B Central
I haven't said much about the back-and-forth comments between the Shore and Rumson camps up to this point, but I can't really get away from it. I don't know if these comments reflect the way most of the two fan bases feel about each other, but assuming they do, I'd say now is a good time to stop the fighting.
Not because it's immature (it is). Not because there are much more interesting things to discuss (there are). And not because it gives me more work to do by deleting comments like "Shore people smell like poop" (it does, and that comment actually existed at one time).
It should stop because the SCT starts, and Class B Central does not get much respect around the Shore Conference. When a conference lacks respect or noteriety, its members should be rooting for each other, not against one another. B Central is not going to turn any heads with just a first-round win by Rumson, or just a first-round win by Shore (although a Point Beach win would definitely mean something). It will take two of those teams winning first round games and probably even a round-of-16 upset.
Last year, Shore made it to the quarterfinals and gave Manalapan a really tough game. Point Beach was less than a minute away from overtime against CBA. And look where it got B Central. They got the same treatment by the seeding committee this year despite a pretty good showing last year, and that's not an injustice in my eyes. Until mutliple B Central teams make it into the fold, it's going to keep happening.
The best thing B Central has going for it is St. Rose. As it turns out, St. Rose was not the best team in the division, but the Roses have as much talent as anyone in the division and they will be watching the SCT instead of playing in it with a 6-11-1 record.
The best part about St. Rose is their out-of-division schedule. In addition to their B Central schedule, they played CBA, Manalapan, Monsignor Donovan, Wall, Ocean, and SJV, all SCT teams. The downside is that St. Rose went 0-6 in those games, which cost them an SCT spot. Of the six games, four were relatively close, with the CBA, Wall, and SJV games being decided but one goal. Manalapan beat them 6-0 and Ocean won 5-0. But at least St. Rose gave itself a chance to shed the "weak schedule" label. They just didn't take care of business in the games they could win.
A Central
Of the six divisions, no one got treated worse than A Central. It's division champion (Red Bank)got the number-14 seed and has to play a division opponent (SJV) in the first round. Manasquan, who could not have been ranked behind Red Bank, then slipped to 16 and has to play Toms River North. Raritan drew the No. 26 seed and a game at TR South, despite beating No. 22 Shore last week. Holmdel wasn't treated much better, getting the 24th seed and Brick in the first round.
Last year, Holmdel went undefeated in A Central and got the 8th seed, and played better than that seed in the tournament from what I saw. This time around, they got similar treatment, with all five being seeded higher than I projected (although, looking back, I think the SJV seed at 19 is on the money). I thought Red Bank was 10 and they got 14, but they lost to Marlboro 3-0 on cutoff day. I had Manasquan at 11, but Red Bank losing had to bump them back too. Holmdel I ranked at 20 and Raritan at 25, but I don't think ranking Wall ahead of both is unreasonable, which is what the committee did. Once Wall was ranked ahead, Ocean had to move ahead of all three, because they tied with Wall in the division and won the season series. I had Ocean at 26 with just the wins and losses under consideration, but that criterion put them higher.
Not because it's immature (it is). Not because there are much more interesting things to discuss (there are). And not because it gives me more work to do by deleting comments like "Shore people smell like poop" (it does, and that comment actually existed at one time).
It should stop because the SCT starts, and Class B Central does not get much respect around the Shore Conference. When a conference lacks respect or noteriety, its members should be rooting for each other, not against one another. B Central is not going to turn any heads with just a first-round win by Rumson, or just a first-round win by Shore (although a Point Beach win would definitely mean something). It will take two of those teams winning first round games and probably even a round-of-16 upset.
Last year, Shore made it to the quarterfinals and gave Manalapan a really tough game. Point Beach was less than a minute away from overtime against CBA. And look where it got B Central. They got the same treatment by the seeding committee this year despite a pretty good showing last year, and that's not an injustice in my eyes. Until mutliple B Central teams make it into the fold, it's going to keep happening.
