With conference championships on the way this weekend, just one more competition remains for teams to adjust their RQSs and change their fates heading into regionals. This is your weekly look at who’s safe, who’s not, and where everyone might still end up.
But first, here’s what the regionals draw would look like if the season ended right at this moment.
Regional A: 1. Oklahoma, 12. Arkansas, 13. Denver
Regional B: 2. LSU, 11. Oregon State, 14. Nebraska
Regional C: 3. UCLA, 10. Cal, 15. Boise State
Regional D: 4. Utah (host), 9. Kentucky, 16. Auburn
Regional E: 5. Florida, 8. Washington, 17. Arizona State
Regional F: 6. Alabama (host), 7. Michigan, 18. Georgia
Can we talk about how badly you want regional F to end up this way? #sorrynotsorry
Next year, we won’t have to deal with this nonsense in its current form, and I’m not nostalgic about that at all. I can’t wait to throw this postseason format into the garbage where it belongs.
Plus, next year we also get the play-in meets, which I’m already excited about.
If you’re not up on it: Beginning in 2019, instead of the top 36 teams all automatically advancing to what we currently call “regionals,” the top 28 will automatically advance to the second round of the NCAA postseason, while teams 29-36 will compete in the first round: four dual meets, the winners of which advance to the second round with the other 28 teams (making 32 teams in all).
So if it were right now, those first-round teams would be Maryland, Stanford, Southern Utah, Kent State, Pitt, New Hampshire, Central Michigan, and Iowa. Yes please.
Now, onto the RQSs. Scores in bold will be part of the six scores used for final RQS and can no longer be removed.
| 1. Oklahoma – 198.120 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 198.175 |
| Road Score 2: | 198.125 |
| Road Score 3: | 198.050 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 198.375 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 198.150 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 198.100 |
| RQS: | 198.120 |
Maximum possible RQS: 198.185
Possible ranking range: 1
Oklahoma set the all-time RQS record with its Friday meet (breaking UCLA’s record of 198.055 from 2004), and built on that with Sunday’s score. So things are kind of fine and Oklahoma has already clinched the final #1 regular season ranking.
| 2. LSU – 197.890 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 198.075 |
| Road Score 2: | 197.575 |
| Road Score 3: | 197.575 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 198.175 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 198.125 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 198.100 |
| RQS: | 197.890 |
Maximum possible RQS: 198.010
Possible ranking range: 2-3
LSU is back up to #2 but could still flip-flop with UCLA depending on the results at their respective conference championships. The most likely outcome is that LSU will stay #2, since UCLA would have to score 197.900 at Pac-12s to have a shot to pass, and that’s only if LSU scores 197.575 or lower at SECs. The higher LSU goes at SECs, the more it will require of UCLA.
LSU can clinch #2 outright regardless of what UCLA does with a 198.000.
| 3. UCLA – 197.840 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.800 |
| Road Score 2: | 197.750 |
| Road Score 3: | 197.625 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 198.275 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 198.075 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 197.950 |
| RQS: | 197.840 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.970
Possible ranking range: 2-3
See scenario outlined above.
| 4. Utah – 197.540 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.550 |
| Road Score 2: | 197.550 |
| Road Score 3: | 197.450 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 198.150 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.700 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 197.450 |
| RQS: | 197.540 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.680
Possible ranking range: 4-5
Utah cannot catch UCLA and will therefore be just looking to fend off Florida . Utah has the slightly higher maximum and can therefore control what happens, but since the maximums are pretty close, it would take 198.050 at Pac-12s for Utah to clinch outright. That’s a tough ask, so much of Utah’s prospects will depend on what Florida scores at SECs earlier in the day, a score Utah fans will be watching to see if there’s any ranking danger heading into their performance.
| 5. Florida – 197.365 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.400 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.950 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.700 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 198.150 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.925 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 197.850 |
| RQS: | 197.365 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.655
Possible ranking range: 4-5
Florida will have to score 197.575 or more to have any chance to equal Utah, otherwise the #4 ranking belongs to the Utes. If Florida does break that mark at SECs, however, then Utah will have to score better than
197.450 at Pac-12s to maintain its advantage, in proportion to how much Florida breaks 197.575 by.
