MBB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

It's fairly safe to say that SNC is in regardless of what happens in the MWC Tournament. So this is a good year for the MWC to get two in if SNC would play their J.V. and totally give the committee a nightmare.

[gbpuckfan]

It's fairly safe to say that SNC is in regardless of what happens in the MWC Tournament. So this is a good year for the MWC to get two in if SNC would play their J.V. and totally give the committee a nightmare.

While normally I'm a "u rah rah MWC" kind of guy, SNC still might be able to either host the regional or at least avoid playing UWSP (and maybe even UWW) in the first two rounds. A loss sends SNC to Point, I fear, so I cannot go along with your theory.

But if It happens, it would be a nice consolation for the conference.

[The Roop]

Gonna be lots of flights this year in the first weekend, not sure that the "geographic byes" can do much to help. We could see all 3 WI teams on the road to save on travel costs later.

[OBC]

As much as i would like to see the Grinnell version of the Pioneers win the MWC tournament (an all-Pios final would be OK with me). I believe the best thing St. Norbert could to do FOR the conference would be to win out, get a great seed, host a game (or two) and then win 4 or 5 games in the NCAA.

While GC could still win the MWC Tourney, I can't envision a deep run for them in the NCAA. How many teams in our conference could be expected to lose one of their top 5 players this late in the season and still win at that level? And Aaron Levin is not a guard whose loss could be hidden somewhat. He was the main inside presence, especially on D.

[John Gleich]

Gonna be lots of flights this year in the first weekend, not sure that the "geographic byes" can do much to help. We could see all 3 WI teams on the road to save on travel costs later.

There are going to be more than 3 WI teams in the tournament...

UWSP
UWW
SNC
Marian/Edgewood

+ maybe Carthage?

And that's if SNC and Point/WW win their tournaments... if they don't, then there are more.

[iwumichigander]

Gonna be lots of flights this year in the first weekend, not sure that the "geographic byes" can do much to help. We could see all 3 WI teams on the road to save on travel costs later.

There are going to be more than 3 WI teams in the tournament...

UWSP
UWW
SNC
Marian/Edgewood

+ maybe Carthage?

And that's if SNC and Point/WW win their tournaments... if they don't, then there are more.

FWIW - I think I saw on either the Top 25 or Pool C boards a post by D-Mac that the NCAA objective is no more than two flights in 1st weekend for budget savings.  The implication was that the byes might just go to a Pool C team to avoid the cost of a flight.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I didn't put a number on it... but the NCAA wants as few flights as possible. They aren't going to rubber stamp flights just because the committee wants them... especially of late with budget concerns across the board. I also have been told the NCAA wants very little if any flights in the late rounds. This may dictate say a pod of Whitworth, SCIAC rep, Colorado College, and Texas-Dallas so that there are three flights to the host and only one flight the next weekend to the sectionals.

In other words, the committee is going to have to be very creative with how they bracket to keep from having brutal match-ups early and avoid sending teams across the country.

[iwumichigander]

I didn't put a number on it... but the NCAA wants as few flights as possible. They aren't going to rubber stamp flights just because the committee wants them... especially of late with budget concerns across the board. I also have been told the NCAA wants very little if any flights in the late rounds. This may dictate say a pod of Whitworth, SCIAC rep, Colorado College, and Texas-Dallas so that there are three flights to the host and only one flight the next weekend to the sectionals.

In other words, the committee is going to have to be very creative with how they bracket to keep from having brutal match-ups early and avoid sending teams across the country.

Did not intend to box you into a number.  "bracket of death" again?

[gbpuckfan]

Gonna be lots of flights this year in the first weekend, not sure that the "geographic byes" can do much to help. We could see all 3 WI teams on the road to save on travel costs later.

There are going to be more than 3 WI teams in the tournament...

UWSP
UWW
SNC
Marian/Edgewood

+ maybe Carthage?

And that's if SNC and Point/WW win their tournaments... if they don't, then there are more.

or  maybe MSOE...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

MSOE? Even their coach said on Hoopsville he doubts they make the tournament... and he knows more than most since he is on the regional committee this year.

[Pat Coleman]

Any board regulars going to be at the conference tournaments this weekend? I will be.

[gbpuckfan]

MSOE? Even their coach said on Hoopsville he doubts they make the tournament... and he knows more than most since he is on the regional committee this year.

Perhaps. I mention them because they previously showed up in the regional rankings and only finished a game behind Marian. I wouldn't necessarily see them as a huge upset to win that conference.

Pat - you are coming to De Pere? I may make it out there - not sure yet. Still waiting on some soccer times for my kids!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

MSOE was last in the regional rankings... in Week 2. The ENTIRE region would have to make the tournament for MSOE to make it themselves.

[gbpuckfan]

MSOE was last in the regional rankings... in Week 2. The ENTIRE region would have to make the tournament for MSOE to make it themselves.

I didn't say I thought they'd get an at-large bid. In the discussion of Wisconsin teams that could make it, I simply thought they should be a part of the conversation. I don't follow the conference close enough to have realized they lost in the first round - my mistake on that.

Meanwhile, Grinnell defeats Ripon in the first semifinal ... 122-115

[jeffdc]

GC 122 RC 115. Grinnell moves on to (probably) tackle SNC for a 3rd time this year. Phenomenal shooting by GC led the way; the lead at one point was 21, although RC really fought back hard in 2nd half to narrow it. Great game.