(GYM) Gators at No.6 Auburn 8pm SEC Network+

Regionals have been switched from Champaign, Illinois to Norman, Oklahoma. So Utah will probably go to Seattle, and Oklahoma to Norman. That leaves us and Michigan to go Auburn and Raleigh . Interesting to see where they put us and Michigan...

 

We will move up to #2 in the NQS standings. 1. Oklahoma 198.015 2. Florida 197.970 3. Michigan 197.920. We have 2 more away meets and want to drop one or both of these scores:197.775 and 197.575. Auburn won't be able to catch any of the top 4 and most likely be the #5 seed in the final NQS standing. As long as we stay in the top 3 then we will most likely end up in Raleigh and Michigan at Auburn. If Utah stays at #4, I do't think the NCAA would send them to Auburn and Michigan to Seattle? Or will they?

 

"No. 2 Oklahoma (10-2, 1-0 Big 12) has been selected to host the women’s gymnastics NCAA South Central Regional competition from March 30-April 2. The administrative committee of the Division I Competition Oversight Committee announced the news on Friday after Illinois was reportedly unable to host the event due to a conflict within its campus community."

 

If the Regionals were announced today with 1. Oklahoma 2. Florida 3. Michigan 4. Utah 5. LSU 6. Auburn 7. Alabama...then Raleigh would probably be Florida and Alabama, Auburn: Michigan and Auburn. Norman: Oklahoma and Minnesota. Seattle: Utah and LSU.

 

Oklahoma has 3 more road meets, one of which is tomorrow, a quad meet against patsies Air Force, S.E. Missouri and Texas Woman's. With zero pressure, the Sooners will probably scorer another 198+ Their 3 counted road scores are 198.175, 197.900 and 197.750. So any score higher than those, Oklahoma will be able to drop one or two. So potentially they can increase their NQS a little higher. They are in the driver's seat for the top seed. Michigan has 1 more road meet, the B1G 10 Championships. Their 3 road scores are 198.525 (dropped), 198.025 and 197.950. Even if they manage to score higher than 197.950 and drop that score, it will raise their NQS ever so slightly. Utah's counted road scores are 197.950, 197.750 and 197.275. They travel to LSU next week and then at the PAC-12 Championships. They will surely be able to drop the 197.275 and maybe even the 197.750 if they manage to top those 2 lowest scores, but unless the top 3 fall flat, Utah's a good bet to stay at #4. Let's say Florida scores 198.200 in their last 2 away meets and can drop the 197.575 and 197.775. Our NQS would be 198.180. Oklahoma's is currently 198.015. So yes, we do have a chance to overtake Oklahoma.

 

My take away on the Auburn meet:
Auburn was lights out on all 4 rotations and still couldn't beat us at their gym. We were lights out on two (Vault 49.725 and Floor 49.750-without Trinity), uneven on Uneven Bars (49.525) and good on Beam (49.575). And in front of a loud, energetic Gator-hating crowd. We have been the top Vault team on the 2nd half of the season-our NQS is now 49.455 and the nation's 2nd highest Vault score (49.725). Let's hope Leah Clapper can regain her confidence on Beam and Riley on Bars. Michigan peaked a couple of meets ago. Utah and Oklahoma peaked last night. Our Vault line-up is peaking. Our Bars line-up is improving. I think Beam had a mid-season hiccup before the Auburn meet and will be scoring higher. And our Floor liner-up is top 2 and still peaking. IMHO last night was one of our best best meets and was amazing for our confidence level. But we still have not peaked yet. Go Gators!

 

The host schools stay home, regardless of seeding. Only if the Sooners had to drop out, like last year when Auburn had to drop out of the regionals due to the Trump virus, would the Gators possibly end up in Norman.