@AUS_SUA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA/status/1101980681352167427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
If it seemed odd that Ottawa had ascended to a No. 1 ranking ahead of the Laval team that it lost to twice in the fall, then McMaster has validated that skepticism by winning the Critelli Cup with a 79-75 win against the host Gee-Gees. Taking nothing away from the feat of McDonald and how her teammates facilitated it, the Marauders played a perfect game on Ottawa's floor. <b>Sarah Gates </b>and <b>Hilary Hanaka </b>each hooped at least 20 and were charged with zero turnovers, <i>combined</i>, geek out on that.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> WBKB 🏀<br />
<br />
That championship feeling!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuestForTheCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QuestForTheCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CritelliCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CritelliCup</a> 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/INfPFAA7Ie">pic.twitter.com/INfPFAA7Ie</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1101977929783918593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
Rather than just do the usual back-of-an-envelope bracketing, I made a chart.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
It can never be over-reiterated that every Canadian university hoops cultist owes Martin Timmerman bottomless thanks for <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/pppinfo.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2018-19&Sort=PPPDiff&Category=University" target="_blank">U Sports Hoops</a>, which is basketball brain candy. It has made all of information-rich with knowing the true performance of teams. So before taking a half-educated guess on how the Final 8 will be seeded after the Memorial-Acadia championship game, it might be best to show where the qualified teams, AUS finalists and "one short" at-large candidates stack up in the five rankings Timmerman tabulates. <br />
<br />
Those are, as you know.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Elo Rating.</b> <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/introducing-nfl-elo-ratings/?fbclid=IwAR20xaQNHu3JUILdLHOAYAXmfrBBETLcdnK6zpQiIFFAx3BWqiJLckl4wPA" target="_blank">FiveThirtyEight probably has the best explainer on Elo and its strengths and flaws</a>.</li>
<li><b>Point per possession differential. </b>I used the "most games" option since it seems like a bigger sample than league games only. And bigger is better, correct?</li>
<li><b>Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).</b> That ranking system that does not include home and away performance, or margin of victory.</li>
<li><b>Simple Rating System (SRS). </b>For games through Feb. 23; SRS was <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/index4837.html?p=37" target="_blank">developed in-house at Sports-Reference.com and utilizes point differential and strength of schedule</a>.</li>
<li><b>Top 10 ranking.</b> From the last national poll released Feb. 26, which was taken before the conference championship games and AUS Final 6.</li>
</ul>
Here is how the teams rank, top to bottom, in each category. At-large candidates have a star (*) beside them.<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
table.tableizer-table {
font-size: 13px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}
</style>
<br />
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Elo Rating</th><th>PPPDiff</th><th>SRS</th><th>RPI</th><th>Top 10</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Laval</td><td>Sask.</td><td>Laval</td><td>Laval</td><td>Ottawa</td></tr>
<tr><td>Regina</td><td>Laval</td><td>Sask.</td><td>Sask.</td><td>Laval</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sask.</td><td>Ottawa</td><td>Concordia*</td><td>Ottawa</td><td>Mac</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mac</td><td>Mac</td><td>Ottawa</td><td>Mac</td><td>Sask.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ottawa</td><td>Regina</td><td>Mac</td><td>Regina</td><td>Regina</td></tr>
<tr><td>Calgary*</td><td>Calgary*</td><td>Calgary*</td><td>Concordia*</td><td>Lakehead*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Carleton*</td><td>Ryerson</td><td>Regina</td><td>Calgary*</td><td>Carleton*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lakehead*</td><td>Lakehead*</td><td>Ryerson</td><td>Lakehead*</td><td>Calgary*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Concordia*</td><td>Concordia*</td><td>Lakehead*</td><td>Ryerson</td><td>Ryerson</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lethbridge*</td><td>Carleton*</td><td>Carleton*</td><td>Carleton*</td><td>Cape Breton</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ryerson</td><td>Acadia</td><td>Acadia</td><td>Acadia</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Acadia</td><td>Lethbridge*</td><td>Memorial</td><td>Lethbridge*</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Memorial</td><td>Memorial</td><td>Lethbridge*</td><td>Memorial</td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of my "so this is the hill you choose to die on, really, well not really" hobby-horses it would be good for the game if OUA and the RSEQ had inter-conference regular-season games. There is no political will and making that happen.<br />
<br />
However, playing Quebec teams is a factor in SRS. Ahead of the auto-berth games and the Critelli Cup, Ottawa had a strength-of-schedule factor of 2.18 while McMaster was minus-0.86. That difference stems somewhat from non-conference scheduling: Ottawa had five games with the RSEQ and McMaster had one (against McGill, on a neutral floor in Toronto). <br />
<br />
So one suspects Mac's dramatic win won't budge at least one ranking as much as perhaps it should. However, the tournament is still seeded by humans. Here's that back-of-the-envelope bracket, at long last. <br />
<ol>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ champion). </b>Hard to deny a team that has beaten everyone. </li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West champion).</b> Grade out well across the board in the analytics, have the reputation of showing well at nationals.</li>
<li><b>McMaster (OUA champion).</b> The Acadia rule is your friend, Marauders.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA No. 2)</b>. Lose a conference final at home and this happens.</li>
<li><b>Regina (Canada West No. 2).</b> d</li>
<li><b>Acadia (AUS champion).</b> They have <b>Haley McDonald</b>, so they beat Memorial. Or not.</li>
<li><b>Concordia wild card).</b> There is no mortal lock for the wild card. The Calgary Dinos are above the the Stingers in most of the criteria. That is not what matters. First off, parse how the rule is written:<blockquote>
All teams will be considered for the at-large berth and ranked in each category. If any team is the only team to lead two, three or four of these categories following the conclusion of conference playoffs, it will be awarded the at-large berth. If no team leads more categories than all other teams, the berth will be awarded to the tied team who has the highest winning percentage vs. the Top 12 teams in the final RPI.</blockquote>
The four categories, with their leaders:<br /><br /><ul>
<li><b>Winning percentage in all games: </b>Cape Breton, .828<b><br /></b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>RPI for non-conference and league games (not playoffs):</b> UPEI<b><br /></b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Playoff advancement, how many wins away from automatic qualifier:</b> Calgary, Concordia, Carleton, Lakehead, Lethbridge, Memorial</li>
<li><b>SRS rating for non-conference and league games (not playoffs):</b> Concordia, 21.72</li>
Concordia is first in a category and tied in another. By rule, that (groan) points to the Stingers getting the berth. And that's only after really re-reading how the rules are written. It's not so clear that the most deserving team will be rewarded. <br /><br />The reason the Stingers grade out highest in SRS is the Laval factor — i.e., four league games with Laval, and four league games against everyone else who had four league games with Laval. Their SoS (strength of schedule) factor is <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-srs.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2018-19" target="_blank">8.07, which is by far the lowest in the five-team RSEQ, but also far higher than anyone in the rest of Canada, with Acadia a distant sixth nationally at 2.88</a> So, yes, Concordia should get the wild card.<br /><br />Whether this is fair is another discussion. The "Winning percentage against teams in Top 12 of RPI" tiebreaker appears to be out of play. Carleton went 4-6 and Calgary went 3-6, while Concordia was 2-6. The Stingers' quality wins were at Carleton on the first night of the Ravens' home tournament, when Carleton was breaking in four new starters, and against UPEI at home. There's a good possibility that Concordia is a fine team trying to break the surly bonds of a shallow league with a Gallic juggernaut or two. That seems to be the lot of every Stingers team, so good on them.<br /></ul>
</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (host). </b>Easily flip to 7 if it's not Concordia in the wild card.. <br /><b></b></li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-22157214492555740602019-02-25T17:09:00.003-05:002019-02-25T17:10:05.849-05:00Bronze Baby Bracketology: Carleton-McMaster is the big puzzle pieceJust as sports reveal character, February sorts out the two types of people who work on a sports desk — the ones who understand the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_playoff_system" target="_blank">Page Playoff format in curling</a> and the ones who need a refresher comes Scotties and Brier time. There is no literal connection between that and the lead-up to the women's basketball Final 8 — face it Sags, there isn't any connection — but one of the play-in games this week is effectively like a Page Playoff.<br />
<br />
Carleton at McMaster, namely, is the most fraught game this week. McMaster is the first-place team in a 1 vs. 2 game with two lives, since Theresa Burns' Marauders <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/wbb2018/cisatlarge.php" target="_blank">grade out highly across the board in the criteria for the at-large berth</a>. For Carleton, which turned over four starters from the 2018 national championship squad and stayed in the rankings, it's like a 3 vs. 4 game — win or go home. If <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.cisblog.ca/2019/02/bronze-baby-bracketology-laval-is-clear.html" target="_blank">projection is the same as last week, with a hunch play on Regina to win on the road in Canada West</a>. The <a href="https://www.ckom.com/syn/648/490834/cougars-huskies-to-meet-in-canada-west-final/" target="_blank">home team has won the Canada West final three years in a row</a>, so a flip is due.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ champion). </b>They are human, having lost one game by one point. </li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA champion).</b> It's your moment, you own it, Ottawa.</li>
<li><b>Regina (Canada West champion).* </b>For blogging purposes, really needed Regina to give guard <b>Faith Reid</b> <a href="https://www.canadawest.org/sports/wbkb/2018-19p/players/faithreidwhe5?view=gamelog&pos=sh" target="_blank">one more open look during their clincher at Calgary</a>, which she surely would have sank. Reid had nine points, all on triples; one more bucket would have given Regina the neat feat of having a double-digit scorer off the bench in all four of its playoff wins. </li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West No. 2). </b>So <a href="https://www.ckom.com/syn/648/490834/cougars-huskies-to-meet-in-canada-west-final/" target="_blank">home court has been a factor in the last three Cougars-Huskies championship games</a>. One of these times it will not. <br /><br />This spot is probably the floor for the Huskies. Now if, something happens to Laval or Ottawa, the first team out of the west could vault up to No. 2. Concern about a same-conference matchup would evaporate since the at-large berth would no longer be available to Calgary. </li>
<li><b>McMaster (OUA No. 2). </b>Pardon the dollar-store psychology, but there always seems to be a phenomena with a first-place team in the first playoff game. It has all the pressure and the expectations. Perhaps that was in play when McMaster did not <a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/wbkb/2018-19p/boxscores/20190223_0i9q.xml?view=boxscore" target="_blank">pull away from Brock until very late</a> in its quarterfinal. Winning is one more point, not 25 more (Carleton's winning margin) or 36 (Ottawa's). But a tight first game does feed into narratives. <b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>UPEI (AUS champion).</b> Two wins away from ending the <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/champ-appearances.php?Gender=WBB" target="_blank">longest Final 8 drought in the AUS</a> that extends back to 1998. Then again, 1998 was just like yesterday if you believe the people in charge of Ontario's health education curriculum.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (wild card).</b> The Dinos here presumes that McMaster, Ottawa, Laval and UPEI each wins its way into the dance.</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (host).*</b>Second verse, same as the first.</li>
</ol>
* already qualified <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-13853505124464453842019-02-25T13:20:00.002-05:002019-02-25T13:55:42.761-05:00Men's Puck Bracketlogy: UNB (probably) still the top seed, Alberta looks to borrow the OUA's copy of The Road WarriorThe <a href="http://www.cisblog.ca/2019/02/mens-puck-bracketology-we-are-all.html" target="_blank">first teams slotted into the OUA / RSEQ seeds</a> are, obvious hacky reference alert, like seat-fillers at the Oscars. No one expects they will be there very long.<br />
<br />
Ontario's remake of the <i>Road Warrior</i> (booooooooooooooo), starring Queen's<b> Jared Bethune</b>, Guelph's <b>Scott Simmonds</b> and Western's <b>Luke Peressini</b>, hastened some revising. It is not clear what should be read into the away teams going 11-1 during the second round, beyond the obvious point that the talent gets distributed very fairly across the vast majority of the conference. That makes the league basically like every division of the 1980s NHL that did not feature the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. The regular season doesn't really matter.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The 20-win curse continues in the <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> west division:<br />
<br />
Since 2002-03, 17 west division teams have won 20 games in a season. Only three of those 17 went on to win a division title. <br />
<br />
The Rams are the sixth straight 20-win team to come away without a division crown. <a href="https://t.co/4gmF63ECb3">https://t.co/4gmF63ECb3</a></div>
— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1099863580395003904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
At this writing, Alberta and Saskatchewan, shocker, have qualified out of Canada West to join host Lethbridge. New Brunswick and Saint Mary's could qualify within 24 hours, while Ontario has a two-stage process to decide its division champions and the third-place team.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><ol>
<li><b>UNB (AUS champion). </b>The schedule has Lethbridge playing its quarterfinal on the Thursday night and common sense would just suggest splitting up the host 'Horns from the team in the same province. So UNB goes here.<br /><br />The Varsity Reds had 102 shots in their two wins against UPEI, but Panthers goaltender Matt Mancina has been tough.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West champion).</b> When they played in Saskatoon on the final weekend before the break, Saskatchewan won the first game and Alberta won the second decisively with a 41-22 edge on the shot counter. With a best-of-3 packed into three days, all those coach words, depth, stamina, are going to be extra-paramount. Also, Alberta goalie <b>Zach Sawchenko</b> was the second-team all-star pick with Saskatchewan's<b> Taran Kozun </b>on the first team, so there's a score to settle.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA champion).</b> Again with the chalk pick — hey, you don't go into the media to learn from folly. <br /><br />Carleton has home-ice advantage throughout the rest of the Queen's Cup playoffs. And the Ravens' <b>François Brassard</b> is the most seasoned goaltender still competing, for what that might be worth. In a league where a first-year such as Queen's tendy Justin Fazio is 21 years old, it might not count for much.<br /><br />One outcome to feel fairly confident about is that the Queen's-Carleton winner, who will host the Queen's Cup, probably wins it too. The East is the deeper side of the league.</li>
<li><b>Guelph (OUA No. 2).</b> Queen's-Carleton and Western-Guelph are both coin flips. Guelph did have a better goals-against record than Western over the entire run of the regular season, but then again, some guy also thought that would see Brock through.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West No. 2).</b> Could hop right up there if they beat Alberta.</li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (AUS No. 2). </b>It's not over yet, but they have St. FX down to its last strike.</li>
<li><b>Queen's (OUA No. 3).</b> So if Queen's should defeat Carleton after defeating Ottawa, does that make them the city champions? The mind reels.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
We would like to congratulate <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeGeesMHKY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeeGeesMHKY</a> on a great season. 1st overall in the OUA, #4 in the country all year long. They showed great fight to come back in the series and all game last night, and we’re sure that we will be having another playoff date next season <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HorseHockey?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HorseHockey</a></div>
— Queen’s Gaels Men’s Hockey (@QueensMHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/QueensMHockey/status/1100049409512038401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>Lethbridge (host).</b> They have some down time. Can they do my taxes?</li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-88422880026080784392019-02-24T22:11:00.004-05:002019-02-25T14:07:37.899-05:00Bracketology: Calgary all but secures No. 1; UBC qualifies, Alberta in line for a wild cardNow Alberta is cheering for chalk.<br />
<br />
Sometimes the big picture that seems so self-evident is too fuzzy and vague to become focal, so the small thinking becomes the big picture. In the long run, where the aim is to have more Canadian university basketball teams become a viable alternative for talents that might otherwise end up at a D-1 low major or some slack D-2 diploma mill, it probably is good that Laurier, with a .760 win percentage in all OUA games, is going to host, Ryerson, which has played .917 ball, in a play-in game this week.<br />
<br />
The Rams need someone to take up the cause of them being hosed about as much as Bradley Cooper does. The Laurier Golden Hawks getting a decent crowd out for its first home semifinal game would do more to spread word-of-mouth about the strength of university basketball than it does at Ryerson, where they would be playing in front of the converted. So there is that, if you can ignore the Rams having the better record which also includes beating Laurier by 45 points in November. <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
First OUA Semifinal home game for M🏀 since 1976? We better make sure the AC is packed Wednesday night Laurier‼️🗣 Visit <a href="https://t.co/jhps0emLaW">https://t.co/jhps0emLaW</a> to get your 🎟 now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a>💜💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuestForTheCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QuestForTheCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MakingHistory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MakingHistory</a> <a href="https://t.co/GOU4xx1Hzs">pic.twitter.com/GOU4xx1Hzs</a></div>
— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics/status/1099807188154023937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don't forget because of the clueless <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> playoff format, Ryerson now has to travel to a gym where they won by 45 points earlier this season. <a href="https://t.co/mgUejXD6RA">https://t.co/mgUejXD6RA</a></p>— Mitch Robson (@_mitchrobson) <a href="https://twitter.com/_mitchrobson/status/1100108542059503616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<br />
However, that segues into into the contrast between the formats of the country's two largest leagues. Canada West's unbalanced, undivided setup has contributed to the best of all possible outcomes. Calgary is undefeated in the conference and has the best case to be the No. 1 seed in two weeks' time. The series that Alberta and UBC, with the Thunderbirds ultimately prevailing in Game 3 on Sunday night played was competitive and taut and like sealed the emotional and empirical arguments for Canada West getting the wild card, if the form holds this week.<br />