| 6. Alabama – 197.165 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.300 |
| Road Score 2: | 197.300 |
| Road Score 3: | 197.075 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.525 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.150 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 197.000 |
| RQS: | 197.165 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.270
Possible ranking range: 6-7
Alabama has already assured itself a spot in the 6-7-18 regional regardless of its performance at SECs. Clinching the #1 seed in that regional will require 197.350 at SECs. The #1 seed ends on beam, while the #2 seed starts on beam. Which one do you want?
| 7. Michigan – 197.075 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.225 |
| Road Score 2: | 197.175 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.775 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.550 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.250 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.950 |
| RQS: | 197.075 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.230
Possible ranking range: 6-8
Michigan will most likely make the 6-7-18 regional as well but is still under slight threat from Washington and needs a 196.875 at Big Tens to make that threat go away.
| 8. Washington – 196.915 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.075 |
| Road Score 2: | 197.025 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.525 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.400 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.000 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.950 |
| RQS: | 196.915 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.090
Possible ranking range: 7-11
Washington has a #2 seeding sewn up, but the quality of that seeding can still change fairly drastically. Ensuring staying #8 will require 196.975 at Pac-12s. That’s the score needed to stay ahead of Cal regardless of what Cal does. Ensuring #9 requires 196.950 and ensuring #10 requires 196.600.
| 9. Kentucky – 196.800 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.950 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.800 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.700 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.100 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.850 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.700 |
| RQS: | 196.800 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.880
Possible ranking range: 9-14
Here’s where things get a little tricky. Kentucky doesn’t have a particularly high peak score and therefore can’t move up any higher than 9th but would really prefer not to be dropped into the 11-14 mix. Because Cal, Arkansas, and Oregon State all have higher peak RQSs, Kentucky will be rooting for other teams to have bad ones (and for the early-session scores at SECs and Pac-12s to be lowwww).
Kentucky can clinch top-12 (and therefore a #2 seeding) with 196.975 at SECs.
| 10. Cal – 196.775 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.700 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.650 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.375 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.500 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.225 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.925 |
| RQS: | 196.775 |
Maximum possible RQS: 197.000
Possible ranking range: 8-14
Cal still has some room to gain and could move up as high as 8th by going 197s while really outperforming Washington at Pac-12s—but Cal is also one of the few teams that wouldn’t really mind if the regional setup stayed exactly as it is right now. Because Arkansas has basically the same max as Cal, that’s going to come down to day-of performance, but Kentucky is more passable. Cal can guarantee passing Kentucky with a 196.925 at Pac-12s and can guarantee staying ahead of all the other non-Arkansas teams (and therefore staying at least #10) with a 197.150.
| 11. Arkansas – 196.765 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.875 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.350 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.150 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.300 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.275 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 197.175 |
| RQS: | 196.765 |
Maximum possible RQS 196.995
Possible ranking range: 8-15
Arkansas is in a similar situation to Cal with a pretty wide range of ranking possibilities but can go into the top 10 with a 196.975, can stay 11th with a 196.750, and can keep a #2 regional seeding with a 196.600. It may be a challenge to get some of these scores at SECs, especially from the first session, but Arkansas will be pleased that it has a higher max than Kentucky, which is competing in the evening session, to balance things out a bit.
| 11. Oregon State – 196.765 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.850 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.525 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.500 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.300 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.975 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.975 |
| RQS: | 196.765 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.925
Possible ranking range: 8-15
Oregon State doesn’t have quite as high a peak score as Arkansas but can still guarantee staying 11th with a 197.100 and guarantee staying a #2 seed with a 196.950. That would also need to be done in the first session of Pac-12s, so watch how conservative those early scores end up being. Or not.
