Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 19, 2025, 09:03:16 PMMan, I said it on X and I'll say it on here. I really dislike the Thursday/Saturday format. If I attend, it's an extra day of vacation I have to use and it's an extra hotel night. Don't tell me it's for the student-athletes. If you're a lower seed in the Big Ten tournament, you could play FIVE days IN A ROW. I don't know the behind-the-scenes activities of the teams, maybe they have activities, tournament commitments, tours they do on the off-day, but playing Friday evening and Saturday, late afternoon is the same thing as some of the conference tournaments and even the first four rounds of the NCAA tournament. I'm so glad next year, if I go, they'll have the four quarterfinal games on Friday and the 2 semifinal games on Saturday. I suppose if I don't have a horse in the race, I can just go to the semis, save a night in the hotel and watch the final on TV. I don't talk to the players, but maybe some prefer to play Friday and Saturday because they still have the adrenaline from the previous night and don't want to cool off for a full day. Yes, injuries are unfortunate and maybe the NCAA wants the players to recover an extra day for the big game, but then they should do it for the other rounds as well. Off my soapbox. I'm done! Good luck to everyone.

It is about the student-athletes... because then they aren't gassed trying to recover for the biggest game of their careers. The entire point is to give them the time and space to recover from a hard fought semifinals and prepare for the finals, instead of a cram session and likely no recovery ahead of that game.

So yes, it is about the student-athletes. And it is about them also Thur/Sat because while they miss class time, they are still doing homework or taking exams if necessary - though seems more often then not schools are on spring break this week (not always, but most if not all four on the men's side were on break). And then they don't miss Monday classes coming back (which happens in soccer with whatever gender plays on Sunday).

The division decided to go this way so that championship games weren't decided on sheer luck of recovery or one player got over a twisted ankle better than another in 24 hours.

And don't compare to the Big 10... do you think it is actually about student-athletes there? Those students who are actually trying to get an education also have four or more tutors and academic people at their disposal on the trip they are making. It is a big money product there ... also the chances of a deep-seed going all the way through like that are slim and none almost every year. Look at how they treat their other tournaments and you will see something far more akin to DIII.

Yes, I got it confirmed from the committee that next year will be Thursday/Saturday. I suspect his is actually because that is how Fort Wayne had the facility scheduled more than anything else. This is the extra year they lost in 2020 and I don't believe when it was given to them it was actually decided the combined-championships were taking place. So likely, the Thursday/Saturday schedule was set prior to the schedule changing to quarters and semis. I know conversations about moving the All-Star game to the middle day in general, but especially next year fall on it not happening due to the staffing for the arena not being scheduled or in the case of next year, they likely already have other events to deal with in the arena (not to mention, four teams getting shoot arounds on that off day).

For the record, I love the day off in between because I can get better prepared without sacrificing even more sleep. Yeah, it sucks from a work perspective having to take even more time off or missing something on the day before games, but being able to recover and prep is valuable.

So anyway... as much as you may not like it (you are in a small minority), this is actually about the student-athletes. They have all responded in multiple sports very positively about the experience of an extra day off.

An aside, the issue that needs to be addressed in DIII is actually how teams travel surrounding these events, especially those who lose in the first game of a weekend. The stories I've heard in the last few years are embarrassing.

Sheesh, first post back in a LONG time... and I went on and on.. sorry.

We don't need to "fill time" or pay for the use of the facility in full for the middle day.

This move to add a day off is for all sports in DIII and honestly we need it. There is a strong argument that national championship games are impacted by players not having enough rest from hard fought battles the day before just to get to the title game. Any other round, maybe it isn't as significant, but we are talking about the national championship. (Also allows teams to have actual practices and walk-throughs before such an important battle.)

And honestly, fans and their work schedules is not going to dictate anything when it comes to national championships schedules. Is it inconvenient to have a day off in the middle? Yep. Does the Thursday/Saturday really the best way to do it? We shall see.

What I think will happen but we won't see until next year is the men's and women's schedules alternate even though they are not in the same facility. This year men are Th/Sat ... next year they may be Fri/Sun while women play Thu/Sat - and it will change every year. That way each gender gets its spotlight. They do that at soccer, though they use the same facility.

It can be something we ask the committee the next opportunities we get.

As for a third-place game returning - nope. That's dead. It won't return. Teams and coaches had lost interest in it. The 2009 final version was a joke of a game. F&M didn't even bother trying. Coaches watching were so fed up they got the All-Star Game to replace it.

The ASG will be played at Noon on Saturday ahead of the championship game.

The fact two assists are allowed is something that bugs the hell out of me ... but ... anyway ...

The ability to have two assists is restricted to specific instances, though I have seen some fudge that WAY too much. Great example of a two-assist goal would be a corner or some set piece where after the ball is kicked a player goes up and flicks it on with his head directly to the goal scorer who immediately shoots and scores. The guy who kicked it and the guy who flicked it on get assists because it was bang-bang in terms of how it played out.