<br />
Alberta are ahead of both Laurier and the Brock Badgers in the all-important <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/mbb2018/cisatlarge.php" target="_blank">selection criteria for an at-large berth</a>. So really, no sugarcoating, those OUA semis on Wednesday are surely do-or-done games for the two OUA West schools. It might be a jump to conclusions to call that a creation of the two-division format. It is more likely that the OUA's growing parity has worked against having an obvious third Final 8 team.<br />
<br />
There are some changes since that <a href="http://www.cisblog.ca/2019/02/bracketology-how-will-carleton-avoid-no.html" target="_blank">first attempt two weeks ago</a>. Calgary, on paper, deserves the top seed, while Quebec once again seems to be an enigma. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Calgary (Canada West champion). </b>They deserve it. The 2018 Dinos might have well been this decade's 2008 Brock Badgers, who swooped to wins the nationals where vanquishing Carleton in the semis was the realest final. But that does not come into play for seeding.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🦖🏀🗒<br />
<br />
Lars Schlueter, everybody.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoDinos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoDinos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinTheWest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinTheWest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampSZN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampSZN</a> <br />
<br />
RECAP ⬇ <a href="https://t.co/PkMbiZyz9X">https://t.co/PkMbiZyz9X</a></div>
— UCalgary Dinos Men's Basketball 🏀 (@DinosMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DinosMBB/status/1099192391817457665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Now, where to put Calgary as a Canada West runner-up would be awfully interesting. They can render that moot by smoking UBC.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA champion).</b> The chance that the Wilson Cup could just be a prologue to a national semifinals showdown is rather anticlimactic. But hey, Carleton and Ryerson are probably incapable of playing a boring game.</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (OUA assigned). </b>The only basis for projecting Carleton at No. 2 and Ryerson at No. 3 is that the Ravens rarely lose two in a row against anyone. Not sure about what is the more impressive <b>Tanor Ngom</b> stat against Ottawa — that the 7-foot-2 centre got his 22 points on only 10 shots, or that Ottawa had only 25 two-point attempts.<br /><br />If <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/mbb2018/eloreport.php?Gender=MBB" target="_blank">ELO Rating</a> is, by imperial edict, the indicator, than Ryerson is much closer to the top two than it is to UBC. Now, if UBC upsets Calgary this week in the Canada West final, then the seeding call gets really interesting.</li>
<li><b>UBC (Canada West assigned). </b>First things first: the Thunderbirds' X factor was shutting down<b> Brody Clarke</b>, who was held to 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting as <a href="https://www.canadawest.org/sports/mbkb/2018-19p/boxscores/20190224_y6g2.xml?view=boxscore" target="_blank">UBC won 84-78</a> to nab an auto-berth on Sunday. Some words are being eaten, rest assured, after seeing the Thunderbirds take two on Alberta's floor to punch their ticket.</li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (AUS champion).</b> No longer undefeated in the league, but that defeat in a game that didn't affect the standings could have been the scare they needed ... hey, how about UNB's <b>Chris Spurrell </b>with a land-in-the-bench last-second game-winner to get his team the other AUS Final 6 bye?<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The Game Winner felt around the <a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> by Chris Spurrell, securing 2nd place and the Playoff Bye for the Reds next weekend in Halifax at the <a href="https://twitter.com/ScotiabankCtr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScotiabankCtr</a> <a href="https://t.co/lgxyN3dT63">pic.twitter.com/lgxyN3dT63</a></div>
— UNB Reds Basketball (@UNB_Basketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNB_Basketball/status/1099741461111820288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The schedule is set for the 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/SubwayAtlantic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SubwayAtlantic</a> AUS Men's Basketball Championships🏀🏆<br />
<br />
QF#1: <a href="https://twitter.com/StFXAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StFXAthletics</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/gocapersgo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gocapersgo</a> <br />
QF#2: <a href="https://twitter.com/MUNathletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MUNathletics</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/DalTigers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DalTigers</a> <br />
<br />
SF#1: QF#1 winner vs <a href="https://twitter.com/SMUHuskies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SMUHuskies</a> <br />
SF#2: QF#2 winner vs <a href="https://twitter.com/UNBAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNBAthletics</a> <br />
<br />
👉Schedule: <a href="https://t.co/ZfpURlh8Qr">https://t.co/ZfpURlh8Qr</a> <a href="https://t.co/IjVbbPZ70N">pic.twitter.com/IjVbbPZ70N</a></div>
— AUS_SUA (@AUS_SUA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA/status/1099498137327190016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>McGill (RSEQ champion). </b>Someone from Montreal likely hands here. First-place Concordia had home-court advantage wrapped early, so maybe it does not matter that they have lost their most recent outings to semifinal opponent Bishop's (70-68, albeit at Lennoxville), second-place McGill (70-59) and third-place UQAM (81-79). But at the same time, the Stingers have have double-digit conference wins four years in a row and every time it's been McGill that came out of the Q.<br /><br />Hey, I'm a Minnesota Vikings and a Toronto Raptors fan. I also get sick of people who believe the past dictates the future, always.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (wild card).</b> The Golden Bears grade out higher than Laurier in four of the five criteria for the at-large berth, which means they should get it. </li>
<li><b>Dalhousie (host). </b>Wrote this one in with the same pen I use to complete <i>The New York Times</i> Sunday crossword, at least as far as you know.</li>
</ol>
By the way, about seven years ago Ken Shields told someone that if Phil Scrubb "doesn't play for the national team, there should be an investigation." Today:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
An absolute force at both ends of the court, <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilScrubb23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhilScrubb23</a> earns <a href="https://twitter.com/ToyotaCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ToyotaCanada</a> Drive of the Game honours in Canada's 🇨🇦 big win over Venezuela 🇻🇪. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTeamCanada?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTeamCanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsMyHouse?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisIsMyHouse</a> <a href="https://t.co/4lS6esvNbG">pic.twitter.com/4lS6esvNbG</a></div>
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanBball/status/1099807228683415552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-16790933905003419812019-02-18T20:01:00.001-05:002019-02-25T17:20:22.602-05:00Women's Puck Bracketology: Canada West has the slipperiest slopeWell that is nice — New Brunswick won a playoff round in its first season back.
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
WHKY: <a href="https://twitter.com/UNBWHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNBWHockey</a> scores twice in final 1:54 to beat <a href="https://twitter.com/UPEIPanthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UPEIPanthers</a> 4-3 and earn berth in Subway <a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> semi-finals.<a href="https://t.co/MZ7omgs7WB">https://t.co/MZ7omgs7WB</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedsNation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RedsNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllReds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllReds</a> <a href="https://t.co/yXsQJFCS1f">pic.twitter.com/yXsQJFCS1f</a></div>
— UNB Reds (@UNBAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNBAthletics/status/1097263204135100418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Whatever fate awaits those Varsity Reds, being this competitive under coach Sarah Hilworth and an obviously rookie-filled roster is national coach-of-the-year material. It likely speaks to more than just a wrong being remedied through the courts, but also to the investment in female hockey across Western Canada, where 13 V-Reds hail from, including AUS save percentage leader<b> Kendra Holland</b> and team scoring leader<b> Tamina Kehler</b>.<br />
<br />
The result leaves nationals host UPEI with a 24-day layoff before hosting the March 14-17 tournament.<br />
<br />
The need-to-know is that the four conference winners get the top four seeds in order of national ranking. The four assigned berth/host teams are arranged in a way that eliminates the possibility of a same-conference semifinal matchup. <br />
<br />
So what chaotic outcome should one root for?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><ul>
<li>Manitoba and Montréal to win Canada West and the RSEQ, respectively, triggering a great debate over who should be the No. 1 seed, with a commensurate domino effect in the rest of the bracket. Nothing against Alberta, but the No. 1-ranked Pandas rolling through the league playoffs would just make the seeding committee's job easier.<br /><br />The biggest gap between champion berth and assigned berth is in Canada West, based on the rankings of those Pandas and Bisons.</li>
<li>Any upset that affects the three auto-berths that involve winning two playoff series, which are AUS champion, OUA champion and OUA assigned. The lonely always need a feel-good story from these obscure leagues, so someone better summon a 70-save shutout in a triple-overtime game.</li>
<li>And, obviously, UNB to make it interesting down east.</li>
</ul>
<br />
The all-chalk, at-first-blush, look at nationals seeding is as follows: <br />
<ol>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West champion).</b> The Pandas and Carabins are level on two national titles in this decade, so bragging rights are at stake.</li>
<li><b>Montréal (RSEQ champion). </b>Being the regular-season champion in a three-deep league has its earned privileges. </li>
<li><b>St. Thomas (AUS champion).</b> Semifinal opponent depends on the Moncton-Saint Mary's result on Tuesday.</li>
<li><b>Guelph (OUA champion).</b> Interestingly, Guelph took the L the last time out against both Western and Toronto, potential McCaw Cup final opponents.</li>
<li><b>Concordia (RSEQ assigned).</b> Has won the two most recent games against McGill, which it faces in the best-of-3 league semifinal this week.</li>
<li><b>Manitoba (Canada West assigned).</b> It was not long ago yours truly worked in a decent-sized Manitoba town and there was no organized female hockey. Now look! <b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Western (OUA assigned).</b>Yours truly spends way too much time on a Facebook group called For The Love of Uniforms. So the fact that the women's and men's hockey teams at that school in London do not dress out in head-to-toe purple and white seems like a real sartorial affront. Black hockey helmets and pants are more easily acquired, sure, but it just looks off when the sweaters and gloves don't contain any black.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The schedule is out for the 1st round of women's hockey. The <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternWHKY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WesternWHKY</a> team takes on the <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WlooWarriors</a> starting Wednesday night at home.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/westernu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#westernu</a> <a href="https://t.co/U77kAfeiIp">pic.twitter.com/U77kAfeiIp</a></div>
— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternMustangs/status/1097623337621221377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Here is the schedule for the next round of playoffs for men's hockey. This round will see them take on the <a href="https://twitter.com/BrockBadgers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrockBadgers</a> starting Wednesday night.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/westernu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#westernu</a> <a href="https://t.co/83zWpdywqv">pic.twitter.com/83zWpdywqv</a></div>
— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternMustangs/status/1097622634597093376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>UPEI (host team). </b>So neither the University Cup host, Lethbridge, or Golden Path Trophy host, UPEI, managed to win a playoff game, which means <b>David Branch </b>has more influence over the university game than we ever imagined. </li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-16962751880667746752019-02-18T16:12:00.001-05:002019-02-24T16:29:49.475-05:00Bronze Baby Bracketology: Laval is a clear No. 1 on the road to Ryerson<b>Heather Lindsay </b>left a legacy at Carleton; one, leading the Ravens to the program's first national title and two, speaking truth about the media gatekeepers at that time when a winner is more likely to be really heard, even though we all could learn to listen at all times: <i>"</i><span class="s2"><i><a href="https://ottawamagazine.com/people-and-places/evening-the-score-carleton-ravens-basketball-star-heather-lindsay-on-lack-of-coverage-for-womens-sports/" target="_blank">There were years where we would win a game and the whole story would be about the men’s team losing — just stuff like that where it’s just not fair at all</a>."</i> (Ottawa magazine, Sept. 10, 2018.)</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span>
<span class="s2">No further mansplanation necessary. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="s2">For purpose of this exercise, Carleton and Lindsay made this easy; they were the No. 1 seed for the women's basketball Final 8 two seasons in a row. Another bonus for the dim-bulb prognosticator is there was a reasonable equilibrium between all four sport conferences that validated the "top 6" seeding rule. <br /><br />Lindsay is playing in Germany, but at least the competitive balance is mostly still there. There is schism between <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/wbb2018/eloreport.php?Gender=WBB" target="_blank">Elo</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1095391890961285122/photo/1" target="_blank">eye test, a.k.a. the coaches' poll</a>, over whether Canada West or Ontario is the deeper conference. The Atlantic cannot get anywhere in the human poll, but UPEI is getting some love from the computer rankings. So, for the dim-bulm prognosticator, this ought to be fun.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span>
<span class="s2"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a>A first crack at seeding the nationals, which as an actual proud Ontarian, take place in the Maple Leaf Gardens building in early March.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Laval (RSEQ champion). </b>They have a nice collection of non-conference wins and their only close games in the RSEQ were the league opener and the first game after the holidays, the rust-off-the-rims contest. Led by <b>Carrie-Ann Auger </b>and <b>Sarah-Jane Marois</b>, Laval is shooting 35.4 per cent from downtown. <br /><br />The floor for Laval is probably being a wild card, somewhere between the No. 3 and No. 5 seed, if it stumbles in RSEQ final.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA champion).</b> The setup practically caters to the Gee-Gees — win two home games to secure a berth, and host the Critelli Cup, likely against McMaster or Carleton. All five Ottawa starters average in double figures and having 6-foot-5<b> Angela Ribarich </b>under the basket must be a really boost to the help defence.</li>
<li><b>Regina (Canada West champion). </b>The Cougars of <b>Kyanna Giles</b> have to take Calgary twice at the Jack Simpson Gym, but they already did that in October. Regina, among Canada West's big three, played the most games against non-playoff teams — eight — but Calgary has not had a sterling schedule since the calendar flipped to 2019. So, slightly out on a limb, for grins let's take Regina.<br /><b></b></li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West No. 2).</b> At this writing, the Huskies have ostensibly the best route to to a Canada West auto berth. They host a play-in best-of-3 semifinal against Lethbridge, which it defeated by an average of 26.5 points in two early-January games.<br /><br />A working assumption is that someone under <b>Lisa Thomaidis</b>' command figured out that Saskatchewan could still grade out No. 1 in the RPI even though they were swept by Regina on Feb. 1-2. Without casting aspersions, one could read a little cryptically into a comment from the coach about the losses against Regina that "<span class="gnca-article-story-txt gn-speakable-description" itemprop="articleBody"><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/4961252/saskatchewan-huskies-basketball-playoffs/" target="_blank">the timing is good in terms of making sure the motivation is high to get better and really emphasize the point we have some work to still do</a>."</span></li>
<li><b>McMaster (OUA No. 2).</b> Most likely scenario for the Marauders is a play-in cross-over semifinal against Carleton on Feb. 27. The Marauders won the regular-season matchup by 14 points. Never count out Carleton.</li>
<li><b>UPEI (AUS champion).</b> What wins out in the long run at this level — balanced strength or having a scorer? The Atlantic has two players, Cape Breton forward<b> Hannah Brown</b> and Acadia guard <b>Haley McDonald</b>, averaging 20-plus a night, and their teams are a combined 1-5 against the Panthers.<br /><br />Presumably, having their own 6-foot-1 forward, <b>Carolina Del Santo</b>, gives UPEI a check on Brown against CBU. They must have done a job on McDonald during a two-game sweep last weekend, as she tried 51 shots and 35 of them missed. A Panthers win against lowly St. FX this weekend would lock up the No. 1 seed in the AUS Final 6.<br /><br /><br />From the well outside looking in, it appears UPEI only goes seven-deep against the upper-crust of AUS. That could come into play in a single-elimination format, or not.</li>
<li> <b>Calgary (wild card).</b> Coming into this week, Calgary's 25-5 pre-playoffs record and <a href="http://usportshoops.ca/history/rankings-rpi.php?Gender=WBB&Season=2018-19" target="_blank">eighth-in-the-country RPI</a> noses out Carleton's 25-7 mark with the 12th-highest RPI. <a href="https://usports.ca/uploads/hq/Playing_Regs/2018-2019/180613_PlayingRegs_Basketball_%28W%29.pdf" target="_blank">Those are the first two criteria for the wild-card berth</a>, not who Internet-shouts the loudest.</li>
<li><b>Ryerson (host).</b> Slotting the Rams in the No. 8 seed potentially puts two southern Ontario schools in the same session for the quarterfinals. </li>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-12010339551123764622019-02-13T13:17:00.001-05:002019-02-13T13:17:56.985-05:00Men's Puck Bracketology: We are all PronghornsThe University Cup is not so much seeded, as it is slotted.<br />
<br />
The something-for-everyone regionalism that defines (and confines) Canada comes into play. For review, conference champions are seeded 1-2-3. The Ontario runner-up draws into the No. 4 seed. Five and six fall to finalists from down east and out west. The OUA has a third assigned berth that is part of the deal for taking in three Quebec schools. <br /><br />
So be it. The reality is that the seeding is based more on your conference than how your team actually does that hockey. It might look like this: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
AUS1<br />
CW1<br />
OUA1<br />
OUA2<br />
CW2<br />
AUS2<br />
OUA3<br />
Lethbridge (host)</blockquote>
The only limb to go slightly out on is whether the seeding committee would really care about Lethbridge playing the Canada West champion in the quarterfinal. After all, they're not really in the same league with Alberta or Saskatchewan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Following the chalk, a tentative first stab at the field:<br />
<ol>
<li><b>UNB (AUS champion).</b> A plus-91 goal differential. Next year AUS should increase the regular season again, just so the Varsity Reds can go for 100.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West champion).</b> The conference has been very top-heavy, with Alberta and Saskatchewan playing their four games before Christmas and then pulverizing everyone else. Alberta gets the benefit of the doubt strictly for the fact it enters the playoffs on a longer win streak.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (OUA champion).</b> Again, defer to goal differential; the Gee-Gees were plus-52 playing in the deeper half of their conference.</li>
