2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[John Gleich]

Other than the fact that D-II has more schools in your neck of the woods, I'm not sure that it's going to be any better.

I can't speak to the history of any other NWC schools, but I know Puget Sound was D-II... they won the national championship in 1976.

[OxyBob]

Puget Sound did host a few years when things went in their favor

When was that?

OxyBob

[John Gleich]

Puget Sound did host a few years when things went in their favor

When was that?

OxyBob

03-04  See the WIAC page (most recent post) for the main reason why it was UPS and not Stevens Point.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Simple - UWSP women and men had the chance to host the sectional... and it was decided the women would get the nod (from this experience we now alternate the hosting opportunities by round and by year); Lawrence's gym was too small and the other team was going to fly anyway... so they shipped everyone out to Puget Sound.

It isn't the perfect scenario... but it happened.

Whitworth I know was part of a conversation to see if they could be hosting weeks before the season ended... and you can probably bet the beancounters are the ones that said it wouldn't happen.

Here is the bylaw we all talk about but probably have never read:
31.3.4 S election Decisions of Sports Committees.
The determination of sites, selection of teams or individuals, or their site assignment in championships competition made by a governing sports committee (or a designated subcommittee) may not be appealed. (Adopted: 4/13/10)

31.3.4.1 Pairings and Site Selection.
The following criteria will be used for pairings and site selections: (Adopted: 4/13/10)
(a) Once selected, teams shall be grouped in clusters according to natural-geographic proximity. Teams shall then be paired according to geographic proximity. A team may be moved to numerically balance the bracket if geographic proximity is maintained. Teams shall be paired and eligible according to geographic proximity (within 500 miles). An exception may be granted when there are not enough teams within the 500-mile radius to fill the region;
(b) Teams may be seeded on a regional basis using the regional-selection criteria. However, geographic proximity shall take precedent over seeding;
(c) Teams from the same conference shall not play one another in the first round as long as geographic proximity is maintained; and
(d) The highest-seeded team that meets all selection criteria shall be selected as the host institution, provided geographic proximity is maintained.

[ScotsFan]

In both cases, the NCAA screwed someone becuase of $$. One is not more justifiable than the other...Rochester is hosting for the same reason Wooster is, and neither one deserved it.

Again.  Wooster lost TWO games.  Both to teams ranked in the top 25 at the time.  Both of whom had strong cases to make the NCAA tournament and one did make the tournament.  Wooster has been the #1 team in the GL Region all season.  And they also just happen to have one of the largest gyms in D3 basketball as Timken seats 3,400 people.  They are very much deserving hosts!

I agree with ScotsFan and I think the committee did a decent job of keeping top 8-10 teams away from each other.  Whitworth is happy to be playing ANYWHERE in mid March.  Most Whitworth fans accept the $ considerations, some do not.  Having a top ranked team makes the pill a bit more bitter and some grace to vent is in order.  My only hope this go around was in the women's budget and the men's budget having some similiarity in profiles.  Didn't happen...move on.

One thing I think many fans do not get is the fact that there is no seeds in our tournament.  Wooster and Whitworth if geography and facility was equal, might even be a coin flip.

Nicely said.  +k for you.  I don't care about hearing that Whitworth has been screwed out of hosting.  Whitworth is clearly deserving and no one is disputing the fact that the only reason they aren't hosting this weekend is because they are geographically isolated.  I just don't like hearing Rat continue to harp on his opinion that Wooster isn't a deserving choice to host, because they most certainly are. 

[nwhoops1903]

Here is the bylaw we all talk about but probably have never read:

31.3.4.1 Pairings and Site Selection.
The following criteria will be used for pairings and site selections: (Adopted: 4/13/10)
(a) Once selected, teams shall be grouped in clusters according to natural-geographic proximity. Teams shall then be paired according to geographic proximity. A team may be moved to numerically balance the bracket if geographic proximity is maintained. Teams shall be paired and eligible according to geographic proximity (within 500 miles). An exception may be granted when there are not enough teams within the 500-mile radius to fill the region;
(b) Teams may be seeded on a regional basis using the regional-selection criteria. However, geographic proximity shall take precedent over seeding;
(c) Teams from the same conference shall not play one another in the first round as long as geographic proximity is maintained; and
(d) The highest-seeded team that meets all selection criteria shall be selected as the host institution, provided geographic proximity is maintained.

