D3 Championship Belt

[Gregory Sager]

Well, one successful defense for the Big Blue when they knocked off Wheaton on Wednesday, but tonight...

Augustana 76
Millikin 64

2021-22 Belt^TM Path
3/12/21: Illinois Wesleyan
12/11/21: Wheaton
12/29/21: Berry
12/30/21: Carthage
1/15/22: Millikin
1/22/22: Augustana

Next one for The Belt^TM would appear to be *checks notes*

...at North Central.

Naperville is on a fault line? Who knew?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Belt on the line with Augustana at North Central tonight!

[lmitzel]

Well, no earthquakes, but there will be a party, at least somewhere in Naperville.

NCC 73
Augie 68

2021-22 Belt^TM Path
3/12/21: Illinois Wesleyan
12/11/21: Wheaton
12/29/21: Berry
12/30/21: Carthage
1/15/22: Millikin
1/22/22: Augustana
1/26/22: North Central

Welcome back, old friend.

[lmitzel]

Finally got around to getting the map updated. Got to add a couple pins thanks to that chaotic 24 hour period of the CCIW losing, then regaining The Belt^TM and had to dig to figure out what my precedent was for "Team that held The Belt^TM for 24 hours and losing it immediately without returning home" since I assume Berry wouldn't have made the trek to and from between their games. Turned out there wasn't one, but I figured since they were ever so briefly blessed, they deserved a tack on the map.

Getting to change the map icon to a house (representing the current holder) on Merner just hits different.

The Cardinals host Wheaton on Saturday. NCC is 4-1 all time in home Belt^TM defenses, and this will be the 12th game for The Belt^TM played at the Hangar. At a quick glance, the only places with more are UW-River Falls (13), St. Thomas (14 before they jumped to D-I), Illinois Wesleyan (14), Hope (14), and Augustana (19).

[lmitzel]

Well that was a fun few days.

Wheaton 75
NCC 71

2021-22 Belt^TM Path
3/12/21: Illinois Wesleyan
12/11/21: Wheaton
12/29/21: Berry
12/30/21: Carthage
1/15/22: Millikin
1/22/22: Augustana
1/26/22: North Central
1/29/22: Wheaton

It's too bad, because I referenced coming out of the women's game before the Belt^TM match that this was a game for It^TM and our SID immediately expressed support for getting  an actual belt and making sure that it was passed along. Now if we can get everyone else on board with that...

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

It's too bad, because I referenced coming out of the women's game before the Belt^TM match that this was a game for It^TM and our SID immediately expressed support for getting  an actual belt and making sure that it was passed along. Now if we can get everyone else on board with that...

No man-made belt could ever come close to matching the glory that is The Belt^TM. Even if you spent millions of dollars it would just be a cheap facsimile

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

We talked about making belts and handing them out last year to the teams that finished #1 in the poll, as some consolation for not having a tournament, but, clearly, that never happened.  I wouldn't rule it out forever, though.

The big impediment is simply a fear that not every belt holder would respect it enough to pass it along or even want it in the first place.

[ronk]

We talked about making belts and handing them out last year to the teams that finished #1 in the poll, as some consolation for not having a tournament, but, clearly, that never happened.  I wouldn't rule it out forever, though.

The big impediment is simply a fear that not every belt holder would respect it enough to pass it along or even want it in the first place.

With all of the publicized powers of the belt, I would think the holders would fear disrespecting, instead - thinking Indiana Jones!   

[lmitzel]

We talked about making belts and handing them out last year to the teams that finished #1 in the poll, as some consolation for not having a tournament, but, clearly, that never happened.  I wouldn't rule it out forever, though.

The big impediment is simply a fear that not every belt holder would respect it enough to pass it along or even want it in the first place.

With all of the publicized powers of the belt, I would think the holders would fear disrespecting, instead - thinking Indiana Jones!   

Come to think of it, I think it has been a while since someone got their face melted off...

[Gregory Sager]

It's too bad, because I referenced coming out of the women's game before the Belt^TM match that this was a game for It^TM and our SID immediately expressed support for getting  an actual belt and making sure that it was passed along. Now if we can get everyone else on board with that...

No man-made belt could ever come close to matching the glory that is The Belt^TM. Even if you spent millions of dollars it would just be a cheap facsimile

In the interest of cheap thrills, I 100% endorse North Central SID Clark Teuscher creating an actual belt, just so that I can feel the frisson that I would no doubt experience from making reference to The Cheap Fascimile^TM and then hitting the POST button.

[Gregory Sager]

We talked about making belts and handing them out last year to the teams that finished #1 in the poll, as some consolation for not having a tournament, but, clearly, that never happened.  I wouldn't rule it out forever, though.

The big impediment is simply a fear that not every belt holder would respect it enough to pass it along or even want it in the first place.

[lmitzel]

We talked about making belts and handing them out last year to the teams that finished #1 in the poll, as some consolation for not having a tournament, but, clearly, that never happened.  I wouldn't rule it out forever, though.

The big impediment is simply a fear that not every belt holder would respect it enough to pass it along or even want it in the first place.

That was the point both Clark and I raised when we were talking about creating The Cheap Facsimile^TM. He said he's all for another trophy, the trick was getting other teams on board and making sure handoffs actually happen. And... ya know...

There's a reason this hangs at my desk at work. Biggest shame is that I only got like two, two and a half months of true mileage out of it before working from home hit and now I'm only in the office once every like six weeks.

[lmitzel]

Haven't updated in a while, but after a few successful defenses, we circle back to where we started the year.

IWU 79
Wheaton 71

2021-22 Belt^TM Path
3/12/21: Illinois Wesleyan
12/11/21: Wheaton
12/29/21: Berry
12/30/21: Carthage
1/15/22: Millikin
1/22/22: Augustana
1/26/22: North Central
1/29/22: Wheaton
2/12/22: Illinois Wesleyan

I think at this point we have a 99.9 percent chance of The Belt^TM going into the CCIW and thus NCAA Tournament. For now, the Titans will try to defend It^TM against North Central on Wednesday.

[sac]

IF Carleton and St. Olaf can play for a goat....

[lmitzel]

With the Titans' successful defense tonight, they carry The Belt^TM into their regular season finale against Augustana. This means no matter what, The Belt^TM will go into the CCIW and thus NCAA Tournament.