<li><b>Brock (OUA No. 2).</b> The Badgers allow one fewer goal per game than Ryerson, which does have home-ice advantage throughout OUA West playoffs.<br /><br />For those wondering, the No. 4 seed/OUA runner-up is 1-3 at nationals over the last four seasons, with a minus-11 goal differential.</li>
<li><b>Saskatchewan (Canada West No. 2).</b> The perennial bridesmaid — three consecutive semifinals, but no University Cup yet.</li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (AUS No. 2).</b> Upsets happen in AUS, but Saint Mary's is basically lying in wait while St. Francis Xavier and Acadia play a series where players are going to have suppress a lot of emotion.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA No. 3).</b> Really, it could be any two among Ottawa, Carleton, McGill and Queen's emerging for the OUA Queen's Cup and the third-place play-in game. The season to date points to Ottawa, history points to McGill, hot-hand theories point to Carleton and coaching suggests Queen's could be a tough out.</li>
<li><b>Lethbridge (host).</b> Looking at a 25-day layoff before the touranment if/after they get swept by Calgary. </li>
</ol>
The University Cup is March 14-17 at Lethbridge. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-83507657653705746212019-02-04T16:31:00.003-05:002019-02-04T20:02:51.697-05:00Bracketology: How will Carleton avoid a No. 1 seed this time, and what to maybe do about itIt is quite the conundrum. At this stage of the game, Calgary has completed an undefeated regular season, but as a collective the coaches have been consistently ranking the Dinos lower than the Carleton Ravens and Ryerson Rams.<br />
<br />
And history is wink-wink, nudge-nudged us that Carleton might be have gamed the seeding process, holding back a little in the Wilson Cup after an auto-berth is secured, so it can go into the nationals as the No. 2 seed. <br />
<br />
Whether that demands a correction is a matter of opinion, but cynically, this is U Sports and it would take a decade to strike a committee to look into the matter, so I am not going to hold my breath. Long before load management entered the basketball lexicon, Carleton had clued into a line of thinking that a 2 seed is better than 1 seed. The latter is given the short straw from a rest-and-recovery standpoint, especially with the reversion to the<a href="https://usports.ca/uploads/hq/Media_Releases/National_Championships/2018/2019_Final_8_Schedule_Release_FINAL2.pdf" target="_blank"> 3-in-3 Friday/Saturday/Sunday schedule</a>.<br />
<br />
There is no hard proof of such, other than a point-form list of the Ravens' seedings across the last 12 years and their results. The Ravens have won the last six times that they have been a 2 or 3 seed, and their three non-championship appearances have all come as the 1 seed.<br />
<a name='more'></a>That might be our best jumping-off point..<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2018: 1 seed, bronze medal</li>
<li>2017: 2 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2016: 2 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2015: 1 seed, <b>champion</b> (but played an early quarterfinal)</li>
<li>2014: 2 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2013: 1 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2012: 1 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2011: 2 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2010: 1 seed, semifinalist </li>
<li>2009: 1 seed, <b>champion</b></li>
<li>2008: 1 seed, semifinalist </li>
<li>2007: 3 seed, <b>champion </b></li>
</ul>
The reason for the 12-year sample is that the nationals were Final 10 from 2004 through '06 and that's a variable that is best memory-wiped, never mind included. (As it was, Carleton was the 3 seed as a wild card in 2006 and won.) Now, the result of the non-Carleton 1 seeds since 2007.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2017, Ryerson: silver medal</li>
<li>2016, Ryerson: bronze medal</li>
<li>2014: Ottawa, silver medal</li>
<li>2011: UBC, lost semifinal</li>
<li>2007: Concordia, lost quarterfinal </li>
</ul>
There is no cause-and-effect, necessarily. But where<b> </b>Carleton coach<b> Dave Smart</b> and longtime assistant<b> Rob Smart</b> are Belichickian in a nice benevolent Canadian way, is that they think of every detail, and then the details of details.<br />
<br />
Being in the 1/8/4/5 half of the draw typically means playing later on quarterfinals day, since the organizers will typically put a host school in the evening bloc for an attendance boost. On top of having a shorter turnaround, the 1 seed's potential semifinal opponent is already determined, so that team is getting a valuable viewing for game-planning purposes.<br />
<br />
In this specific instance, the Dalhousie Tigers are already locked into playing the 8 p.m. quarterfinal on March 8, and based on their play of late, they will likely be the No. 8 seed too. But the Tigers under Rick Plato are a tough out in a one-and-done setting. In 2017 they took Ryerson to the wire in the semifinal, before losing 59-58. That's another anecdotal argument for not wanting to be the top seed.<br />
<br />
Landing in the 2/7/3/6 half means playing early in the quarters, and possibly playing the first game on semifinal Saturday. Carleton (or Ryerson) did not create this structure, and Carleton (or Ryerson) should not apologize for figuring out something that is plausibly deniable.<br />
<br />
The easiest fix would involve abolishing seeding and having a soccer-style Cup draw for the quarterfinal matchups. The four sport-conference champions go in Column A with the four auto berth winners, host team and wild card in Column B. Stream the random drawing on the social media platform of the moment. The lone modification would be that the two teams from the host conference cannot play in the quarterfinal. As far as scheduling, the host committee would get the ultimate say on whether to put both local-interest schools in the evening bloc, or split them between daytime and evening. <br />
<br />
After the quarters, hold another draw for semifinal matchups. Sometimes the best game in the last four would be one of the semifinals, sure. Nothing guarantees as a good game, and like one of the Los Angeles Rams said on Sunday, "At the end of the day, we're all going to die."<br />
<br />
If that seems like a dark segue, well, it is just a way of intimating that there is a goodly chance of OUA West being shut out of nationals, like in 2017. Is that a barbed way of saying neither of the unbeatens to the east <br />
<ol>
<li><b>Ryerson (OUA champion). </b>Carleton, presuming it wins out, will already have what it wanted, which is being the highest OUA playoff seed and thus hosting the second team out of the OUA West in a play-in game.</li>
<li><b>Carleton (OUA finalist). </b>In terms of rooting for chaos, there is a good storyline with with the two semifinalists out of OUA West. Laurier has a one-game lead over Brock with four games left. Brock swept that season series, but likely needs to win out over a remaining slate that includes a trip to play two against Lakehead in Thunder Bay. <br /><br />Laurier had a one-possession defeat against Carleton and lost by 45 points at home against Ryerson. Naturally, the Golden Hawks are more likely at this point to face Ryerson in the crossover semifinal.<br /><br />The 2 and 3 seeds are pretty much interchangeable, based on whether the 7 seed is from Ontario or the west.</li>
<li><b>Calgary (Canada West champion). </b>Going with the chalk, but might we pause and just appreciate how Canada West's holistic unbalanced schedule also creates the avenues for cynicism, chaos and schadenfreude?<br /><br />To apply a <b>Theo Epstein</b>-ism, "we don't know shit," and the grab-bag schedule of 10 two-game series with an RPI-offs chaser amplifies that. It becomes easy to cast aspersions on an undefeated team, because it's always easier to troll from three provinces away. Not to pick on the Dinos, especially since <b>David Kapinga </b>is one of those only-in-Canada stories you root for, but since the calendar flipped to 2019 they have played only one team that earned a top-8 seeding in the Canada West playoffs. Alberta managed a home split at Saskatchewan and also swept UBC at home.<br /><br />So, yeah, in a one-game showdown, maybe Alberta can beat Calgary. As the second team out of Canada West, the Dinos would probably land in the 4 vs. 5 quarterfinal.</li>
<li><b>Saint Mary's (AUS champion)</b>. The eastern Huskies play in the 80s and 90s on the regular, yet no one averages 15 points or 30 minutes per game, with <b>Kemar Alleyne </b>topping the stats with 14.3 points and 27.6 minutes. <b>Johneil Johnson</b> is the second-leading scorer and he does not start. That augurs well for having the depth to compete in a three-game tournament.<br /><br />Saint Mary's could be perfectly cromulent No. 3 seed if things don't work out for Calgary. The Huskies would also be high up in the wild-card queue.</li>
<li><b>Alberta (Canada West finalist).</b> That 3-1 mark over their Saskatchewan/UBC weekends suggests they're gaining momentum going into the playoffs.</li>
<li><b>Concordia (RSEQ champion).</b> Someone has to represent Quebec. </li>
<li><b>Brock (wild card). </b>The real At-Large Apocalypse would involve the committee having to pick between Calgary and Saint Mary's. As it stands, it is likely to boil down again to the third-place teams out of OUA and Canada West again, and there will be apoplexy run amuck, relatively speaking. <br /><br />Far be it that the national organization could get out in front of the problem by providing an Explainer ahead of time so people are generally aware of who is first in the wild-card queue. It will never stop people from being angry at being left out, but what is the harm in treating people like adults by letting them in on how these decisions that affect them emotionally are made? <br /><br />Just a thought. In terms of narrative, Laurier is probably the pick.<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="fr">
From Rouen, 🇫🇷 ➡️<a href="https://twitter.com/LUVoyageurs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LUVoyageurs</a> ⛹️♂️, ➡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/uOttawaGeeGees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uOttawaGeeGees</a> & now <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a>. How Head Coach <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTchounou?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@justintchounou</a> ended up at <a href="https://twitter.com/Laurier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Laurier</a> 👀<br />
<br />
Un chemin parsemé d’opportunités : le parcours de Justin Serresse de Rouen à Laurier<br />
<br />
🔗 EN: <a href="https://t.co/EYAQUnyIFk">https://t.co/EYAQUnyIFk</a> / 🔗 FR: <a href="https://t.co/u7INolLQsn">https://t.co/u7INolLQsn</a> <a href="https://t.co/uFhREY6Hur">pic.twitter.com/uFhREY6Hur</a></div>
— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1092544187491340288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />Okay, so about that Brock pick. <br /><br />Based on the chalk dust, those third-place games could involve Brock and Laurier, and UBC and Saskatchewan. Brock, as noted, has swept Laurier. Saskatchewan split a series on UBC's floor in November. Extrapolating from there, it comes down to Brock or Saskatchewan. It will take a couple weeks to see who best meets the selection criteria for the wild-card berth.</li>
<li><b>Dalhousie (host).</b> Well, this was an easy one to slot. Dal will be a tough out on March 8. </li>
</ol>
Anyway, this is mostly drawn from recent history and a knowledge of how the seeding tends to play out. This exercise is truly double-blind since, late reveal, I haven't seen any games. Those of you who are privileged enough to have a work schedule that accommodates seeing games in the wild, please come forward with rational, reasonable explanations of why a frontrunner could get exposed in the playoffs, or if there is a darkhorse who could wrangle an auto berth. It is open season for that.<br />
<br />
<b>NOTE TO READERS<br /> </b><br />
<br />
Long story short, in the parlance of our time, load management accounts for the lack of posting over the last three months. It probably seems as though I ghosted people after the end of OUA's football regular season, but then again, what was the point in chronicling the predictable exercise that was the Purple-Pony Paramilitary Squad marching to another Yates Cup, and the even more predictable exercise of another Vanier between the evil empires of Canada's Two Solitudes? <i>Bâillement</i>, Bubba.<br />
<br />
Where to begin? The best ketchup answer comes down to changing work commitments and living with at least two mood disorders, clinical depression and social anxiety. <br />
<br />
On the first count, the timeline of the last 3½ years have been heavy. From mid-2015 to fall 2016 I was in what I called a "self-funderemployment" phase. After a stint with a national website ran its course, fortunately there were enough empathetic people in my corner that I was able to find enough freelance work to pay the rent. <br />
<br />
Another lifeline came in the form of an opportunity to move to Toronto and work at an editing job that was enriching, but also met the definition of precarious work. It was very much a living-to-work deal — it happens — and in time, that too ran its course. Ultimately, I landed in another copy-editing job that involved moving to Hamilton. The pay is better and the work is of a nature where one can stay engaged for eight hours per day and clock out without taking it home, A trade-off is that involves working evenings, including the Fridays and Saturdays when the bulk of the OUA schedule occurs. <br />
<br />
That brings us to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiCrniLQGYc" target="_blank">Black Dog</a> in the room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XiCrniLQGYc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XiCrniLQGYc?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></div>
<br />
Suffice to say, changing cities twice in fewer than two years is not the greatest thing for someone with a mood disorder. Loneliness and isolation are, indeed, privilege problems. But they can contribute to an automatic thought of "no one cares what I think" when it comes to wanting to write. The unrelenting burst water pipe of our digital world also makes it tough to function as a creative. <br />
<br />
Points being, the spirit is still there to sell snake oil about university sport. The strength to commit to it is not. Coverage on the regular is best left to the people on the ground. There is still a place to provide a hater's guide to nationals seeding in basketball and hockey over the next month and suggest reforms that we know will damn well never happen. <br />
<ol>
</ol>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-74998679112119509882018-10-20T18:01:00.001-04:002018-10-20T23:39:00.974-04:00OUA Football, Week 9: Ottawa, Guelph come through; Queen's and Laurier have a quiet going into the nightIt is not where a team starts, but where it finishes — and this engrossing Guelph-Waterloo rivalry is far from finished.<br />
<br />
In a rather kismet outcome for a season that's been a Long Journey To The Muddle, two teams that went to double overtime on the final day of the regular season will reconvene on the same field in seven days time for an Ontario University Athletics quarterfinal. The Gryphons' 47-44 double-overtime decision against the Warriors, combined with events elsewhere. gave them home-field for a quarter-final next week. Waterloo got the help it needed from bye teams Ottawa and Western to be assured of the No. 6 seed, its first playoff berth in 15 seasons and first since a smaller tournament was adopted.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈FB: Tavius Robinson strips Tre Ford and Uriel Kalenga recovers the fumble to seal the 47-44 win in double OT as <a href="https://twitter.com/GryphonFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GryphonFootball</a> clinches a postseason spot in thrilling fashion! <a href="https://t.co/FwpCgYGH1a">pic.twitter.com/FwpCgYGH1a</a></div>
— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons/status/1053747608823435265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
O glorious day, then! McMaster will be at Carleton for the 5 vs. 4 quarterfinal.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
PLAYOFF BOUND‼️🏈<br />
<br />
Despite a loss at Guelph today, <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a> got the help they needed (🙏 OTT, MAC, WES) & qualify for the post-season for the first time since 2003!<br />
<br />
As the 6th seed they travel back to Guelph to face the 3rd seeded <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@guelph_gryphons</a> ‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> <a href="https://t.co/cl2gwjjgJY">pic.twitter.com/cl2gwjjgJY</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1053745294364438533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Guelph #3, Carleton #4, McMaster #5</div>
— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1053743872893808641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
So <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WlooWarriors</a> Football makes the playoffs, and if the <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TorontoArgos</a> beat the <a href="https://twitter.com/MTLAlouettes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MTLAlouettes</a>, it would be a great day of football and the only way it could be greater is if the <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ticats</a> are disqualified from the playoffs somehow.</div>
— 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒏 (@shayman) <a href="https://twitter.com/shayman/status/1053748083945848832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
While everyone gloms on to Waterloo's accomplishment the way everyone adopts the baseball team in the LCS with the longest pennant drought — don't knock it, what were you doing 15 years ago? Bet you didn't even have Wi-Fi yet — the events don't get this dramatic without the Gryphons' improved scoring capability. So let's start there.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>There was every right to be a skeptic eight weeks ago when Guelph showed symptoms of severe shootingitselfinthefeetitis during a one-point defeat at McMaster. Score-zone problems remained an Achilles heel as it painted itself into a corner at 2-3. However, in a high-leverage situations, albeit against some highly pliable defences, <b>Theo Landers </b>and the offence came through.<br />
<br />
The cold and wind that had gripped southern Ontario in the middle of this week, creating optimal football weather. Given the hyper-offence that Waterloo has, that seemed made for Waterloo and<b> Tre Ford</b> to put up some PlayStation numbers. The kicker is that the Warriors did that and Guelph matched. The Gryphons went touchdown-field goal-touchdown-field goal on their final four possessions spanning the end of the fourth quarter and <i>prolongation</i>t.<br />
<br />
Also, full marks to Guelph for the gadget play of the season, a tap pass with a reverse handoff that<b> Kian Schaffer-Baker</b> housed for a 53-yard touchdown.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈FB: Theo Landers flips it Kade Belyk who flips it back to Kian Schaffer-Baker on the reverse and he runs it all the way to the house, with a little help from his friends! <a href="https://t.co/TPIfjNNzwW">pic.twitter.com/TPIfjNNzwW</a></div>
— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons/status/1053727494220800001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
There is a phenomena with Week 9. The anticipation is the thing; there were 64 different possibilities trotted out by the conference. But order emerges from the chaos. Ottawa was its opportunistic self while Queen's played just well enough to lose. McMaster got what it needed in Windsor. And Western just poured it on at Laurier to put <i>—30—</i> to a Golden Hawks season that began so promisingly.<br />
<br />
Guelph 47, Waterloo 44 (OT) — The other bit of symmetry to this involves Gabriel Ferraro. One can only presume some internalization must have happened when the Gryphons kicker had gutting misses during the three games that Guelph lost by a combined six points against McMaster and Ottawa. But he made two pressure kicks on Saturday and the latter gave him a career record.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈FB: What a way for Gabe Ferraro to enter the <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPORTSca</a> record books! Ferraro's 42-yd FG not only put the <a href="https://twitter.com/GryphonFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GryphonFootball</a> ahead in double OT. This was Ferraro's 91st carrer field goal made which ties him for the most regular season field goals made in a career. <a href="https://t.co/zmBxMWLoto">pic.twitter.com/zmBxMWLoto</a></div>
— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons/status/1053742918589132801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Speaking of records, <b>Tyler Ternowski</b>, everybody!
