MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

Tough to imagine Colby wasn't woken up by Bates, though. I'd imagine triple OT wasn't the result they were looking for in the first round. Both teams are coming off nail biters. It's impossible to pick a favorite, all we know is we are going to watch a good basketball game between two good teams in a good environment around good people. That sounds good to me.

In fairness, you could have made the same point after the 3 point win over Wesleyan or the 2 point win over Southern Maine. They don't seem to be playing their best basketball game at the right time.

[lumbercat]

If Colby plays Amherst like they did against Bates they will lose by 10 or more.

Top to bottom Colby is the best shooting team in the league and the best shooting club I've seen in a long time. A 5 headed shooting monster.

They essentially got outplayed by Bates in regulation and came up with phenomenal clutch shots in the end of regulation and the first 2 overtimes. Just an unbelievable clutch shooting performance with long threes and a performance by the FY King that was absolutely unbelievable. They were shooting contested 25 ft threes like they were 10 footers. If you haven't seen the game tape you've got to watch it. A performance for the ages.

Rooting for Colby on Saturday but no way they can do that again.  They better come out early and outplay the Jeffs in regulation. If they have a healthy Jefferson that could be a game changer.

If Colby can recruit some bigs to go along with these shooters watch out.

[SpringSt7]

From Drew Pasteur's D3 Bracketology (@D3Bubble) on Twitter--Drew has picked 74/81 Pool C teams since 2016:

Very Safe:

-Middlebury (C4)
Tufts (presumed Pool A based on conference standings, but ranked after Midd and before Colby)
-Colby (C5)

Bubble Out:
-Amherst (C21)

[WPI89]

I would think Amherst goes from bubble out to in with a win vs Colby tomorrow!

[maineman]

From Drew Pasteur's D3 Bracketology (@D3Bubble) on Twitter--Drew has picked 74/81 Pool C teams since 2016:

Very Safe:

-Middlebury (C4)
Tufts (presumed Pool A based on conference standings, but ranked after Midd and before Colby)
-Colby (C5)

Bubble Out:
-Amherst (C21)

Any guess who might have a chance to host a weekend?

[SpringSt7]

Any guess who might have a chance to host a weekend?

Tufts seems like the safest bet right now when you factor in the combination of resume, geography, and resources (big gym, have hosted before, etc). Middlebury and Colby might be competing for hosting rights because the committee isn't going to have two pods in Vermont and Maine. Amherst, in a men's priority year, seems very unlikely.

The good folks who patrol the multi-regional topics and NCAA tournament boards would know way better than I would, and there is obviously still a lot of basketball left to be played.

[Colby Hoops]

Any guess who might have a chance to host a weekend?

Tufts seems like the safest bet right now when you factor in the combination of resume, geography, and resources (big gym, have hosted before, etc). Middlebury and Colby might be competing for hosting rights because the committee isn't going to have two pods in Vermont and Maine. Amherst, in a men's priority year, seems very unlikely.

The good folks who patrol the multi-regional topics and NCAA tournament boards would know way better than I would, and there is obviously still a lot of basketball left to be played.

If Springfield wins the NEWMAC, I think they'd almost definitely host a pod.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Any guess who might have a chance to host a weekend?

Tufts seems like the safest bet right now when you factor in the combination of resume, geography, and resources (big gym, have hosted before, etc). Middlebury and Colby might be competing for hosting rights because the committee isn't going to have two pods in Vermont and Maine. Amherst, in a men's priority year, seems very unlikely.

The good folks who patrol the multi-regional topics and NCAA tournament boards would know way better than I would, and there is obviously still a lot of basketball left to be played.

If Springfield wins the NEWMAC, I think they'd almost definitely host a pod.

They're probably hosting even if they lose.  The NESCAC tourney could fall in the right way to keep them out, but I think they're fairly solid - and I think they're going to win the NEWMAC to make it moot.

[middhoops]

Down goes Springfield!
Coast Guard in a big upset.
Jake Ross with 44 points in the loss.

[SpringSt7]

Down goes Springfield!
Coast Guard in a big upset.
Jake Ross with 44 points in the loss.

Certainly tightens the bubble just a smidge. Amherst fans should pull for the winner of Babson/WPI, just in case.

[maineman]

As they say, there is a lot of basketball to be played, but the folks on the NEWMAC site are suggesting 3 or 4 teams from their league making it.  WPI, Springfield, Babson, Coast Guard.  The last team would be in the case that they defeat WPI in the final.  If they get 4 teams how much room will there be for the NESCAC to get 3 or 4 teams?  Sounds problematic for one league or another?

[NEhoops]

If Coast Guard wins, the Newmac likely gets four in. Same (4 teams in) for the Nescac if Amherst or Trinity wins the league. Amherst could still make a case as the 4th team with a loss to Tufts in the finals. At this point it seems like any other tournament representation from the Northeast region would come via an automatic bid.

[Bucket]

If Coast Guard wins, the Newmac likely gets four in. Same (4 teams in) for the Nescac if Amherst or Trinity wins the league. Amherst could still make a case as the 4th team with a loss to Tufts in the finals. At this point it seems like any other tournament representation from the Northeast region would come via an automatic bid.

Agreed. And if the NESCAC finals happens to be Amherst-Trinity, then I think the loser would be out, with Midd, Tufts, and Colby still being regionally ranked ahead of either Amherst or Trinity.

[SpringSt7]

If Coast Guard wins, the Newmac likely gets four in. Same (4 teams in) for the Nescac if Amherst or Trinity wins the league. Amherst could still make a case as the 4th team with a loss to Tufts in the finals. At this point it seems like any other tournament representation from the Northeast region would come via an automatic bid.

Agreed. And if the NESCAC finals happens to be Amherst-Trinity, then I think the loser would be out, with Midd, Tufts, and Colby still being regionally ranked ahead of either Amherst or Trinity.

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but it is also important to note that there are no regional restrictions on Pool C bids---just because Coast Guard plays in the Northeast does not mean that their ability to steal a bid means anymore to Amherst than if Coe stole a bid by beating Nebraska Wesleyan tonight, for example. All of the teams are evaluated together.

[magicman]

If Coast Guard wins, the Newmac likely gets four in. Same (4 teams in) for the Nescac if Amherst or Trinity wins the league. Amherst could still make a case as the 4th team with a loss to Tufts in the finals. At this point it seems like any other tournament representation from the Northeast region would come via an automatic bid.

Agreed. And if the NESCAC finals happens to be Amherst-Trinity, then I think the loser would be out, with Midd, Tufts, and Colby still being regionally ranked ahead of either Amherst or Trinity.

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but it is also important to note that there are no regional restrictions on Pool C bids---just because Coast Guard plays in the Northeast does not mean that their ability to steal a bid means anymore to Amherst than if Coe stole a bid by beating Nebraska Wesleyan tonight, for example. All of the teams are evaluated together.

That is correct....all the teams are evaluated together.  The top team from each region is at the table. Those teams at the table are evaluated and the best one is chosen. The rest stay at the table and the next one in line from the region that just left the table joins the ones still there. That process is repeated 19 times. (At least I think it's 19 times.)

Theoretically 8 teams in a row could come from the Northeast Region, if each time the Northeast representative that took the place of the previous Northeast representative is still better than those at the table.