2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[John Gleich]

So who's likely to get the other 2 byes besides Whitworth?

I think Middlebury is a lock - unless there's so many teams from the NE (which is a good possibility) that they need everyone to play in the first round.

The third bye is up for grabs based on seeding and travel needs.

I think you'll see one in the MW/West.  It looks like there are an odd number of teams West of Ohio including the 2 Texas teams.

Unless the NCAA moves someone around, they could use a bye for a St. Thomas or Steven Point pod.

Well, Stevens Point isn't going to host... at least not the first round because the women will host instead.

And I think that the byes will most likely be in the Northeast, like they have been in the past... there are some teams with really good resumes and lots of schools in the region, so it isn't like giving a team a bye would mean that there aren't enough teams to host/be hosted.

[Kenleen]

Bracketology said: If one of my projected Pool C winners fails to get selected, they'll probably be replaced with one of these "Left on the Board" teams. These are the top teams in each region that had not yet been selected. The only team not on the list above that may still have a breath of life come Monday is Eastern Mennonite. They have a decent resume, but I don't think they've done much to separate themselves from Texas-Dallas or Ferrum.


I disagree:
Eastern Mennonite ended 21-5 with big wins over VA Wesleyan and Ferrum in the South Region.  All losses were in the ODAC.  Three of their losses  came to Randolph Macon who return almost everyone from their final-4 run last year.  The ODAC deserves 3 teams in the tournament.  Last year three made it to the elite 8, including Eastern Mennonite who lost to Guilford at Guilford.  No one from the South wanted to schedule with EMU since they returned all five starters from their elite 8 run last year, thus they had to play PA and NAIA schools.

[sac]

Here is 2 brackets (NON EAST) using Matt's field.  This leaves 30 teams all Northeast and 2 byes.  There is only 1 flight in this and it is to Whitworth by California winner.  Round 2 could be hosted by Whitworth with 3 flights or by Ohio pod with perhaps only 1 flight.  

Bracket 1                 HOST Whitworth BYE HOST Chapman TRAVEL Redlands HOST Randolph Macon TRAVEL Virginia Wesleyan TRAVEL North Carolina Wesleyan TRAVEL St. Mary's (MD)     HOST Texas Dallas TRAVEL Bethany TRAVEL Webster TRAVEL McMurry HOST Amherst TRAVEL Hope TRAVEL Wittenberg TRAVEL Centre Bracket 2     HOST St Norbert TRAVEL Concordia TRAVEL UW Stevens Point TRAVEL Carleton HOST St Thomas TRAVEL Northwestern (Minn) TRAVEL UW River Falls TRAVEL Luther HOST Augustana TRAVEL Benedictine TRAVEL Hanover TRAVEL Manchester HOST Wooster TRAVEL PennSt Behrend TRAVEL Marietta TRAVEL Buffalo St.

Nice effort, but Hope, Wittenberg and Centre would all be flights to Amherst.  Amherst is in Massachusetts.

Bethany and Webster to UT-Dallas would be flights as well

[nwhoops1903]

Here are 2 brackets (NON EAST) using Matt's field.  This leaves 30 teams all Northeast and 2 byes.  There are 3 flights in this.  To Whitworth by California winner.  Bethany (432 miles)?? and Webster to Dallas.  Thx Sac for geo help!  

Bracket 1                 HOST Whitworth BYE HOST Chapman TRAVEL Redlands HOST Randolph Macon TRAVEL Virginia Wesleyan TRAVEL North Carolina Wesleyan TRAVEL St. Mary's (MD)     HOST Texas Dallas TRAVEL Bethany TRAVEL Webster TRAVEL McMurry HOST Wittenberg TRAVEL Hope TRAVEL Centre TRAVEL La Roche Bracket 2     HOST St Norbert TRAVEL Concordia TRAVEL UW Stevens Point TRAVEL Carleton HOST St Thomas TRAVEL Northwestern (Minn) TRAVEL UW River Falls TRAVEL Luther HOST Augustana TRAVEL Benedictine TRAVEL Hanover TRAVEL Manchester HOST Wooster TRAVEL PennSt Behrend TRAVEL Marietta TRAVEL Buffalo St.