Too many times I've seen a second assist given to someone like a defender who boots it downfield to a midfield, perhaps, who takes a few dribbles, then decides they have a teammate they can get it to ahead and they then boot it to them - and a goal results. That should be one assist.

Too many are given out in that circumstance and as a former player, it bugs the hell out of me. And I have questioned it with the person doing the stats. More times than not the coaches are putting pressure on SIDs to aware extra assists to try and inflate resumes of players for post-season (or even in-season) awards - which is pathetic in my opinion.

FYI - there is a hockey-style way of getting an assist that is mind blowing to me. If a person shoots on goal and the goalie makes a save, but gives up the rebound and another person comes in and scores ... technically the shooter gets the assist ... even though that was clearly NOT the intent.

As for why the NCAA allows such things ... that's based on the sport and the committees that make up the groups that decide such things. Coaching associations are known to put pressure to keep such things.

Basically what Ron said ... there has to be a conference home for schools entering DIII. And I believe it has to be a full membership, not associate, but I'll double-check.

The same rule DII and DI have. We have schools like Bob Jones joining DIII with no path ... still.

Possibly if I am reading what you are saying right ... but it isn't that often teams have less than 25 votes and make the Top 25 (I think).

Something people don't realize, I think, is if we expanded to more teams to vote on ... it does NOT guarantee those who have the 26th, 27th, etc. amount of points would enter the "Top 30." Voters with five more teams to vote may choose other teams than those receiving votes and those who are currently on the outside ... still maybe later.

So there is a significance that the team with 26th amount of votes isn't 26th because we don't know how voters would treat them if there was, say, 30 spots to vote. They may still get the same votes from those currently voting for them and no votes from anyone else - choosing other teams that would have a significant impact on their point totals.

Every time the redshirting rule comes up it fails overwhelmingly. It keeps coming up now because of COVID impacts AND schools trying to retain students. I still don't think it will go anywhere.

The legislation for 2023 Convention is set. There is one twist with changing the number of weeks teams can practice to days - something COVID brought as a temporary change and everyone loves (something we talked about YEARS ago, but didn't think quite this far). There are TWO versions, so there is going to be a funky way of voting for the proposal - to assure the old version is ousted and one of the two is adopted. Basically, it's going to be like double-elimination.

Here is some about that voting method: https://www.ncaa.org/news/2022/10/26/media-center-diii-presidents-council-backs-alternative-voting-method-order-for-convention-proposals.aspx

I need to find the link with all the legislative items, but other than the "days" thing, there isn't anything of major significance as I remember it.

Quote from: College Soccer Observer on November 07, 2022, 02:38:47 PM
The only bracketing rule they have to follow is no intra conference matchups in first two rounds.

I know I'm circling in late on this ... but the rule is the first round - NOT the first TWO rounds. There are sports that would like to make it the first two rounds, but that rule hasn't been put in place by DIII at this point (it is complicated because in a sport like football where one game is played per weekend or others where maybe the first and second games are separated by several days, this would become a significant problem and cost overrun). One solution would be "opening weekend" but even that needs some work.

Quote from: AmherstRules on November 14, 2022, 10:52:32 AM
Generally agree.  Some D1 coaches ought to get this tape.

Does anyone have any insight on the over and back call on the errant pass that gave Calvin the ball near the end.....looked like the Titan player (Carter Thomas) clearly intercepted the ball and landed on both sides of half court, but the video was very poor.  Wrong call?  Appeared so.  I think he gets to establish position before he can go over and back. Annoucners weren't helpful in clarifying but that was not Dave McHugh out there. 

Sorry for the late response but ... is that a compliment or a slight?   

I don't know what happened but from what you described, a player has to establish themselves BEFORE they get the benefit. If he started in the front court, was in mid-air when he caught the ball, and landed with one foot in the back-court ... it's an over-and-back call. He has to establish himself in the back-court first. Because he was last established in the front court, that is where the call is based.

If he started in the back-court and landed straddling the line, then there is no call as he hasn't established himself in the front court as of yet.

To be established in the front court, both feet and the ball have to be in the front court. Once any of those three (two feet and the ball) go into the back-court, then it is an over-the-back call.

The only thing I question is the sequence. If the defense tipped the ball, then gathering it in the back-court by the offense is allowed. However, I believe it still goes back to the previous comment ... if he started in the front-court, got the ball before establishing himself in the back-court, then by landing with possession with a foot in the back-court negates the tip and he's called for over-and-back. But I'll be honest ... I'm not exactly sure as I am trying to figure it out abstractly.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on June 23, 2022, 07:16:16 PM

Quote from: therealignmentreport1 on June 23, 2022, 07:12:34 PM
The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) only has 4 full members, which will be down to 3 on July 1st.  They do have 6 affiliates in Men's Volleyball, and  29 affiliates for E-sports.  Every other sport they sponsor have 4 or less. So are they going to fold at some point, or get some additional members?

The NECC believes they'll have AQs for one more year. As far as I know, the core members plan to find other homes.  The NECC may very well be eSports only this time next year.

