[SearchingForTheTruth]

Definitely agree that scheduling really matters. 

Syracuse has an RPI of 6 and SOS 8 and no bad losses.
Stanford has an RPI of 11 and SOS 13 and Stanford loss to Villanova. 

Syracuse also has a top 5 win (Northwestern) and Stanford does not. This is based on RPI not rankings.

I believe if it were close then head to head would be considered.

A similar thing happened last season when Stanford was on track to host and then lost to Denver at home 8-14 on the second to last regular season game. We then played Denver at Florida during the NCAA tournament and beat them 10-4. We then played Florida and lost 12-13 (OT). 

New bracketology article has us playing Denver in Ann Arbor. 

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/I...754ae08cbc

I don't understand how Syracuse can be a 6 seed while we're unseeded. They are 13-5, we are 15-4. We beat them head to head. We both lost to UNC twice and to BC. Their remainin loss is to Maryland (quality loss) while our other loss is to Villanova (less quality). Does our Villanova loss really outweigh us beating Syracuse head to head by so much that we can't even be a top 8 seed?!?!

Good point about the NW win for Syracuse, I missed that when I looked at their schedules. I think the takeaway is that there's no benefit to scheduling midseason non-conference matches against mediocre teams. Win and it doesn't help you, lose and it kills your RPI.

[SearchingForTheTruth]

Definitely agree that scheduling really matters. 

Syracuse has an RPI of 6 and SOS 8 and no bad losses.
Stanford has an RPI of 11 and SOS 13 and Stanford loss to Villanova. 

Syracuse also has a top 5 win (Northwestern) and Stanford does not. This is based on RPI not rankings.

I believe if it were close then head to head would be considered.

A similar thing happened last season when Stanford was on track to host and then lost to Denver at home 8-14 on the second to last regular season game. We then played Denver at Florida during the NCAA tournament and beat them 10-4. We then played Florida and lost 12-13 (OT). 

New bracketology article has us playing Denver in Ann Arbor. 

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/I...754ae08cbc

I don't understand how Syracuse can be a 6 seed while we're unseeded. They are 13-5, we are 15-4. We beat them head to head. We both lost to UNC twice and to BC. Their remainin loss is to Maryland (quality loss) while our other loss is to Villanova (less quality). Does our Villanova loss really outweigh us beating Syracuse head to head by so much that we can't even be a top 8 seed?!?!

Good point about the NW win for Syracuse, I missed that when I looked at their schedules. I think the takeaway is that there's no benefit to scheduling midseason non-conference matches against mediocre teams. Win and it doesn't help you, lose and it kills your RPI.