Pool C

[Greek Tragedy]

My initial thought was that they were. I guess I was thinking that since the two states border each other, but I guess that would make too much sense. I suppose it won't matter too much with the new rule.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

States that border each other is not a rule... but something that is apparently being considered.

And it is a 70% rule this year... so technically every game a team plays will count as a regional game for analysis and SOS reasons.. UNLESS a team can not get their allotment of actual regional games over 70% (most if not all conferences actually accomplish this qualifying factor with their schedules).

One last tidbit... the 70% rule does NOT count conference tournament games and is based on the schedule teams submit to the NCAA ahead of the season. Waivers are also accepted but those have to be turned in by May, I believe, though that deadline is for the entire athletic department and I can't remember if there is a different deadline for individual sports (i.e. Nebraska Wesleyan makes a decision for its entire department or each sport in May as to whether they will be considered for NCAA tournaments the following academic year).

[Just Bill]

Bordering states is a rule in D-II, and has been considered in D-III, but is not currently the rule.

Regional definitions are becoming less important now since essentially all games vs. D-III opponents now count that same.

[sac]

States that border each other is not a rule... but something that is apparently being considered.

And it is a 70% rule this year... so technically every game a team plays will count as a regional game for analysis and SOS reasons.. UNLESS a team can not get their allotment of actual regional games over 70% (most if not all conferences actually accomplish this qualifying factor with their schedules).

One last tidbit... the 70% rule does NOT count conference tournament games and is based on the schedule teams submit to the NCAA ahead of the season. Waivers are also accepted but those have to be turned in by May, I believe, though that deadline is for the entire athletic department and I can't remember if there is a different deadline for individual sports (i.e. Nebraska Wesleyan makes a decision for its entire department or each sport in May as to whether they will be considered for NCAA tournaments the following academic year).

Is this accurate?  If so I believe it would make Calvin ineligible for at large selection.

http://d3hoops.com/teams/Calvin/men/2013-14/index

only Anderson, Manchester and Finlandia should count as "in-region" and that doesn't get them over 70%.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

What I was told at the beginning of the season is that the 70% rule applies to the 25 games you schedule... that you can't gamble (in conferences that don't have all teams make the tournaments) on a conference tournament to boost your percentage.

Now, remember that schools can apply for a waiver and I wouldn't be surprised if schools this year and maybe next are granted waivers... but the NCAA and Division III isn't going to pass them out often as they want schools to schedule accordingly.

I will check with a few people to find out which schools may have been granted waivers this season.

[ronk]

 Shouldn't the NCAA have announced by now(if not, when?) the schools ineligible because they haven't met the 70% criteria. This shouldn't be undefined at this late date and affect regional rankings.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

But remember... they aren't ineligible... it is just that all of their Division III games won't be counted towards regional rankings as those with over 70% will have all of their Division III games counted. Not sure they have to announce that... each school/team should know that very well especially before the season started. It isn't like this is something randomly new.

[sac]

I think we need clarity on what the 70% rule is.  I've heard two things

70% against in-region allows you to count all D3 games as in-region

70% against in-region allows you to count all D3 games as in region and is required for at-large selection to the national tournament.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

A team must schedule/play 70% of their games in-region by the definitions of regional games as they are known (conference game, actual region, geographic region and 200-mile rule)... if they want ALL of their Division III games to count in primary criteria - regional record. That affects regional rankings, at-large considerations and hosting opportunities.

If a team does not meet the 70% rule... the only games that will count in the primary criteria and thus the regional record will be their actual regional games... and thus all of their Division III (and other) games will only be considered deep in the secondary criteria if the national committee needs to go that far down the list.

[Pat Coleman]

That 75% rule kicks in this year, right?

Also, looking at schedules and Hope's schedule lists games at Whitewater and Point as regional while games against Wheaton and Carthage are not regional. I'm not any good at geography, but...uh?

Well that's completely messed up - Wheaton is a regional game for Hope, the others - uh no, at least not this year.

I had marked these games as in-region but unfortunately, someone at the school or conference level changed them back.

[sac]

Is there a way to differentiate between a game that qualifies as "in-region" and once that will count because of the 70% rule?

Does that make sense?

[Pat Coleman]

In the football and soccer handbooks, there was no distinction drawn by the committee. I suspect the number of teams that are flirting with the line is already really small and will be smaller as the years progress (plus waivers could be granted), so I did not ask Presto to create a new classification of games.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Per the NCAA handbook for men:

Primary Selection Criteria
The primary criteria emphasize competition leading up to NCAA championships; all criteria listed will be evaluated (not listed in priority order).
●● Win-loss percentage against Division III opponents.
●● Division III strength of schedule.
-- Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OWP).
-- Opponents' Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OOWP).
●● Division III head-to-head competition.
●● Results versus common Division III opponents.
●● Results versus ranked Division III teams as established at the time of selection.
Note:
●● Conference postseason contests are included.
●● Contests versus provisional and reclassifying members in their third and fourth years shall count in the primary
criteria. Provisional and reclassifying members shall remain ineligible for rankings and selections

[dcahill44]

East Region Predictions for Regional Rankings SOS included

1. Brockport State 11-1 Overall 5-0 Conference SOS 60
2. Plattsburgh State 10-3 Overall 4-2 Conference SOS 40
3. Geneseo State 10-2 Overall 4-1 Conference SOS 173
4. New York University 11-3 Overall 1-2 Conference SOS 195
5. Hobart 10-4 Overall 4-1 Conference SOS 179
6. St John Fisher 10-5 Overall 4-1 Conference SOS 189

In contention, Nazareth, Stevens, Oneonta, Hartwick, Oswego State, Skidmore. in no order

[Greek Tragedy]

I was actually thinking about doing one for the West for about a week or so, but maybe I'll wait until the beginning of February.