I was just suggesting reseeding the teams at each location, if it makes sense, not moving teams between pods. 

Except for GFU and UTT, none of the other undefeated or one loss teams have to play another undefeated or one loss team in the Sweet 16 matchups.  If the NCAA is going to use finances and geography to set up the brackets, perhaps they could consider reseeding the Sweet 16 pods.  It looks like both GFU and UTT are Elite Eight caliber teams.

Very sad and unfortunate that a NWC team would have a better chance of hosting by losing, but don't worry, the rivalries in the NWC are such that no team would do that.  Probably the same everywhere in DIII women's basketball.  And if you do lose, you most likely have to play the same team again in the second round.  It's happened that way many times in the past.

Good luck to the Bruins in St. Paul.  They will represent George Fox and the NWC well.

One difference, UTT hosted the first weekend as they deserved, GFU did not.

Maybe a new NWC recruiting slogan could be "Join the NWC and see the country."

Given that this seems to happen often to the NWC, perhaps in fairness, the NCAA could budget to allow a 27-0 NWC team to host the first or second weekend once in a while, or both, as some other undefeated teams are able to do.  The NWC should not be punished because of something they cannot control, geography.

In retrospect, GFU should have lost the conference title game to UPS so that 2 NWC teams could have made into the tournament.  That doesn't seem right at all.

Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 06, 2016, 01:27:50 PM

Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on March 06, 2016, 12:27:11 AM
Yeah... GFU and Tyler are not hosting... St. Thomas is my guess as well.

So GFU and UTT get to play at a "neutral site" for their game.

Having trouble getting video of GF-Calvin game.  Anyone else?

George Fox comes from 13 down to beat Wisconsin Lutheran 65 to 58.

George Fox is not "almost the same exact team."  They lost the NWC Player of the Year, Kristen Sheilee and First Team All-Conference Selection, Sage Indendi.  They are 14-0 in the conference, #5 in the latest D3 poll.

The COTY is Scott Rueck.  Also, the POY is Hannah Munger.  She is getting better and better every game.

I was at the L&C-GFU game.  It was ugly, especially the officiating.  It was 17-7 Fox at halftime.  L&C played a very diliberate game, often seeming not wanting to take open shots.  Fox missed a lot of easy shots due to the physical nature of the L&C defense.  I believe UPS will handle L&C tomorrow night, and it will be a two team race, GFU and UPS in the second half.

roaringtwenties,

Welcome to the Northwest!

What school in the NWC is your daughter going to play for?

I found this in a George Fox press release (http://www.georgefox.edu/athletics/womens_bball/2009/releases/1213.html) about the 12/13/2008 game with Chapman:

"Chapman's Nicole Hayman (18.6 ppg) sat out the game with a broken foot"

She had scored 25 points in the previous game on 12/6/2008.

According to the Chapman women's basketball website:

http://www1.chapman.edu/athletics/08-09/wbasketball/teamcume.htm

Nicole Hayman played the first nine games of the season, and hasn't played since.  Here is what the Chapman website says this about the team (at http://www.chapman.edu/athletics/pressReleases/wbb03022009.asp)

"Chapman is led by senior point guard Lauren Kamiyama, who is averaging 9.4 points per game and 4.5 assists per game. Junior guard Linda Ly was named MVP of the Division III Independents Postseason Tournament last weekend and currently leads the team with 11 points per game."  No mention of Nicole Hayman.

Looking at the Chapman University website, it appears that Nikki Hayman hasn't played since the first nine games of the season.  Does anyone know if she is coming back for the tournament?

I was at the George Fox-Whitman game last night.  Whitman was not on the bus, but it appears to me that the Bruins are getting better and better as the season goes on.  Last night they just overpowered Whitman and were ahead 10-0, then 20-4 and at half 53-26. 

It always seems to come down to George Fox and UPS as the end of the season.  This year Fox has the home court advantage but in the past that hasn't meant much.  It will take a big effort for UPS to win, but it has happened before.  The Bruins, however, are playing great team basketball.

BruinFan,

Thanks for the analysis.  The Bruins have had an amazing year so far.  Here are some numbers I think about in relation to this team:

0 - No returning starters
1 - Only one senior of the team
4 - Number of returning starters for NEXT year
5 - Currently #5 in the country
10 - Ten freshmen on the team, and they all can play
12 and 0 - Current conference record
21 and 0 - Current season record
21.5 - Average margin of victory
249 - Number of wins in Scott Rueck's time at George Fox in 13 years (249 wins and 85 losses)

Tuesday night's game against Pacific in their dimly lit gym should be a tough test but with coach Rueck's 250th win a possibilty I don't think the Bruins will have a letdown.

First time to post a comment. 

The GFU-UPS women's game should be a great one this weekend.  Both teams seem to have improved over the past few weeks.  Scott Rueck has taken a team with no returning starters, only one senior and 9 frosh to #5 (WBCA)/#6(D3Hoops) in the country and undefeated for the year.  You can't do any better than that.   

I was at the GFU-Whitman men's game last weekend.  The Whitman coach lost it when one of his players was called for a flagrant foul with about 1 minute to go in the game and Whitman down by 4 or 5 I think.  He was hit with two technicals and kept yelling at the refs as he left the floor.