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB HIGHLIGHT | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Ternowski?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tyler_Ternowski</a> record breaking TD! 🔥🏈<br />
<br />
His 14th TD sets a new <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> record for most TD receptions in a single season! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/mQCmNwM31P">pic.twitter.com/mQCmNwM31P</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1053727649862950912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
The mind also reels upon glancing at Tre Ford's final stats — 10.7 yards per attempt, 350-plus yards per game and a 27-to-2 touchdown/interception ratio, along with being sixth in the conference in rushing — and remembering he's a second-year player. How much of that is him being a singular talent in a scheme that lets him create and how much of that is the field being tilted toward offense is hard to say, but those are some gaudy numbers. The 27 touchdowns is 10 more than anyone else in Ontario. The two picks is tied for the least among the 16 quarterbacks who tried at least 40 passes. And he still has at least two years left at this level, most likely.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181020_lyk0.xml?view=plays" target="_blank">No. 5 Ottawa 27 Queen's 22</a></b> — Holy microcosm of both teams' season, Batman! Outgained, But Not Outscored could be the credo for these Gee-Gees, who will host a semifinal on Nov. 3. They were held to 259 yards and backup quarterback <b>Alex Lavric </b>came on for <b>Sawyer Buettner</b> late in the third quarter. But between a strip sack that was pounced on in the end zone and two long interception returns from<b> Jamie Harry</b> and <b>Marc-Ellie Jace</b>, Ottawa got 17 points off of turnovers.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🎥: Correction on touchdown. Looks like it was Francis Perron with the recovery for the TD. Take a look! 👀 <a href="https://t.co/sYlPCtiqDs">pic.twitter.com/sYlPCtiqDs</a></div>
— Gee-Gees Football (@GeeGeesFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeGeesFootball/status/1053707410953531393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Meantime, late in the second quarter, Queen's got to the Ottawa 30-, 19- and 23-yard line, and netted a whole six points. It seemed like whenever Ottawa needed to, it just big-blitzed with seven or eight defenders, defying Queen's and <b>Nate Hobbs </b>to complete a pass under pressure.<br />
<br />
There was a red-zone play in the second quarter where Ottawa sent seven, and Hobbs' trained response was a post-corner deep in the end zone to <b>Matteo Del Brocco</b>, who was doubled by Jace and the Gee-Gees' veteran outfielder, <b>Cody Cranston</b>. If that's the read, then that's the read even if everyone else was single-covered or uncovered, and the Gee-Gees duo did enough to induce an incomplete pass and Queen's took the three-ball.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈| Gee-Gee punt is BLOCKED!! Gaels recover and it leads to another Liberatore FG. Queen's trails 14-6 in Q2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTTvsQUE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTTvsQUE</a> <a href="https://t.co/dcQ3TtsOWU">pic.twitter.com/dcQ3TtsOWU</a></div>
— Queen's Gaels (@queensgaels) <a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels/status/1053710218754998273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
The strip-sack touchdown was set up by Queen's getting backed up by a ball-in-flight holding penalty on a punt return. A similar infraction hurt them in their Oct. 5 loss at McMaster. It was a game effort and Hobbs, second in the conference in yardage, probably rated better, but Queen's just seems to be in a phase where little mistakes mushroom into catastrophe.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181020_mg0l.xml" target="_blank">No. 1 Western 46, Laurier 13</a></b> — Is there a better illustration of Western beasting everyone and Laurier becoming completely ineffectual on defence than <b>Chris Merchant </b>scooping up his own fumble and finding the seam for a 74-yard touchdown? I submit that there is not.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB: HIGHLIGHT - Chris Merchant runs the ball 74 yards for a TD.<br />
39-13 WES<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RunWithUs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RunWithUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z8W9ynQrBM">pic.twitter.com/Z8W9ynQrBM</a></div>
— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternMustangs/status/1053740598945996800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<b><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181020_bxxo.xml" target="_blank">McMaster 17 Windsor 5</a> — </b>The throwback scoreline fits the narrative with the Marauders, who have waited more than three weeks for the smoke signals to emerge from Gilmour Hall to tell them whether <b>Greg Knox </b>will be allowed to coach again. It seems like bureaucratic absurdity that the ambiguity has stretched out for basically half of the regular season but that's where we are in Canada, as Michael Scott would say.<br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB: The defensive game continues as the game remains scoreless at the end of the first half <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WSRvsMAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WSRvsMAC</a></div>
— Windsor Lancers (@WindsorLancers) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindsorLancers/status/1053710219900018688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Football -- The Marauders offence awoke in the second half, en route to a 17-7 win over the Lancers, to book a spot in the <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ouasport</a> playoffs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoMacGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoMacGo</a></div>
— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports/status/1053738146033221632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So, the athletic department at Mac might want to move things along and get <a href="https://twitter.com/Marauderftbl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Marauderftbl</a>'s coach Greg Knox back on the sidelines with a playoff next Saturday... just sayin'. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeDelayedJusticeDenied?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JusticeDelayedJusticeDenied</a></p>— Jim Mullin (@Jim_Mullin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jim_Mullin/status/1053848676727087105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<br />
<a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181020_bwva.xml" target="_blank"><b>York 31, Toronto 15</b></a> — One thing the shamateur sports-industrial complex has that's worth shamelessly ripping off is multi-game rivalry trophies. Take the competition series between Air Force, Army and Navy for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Since preparing for America's next unwinnable war limits the service-academy teams' ability to recruit national championship-level talent, they do need something else to aspire toward.<br />
<br />
To that end, and in the service of irony and owning one's okay-ness, how about some recognition for York? The Lions, led by the<b> Hunchak </b>connection, did sweep the traditional bottom four with Saturday's win tacked on to victories against Waterloo and Windsor.<br />
<br />
That takes the tangent over which inhibitor of the sport's growth should have their name disgrace this hypothetical trophy. Nominations should be entered in the comments; don't worry, no one is going to read them.<br />
<br />
There is something known as Depressed Gamer Alpha State, where the person losing himself in a football video game challenges himself to average more than one point scored per play run. In the beta phase, York acheived that during the second quarter —28 points in the second quarter in a span of 25 offensive snaps, and each drive as shorter than the last.<br />
<br />
One could call that a building block for years to come but our membership in the Lily Guild has lapsed. <br />
<br />
On to the playoffs!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-88645366649847494352018-10-12T13:47:00.001-04:002018-10-14T15:10:44.751-04:00OUA Football, Week 8: Waterloo takes inside track on first playoff spot in 15 years, Western (shocker!) clinches first, and four-way and five-way ties are in play? Great, and Carleton clinches<b>SUNDAY AFTERNOON TIEBREAKER APOCALYPSE</b><br />
<br />
The OUA playoff seeding gets a lot easier if Ottawa beats Queen's, clinching second place and
eliminating the Gaels. Everything else is a bunch of tangled Christmas
lights.<br /><br />And that's what we wanted! vHot take: the scheduling guidelines OUA introduced a few years ago have done a heckuva job, fomenting parity that would make late-career Pete Rozelle blush.<br />
<br />
The conference has a Muddled Seven that could potentially end up in tiebreakers involving the five playoff spots after You-Know-Who, and there's even a very faint possibility of a five-way tie. That would be both the tidiest one for determining who is and the messiest one for determining who plays who, so root for that.<br />
<br />
Here's the chain of events that would entail, in diminishing order of likelihood:<br />
<ul>
<li>Carleton is already 5-3</li>
<li>The Waterloo-Guelph victor finishes 5-3, while the loser finishes 4-4</li>
<li>McMaster wins at Windsor </li>
<li>Queen's beats Ottawa at home, leaving the Gee-Gees 5-3.</li>
<li>Laurier upsets Western to finish 5-3, which seems like a faint possibility even though the Mustangs have nothing to play for.</li>
</ul>
The last bullet point seems kind of unlikely, but you never know. Speaking of not knowing, OUA's tiebreaker criteria, "<b><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/2018-19_OUA_Football_Rules_-_Regulations-Final.pdf" target="_blank">record in games against common opponents</a></b>," doesn't offer much. With so many potential deadlocks, it's hard to see there being many common opponents. Everyone had to skip a turn somewhere in an 11-team conference with an eight-game regular season. And "Record in games against each of the other teams in the division, starting at the top of the standing and continuing in descending order," does that mean everyone will be judged on whether they kept Western under the 33-point cap? Probably not, since Guelph did not play Western.<br />
<br />
I spent the early part of my Sunday making a spreadsheet with margins of victory and defeat for the Muddled Seven.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>I invite the readers to take it from there:<br />
<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
table.tableizer-table {
font-size: 12px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
}
.tableizer-table td {
padding: 4px;
margin: 3px;
border: 1px solid #CCC;
}
.tableizer-table th {
background-color: #104E8B;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
}
</style>
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>Carleton</th><th>Guelph</th><th>Laurier</th><th>McMaster</th><th>Ottawa</th><th>Waterloo</th><th>Queen's</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td></td><td>5-3</td><td>4-3</td><td>4-3</td><td>4-3</td><td>5-2</td><td>4-3</td><td>3-4</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Carleton</b></td><td>x</td><td>x</td><td>6</td><td>x</td><td>11</td><td>-3</td><td>-3</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Guelph</b></td><td>x</td><td>x</td><td>-3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>??</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Laurier</b></td><td>-6</td><td>3</td><td>x</td><td>1</td><td>-18</td><td>2</td><td>-26</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>McMaster</b></td><td>x</td><td>-1</td><td>-1</td><td>x</td><td>7</td><td>18</td><td>-3</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Ottawa</b></td><td>-11</td><td>-2</td><td>18</td><td>-7</td><td>x</td><td>x</td><td>??</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Queen's</b></td><td>3</td><td>-1</td><td>26</td><td>3</td><td>??</td><td>x</td><td>x</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Toronto</b></td><td>12</td><td>33</td><td>x</td><td>33</td><td>32</td><td>23</td><td>33</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Waterloo</b></td><td>3</td><td>??</td><td>-2</td><td>-18</td><td>x</td><td>x</td><td>x</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Western</b></td><td>-3</td><td>x</td><td>??</td><td>-33</td><td>-33</td><td>-33</td><td>-3</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Windsor</b></td><td>18</td><td>6</td><td>15</td><td>??</td><td>x</td><td>16</td><td>x</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>York</b></td><td>15</td><td>15</td><td>x</td><td>x</td><td>26</td><td>-2</td><td>21</td></tr>
<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>x-non-combatant</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><br /></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>??-Week 9 opponent</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh boy, is this great!<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
@KrownCoutdownu <a href="https://twitter.com/Jim_Mullin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jim_Mullin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tiebreaker?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tiebreaker</a> Jim, consider the following scenario, after regular ends next weekend, potentially 4 teams tied at 4 W 4 L, Waterloo & Q's did not play each other, how does the OUA decide on the final 2 playoff spots? <a href="https://t.co/OH2P6tujhO">https://t.co/OH2P6tujhO</a> <a href="https://t.co/864P0a7Qc1">pic.twitter.com/864P0a7Qc1</a></div>
— Ken Waller (@kenwaller1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kenwaller1/status/1051508675339259904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Without benefit of a crystal ball, it is worth reviewing the schedule byes for all the potential 4-4 teams, with the combined record of their "non-combatant" teams in brackets. <br />
<ul>
<li><b>Guelph</b> — Carleton, Western (13-3)</li>
<li><b>Waterloo </b>— Ottawa, Queen's (8-6)</li>
<li><b>McMaster</b> — Carleton, York (7-7)</li>
<li><b>Queen's </b>— Waterloo, Windsor (5-9)</li>
<li><b>Laurier</b> — York, Toronto (2-12)<b><br /></b></li>
</ul>
The scheduling guidelines are giving us a nice distraction before we remember how this movie ends in November, and refill our soda to wash away the bile. Laurier, Mac and Queen's are purportedly prestige programs and shouldn't be counting on wins against the bottom three to get into the playoffs. I wouldn't advise trying to tell them that in person, though.<br />
<br />Waterloo-Guelph is the game to follow. The Warriors still have at second place if they win, but a loss could end their season. It's a win-and-in for Guelph, but a loss sets off a scramble for the spreadsheet. At least everyone can have their own copy of the spreedsheet, unlike the U.S. Senate with a FBI report.<br /><br />
Also, thank goodness for <b>Adam McGuire</b>.)<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
OK, I've done some (amateur) scenario-ing for <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a>'s playoff chances. Let's start with the easy one: win, and they're in. And, they can still grab the #2 seed and a first-round bye, with a win, plus wins by Mac (over Wsr) and Queen's (over Ottawa)...</div>
— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1051317257719037953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
...but don't cheer for Queen's too hard. Should the Warriors lose at Guelph next week, they would need both a Gaels loss to Ottawa, and one of Mac (vs Wsr) or Laurier (at Western) to lose as well.</div>
— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1051318413929328640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
So, <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WlooWarriors</a> fans, if you're looking for a game to scoreboard-watch next week, I highly recommend Ottawa at Queen's. If the Warriors are trailing at Guelph, ride that garnet and grey pony. If Waterloo is up on the Gryphs, it's Cha Gheill time.</div>
— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1051320119274528769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
Oh yes, we kept notes on the game.<br /><br />
<b>SATURDAY</b><br />
<br />
<i>Editor's note: For sake of chronology, Saturday's digest and Friday's are separate, due to OUA having a split schedule with multiple games on each day. Happy weekend after Thanksgiving.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Cheap imitation of John Facenda: </b>On a brisk autumn day where a cruel wind is either friend or foe, depending on the nature of one's team, the spirit of the Warrior kingdom flowed through the gifted passing arm of <b>Tre Ford </b>as surely as God spoke through Tolstoy's pen —</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Western Mustangs: </b>Helllllllllo, undefeated No. 1-ranked defending champion who just clinched home-field advantage through to the Mitchell Bowl — with a shutout road victory — within earshot!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Scriptwriter: </b>Well, you see, you're a juggernaut that's on another planet, and really should be playing Laval or Montréal in the regular season. Waterloo controls its destiny with one game left, and is likely headed to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years—</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Alex Taylor:</b> But I had 225 yards and averaged 17 a carry today!<br /><br /><b>Scriptwriter:</b> Yes. And you should be very proud. Now get on the team bus.</i><br />
<br />
Waterloo, if one might get so flowery about it, is the place to go for the person whose mental coordinates make them change the game if they don't like the settings for the current one. The way that<b> Tre Ford </b>and<b> Tyler Ternowski</b>, et al., took over in the second half against McMaster was perfectly characteristic of how the Warriors have tilted the odds during their turnaround.<br />
<br />
Over the span of two scoring drives, they converted three sizable third downs that weren't gambles at all. Increasing their edge helped them run off 25 consecutive points over five possessions whilst exposing some gaps in the learning curve of that young McMaster defence, which has given up close to 500 yards two weeks in a row. <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB | What a 4th quarter from <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a> outscoring Mac 22-2 for the big 34-16 victory! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> 🏈🖤💛 <a href="https://t.co/gUah4dH1h4">pic.twitter.com/gUah4dH1h4</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1051204212988686336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="pl">
FINAL: <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a> 34 - <a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McMasterSports</a> 16. KCU WARRIOR Tyler Ternowski (WTL) 12 REC 154 YDS 2 TD <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> <a href="https://t.co/lZGVkKnRTG">pic.twitter.com/lZGVkKnRTG</a></div>
