MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[coebball70]

This whole experience has really left me with a sour taste regarding this year's tournament.

Not only does the selection process taste bad, it really stinks too!  I can not believe the CCIW and WIAC do not get at least one additional Pool C bid.  This is truly a travesty and a slam against the integrity of the NCAA and devalues a SEASON of hard work and competitive basketball results.  I KNOW the CCIW and the WIAC have proven themselves to be two of the best D3 basketball conferences in the nation.  For the selection process to  ignore this in a year that both have fared well against non-conference competition makes me suspect of the 'backroom' discussions that must take place.  I admire the restraint in Coach Scherer's press release.  I don't think I could be as professional in my assesment of what has taken place.  Elmhurst and UW-Oshkosh deserved better.  The NCAA Tournament Selection Process truly is broken.
The national tournament deserves to have the best teams in it, not the teams whose conference geography is favored by the process.  Not only does the selection process taste bad and smell worse, it looks ugly as well. 

[buf]

Augustana hosts first round against Carroll but then would have to travel to St. Thomas on Saturday.  They should beat Carroll but that trip to St. Thomas should be tough.  I see the commitee didn't do any favors to the CCIW in the brackets either.

So, who got screwed more, CCIW or WIAC

[Late nite]

The CCIW continues to receive no respect from the NCAA---The reward for Augie winning the conference title and conference tourney is a 250 mile trip to St. Paul for a 2nd round game, provided that they can get by Carroll in the 1st round---The road to Salem has just gotten much tougher---Unfortunately for the NCAA, this group is tough and determined---The slap in the face will only motivate the Vikes

[tjcummingsfan]

Why don't the CCIW and the WIAC play the way the NESCAC (best conference in the North East I believe) do, and change the league make-up to not beat each other up so much.  That conference obviously knows how ridiculous this system is, but have found a way around it.

Sometimes as unfortunate as it is you just have to play the game (in this context I mean the game of getting bids). 

[Titan Q]

What an awful draw for Augustana...a road game @ St. Thomas in Round 2?!?!?   Wow.

[Late nite]

I guess regional rankings mean nothing---A top-ranked team in the region travels 250 miles and gets 1 day of preparation for a team with a bye that was not even the best team in their region---Wow---Where's the logic in that?

[Jim Matson]

I agree with tj, but under that scenario, we probably would not enjoy the season as much as we do now.

[Pat Coleman]

What an awful draw for Augustana...a road game @ St. Thomas in Round 2?!?!?   Wow.

I wish the men's bracket would be assembled by the women's committee. They have done a great job in recent years.

[Jim Matson]

Hey all,

Those of us who are old can readily admit that we've seen the NCAA do this over and over again for as long as we can remember.  This has happened in basketball, soccer and football, and probably other sports that I don't follow.  I've seen crazy decisions made by the NCAA for over 15 years.  There is truely nothing new under the sun.

Actions speak louder than words.  The NCAA cares about only one thing in the Division III post-season: money.  Get used to it.

[Titan Q]

I guess regional rankings mean nothing---A top-ranked team in the region travels 250 miles and gets 1 day of preparation for a team with a bye that was not even the best team in their region---Wow---Where's the logic in that?

This blows my mind, and the more I think about it, the more upset I get.  Based on the final regional rankings and the fact that since then Chicago lost, Augustana won the CCIW tourney, and Augustana owns a head-to-head win over Wash U, Augustana should have been the Midwest #1 seed.  If not, #2 for sure.  How the hell are they getting sent on the road to an extremely high seed in Round 2?!?!?

[Late nite]

Salem State with a bye?? Where are THEY ranked??  Amherst with a bye??  They got beat in their own conference tourney, at HOME.  Augie lost AT UWSP (a bye team) by 3 with a shot to tie at the buzzer.  The system stinks.  EC should have been playing in the tourney and Augie got hosed in the draw

I guess regional rankings mean nothing---A top-ranked team in the region travels 250 miles and gets 1 day of preparation for a team with a bye that was not even the best team in their region---Wow---Where's the logic in that?

This blows my mind, and the more I think about it, the more upset I get.  Based on the final regional rankings and the fact that since then Chicago lost, Augustana won the CCIW tourney, and Augustana owns a head-to-head win over Wash U, Augustana should have been the Midwest #1 seed.  If not, #2 for sure.  How the hell are they getting sent on the road to an extremely high seed in Round 2?!?!?

[markerickson]

My prediction that neither Elmhurst nor Augie would win a single game in the tournament is partially correct.

My opinion circa the weeks when four CCIW teams were ranked in the top 25:  overrated.

[robberki]

While it seems Elmhurst and the CCIW got the shaft during the selection process, the coach and the fans should stop crying like a bunch of little girls. If you wanted a bid, you should have won the conference tourney, it's really that simple. Everyone knew the rules going in to the season, you can't play the year and count on pool B or C bids, shut up and play is what I like to say.

[rknuppel]

While it seems Elmhurst and the CCIW got the shaft during the selection process, the coach and the fans should stop crying like a bunch of little girls. If you wanted a bid, you should have won the conference tourney, it's really that simple. Everyone knew the rules going in to the season, you can't play the year and count on pool B or C bids, shut up and play is what I like to say.

Wow Rob!  Take it easy.  First of all I think Coach Scherer handled this situation with class.  His press release was very professional and didn't come across as crying at all.  As for us fans crying - yeah - maybe.  But what else do you want us to talk about the day after selection Sunday?  North Park basketball?

My opinion circa the weeks when four CCIW teams were ranked in the top 25:  overrated.

Either that or the D3hoops.com poll means nothing whatsoever to the NCAA committee.

[tjcummingsfan]

I'm kinda glad you said it Rob, it is getting old listening to everyone complain.  I feel bad for the fans, and the players and the coach, it stinks not to get in, but I don't think  we need to hear every Elmhurst, or heck even just CCIW fan's take on how much it stinks.  We get it.