2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[AndOne]

The number of people who misunderstand DIII are like the leaves on the trees. To try try to reply (much less correct) even a relatively small number of them is hopeless. Move on.

I'd agree with you to a point but when one of those people reaches a great many people I'd think it's worth making an effort.

I think almost (unless its completely negative) any coverage of DIII is positive as we "little guys" can use all the exposure we can get.

I would say the tone of Mr. Burwell's comments is a bit condescending. Perhaps that stems from the fact that he is more used to covering professional and major college events. And, as he is not too familiar with the culture within the DIII level community, he is not fully able to appreciate the essence and thus the beauty of competition on the smaller scale.   

[Greek Tragedy]

Here is how the voting is going so far and there is no runaway winner yet.   Hopefully the games will be as close as the voting.   If Amherst stays hot from the 3 I think they will advance to the finals.  As far as the other game, I haven't seen either team but I have a strange feeling that Washington might be playing for the championship.

Who will win the 2008 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship

                                   Votes     
#3 Amherst (26-3)            7   36.8%   
#16 Ursinus (29-2)            2   10.5%   
#11 Washington (23-6)      4   21.1%   
#1 Hope (27-3)                 6   31.6%   

vote @ www.tobannounced.com

That same poll is on the Final 4 page on this website. 

Hope 18
Amherst 17
Washington U. 11
Ursinus 5

[njachoopsfan]

Considering that's only 19 votes while the front page question has almost 1400, the results are remarkably similar!

The consistancy is amazing among DIII fans

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I wish I would have been able to see Hope play before now.  Fun to watch.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I wish I would have been able to see Hope play before now.  Fun to watch.

I totally understand what those Hope fans are always complaining about.  We really don't get to know these guys that well during the season.  I've held the Hope squad in high regard, but they are exceeding expectations.

[njachoopsfan]

Hell of a job by Washington U. knocking of Hope, I think they will give Amherst a game for a half, but Amherst is playing so well right now as a team that I don't think the Bears can dethrone the Lord Jeffs.  but who knows anything can happen here

Early line is Amherst -11 over Washington U.     Prediction Amherst 81, Washington 70.  Poll has been reset so cast your vote for the DIII Champion

www.tobannounced.com

[Greek Tragedy]

I'll take Washington U. and the points.

[njachoopsfan]

Good coverage on the games on CSTV, the only thing I don't like is that the time is not displayed on the screen.  can someone bring that to the attention of the CSTV powers to be...

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Hell of a job by Washington U. knocking of Hope, I think they will give Amherst a game for a half, but Amherst is playing so well right now as a team that I don't think the Bears can dethrone the Lord Jeffs.  but who knows anything can happen here

I am not taking anything away from Wash U tonight. They played very well and deserved to win but I agree with the post above the Amherst has to be the favorite tomorrow.

There is also NO WAY Wash U puts up 57 in a half again. They were just unconscious shooting from the field in the second half (65% overall, 62% from beyond the arc). That's not normal, no matter how good your team is, and won't happen again tomorrow.

Also, I hope for both teams sake that the balding ref from tonight is not in the state of VA tomorrow because he was atrocious in the first half.

[Gregory Sager]

Hell of a job by Washington U. knocking of Hope, I think they will give Amherst a game for a half, but Amherst is playing so well right now as a team that I don't think the Bears can dethrone the Lord Jeffs.  but who knows anything can happen here

Early line is Amherst -11 over Washington U.     Prediction Amherst 81, Washington 70.  Poll has been reset so cast your vote for the DIII Champion

www.tobannounced.com

Hell of a job by Washington U. knocking of Hope, I think they will give Amherst a game for a half, but Amherst is playing so well right now as a team that I don't think the Bears can dethrone the Lord Jeffs.  but who knows anything can happen here

I am not taking anything away from Wash U tonight. They played very well and deserved to win but I agree with the post above the Amherst has to be the favorite tomorrow.

There is also NO WAY Wash U puts up 57 in a half again. They were just unconscious shooting from the field in the second half (65% overall, 62% from beyond the arc). That's not normal, no matter how good your team is, and won't happen again tomorrow.

Wow, were you two off!

Congratulations to Washington (MO), the 2008 D3 national champions.

[Greek Tragedy]

2nd half...

45 pts.
70% Fg%
50% 3pt%



Congrats to the Bears...all this without Sean Wallis

[BUBeaverFan]

A long drive home but with obviously great memories.  I thought the key to the game was Wash U's defense that seemed to force Amherst to start their offense much further from the basket, extending the passing lanes where Wash U could use their speed to disrupt the Lord Jeffs plays.  The Bears were also relentless in their pressure on Andrew Olson.  A great win for the Bears against a great team. Congrats to the Bears and to the other final four teams, what a great weekend.

[ILive4This]

I have to say first off, congrats to Wash U, they had an outstanding season, but I also have to say I am sick of the "and without Sean Wallis" that follows everything and has this season. I have also had to hear it for "without Steve Deluca" for Brandeis, and I just do not think it is right.

First off, who knows what would have happened had Wallis been in the line up every night this year, same result - maybe, probably even but still we will never know.

Second off, I feel it takes a small bit away from the accomplishment of the other players who were on the floor for the championship game.

AND FINALLY, and I think most importantly, Wash U was not WITHOUT Sean Wallis. This season as you saw in his blog, he was there every practice, and every game. His role changed but he was still very much with the team. Perhaps he was not dishing passes and driving the lane to score, but he was there.

Next year perhaps we will say wow Wash U accomplished ______ without Sean Wallis.....as an assistant coach.

Once again Congrats to the Bears, and I look forward to seeing how Sean and the other returners follow up next season.

[HopeConvert]

The last 10 minutes of the game I was watching the WashU bench pretty closely (wishing it was the Hope bench ), and was especially keeping an eye on Wallis. He was running up and down the bench, encouraging guys, bringing them fluids to drink, taking their towels from them. As the clock wore down you could see the elation on his face. If there was any disappointment in him from not being on the floor, he gave no evidence of it. Instead, what you saw was pure, untempered joy. Pretty cool, I thought.

[Greek Tragedy]

My comment was tongue-in-cheek, by the way.  But considering he was one of their best players and they did have to adjust without him the whole year, I think it is an accomplishment and can't be ignored (and I guess can't be repeated constantly either). 

The same goes for Wallis "not showing any disappointment on not being on the floor"...he had no choice, so he, too, had to adjust with life without being on the floor. 

Rob Perry of Whitewater was the same way.  He was the biggest cheerleader on the bench.  I think a lot of WIACers think it was a pretty big feat when Whitewater lost Perry, but they still won the WIAC regular season and conference title.