Pool C

[Just Bill]

Yes- tourney will be 64-teams this season. No byes starting this season.

Has Pool B completely disappeared, or is there still one spot reserved?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I believe there is no bids coming out Pool B at this time. They need at least nine institutions that are either independent or don't have a conference AQ to get the bid back... and they don't have that right now. It is always there, but they have to hit a certain threshold.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I believe there is no bids coming out Pool B at this time. They need at least nine institutions that are either independent or don't have a conference AQ to get the bid back... and they don't have that right now. It is always there, but they have to hit a certain threshold.

Just out of curiosity I went back and looked at last year's championship handbook - at the very end they have all the eligible teams by region.  They've got Colorado College in the West Region and Spalding in the South.  I thought the last round of re-alignments were supposed to match up each conference (save the UAA) with one region.  Is this a mistake on their part or are there still two outliers?

[KnightSlappy]

I believe there is no bids coming out Pool B at this time. They need at least nine institutions that are either independent or don't have a conference AQ to get the bid back... and they don't have that right now. It is always there, but they have to hit a certain threshold.

Just out of curiosity I went back and looked at last year's championship handbook - at the very end they have all the eligible teams by region.  They've got Colorado College in the West Region and Spalding in the South.  I thought the last round of re-alignments were supposed to match up each conference (save the UAA) with one region.  Is this a mistake on their part or are there still two outliers?

I'm guessing it's a mistake. Colorado College is listed in both the South and the West.

[KnightSlappy]

Yes- tourney will be 64-teams this season. No byes starting this season.

Has Pool B completely disappeared, or is there still one spot reserved?

The access ratio last year was 1:9.3 (1 Pool A bid awarded for every 9.3 teams in Pool A conferences). Pool B would need to get above that ratio, so 10 teams, to get a bid. We had 8 Pool B teams last year -- all independents, and I think we'll get a 9th this year with New Rochelle adding Men's hoops -- but we could get up to two more in two years when Alfred State and Illinois Tech become full members (unless both join leagues). So maybe Pool B returns in 2018-19.

[Ralph Turner]

Knight, I failed to record the Pool B's during the 2015-16 season.

Which teams were Pool B last year?

[Greek Tragedy]

I didn't think there were any. 

19 Pool C

43 AQs with 42 coming from conference tournament winners and then the UAA.

[Ralph Turner]

I didn't think there were any. 

19 Pool C

43 AQs with 42 coming from conference tournament winners and then the UAA.

I believe there were teams, e.g, Rust, UC Banana Slug, etc.

I did not compile a list.

[gordonmann]

I think all the Pool B teams are now independent, so you can get their individual records here.

I think the eligible Pool B teams were Pine Manor, Maine-Presque Isle, Maranatha Baptist (not sure on that one), UC Santa Cruz, Finlandia and Rust.

SUNY-Canton, Nebraska Wesleyan, Alfred State, Illinois Tech and Valley Forge weren't eligible for the tournament.

[KnightSlappy]

I think all the Pool B teams are now independent, so you can get their individual records here.

I think the eligible Pool B teams were Pine Manor, Maine-Presque Isle, Maranatha Baptist (not sure on that one), UC Santa Cruz, Finlandia and Rust.

SUNY-Canton, Nebraska Wesleyan, Alfred State, Illinois Tech and Valley Forge weren't eligible for the tournament.

According to the Pre-Championship Manual SUNY-Canton and Nebraska Wesleyan were eligible, though Nebraska Wesleyan only played 3 or 4 Division 3 games. That's where I came up with eight.

But Nebraska Wesleyan is joining a league so they'll be moving to Pool A.

[Greek Tragedy]

My apologies, I misunderstood. I thought he meant Pool B teams regarding the tournament. There weren't any Pool B slots for the tournament...

[sunny]

Important to remember here that Pool B teams still have access - via Pool C. People tend to forget, since Pool B teams are historically, relatively weak, but Pool C has always been open for also-rans from Pool A conferences and for also-rans from Pool B selection. The thought process behind the three pools is that every team has two paths into the tournament ... either Pool A, then C or Pool B, then C. Obviously, that goes away if the number of eligible Pool B teams is too small -- but they still have a path (though an unlikely one) via Pool C.

[Pat Coleman]

Important to remember here that Pool B teams still have access - via Pool C. People tend to forget, since Pool B teams are historically, relatively weak, but Pool C has always been open for also-rans from Pool A conferences and for also-rans from Pool B selection. The thought process behind the three pools is that every team has two paths into the tournament ... either Pool A, then C or Pool B, then C. Obviously, that goes away if the number of eligible Pool B teams is too small -- but they still have a path (though an unlikely one) via Pool C.

Indeed, and the tradition is there in baseball, especially, where there have regularly been Pool B teams getting at-large bids. Football had one recently as well.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I think all the Pool B teams are now independent, so you can get their individual records here.

I think the eligible Pool B teams were Pine Manor, Maine-Presque Isle, Maranatha Baptist (not sure on that one), UC Santa Cruz, Finlandia and Rust.

SUNY-Canton, Nebraska Wesleyan, Alfred State, Illinois Tech and Valley Forge weren't eligible for the tournament.

According to the Pre-Championship Manual SUNY-Canton and Nebraska Wesleyan were eligible, though Nebraska Wesleyan only played 3 or 4 Division 3 games. That's where I came up with eight.

But Nebraska Wesleyan is joining a league so they'll be moving to Pool A.

Not sure the details, but I am pretty sure Neb. Wesleyan told the NCAA they were not going to participate in last year's tournament even if they might have qualified. They have to make that decision the May prior (for most of their sports) and if my memory serves, they once again said no last year - which they have done for a number of years recently. That... or some how I mistook their position last year.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Believe it not, the 2016-17 basketball season is just days away. But the season can't start without Hoopsville hitting the air!

Tune in tonight starting at 7pm as Dave talks to the two preseason numbers one teams, finds out how the offseason went for the two defending national championships, and touches bases with the men's and women's basketball committee chairs.

Guests include:
- Kevin Vande Streek, men's basketball committee chair and head coach for Calvin
- Bobbi Morgan, women's basketball committee chair and head coach for Haverford
- John Tauer, head coach for No. 10 St. Thomas men
- Dave Hixon, head coach for No. 1 Amherst men
- Jeff Hans, head coach for No. 4 Thomas More women
- Carla Berube, head coach for No. 1 Tufts women

You can watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2016-17/nov13

You can also tune into the podcast(s) after the show has aired:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

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