MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

Has there been a year yet where the conference tournament helped or hurt the number of teams we get in the tournament?  I can't think of one, but if Augie had won tonight this would clearly have been a case of 'help'.

I still wish they didn't play it, but that train left the station a long time ago.

[kiko]

Postscript: they did say at the end of the broadcast that it was the color guy's first time on the air.

[Rafi]

Has there been a year yet where the conference tournament helped or hurt the number of teams we get in the tournament?  I can't think of one, but if Augie had won tonight this would clearly have been a case of 'help'.

I still wish they didn't play it, but that train left the station a long time ago.

Two years ago NCC won the regular season championship, but wasn't a Pool C contender because of a terrible non-conference record.  And, then got beat in the 1st round of the conference tournament at home.  Without the conference tournament, NCC would have gotten the automatic bid.

[iwu70]

Congrats to NCC for winning the CCIW Tourney and the AQ.  Too bad for Augie and for CCIW not getting four teams in.  Three is pretty special afterall.  Now let's all regroup and make some noise. 

All conference teams should be out shortly, right?

Women's teams already announced.  Titans got 2 1st and 1 on 2nd.

Greetings to all from Casino-filled Macau.  "One country, Many Casinos!"  My favorite sight / site here so far is the sculpture of a huge Mao Jacket gracing the front area of one of the largest casinos here, called "City of Dreams." How things have changed in China since Mao.

All best -- on with Dancing.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Here is how the week 3 regional ranking looked (data through Sunday 2/17)...

1. Illinois Wesleyan - 18-3 (.857)/.539/5-2 
2. Washington U. - 18-5 (.783)/.567/6-4
3. Wheaton - 16-5 (.762)/.568/4-3
4. North Central - 19-3 (.864)/.528/3-2
5. Transylvania - 18-5 (.783)/.542/3-1
6. Rose-Hulman - 21-3 (.875)/.505/1-1
7. St. Norbert - 18-5 (.783)/.534/1-2
8. Augustana - 16-7 (.696)/.548/1-7


Here is how I see the final Midwest ranking (note, SOS is from last Sunday)...

1. North Central - 22-3 (.880)/.528/6-2   Pool A
2. Washington U. - 19-5 (.792)/.567/6-4   Pool A
3. Illinois Wesleyan - 18-5 (.783)/.539/5-4   Pool C candidate 
4. Wheaton - 17-6 (.739)/.568/4-4   Pool C candidate
5. Rose-Hulman - 23-3 (.885)/.505/1-1   Pool A
6. Transylvania  - 19-6 (.760)/.542/3-1   Pool C candidate 
7. Augustana - 18-8 (.692)/.548/2-8   Pool C canddidate
8. St. Norbert - 20-5 (.800)/.534/1-2  Pool A    

A strong case can be made for ranking Augustana ahead of Transylvania.  Since the last ranking Augie has added a win vs regionally ranked (IWU) and two games played (IWU, NCC).  I think Augie's SOS will also go up in the final data (Tuesday Millikin game hurts, IWU and NCC help in a big way).  I've landed on keeping Transylvania higher, as I think they probably compete better at a national level in terms of Pool C, but this is pretty close.  And it makes a huge difference.  I have the Midwest Pool C order as:

* IWU
* Wheaton
* Transylvania
* Augustana

When you look at my Pool C projection, you'll see how how important that Transylvania vs Augustana decision is by the Midwest Regional Advisory Committee (I have Transy in and Augie out) - http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1498877#msg1498877

Note, even ranking Transy higher than Augie, I have the Vikings #23 in the Pool C process (19 available).  Augustana is a longshot, but probably more in the discussion than people think.  Assuming Transylvania gets selected, Augie will be at the table for discussion in the final rounds of the Pool C process.

If I'm an Augie fan, I'm at least going down swinging today by grinding out the 4 national "bubble burster" games.  A year ago today I was hopping all across the D3 video stream/live stats world, following games for teams I had barely ever heard of before.  This is what a true bubble fan does on the final day...beware though, it's not for the faint of heart.

