MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Pat Coleman]

Pat's projected bracket is up.

http://d3hoops.com/notables/2012/02/mens-projected-bracket

He has Rose-Hulman @ Hope in the first round along with Illinois Wesleyan and UW-Stevens Point.

Tough pod.

I thought about that when I put those teams in it but those are teams that have big names in Division III but are not playing very well right now. Hope shouldn't have trouble with any of those teams.

[Hopester]

Here is the link for the selection show:

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/basketball-men/d3


Question for Pat, KS, or other potential "bracketologists," could you see Hope in a section with teams on the East coast? I can't see this being feasible from a geographic standpoint.

So when I made my rough sketch, I had a Wooster pod (Wooster, Carroll, Capital, and Maryville), a Transylvania pod (Transy, UWRF, NCC, and Edgewood), and the Texas pod. For Hope's pod I had Lake Forest instead of IWU. I didn't really make any other part of the bracket, so that may be where the challenge in doing this lies. 

[HopeConvert]

I wasn't displeased with the proposed draw, but I agree with Hopester that it seems unlikely. Not sure the NCAA would want to put two OAC teams in a pod, but it's not unprecedented.

At this point it's not as much about seeding as it is geographical convenience and saving money. But like FDF said, we'll find out soon enough. I'm eager to get the word.

[sac]

In the first two rounds, Hope has been paired in a bracket with primarily Midwest/West Region teams in all but one of their trips to the NCAA's since the pool system was introduced.   The one year they weren't was 2008 when they were one of the top seeds in the D3 tournament and earned a bye.  That year Hope drew GL region teams Bethany/Capital.

In a lot of those other years, particularly the last 3, Hope was not a top seed, and was used to balance out brackets.  Hope went West, while a MW/West team went East.

I think, though not sure, the committee tries its best to keep the top seeds as close to within their region as possible.  Though that might not be the case.


There really are no 'easy' draws in this part of the country.  Its just not going to happen.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Gotta look on the bright side.  Unlike the past two seasons, Selection Monday is stress-free and devoid of any disappointment for us Calvin fans.   

Dutchmen Nation, enjoy the ride!

[wiz]

Hope gets a puppy!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Friday games at Hope

UW Stevens Point -WIAC (20-7) v IWU - CCIW (19-7)
Westminster - SLIAC (17-10) @ Hope - MIAA (26-1)

[almcguirejr]

Westminster's only common opponent with Hope was Wheaton.  Westminster lost by 15 on their home floor.

[sac]

Friday games at Hope

UW Stevens Point -WIAC (20-7) v IWU - CCIW (19-7)
Westminster - SLIAC (17-10) @ Hope - MIAA (26-1)

What's not to love about this?  Looking forward to it.

[almcguirejr]

A quick look at Westminster's roster shows they are not going to match up well at all size wise.  Westminster only has 1 player 6'5" tall. This looks like a great game to start off a tournament run.

[HopeConvert]

I think the regions are pretty fair. The committee did a good job.

[ziggy]

I think the regions are pretty fair. The committee did a good job.

Some of the selections aside...

[HopeConvert]

On the edge of the bubble? Everyone has a claim there.

[sac]

Hope's Section of the bracket includes

Washington
Transylvania
Wooster
Hope

[Mr. Ypsi]

A quick look at Westminster's roster shows they are not going to match up well at all size wise.  Westminster only has 1 player 6'5" tall. This looks like a great game to start off a tournament run.

Starting with a SLIAC team is always good.  Long-time IWU coach Denny Bridges (in his memoir) rather impolitely, but accurately, referred to SLIAC tourney opponents as 'speed bumps'.