Unusual number of teams declining

[Racer26]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

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It had actually be a strategy discussed prior to the picking to break up a number of potential super-teams that year. There was a very long discussion here about it as well (with some people, as always, suggesting that teams were not gracious, were stuck up, etc), which was definitely NOT the case.

It was CERTAINLY discussed as a way to break up the 1114/2056 duo that have been dominating the Canadian regionals for 3 years. (Yes, I know, 2009 WAT was absent 1114). Seed higher, and pick one of them, then they can't be together. Had anyone seeded higher than either of them in the last 3 years, i'm sure they would have asked one or the other (seed higher in 08, pick 1114, seed higher in 09, pick 2056). Of course, this strategy only works when neither seeds 1st. The only time that one of them didn't was 2009 WAT.