| 13. Denver – 196.675 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.725 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.575 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.525 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.300 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.800 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.750 |
| RQS: | 196.675 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.830
Possible ranking range: 9-17
Denver could get up to a #2 seeded spot, but with a lower maximum than all the current members of the top 12, that’s not entirely in Denver’s control. Staying ahead of the Boise State, Georgia, Auburn crew (and therefore getting a theoretically softer regional-upset task) is in Denver’s control, requiring 197.025.
| 14. Nebraska – 196.660 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.700 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.700 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.175 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.125 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.875 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.850 |
| RQS: | 196.660 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.850
Possible ranking range: 9-17
Nebraska is now in the same situation as Denver, not able to snatch a #2 seed solely of its own volition but able to guarantee #13 with a 197.050 and able to guarantee #14 with a 196.750. These spots aren’t ideal but would give Nebraska the task of having to beat a similar-scoring #2 seed at regionals.
| 15. Boise State – 196.650 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 197.000 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.625 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.400 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.875 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.725 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.400 |
| RQS: | 196.650 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.770
Possible ranking range: 11-17
Boise State has the outside-iest chance of a #2 seeding, but it’s highly unlikely, the real main goal being to keep as solid a #3 seeding as possible. BSU can guarantee staying 15th with 196.925.
| 16. Auburn – 196.595 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.900 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.500 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.375 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.000 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.625 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.575 |
| RQS: | 196.595 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.720
Possible ranking range: 13-19
It is mathematically possible for Auburn to drop out of the seeded spots, but very unlikely. Auburn can score 196.425 at SECs to remove any chance of that happening. Staying in the top 17 and therefore avoiding being placed in the presumed Alabama-Michigan regional will also be a major goal, requiring 196.525.
| 17. Arizona State – 195.510 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.525 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.475 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.250 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.800 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.725 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.575 |
| RQS: | 196.510 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.620
Possible ranking range: 16-20
For teams in this range, it’s all just about keeping a seeded spot. For ASU, the score to watch is 196.725. That would preserve a place in the top 18.
| 18. Georgia – 196.470 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.350 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.150 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.125 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 197.525 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 197.000 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.725 |
| RQS: | 196.470 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.750
Possible ranking range: 13-22
Georgia didn’t really do the job last week, but as is made clear by the large ranking range remaining, there’s still room to snatch a more convenient regionals placement. Georgia cannot get a #2 seed but can guarantee getting out of this unfortunate #18 spot with a 196.900. That 196.900 will be required only if Arizona State gets a season high at Pac-12s, but regardless, it’s going to take a real hit and a good number for Georgia to get out of #18. A low 196 won’t get it done.
To ensure holding on to a seeded spot of any description, Georgia needs 196.800, meaning there would be no chance for GW to pass.
| 19. George Washington – 196.460 | |
| Road Score 1: | 196.475 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.300 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.175 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.875 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.825 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.525 |
| RQS: | 196.460 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.600
Possible ranking range: 16-22
George Washington could get into the seeded spots but doesn’t hold its fate in its own hands, needing either Arizona State or Georgia to have a bad one so that a reasonably good score from GW at EAGLs would be enough to go top 18. It’s still very much within the realm of possibility, though. If Arizona State doesn’t get an RQS-usable score at Pac-12s, for instance, then GW would need a 196.450 to move into the seedings.
| 20. BYU – 196.430 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.450 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.375 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.375 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.625 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.500 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.450 |
| RQS: | 196.430 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.480
Possible ranking range: 18-22
BYU is still technically able to get a seeding, but it’s highly unlikely. If Georgia goes 196.200 at SECs, the chance is gone. Georgia and GW would both need to have weak meets, and BYU would need to score a season high.
| 21. Missouri – 196.375 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.625 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.050 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.025 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.925 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.800 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.375 |
| RQS: | 196.375 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.555
Possible ranking range: 17-22
Missouri has a somewhat higher peak than BYU and therefore a better chance to move into the seeded zone, though it’s still much more dependent on the performances of ASU, Georgia, and GW than it is on Missouri. Missouri needs to score 196.525 at SECs to have any shot, so that’s the first score to watch, and then they’ll just hope the other seed contenders have misses.