— Krown Countdown U (@KrownCountdownU) <a href="https://twitter.com/KrownCountdownU/status/1051220699228950528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
With Waterloo winning in what really should not be viewed as an upset, OUA is set up for a frenetic finale, with four 4-3 teams vying for three playoff berths, while Queen's (3-4) is also a going concern.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181013_jul2.xml" target="_blank"><b>Waterloo 34, No. 9 McMaster 16</b></a> — The wind helped, but the Waterloo defence, with T<b>yrese Brissett </b>and <b>Devon Hinsperger</b> each notching 1½ sacks among a total of five on the day, had its best afternoon of the season. They limited McMaster to one touchdown and 346 yards. It averted disaster by holding the Marauders to a field goal after a botched punt led to a turnover on downs at the nine-yard line in the third quarter. Waterloo got the points back immediately with a 13-play drive and took over the game shortly thereafter. <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB Highlight | <a href="https://twitter.com/RNketiah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RNketiah</a> with his 1st TD of the season extends <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a> lead to 13 following 2 point convert! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MACvsWAT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MACvsWAT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> 🏈🖤💛 <a href="https://t.co/ORuw8vftwA">pic.twitter.com/ORuw8vftwA</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1051192046067757056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB Highlight | <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_Ternowski?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tyler_Ternowski</a> brings in his nation leading 12th TD! <br />
<br />
Warriors lead 27-14‼️‼️‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MACvsWAT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MACvsWAT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> <a href="https://t.co/c9v8kgYlwH">pic.twitter.com/c9v8kgYlwH</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1051191484538646528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
👀 Now that’s 35 yards of sheer determination from <a href="https://twitter.com/DionPellerin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DionPellerin</a> ... What. A. Run! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MACvsWAT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MACvsWAT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> <br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorsFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/mudeDEvyyv">pic.twitter.com/mudeDEvyyv</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1051193529282621440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><b><a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181013_mm71.xml" target="_blank">No. 1 Western 33, No. 5 Ottawa 0</a> </b>— Oh, don't look so shocked. Western is heads, shoulders and sternum above the rest of this conference, and the difference this time around is that separation is balanced between offence and defence. Ottawa's longest gain of the day was 18 yards. Not much more need be said, other than to speculate about how <b>Greg Marshall</b> will handle what is now a nothing game for the Mustangs.<br />
<br />
Western has the opportunity to knock Laurier out of the playoffs, and it will have the bye week before its OUA semifinal on Nov. 3. There is a lot of risk management for the team that has first place wrapped up a week in advance, as was the case for McMaster in 2014, Western in 2011 and Queen's in 2008 and '09. Hazarding a guess based on nothing, if he's healthy quarterback <b>Chris Merchant</b> probably plays a half, while <b>Alex Taylor </b>and <b>Cedric Joseph </b>will also have their touches rationed.<br />
<br />
There could be a torrent of emotions on Laurier's side of things if the score gets out of hand fast and a realization sinks in that a promising season is going to end earlier than anticipated. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181013_mcpa.xml" target="_blank">No. 10 Guelph 46, Toronto 8</a></b> — The outcome wasn't in doubt for long, as the Gryphons gained 500-some yards, gave up fewer than 300 and had a touchdown in third phase through a punt-return touchdown from<b> Kiondre Smith</b>. Shout-outs to Gryphons special teamers Jared Beeksma and Anthony Hall for opening some lanes for Smith to house that one.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈FB: Kiondre Smith electrifies the home crowd as he collects the punt off the bounce and 52 yards later, he's into the end zone for 6! <a href="https://t.co/oLZyK36iin">pic.twitter.com/oLZyK36iin</a></div>
— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons/status/1051169169138429953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Guelph hasn't done anything to lose control of its destiny. I like that.
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>FRIDAY <br />
</b><br />
<br />
Laurier rejoined the living, after borrowing from the Bank of Peak Windsor, the OUA's finest lending institution.<br />
<br />
Ontario University Athletics football is at its best when the bottom three, or four, is showing up and representing well. Windsor, buttressed by having the wind in the second quarter, was doing that football and even had a halftime lead against Laurier. Then Windsor did Windsor things and the Golden Hawks quickly assumed a three-score lead en route to <a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181012_oic4.xml" target="_blank">a 39-24 victory</a>.<br />
<br />
Early in the third quarter, the Lancers defence, thanks to<b> Dan Stirling </b>stripping the ball from <b>Levondre Gordon</b>, had sent the Golden Hawks away empty-handed from a red zone visit for the second time on the day. Then the Lancers immediately had a shotgun snap sail over the head of quarterback <b>Sam Girard</b>, who had to cover the ball for a safety.<br />
<br />
<br />
Laurier scored on the next possession, and then on the ensuing kickoff ...<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
You spoke too soon, apparently.</div>
— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1050792449457541120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">🏈 - Esson Hamilton recovers a Lancers fumble in the end zone for a TD! 👍🕺 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a>💜💛 <a href="https://t.co/SHQsh3Ka0i">pic.twitter.com/SHQsh3Ka0i</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics/status/1050794056463409152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's not like he was a yard inside the end zone, either. Had to be 17 yards deep. Unbelievable.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— Adam McGuire (@adammcg1983) <a href="https://twitter.com/adammcg1983/status/1050794681066344448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
In fairness, that kind of entropy is going from egregious to everyday in a lot of pointy-ball precincts across U Sports, as the football's decline at the high school level begins to catch up to the university level and the put-upon university coaches. That's the macro stuff, best saved for the off-season, or later in the season when there are fewer games to offer a distraction.<br />
<br />
In the here and now, Laurier (4-3) has not done enough to put the "y-" for a clinched playoff berth next to its name. Their fate is going to come down to who joins them at 4-4, presuming the chalk holds against the Purple Ponies down in London in the regular-season finale.<br />
<br />
Laurier's avian antagonists in the 613 did so. Carleton, <a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181012_4sod.xml?view=plays" target="_blank">35-20 winners at York</a>, breasted the five-win tape and its seeding will depend on how many teams join them at 5-3. There's a good possibility of a four-way tie for the 3 through 6 seeds, even a five-way split from 2 to 6 if Ottawa loses each of its remaining games.<br />
</span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Ravens best York 35-20 in their last game of the regular season. Carter led the game with 2 TDS. The Ravens final regular season record now stands at 5-3. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FearTheConspiracy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FearTheConspiracy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayoffBound?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayoffBound</a> 🏈 <a href="https://t.co/f0mByxEOn5">pic.twitter.com/f0mByxEOn5</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— Carleton Ravens Football (@CURavensFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavensFB/status/1050836979846266880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
</b><b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181012_oic4.xml" target="_blank">No. 7 Laurier 39, Windsor 24</a> — </b>The potential for chaos lessened considerably on the final drive of the first half, in all honesty. Windsor took an end-zone shot on first down in the red zone and <b>Daishane Johnson </b>closed for the breakup, then<b> Trevaughn James</b> got a sack that induced a field-goal try. So the Golden Hawks went into the break trailing 19-15 instead of 23-15, and figuring it out became easier. <br />
<br />
Laurier's career scoring leader <b>Nathan Mesher</b> is place-kicking after getting hurt at Carleton last week. A hand injury has led to Laurier using rookie<b> Max Sherwood</b> for kickoffs and punts. Sharing that for all you bottom-of-the-roster management enthusiasts. Laurier could have to leave a depth guy off the travel roster to accommodate the extra specialist!<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</span></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">🏈 - <a href="https://twitter.com/KurleighG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KurleighG</a> becomes the <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> all-time leader in receptions! 🎉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GOAT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GOAT</a>🐐 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a>💜💛 <a href="https://t.co/7kIt8ni12v">pic.twitter.com/7kIt8ni12v</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics/status/1050773980502810624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The OUA's new all-time leader in career receptions is soaring high in purple and gold! Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a> Kurleigh Gittens Jr. on catch No. 1️⃣9️⃣3️⃣ and the new conference record!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">📸 <a href="https://twitter.com/MPHcentral?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MPHcentral</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a> <a href="https://t.co/3ANsOHDakO">pic.twitter.com/3ANsOHDakO</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1050858262541856770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">🏈 - Kevin Wong goes 19 yards for his first career TD for the Hawks! 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a>💜💛 <a href="https://t.co/3fPqP4rEvF">pic.twitter.com/3fPqP4rEvF</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics/status/1050793295243284482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">🏈 - <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanMesher?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NathanMesher</a>'s 42-yard FG gives him 272 career points - a Laurier record! 🐐 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a>💜💛 <a href="https://t.co/iJwbudno4l">pic.twitter.com/iJwbudno4l</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics/status/1050795906927382528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></span></b></blockquote>
<b>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181012_4sod.xml?view=plays" target="_blank">Carleton 35, York 20</a> — </b>Two-touchdown margins in wind-whipped games was the theme for Friday. Writing this blog when work commitments negate live viewing is like being a 1940s baseball announcer re-creating games by reading a ticker tape. <i>What happened? </i><br />
<br />
By the look of it, 50 of the 55 points were scored by the team going with the wind, and Carleton, like it seems to most weeks, lived on the margins. Get outgained by 100-some yards? Well, four of their five sacks came after York and Brett Hunchak had driven to within scoring range, which supports the theory that nothing really matters in Canadian ball until your opponent is inside the 30-yard line. The takedowns, including two from <b>Kene Onyeka</b>, gave Carleton a conference-leading 24.<br />
<br />
Further to that margins narrative, kicker <b>Michael Domagala</b> should be on <i>Property Brothers</i> with the way he flipped the field (go ahead, boo that reference). In a season where Guelph, Queen's and Waterloo have all had gutting missed field goals, Domagala has the distinction of having both the longest field goal and longest punt of this season.<br />
<br />
The latter came just inside of the 14-minute mark, with Carleton up by three, and it was a 70-yarder that went into touch at the Lions' three-yard line. A two-and-out and a short York punt set up Carleton its second short-field touchdown drive of the afternoon. York never got close than seven over the duration.<br />
<br />
The red flag with the Ravens remains, well, penalty flags — 14 accepted for 115 yards on Friday. The rub with that comes back to a more auspicious figure, the totally made-up Disruptions mega-stat that combines sacks, fumble recoveries and interceptions. Carleton has 37, or 4.6 per game, which ranks third in the conference after Ottawa (36, 6.0 per) and Western (32, 5.3). <br />
<br />
So Ottawa and Carleton are first and third at The Good Thing, and happen to be 1-2 in penalty yards per game. It is not clear whether there is some cost-of-doing-business correlation there, but if it's a crude calculus of an extra takeaway per game against one extra major foul, most coaches would probably take it. (Western is fifth in penalties.)<br />
<br />
York, meantime, drops out of Worst-Case Ontario. The Lions, to channel Nigel Tufnel, just needed more <i>sustain</i>. Warren Craney's charges stayed within two touchdowns of Carleton and Guelph. They were in a one-possession game against Queen's at three-quarters time. And there was that breakthrough in the nation's capital where they led Ottawa for 2½ minutes before <b>Jamie Harry </b>restored the natural order by housing an interception return.<b><br />
<br />
Worst-Case Ontario <span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
<br />
It is a just a matter of what slot Carleton will fill in the bracket. The Ravens should not be able to finish any higher than third, since they lost to Ottawa, which already has five wins.<br />
</span></b><br />
<ol><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Western (best-case 8-0, worst-case 8-0). </b>Talking point: with an expanded national playoff, Western would have to <i>play </i>it out to work for that No. 1 seed. That is something else to keep in mind.<br /><br />As it stands, it's hard to imagine<b> Greg Marshall </b>punting one away to <b>Michael Faulds </b>— the master always makes the protege earn it. Western also has a 19-win overall streak extant and it has won 21 regular-season games in a row, dating back to a loss at Carleton in Week 2 of 2016. Those are luxury items and the Yates and Vanier are staples, but it's only a competitor's nature to want to be deprived of those things in a straight-up open competition.</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Ottawa (best-case 6-2, worst-case 5-3).</b> At Queen's in Week 9. The math is pretty simple for the Gee-Gees: beat Queen's, which they haven't lost against since 2013, and they host a semifinal on Nov. 3. Please let that be the one that CHCH broadcasts even though London is closer to its Hamilton base.</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>McMaster (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4). </b>That Windsor game isn't looking like such a sure thing after successive shreddings of the secondary. A playoff spot isn't assured</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Carleton (5-3).</b> To use a <i>Horsin' Around</i> joke construction, I've heard of bend-don't-break, but this is fairly ridiculous. Carleton kept only one opponent under 20 points, but it's got an inside track on a top-5 finish. And even then, that one under-20 game owed to Waterloo leaving points all over the field.</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Guelph (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4). </b>If the conditions allow for a scorefest, Waterloo does that a bit better than Waterloo. The Gryphons might rate the edge in the old-school elements of the game, but after seeing how Waterloo controlled the line of scrimmage in the decisive stages at McMaster, that's a bit more open to debate.</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Waterloo (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4).</b> Is their win against Laurier going to be a hole card in a tiebreaker scenario? Win at Guelph and they won't have to find out.</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Laurier (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4).</b> At Western next week. There was a gap between the teams when the Golden Hawks pulled the upset in the 2016 Yates, but right now it looks like a chasm.</span></li>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Queen's (best-case 4-4, worst-case 3-5). </b>Host Ottawa in what might ultimately end up being their de facto playoff game. They could win and still lose the numbers game.</span></li>
</b></ol>
<b>
</b><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-79999291979290156662018-10-05T14:47:00.001-04:002018-10-05T18:00:07.402-04:00OUA Football, Thanksgiving short week edition: #FreeGK, Justice Allin, Marshall the Merciful & at least Laurier is livin' againAt least McMaster had <b>Justice </b>on the field on a day when its players protested a perceived injustice off of it.<br />
<br />
However the Queen's-McMaster affray that was replete with playoff ramifications played out on Friday — the Marauders won 27-24 after withstanding a late, desperate rally by a Gaels side that seemed to gain maturity over the course of play — the chain overreaction that led to Marauders coach <b>Greg Knox</b> being off the sideline due to being on "administrative leave" is the first point of reference. The ground with Knox being absent is being well-tilled by the much more established media. Whatever actually happened between the Marauders coach and a chain-crew official during the Sept. 22 Laurier-McMaster game was regrettable, but not unforgivable. (Full disclosure on the ambiguity: as a blogger who works at one of the media portals covering the story, there's info I'm not at liberty to put on a blog; it's called the Cut Your Own Grass Policy.) The Knox situation, coming at a time when Mac is in transition after director of athletics <b>Glen Grunwald</b> moved on to head up Canada Basketball recently, escalated into the coach being put on leave before Ontario University Athletics could wrap up an investigation into whether a one-game suspension was warranted.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Is McMaster Marauders' coach Greg Knox suspended? If you were trying to write a story about the most puzzling, confounding handling of a situation in Canadian university sports, you'd have a hard time topping what played out Tuesday, writes Scott Radley. <a href="https://t.co/tmKOkq5GBt">https://t.co/tmKOkq5GBt</a></div>