[A Lover of the Game]

I am learning a lot about how the ranking process works, thanks Titan Q. NCC gets a Pool A bid because they won the conference tournament, am I correct? If so, who do you project they will meet in the first round of playoffs?

[Titan Q]

I am learning a lot about how the ranking process works, thanks Titan Q. NCC gets a Pool A bid because they won the conference tournament, am I correct? If so, who do you project they will meet in the first round of playoffs?

Yes, the conference tournament winner gets the Pool A bid.

As far as possible matchups, that's really tough...I'll have to look at that closer when all games are played today.  Aurora jumps out at me as a strong round 1 possibility for NCC.

[Titan Q]

I'll admit I'm pretty new to all of this (though am enjoying it a lot).  A few questions:

1) When is the All-Conference Team released?  I could have sworn I knew the teams before the CCIW tournament last year but haven't heard anything this year.

2) Do the final regional spreadsheets get released (even without the final rankings)?  When?

3) Each week they'll assign sites I assume?  So if two upsets happen in the same spot of the bracket, those two teams aren't traveling to a neutral court of one of the favorites right?  (Seems like a stupid question and I assume someone playing always hosts but the NCAA is...well.. the NCAA.

Thanks for any info!

1) Not sure.  The women's team was released Friday afternoon, so not sure what the deal is with the men's all-CCIW team.

2) We definitely don't get the final regional rankings (which is a embarrassing on the part of the NCAA), but I can't remember about the data sheets.  KnightSlappy is my source of data though when all else fails.  See "regional rankings" tab - http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com

3) Yes, sites are announced as soon as the matchup is locked in - in this unique format for 2013, there should be no neutral court games in rounds 1-3.


Kudos for jumping in and trying to sort out the confusion that is the D3 selection/seeding/bracketing process!

[TitansIWU]

When this game is over, go back to the video and check out Grey Giovanine's response to the third foul being called on Brandon Kunz at the 10:10 mark of the first half. He does the electric boogaloo on the sideline, and ... well, it's just hard to describe. But it was darned funny to watch.

It starts at about the 26:18 of the on demand version of the game.

It seems like a James Brown inspired anger dance.

Well worth watching!!!

[cardinalpride]

Congrats to IWU for being CCIW regular season champs with a very impressive 13-1 record!
Congrats to NCC on capturing its second consecutive (3rd overall) CCIW tournament championship! Also, congrats for obtaining the NCAA automatic bid and a potential home game in the post season.

[Titan Q]

Agree with first highlighted sentence, but IF NCC and WashU meet before Salem, the second sentence is not correct - just see whether the game is in St. Louis or Naperville!

Chuck, this is only true if they bracket Wash U and North Central in the same group of 8.  There is a very good chance these two could end up going separate ways.  If that happens, we'll have no way of knowing who the final Midwest #1 is.

[Mr. Ypsi]

That's why I emphasized 'IF'.  If they ever meet at all, would we be able to tell by which team is listed as the 'home' team?  (I assume that even on a neutral court, the higher seed is designated as 'home'.)

[sac]

That's why I emphasized 'IF'.  If they ever meet at all, would we be able to tell by which team is listed as the 'home' team?  (I assume that even on a neutral court, the higher seed is designated as 'home'.)

Generally true, but with a tournament that alters its seeds to satisfy geography it can be difficult to tell what a teams true 'seed' really is sometimes.

[Titan Q]

Pool C, updated with new SOS through Saturday - http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1498955#msg1498955

[AndOne]

That's why I emphasized 'IF'.  If they ever meet at all, would we be able to tell by which team is listed as the 'home' team?  (I assume that even on a neutral court, the higher seed is designated as 'home'.)

Generally true, but with a tournament that alters its seeds to satisfy geography it can be difficult to tell what a teams true 'seed' really is sometimes.

I think sac makes a good point here.
The just completed CCIW tourney is a good illustration of the usual procedure of the higher seed being designated as the home team and wearing its white uniforms.
However, as sac points out, the NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, does things like not revealing the seeds, and altering seeds along geographical lines to sometimes confuse those of us who might try to venture a guess as to the seeding order.