Sectionals is this weekend, and it's interesting as I'm approaching this tournament like I approached regionals last year: we're seeded to quality to play further, but that's no guarantee, we have to prove it and play very well. It's the biggest tournament of the year and regionals is the reward.
Aside from only 5 bids for 7 quality teams, the weather is making this even tougher. Current forecast is for temps in the 30's with a chance of snow and moderate wind. There's currently no mention of rain, so as long as the fields aren't soaked from the rain this week (Tuesday and likely Thursday and Friday) the tourney is on, and we have to ready to play in bad conditions, especially after our collapse in bad weather in Nashville. The best performances this weekend will belong to teams that embrace the conditions and play through them as opposed to making excuses. As Tyke's coach always told her team, you can't control the weather, so there's no use worrying about it, focus your energy on the things that you can control: solid throws, watching the disc into your hands, running the offense right, playing hard D. Doing well this weekend is all about winning the mental battle with ourselves, if we do that the results will take care of themselves.
Still, we do have to play other teams this weekend. We're seeded 5th behind the Hodags, Whitewater, Marquette, and Milwaukee. Eau Claire and Stevens Point make up a close 6th and 7th. The format is here: http://www.upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=127&id=4487
I'm not a fan of the additions the SC made to the format, but they're easy enough to avoid. We have a relatively easy first day, 2 warm up games against teams that won't beat us, but will work us and make us realize what we immediately need to work on. Then we have Whitewater. Then we have a cross-over game that has no bearing on Sunday seeding, the odds of this game being played seriously are very low. The games of concern for the Pimpdags on Saturday are the Marquette/Milwaukee game and the Stevens Point/Eau Claire game in round 4. If we can get a chance to see some of these games it'd be a great scouting opportunity. The 3rd game of interest will hopefully see us rooting on our C-team in the 3rd place cross-over game for a spot in the champ bracket on Sunday.
Sunday: Our most important game of the whole weekend is the first game on Sunday, if we win we're playing well with confidence and are in good position to get a bid via the 3rd place bracket semis. If we lose our confidence will be shaken and we'll have to rebound quickly in a must-win game in a tougher draw in the lower brackets. I think it's possible we finish 3rd at this tournament, it's also possible we finish 7th. This will be the first tournament we will have our full team playing together, and it's going to be good.
Marquette and Milwaukee are good teams, but looking beyond RRI and raw tournament finish, their individual game results show me nothing to make me question our ability to beat them. Stevens Point hasn't played a game all year, though are usually around the Pimpdags level, here's hoping their lack of experience hurts them more than the advantage they gain on other teams having no clue what to expect. Eau Claire beat us in Nashville, yes, but the second half was 7-6 Pimps after everything went wrong in the first half, not to mention we were missing some key players. Excuses yes, but excuses that give us confidence and Eau Claire concern.
All in all I'm pumped. I'm excited to see us play to potential. Personally I've done this before and I know what I need to do: play my role, run our system, and dominate like I know I can. Stay focused. Stay calm. Play smart. As long as I have something to say about it, this will not be my last weekend playing college ultimate.
Results to follow when it's all over.
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