2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[Pat Coleman]

12 out of 72 flew. Not much of a basis for projecting anything useful, Ralph.

[Pat Coleman]

And, of course, teams fly to Salem every year.

[magicman]

Pat did you just delete my post about the matchups next Friday? I notice they've now been corrected.

[Pat Coleman]

I was still punching in the schedules. You can email me if you see something. You always do.

[magicman]

I was still punching in the schedules. You can email me if you see something. You always do.

OK.

[hickory_cornhusker]

The last 5 years of Sectionals...

2008
@ Hope* (Ohio Wesleyan, Wheaton, Whitworth)
@ Wash U* (Buena Vista^, St. Mary's-Md., Millsaps^)
@ Plattsburgh St (Brandeis, Amherst*, Richard Stockton)
@ Ursinus* (Gettysburg, Rochester, Coast Guard)

2007
@ UW-Stevens Point (Wash U*, Hope, Carroll)
@ Virginia Wesleyan* (Mississippi Coll, Lincoln, Guilford)
@ Amherst* (Stevens, Rhode Island, Keene State)
@ St. John Fisher (Brockport St., Wooster*, John Carroll)

2006
@ Lawrence (Illinois Wesleyan*, Augustana, Puget Sound)
@ Virginia Wesleyan* (Lincoln, William Patterson, Widener)
@ Amherst* (Tufts, Utica, St. John Fisher)
@ Wittenberg* (Hope, Mississippi Coll, Transylvania)

2005
@ UW-Stevens Point* (Puget Sound, Hanover, Trinity-Tx)
@ Ramapo (Kings, Worcester Poly, York-Pa*)
@ Amherst (Rochester*, Potsdam St, St. John Fisher)
@ Albion (John Carroll, Calvin*, Mississippi Coll)

2004
@ Puget Sound (Stevens Point*, Sul Ross State, Lawrence)
@ Wooster (Illinois Wesleyan, John Carroll*, Maryville-Tn)
@ Williams* (Brockport State, Rochester, Keene State)
@ Franklin & Marshall (Gwynedd-Mercy, New Jersey City, Amherst*)

* winner of Sectional

Of the last 20 Sectionals, the host team has won 10.  I would have guessed that % to be much higher.

In bold are schools that were flown to the venue.

(As best as I can determine, 11 schools were flown to the sectionals.  Mississippi College was the highest seed in the 2007 Sectional and was flown to VA.

Only the 2004 Stevens Point team won the Sectional.

^Millsaps to WashUStL is only 496 miles.
^Buena Vista to WashStL is only 498 miles.

It should be noted that in 2004 for the Puget Sound sectional, Stevens Point should have probably hosted that one since Lawrence could have skipped the flight causing two flights instead of three but the Stevens Point had first chance to host that weekend and did. Lawrence may have been considered to small to host the sectionals even though they did it two years later albeit in a split session.

[Ralph Turner]

The last 5 years of Sectionals...

2008
@ Hope* (Ohio Wesleyan, Wheaton, Whitworth)
@ Wash U* (Buena Vista^, St. Mary's-Md., Millsaps^)
@ Plattsburgh St (Brandeis, Amherst*, Richard Stockton)
@ Ursinus* (Gettysburg, Rochester, Coast Guard)

2007
@ UW-Stevens Point (Wash U*, Hope, Carroll)
@ Virginia Wesleyan* (Mississippi Coll, Lincoln, Guilford)
@ Amherst* (Stevens, Rhode Island, Keene State)
@ St. John Fisher (Brockport St., Wooster*, John Carroll)

2006
@ Lawrence (Illinois Wesleyan*, Augustana, Puget Sound)
@ Virginia Wesleyan* (Lincoln, William Patterson, Widener)
@ Amherst* (Tufts, Utica, St. John Fisher)
@ Wittenberg* (Hope, Mississippi Coll, Transylvania)

2005
@ UW-Stevens Point* (Puget Sound, Hanover, Trinity-Tx)
@ Ramapo (Kings, Worcester Poly, York-Pa*)
@ Amherst (Rochester*, Potsdam St, St. John Fisher)
@ Albion (John Carroll, Calvin*, Mississippi Coll)

2004
@ Puget Sound (Stevens Point*, Sul Ross State, Lawrence)
@ Wooster (Illinois Wesleyan, John Carroll*, Maryville-Tn)
@ Williams* (Brockport State, Rochester, Keene State)
@ Franklin & Marshall (Gwynedd-Mercy, New Jersey City, Amherst*)

* winner of Sectional

Of the last 20 Sectionals, the host team has won 10.  I would have guessed that % to be much higher.

