Top 25 talk

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

There are always tricky considerations with the bracketing.  What we found out from last year was that the committee picked the sixteen best teams, according to criteria, and essentially made those the hosts and made it work.  Now, you can't always do that given the geographic and financial limitations, but it gives some insight into how they work: prioritizing the criteria.  I think that's where we'd like them to be.

The reality is, though, that one team can change things so much (and which teams submit to host).  It would be great to have a Texas orphan (or two) to play around with.  It's why I always root for Colorado College to win the SCAC tournament.  Then you've got odd possibilities - like Emory can get to Lynchburg, but not to RMC (if Emory is even in the picture this year).

Last year, doing the mock bracket, we had to basically move everyone as far East as we could get them for this same reason.  I'm not too worried about the parity just yet, although I feel like the committee needs to lay down in front of a truck to keep Whitman and Whitworth from a potential first weekend meeting this year.  We all deserve better, even if it costs $$$.

So, no more 2 from each of the 8 regions as hosts? Not protesting, just want to know the thinking before the hosts are selected.

They moved away from guaranteeing two from each of the eight regions hosting several years ago. Sometimes it works out and they are conscious of the idea, but they are not slaved to it.

I was more thinking about geography.  Some years the bracket looks like one or more hosts got to host because it made the driving easier.  That may not have been the case, but it definitely wasn't last year.  That's all I'm saying.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Here is my Week 7 ballot blog for those interested: http://bit.ly/2S0NYt7

[SaintPaulite]

Would it have mattered if you had known the result in Saint Paul?

For what it's worth (nothing) I thought both teams played hard and pretty well, but not sure either team has a go-to attribute or player. Stokman got his points but was pretty quiet in doing it. Of course he also did an excellent job on Nelson. If the Tommies can win up north, maybe they're a contender for one of those top 4 spots, but before that happens, too early to say IMO.

[augie77]

Between Nebraska Wesleyan, Augustana, Whitman and UW-Oshkosh, which team do you see as most likely to lose hosting privileges to the Tommies?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Would it have mattered if you had known the result in Saint Paul?

For what it's worth (nothing) I thought both teams played hard and pretty well, but not sure either team has a go-to attribute or player. Stokman got his points but was pretty quiet in doing it. Of course he also did an excellent job on Nelson. If the Tommies can win up north, maybe they're a contender for one of those top 4 spots, but before that happens, too early to say IMO.

No ... as the data and the voting are based on games through Sunday and I have never had to deal with a game that finished before our deadline.

And even if the Tommies win at SJU, I am not sure where I would put them. Too many games between now and then anyway.

I could also expand my top tier to include more teams.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Between Nebraska Wesleyan, Augustana, Whitman and UW-Oshkosh, which team do you see as most likely to lose hosting privileges to the Tommies?

That is going to have to be based on other data, but amongst all of those teams, I think the SOS would favor all but UST considering they have less out of conference games.

I also eliminate Whitman from that conversation anyway ... as I don't see UST taking a hosting opportunity from Whitman (or Whitworth) in general. That decision will come down to other factors like one (or both) of the Whits implodes and only one team comes out of the NWC and hosting wouldn't be advantageous.

There is a real chance UWO could lose some games in the WIAC and that would open the door to UST/SJU ...

Though UST has one other problem to contend with for them to host ... the women's team. It is an odd year (2019) and thus, women have priority in the first weekend. Men will have priority in the second weekend. And for those who are new, no ... they both can't host together on the same weekend. No exceptions.

[SaintPaulite]

Didn't think about that.

So probably UST wouldn't host the second weekend either if they got it. Seems unlikely it would be the best place for 4 teams to meet when the bracket was made to support a different first round host site.

Lot to happen before any of that matters.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Didn't think about that.

So probably UST wouldn't host the second weekend either if they got it. Seems unlikely it would be the best place for 4 teams to meet when the bracket was made to support a different first round host site.

Lot to happen before any of that matters.

Not necessarily true. We have seen second-round hosts who didn't host the first weekend often - especially when it was because of the women's hosting factor. A lot will go into that, but the problem UST will have it getting teams there. But if memory serves, the women at UST have hosted a second weekend.

[Rofrog]

Who would host the second weekend this year-is it the mens or womens turn I lose track?

[ronk]

Women have priority 1st weekend, men the 2nd.

