MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[kenyonfan]

Is there an easy answer to why D3 mens basketball has a 62 team field? It's such an awkward number.  Even the women's bracket is a more logical 64. What's magic about 62?

[pointlem]

If Wooster and Wash U advance they're geographic problems too, I believe. Google maps gives 515 miles between campuses.

IWU/Hope are pretty clear geographic compromise options for second weekend hosting sites, I think.

Which presumably means IWU, since assuming Hope's women (still undefeated) make it to the sectional, they have hosting priority the second weekend.

But if Hope and DePauw both win their regionals, they meet in the next game . . . and which of them would more likely host that?

Good point, and I don't know the answer - Hope is still undefeated, while DePauw has a loss, but I'd guess DePauw is higher in both SoS and vRROs.

I've mostly lost interest in the women's tourney since IWU, despite the third highest SoS in D3 and a ridiculous 6-5 vRROs, got snubbed.  I guess 8 losses, when women have still to achieve anywhere near the parity of the men, and even 6 losses is almost the 'kiss of death', was just too much to overcome despite the overwhelming other criteria.

But then Hope could offer a bigger house and revenue, and DePauw will have had an opportunity to host the first weekend.

[David Collinge]

Is there an easy answer to why D3 mens basketball has a 62 team field? It's such an awkward number.  Even the women's bracket is a more logical 64. What's magic about 62?

It's the result of a ratio; I believe it is one tournament participant for every 6.5 teams. There are more women's teams than men's in D3.

[wooscotsfan]

Wooster is now 25-3.    Next up is a home game in the NCAA tourney vs. ...Wilmington?.... Penn St. Behrend?...St. Vincent?....Hope?....Rose-Hulman?

GO SCOTS!

Well, I guessed one of the 3 teams correctly but sure didn't predict that Geneseo and Dickinson would be visiting Timken Gymnasium. 

Good draw for Wooster as they have a reasonable path to the Sweet 16 if they can win their opening weekend games at home.  Bad draw for Wooster if they get to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 because their quarter of the bracket includes Wash U., IWU, St. Norbert, Hope, Wheaton --- a number of tough teams so the Scots will certainly have to beat two very tough teams in the 3rd/4th rounds if they hope to reach Salem.

It is also not a good draw because if Wash U. wins their pod (highly likely), Wooster will not host the Sectional due to the 500 mile travel rule as others have noted in earlier posts today.  In that scenario, the Scots would likely travel to Illinois or Michigan for the Sweet 16 game if they got that far.

Great to see the NCAC get 3 teams in the tourney!   Tough draws for both OWU and Witt but very nice that their seniors get to play in the NCAA tourney.

GO SCOTS, TIGERS, BISHOPS!

[kiltedbryan]

Personally, I think the most fun outcome would be the "MIAA-NCAC Challenge" sectional with Calvin vs. Ohio Wesleyan and Hope vs. Wooster at Timken Gym.

That would be a fun weekend of basketball and would stretch Timken's 3,400 capacity to the limits.

[kiltedbryan]

One thing that stands out to me about the Wooster/Witt/OWU bracket is the number of teams in the bracket that are battle-tested. For example, Massey rates Ohio Wesleyan's schedule as the 35th-best in all of DIII, but it's only 8th best in this bracket! And four of the top-ten schedules are among these 16 teams.

Massey SOS ratings:
Wheaton - 1 (best sched in DIII)
Ill. Wesleyan - 6
Wash U - 7
Wilmington - 8 (likely boosted by playing DI Miami (OH) )
Hope - 17
Wooster - 19
Wittenberg - 24
Ohio Wesleyan - 35

These 8 teams all have schedules rated in the top 10% of all DIII schedules. Basically, lots of teams in this bracket have faced numerous NCAA-tournament quality teams throughout the regular season. I think there could be some simply fantastic DIII tournament games out of this bracket in the next two weekends.

[sac]

It is also not a good draw because if Wash U. wins their pod (highly likely), Wooster will not host the Sectional due to the 500 mile travel rule as others have noted in earlier posts today.  In that scenario, the Scots would likely travel to Illinois or Michigan for the Sweet 16 game if they got that far.

Of the teams hosting in our half of the bracket, I think Washington got a really tough draw, maybe the toughest.  Wilmington is no pushover followed by Calvin/Wittenberg.  That's tough for a regional #1 ranked team I think.

[woosterbooster]

It's ironic that Washington University, a school that flies more than 500 miles many times during its regular season schedule, might be, because of the 500 mile limitation, the roadblock to Wooster hosting in the second round.  (Just pointing out the irony, not complaining.)

[KnightSlappy]

It's ironic that Washington University, a school that flies more than 500 miles many times during its regular season schedule, might be, because of the 500 mile limitation, the roadblock to Wooster hosting in the second round.  (Just pointing out the irony, not complaining.)

If Wash U to Wooster fell within 500 miles, the sectional pod would be down in St. Louis (unless the Wash U women get to host, but they're potentially looking at a sectional pod with Hope and DePauw).

[imderekpoe]

Hey - there's a familiar face on the Saint Vincent roster!

http://athletics.stvincent.edu/roster.aspx?rp_id=3755&path=mbball

[Titan Q]

It's ironic that Washington University, a school that flies more than 500 miles many times during its regular season schedule, might be, because of the 500 mile limitation, the roadblock to Wooster hosting in the second round.  (Just pointing out the irony, not complaining.)

Between Wash U, IWU, and Wooster, the Bears are clearly the highest seed.  After that, there is a good chance IWU is the next highest...

* Washington U.: .920/.588/9-2
* Illinois Wesleyan: .852/.560/8-3
* Wooster: .923/.543/7-2

(IWU vs Wooster seeding is close.)

[sac]

It's ironic that Washington University, a school that flies more than 500 miles many times during its regular season schedule, might be, because of the 500 mile limitation, the roadblock to Wooster hosting in the second round.  (Just pointing out the irony, not complaining.)

Between Wash U, IWU, and Wooster, the Bears are clearly the highest seed.  After that, there is a good chance IWU is the next highest...

* Washington U.: .920/.588/9-2
* Illinois Wesleyan: .852/.560/8-3
* Wooster: .923/.543/7-2

(IWU vs Wooster seeding is close.)

Bracket suggests Wooster is the highest seed.   

[iwumichigander]

It's ironic that Washington University, a school that flies more than 500 miles many times during its regular season schedule, might be, because of the 500 mile limitation, the roadblock to Wooster hosting in the second round.  (Just pointing out the irony, not complaining.)

Between Wash U, IWU, and Wooster, the Bears are clearly the highest seed.  After that, there is a good chance IWU is the next highest...

* Washington U.: .920/.588/9-2
* Illinois Wesleyan: .852/.560/8-3
* Wooster: .923/.543/7-2

(IWU vs Wooster seeding is close.)

Bracket suggests Wooster is the highest seed.   

Highest seed in their bracket not necessarily higher than WashU or IWU.

[HOPEful]

I think will most likely be at IWU... However, if St. Norbert can knock them off, then it seems that it will be at Hope/Wheaton... (assuming Wooster and Washington move on)

[iwumichigander]

I think will most likely be at IWU... However, if St. Norbert can knock them off, then it seems that it will be at Hope/Wheaton... (assuming Wooster and Washington move on)

And, Hope/Wheaton could be dependent on the outcome on the Hope women does it not?