Lady Eagles sit in fifth in initial region rankings
INDIANAPOLIS – In the first edition of the NCAA's region rankings, Carson-Newman was placed fifth in the Southeast Region announced by the organization Wednesday with four contests remaining in the 2021-22 regular season.
INDIANAPOLIS – In the first edition of the NCAA's region rankings, Carson-Newman was placed fifth in the Southeast Region announced by the organization Wednesday with four contests remaining in the 2021-22 regular season.
The selection committee uses these rankings as a guideline to make up the NCAA Tournament field. The top eight teams in the region make the NCAA Tournament with three automatic bids going to the winners of the conference tournaments from the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and the Peach Belt Conference.
For the No. 1 team in the region, that school gets to host the Southeast Region tournament over the second weekend of March with three wins needed to advance to the National Quarterfinals in Birmingham, Ala. at the Birmingham Crossplex from March 21-25.
Three of the team's five losses have come against two of the top three clubs in the initial batch with a fourth coming against No. 7. Based on the ratings percentage index that factors in strength of schedule and team performance, the Lady Eagles sit in fifth. Likewise the team in No. 5 in the performance indicator that weighs wins and losses based on foe's record and location of contest.
North Georgia sits in the top slot as the Peach Belt has each of the top three teams with Lander and Georgia sitting in second and third. Wingate is above the Lady Eagles courtesy of a regular-season sweep of the club.
Below Carson-Newman is a one-loss Barton club and Catawba. Belmont Abbey, the reigning region champions, would be the final qualifier. Mount Olive and Columbus State are on the outside looking in with two weeks to play in the regular season.
Looking at the schedule, Carson-Newman plays one remaining team with a winning record, Limestone on Saturday, but will have chances in the SAC Tournament to bolster the resume before the start of the NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Eagles aim for their 20th win of the year Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. playing at Mars Hill. Broadcast coverage can be found on 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and cneagles.com/live starting at 5:15.
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