Galileo won Einstein last year, and there are 100 teams that want to bring it back again this year. Galileo has been dominant lately, winning three of the last four championships, and pushed the eventual champions in 2010 to the limit in the semis. It will take a close to ideal alliance, or teams stepping up big time, in order for them to match that success this year. The division doesn’t have the top end depth of some of the other fields, but the middle of the field should be wide open with many quality scorers. There are more fender machines here than most of the other divisions, and as a result defense may take on a larger role here and that could impact alliance composition.
TIPS:
Despite a basketball themed game, it’s been a rough season for the Hoosier state, headlined by the failure of 71 and 829 to qualify for Championship. Aside of Cyber Blue’s Chairman’s bid, the best chance for redemption for Indiana might rest with 868. It’s been a long time since 868 reached Einstein (all the way back in 2004), but the Carmel High School team has produced one of their best robots to date. They didn’t win an event this year, as they were upset in the quarters and Boilermaker and were edged out by the Wisconsin champs in the semis there. Their best end results will happen if they fall into the mid-late second round and take on a support role, but could very easily be picked well before then.
1323 was an incredible fender scoring machine and average key scorer, but they couldn’t muster a victory (though they came close at CVR). They could be a great secondary scoring machine in the eliminations, but their fender preference may hurt them if focused defense is applied. Expect a solid outing, but I’d be surprised to see them survive the semi-finals.
If nothing else, the Enginerds deserve kudos for understanding how to play the game. 2337 was one of the first to heavily utilize the coopertition bridge in week one, accumulating 14 CP and seeding 1st at Kettering. Their knack for seeding high continued at Northville (2nd) and Michigan State Championship (8th). 2337 stands a chance at playing that “spoiler” role and seeding very highly once again, resulting in some of the powerhouses being split up. But expect high CP scores all around (especially among powerhouses), which will make it a harder feat to match.
Delphi Elite has one of their most accomplished machines in their history this year, and probably their best offensive machine ever. Their articulated shooter is highly accurate and is among the best at scoring with only one or two balls in its salvo (a feature that can be very important in tight, ball starvation matches). Watch for 48 to try and build on their success, and if their new balancing device can facilitate a reliable triple balance they have a shot at advancing far.
A pair of wide framed shooters that could end up being nice 2nd round additions for teams looking to triple are 2377 and 2928. C Company won Chesapeake but couldn’t escape the quarters in DC, mostly because of their prime shooting location being in “no man’s land” between the key and fender is very easy to defend. Viking Robotics won Seattle Olympic as part of the triple balancing alliance that upset 488 and 1983 in the finals, and they really upped their game in Spokane where they pushed 1983 to the edge once again. 2928 is more of a threat from the key than 2377 (though they prefer close range scoring as well), but both teams may be better utilized in a non-scoring role on a deep alliance.
Few teams command the same kind of following as 148. They have one of the most accomplished triple balance devices around, and used it to reach the finals in Alamo during week one. But both of their event victories came with the support of an elite scoring machine, the Bomb Squad. It will be curious to see if 148 can add accurate key shooting to their resume, or if they’ll continue to drain 2 pointers from the fender. At a higher stakes event, every point counts.
SLEEPER:
After a tremendous season last year, expectations were sky high for 2016 this year. Despite moderate success, most notably three finalist medals, the Mighty Monkey Wrenches did not live up to their 2011 campaign. They changed their shooter at the MAR Championship, and struggled with their line drive shot for most of qualifications. But they displayed enough potential to get picked and, at times, backed it up with great success during the eliminations. If 2016 can build upon their later performances in Philadelphia, they’ll be a scoring machine to be reckoned with. But they’ll need to greatly improve their match to match consistency.
DARK HORSE:
Tremendously accurate key shooting led to them being the #1 selection at both regionals they attended this season, winning Lake Superior and reaching the finals at Wisconsin. 2169 doesn’t quite put up the volume of some of the elite teams, but in a division lacking high precision key shooters, their skill set will be at a premium. Their lack of a coopertation game (zero CP at Lake Superior and only 10 all season) will likely expose them to the mercy of alliance selection, and their low bridge totals will raise questions about their willingness and ability to balance. On the right alliance, they could be lethal, but on the wrong alliance it could be over very quickly.
LOCKS:
It’s a pretty cool achievement to coin a phrase that almost all of FRC uses. 33’s “stinger” term to describe bridge balancing manipulators is one of those cases. But the Killers Bees backed up that notoriety with success on the field, winning Kettering and with strong performances at Troy and MSC. Their experience and ease of triple balancing, as well as their potential for a four ball hybrid, gives them significant weapons in this division. But their scoring, especially away from the fender, may have to improve. Without high end partners, their results may be limited to the semis, but if they can pair with an elite scoring machine they could definitely take a run at Einstein.
When other primary contenders struggled during qualifications in Philadelphia, 25 improved. Combined with their ease of triple balancing with Daisy, they earned the #1 selection at the tournament. Raider Robotix’ experience may be their biggest weapon, as they’ve been to Einstein many time before (including last season) and have already competed at four events this year. Their long frame, inconsistent key scoring, and lack of a 3+ ball hybrid may cost them if they cannot align with teams that have those features, but it’s hard to find many teams that will create more space for their partners or play as effective of a full court game.
16 has what is, without question, the best catapult in Rebound Rumble. Even though it lacks an elite rate of fire, the accuracy of the machine is outstanding. Combining that accuracy with their speed and experience crossing the barrier to steal balls, and they’re a dream machine for a ball possession type of game. Their collection system is terrific, and their slew of driving modes really helps them get a ton out of their robot. The Bomb Squad will be less dependent on the type of partners they get in eliminations than many other top competitors, which makes it easy to believe they’ll at least reach the Galileo finals.
