D3 Championship Belt

[stag44]

How many teams qualify for the SCIAC tourney? Could this be a realistic chance of the Belt^TM sunning itself in Cali while the NCAA tourney rolls on?

The SCIAC traditionally gets 1 team in. In 05/06 and 07/08 the SCIAC got two teams in, but usually the conference performs poorly in their non-conference schedule so at-large bids are difficult.

This year, though, it looks like the SCIAC could get 2 teams. CMS is currently ranked 21st in the nation and are undefeated. They are as good as any team I've seen this year and could put the school on the national radar this year!

Very excited that the SCIAC has staked claim to the Belt and even more pumped to see CMS have a chance at the Belt!!

[smedindy]

How many teams in the actual SCIAC conference tourney?

[dahlby]

4

[smedindy]

Well, it's definitely plausible that the Belt^TM could be staying home, if the 5th place team (or lower) has possession of it when the regular season ends. If the Belt^TM gets into the SCIAC tourney then it will wind up in the hands of the champs.

Cal Tech for the Belt^TM!

[7express]

I know I've only been here less than a year, but what's the belt??

And the better question is, how do you get the cool trademark sign (TM)??

[Mr. Ypsi]

I know I've only been here less than a year, but what's the belt??

And the better question is, how do you get the cool trademark sign (TM)??

The Belt^TM, a supposedly mythical entity (but then, so is Santa Claus - wanna dispute it at this time of the year?! ), is patterned on the boxing championship belts, and was created by Just Bill a few years ago.  (The rather hilarious early history can be found on the first few pages of this thread.)

The trademark sign is easy: just hit 'sup' (midway on the second row of options above), then type TM between the notations.

And you are wise to ask.  Anyone typing just The Belt (or worse, the belt) without acknowledging Just Bill's trademark (and sending royalties, of course ) is dismissed as a hick!

[Gregory Sager]

I know I've only been here less than a year, but what's the belt??

It's an ongoing spoils-of-victory totem that passes from school to school as one school defeats another on the hardwood.

Half of the fun of following The Belt^TM is seeing where it travels throughout the season. It started the 2011-12 season in the Twin Cities in the hands of last year's national champion, St. Thomas, and has since wandered through Wisconsin (the WIAC), the Pacific Northwest (the NWC), and is now in the hands of Redlands in southern California's Inland Empire (the SCIAC).

The other half is the ongoing speculation as to whether The Belt^TM will partake in the annual festivities surrounding the tournament in March, or if by some unexpected detour it will stay on the sidelines throughout the D3 tournament. F'rinstance, since the SCIAC has a four-team conference tourney, what if The Belt^TM ends the regular season in the hands of the SCIAC's fifth-place team -- a team that wins its last regular-season game but which nevertheless misses out on the chance to play for the SCIAC's automatic bid to the D3 tourney? It would mean that The Belt^TM would miss out on the tourney entirely and would remain in the hands of that lowly fifth-place SCIAC team for the off-season, a quirk that makes the whole thing even more interesting.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg,

magicman needs to know - are we 'quibbling' or 'squabbling'?

I'm kinda rooting for Caltech to take The Belt^TM but miss the SCIAC tourney.  Just think of the new superpowers The Belt^TM might have if it spends the off-season in that location!

[magicman]

Greg,

magicman needs to know - are we 'quibbling' or 'squabbling'?

quibbling :  make trivial objections: to argue over unimportant things and make petty objections

squabbling:  squab·ble (skw b l) intr.v. squab·bled, squab·bling, squab·bles. To engage in a disagreeable argument, usually over a trivial matter; wrangle.

Mr. Y,
It would appear to me that you're quibbling and squabbling over whether you and Greg are quibbling or squabbling. In the future and to compromise, I'm going to refer to the two of you as "squibbling" with each other. (Wait till smedindy get a hold of that line. ) 

[smedindy]

I'd be a fribble that we all will squibble about something or other!

[Just Bill]

Sorry I've been lacking, but I caught wind of a possible trademark violation and my yacht could use a new pinstriping. Please submit your check forthwith or face the wrath of my law team from the firm Duey, Cheetum and Howe.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sorry I've been lacking, but I caught wind of a possible trademark violation and my yacht could use a new pinstriping. Please submit your check forthwith or face the wrath of my law team from the firm Duey, Cheetum and Howe.

If you're gonna infringe on the trademark of Click and Clack, at least get the spelling right (or was that your legal defense strategy?): it's "Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe"!

[sac]

Redlands still has The Belt^TM

Great controversy erupted when San Diego State thought they had claimed The Belt^TMwith a last second 94-43 victory over Redlands on December 30.  Students had stormed the court and in the chaos the San Diego State mascot made off with The Belt^TM.



Wait wrong picture......



yes that's the guy occifer. 

SWAT teams surrounded Viejas Arena.  For some reason the San Diego Chicken was there and threatened to eat small babies until The Belt^TM was returned.



After some intense negotiations and a promise to introduce the Aztec mascot to the young women in picture number one, The Belt^TM was returned to Redlands without incident.


Steve Fisher and former Aztec mascot Zuma the Jaguar were not amused



Next week Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps will get their shots at the belt, hopefully Redlands doesn't succumb to hyphen envy.

[David Collinge]

Outstanding analysis. +1

[Greek Tragedy]

Excellent reporting!