BBEnthusiast, I appreciate you providing the stats, because they prove clearly how bad the away teams got jobbed in Texas.   The stats prove that HPU was "given" the games by the refs. 

HPU averaged 15 fouls per game (433/29) during the regular season.

Yet, playing Hope, a team that is much better than any they played during the year, HPU  suddenly commits only 6 fouls.

Further, this whole "HPU draws fouls" is simply a myth.  Go back and redo the numbers and compare free throws per game.  (Note that HPU played more games than anyone else).  You'll find they shot more than their opponents on average, but only about 7 more...which is easily explained by the strategy of "fouling at the end of the game when you are losing".

In any event, HPU better not clean off a place for the trophy just yet.  We'll sit what happens when the refs call the game fairly.

On a neutral court, Hope wins.  If HPU played at Hope College, they would lose by 10. 

The HPU players were "high fiving" the refs before the game.  Ridiculous...

An MCL injury is not as serious as an ACL injury.  Depending upon the severity of the MCL injury, it might be possible to play with a knee brace. 

According to my info, Brummel is out for the playoffs.  Harris might be able to play with a knee brace.

Washington U. was scary.   If Hope & Wash U. played 10 times, I think Wash U would win 7.  They were so talented. 

Kelly Manning was outstanding.  She shoots like Steve Alford as far as being able to get the ball out of her hands quickly.   Most women 3 point shooters can't shoot accurately off of a screen, and those who can take an hour to shoot the ball.

I think Wash U underestimated Hope (of course, who didn't?)  which allowed Hope to jump out to a big lead early and then hang on for the win.   It seemed like Wash had only scouted the starters, and so the Hope bench really gave them fits.
If they had been more prepared, if they really understood how fast Bria was, if Hope hadn't been draining 3s, if Wash U had played better inside, then ...

Of course, there is Dandy Don's sayings to remember:

If "if's and but's were candy and nuts, we'ld all have a Merry Christmas."

mark_reichert:

One difference between DIII and the other divisions is that regional games  in the NCAA tournament is based on geography  rather than seeding.  Whoever comes out of the midwest has had to beat teams from the midwest.  As far as basketball, IMHO the best teams are in the midwest--so to get into the final 4 you have to beat a lot of good teams.

IMHO, the ratings would be:

(1)  Hope
(2)  Washington U.
(3)  Scranton
(4)  DePauw
(5)  Southern Maine

First, congrats to the team and the coach for a fantastic year.

Washington U. was, IMHO, the best team that the Dutch played.  Kelly Manning was the best offensive player in DIII.  The only way the Dutch won was that they played their best game of the year.  If they hadn't, they would have lost. 

The Dutch had the unique ability of playing their best when the game was on the line.  Over and over again, they were able to ratchet themselves up to win games--e.g., the Albion away game, the Alma home game, the "flu tourney in Orlando", Washington U, and then Scranton Pa.

There were lots of reasons why they should have lost games--(the Orlando tourney being a prime example--3 or 4 kids throwing up during the game)  But, they didn't.  They always were able to find a way to win.

What truly separates the 2005-06 Flying Dutch from the other teams was their ability for players not only to elevate their game but also to adapt their game so that the team would win.   Bria was the star of a lot of the games, but there were a bunch of kids who came up big over and over again during the year.   

Any team built around one player could never beat the 2005-06 Dutch.