Bumblin' B's

[dahlby]

Yes.

[KnightSlappy]

Yes, I understand it to be an error as well. We'll see. Since they are official SCIAC members, they should not be eligible for Pool B, even if their conference is not making them eligible for the AQ this season.

[Hugenerd]

What does the NCAA do with Neb Wes? They play their fifth and final d3 game on 12/30, and if they beat Westminster (MO), they'll be undefeated (despite already losing 5 non-d3 games). Is that going to get it done for the Pool B bid?

[Gregory Sager]

What does the NCAA do with Neb Wes? They play their fifth and final d3 game on 12/30, and if they beat Westminster (MO), they'll be undefeated (despite already losing 5 non-d3 games). Is that going to get it done for the Pool B bid?

As always, it depends upon whether or not NWU applies for, and the D3 Championships Committee grants, a waiver for the 50% rule. The handbook manual (dunno why they bothered changing the name) states that, in order to be considered for Pools B and/or C, a team must play half of its games against in-region D3 competition.

[Hugenerd]

That answers my question, I didn't remember that rule.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Depends on the schedule... and sometimes Neb. Wesleyan ends up not even applying for NCAA consideration. They may this year... but I can't imagine they would be granted an exemption with just five games - I think they would have to be closer to 8 or more to get considered for an exemption.

[CityD3]

Any ideas about the bid? Maryville still the favorite?

[KnightSlappy]

Any ideas about the bid? Maryville still the favorite?

I would say it's Nebraska Wesleyan, unless they don't get granted a waiver, then it looks like a dead heat between St. Joseph's (Bklyn.) and Maryville (Tenn.). Here's what I have on the Pool B candidates:

REG	Reg. Rnk	Team	WP	wSOS	REG	D3	OVR	CONF
WE	12	Nebraska Wesleyan	0.800	0.463	4-1	4-1	6-8	IND
AT	15	St. Josephs (Bklyn.)	0.625	0.419	5-3	5-5	7-7	IND
SO	25	Maryville (Tenn.)	0.545	0.462	6-5	8-6	9-6	GSAC
WE	30	UC Santa Cruz	0.429	0.558	3-4	3-4	7-8	IND
NE	38	Maine-Presque Isle	0.400	0.557	2-3	2-3	2-8	IND
SO	33	Rust	0.455	0.407	5-6	5-6	7-9	IND
WE	42	Finlandia	0.385	0.422	5-8	6-10	6-12	IND
SO	41	LaGrange	0.231	0.505	3-10	3-10	5-10	GSAC
SO	43	Huntingdon	0.125	0.595	1-7	2-7	2-9	GSAC
WE	48	North Central (Minn.)	0.333	0.370	4-8	4-8	4-8	IND
SO	50	Piedmont	0.000	0.489	0-8	1-8	3-10	GSAC

Actually, the committee can probably find a way to not select Nebraska Wesleyan even if they are granted a waiver. If they go to the secondary criteria, their sub-.500 overall record can be used against them even though it's mostly vs. NAIA).

Maryville probably has St. Joseph's beat in the secondary criteria at the moment, so I'd say they have "the nod", but it's close.

[scottiedoug]

Maryville could win out, having played the best teams on their schedule (Emory, Wittenberg, Centre, NC Wesleyan) and entering play in the GSAC, where they are clearly the best team.  Playing four freshman a lot of minutes, they seem to be figuring out what they are supposed to be doing.  They rallied from 21 down with 5 minutes left in the first half to win against Greensboro by 10 in overtime and maybe have momentum to make this choice easier....

[Gregory Sager]

Depends on the schedule... and sometimes Neb. Wesleyan ends up not even applying for NCAA consideration.

I was under the impression that NWU declared for the D3 tourney every year. Have you heard differently from someone on the championships committee or from NWU?

[Ralph Turner]

Neb Wes is not likely to have any results versus Regionally Ranked opponents.

Maryville probably will.

[scottiedoug]

Never mind about Maryville winning out.  The Scots lost at Huntingdon.  Maybe now they can win out....

[smedindy]

That's a bad, bad loss.

[scottiedoug]

yep

[Gregory Sager]

So now there's only two Pool B candidates who have winning in-region records?

To paraphrase Jerry Lee Lewis, there's a whole lotta bumblin' goin' on.