In bold are schools that were flown to the venue.

(As best as I can determine, 11 schools were flown to the sectionals.  Mississippi College was the highest seed in the 2007 Sectional and was flown to VA.

Only the 2004 Stevens Point team won the Sectional.

^Millsaps to WashUStL is only 496 miles.
^Buena Vista to WashStL is only 498 miles.

It should be noted that in 2004 for the Puget Sound sectional, Stevens Point should have probably hosted that one since Lawrence could have skipped the flight causing two flights instead of three but the Stevens Point had first chance to host that weekend and did. Lawrence may have been considered to small to host the sectionals even though they did it two years later albeit in a split session.

I assume you meant "...the Stevens Point Women had first chance to host..." .

(Corrected for Hanover to UWSP = 546 miles.)

[Ralph Turner]

I have added the distances traveled by the Sectional champion to the venue.

The last 5 years of Sectionals...

2008
@ Hope* (Ohio Wesleyan, Wheaton, Whitworth)
@ Wash U* (Buena Vista, St. Mary's-Md., Millsaps)
@ Plattsburgh St (Brandeis, Amherst*, Richard Stockton)  260 miles
@ Ursinus* (Gettysburg, Rochester, Coast Guard)

2007
@ UW-Stevens Point (Wash U*, Hope Carroll)   469 miles
@ Virginia Wesleyan* (Mississippi Coll, Lincoln, Guilford)
@ Amherst* (Stevens, Rhode Island, Keene State)
@ St. John Fisher (Brockport St., Wooster*, John Carroll)  341 miles

2006
@ Lawrence (Illinois Wesleyan*, Augustana, Puget Sound)  296 miles
@ Virginia Wesleyan* (Lincoln, William Patterson, Widener)
@ Amherst* (Tufts, Utica, St. John Fisher)
@ Wittenberg* (Hope, Mississippi Coll, Transylvania)

2005
@ UW-Stevens Point* (Puget Sound, Hanover, Trinity-Tx)
@ Ramapo (Kings, Worcester Poly, York-Pa*)  189 miles
@ Amherst (Rochester*, Potsdam St, St. John Fisher)  329 miles
@ Albion (John Carroll, Calvin*, Mississippi Coll) 95 miles

2004
@ Puget Sound (Stevens Point*, Sul Ross State, Lawrence)  flight
@ Wooster (Illinois Wesleyan, John Carroll*, Maryville-Tn)  63 miles
@ Williams* (Brockport State, Rochester, Keene State)
@ Franklin & Marshall (Gwynedd-Mercy, New Jersey City, Amherst*)  334 miles

* winner of Sectional

Of the last 20 Sectionals, the host team has won 10.  I would have guessed that % to be much higher.

Plane flights in italics.

I think that the critical step in getting the Salem where almost everyone flies is getting thru the Sectionals, where flying is a major consideration.

How much home court disadvantage does a team have when they are so far from their fan base that the fans can't drive to the tourney?

(Corrected for Hanover to UWSP = 546 miles.)

[Titan Q]

In bold are schools that were flown to the venue.

(As best as I can determine, 11 schools were flown to the sectionals.  Mississippi College was the highest seed in the 2007 Sectional and was flown to VA.

Only the 2004 Stevens Point team won the Sectional.

^Millsaps to WashUStL is only 496 miles.
^Buena Vista to WashStL is only 498 miles.

Would Hanover have flown to Stevens Point (2005)?  Having been to Hanover many times, that seems like a haul to me.  