I actually have been meaning to look into this. The rule states that once the core dips below four the AQs are eliminated immediately - no grace period anymore (it is what the former CAC was facing when they merged to create the C2C).

Quote from: Ron Boerger on June 30, 2022, 10:22:19 AM

Also significant:  with the start of the 2025 fiscal year, Division III will see an overall 11% revenue increase due to the CBS/Turner Sports broadcast agreement (assuming the Power Five doesn't totally blow things up before then).

Something else to consider here ... the women's basketball tournament is entering it's first-ever bidding process for their event. That is also expected to bring in far more money which will end up helping DIII.

However ... costs and other factors keep working against DIII (including understandable expansion of tournaments) and that money is getting eaten alive.

DIII also plans to spend a bit more than it's budget in the coming years to bring down the reserves a tad which are believed to be too high. I need to look into this more as one of the things DI did that shot themselves in the foot prior to the pandemic starting was nearly eliminate their reserves. There was a concern that the reserves would be targeted by lawsuits and so they didn't want the money sitting there. It turns out, the lawsuits weren't allowed to go after the reserves ... DI then had NO money to speak of as a safety net when 2020 happened.

Yeah - to confirm - ticket prices are set by the NCAA. Even though it is at a school, it is considered an NCAA event and the NCAA is in charge of everything, not the school.

Something to keep in mind... Nebraska Wesleyan found themselves in a similar boat to UC Santa Cruz for a number of years. Sometimes their criteria didn't hold up. Sometimes it got interesting. Every time their numbers were based on half the games.

Two things about W&L: First they were on the table the entire night. One thing we mentioned early on and I think we forgot on the show ... women tend to eventually take a team if they have been sitting there. It might be the "human" nature, but they end up talking about them so long that eventually they rise higher than others. Second, he vRRO for W&L was much better than we were giving them credit or realized. They had two wins over teams in he upper half of rankings while St. Lawrence, since that's who we chose and was argued earlier, had wins over teams in the bottom 8, 9, 10. That goes to W&L.

When Megan explained it, it made more sense.

Scott - you were invaluable to the process on the show. I loved it, though admittedly lost track as I was balancing/juggling so many things at the same time, but one thing you admitted is how much you love the SOS. The women have not shown as much love over the years. That changed a bit this year. I think that is why we got 19/20 this time because our natural lean towards SOS is where the women started going with things. That said, ultimately the WL% teams usually are the ones selected or those with other criteria advantages.

I'll give you an example even though I hate it and because I think the person complaining on twitter is being a pawn for a coach ... Rochester has a staggering SOS and other good criteria marks over Cortland for example. However, Cortland has a much better WL%. It basically made the argument moot because Cortland simply won more games. That is where I tend to sit more times than not. I appreciate good SOS numbers and teams that have those pretty high, but eventually you have to prove you won and not just a majority of your games. You should show you won at least 2/3s of the time.

One thing I think needs to enter this equation are losses the fall outside the criteria. It is a much more difficult thing to try and hash out on a message ... but it is something I have on my list to investigate further. Already talked to a committee member in a different sport about some ideas and get-togethers to discuss ways to improve the system - which is always up for tweaks.

Quote from: Caz Bombers on March 01, 2022, 01:24:36 PM
Morrisville (United East) and Lesley (NECC) to NAC in 2023-24. Heck of a rebuilding job by the NAC getting up to 14 members.

Morrisville was part of the discussions last increase by the NAC when hey brought in members form the NEAC/UEC. It is a bit complicated, but it sounds like opinions have shifted and Morrisville is now entering.

This has been part of the larger NAC plan for a few years now.

Quote from: Stretch4 on March 01, 2022, 11:29:50 AM
Can someone explain how Swarthmore is hosting games this weekend, while Hopkins has to go on the road?  Makes absolutely no sense to me.  Hopkins just knocked them off for the league title, has a better record, is ranked higher and (if I am reading the ratings correctly) a stronger strength of schedule.  I suspect the answer will be that Swat beat Hopkins twice during the season and has non-conf wins over three other NCAA qualifiers (Susquehanna, Stevens, Neumann).  But Swat is also the same team that got beaten down on their home floor by a depleted Muhlenberg team, lost on their home floor to Widener (the 6th place team in the MAC Commonwealth), and lost on the road to solid, but inconsistent teams Dickinson and Ursinus.  Hopkins 3 losses were to #4 Christopher Newport and twice to Swat.  On top of this you have Oswego State in the Swarthmore pod, who should also be hosting before Swat.  Is this some kind of nod to Swat from two years ago when the tourney was cancelled and they were the number 1 team?

Head-to-head, Swat still has a 2-1 advantage.

Swat was 5-1 vRRO; Hopkins was 2-3. Swat's lone loss in that category was Hopkins; one of Hopkins wins was to Swat. Otherwise 3-0 for Swat and 1-1 for Hopkins.

SOS was nearly identical: Swat .545 and Hopkins .543.

Because of the head-to-head and vRRO the advantage goes to Swat.

As a result, Swat finished #1 in Region 5 and Hopkins #2.