[Ralph Turner]

I think that you have 2 geographic byes...
Whitworth/Chapman/Redlands

and TBA/McMurry/UT-Dallas

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

an hour to go:  Lusty Larry's bracket based on geography has the following mix:

WEST: 17 teams
MW/South: 13 teams
Northeast: 14 teams
Midatlantic/NY: 17 teams

thats a quick and dirty look, and obviously no bracket can have more than 16 and i have no time or desire to do a projected pairings. Plus theyll mash up the NE/Mid atl/RI and NJ teams. 

[pbrooks3]

I think that you have 2 geographic byes...
Whitworth/Chapman/Redlands

and TBA/McMurry/UT-Dallas

What's your take on Matt Snyder's slotting of Centre for a 1st round game in Wisconsin against UWSP?  I know Centre is low on the totem pole in regional rankings, but this projection surprised me a bit.

[KnightSlappy]

I think that you have 2 geographic byes...
Whitworth/Chapman/Redlands

and TBA/McMurry/UT-Dallas

What's your take on Matt Snyder's slotting of Centre for a 1st round game in Wisconsin against UWSP?  I know Centre is low on the totem pole in regional rankings, but this projection surprised me a bit.

I didn't do any bracketing. The projected brackets were done by Pat Coleman.

[nwhoops1903]

I think that you have 2 geographic byes...
Whitworth/Chapman/Redlands

and TBA/McMurry/UT-Dallas

What's your take on Matt Snyder's slotting of Centre for a 1st round game in Wisconsin against UWSP?  I know Centre is low on the totem pole in regional rankings, but this projection surprised me a bit.

I am sure the low totem pole is being factored in here for Centre.  614 miles means airfare and I see this as unlikely.  I also don't think that Randy Mac needs nor deserves a 1st round bye.  Again, unnecessary travel in the first 2 rounds.  I am personally hoping the committee is looking to limit the first 2 rounds travel in order to reserve flights for round 3 and 4.  Maybe makes for some more difficult/easy round 1 and 2's but if they are placing their first 16 teams away from each other and then filling in the rest, rounds 3 and 4 should be excellent and competitive games.

[ScotsFan]

I also don't think that Randy Mac needs nor deserves a 1st round bye. 

Agreed and agreed.

[nwhoops1903]

By my count there is 3 flights in the D3hoops projected bracket.  And no Eastern Mennonite.  It is using Matt's field correct?

[pbrooks3]

I think that you have 2 geographic byes...
Whitworth/Chapman/Redlands

and TBA/McMurry/UT-Dallas

What's your take on Matt Snyder's slotting of Centre for a 1st round game in Wisconsin against UWSP?  I know Centre is low on the totem pole in regional rankings, but this projection surprised me a bit.

I didn't do any bracketing. The projected brackets were done by Pat Coleman.

I stand corrected - Pat's projections.  Guess I'll just wait until the actual brackets are announced!

[Just Bill]

I am sure the low totem pole is being factored in here for Centre.  614 miles means airfare and I see this as unlikely. 

NW, I only get 488 miles from Centre to Concordia using the NCAA's travel calculator.

https://web1.ncaa.org/TES/exec/miles

[nwhoops1903]

I am sure the low totem pole is being factored in here for Centre.  614 miles means airfare and I see this as unlikely. 

NW, I only get 488 miles from Centre to Concordia using the NCAA's travel calculator.

https://web1.ncaa.org/TES/exec/miles

My error.  I mapped to Point and we know they wont be hosting.  Still a long way by 12 miles.  "Possible" must flight if weather gets factored.

[Ralph Turner]

What is the over/under on mispronunciations?