| 22. NC State – 196.300 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.800 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.550 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.925 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.575 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.350 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.100 |
| RQS: | 196.300 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.475
Possible ranking range: 18-24
NC State is technically able to get a seeding since this maximum possible RQS is .005 higher than #18 Georgia’s current RQS, though that would be quite a turn of events. It would require an NC State season high as well as everyone else’s world burning down.
| 23. Minnesota – 196.160 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.475 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.375 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.775 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.675 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.100 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.075 |
| RQS: | 196.160 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.340
Possible ranking range: 22-28
Starting with Minnesota, we’re into the teams that cannot get a seeded spot at regionals but have also already qualified to regionals, so there’s not a long going on here.
| 24. Ohio State – 196.085 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.125 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.850 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.725 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.775 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.525 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.200 |
| RQS: | 196.085 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.295
Possible ranking range: 23-32
| 25. West Virginia – 196.070 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.775 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.425 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.075 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.225 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 195.875 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.750 |
| RQS: | 196.070 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.275
Possible ranking range: 23-32
| 26. Iowa State – 196.045 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.450 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.075 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.725 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.700 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.200 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.775 |
| RQS: | 196.045 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.230
Possible ranking range: 23-33
| 27. Illinois – 196.020 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.850 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.350 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.900 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.700 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 195.750 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.400 |
| RQS: | 196.020 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.310
Possible ranking range: 22-33
| 28. Penn State – 195.980 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.675 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.650 |
| Road Score 3: | 196.025 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.150 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 195.600 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.475 |
| RQS: | 195.980 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.220
Possible ranking range: 23-33
| 29. Maryland – 195.930 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 195.975 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.825 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.825 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.575 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.325 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.700 |
| RQS: | 195.930 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.105
Possible ranking range: 24-34
| 30. Stanford – 195.920 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.050 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.925 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.550 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.650 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.425 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.650 |
| RQS: | 195.920 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.140
Possible ranking range: 24-34
| 31. Southern Utah – 195.915 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.075 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.825 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.700 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.800 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.075 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.850 |
| RQS: | 195.915 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.105
Possible ranking range: 24-34
| 32. Kent State – 195.855 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.125 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.575 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.325 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.625 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.325 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.925 |
| RQS: | 195.855 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.115
Possible ranking range: 24-34
| 33. Pittsburgh – 195.825 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.100 |
| Road Score 2: | 196.050 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.500 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.475 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.225 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.250 |
| RQS: | 195.825 |
Maximum possible RQS: 196.070
Possible ranking range: 25-34
Pittsburgh is the last of the locked teams. After this comes the danger zone.
| 34. New Hampshire – 195.725 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 195.700 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.650 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.225 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.425 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.125 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.925 |
| RQS: | 195.725 |
Maximum possible RQS: 195.965
Possible ranking range: 29-39
New Hampshire is the best-positioned of the bubble teams and can control its own fate this weekend, needing just 195.500 at EAGLs to advance to regionals outright regardless of what anyone else does.
| 35. Central Michigan – 195.705 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 195.650 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.375 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.175 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.375 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.175 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 196.150 |
| RQS: | 195.705 |
Maximum possible RQS: 195.750
Possible ranking range: 34-39
Central Michigan is not in an advantageous position going into the weekend despite being ranked 35th. That’s because Utah State, North Carolina, and Iowa all have higher maximums and Arizona has the same maximum. It will be some degree of a waiting game to see what those teams score. All CMU can do is get to its maximum possible RQS, and then hope three of the Iowa, Arizona, USU, UNC crew go sub-196. If that happens, CMU is set.
