MBB: Landmark Conference

[gordonmann]

I like the four-team playoffs in this region of the country.  It makes the regular season games more meaningful and produces really entertaining conference races.

If we ever have a case where there are five teams tied at 9-5, then maybe I'd think differently.  Is that even mathematically possible in conferences with 7 and 8 teams?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Under no circumstances should conference playoffs be expanded at the Division 3 level, unless you change the rules that regular season champions, instead of tournament champs, get the automatic berth.  There are just too few at large Ncaa tournament berths for something like that to make sense

Um... there are 42 automatic berths in Division III men's basketball... that is the MAJORITY of the 62 bids for the tournament. And there are a lot of conferences like the CAC and ODAC that include everyone. And there is only 1 conference that has the regular season champ get the automatic bid... the UAA... because they do NOT have a tournament. No point in a tournament if you are going to award the automatic bid to the regular season champ.

By the way, expanding to 8 teams... would be going back to normal for everyone of these schools since their previous conferences included at least 8 (if my memory serves).

[gordonmann]

By the way, expanding to 8 teams... would be going back to normal for everyone of these schools since their previous conferences included at least 8 (if my memory serves).

The MAC had an 8-team playoff when the Freedom and Commonwealth teams all played together.  Starting in 2000, there were four team playoffs on each side.  So that was the status quo for Scranton, Drew, Juniata, Moravian and Susquehanna when they joined the Landmark.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

By the way, expanding to 8 teams... would be going back to normal for everyone of these schools since their previous conferences included at least 8 (if my memory serves).

The MAC had an 8-team playoff when the Freedom and Commonwealth teams all played together.  Starting in 2000, there were four team playoffs on each side.  So that was the status quo for Scranton, Drew, Juniata, Moravian and Susquehanna when they joined the Landmark.

Thank you for the reminder! I forgot what the MAC did when they finally went to two difference "conferences."

By the way, I have heard from a few coaches, including those in that group, that wouldn't mind an 8-team playoff.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Kudos on the in-game Twitter updates, D-Mac.

It is what I do, Grove. Usually from the @d3hoopsville account, but since I switched some settings with regards to Twitter and Facebook, I have gone to my @davemchugh profile instead.

Plus, I do it because I know the Goucher guys won't - they will just retweet mine! (Just kidding... I know they are reading the boards on occasions... so I thought I would have some fun - I actually enjoy tweeting about the games to try and drive more interest in the conference).

Side-note... not sure everyone realizes, but the conference commissioner's office is at Goucher, now. The commish was at least night's game and I was supposed to meet him, but the time at halftime ran out. Maybe next time.

[onetinsoldier]

Using rough numbers, if there are 20 at large berths in dIII for 363 teams (405 teams, give or take, less 42 Auto bids), that means teams have about a 5% chance of making the national tournament if they do not win their conference.  And thats not taking into account all the regionalization of the D3 Tourney.  Compare that to D1, where the number is over 12%. 

I'm sure you head from coaches who would like to expand conference tournaments.  The expanded tournaments gives teams a chance to salvage a bad regular season with a fresh start.  I just feel it diminishes the value of the regular season, and makes it harder for a deserving team to make the National Ncaas

[ronk]

I like the four-team playoffs in this region of the country.  It makes the regular season games more meaningful and produces really entertaining conference races.

If we ever have a case where there are five teams tied at 9-5, then maybe I'd think differently.  Is that even mathematically possible in conferences with 7 and 8 teams?

  Yes, it's possible, but I haven't found the year, yet; MAC online standings only go back to 98-99 season; it might have been 94 or 95; I'll try to track it down.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Using rough numbers, if there are 20 at large berths in dIII for 363 teams (405 teams, give or take, less 42 Auto bids), that means teams have about a 5% chance of making the national tournament if they do not win their conference.  And thats not taking into account all the regionalization of the D3 Tourney.  Compare that to D1, where the number is over 12%. 

I'm sure you head from coaches who would like to expand conference tournaments.  The expanded tournaments gives teams a chance to salvage a bad regular season with a fresh start.  I just feel it diminishes the value of the regular season, and makes it harder for a deserving team to make the National Ncaas

Comparing to D1 isn't really a good plan... their tournament is the one exception in the NCAA to it's 6.5:1 ratio of programs to tournament bids.

[TheGrove]

Kudos on the in-game Twitter updates, D-Mac.

It is what I do, Grove. Usually from the @d3hoopsville account, but since I switched some settings with regards to Twitter and Facebook, I have gone to my @davemchugh profile instead.

Plus, I do it because I know the Goucher guys won't - they will just retweet mine! (Just kidding... I know they are reading the boards on occasions... so I thought I would have some fun - I actually enjoy tweeting about the games to try and drive more interest in the conference).

I know the SIDs have their hands full during the game, but I do wish there were more fast-tempo updates like yours. The Daily Item's Bill Bowman does a good job of this too, when he can be lured away from Bucknell games (although this is a moot point as he just moved over to city editor).

Maybe the answer is to hire a student for live-tweeting. I don't necessarily have the time/patience/bandwidth to sit around watching livestats or video, but the tweets are a nice way to keep up with the game.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For the record... I am just joking about Goucher's SI department... they do a very good job. I figured they would be reading the boards at some point so I would have some fun with them - which means if they are reading them, I will hear about it next week .

As for updates... I will admit it helps that I am only concentrating on PA announcing... not broadcasting the game or I wouldn't be that successful at the tweets. But I am glad to accommodate... though, just click on the link to watch the game LOL.

[ronk]

I like the four-team playoffs in this region of the country.  It makes the regular season games more meaningful and produces really entertaining conference races.

If we ever have a case where there are five teams tied at 9-5, then maybe I'd think differently.  Is that even mathematically possible in conferences with 7 and 8 teams?

  Yes, it's possible, but I haven't found the year, yet; MAC online standings only go back to 98-99 season; it might have been 94 or 95; I'll try to track it down.

By way of example, teams 1-6 split their season series, giving them a 5-5 record at this point. teams 1-5 sweep teams 7-8, giving them the 9-5 record. teams 6-8 split the series among them, giving team 6 a 7-7 record and teams 7-8 2-12 records.

[saratoga]

Was not aware the Commish was now stationed in Towson.
Please feel free to share our concerns regarding the league catering to the whiners, the lack of women's/men's doubleheaders & the elimination of the Fri./Sat. or Sat./Sun. games.
Perhaps a visit to "Hoopsville" in the near future by the commish so we can find out why certain decisions were made would be helpful.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Hmm... interesting ideas saratoga! I will ponder on them

[NEPAFAN]

Landmark board party in Scranton sat night? We can hit up Lackawanna ave!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Sorry - can't make the trip... have other responsibilities back here in the Baltimore area... though it would have been nice to get a game in at Scranton!