— Hamilton Spectator (@TheSpec) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSpec/status/1047297684154015746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McMasterSports</a> football players warming up with t-shirts supporting their coach who the school has put on administrative leave. The front says ‘McMaster Football vs. Everybody’ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HamOnt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HamOnt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/oua?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#oua</a> <a href="https://t.co/h15XjVqcK1">pic.twitter.com/h15XjVqcK1</a></div>
— Scott Radley (@radleyatthespec) <a href="https://twitter.com/radleyatthespec/status/1048218733355978753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
It's not even apparent, because university sports, if Knox will helm McMaster (4-2) next week against Waterloo (3-3) in another Major Playoff Implications game. <br />
<br />
"I'm not going to comment on that," said Marauders co-offensive coordinator <b>Tom Flaxman</b>, who split Knox's duties with defensive coordinator <b>Scott Brady</b>, "But I can say that as coaches and players that we all support coach Knox and we hope there's a timely resolution."<br />
<br />
The only clear takeaway was that what could have caused a downward spiral gave McMaster that extra 2 per cent of resolve to squeak out its third home win by three or fewer points.<br />
<br />
"The message we had was just to ignore the media on it, we can't control that so just let this bring us closer together," said the Marauders field-side halfback<b> Noah Hallett</b>, whose two Madden-stick pass breakups in the end zone turned seeming Queen's touchdowns into field goals, representing an eight-point swing in a three-point decision. "It's brought us together, the motto's McMaster vs. everybody.<br />
<br />
"Obviously it's a big thing to lose our coach. Knox is a great coach and we wanted to express ourselves on that."<br />
<br />
The autumn of close games continued, at least on Friday. McMaster survived by three points against Queen's (3-4). Laurier won by six at Carleton, 37-31, behind frosh QB Connor Carusello, and the Golden Hawks (3-3) are back in the thick of things while the Ravens (4-3) have eaten some reality sandwich.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 - Final: Hawks win! Hawks win! Hawks win! The 💜💛 improve to 3-3 with a 37-31 victory over the Carleton Ravens 😎👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WLUvsCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WLUvsCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/3e7YFAnVPH">pic.twitter.com/3e7YFAnVPH</a></div>
— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics/status/1048297680399753216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Giving up 37 to a freshman quarterback (and no kicker) at home is nooooot a good look for Carleton.<br />
Meanwhile, Laurier is right back in it!</div>
— Gord Randall (@GARandall) <a href="https://twitter.com/GARandall/status/1048297679812419586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
University sports, to use the old saw, is a great game to survive the institutions that offer it. In the wake of that kerfuffle, the short week produced the considered one of those below-the-radar battles that October lends itself to with the in-season incremental improvements began to show up in teams' games — or don't — as playoff positions are firmed up.<br />
<br />
Something had to give in a matchup between two mid-level teams that both came in with a glaring deficiency in the passing phase. Up until this week, Queen's couldn't stop the pass and Mac couldn't complete many. Ultimately, Marauders QB <b>Andreas Dueck </b>had the complements around him to win the day, finishing 23-of-30 for 367 yards with one interception.<br />
<br />
The biggest one in going forward was the fellow listed as McMaster's fifth running back, <b>Justice Allin</b>, who was making his season debut after having his 2017 campaign scuttled by a torn ACL. <b>Jordan Lyons </b>is the alpha in the rushing phase for McMaster, but the Marauders worked in Allin beautifully as the scatback, decoy, or beta-back, getting defenders out of areas, creating single coverage downfield for receivers as<b> Tommy Nield</b> and <b>Levi Paul</b>. to exploit The boxscore might have shown some modest usage, apart from a 62-yard reception on a swing pass in the first half, but Allin was the X-factor for a Marauders attack that showed some sizzle.<br />
<br />
"One thing I want to say about Justice Allin is that in all the time I've been doing this (coaching), I have never seen an athlete take as seriously as he did his rehab," Flaxman said.<br />
<br />
"Justice has only had five or six practices but when he's in it changes what we can run," Flaxman added. "We can get more potential for explosive plays. It's a credit to him for making it back. He's going to be a big part of things — he just needs to get some touches. And get some hits."<br />
<br />
One doesn't get to grasp the effect of Allin being back from watching the webcast, or checking stats, or watching the tweeted highlights, as much as those resources are appreciated for making the games more accessible. And you sort of miss the influence that Hallett had by denying Queen's two surest-handed receivers,<b> Matteo Del Brocco </b>and <b>Richard Burton</b>, touchdown catches.<br />
<br />
"The first one definitely hurt," said Hallett, who needed the trainers' staff after denying Del Brocco in the second quarter. "But I told myself I could play through it."<br />
<br />
The hard reality is football games only have one winner, but getting an in-person viewing did show that Queen's, with head coach <b>Pat Sheahan </b>doing something similar to<b> Wally Buono </b>in the CFL by eschewing a headset on the sideline, is trending positively. While Mac has those three narrow wins, Queen's (3-4) has three narrow losses against quality opponents, having also taken Carleton to overtime on the road, while making Western score twice in the fourth quarter last week. With <b>Nate Hobbs </b>buying time throughout the day, Queen's had perhaps its best offensive effort against McMaster in a decade with 482 yards. That normally adds up to more than 24 points, but McMaster seems bound and determined to prove the hypothesis that nothing matters in Canadian football until the offence enters the score zone.<br />
<br />
Hallett and his teammates were able to limit the damage.<br />
<br />
"We've had a bit of practice with those close games," he said. "Our defence has learned how to tighten up the coverage when we need it."<br />
<br />
Three of four OUA games are now in the books, so we can update, pending the Laurier-Carleton outcome in the 1 p.m. contest that is the late game by default.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181005_xe2l.xml" target="_blank"><b>McMaster 27 Queen's 24</b></a> — Probably talked out about this game, so we'll pivot to video:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 - Puskas with his 5th rushing touchdown of the season!<br />
<br />
7-1 Gaels<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QUEvsMAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QUEvsMAC</a> <a href="https://t.co/1SwK7n3EXX">pic.twitter.com/1SwK7n3EXX</a></div>
— Queen's Gaels (@queensgaels) <a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels/status/1048232433534099456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Football -- A 41-yard connection between Dueck and Levi Paul set up Adam Preocanin, who makes from 41 to restore Mac's lead at 13-10. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoMacGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoMacGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/kXinTFb7rd">pic.twitter.com/kXinTFb7rd</a></div>
— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports/status/1048240170976382978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 - This BIG play by Matteo Del Brocco set up a Gaels' FG<br />
<br />
Queen's takes the 16-14 lead<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QUEvsMAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QUEvsMAC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGaelsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoGaelsGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/qDddR439FV">pic.twitter.com/qDddR439FV</a></div>
— Queen's Gaels (@queensgaels) <a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels/status/1048252341613469701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Football -- A fumble forced by Eryk Bujalski and picked up Nolan Putt gets the offence into the red zone! <a href="https://t.co/O9bR6Vtmw4">pic.twitter.com/O9bR6Vtmw4</a></div>
— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports/status/1048254496554602496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Football -- This 43-yard reception from Nield took the Marauders into the red zone in a hurry, and Jordan Lyons punched it in two plays later! 24-16 Mac! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoMacGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoMacGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/f7Uu0zi72P">pic.twitter.com/f7Uu0zi72P</a></div>
— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports/status/1048257606320578562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
We're in store for quite a finish in this one! <a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@queensgaels</a> Rasheed Tucker runs one in, and after the 2-pt conversion, the Tricolour are down just 3️⃣! Tune in to <a href="https://t.co/3s9ERGO5IJ">https://t.co/3s9ERGO5IJ</a> to see what the final few minutes have in store!<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QUEvsMAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QUEvsMAC</a> <a href="https://t.co/NImMN9vqBw">pic.twitter.com/NImMN9vqBw</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1048264976484507649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
What a nailbiter the <a href="https://twitter.com/McMasterSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McMasterSports</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@queensgaels</a> treated us to in <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPORTSca</a> football action! Great effort by both teams w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mac?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mac</a> holding on to win 27-24. Here's our postgame interview with defensive star Nolan Putt. Catch a replay of the game Saturday at noon & 7pm <a href="https://t.co/yWamorC3CS">pic.twitter.com/yWamorC3CS</a></div>
— Cable 14 Hamilton (@cable14) <a href="https://twitter.com/cable14/status/1048314189763235840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181005_ag2b.xml" target="_blank">No. 8 Laurier 37, No. 9 Carleton 31</a> </b>— Please don't be That Guy who says Laurier getting a desperately needed season-saving win justifies why they were nationally ranked with a losing record. That is neither here nor there for them. What matters is you can sort of read some of that spirit coming back into their game.<br />
<br />
The Golden Hawks, behind <b>Connor Carusello</b> — and I'm going to call him <i>Carson </i>one of these teams; apology in advance — always seemed to have a response. It went way beyond the <b>Esson Hamilton </b>pass-and-run touchdown that put them up for good with 7½ minutes left. Laurer responded with a touchdown drive three times after Ravens touchdowns. The only time they didn't was with an interception, and Will Amoah picked off Carleton's <b>Michael Arruda </b>to get the ball back immediately. Carleton never really kept momentum in a game that had eight lead changes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
With time winding down in the 2nd quarter, <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a> ends the back-and-forth first half by retaking the lead on this Brentyn Hall touchdown. The purple and gold lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a> 23-17 at the break.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WLUvsCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WLUvsCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zjd77QAEBf">pic.twitter.com/Zjd77QAEBf</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1048277233650085897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
Nothing like a big play to take back the lead! Connor Carusello connects with Esson Hamilton for the 78-yard major, giving <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a> the edge once again with just minutes to play against the <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a>!<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WLUvsCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WLUvsCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/BVwSBFFnQO">pic.twitter.com/BVwSBFFnQO</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1048295093013295105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
Veteran Laurier kicker <b>Nathan Mesher </b>left with an injury. <b>Nick Petermann </b>had to kick the last two converts. He was a two-way player in high school, so apparently his talents have no end.<br />
<br />
The other big takeaway is Laurier got the curse off the yellow jerseys, perhaps by combining them with white helmets and white paints. They kind of look like Georgia Tech crossed with Los Angeles Rams throwbacks.<br />
<br />
Circling back, Laurier being not only ranked but ranked higher than the Ravens is not as far down the silliness spectrum as one might think. The OUA is such a muddle that I nearly put them on my top 10 ballot as a fifth team out of Ontario, but Occam's Razor as expressed by <b>Herm Edwards</b> won out; you play to win the game, and Laurier had been losing games, by razor-thin margins. So undefeated Saint Mary's got my 10th-place vote on Sunday night.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
One of 15 Football Reporters of Canada voters has <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurierFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaurierFootball</a> ranked in the top 10, yet the Elo ranking system has Laurier at No. 6 for a combined No. 8 ranking Hate to break it to you <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPORTSca</a>, but a 2-3 team that has lost 3 straight is NOT No. 8 in Canada. <a href="https://t.co/onitUw6WOi">https://t.co/onitUw6WOi</a></div>
— Mark Bryson (@BrysonRecord) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrysonRecord/status/1047901565854605319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
We try our best over at <a href="https://twitter.com/KrownCountdownU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KrownCountdownU</a> with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Power7?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Power7</a>. <a href="https://t.co/X2WiG1PFde">pic.twitter.com/X2WiG1PFde</a></div>
— Jim Mullin (@Jim_Mullin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jim_Mullin/status/1047904164141912064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<b>Thursday's action, in a matter of speaking</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181004_hpb5.xml?view=plays" target="_blank"><b>No. 1 Western 66, </b></a><b><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181004_hpb5.xml?view=plays" target="_blank">Windsor 14</a> </b>— Hot take: Western coach <b>Greg Marshall </b>thin-sliced this turkey perfectly by pulling <b>Cedric Joseph </b>after he broke the OUA single-game rushing record in the first half with 17 rushes for 355 yards in the first half.<br />
<br />
There was no upside to having Joseph go in for another possession or two for a shot at the national mark of 395. Showing mercy was an editorial comment.<br />
<br />
It also made a point, if indirectly, that it would have been semi-halfway worthless — you need a record performance to defeat Windsor? — to do this against an outmatched counterpart. By the same token, Joseph broke a conference record set by the matchless<b> Andre Durie</b>, who had 349 in a game for York in 2003. He still gets <i>something</i>, stays fresh for Ottawa next week and no one looks at it as Western pouring it on a against a bottom-three team.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
I'm sorry. Cedric Joseph had the third highest single game rushing total EVER, and Western didn't give him a single touch in the second half?! Wow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/funpolice?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#funpolice</a></div>
— Gord Randall (@GARandall) <a href="https://twitter.com/GARandall/status/1048047533606359040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
He showed superior speed tonight vs. Windsor. The OL got him to the LB level, and then he just outran everyone. Even the DBs who had the angle on him early on end up lunging from behind.</div>
— Ken Kirkwood (@KennethKirkwood) <a href="https://twitter.com/KennethKirkwood/status/1048066754461630465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
Windsor's coaching staff really should wear it for this debacle. The Lancers decided to play a lot of press coverage, leaving them exposed in run support and giving Joseph relatively easy passage to rushing lanes wider than Mile 114 of the Arthur Burkhardt Expressway. It's Western. Put eight defenders in the box and make them beat you with the pass. That way you still lose about 66-14, but temporarily taking them away from their wheelhouse strength is a small victory.<br />
<b><br /><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181004_68l7.xml" target="_blank">No. 5 Ottawa 53, Toronto 21</a></b> — Competitive balance through intervention is the best way to describe the Gee-Gees having 17 accepted penalties for 202 yards. Without that, Ottawa might have really blown out Toronto after knocking Varsity Blues quarterback <b>Connor Ennis</b> out of the game with a late hit on a 41-yard reception, which set up a touchdown that brought Toronto within two scores at 22-14. <br />
<br />
To think someone who is halfway to being an idiot savant fretted that this was a trap game for the Gee-Gees, who hit 200 rushing yards and 400 passing, including 258 through Good Kingston Boy <b>Carter Matheson</b>.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
After a hard-fought first half, the <a href="https://twitter.com/uOttawaGeeGees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uOttawaGeeGees</a> end with a 💥 thanks to this 65-yard bomb from Sawyer Buettner to Carter Matheson (their second connection of the day) to put the visitors up 29-14 over the <a href="https://twitter.com/Varsity_Blues?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Varsity_Blues</a>!<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTTvsTOR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTTvsTOR</a> <a href="https://t.co/KnaKb3Ozrt">pic.twitter.com/KnaKb3Ozrt</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1048010661840789504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
