2012 MPSF Tournament: Bracket, Schedule Set

The 2012 MPSF tournament schedule is set with the Stanford Cardinal earning the No. 1 seed after their easier than expected 8-1 win over the UCLA Bruins. Stanford finished the season 7-0 in league play for the second straight year, and then it was UCLA and USC who finished with a 5-2 record, but UCLA won the head-to-head matchup to earn the No. 2 spot.

What will be interesting is to see who gets the third NCAA tournament spot, because all of the at-large spots are coming from the MPSF. However, in 2012 there are only two at-large bids since the NCAA tournament is back to eight teams and with the MAAC and SCIAC earning auto bids it takes away one of the at-large spots that usually goes to the MPSF.

That last spot will come down to Arizona State, USC and Cal, but the edge goes to USC who beat both Cal and Arizona State. If either Cal or Arizona State are to earn an at-large berth they must get to the title game while USC can finish third and get the berth. With Arizona State losing to San Diego State it seems unlikely they can get in by just finishing in third place, well unless they defeat USC for the third place game.

With one less at-large spot the MPSF tournament will have even more at stake.

The tournament is taking place at the Avery Aquatic Center at Stanford on April 2 - 29, and is just another advantage for Stanford, not that they need it.

Here is the bracket and schedule (all times pacific):