Ohio State Men's Tennis (2014/2019/2024 ITA Indoor National Champs, 19 Straight B1G Titles)

[gracelhink]

Dumb question. Is it 'mandatory' that each team puts their #1 v #1 etc down the line? Or would a coach put their #6 singles against visitor #1, and then have their #1 go against opponent's #2 etc? In essence, sacrificing a L, versus maybe gaining an edge against the rest of opponent's line-up? Would think it's the 'gentlemanly' to do, but strategically makes sense. Probably not worth the time to respond, but hey!

great question Calibuck
So this practice you describe has been called stacking and sometimes can offer an underdog team enough advantage to upset a stronger opponent.
The practice violates NCAA sportsmanship codes so NCAA has added some boundaries to protect the integrity of the lineup system.
Each player on a teams roster has a UTR Universal tennis ranking and a wtn (ranking system used by ITA).
I have read that coaches are required to show evidence from team challenge matches to justify their lineup when jumping a player w lower UTR or WTN above a higher UTR.
In dual meets coaches submit lineups in advance and in ita and ncaa tournaments opposing coaches have the right to challenge the submitted lineup. If challenge is successful the lineup is adjusted accordingly.
This seems to offer a better correction for attempts to stack.

 

[gracelhink]

 

[calibuck]

Thanks Gracel....had to chuckle when you mentioned 'NCAA Sportsmanship Codes'.....Those wingnuts cannot keep their own rules straight, let alone establish niceties such as sportsmanship....personal opinion of course. From the length of your response, and the detail, might give me the opinion that I'm not the first to come up with that approach. But, as long as there are rules, there are those that can figure out a way to get past them....or you could just recruit good tennis players, hone them against each other, and take on all comers. As long as they're from New Albany. Go Bucks!

 

[gracelhink]

 

[bigdog3300]

Took the doubles point, heading into singles up 1-0

Stream https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/2023/10/24/mens-tennis-live-streaming-indoors

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Bucks with W already up 5-1! Very impressive performance today.

Court 1 at 2-2 in the 3rd will be the last to finish.

 

[gracelhink]

 

[gracelhink]

Preston Stearns has been making a noteworthy jump in level of his play

 

[BB73]

Depth again came through. The doubles point was from the 2 and 3 pairs, and the singles points were from 2, 4, 5, and 6.

There will certainly be a new #1 in the next rankings!

 

[Bucknut24]

great question Calibuck
So this practice you describe has been called stacking and sometimes can offer an underdog team enough advantage to upset a stronger opponent.
The practice violates NCAA sportsmanship codes so NCAA has added some boundaries to protect the integrity of the lineup system.
Each player on a teams roster has a UTR Universal tennis ranking and a wtn (ranking system used by ITA).
I have read that coaches are required to show evidence from team challenge matches to justify their lineup when jumping a player w lower UTR or WTN above a higher UTR.
In dual meets coaches submit lineups in advance and in ita and ncaa tournaments opposing coaches have the right to challenge the submitted lineup. If challenge is successful the lineup is adjusted accordingly.
This seems to offer a better correction for attempts to stack.

I'm glad I re read this because I was gonna be one of "those" people lol . I originally read it saying utr is used by the ncaa.. But they switched to wtn as the official ranking either last year or 2024.

I almost had to become heavily invovled with wtn but I pushed back a little against it.

 

[gracelhink]

 

[gracelhink]

 

[gracelhink]

To add a quick scouting report on the Buckeyes opening round match…
SMU is playing on their home courts.
Their number one player is pro level and #1 ranked singles player in the ncaa.
Last year Bucks were upset in first round by underdog UCF.
other than those concerns, Bucks should roll over SMU and advance to the round of 8.

 

[gracelhink]

Buckeyes had a battle for the critical doubles point
#2 dubs Filin and Capricorn win 6-3,
#1 dubs lost in a tie break
#3 Kim and nakashima close out dubs with a w in a breaker
Heading to singles portion now in Dallas

 

[BB73]

Bucks advance, 4-3.

No. 2 Ohio State 4, SMU 3
Singles
1. #1 Trevor Svajda (SMU) def. #13 Aidan Kim (OSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Alex Finkelstein (SMU) def. #22 Preston Stearns (OSU) 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4
3. #24 Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. Georgi Georgiev (SMU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(1)
4. Bryce Nakashima (OSU) def. Krish Arora (SMU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Jerry Barton (SMU) def. Loren Byers (OSU) 6-2, 7-6(5)
6. #98 Nikita Filin (OSU) def. Noah McDonald (SMU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
1. Alex Finkelstein/Trevor Svajda (SMU) def. #7 Alexander Bernard/Alex Okonkwo (OSU) 7-6(2)
2. #1 Brandon Carpico/Nikita Filin (OSU) def. Georgi Georgiev/Vikas Deo (SMU) 6-3
3. #8 Aidan Kim/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) def. Jerry Barton/Krish Arora (SMU) 7-6(5)