Whether or not it was the right one it was definitely a tough one. EWU had the better conf win (Montana) but NAU had the better OOC win (Illinois State) The Only "top" Big Sky team that NAU didn't play that Eastern did was Weber State. They both played and Beat Montana State, Eastern beat Montana in Missoula whereas NAU lost to Montana in Missoula and they both got curbstomped by SUU in Cedar City. Eastern's loss to Weber at home is "better" than NAU's loss in Missoula (I mean come one Cookus or not the Griz weren't even playing a quarterback).BDKJMU wrote:I understand Nichols ahead of McNeese. Remove Nichols P5 loss (TX A&M) and McNeese’s Div II ein, and both teams were 8-2/7-2, with Nichols winning the head to head. Cut and dry.
I see NAU (7-4/6-2, 0-2 vs play-off teams, lost @ Montana, SRS 22) got in over EWU (7-4/6-2, 0-3 vs play-off teams, beat Montana, SRS 24).
-Didn’t play each other during the regular season.
-Both had a P5 loss.
What say you Big Sky folks. Was that the right call?
I honestly think that Eastern should have gotten the spot, but I am not the committee. NAU is still a good team but they are going in losing 2 of their last 3. It really could have come down to who the committee thought had the better OOC win which was Illinois State for NAU.
What I don't think was right was Weber getting Western Illinois and NAU getting San Diego. For the 2nd year in a row Weber is the highest ranked at large/non seeded team from the Big Sky and gets the hardest contest in the first round. If anything Weber should have gotten San Diego and NAU should have hosted/played at Western Illinois.
I do however like the possibility of a rematch with SUU in the 2nd round. Would love to see a HEALTHY Weber team play against the Birds. And nothing would be sweeter than ending SUU's season on their own home field.