The best thing B Central has going for it is St. Rose. As it turns out, St. Rose was not the best team in the division, but the Roses have as much talent as anyone in the division and they will be watching the SCT instead of playing in it with a 6-11-1 record.
The best part about St. Rose is their out-of-division schedule. In addition to their B Central schedule, they played CBA, Manalapan, Monsignor Donovan, Wall, Ocean, and SJV, all SCT teams. The downside is that St. Rose went 0-6 in those games, which cost them an SCT spot. Of the six games, four were relatively close, with the CBA, Wall, and SJV games being decided but one goal. Manalapan beat them 6-0 and Ocean won 5-0. But at least St. Rose gave itself a chance to shed the "weak schedule" label. They just didn't take care of business in the games they could win.
A Central
Of the six divisions, no one got treated worse than A Central. It's division champion (Red Bank)got the number-14 seed and has to play a division opponent (SJV) in the first round. Manasquan, who could not have been ranked behind Red Bank, then slipped to 16 and has to play Toms River North. Raritan drew the No. 26 seed and a game at TR South, despite beating No. 22 Shore last week. Holmdel wasn't treated much better, getting the 24th seed and Brick in the first round.
Last year, Holmdel went undefeated in A Central and got the 8th seed, and played better than that seed in the tournament from what I saw. This time around, they got similar treatment, with all five being seeded higher than I projected (although, looking back, I think the SJV seed at 19 is on the money). I thought Red Bank was 10 and they got 14, but they lost to Marlboro 3-0 on cutoff day. I had Manasquan at 11, but Red Bank losing had to bump them back too. Holmdel I ranked at 20 and Raritan at 25, but I don't think ranking Wall ahead of both is unreasonable, which is what the committee did. Once Wall was ranked ahead, Ocean had to move ahead of all three, because they tied with Wall in the division and won the season series. I had Ocean at 26 with just the wins and losses under consideration, but that criterion put them higher.
posted by Matt Manley at 8:18 AM
7 Comments:
well said Matt
13th seed for Rumson is ridiculous and is indicative of how pathetic B Central is perceived.
Someone needs to get their map out and determine which schools are North, South or Central.
Asbury is in the south, Mater Dei is in North, so put them where they belong.
There are so many teams miscategorized that perhaps should belong in Central. CBA, Colts Neck, Middletown S., Long Branch, Ocean, Monmouth - I could go on and on.
North and South both have 15, Central has only 13.
Organizers should draw East to West lines on the map such that there is better distribution.
15 South, 14 Central and 14 North.
This is not rocket science.
"The best thing B Central has going for it is St. Rose. "
I have to disagree with this statement.
However they definitely have the best field I've ever seen outside of the English Premier League.
Rumson would have have been 12-0-0 in their division if not for a fortunate last minute equalizer from St. Rose.
Rumson and Shore are both very good teams. They played two great games that were very intense. I agree that Shore and Rumson have to take care of busines-That is the only way the can get any respect. They both can do it. Go Devils and Dawgs!!!!
Well put Matt. As a B-Central fan, lets go Dawgs, Devils and Gulls. I just wish there was something the conference could do about the small schools. No matter how much the aforementioned Mater Dei and Asbury work, it is always going to be tough for them and they will never sustain long periods of excellence.
I would like to thank you Matt for your POSITIVE comments about St.Rose. We may not have had a winning record this year, which is the first in a long time, but the players had heart and are a great bunch of kids. They were plagued with injuries from day one! And, yes, they have the best fields in the state of NJ.
You will never see a Saint Rose player or parent comment anywhere on a soccer forum either for themselves or against another team! No they may not have won alot of games this year but they kept their heads up even tonight when they played a Brick team that needed to get in to the states in the pouring rain! Way to go Saint Rose be proud of yourselves you're great kids and in a class by yourselves!
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