It will take 196s for those other teams to pass Central Michigan, so any kind of conservative national score-scape benefits the teams currently in the top 36, like CMU.
| 36. Iowa – 195.680 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.000 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.775 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.600 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 195.775 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 195.725 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.525 |
| RQS: | 195.680 |
Maximum possible RQS: 195.775
Possible ranking range: 34-39
Iowa, likewise, is not in control of its own destiny because it has lower maximums than Utah State or North Carolina, but if Iowa can hit the 196.000 marker at Big Tens, that will put a lot of pressure on USU and UNC to get insane scores because that’s what it would take.
| 37. Arizona – 195.630 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.125 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.525 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.025 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.325 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 195.750 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.725 |
| RQS: | 195.630 |
Maximum possible RQS: 195.750
Possible ranking range: 34-39
Arizona is in a rough position, currently on the outside looking in. At minimum, Arizona must score 195.975, otherwise there’s no chance to advance. If Arizona does break into that 196 zone, then there is hope, but it will still be dependent on what other teams score.
| 38. Utah State – 195.575 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 195.725 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.325 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.275 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.500 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 196.100 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.450 |
| RQS: | 195.575 |
Maximum possible RQS: 195.820
Possible ranking range: 34-40
With last weekend’s huge score, Utah State is actually in a position to advance outright based on its own score, though that score would have to be 196.300. As of right now. Utah State competes last of all the bubble teams on Saturday, so we will know exactly the score needed at that point. USU must score at least 195.800 to have any shot at all, so it’s still a tough ask. If USU scores between 195.800 and 196.300, then it’s dependent on the other teams.
| 39. North Carolina – 195.515 |
|
| Road Score 1: | 196.050 |
| Road Score 2: | 195.750 |
| Road Score 3: | 195.075 |
| Home/Road Score 1: | 196.600 |
| Home/Road Score 2: | 195.400 |
| Home/Road Score 3: | 195.300 |
| RQS: | 195.515 |
Maximum possible RQS: 195.820
Possible ranking range: 34-40
North Carolina could also jump up from 39th and clinch a regionals spot this weekend with 196.400. A tough score to get. For UNC, the absolute minimum possible score it would take to advance is 195.900, anything lower than that is automatic elimination. The 195.900-196.400 zone will be a waiting game to see what everyone else scores.
All remaining teams have already been eliminated from regionals contention.
OSU and Arkansas are currently tied at 11. My understanding is that the tie breaker is the next highest score not counting in RQS. However, I cannot remember where or when I heard this so it could be completely wrong. If that’s the case, Arkansas would get #11 seed at this moment??? It will likely be irrelevant after this weekend, but the RQS nerd in me needs to know. Can anyone educate me?
Spencer did a whole post on tie breaking for regional seeds, two years ago, I think. I’ll see if I can link it here because obviously things are better explained with his wit.
https://balancebeamsituation.com/2013/03/25/regional-selection-2/
Apprently I miss remembered this blurb at the bottom of a 2013 as a whole post, but that was on moving teams around when two hosts were seeded together.
I’m a Michigan fan, so I DO NOT like the looks of regional F, especially because of Michigan’s track record with the 6-7-18 regional (I’m looking at you 2016).
On the other hand, I also really want Kentucky to make nationals, so I’d really hate to see Georgia move up so that they get stuck with them. Basically, I wish Georgia wasn’t the team that they are haha
Well, based on Georgia’s track record at away meets this year and Georgia not being a regionals host, I kind of wonder if people are overestimating them. But watch them go and totally prove me wrong now.
How do we know where these meets will take place? Do we know where A, B, C, D, E, F will be?
Well Utah and Alabama will be the host of their regional.
The other HOSTS ARE: Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and NC State.
I’m kind of hoping UGA has an uncountable RQS score at the SEC Championship and drops out of the Top 18. That would send them to the closest regional based on their geography.
Let’s just say a regional that looks like this:
1 seed – Florida
2 seed – Washington
3 seed – Arizona State
and placed into it Georgia, Maryland and West Virginia
The only thing better is for movement in the 3-seed zone to replace Arizona State with an Auburn or Nebraska.
