2011 Final Four

[sac]

Is it just me or does anyone think this is an excellent Final Four........every year there seems to be one team that everyone wonders if they really belong there.  This year I don't think you can say that at all.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Is it just me or does anyone think this is an excellent Final Four........every year there seems to be one team that everyone wonders if they really belong there.  This year I don't think you can say that at all.

Yeah, I already noted that on a board I can't seem to find!  There is usually always a dog (and last year, of course, there were three of them, since ANYONE coming out of the Bracket of Death would have easily won the title).  This year we've got the 2 'home teams' (from among the ODAC 'Big Four' - both of whom have been here for more than the ODAC tourney), plus two recent national champs - nary a canine in THIS group!

[2006 was an exception - I believe all 4 games were decided by 3 or fewer points.]

While I realize many posters (and coaches) hated the 3rd place game as anti-climactic, I personally will miss it.  Since 2nd and 3rd is often a matter of scheduling, rather than playing, how are we to tell which team is 2nd?   (Besides, IWU was 3-0 in 3rd place games! )

[Mr. Ypsi]

Now the pressure is on...

I have all four teams picked correctly and am tied for first in the men's pick'em.  I have Guilford over Stevens Point in the finals and a total score of 131 points.

Of interest, these two teams have eliminated UT-Dallas from the tourney in the last 2 seasons.

dang, there goes my chance at a comeback...
I also have Guilford over UWSP in the championship. Got Williams right, RMC wrong, went with Virginia Wesleyan instead (oops!)

Identical to my situation!  I too have Guilford over UWSP, have Williams, and had VaWes instead of RMC!

[frodotwo]

Now the pressure is on...

I have all four teams picked correctly and am tied for first in the men's pick'em.  I have Guilford over Stevens Point in the finals and a total score of 131 points.

Of interest, these two teams have eliminated UT-Dallas from the tourney in the last 2 seasons.

dang, there goes my chance at a comeback...
I also have Guilford over UWSP in the championship. Got Williams right, RMC wrong, went with Virginia Wesleyan instead (oops!)

Identical to my situation!  I too have Guilford over UWSP, have Williams, and had VaWes instead of RMC!

UWSP over VaWes - Guilford over Williams - UWSP over Guilford 138 pts, but I'm only in 33rd so not much of a chance for me.

[Titan Q]

(Posted on WIAC board, but putting here too so I know where to find this list!)

Salem may not be the best location, but it is "centrally" located and has more to offer the tournament than you might think.

Teams that have made it to the Final Four in the Salem Era (1995-96 to present)
Williams 5 (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010) - NESCAC
Amherst 4 (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) - NESCAC
Illinois Wesleyan 4 (1996, 1997, 2001, 2006) - CCIW
Franklin & Marshall 3 (1996, 2000, 2009) - Centennial
Hope 3 (1996, 1998, 2008) - MIAA
UW-Stevens Point 3 (2004, 2005, 2010) - WIAC
Washington U. 3 (2007, 2008, 2009) - UAA
Calvin 2 (2000, 2005) - MIAA
Guilford 2 (2009, 2010) - ODAC
Hampden-Sydney 2 (1999, 2003) - ODAC
Rochester 2 (2002, 2005) - UAA
UW-Platteville 2 (1998, 1999) - WIAC
Virginia Wesleyan 2 (2006, 2006) - ODAC
William Paterson 2 (1999, 2001) - NJAC
Wooster 2 (2003, 2007) - NCAC
Alvernia 1 (1997) - MACF
Carthage 1 (2002) - CCIW
Catholic 1 (2001) - LAND
Connecticut College 1 (1999) - NESCAC
Elizabethtown 1 (2002) - MACC
Gustavus Adolphus 1 (2003) - MIAC
John Carroll 1 (2004) - OAC
Nebraska Wesleyan 1 (1997) - ind
Ohio Northern 1 (2001) - OAC
Otterbein 1 (2002) - OAC
Randolph-Macon (2010) - ODAC
Richard Stockton 1 (2009) - NJAC
Rowan 1 (1996) - NJAC
Salem St 1 (2000) - MASCAC
Ursinus 1 (2008) - Centennial
UW-Eau Claire 1 (2000) - WIAC
Wilkes 1 (1997) - MACF
Wittenberg 1 (2006) - NCAC
York (Pa) 1 (2005) – CAC

By state
Massachusetts: 10
Pennsylvania: 8
Wisconsin: 7
Ohio: 6
Michigan: 5
Virginia: 5
Illinois: 4
New Jersey: 4
Missouri: 3
New York: 2
North Carolina: 2
Connecticut: 1
DC: 1
Minnesota: 1
Nebraska: 1


I'd argue that Salem is not all that "centrally" located...

* "Midwest"  (OH, MI, IL, IN, MO, IA, WI): 26
* "Northeast" (PA and up): 25
* "East"/"Southeast" (DC/VA/NC): 8
* "Northwest": 1

For about half of the teams that have been there, I don't think Salem was easily accessible (I consider a 10+ hour car ride or $600+ airfare to be not easily accessible).  Granted, there is no way to make the D3 Final Four easily accessible for teams like Nebraska Wesleyan, or NWC/SCIAC teams...but in the Salem Era, we've only had 1 of those.

