Week 6 Lookback

[Looking Forward]

The regional season ended in week six, and gave some teams the opportunity to put an exclamation mark on their season headed into Atlanta. And that's exactly what some teams did, stepping up to the plate, and crushing the opportunity out of the park.

Dramatic improvement was the name of the game at 10,000 Lakes. 2574 overhauled their bot, and improved from missing the eliminations in Milwaukee to reaching the semi-finals. 1714 also missed the dance in Wisconsin, but they were selected first over-all by another quality 2009 rookie bot (2826). 2826, who was eliminated in quarters last time, showed improvement as well. 2826 and 1714 picked up 2470 with the final pick. They then went on to win the regional, in fairly convincing fashion. Their biggest trial came in the semis, when the blue alliance snuck out the first victory by four points, but the #1 alliance ultimately prevailed.

A pair of teams that were denied gold in the finals in their previous outings paired up at North Star. 79 (Florida finalist) seeded #2, picked 2970 (Wisconsin finalist) and 2549 (missed Wisconsin elims). Aside of a quick scare in the first match of the finals (against a very much improved 1816), when they only won by 2 points, the #2 alliance dominated the elimination matched. They punctuated it with a resounding 117-50 victory in the final match of the regional.

When's the last time you went to an event where 27, 47, and 494 missed the eliminations? Need any more proof that the Michigan State Championship was good? How about that only six teams had RSs below 50?
Ypsilanti's quality of play was higher than any other event this season by leaps and bounds. The quality of play here even outclassed the old Great Lakes Regionals, and could potentially rival a shallow division at Championship. How would all that talent play out? With a whole lot of excitement.
All eight of these alliances would have been able to make a deep run at most regional events, and a 9th alliance could have probably been constructed that would be capable of winning a couple of them.
217 seeded first for the second straight week (which should tell you how good their bot is, considering the Thunderchickens rarely seed that high), as the only undefeated team. Predictably they picked 67, who had already won two events with them (and a third with 68 and 858). 217 then stole 65, who should have been picked a few picks before that, with the last pick of the draft. The Huskie brigade provided that alliance with more than a very capable third scorer, it gave them strategic flexibility and added Chris Hibner and Ken Patton to a "huddle" that already included Paul Copioli, Adam Freeman, Tom Nader, JVN, and Karthik.
But even for an alliance of three former champions, each led by a WFA, victory would not come easily. They escaped the quarter-finals by a combined total of 10 points, against a valiant effort on the part of Truck Town (who shouldn't have lasted to the 9th pick).
910, 469, and 703 (each of which were among the top scoring bots at the tournament) were a trendy pick as the #4 alliance to eliminate the big dogs in the semis. But a grouping of two relative unknowns (1250 and 280) and a former champion (503) eliminated them, convincingly, in the quarter-finals. They then challenged the #1 in the semis, and managed to beat them in the first match... by 38 points. 217, 67, and 65 would rebound and pull it out in the end, but the #5 alliance clearly showed how deep and powerful this field was, and how important proper strategy can be.
At first glance, a big, physical alliance that can pin and hamper the other alliances scorers, while scoring themselves, would be the ideal fit to knock off the 217/67/65. And that's exactly what 1918, 247, and 904 was, and that's how they had played to reach the finals. But that's where the #1 alliance really shown, with great strategy and huge scores put up by the Huskies to compliment solid efforts by the "big two." Blue kept it to a respectable margin the first match, but the Hot Wing Brigade blew the doors open in the second match, winning 115-66.
HOT became the second team ever to win four official events (1114 2008), and has a chance for five. 217 joined the elite "3 win club," although they're the first to do it with a regional loss also on the resume. 217 and 67 became the second pair (1114 and 1503 2006) to win three event together in one season. Both 67 and 217 are the first teams to have 50 wins in a season before the championship event (both teams have also played many more matches than anyone else in FIRST history). HOT's 63 wins have already eclipsed the Simbot's 59 wins last year. It's truly an epic season for both teams.

Only one more stop this season. Championship coverage to start soon.

"Well, it beats work" - Dave Beck

[Dave Scheck]

27, 47, and 494 missed the eliminations

Wow, I didn't realize that. That just goes to show you that there is some serious talent in Michigan waiting to be unleased on Atlanta.

[Barry Bonzack]

I mentioned it in another thread, but 1 and 1701 also missed eliminations. They were darn good.

[Herodotus]

818, 2771, and 302 also all were left out of the eliminations and were at the top of our pick list at some of our other events. 818 was the captain of the winning alliance at Detroit, so yeah, that is what I call a deep field.

My apologies again to 469 and 703(two fantastic partners). Our entire left drive went wacko during the quarters. If only it hadn't, we'd probably have been able to make it a bit farther.

[AlexD744]

Michigan and the HOT team blow my mind, if they're in the same division as 217, I know every effort will be made to split them up. Crazy (in a good way) Michigan pilot also allows drivers more practice, which will make championships even more intense. Exciting!!

[Norman J]

At Michigan Championship, we were second pick of 8 Alliance. I can't believe 68 was still there for us to pick! We came six, then four points away from beating the Thunderchicken HOT Huskie alliance. They all had amazing robots, and deserved to win. Congradulations.

[Jared Russell]

Don't look now, but as of this morning (329 teams registered), HOT and ThunderChickens are in the same division using either of the usual algorithms...

[AlexD744]

Originally Posted by Jared341

Don't look now, but as of this morning (329 teams registered), HOT and ThunderChickens are in the same division using either of the usual algorithms...

As of 336 teams they are still together with both algorithms, but FIRST says there are 3 more teams then TBA has, so watch out.

[Dreadfulsoul]

Originally Posted by Jared341

Don't look now, but as of this morning (329 teams registered), HOT and ThunderChickens are in the same division using either of the usual algorithms...

that is bound to change as more teams get added on. should be interesting to see how things play out if hot and chickens are not together. you never know they might be eliminated early on. or by some random bit of luck end back together on the same alliance.

unfortunately i had to go to work right after the first elimination match 65, 67,217 vs 33, 68, 2834 which ended up being a dud, due to field error. the "spicy chicken" alliance played amazingly.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by AlexD744

As of 336 teams they are still together with both algorithms, but FIRST says there are 3 more teams then TBA has, so watch out.

If 201 and/or 326 register (both qualified) it will move them apart in the Normal algorithm. If 2 or more of 65, 201, 326 register then it will move them apart in the Serpentine (which has never actually been used but is interesting to look at).

[prettycolors91]

Originally Posted by The Lucas

If 201 and/or 326 register (both qualified) it will move them apart in the Normal algorithm. If 2 or more of 65, 201, 326 register then it will move them apart in the Serpentine (which has never actually been used but is interesting to look at).

So far 65 has registered and it hasn't changed the standings. I have my fingers crossed

[nikeairmancurry]

Welll unless we get a very generous donation in the next few days.. 326 will not be Championship event for the first time in 6 years. So from michigan know we lost our sposner GM and we were 100% completely fundraised this year, 10,000 dollars was alot to come up with, but i dount we can get the 6 i think needed for Championship, so sorry guys.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by prettycolors91

So far 65 has registered and it hasn't changed the standings. I have my fingers crossed

201 just registered, it now seems unlikely that we will see HOT Wings at Championship Too bad, it would have been interesting.

[prettycolors91]

Originally Posted by The Lucas

201 just registered, it now seems unlikely that we will see HOT Wings at Championship Too bad, it would have been interesting.

This is sad, but I'm glad that 201 will be attending! Who knows, FIRST might suprise us with a new algorithm!