Florida and UGA have both struggled in road meets and Washington is still relatively new at being a “favourite” and dealing with that pressure, while Auburn has underachieved this season (it appears) and Nebraska is fully capable of 197s.
If everyone of those teams has errors and Maryland and West Virginia don’t it makes for an interesting six team battle. Obviously UF could easily win this, but like I said their road record is suspect this season.
Thanks! I can go to the Regional at Ohio State. Who will be there? I know we don’t know who yet, but do we know what ranked teams will be there?
NO anything to keep Georgia away from ASU!!! This Sun Devil fan is holding out hope and looking for any help we can get!
Carol: Regional assignments aren’t decided until after next weekend. The only obvious ones this year are Utah and Alabama.
As for the other it’s best on close proximity between the host and No. 1 seed – why NC State (host) and Florida (No. 1) would be paired together.
The biggest problem is the UCLA regional since no other hosts are in the west. Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State. On paper it would likely pair UCLA with Minnesota based on geography, but…
OU is the No. 1 seed and they are closest to Minnesota, plus Maggie Nichols is from Minnesota so they may want that assignment – not sure if it matters, but OU has earned the right to get the choice if they can.
That probably means the UCLA group is headed to Ohio State and the LSU group is going to Penn State.
Nope. I think the assignment is supposed to favor the top seeds traveling the shortest distance, but at this point it’s only guesswork.
Thanks!
Minnesota is the closest school for UCLA but I think Oklahoma will take it. Hopefully the time change and fatigue don’t affect UCLA. LSU already competed at NC State a couple of weeks ago which I think will put them at Penn State (I believe there’s some weird rule that they try to limit competing against the same teams). The only regional I have an idea of is the Utah one, with the #2 & #3 seeds, Southern Utah, BYU, and Stanford which could get VERY interesting. I think some of the inflated scoring this season has given an artificial cushion to a few of the “locked” teams and each regional will end up being a little too close for comfort. None of the unseeded teams have peaked yet. And all are capable of scoring high 196s especially the 3 teams hosting. After what happened at Big 10s last week I’m not counting anyone out.
The #1 seeds should get Olympic order, the #2 seeds should start on bars, end on vault…the 1 seeds ending on beam and 2 seeds starting on beam…it’s like they’re being punished for being the best teams!
I would send Oklahoma to Minnesota, LSU to NC State, UCLA to Ohio State, and Florida to Penn State. I think this makes all four of these top seeds have to do a rather equal amount of travel. This would mean both OU and LSU (likely ending as the top 2 seeds) would go to the regional site closest to them.
Kind of sucks for UCLA having to deal with a three hour time difference.
UCLA’s freshman Nia Nation Dennis probably would like a Columbus (Ohio State) regional location since she is from Columbus.
If I am Alabama I want to end on BB and not start there. Historically they have always been great ending on BB. Michigan is also in the same boat I believe, they would likely want to end on BB, although if the pressure is on in the final rotation it might be tough.
In this type of meet, with Georgia a very dangerous threat and potential for some strong 4-6 seeds, I might be hoping to start on BB and get it right out of the way.
In 2014 and 2015 Alabama started on beam in the SEC championship and ended up winning. The also started on beam in 2016 and 2017 and will be again this weekend.
SEC Championship 2018 starting positions:
1 LSU (vault)
2 UF (bars)
3 Bama (beam)
4 Kentucky (floor)
Afternoon:
5 Arkansas (vault)
6 Auburn (bars)
7 UGA (beam)
8 Missouri (floor)
Beam is going to be a deciding factor for sure this year. Both Washington and Kentucky are ending on beam (their best event) at the evening sessions of their conference championships and Bama and Georgia would probably prefer to start on beam. Both teams have proved they can deliver cool, calm routines when it counts.
In 2013 and 2014 NCAA Championships Alabama ended on beam and had a lead prior to both beam rotations. Both of these beam rotations counted mistakes. We look back on these seasons as the ones where Florida/Oklahoma won for the first time; but Alabama was just a few beam errors away from a dynasty and winning 4 in a row.