To me, "centrally located" - as far as Division III goes - is somewhere in Ohio.  I have been clear on these boards to note, however, that no one has yet to propose a perfect venue that is centrally located.  And even when we located the perfect venue, the ownership has to want the D3 Final Four (not exactly a big money maker).  Until all of that happens, I am a firm Salem supporter...even with the location being what it is.  The folks in Salem do a tremendous job.

[Gregory Sager]

This will be the second time in D3 tourney history that there has been a rematch in the national championship game. Tomorrow Williams will seek to avenge an 84-82 defeat at the hands of UW-Stevens Point in the 2003 title contest, as the Ephs and Pointers will square off for the 2010 national title.

In 1979 North Park defeated Potsdam State, 66-62, to win the second of an eventual three straight national championships for the Vikings, and in 1985 North Park also took the rematch against Potsdam State in that season's title game, 72-71.

[John Gleich]

This will be the second time in D3 tourney history that there has been a rematch in the national championship game. Tomorrow Williams will seek to avenge an 84-82 defeat at the hands of UW-Stevens Point in the 2003 2004 title contest, as the Ephs and Pointers will square off for the 2010 national title.

In 1979 North Park defeated Potsdam State, 66-62, to win the second of an eventual three straight national championships for the Vikings, and in 1985 North Park also took the rematch against Potsdam State in that season's title game, 72-71.

Williams won their national championship in 03... stole it from Gustavus Adolphus before playing one of the best basketball games I've ever seen in 04 against Point.

Should be another classic battle tomorrow!

Congrats to the two ODAC teams who competed very hard to the end and have nothing to be ashamed of with their seasons.

[Gregory Sager]

Good catch. That's what I get for posting in a hurry and not proofreading.

[nescac1]

Great experience in Salem despite a heart-breaker at the very end.  I definitely hope they keep Salem as the site (and yes, I'm biased since I live in the DC region).  Great arena, plenty of cheap places to stay nearby, tremendous hospitality by the venue, gorgeous weather this time of year, overall a very fun experience.  Fun reconnecting with Eph fans and meeting fans of some of the other teams.  I am hoping the Ephs give me cause to make a return visit in the next few years ... and I hope if they do, there are no WIAC teams there (nothing personal, but 3 out of the 4 times the Ephs have lost in Salem, it's been courtesy of WIAC, and the other time was to a team I think isn't even in D-3 anymore or at least never plays in the tourney ... undefeated in Salem vs. the rest of the country!).    

I am not sure anyone has commented yet on the all-star game.  I thought it was a great addition.  The players obviously had a lot of fun and put on an entertaining show.  In typical all-star fashion, there wasn't much defense played until the last two minutes plus the OT, when the players showed their wills to win.  I think including the players, automatically, from the losing semifinalists was a BIG plus and clearly made the game a LOT more entertaining.  Their teammates were cheering for them raucously (especially the two RMC kids) and it just added to the fun / energy level, plus a nice reward for the semifinalist teams.  One of the RMC kids even went off for 11 points!  Although the highlight of the game was definitely when Sanborn instinctively passed to Henson by accident (on opposite teams) and Henson nailed a three then credited Sanborn for the assist, much to Sanborn's disgust.

Speaking of Henson, he was easily the MVP of the game.  Scored 35 on a variety of deep threes and very tough runners.  Made me appreciate the defensive job Blake Schultz did on him in the semifinal all the more, he is a HECK of a player (as is Sanborn).  MVP for the east, I thought, was the big guy from William Patterson (not even gonna try to spell his name).  He is nasty on both offense and especially defense, many blocks of the other big guys who were visibly frustrated by him, and he even crossed over Sean Wallis on one occasion!  I was also really impressed by Josh Sharlow (very creative and athletic player, fun to watch) and Wallis, who is a fantastic pure point guard and made some amazing passes, especially when you consider he's never played with these guys before.  Misevisious showed off a nice shooting touch, and Braswell and Kyle Meyer both looked very good as well.  But really, everyone pretty much looked like they belonged and it was a nice showcase for D-3 talent.  

[FanJacket]

I have heard that each kid who participated in the all star game was to receive a DVD of it...will there be a way anyone else could get a copy...or a link to the game somewhere?  Penn Atlantic does not replay games (that I know of).  Thanks.

[Pat Coleman]

FanJacket -- not that I'm aware of. We don't have a copy of it, either.

[KnightSlappy]

FanJacket -- not that I'm aware of. We don't have a copy of it, either.

Pat, is there a box score?

[hickory_cornhusker]

So, in light of what happened in the Stagg Bowl and the Final Four, which two purple clad teams will face-off for the World Series title?

[Just Bill]

So, in light of what happened in the Stagg Bowl and the Final Four, which two purple clad teams will face-off for the World Series title?

St. Thomas is the defending champion and #1 ranked.  UWSP and UWW usually contend.  Linfield is another quality purple team.

[John Gleich]

Does anybody know (or can you figure out...) the records of the teams that play first vs. second for the national championship game?  This was the third year that Point played the second semi (and their third win) and I'd be interesting to see if there's any corollary between playing in one particular semi-final and winning the game the next day.  It would seem that playing in the first would be a two-fold advantage (the biggest being additional rest and the next being more clear focus prior to your game because the other one isn't going on and finally having the ability to view the next game knowing that you'll be playing the winner the next day), but I wonder if this really holds to be true (or if I'm off in those perceived advantages).