Pretty big may.  And even if It does happen, (D) has the geo in it as well.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Here is the bylaw we all talk about but probably have never read:

31.3.4.1 Pairings and Site Selection.
The following criteria will be used for pairings and site selections: (Adopted: 4/13/10)
(a) Once selected, teams shall be grouped in clusters according to natural-geographic proximity. Teams shall then be paired according to geographic proximity. A team may be moved to numerically balance the bracket if geographic proximity is maintained. Teams shall be paired and eligible according to geographic proximity (within 500 miles). An exception may be granted when there are not enough teams within the 500-mile radius to fill the region;
(b) Teams may be seeded on a regional basis using the regional-selection criteria. However, geographic proximity shall take precedent over seeding;
(c) Teams from the same conference shall not play one another in the first round as long as geographic proximity is maintained; and
(d) The highest-seeded team that meets all selection criteria shall be selected as the host institution, provided geographic proximity is maintained.

Pretty big may.  And even if It does happen, (D) has the geo in it as well.

'Geographic proximity' (i.e., no flights if at all possible) appears in EVERY subsection.  It is no mystery that the bottom line is the bottom line.

It IS a shame that Whitworth is a victim of this, but (barring a 'perfect storm' like Puget Sound in 2004) it IS the reality of D3.  We could hope that D1 will be more generous with their March Madness billions, but we could also hope for a cure for cancer and the common cold!

[Ralph Turner]

"By-law 31"

I like the way that D-Mac has characterized the situation.

Kinda reminds you of that place out near Las Vegas where strange things have happened.

Things can disappear out there.

[magicman]

NCAA championship programs are contracted out to a company called IMG College. There's your mistake-makers.

May need to change name to OMG College or Whoopsie U

  Cant wait to see what they are selling at Rochester Friday. The old program with no Wells team picture, Randolphs' team picture on the  Randolph - Macon team page etc. or a "New" Program???

Thank God they got Buffalo State right!

Yes, but if they print a new program for the Sectionals they may get the others right and Buffalo State wrong.

[ScotsFan]

NCAA championship programs are contracted out to a company called IMG College. There's your mistake-makers.

May need to change name to OMG College or Whoopsie U

  Cant wait to see what they are selling at Rochester Friday. The old program with no Wells team picture, Randolphs' team picture on the  Randolph - Macon team page etc. or a "New" Program???

Thank God they got Buffalo State right!

Yes, but if they print a new program for the Sectionals they may get the others right and Buffalo State wrong.

It would be nice if they do print new ones that they at least provide enough to not sell out before the 2nd game even starts on Friday night.  That's what happened in Wooster last weekend.  I wouldn't know what mistakes were made because when I went to go purchase one right after the Manchester/Bethany game had ended, they had already sold out all the programs the NCAA had shipped to Wooster?!   

[magicman]

So, apparently whoever had responsibility for the programs  never considered to check the capacity of the host schools' gyms, count the number of games played at each site and do some simple addition.

[sac]

"By-law 31"

I like the way that D-Mac has characterized the situation.

Kinda reminds you of that place out near Las Vegas where strange things have happened.

Things can disappear out there.

Yes, mostly peoples money. 

[hickory_cornhusker]

Simple - UWSP women and men had the chance to host the sectional... and it was decided the women would get the nod (from this experience we now alternate the hosting opportunities by round and by year); Lawrence's gym was too small and the other team was going to fly anyway... so they shipped everyone out to Puget Sound.

It isn't the perfect scenario... but it happened.

I'm surprised by this problem in the senario. Lawrence hosted the sectional in 2006 when they were the only undefeated team in the country. They had to split the session and clear out the gym but they did host that sectional. It was just one more flight to have Puget Sound host than Lawrence (Sul Ross State was the other team) so maybe the NCAA was more lenient on the geographic proximity. This year it would be two more flights to have Whitworth host.

[Pat Coleman]

Yes. In 2004 Lawrence's gym was considered too small. They did change their mind in later years.

There had not really been frequent split-session sectionals before 2006.

[smedindy]

Of course, the benefits for the NWC schools being in D-3 must outweigh the inconvenience of having issues in hosting games in the tournament in any sport. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in D-3. Certainly, they knew going in how the NCAA factors in hosting for D-3.

Champions beat anyone anywhere anytime anyplace.