[Darryl Nester]

How They Fared (So Far)

Top 25

Rank	Pts	Team	W-L	Results
#1	625	Nebraska Wesleyan	18-0	def. Dubuque, 69-54; 01/26 vs. #22 Loras
#2	591	Augustana	18-1	def. Elmhurst, 78-73; 01/26 vs. Carroll
#3	573	Whitman	16-1	01/25 vs. Willamette; 01/26 vs. Pacific
#4	556	UW-Oshkosh	17-1	def. UW-Eau Claire, 85-63; 01/26 vs. UW-River Falls
#5	508	Whitworth	15-2	01/25 vs. Pacific; 01/26 vs. Willamette
#6	492	Hamilton	15-1	01/25 vs. Bowdoin; 01/26 vs. Colby
#7	463	St. Thomas	16-1	def. #13 St. John's, 74-72 OT; def. Concordia-Moorhead, 88-53; 01/26 vs. Carleton
#8	405	Williams	16-2	def. SUNY Oneonta, 73-54; 01/25 vs. Trinity (Conn.)
#9	391	MIT	16-2	def. Clark, 87-66; 01/26 vs. Emerson
#10	363	Marietta	16-2	def. Otterbein, 96-67; 01/26 vs. John Carroll
#11	362	Wabash	17-1	def. Ohio Wesleyan, 80-68; 01/26 vs. #18 Wooster
#12	320	Randolph-Macon	17-2	def. Virginia Wesleyan, 62-50; 01/26 vs. #14 Lynchburg
#13	319	St. John's	14-3	LOST to #7 St. Thomas, 72-74 OT; def. St. Mary's (Minn.), 89-58; 01/26 vs. Hamline
#14	308	Lynchburg	17-2	LOST to T#42 Guilford, 82-88 OT; 01/26 vs. #12 Randolph-Macon
#15	234	Christopher Newport	16-2	def. #33 Salisbury, 67-64; 01/26 vs. York (Pa.)
#16	232	Pomona-Pitzer	17-1	def. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 73-57; 01/26 vs. La Verne
#17	223	Swarthmore	14-3	01/24 vs. Haverford; 01/26 vs. Franklin and Marshall
#18	198	Wooster	15-3	def. Allegheny, 81-72; 01/26 vs. #11 Wabash
#19	144	Amherst	14-2	def. T#36 Eastern Connecticut, 82-61; 01/25 vs. Colby; 01/26 vs. Bowdoin
#20	122	UW-Stevens Point	12-5	def. UW-Stout, 72-61; 01/26 vs. UW-Eau Claire
#21	117	Rochester	13-3	def. Case Western Reserve, 81-68; 01/25 vs. New York University; 01/27 vs. Brandeis
#22	99	Loras	15-4	def. Buena Vista, 75-74; LOST to Wartburg, 83-88; 01/26 vs. #1 Nebraska Wesleyan
#23	76	Capital	15-3	def. Muskingum, 89-69; 01/26 vs. Otterbein
#24	65	Wittenberg	13-5	LOST to DePauw, 75-77 OT; 01/26 vs. Allegheny
#25	61	Wesleyan	14-4	def. SUNY-Purchase, 91-80; 01/25 vs. Bates; 01/26 vs. Tufts

