Bumblin' B's

[Pat Coleman]

Yeah. That's not an accurate list, though.

It differs for men and women because UMPI and Finlandia are in the GSAC for the women. Their men's teams are indeed Pool B.

For the men, Huntingdon should not be on that list, now a member of the USAC.

[Ralph Turner]

Starting the Pool B Roundup and corrections are definitely appreciated:

Northeast:     (0)            UMaine Presque Isle  Apparently going USCAA; they only play 7 D-3 games this season.
East:            (0)            None
Atlantic:        (1)            St Joseph's Brooklyn
Mid-Atlantic   (0)            None
South:          (8)            SAA-7 (Birmingham-Southern, Centre, Hendrix, Millsaps, Oglethrope, Rhodes, Sewanee, plus 4th year provisional Berry) and Rust.
Great Lakes:   (0)           None
Midwest:         (0)           None  (Maranatha Baptist -- not enough games)
West             (3 2)           Finlandia (Men are playing 14 D3 games this year; the Women are in the Great South AC.), Neb Wesleyan (Did they/if they get their exemption?), UC Santa Cruz

I count 12 11, which should mean there will be one Pool  B bid.           
         
The bid probably goes to the best team from the SAA.

Thanks, Dave

I still think that this list from December is the most accurate.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - Centre probably has this selection wrapped up in a nice bow

[HOPEful]

FYI - Centre probably has this selection wrapped up in a nice bow

Not only are they the best team in the group, but a pod in Danville helps alleviate the geographical issue that is Emory, as well...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yes... I would be surprised right now if they aren't hosting based only on geography... unless we have surprises that forces other decisions.

[Ralph Turner]

Centre is the selection for 2014.

[CityD3]

So what happens next year to the pool B bid with the SAA getting an automatic bid??

[KnightSlappy]

So what happens next year to the pool B bid with the SAA getting an automatic bid??

Poof.

There will be 402 teams in 43 Pool A conferences, setting the Pool B ratio at 9.3 : 1. There will only be 8 Pool B teams, so there won't be a bid (would need 10).

So next year there should be 62 bids, 43 Pool A, 0 Pool B, 19 Pool C.

Adding Centenary (La.) to full membership brings the total number of teams to 410 -- which would be enough for 63 bids -- but I think they lag a year on adding to the tournament field size. If not, we would get 20 Pool C's next year.

[David Collinge]

Those 8 Pool B teams would then move directly into Pool C and compete for those bids. Maybe not successfully, but at least there will be access to the tournament for these independents.

[HOPEful]

Those 8 Pool B teams would then move directly into Pool C and compete for those bids. Maybe not successfully, but at least there will be access to the tournament for these independents.

Me likey. The idea that teams not part of an AQ conference deserve an automatic qualifier has always eluded me... What was the point of a probationary period for the SAA when the champion defaults as the Pool B selection? Now that just about everyone is in an AQ conference, the Pool B seems about as useful as male nipples...

[KnightSlappy]

Those 8 Pool B teams would then move directly into Pool C and compete for those bids. Maybe not successfully, but at least there will be access to the tournament for these independents.

Me likey. The idea that teams not part of an AQ conference deserve an automatic qualifier has always eluded me... What was the point of a probationary period for the SAA when the champion defaults as the Pool B selection? Now that just about everyone is in an AQ conference, the Pool B seems about as useful as male nipples...

It happened that way, but it wasn't necessarily going to happen.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Those 8 Pool B teams would then move directly into Pool C and compete for those bids. Maybe not successfully, but at least there will be access to the tournament for these independents.

Me likey. The idea that teams not part of an AQ conference deserve an automatic qualifier has always eluded me... What was the point of a probationary period for the SAA when the champion defaults as the Pool B selection? Now that just about everyone is in an AQ conference, the Pool B seems about as useful as male nipples...

Because if there were two or three conferences in that probationary period, as there have been in recent years, the tournament bids would not be "default."  Really, Pool B was created to support those teams who are forced to be independent based on geography.  Pool B used to be much, much larger than it is now.  I think it's a good thing that it's dwindling out, but I also think it's good to have Pool B as part of the plan in case its ever again needed.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Ah... I have to check... but I believe a Pool B bid always exists for schools that do not have access to an automatic bid as an independent.

[Ralph Turner]

Ah... I have to check... but I believe a Pool B bid always exists for schools that do not have access to an automatic bid as an independent.

Please confirm that the Pool B schools are not guaranteed at least one bid regardless how few schools are in Pool B (i. e., fewer Pool B schools than the access ratio determines for a bid). Thanks.

Two years ago, this Chapman team would have been in the mix for Pool B with the SAA schools, so it was not necessarily the SAA's by default.

[Pat Coleman]

Once upon a time there was talk about whether there should always be a Pool B as it relates to men's ice hockey. We'll have to keep an eye on this going forward.