Indeed in the post-HSNCT questionaire there is mention that the Crowne Plaza bid on nationals again. Teams are asked whether they think it would be a good idea to have nationals in a fixed locale. (I voted no, I like the changing locales.)solonqb wrote:Word on the grapevine is that NAQT wants to keep the HSNCT in Chicago and work on increasing the number of teams. Maybe this will have some sort of effect on Chip's final phase, and is also meant to compete more strongly with him? Let us all hope so.
But before you conclude this will indeed happen, the Myrtle Beach association also rebid immediately after hosting. We haven't been back yet (but I hope we do in the future). So I guess the question becomes: will the field be as strong if the tournament continues to rotate locations?
If the tournament were to stay in Chicago, IMO it would be because of the increased attendance and NAQT's strength in the midwest, not to directly compete with NAC.
The team rankings of NAC are now up: http://www.qunlimited.com/rank05.htm
I too think that a lot of teams at NAC have a chance to win the title. To illustrate how much luck is involved here, just take a look at our statistics. We are 6th out of 114 teams in points per game. Just makes me scratch my head. You'd think the "sixth highest scoring team" might have a chance to progress far into the tournament. But we were the 16 seed in our phase for the second year running.
It also appears that the team with the most points per game, Rockford Auburn, exited in the round of 16 in their playoff.
The schedule you draw can make or break you. One coach at New Orleans was telling me that she was sure Chip makes all the "good" teams play each other and gives the "little guy" a chance with an easier schedule.
On a final note, we played eight rounds at NAC. I think I protested at least four times. I hate doing it, because the vague questions just invite it. At HSNCT we played 14 rounds. The number of times I protested: zero. See, I can play nice now and then :)
Bill Tressler,
Charter School of Wilmington (DE)