Top 25 talk

[David Collinge]

"Not a bad showing" by ONU in terms of losing to the #3 team by 11 on the road.  But it sounded like it was indeed a "bad showing" as ONU shot just 31% overall (24% from the arc) and committed 15 turnovers in 66 possessions.  Witt shot only 29% in the first half, but won the game by getting ONU's bigs in foul trouble and then taking advantage with their big front line (6'9" Dan Russ, 6'8" Dane Borchers and 6'5" Kenny Brady combined for 52 points and 18 boards), shooting 54% in the second half.  This was a good win by Witt, overcoming poor shooting against a very good team.  It will turn out to be a "good loss" (from a QoWI perspective) for ONU, but I think that Witt exposed some issues they will need to address.

[smedindy]

The IWU / Hanover game was about what I expected, really. Wabash hung with IWU but they pulled away at the end, and Wabash could have beaten Hanover at Hanover had they shot better. So I'm not surprised by this result.

(Not that games against Wabash are the be-all and end-all, but it is a common opponent and all...)

[Ralph Turner]

I really hope that the NCAA passes the bylaw that allows the designation of games in school holidays to be "in-region".  That will add new importance to these intra-semester games! 

[Greek Tragedy]

On the women's side, interesting to see the #1 team lose and still retain top spot.

Week 3

1. Southern Maine (7-0) 623 votes
2. Bowdoin (7-1) 544
3. Brandeis (6-0) 541

Week 4

1. Southern Main (7-1) 562
2. Brandeis (6-0) 558
3. George Fox (9-0) 553

Bowdoin doesn't play and drops three spots to 5.
George Fox was 6th at 8-0 with 499 votes in Week 3.

Actually Bowdoin did not play and lost only 2 votes to 542. The 4th place team (Wash U StL 10-0) received 544 votes.

I interpret that to mean that there was no change in the voters' impression of Bowdoin.   Southern Maine came back to the pack! 

We're saying the same thing!  Bowdoin didn't play, lost only two votes from 544 to 542 but STILL DROPPED TO 5th!  Not sure what the voters' impression with Bowdoin is, but three teams all of a sudden become better than them!    Anyway...back to the men's side. 

[Coach C]

That is perhaps the premier game thus far in D3 and seems to bear out the voter's thinking on the teams in question.

C

[smedindy]

I just looked at the Wolfe rankings and IWU is #342 and #2 in D-3. His top rated team is WPI.

[ashleyjb]

What are the Wolfe rankings?  Where can you find them?

[smedindy]

http://prwolfe.bol.ucla.edu/cbasketball/ratings.htm

Here you go!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

WPI is way overrated, although they have been playing better of late.  I guess they don't deserve to get trashed too much, just don't drink the kool-aid yet.

[David Collinge]

That is perhaps the premier game thus far in D3 and seems to bear out the voter's thinking on the teams in question.

C

Which game are you talking about, C?  In my mind, the premier game so far (at least on the men's side) has been Woo/Witt I, and I agree that it bore out the voter's thinking on the teams.  But that can't be what you are referring to.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

That is perhaps the premier game thus far in D3 and seems to bear out the voter's thinking on the teams in question.

C

Which game are you talking about, C?  In my mind, the premier game so far (at least on the men's side) has been Woo/Witt I, and I agree that it bore out the voter's thinking on the teams.  But that can't be what you are referring to.   

Coach C can respond himself, I'm sure, but I'm pretty sure he was talking about Southern Maine-Bowdoin.  We'd been discussing why #1 Millikin dropped all the way to 7th with their first loss, while SM lost points, but stayed #1.

[hugenerd]

I like the Wolfe rankings, it has the UAA as the strongest conference in DIII.  At least those guys are getting some respect from somebody.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I like the Wolfe rankings, it has the UAA as the strongest conference in DIII.  At least those guys are getting some respect from somebody.

I think that alone explains why Wolfe gets little respect!

[diehardfan]

Top Ten DIII Conferences according to Massey...

44 Wisconsin IAC
45 Ill & Wisc
48 UAA
60 NESCAC       
64 IIAC
65 OAC
67 HCAC
69 MWC
72 MIAA
73 CAC

Maybe this is just a good year for the UAA? 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Top Ten DIII Conferences according to Massey...

44 Wisconsin IAC
45 Ill & Wisc
48 UAA
60 NESCAC       
64 IIAC
65 OAC
67 HCAC
69 MWC
72 MIAA
73 CAC

Maybe this is just a good year for the UAA? 

Could be, but did you note the omission of the NJAC (and ODAC)?  Perhaps Massey is not particularly reliable even by the start of winter! 

Happy winter solstice, everyone!

April, our last day reaching above freezing was in November - enjoy California weather!  ('cause you will surely catch grief on the d3 bb boards!)