April 27, 2012
The result of Saturday’s game between Ohio State and Johns Hopkins will determine Vanderbilt’s seed in the upcoming ALC Tournament.
A big THANK YOU to American Lacrosse Conference media relations director Chip Rogers for compiling the if/then’s of tournament seeding.
Seeds 1-3 are set, with home standing Florida–who won the regular season crown to earn the top seed–followed by Northwestern and Penn State. Then there’s an easy outcome for 4-6, and a more complicated possibility.
It all hinges on Saturday’s game in Baltimore between Ohio State and Johns Hopkins (Noon CT: | LIVE VIDEO). If the Buckeyes win, they will be the No. 4 seed. Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins would be tied for fifth, with the Commodores earning the No. 5 seed based on their head-to-head win over Hopkins.
But should Johns Hopkins defeat Ohio State, then OSU, JHU and Vandy would all have records of 1-4. According to the championship manual, the first three tiebreakers would prove fruitless, leaving it up to “lowest goals scored against in conference competition.”
Entering the game, the goals allowed by each of the schools are as follows:
OSU: 49
JHU: 55
VAN: 66
There are nine (yes, 9) scenarios–again, all are predicated on JHU defeating OSU (and thus scoring more goals than OSU):
1. JHU scores 18 or more goals; OSU scores 10 or fewer – 4. JHU; 5. OSU (head to head over VAN); 6. VAN
2. JHU scores 18 or more goals; OSU scores 11 – 4. VAN (head to head over JHU); 5. JHU (head to head over OSU); 6. OSU
3. JHU scores 18 or more goals, OSU scores 12 or more – 4. VAN; 5. JHU (head to head over OSU); 6. OSU
4. JHU scores 17 goals, OSU scores 10 or fewer – 4. JHU; 5. OSU (head to head over VAN); 6. VAN
5. JHU scores 17, OSU scores 11 – COIN FLIP NEEDED
If Johns Hopkins is drawn, the seeds would be 4. JHU, 5. OSU, 6. Vandy. If Ohio State is drawn, the seeds would be 4. OSU, 5. Vandy, 6, JHU If Vanderbilt is drawn, the seeds would be 4. Vandy, 5. JHU, 6. OSU
6. JHU scores 17, OSU scores 12 or more (but less than 17) – 4. OSU (head to head over VAN); 5. VAN (head to head over JHU); 6. JHU
7. JHU scores 16 or fewer, OSU scores 10 or fewer (and less than JHU) and JHU wins by six or more – 4. JHU; 5. OSU (head to head over VAN); 6. VAN
8. JHU scores 16 or fewer, OSU scores 10 or fewer (and less than JHU), but OSU scores within five of JHU’s total – 4. OSU (will allow fewer goals than JHU); 5. VAN; 6. JHU
9. JHU scores 16 or fewer, OSU scores 11 or more – 4. JHU; 5. OSU (head to head over VAN); 6. VAN
The Commodores’ regular season concluded last week and Vanderbilt is in the middle of final examinations this weekend. The team will return to Gainesville next week for the tournament, which begins on Thursday, May 3.