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Unread 05-04-2010, 18:36
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Re: Sacrificing a State Championship for the Cause???

Quote:
Originally Posted by Basel A View Post
California may have the next largest number of teams, but they also have more teams than Michigan. In that way, they may not be the second highest 'robot-quality per team' state. Also, with Michigan averaging 3 teams in the Einstein Finals since 2004, I don't think any other state or country (besides the US [duh]) really comes all too close. Of course, there's many ways to judge quality (i.e. Michigan, New York, and Ohio each have 2 CCAs), but in most respects there's little to no match.
Just to clarify, California has more teams:
CA: 153 teams
MI: 140 teams
Even though it is hard to find on FIRST's Redesigned site the team/event map is still there

You are correct that quantity does not equal quality. MI is definitely the top state and it is not even close. Really you need to compare MI to regions. Is MI better than the rest of the Midwest? Now that is a tougher question. Where do New England, Mid Atlantic, South East, South West, West, Canada and other counties fit in? It is really all a matter of opinion.

Now as for the comparison to CMP. I believe that independent of divisions the top 96 (24*4) elim bots at CMP are on average better than the top 24 at MSC. This should make for better eliminations as the top tiers are deeper. Now throw in divisions and depending on the luck of the draw there pretty much will be at least 1 division that the the top 24 can be weaker than MSC. Divisions may also break pairings of outstanding individual teams (ie if you truly believe that 1918 & 469 or 67 & 217 is the best possible pairing it may not be possible at CMP but if it is can they can probably get a more accomplished 3rd bot).

Now where MSC is far ahead of CMP is in the qualification rounds. The middle and lower tiers are higher quality bots at MSC. All of the 65 teams at MSC qualified based primarily on their robot performance in 2 district events. At CMP a max of 141 (3 * 43 regionals + 12 FIM) of ~ 348 teams qualified based their robot performance at a regional this year. The rest can get in based on awards, open registration, HOF, etc... which doesnt necessarily indicate robot performance. It is even less than 141 robot performance qualifiers because teams win multiple regionals. There is no way (points system) for teams to qualify on robot performance without winning a regional, leaving strong double finalists like 987 out. A good # of the teams at CMP dont have elim experience this year. This dilutes the talent in any given qualifier. The amazing qualifier matchups like at MSC will fewer and farther between at CMP. Also it seems the MI teams used good qualifier strategy, which lead to higher scoring, more exciting matches. Hopefully, a higher percentage of teams at CMP will employ good qual strategy than at some regionals.

Fortunately, the new seeding system (post TU16 I think it is doing a great job of ranking the top bots high) and atleast one more match per team should result in much better CMP seeding than usual. In previous years, a surprise #1 in at least 1 division has been the norm. I'm definitely looking forward to CMP elims. Of course as usual the CMP & MSC competitive levels will be trumped by IRI
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