Originally Posted by CalTran (Post 1169703)

Now to see who takes up on Bomb Squand and ATA's strategies, and see who dives for a wide feeder bot first. Is it too risky to take a feeder as a first pick, and a shooter as a second? At any other competition it would be, but with such a deep field, you might be able to take the gamble and pay off big. Any predictions on super alliances yet? I'm feeling 1114+469+2826+someone as the champs. After a strong performance on Archimedes, 1114 was plagued by bad luck on Einstein and walked away with a single gold (But kept an eye on the big prize) and are itching for redemption. As their first pick, their old friends 469 will be more than willing to bring their super sonic shooter to the courts. 2826, after falling to 1114 in three intense matches on Archimedes, will prove to be the decisive third pick. They're good, but with such a deep field, may fall short on the seeding.

Originally Posted by CalTran (Post 1169710)

Though, I'm really a 2056 fan, and would absolutely love to see them win IRI for a second year in a row. I think that with seeding 2nd on Archimedes, and with the crazy upset they pulled over 1114 at GTRWest F1, they could put together an alliance to upset what I previously predicted. Gotta stay faithful to the team I love.

Originally Posted by tim-tim (Post 1169725)

If I recall, all three of your picks (1114, 469, and 2826) are long bots.

Originally Posted by TheMadCADer (Post 1169728)

Anyone find the gap from 1114 to 1538 a little strange? What happened to all the teams in that area? The only teams from that range I can immediately think of are 1477, 1323 and 1429. I don't know if 1429 or 1323 applied (I know 1477 didn't), but it's weird that teams from that period haven't had as much perceived success.

There isn't a gap that large anywhere else, pretty much everything is fairly even.

Originally Posted by Basel A (Post 1169731)

I believe that that, besides the usual suspects, one team that should perform at a very high level in the eliminations is 2481. Other teams that could surprise people are 829 and 1023. Of the "obvious teams," my top picks have to be 341, 67, 2056, and 1114.

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 1169723)

Just to address a point you make in one of your posts, the second pick as a wide robot that primarily feeds balls from one end of the field to another isn't a new strategy that debuted at the Championship. It's been present ever since some innovative teams dreamed it up Week 1 :)

At this event, picking a feeder first round would be stupid. There's too much firepower on the board to do that, and as 16 demonstrated at Champs, an offensive robot can become a feeder robot very quickly. I think there will be more wide bots picked in the 4th round as triple-balance substitutions as a form of insurance though.



If 2826 falls to even the 9th pick at IRI, either they weren't playing at their Championship level or something went seriously wrong with regards to scouting. They are definitively on the same tier as 1114, 67, and 469, and I bet if you counted it out ball for ball they would have been the best ball scorer in the Archimedes elims.

As for predicting IRI... Well, that's probably impossible. It's too dependent on scheduling. Just get some popcorn and watch the madness unfold is what I say.

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 1169723)

If 2826 falls to even the 9th pick at IRI, either they weren't playing at their Championship level or something went seriously wrong with regards to scouting. They are definitively on the same tier as 1114, 67, and 469, and I bet if you counted it out ball for ball they would have been the best ball scorer in the Archimedes elims.

Originally Posted by CalTran (Post 1169726)

1114 is a long but can hang off significantly, 469 is practically a 27" square, and 2826 is long. I think they can hang though. They at least tried hanging at Champs.

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz (Post 1169752)

Keep in mind that many teams may be using a new drive team. Depending on the students and the school, 2012 seniors may not be a part of the team.

Our seniors are now alumni, so we will have a new driver and operator. Many others may be in that same situation.

Originally Posted by lemiant (Post 1169775)

FYI our scouting actually had the two top scoring teams as 2826 and 2056 in that order.


Not to bring out old wounds, but I suggest you watch archi F3, 2826 lost the division because they can't triple reliably. Although I have a lot of faith they will have a stinger and that all figured out come IRI.