2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[John Gleich]

The minus is that you will end up with freshly-eliminated players suiting up for the senior All-Star game who don't really deserve to be there. For example, the two Randy Mac seniors, Lawrence and Strickland, got DNPs in half of RMC's games this season -- and in the games in which they did see the floor, they averaged about two minutes apiece. And the Sweeney kid from UWSP averaged ten minutes per game and scored 1.7 ppg for the year. Not exactly All-Star numbers.

This SP team, much like the 2004 Final Four team, is made up predominately of juniors.  Matt Moses is more of a presence in terms of the senior than Neal Krajnik was (while Neal was important to our success, he wasn't our go-to guy like Moses is for this year's Point team, though he did start for the first half of the year until replaced by Jon Krull), and this Point team has 3 seniors instead of just one... but both rosters were dominated by juniors.

As an aside, Point does have 3 seniors... Moses, Sweeney, and Ross Forman, though one could say they have 2.5 seniors... Forman didn't join the team until the new year while Sweeney has put in his 4 years at SP.  If the All-Star game is going to include two players from potentially eliminated teams, then they've gotta take who is available.

Interestingly, I wonder what they would do if there WAS only one senior on a Final Four team, like we had in '04...  As it so happened, we didn't lose, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway, and I suspect that, though the game will likely be in the 60's and pretty close, SP will pull out the victory on Friday and not need to worry about which of their seniors will be suiting up on Saturday morning... 'cause they all will!

[Greek Tragedy]

In all honesty, I don't care if an "East" player plays for the West or vice versa.  It's basically a scrimmage to let some seniors play in front of a nice crowd and get some exposure.  In fact, I think it would be kind of fun to see two players from the same team play each other...just so long as it's not Point players! 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

As for players that don't see much time getting on the roster from losing semi-final teams... I would look at it this way. They were part of a team that got to Salem but maybe they didn't get a chance to really play. This is their reward even if they aren't a star... for being a four-year player at the school that nearly accomplished the ultimate goal of a championship.

Is participation restricted to four-year players, then? Do we know for sure that seniors who transferred in at some point during their careers will not be allowed to participate?

Sorry for the mis-quote. I meant to indicate seniors and in my efforts to keep from writing "seniors" every single-time... I wrote four-year players. Seniors is the key... those who have used up all of their eligibility would be key. For example, Sean Wallis would not have probably played last year because he still had one year of eligibility available. This game would hurt his chances in the eyes of the NCAA from returning for another year at Wash U.

[cubs]

How were players selected to play in the all-star game?

I was wondering the same thing....  Did they have to be nominated, or earn All Region or something like that?  I was surprised that DJ Marsh, a 1st Team All West Region selection, wasn't chosen.  I'm sure there is a good reason, but I guess I'm just curious more than anything.

[frodotwo]

UWSP has sold out their allotment of tickets according to the local newspaper. No idea how many that is ...250?...500?  I got mine about 45 min after the ticket office opened and was 6 rows up already if that's the order they went in

[Pat Coleman]

Cubs: My earlier response.

Players had to be nominated by their NABC member head coach. From that group, their selection committee whittled the list down to four or five in each region, ultimately selecting two -- in part based on positionality, since unlike an NABC All-American team, this team must actually be capable of taking the floor, and in part based on who is available.

It's possible one or more players may have turned down the invitation. However, the NABC is paying for their flights and accommodations, so cost should not have been an issue.

Like with any process, someone must be nominated. There's always a chance that a player you think should be in the game was not nominated. In addition, a coach must be a member of the NABC in order to nominate, and there's at least one relatively prominent Division III basketball program where this is not the case.

[cubs]

Cubs: My earlier response.

Players had to be nominated by their NABC member head coach. From that group, their selection committee whittled the list down to four or five in each region, ultimately selecting two -- in part based on positionality, since unlike an NABC All-American team, this team must actually be capable of taking the floor, and in part based on who is available.

It's possible one or more players may have turned down the invitation. However, the NABC is paying for their flights and accommodations, so cost should not have been an issue.

Like with any process, someone must be nominated. There's always a chance that a player you think should be in the game was not nominated. In addition, a coach must be a member of the NABC in order to nominate, and there's at least one relatively prominent Division III basketball program where this is not the case.

Sorry Pat!!!!  I must have been reading too fast this morning.....  My apologies..

[magicman]

Williams open up a 9 point lead over Guilford at 30-21 with 5:55 to play in the 1st half. The Quakers come roaring back outscoring the Ephs 22-5 to take the lead 43-35 at the break.

[magicman]

Williams up 65-61 with 7:07 left to play.

[Gregory Sager]

This will be the second time in D3 tourney history that there has been a rematch in the national championship game. Tomorrow Williams will seek to avenge an 84-82 defeat at the hands of UW-Stevens Point in the 2004 title contest, as the Ephs and Pointers will square off for the 2010 national title.

In 1979 North Park defeated Potsdam State, 66-62, to win the second of an eventual three straight national championships for the Vikings, and in 1985 North Park also took the rematch against Potsdam State in that season's title game, 72-71.

[magicman]

East squad wins the All-Star game 109-107 in overtime. Clay Henson of Guilford led the West Squad with 35 points and was the game's leading scorer. Abdoulaye Oeudraogo from William Paterson led the East Squad with 18 points. Josh Sharlow of St. Lawrence had a great all-around game, as he made a nice feed to Darnell Braswell for an open layup with 2 seconds left in the game. Braswell was hammered and missed the lay-in but went to the line and made the 2 foul shots that accounted for the winning points. Sharlow scored 10 points, had 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. Hensen was unconscious as he drained three pointer after three pointer from all over the court. I don't know if they had an MVP for the game but he was clearly it. 

[magicman]

Back and forth game between the Ephs and the Pointers as Williams leads 27-26 with 2:11 left to play in the 1st half.

[magicman]

Teams head to the break with Williams up 32-30.

Williams shot 54% in the half. Schultz and Whittington with 9 pts each to lead Williams.

Moses leads the Pointers with 12 pts. Pointers shot 44% for the period.

[magicman]

Both teams with 3 triples and both had 3 made free throws. Williams with 9 turnovers to only 4 for Stevens Point. Williams with 9 bench points all from Whittington, Pointers with 3 bench points.

[magicman]

Teams exchanging baskets as Williams holds a 3 pt lead 41-38 with 17:02 remaining.