Sorry JMAC, I must take exception to your opinion, and I will use the comparison of Mruzik to Pitt’s Babcock as evidence of why I believe that UL wins the NC if it had not been for the injury to DeBeer. Mruzik is incredibly good, but I believe most observers would acknowledge that Babcock is not only better than Mruzik, Babcock’s performance (31 kills) in Pitt’s loss with DeBeer on the court was more impressive than Mruzik’s 29 kills in their win over UL without DeBeer on the court. While
Mruzik’s 29 kills was most impressive, it should be noted that she enjoyed that higher number of kills based upon the record setting number of points (201) in an NCAA VB match.

Pitt was the best team in the country coming into the tournament. Go back and look at DeBeer’s performance in the 3rd set in UL’s win over Pitt as evidence of her ability to literally take over a set or a match ….. Anna was dominating in those last 4 points of in that most critical third set win.

I love the home field. In the bowl system most of the best bowls are located in the South. The SEC benefits the most with that set up.

They should get the advantage because they are the higher seed. I think the cold is a bigger factor. It isn’t fun playing in cold. Everything stings or hurts. Jennings couldn’t gripe the ball his passes weren’t on target all game. Warm weather teams don’t like it.

As fans I am not sure we really appreciate how hard it is to win a title especially at Louisville. What they have done over the years, while not getting a title, has been amazing.

What that volleyball program is doing is incredible. She has had to do it will smaller players. It is the same with Baseball and Women Basketball. Same with of the other sports. They had to do things at a disadvantage.

Ride the wave when special seasons happen and don’t lose your mind when they have down years.

The Committee’s decision to expand the playoff deserves recognition, but is it a coincidence that all of the usual suspects with traditional power reputations are given host positions for their respective games? Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State each enjoyed a significant advantage. In most instances it might not make any difference as to where the game would be played, however in the case of University Park, PA., I cannot recall a sporting event where the host school received a more favorable advantage over the visiting school.

Anyone who is familiar with both Dallas Texas and University Park, Pennsylvania appreciates the variance in climate between the two locations. The PSU crowd was most impressive and it’s a credit to the school to provide that much support; just think it was too much advantage for one school to enjoy over another.

The biggest problem is the rankings and spreads have a heavy reliance on perceived talent. That is how power rankings are determined. It is a really good indicator for odds makers and gamblers. However week to week there are upsets. Alabama losses to Vandy they don’t drop because Alabama is still very talented. Name any non brand team that isn’t as talented losses they rocket out of the rankings. They aren’t talented. Any loss can be explained away. They are still talented.

It is a very good indicator on who will ultimately play in the title game. However it isn’t perfect, you wouldn’t have Ole Miss losing to UK and Florida.

I been saying it for years it is a rigged system. Teams with higher ranked players will always be ranked higher. Then when those teams get beat by a Vandy or UK then those teams get bumped up. There is a reason they have never had a playoff.

They need to go to a NFL model. All the Power 4 teams get AQ.
AFC North-Big Ten
AFC South-SEC
NFC East-ACC
NFC West-Big 12

The AQ spots are determined by a tie breaking system. Use the ranking system that is used at the lower levels to seed the field. It is too easy. It gets complicated because of the SEC, Big Ten and TV. They have to have more representation.

I agree about those critical of IU, those kids played the schedule they were given, albeit a weak regular season.

As stated by Realville, UL football has been the recipient of the same criticism every time our name was being mentioned as a candidate for NC consideration.

Knucklehank1 said:

It’s really f’ing hard to win a national championship. Everything has to fall into place.

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I know. Everything just doesn't fall into place for UofL. We're talking 3 titles since 1980. That's 44 years.

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It’s really f’ing hard to win a national championship. Everything has to fall into place.

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Mruzik and those cross court kills are unstoppable. It would have helped to have DeBeer but Penn State was the better team.

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earsky said:

Too much Penn St and we was one All American short

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I know. It's always something.

CardFanBudMan said:

Get real, dude.

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?

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Too much Penn St and we was one All American short

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2330859 said:

Like everyone else without the last name DeBeer, I was expecting Anna to be able to play, but alas, it was not to be. I honestly believe her absence made it impossible for us to win, as it would be equivalent to PSU missing Mruzik, as Anna is more than our All American, she was the heart and soul of this roster.

If Anna was 100% and available, I truly believe we win NC, despite acknowledging that PSU is very good.

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Could not have said it any better 2330859! Exactly how I feel! Yes, PSU is a great Team, but hey had all their bullets in the Chamber like Dan said. With Anna B. in there, IMO we would be hanging a banner tonight. But the Volley Gods did not what that, and our fate for a Natti was sealed on Thursday night early in the 4th Set! At some point Anna B. sub, Peterson, a true Frosh, and future star! She may end up being even better than Anna B. But that should never have been an expectation for tonight. And to be honest, not really very disappointed! Our Team, played as hard as they could, and left it on the FLOOR literally !! So Proud of our Team!!

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