Others receiving votes

Rank	Pts	Team	W-L	Results
#26	47	Nichols	17-2	def. Endicott, 76-69; 01/26 vs. Salve Regina
T#27	42	Plattsburgh State	12-4	01/25 vs. Brockport; 01/26 vs. SUNY Geneseo
T#27	42	North Central (Ill.)	16-3	def. Millikin, 93-92 OT; 01/26 vs. North Park
#29	27	Arcadia	15-3	LOST to Rosemont, 86-89; 01/26 vs. Stevenson
#30	25	UW-Whitewater	14-4	def. UW-Platteville, 88-80; 01/26 vs. #31 UW-La Crosse
#31	19	UW-La Crosse	13-5	def. UW-River Falls, 66-65; 01/26 vs. #30 UW-Whitewater
#32	18	Oswego State	14-2	def. SUNY Potsdam, 72-70; 01/25 vs. Fredonia; 01/26 vs. Buffalo State
#33	13	Salisbury	13-5	LOST to #15 Christopher Newport, 64-67; 01/26 vs. St. Mary's (Md.)
#34	10	Middlebury	14-5	01/27 vs. Trinity (Conn.)
#35	7	Gordon	17-2	def. University of New England, 100-71
T#36	6	Eastern Connecticut	14-4	LOST to #19 Amherst, 61-82; 01/26 vs. Plymouth State
T#36	6	Wheaton (Ill.)	14-5	def. Illinois Wesleyan, 86-77; 01/26 vs. Carthage
#38	5	Linfield	13-4	01/25 vs. Lewis and Clark; 01/26 vs. Pacific Lutheran
#39	4	Mary Washington	14-4	def. Southern Virginia, 75-73; 01/26 vs. Frostburg State
#40	3	Mount Union	14-4	LOST to John Carroll, 69-82; 01/26 vs. Ohio Northern
#41	2	Centre	15-3	01/25 vs. Millsaps; 01/27 vs. Birmingham-Southern
T#42	1	Guilford	14-5	def. #14 Lynchburg, 88-82 OT; 01/26 vs. Eastern Mennonite
T#42	1	Occidental	15-3	def. La Verne, 82-60 18:00; 01/26 vs. Caltech

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The NCAA votes on a new Board of Governors composition this evening. All three divisions have to approve plan. This gives Division III an opportunity (w/Division II) to leverage for something better.

I have a couple of ideas, if it's not too late: bit.ly/2Huo4tV

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Suddenly the end of January is upon us! Where has the season gone? We are past the halfway point, conference action is now in it's second go-around (for most), and the matter of regional rankings and conference tournaments is becoming more real.

Teams who have had unbelievable starts, but have not faltered, are now in the spotlight. The question is no longer "can they keep this up?" But rather, the question has become, "how did they get this good?" Tonight, we ask versions of that last question.

Thursday on Hoopsville, We will hear from St. Thomas who hasn't been the MIAC dominator the last few years, but is back on top in a far more competitive conference. Oswego men have already knocked the SUNYAC boss, Plattsburgh off the pedestal. And Southern Virginia women have startled the entire conference. We find out how a first-year coach with no Division III experience has shocked everyone.

Plus, we chat with Oberlin's women's coach who has not only preached diversity, but created an environment for his program and the conference that reiterates open and safe environments. It has also thrust the team high into the NCAC race.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCA/NABC Studio. Thursday's edition will air live starting at 7:00 p.m. ET here: http://bit.ly/2FXlhXN (or via Facebook Live and Periscope simulcasts).

If you have questions about Division III basketball, feel free to send them and we will answer them on a the show. Email them to hoopsville@d3hoops.com or use any of the social media below.

Guests Schedule (order subject to change):
- John Tauer, No. 7 St. Thomas men's coach
- Jason Leone, Oswego State men's coach
- Kerry Jenkins, Oberlin women's coach (WBCA Center Court)
- Matt Wardenburg, Southern Virginia women's coach
- James Wagner, CSAC Assistant Commissioner (NCAA Convention report)

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville




Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

[Mr. Ypsi]

What a week for 15-5 Colby.  They beat a decent (not good) Husson team at home on Tuesday, then went on the road to beat #19 Amherst by 10 on Friday, and today beat #6 Hamilton by 8!  Probably not enough to lift a team receiving zero votes into the top 25, but I'd be rather shocked if they again receive zero votes!

[SaintPaulite]

What a week for 15-5 Colby.  They beat a decent (not good) Husson team at home on Tuesday, then went on the road to beat #19 Amherst by 10 on Friday, and today beat #6 Hamilton by 8!  Probably not enough to lift a team receiving zero votes into the top 25, but I'd be rather shocked if they again receive zero votes!

Really have to question the top 10 credentials of any NESCAC team now after this.

Fantastic50's data really shows why I'm standing by my view that the NESCAC has no desire to change its scheduling. Look at the SOS numbers they have. Then look at who they actually played and tell me that it's tougher than what St. Thomas (and others no doubt) has played.

The NESCAC benefits from the combination of the scheduling freedom they afford themselves, and a large number of teams and conferences to cherry pick from to boost their SOS with wins that look good on paper, but in reality aren't that great.

And you can see the result. Colby's not that bad, not that good. But the top of the NESCAC doesn't stand out against them. Because a lot of the NESCAC opposition is the same -- not that bad, not that good.