TOUCHDOWN GEE-GEES!!<br />
<br />
James Peter scoops up the fumble and scores!<br />
<br />
Ottawa 50 | Toronto 14<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGnation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GGnation</a>🐎 <a href="https://t.co/dLD7AgLEfW">pic.twitter.com/dLD7AgLEfW</a></div>
— Gee-Gees Football (@GeeGeesFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeGeesFootball/status/1048022766254010371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><b>
Worst Case Ontario update:</b><br />
<ol>
<li><b>Western (best-case 8-0, worst-case 8-0). </b>If they came out of that Windsor controlled scrimmage with refs and cheerleaders with any significant injuries, the entire coaching staff should have to run the stadium steps 100 times immediately after eating their turkey.<br /><br />It was a big fireworks display in London in more ways than one.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FB: The players are even sticking around for the fireworks after a 66-14 win.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PurpleReign?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PurpleReign</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RunWithUs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RunWithUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/jsbfKhxIqq">pic.twitter.com/jsbfKhxIqq</a></div>
— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternMustangs/status/1048029335637168130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (best-case 6-2, worst-case 5-3). </b>Not since 2012, when future Hec Crighton winner <b>Will Finch </b>was a frosh quarterback and Ottawa had the last remnants of the good<b> Denis Piché</b> recruiting classes, have the Gee-Gees hung in with the Mustangs. Have things changed?</li>
<li><b>McMaster (best-case 6-2, worst-case 4-4).</b> It's not clear how good these Marauders are and is not yet clear who will be their head coach(es) on Oct. 13. What a time to be alive. <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>Carleton (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4).</b> Of course the Ravens and Gryphons, the teams with the most likely "win out" routes to finishing 5-3, have missed each other in the schedule. That will make it complicated to figure out in two weeks' time.<br /><br />A short week and a young opposing quarterback and Carleton allowed 619 yards. Oy vey.</li>
<li><b>Guelph (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4). </b>In these divided, fragmented times, a university athletic department, public school board and Catholic board found a way to give high school football a bigger platform and perhaps convince classmates and the community to get a little more invested. Well-played, Guelph. <br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Interesting idea to hype high school football in the Royal City. Think it could work here? <a href="https://t.co/klah0TyZZ6">https://t.co/klah0TyZZ6</a></div>
— Mark Bryson (@BrysonRecord) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrysonRecord/status/1047866729307811840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />Meantime, the bye-weeking Gryphons have the great setup with Toronto and Waterloo at home over the final quarter-leg.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈Congrats Job Reinhart on being named the <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> Defensive Player of the Week! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GryphonPride?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GryphonPride</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GryphonFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GryphonFootball</a> ➡️<a href="https://t.co/7o3UbDOJWi">https://t.co/7o3UbDOJWi</a> <a href="https://t.co/nEGfgq4J7n">pic.twitter.com/nEGfgq4J7n</a></div>
— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons/status/1046910270390460417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>Waterloo (best-case 5-3, worst-case 3-5).</b> The version of itself Waterloo presented against Carleton and Laurier is fully capable of winning out against McMaster and Guelph and earning the Warriors' first berth in a six-team playoff. (Eight teams made it in 2003, the last time they got in.)<br /><br />The version of itself Waterloo presented against Western and York likely topples into Next Year Country again. Either way, with the football Warriors off, it's not too self-indulgent to shout out Waterloo hockey forward <b>Kenny Turner</b> for scoring his first OUA goal in the season opener. Turner was a black ace for most of the last two seasons after coming to UW from Junior A ranks in northwestern Ontario. A lot of striving and sacrifice went into that goal, which broke a 9-0 shutout.<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
It was a rough season opener for <a href="https://twitter.com/UWWarriorHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWWarriorHockey</a> but a lone bright spot came from 3rd year <a href="https://twitter.com/kennyturner69?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kennyturner69</a> who netted his first career <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPORTSca</a> Goal! Check out his tally on his own rebound! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goblackgogold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goblackgogold</a> 🏒 <a href="https://t.co/JP3Q0XIrVi">pic.twitter.com/JP3Q0XIrVi</a></div>
— UWaterloo Warriors (@WlooWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/WlooWarriors/status/1047664882928287744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>Laurier (best-case 4-4, worst-case 4-4).</b> The Golden Hawks will predictably handle Windsor next week and then get rolled real good by Western. Then what happens when they get thrown into the hopper of 4-4 teams?<br /><br />I thought of putting 5-3 for the best case, on the odd off-chance Western has to sit everyone with so much as a canker sore. But overall Laurier's final record is the one 4-4 mark that I feel most secure about writing in with the same pen I use to do <i>The New York Times</i> crossword in 23 minutes, seriously, really. <br /><br />(If we've learned nothing else from <b>Donald Trump Jr.</b>, you make your humble-brags really specific and totally unrealistic.)</li>
<li><b>Queen's (best-case 4-4, worst-case 3-5).</b> Flaxman did call Queen's "a great team; eventually they're going to find ways to win games." McMaster's skill-position guys just made a few more plays.<br /><br />Rookie receiver<b> Richard Burton </b>had a promising afternoon and the lost fumble at Queen's 30-yard line in the third quarter was a killer, as did having two penalties on the punt immediately prior that pinned Queen's on its one-yard line. The turnover was a classic case of where the runner keeps his legs churning and the defenders pry the ball out. Mac only cashed in for a field goal and a 17-16 lead, but a skein of productive Queen's marches was broken up and they didn't regain rhythm until it was almost too late. One really empathizes with Burton.<br /><br />It might be too late for Queen's to get into the playoffs. Figuring out the tiebreakers is like counting proxies before the big stockholder's meeting and Queen's is lacking tiebreakers with losses to Carleton and Laurier.<br /><br />If little else, Week 9 against Ottawa is a spoiler situation for Hobbs' final home game. Queen's was in the same situation against Carleton in 2014 when <b>Billy McPhee </b>was the fifth-year quarterback, and they stepped up to wreck someone's season that day.</li>
<li><b>York (best-case 4-4, worst-case 2-6).</b> It will be a tall order for York to upset Carleton and finish 4-4, but there's a reason to root for that beyond doormat-does-good sentiment. A closing thought:<br /><br />Toronto (2013) and Waterloo (2017) have cracked .500 in recent years without getting a playoff berth, as only six of the 11 teams make the playoffs — 54.5 per cent, lower than the other three conferences (60 per cent in the Atlantic, 67 in Canada West, 80 in the RSEQ).<br /><br />It takes so much outlay of athletic budget, plus human capital, to go from doormat to viable, but the entry point is still too restrictive. <br /><br />Ontario University Athletics was right on one level in 2004 when it eliminated the 1 vs. 8 and 2 vs. 7 quarterfinals. At the same time, if an expanded national playoff is on the way then some incentives need to be created for the characteristically bottom four teams to enjoy some form of post-season play. <br /><br />But something can be well-designed and still prone to unintended consequences. The system shouldn't just be a fail-safe for the powerhouse that got upset in its own conference. It was nauseating to some degree that happened last season with the Alabama Crimson Tide and the College Football Playoff in the U.S., but in terms of who was fooling who, Nick Saban's evil empire still had a better case than Central Florida. <br /><br />Likewise, hypothetically, if there had been a six-team playoff in 2016, Western would have got a wild card after an ignominious fourth-quarter collapse in the Yates Cup. That's fine, but there is an opportunity to create something in Canada with avenues for teams from all walks of the football life, and budgeting levels. <br /><br />That is a message I hope OUA hears, as the country's most diverse football conference. All the other stakeholders' wishes are pretty clear. Quebec likely wants to have two berths, and considering that either Laval or Montréal have played in and/or hosted the last 10 Vanier Cup games, they deserve it. Canada West will probably want two, and AUS will want the guarantee of its champion hosting the Atlantic Bowl every year, as either a quarterfinal or semifinal. <br /><br /><br />Pinky-swear to bloviate more about this after the turkey coma wears off.<br /> </li>
</ol>
<b>Week 8 slate:</b> Windsor at Laurier (Fri.), Carleton at York (Fri.), Western at Ottawa (Sat.), McMaster at Waterloo (Sat.), Toronto at Guelph (Sat.), bye, Queen's.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-86984325214811557042018-09-30T13:01:00.000-04:002018-10-04T21:26:15.167-04:00OUA Football, Week 6: Ottawa's Panda Game win means playoff picture is starting to come into orderIt is no longer clear who is No. 1 in the country, but there is a lead horse for that second playoff bye after Ottawa and <b>Sawyer Buettner</b> vented an entire undergrad degree's lifesplan of Panda Game anguish.<br />
<br />
Why look up the definition of catharsis when you can just embed a worthy-of-Webster's video of Ottawa fans getting to storm the field for the first time since the rivalry game moved to TD Place in 2014?<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🐼 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🐼<br />
<br />
For the 50th time, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaGame</a> is in the 📚.<br />
<br />
And this scene says it all.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaFiveO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaFiveO</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTTvsCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTTvsCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/VbCyDhbO6J">pic.twitter.com/VbCyDhbO6J</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1046134734177349632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
PANDA 50 goes to the <a href="https://twitter.com/uOttawa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uOttawa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeGeesFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeeGeesFootball</a> team. Way to go Gee Gees. What an exciting game. What a team. A sea of Garnet (& some Grey) rush onto the field to celebrate a great win for the Gees! GO GEES GO! Woo hoo! 👏🎉🚀 <a href="https://twitter.com/uOttawaGeeGees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uOttawaGeeGees</a> 🐎🐎🐎<a href="https://twitter.com/recteurUOpres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@recteurUOpres</a> Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/CHCHTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CHCHTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/fwsHWFq2xb">pic.twitter.com/fwsHWFq2xb</a></div>
— Lance Curtis (@lbcurtis) <a href="https://twitter.com/lbcurtis/status/1046137290018500608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
So many emotions in one photo. What an amazing day. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGnation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GGnation</a>. <a href="https://t.co/aJaZKQblup">pic.twitter.com/aJaZKQblup</a></div>
— Gee-Gees Football (@GeeGeesFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeGeesFootball/status/1046172813441343488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="fr">
POST PANDA GAME MOOD 🤩<br />
•<br />
Thank you to friends, family and fans for your support today. <br />
•<br />
Merci à nos partisans pour votre soutien aujourd'hui.<br />
•<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGnation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GGnation</a>🐎 <a href="https://t.co/96tsQoaiN0">pic.twitter.com/96tsQoaiN0</a></div>
— uOttawa Gee-Gees (@uOttawaGeeGees) <a href="https://twitter.com/uOttawaGeeGees/status/1046162832579006465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Great game yesterday by both teams!! Proud of <a href="https://twitter.com/uOttawaGeeGees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uOttawaGeeGees</a> and the way they took care of business! <a href="https://twitter.com/jhowell_16?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jhowell_16</a> is rocking the 2010 Yates cup jersey, looking like he’s about to rush for 1000 this year! <a href="https://t.co/jCW3E0cOpU">pic.twitter.com/jCW3E0cOpU</a></div>
— Brendan Gillanders (@Bgillanders25) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bgillanders25/status/1046378066740760576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
When city rivals play every year, the past is much more prologue and each game is a callback to prior contests. During the four-year losing streak, Ottawa had spans where it went up and down the field but stalled in the red zone. Carleton would be opportunistic and come up with the explosion plays. Instead, Ottawa was a finisher par excellence in the red zone, particularly on stretched-out catches by <b>Kalem Beaver</b>, <b>Dylan St. Pierre</b> and <b>Carter Matheson</b>, while the defence generated a 5-1 edge in turnovers. More on that down below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The other major moving parts involve the purple teams coming back to the pack, while Waterloo evidently turned back into a pumpkin right in time to end up in a Starbucks latte. Western needed to score on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter to edge Queen's, heretofore the third-most generous — that means ninth-ranked, Bubba — defensive side in the conference, for a 26-23 win. It's a wild coincidence that Western has made two trips to Eastern Ontario and had the same squeaker of a scoreline each time; by the way, they still have to schlep up to Ottawa in two weeks' time. The Mustangs showed some heavy mettle in the fourth quarter, but their voter support in the polls could be (groan) softening.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Based on what I've seen out of the Western Mustangs in Kingston, win or not... they are not the number one team in the country. The second time they've been drawn into the OUA pack. Calgary's d-line depth and young o-line are issues. The best team is in Quebec, once again.</div>
— Jim Mullin (@Jim_Mullin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jim_Mullin/status/1046126370542116864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
Meantime, Laurier apparently has a volleyball team now, because they give the ball away about every three touches. The Golden Hawks had six interceptions charged to <b>Tristan Arndt</b> as Guelph scored all 17 second-half points in a 27-24 win that the Gryphons were badly overdue to get after losing thrice by a combined four points.<br />
<br />
The league is hella unpredictable; with York actually on the fringe of playoff contention after a 34-32 win against Waterloo, exactly half of the games so far (15 of 30) have ave been decided by seven or fewer points. One would have to have a special kind of confidence of a mediocre white man to start projecting final standings, but there is a playoff pecking order. Carleton coach Steve Sumarah said it will take a 5-3 record to get into the playoffs and it appears he might be right. <br />
<br />
Time for Worst Case Ontario:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Western (best-case 8-0, worst-case ... 8-0). </b>The road to Quebec City is still going through London, but damn Western (5-0), would a statement road win kill ya? Waterloo doesn't count, not with how the Warriors lost against York on Saturday.<br /><br />Western might welcome a well-orchestrated loss.</li>
<li><b>Ottawa (best-case 6-2, worst-case 5-3). </b>So what if Carleton and Ottawa finish second and third? Do they go back to TD Place for a semifinal game that could probably draw 10,000 people on very short notice?<br /><br />The worst thing would be for a Panda Game win to prove Pyrrhic. The Gee-Gees (4-1) haven't had to travel outside of their city since the opener up at Laurier. Coach<b> Jamie Barresi </b>doubtlessly enjoyed the most emotional and eye-catching win of his six-season Gee-Gees tenure but cautioned about falling into a "<a href="https://canoe.com/sports/football/panda-game-win-gives-gee-gees-playoff-aspirations-huge-boost/wcm/e60a44bf-3822-4a42-b0a8-41012b9f179d" target="_blank">stupor</a>" heading into a short week before a roadie to play winless Toronto, who are the best 0-5 team in the country. (For those trolling at home, UBC is the best 1-4 team, especially in the budget:win ratio.)<br /><br />In terms of motivated opponents, Ottawa has it all. Toronto, which hasn't won a game but has come close in the past two weeks. In Week 8, Western will likely be looking to clinch home field through to the Yates Cup and Mitchell Bowl. Then it's a finale at Queen's, which could be in a win-and-in scenario.</li>
<li><b>McMaster (best-case 6-2, worst-case 4-4).</b> It's not even too certain that McMaster (3-2, idle this week) will win its final home game, against Queen's on Friday. Their Oct. 13 roadies at Waterloo and even Windsor aren't gimmes, the former since the Warriors can score a lot of points and the latter due to the distance and distractions.<br /><br />Not beating oneself seems to one of the cardinal virtues this season. McMaster has yet to do that, plus it has<b> Jordan Lyons </b>in the rushing phase. </li>
<li><b>Carleton (best-case 6-2, worst-case 4-4).</b> There is no anecdotal evidence about how the Ravens will react after losing a Panda Game, which is a feather in their cap. The Ravens (4-2) could win out against Laurier (Oct. 5, home) and York (Oct. 12, away) and have a bye before hosting a quarterfinal. But their pass coverage has been porous for four games in a row. </li>
