2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

jmccloskey · October 16, 2005, 11:17:07 PM

Maybe it's just me, but as long as you have 59 teams going to the tournament, why not just bump it up to a full field of 64 and eliminate all bye teams and play-ins?

smedindy · October 17, 2005, 12:09:18 AM

JM - That would make too much sense...

Ralph Turner · October 17, 2005, 12:44:35 AM

Please post the hyperlink to the Handbook.

I thought that there would be one more ranking on Selection weekend that will be used in the process.

Actually the 59 team format probably saves the NCAA a Plane Flight, not a bus ride.

bbald eagle · October 17, 2005, 10:14:54 AM

In a game that keeps stats so precisely, you'd think the number 64 would seem obvious to the NCAA.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 17, 2005, 10:19:41 AM

I posted the link in my second post on the handbook below, but here it is again.

Even if is were just a couple of bus rides, its still more than the NCAA wants to dish out for a tournament on which they lose money.

Yeah, about the geographic regions, the NCAA added those extra conferences to the official list, but it appears that they have actually been doing it that way for a while. It also appears that the SCAC and the ASC are both totally within the bounds of the South region and don't need that consideration anyway. Odd.

Titan Q · October 17, 2005, 01:03:00 PM

Hoops Fan, thank you for your breakdown. So, if I have this straight...

* Thurs 3/2: 5 games played - winners face the 5 bye teams on Sat 3/4

* Fri, Sat 3/3 & 3/4: 11 4-team tounaments (each at one designated location) with the 11 winners advancing to Sectional

* Sat 3/4: Winners of Thursday games @ bye teams - 5 winners advancing to Sectional

* Fri, Sat 3/10 & 3/11: Sectional as we are used to them - 4 winners advancing to Salem

Do I have this correct?

I haven't had a chance to digest this yet, but I think the 11 4-team tournaments will be kind of cool. I'm sure it will really be a "tournament atmosphere." Will also give fans a chance to see another game.

I just wish we could get a full 64 and have 16 4-team tournaments on the first weekend.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 17, 2005, 01:22:47 PM

Yeah, you got it right. Other than the fact that I coined the term "mini-tournaments" and although its exactly what they are, I'm sure the NCAA would frown on it. Therefore, I encourage everyone to use it, especially when the D-I tournament gets going, it is nothing but 21 "mini-tournaments" in its own right.

I do like tha fact that the NCAA is admitting to seeding and even told us how to figure out the higher seeds once we get to sectionals.

I assume from the handbook though, that the seeding will only be within each "mini-tournament" so we could still end up with four of the five best teams playing for one final-four slot, but at least we'll know who the underdog is.

Pat Coleman · October 17, 2005, 03:55:44 PM

I just figured we would call these regionals again, like they used to be called, leading to sectionals and final four.

Pat Coleman · October 17, 2005, 03:56:50 PM

As for 64, we'll get there eventually, when we approach 416 eligible D-III schools. It could be in less than a decade.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 17, 2005, 04:12:03 PM

Pat, any word on the proposal to cap post-season tournaments in all NCAA sports at all levels at 64? I know this was brought up sometime this summer, but I'm not aware if it was made into an official proposal or anything. It interested me then, but I can't find any information on it currently. I wonder if that would do away with the "play-in" game for the D1 tourney?

Pat Coleman · October 17, 2005, 04:22:56 PM

I expect that will be a done deal, but I don't think it has passed through all the 'how a bill becomes a law' stages yet.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 17, 2005, 05:08:22 PM

Oh I'm only a bill, only a bill... sitting here on capitol hill

David Collinge · October 17, 2005, 06:17:31 PM

[APPLAUDS the timely use of Schoolhouse Rock]

Knightstalker · October 17, 2005, 09:45:24 PM

Slight correction, it goes:
I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill and I'm sitting here on capitol hill

Here is a link with all the different song lyrics if anyone needs a refresher.
Schoolhouse rock

Coach C · October 26, 2005, 10:06:46 PM

Can I tell you how disappointed i was when I bought the Schoolhouse Rock DVD collection for my son and he HATED it?

As for the 64 team cap, I expect it to be proposed officially at the winter NCAA convention and it will pass.

As for the logic behind the brackets and byes and pairings and the rest... they went with the new ratio and come hell or high water they were going to make 59 work. it's a complete and total disaster, but WTF did you expect from our dear friends in Indy?