In my opinion, a long bus ride - like Bloomington, IL to Appleton, WI (5 hours), or St. Louis to Stevens Point (8 hours) - is not any easier travel than a flight.  As long as all teams get to the destination at the same time on Thursday, I don't see the method of travel as a huge factor.  (Now, playing on the road vs home...that is a huge deal of course.)

The biggest issue in my opinion is the "island teams" that will never host...even when they deserve to.  Like Mississippi College in 2007.

[Ralph Turner]

In bold are schools that were flown to the venue.

(As best as I can determine, 11 schools were flown to the sectionals.  Mississippi College was the highest seed in the 2007 Sectional and was flown to VA.

Only the 2004 Stevens Point team won the Sectional.

^Millsaps to WashUStL is only 496 miles.
^Buena Vista to WashStL is only 498 miles.

Would Hanover have flown to Stevens Point (2005)?  Having been to Hanover many times, that seems like a haul to me.   Yes, 546 miles!  Thanks!

In my opinion, a long bus ride - like Bloomington, IL to Appleton, WI (5 hours) - is not any easier travel than a flight.  As long as all teams get to the destination at the same time on Thursday, I don't see the method of travel as a huge factor.  (Now, playing on the road vs home...that is a huge deal of course.)

The biggest issue in my opinion is the "island teams" that will never host...even when they deserve to.  Like Mississippi College in 2007.

[Titan Q]

Note that in 2005, Hanover (flight) gave Trinity (flight) a tremendous game Friday night, and then Saturday Trinity gave UW-Stevens Point their toughest game in the entire tournament.

Gotta be ready to play Friday night, regardless of how you got there.

[Ralph Turner]

Note that in 2005, Hanover (flight) gave Trinity (flight) a tremendous game Friday night, and then Saturday Trinity gave UW-Stevens Point their toughest game in the entire tournament.

Gotta be ready to play Friday night, regardless of how you got there.

Of course we are still trying to get the men to flip sub-sectionals as Pat Coleman discussed in the Men's Commissioner's interview.

Your comment about flight team vs. flight team is good.

The Lawrence- Sul Ross State game in 2004 went to OT, and the Lawrence-UWSP game on Saturday went to OT as well.

This year, I am grateful that UTD is getting Capital instead of JCU in the sectional semis.

[Titan Q]

How much home court disadvantage does a team have when they are so far from their fan base that the fans can't drive to the tourney?

Good question, Ralph.  As I see it, a road game in the Sectionals is going to be hostile regardless.  If Puget Sound plays Wheaton Saturday night on Wheaton's home floor, it is going be a hugely pro-Wheaton crowd, whether or not UPS has 150-200 there or not.  As far as neutral games, UW-Platteville fans were out-numbered by Hope fans this past Friday at Wheaton...and Platteville won in a blowout.

I really don't think the "far from their fan base" thing is the issue -- it is more just the playing on the road reality.

[Ralph Turner]

How much home court disadvantage does a team have when they are so far from their fan base that the fans can't drive to the tourney?

Good question, Ralph.  As I see it, a road game in the Sectionals is going to be hostile regardless.  If Puget Sound plays Wheaton Saturday night on Wheaton's home floor, it is going be a hugely pro-Wheaton crowd, whether or not UPS has 150-200 there or not.  As far as neutral games, UW-Platteville fans were out-numbered by Hope fans this past Friday at Wheaton...and Platteville won in a blowout.

I really don't think the "far from their fan base" thing is the issue -- it is more just the playing on the road reality.

Then that is just part of the mental toughness that the team brings to the game.

[Ralph Turner]

How much home court disadvantage does a team have when they are so far from their fan base that the fans can't drive to the tourney?

Good question, Ralph.  As I see it, a road game in the Sectionals is going to be hostile regardless.  If Puget Sound plays Wheaton Saturday night on Wheaton's home floor, it is going be a hugely pro-Wheaton crowd, whether or not UPS has 150-200 there or not.  As far as neutral games, UW-Platteville fans were out-numbered by Hope fans this past Friday at Wheaton...and Platteville won in a blowout.

I really don't think the "far from their fan base" thing is the issue -- it is more just the playing on the road reality.

How many anti-Wheaton fans will be in attendance rooting for UPS?