<li><b>Guelph (best-case 5-3, worst-case 4-4).</b> As previously noted, Guelph (3-3) has the favourable October schedule of bye-Toronto-Waterloo, and they're only a few blown scoring opportunities from being 6-0. That puts the Gryphons ahead by a nose among the quartet of three-loss teams.</li>
<li><b>Queen's (best-case 5-3, worst-case 3-5).</b> They were good enough to tease against Western and, although few sports fans ever admit this, sometimes that is really all we want. The Queen's-McMaster game is pretty much a playoff game for at least one of the teams and, no, I'm not just saying that since it's one of the few I can see due to work commitments.<br /><br />Having the extra week to prepare for Ottawa might help Queen's a little. Not too sure how their blocking group would hold up against a pretty decent Gee-Gees D on Oct. 20.</li>
<li><b>Waterloo (best-case 5-3, worst-case 3-5).</b> There are a couple of plaintive little hopes that keep one from writing off Waterloo (3-3).<br /><br />One is that they have their bye week before hosting McMaster in Week 8, in what should be a bitter battle, since Warriors pass game coordinator<b> Jon Behie </b>will be matching wits against the defensive coaches from his alma mater. McMaster hasn't put up points against a credible team on the road, or really even at home. Then Waterloo finishes against Guelph, which it scored 49 points against last season.</li>
<li><b>Laurier (best-case 4-4, worst-case 3-5). </b>The Golden Hawks have gone from hell on wheels on likely needing help to make the playoffs. The Carleton game next Friday is a must-win and, based on how the Golden Hawks have been shooting themselves in the feet, it is tough to envision a win against Western in Week 9 unless the Mustangs field a totally B team.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
First time <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a> has lost 3 games in a row since 2015 but no one should throw in the towel yet is it a long road ahead yes. But this team you just feel is ready to turn it around. All losses are by a combined 6 points <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHAWKS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHAWKS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HOCO2K18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HOCO2K18</a></div>
— Jason (@JHagholm1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JHagholm1/status/1046134690422222848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</li>
<li><b>York (best-case 4-4, worst-case 2-6).</b> The Lions (2-4) are mathematically alive. About a million things would all have to break their way, and Carleton's offensive line might quickly kibosh those faint playoff hopes by opening 400-series highway-wide holes for Nathan Carter in that Oct. 12 Ravens-Lions game. But credit to York and <b>Brett Hunchak</b> for sweetening the plot with a homecoming win against Waterloo on Saturday.</li>
</ol>
<div>
As far as the games on Saturday were concerned:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_2tn6.xml" target="_blank"><b>Ottawa 38, Carleton 27</b></a> — Well, the beauty of the Panda Game is that you don't really have to do much analysis, since it's really just a fun time and no one thinks about it too deeply beyond whether the Black team or the Garnet & Grey team won. For one Saturday each year, the city's two university populations create a true, uniquely Canadian, big-small-town event. I used to resent that, for all the booze consumed, there wasn't much spillover into watching the Gee-Gees or Ravens play teams from outside the world's biggest village, but that's the city of Ottawa for you. It's really a bit of a face-dance: play at having a fierce football rivalry, then back to being friends on Monday.<br />
<br />
Anyway, a lot of the characteristics that make the Gee-Gees program unique came to the fore on Saturday. One, Barresi is a quarterback whisperer, and Buettner was beastly with the five touchdown passes, as Ottawa took home-run shots whenever they presented themselves in the score zone. Then there was the backstory with how <b>Kalem Beaver </b>and<b> Carter Matheson</b>, who caught two touchdowns apiece, were relatively late converts to football who didn't even play until well into their high school years, since they were busy being <i>athletes</i>, not one-sport automatons. They found a niche and uOttawa coached 'em up.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🎥 Sawyer to Kalem again - second TD reception of the game for Beaver, 3 TDs for Buettner. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGnation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GGnation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaGame</a> <a href="https://t.co/efkyotn0Gx">pic.twitter.com/efkyotn0Gx</a></div>
— Gee-Gees Football (@GeeGeesFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeGeesFootball/status/1046116565043859458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🐼 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🐼<br />
<br />
Not a bad <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaGame</a> debut for Sawyer Buettner, as he connects with Carter Matheson for touchdown number ✋ in the game! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaFiveO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaFiveO</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTTvsCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTTvsCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/s1jlhrcrQh">pic.twitter.com/s1jlhrcrQh</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1046124460066177025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
The way Ottawa finished drives also erases the memory of that 2014 game when a skein of red-zone stalls left the door open for Carleton to win on <b>Nate Behar</b>'s Hail Mary catch on the final play. <br />
<br />
This time, the Gee-Gees led by as much as 24 points. The huge scoreline swings came mainly via a <b>Jamie Harry </b>end-zone interception in the third quarter, along with takeaways that set up Buettner inside Carleton's 20-yard line.<br />
<br />
The smokes-and-mirrors narrative with Carleton probably got a boost. The Ravens offence and <b>Michael Arruda </b>had 475 yards. The easy way out is to point to the four interceptions and the penalties, several of which came in the return phase. <br />
<br />
Even that 475 figure looks like empty calories. Take out the trick-play touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. After trading touchdowns in the second quarter for a 14-14 tie, Carleton went interception-punt-punt-interception-punt-punt on the rest of its possessions through the end of the third.<br />
<br />
That's bad. The margin was only really close since the Ravens ran some bubble screens and draws to <b>Nathan Carter </b>against loose coverage, hoping Ottawa's tackling completely fell apart. (Ron Howard voice: it didn't.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_9whz.xml?view=plays" target="_blank"><b>Western 26, Queen's 23</b></a> — One refrain on loop is that Western didn't get much off of Queen's except for having superior athletes. At no point did it cross my mind this could be close, given that the Mustangs had won the last six matchups by an average of 25.7 points. Lo and behold, the Mustangs found themselves down 11 points with nine minutes left. But they cranked up the interior pass rush to take away <b>Nate Hobbs</b>' time and space in the pocket, while<b> Chris Merchant </b>and the offence clicked with consecutive seven-play touchdown drives, the peak of which was a 49-yard pass-and-run to <b>Malik Besseghieur </b>that was, in MMA terms, a major body blow.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
They're the reigning champs for a reason. Playing from behind, the <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternMustangs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WesternMustangs</a> are able to stay calm and take the 26-23 lead late against the <a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@queensgaels</a> with just minutes remaining! <br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WESvsQUE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WESvsQUE</a> <a href="https://t.co/0tpkMj9Yvl">pic.twitter.com/0tpkMj9Yvl</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1046121357501771782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Western should pay a price in the polls for this, since two "playing down" wins are not an anomaly. That's neither here nor there for Queen's, which might have had its best defensive day of the season with the secondary of <b>Nolan Bedard</b>, <b>Ejaz Causer</b>, <b>Blake Cory</b>, <b>Zackary Kealey</b> and <b>Oliver MacKenzie</b> limiting Western to one touchdown for 3½ quarters; they just only had so many stops in them, apparently. <br />
<br />
Queen's hasn't been able to touch Western in a few years, so this was a moral victory on some level. Younger readers, assuming there are any — look, there's videos embedded! — might not be aware that the Gaels used to handle the Mustangs on the regular, going 11-4 from 2000 through '12. Suffice to say, the 'Stangs have kicked it up a notch.<br />
<br />
Deep-down, I do wonder if they were trying to get someone on Freezing Cold Takes. Thanks?<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
On <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCISBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheCISBlog</a>: "Broken Play, Part 1: The 800-Pound, 600-Yards-Per-Game Purple Elephant That Is The Western Mustangs"<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/usports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#usports</a> <a href="https://t.co/gtazmDkakJ">https://t.co/gtazmDkakJ</a></div>
— Neate Sager #SKOL (@n8sager) <a href="https://twitter.com/n8sager/status/1045688944158015489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_r3b0.xml" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<b><a href="http://oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_r3b0.xml" target="_blank">Guelph 27, Laurier 24</a> — </b> The commonalities between the pick-six touchdowns from Dokun Aketepe and Job Reinhart was pressure, and some serendipitous ricochets right into the hands of both defenders. Reinhart was in the Laurier backfield after a well-timed A-gap blitz when edge rusher <b>Tavius Robinson</b> batted a <b>Tristan Arndt</b> pass, which Reinhart returned 72 yards. On the Aketepe play, Guelph brought seven and it looked as though Laurier had the right pattern and read, with three receivers on shallow crosses, but a harried throw went off of <b>Kurleigh Gittens Jr.</b> and right to Aketepe, going 69 yards the other way.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
Talk about making an early statement on D! The <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@guelph_gryphons</a> open the scoring against <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a> with a 72-yard pick-6 from Job Reinhart!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GUEvsWLU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GUEvsWLU</a> <a href="https://t.co/YRry6pVHw8">pic.twitter.com/YRry6pVHw8</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1046088431678484480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
🏈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OUA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OUA</a> FBALL 🏈<br />
<br />
After their second pick-6 of the day, the <a href="https://twitter.com/guelph_gryphons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@guelph_gryphons</a> are down just six, 24-18, against <a href="https://twitter.com/WLUAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLUAthletics</a> with the 4th quarter now underway!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreONE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreONE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GUEvsWLU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GUEvsWLU</a> <a href="https://t.co/MxWKe2tTBZ">pic.twitter.com/MxWKe2tTBZ</a></div>
— OUA (@OUAsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport/status/1046112710663000065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>It might be tempting to put some that down to the Bounces,
but not after the way that three opponents in a row have limited Laurier. The Gryphons gang took down six interceptions and didn't allow a completion longer than 20 yards. McMaster allowed nothing longer than 25. Throw in a solid second half from the Waterloo defence, and the Golden Hawks have scored only 14 second-half points in their last three games. <br />
<br />
Arndt has got the hook two weeks in a row, and what's really worrying about Laurier is where the interceptions have occurred. I'm not a football coach so I'm a little more blasé about turnovers. Take fumbles; they come from players over-exerting themselves sometimes, and once the ball is scooting around on the carpet, it's 50/50 whether the defence will complete the takeaway or the offence retains it. Interceptions are bad, but there are some that come on deep balls where the defender just makes the play, or the wind affects the direction of the pass. And there's those second-and-a-click prayers that sometimes work as well as a directional punt.<br />
<br />
But all of the six interceptions charged to Arndt came on throws within 12 yards of the line of the scrimmage, according to the play-by-play data. So Guelph really had Laurier figured out.<br />
<br />
One who's closer to the situation with Laurier would have better licence to look into the quarterback situation with Tristan Arndt and second-year backup<b> Carson Carusello</b>. Coach <b>Michael Faulds</b> made the switch with 6:28 left, on a changeover at Laurier's own 10-yard line, after the sixth interception. The field position isn't relevant since that doesn't play into the decision, but it would contribute to any intimidation factor Carusello might have felt.<br />
<br />
If Arndt needs help seeing the game from another perspective and Carusello can be an asset, why not give the backup a designated series in the second or third quarter? Either way, Laurier has a short week to figure it out before it heads up to Carleton.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_mn3q.xml" target="_blank">York 34, Waterloo 32</a></b> — Why did the football Gods point to York's side of the field in this offensive slugfest between brave but determined minnow teams with a penchant for throwing deep and game uniforms that can be worn home or away? Because<b> Warren Craney </b>and the York staff called for a two-point convert when already up 14 points in the first half. Because every little bit counts.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
MUST SEE VIDEO | <a href="https://twitter.com/BrettHunchak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrettHunchak</a> finds <a href="https://twitter.com/EKimmerly17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EKimmerly17</a> for a successful 2-pt conversion to give the Lions a 23-7 lead over Waterloo! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lionpride?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lionpride</a> <a href="https://t.co/BHCBVqO8hf">pic.twitter.com/BHCBVqO8hf</a></div>
— York Lions (@yorkulions) <a href="https://twitter.com/yorkulions/status/1046160413950464000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Ultimately, what one would like to take away is that this illustrated that there isn't any quit in either team. Waterloo scored 24 consecutive points when it would have been very easy to give in to checking out of the game. Hunchak answered the 85-yard drive where Waterloo went ahead for the first time by essaying a nine-play, 89-yard march of his own for a three-point lead.<br />
<br />
And then it came down to fate, or foot, as it seems to every week. York's <b>Matt Dean </b>got through to block the kick after Waterloo had a sluggish snapback.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FIELD GOAL BLOCKED! LIONS WIN! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lionpride?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lionpride</a> <a href="https://t.co/qAzaTOcFUC">pic.twitter.com/qAzaTOcFUC</a></div>
— York Lions (@yorkulions) <a href="https://twitter.com/yorkulions/status/1046188750315765760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oua.ca/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_gaz5.xml" target="_blank">Windsor 26, Toronto 24</a> — </b>Best. Doughnut. Bowl. Ever. Windsor surmounted a 21-0 deficit across the final 2½ quarters whilst crossing the alumni stripe only once all afternoon, which sounds like a challenge <b>Barney Stinson </b>would have demurred from. <b>Clark Green</b> had a day going 6-of-6 on field goals, including two go-ahead boots from 40-plus. </div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
FOOTBALL - Green sets record as Lancers come from behind to defeat Blues on Alumni Weekend <a href="https://t.co/spnuWN8P3n">https://t.co/spnuWN8P3n</a></div>
— Windsor Lancers (@WindsorLancers) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindsorLancers/status/1046145227327705089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
People were pumped up after today’s win vs Varsity Blues.<a href="https://twitter.com/UWLancerFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWLancerFB</a> wins 26-24. 5th yr kicker Clark Green has career day hitting 6 FG’s including GW with 26.2 left from 45 yards out. <a href="https://twitter.com/WindsorLancers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WindsorLancers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UWindsor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UWindsor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/localsports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#localsports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yqg?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yqg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yqgsports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yqgsports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/letsgo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#letsgo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPORTSca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KWalls15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KWalls15</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jasl9SYa6H">pic.twitter.com/Jasl9SYa6H</a></div>
— Powerplay Sports Video (@powerplayvideo) <a href="https://twitter.com/powerplayvideo/status/1046163707296919552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Another tip of the cap is due to Lancers defensive end <b>Adam Slikboer</b>, who made back-to-back plays to end the Toronto possession right before Windsor drove for its only touchdown to get within two points. They needed to score a TD since otherwise, Green would have had to go 8-for-8 on field goals to win the game.
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please visit <b><i><a href="http://www.cisblog.ca">cisblog.ca</a></i></b>.</div>sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.com0