Great Lakes Region

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Halftime score - Witt 19 Denison 39

That's one heck of a big hole to try to get out of

[kiltedbryan]

They could send one NCAC 'C' east or west.  OWU was sent east when they won the NCAC automatic a few years ago and Wooster has had to make the trek far west when they made the 499.75 mile trek to WashU a few years ago as well.  I could see the PrAC champ being sent to Transy and the second NCAC 'C' getting shipped east or west if it comes to that.  Of course, this is assuming Transy wins the HCAC.  If they lose, and either Witt or Woo wins the NCAC tournament, I don't see the Pios hosting.

SF- wasn't that Wash U game at Augustana?

[wooscotsfan]

They could send one NCAC 'C' east or west.  OWU was sent east when they won the NCAC automatic a few years ago and Wooster has had to make the trek far west when they made the 499.75 mile trek to WashU a few years ago as well.  I could see the PrAC champ being sent to Transy and the second NCAC 'C' getting shipped east or west if it comes to that.  Of course, this is assuming Transy wins the HCAC.  If they lose, and either Witt or Woo wins the NCAC tournament, I don't see the Pios hosting.

SF- wasn't that Wash U game at Augustana?

Yes, Wooster went all the way to Rock Island, IL (Augustana) and lost in the first round to Wash U.  It was James Cooper's senior year.  Rock Island is just across the river from Iowa. 

[imderekpoe]

Sure was. And we couldn't get back to Ohio because of the blizzard...

[sac]

Halftime score - Witt 19 Denison 39

That's one heck of a big hole to try to get out of

I forget which game it was but I thought Witt came back from 18 down earlier this season.  Double-digits anyway.

[sac]

Holy crap did I just hear that right?

Denison hasn't won in Springfield in 62 years?

[ScotsFan]

Halftime score - Witt 19 Denison 39

That's one heck of a big hole to try to get out of

I forget which game it was but I thought Witt came back from 18 down earlier this season.  Double-digits anyway.

I don't know if it was 18, but Witt came back from being down big to OWU. 

Don't look now, but it's a 7 point game with a minute and a half to go.   Maybe too little too late for Witt though...

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Holy crap did I just hear that right?

Denison hasn't won in Springfield in 62 years?

Amazing to see the end of a 62 year run - congrats to the Big Red.

[sac]

Holy crap did I just hear that right?

Denison hasn't won in Springfield in 62 years?

Amazing to see the end of a 62 year run - congrats to the Big Red.

I have a great question for my uncle.  Were you a student and were you there when Denison last beat Wittenberg in Springfield? 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I agree that Transy could have a good hosting position, both in rankings and geography. Wooster went there not that long ago--maybe '06?

My challenge in trying to suss out where the committee might send GL teams stems from these points:

1) Hope probably deserves (and could get?) a first round bye on the basis of national seeding. (Note: I'm not sure what's likely to be needed for geographical reasons)
2) Hope (and possibly Transy as well) also deserves (but may not get) an "easy" early draw. It doesn't seem like the Pool C NCAC team(s) would meet this definition, though they would make a good potential second-rounder.
3) The (possibly 3) NCAC teams shouldn't play each other in the first round per NCAA guidance, and so must go to different sites or at least different matchups at one site.
4) The region is likely to only get 2 Pool C bids, both from the NCAC, so there won't be that many teams to go around (unless there are major tournament upsets).

One unorthodox way that an NCAC team might host would be if Hope gets the bye and the NCAC team hosts a Thursday game with the winner to Hope on Saturday.

Otherwise, I'm thinking that if the NCAC draws three teams they might all go in different directions: I could see one in a "Hope pod", one in a "Transy pod", and one somewhere else altogether (e.g., OWU to a "Midwest" bracket or Wooster to an "East" bracket).

Just some thoughts:
1 - Hope may not get that bye... since there are only two and they tend to be used for geographical reasons - like the west and northwest parts of the country, Texas, etc. With just two byes... can't imagine anyone except in geographical locations getting those byes.
2 - Not sure what could be "easy" anymore... there has been a lot of parity this season... the first weekend could be one of the most interesting on the men's side in a long time.
3 - You are right, they will have to go somewhere... I believe the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, East could be regions they could head depending on hosting schools. They could also be at the same site, but set-up to play in the second game - which may be an unavoidable chance.
4 - Yeah... OAC may be in line for a Pool C bid depending on today's results... we shall see.

[monsoon]

Final - in overtime:

Hope    65
Adrian  62

[kiltedbryan]

I agree that Transy could have a good hosting position, both in rankings and geography. Wooster went there not that long ago--maybe '06?

My challenge in trying to suss out where the committee might send GL teams stems from these points:

1) Hope probably deserves (and could get?) a first round bye on the basis of national seeding. (Note: I'm not sure what's likely to be needed for geographical reasons)
2) Hope (and possibly Transy as well) also deserves (but may not get) an "easy" early draw. It doesn't seem like the Pool C NCAC team(s) would meet this definition, though they would make a good potential second-rounder.
3) The (possibly 3) NCAC teams shouldn't play each other in the first round per NCAA guidance, and so must go to different sites or at least different matchups at one site.
4) The region is likely to only get 2 Pool C bids, both from the NCAC, so there won't be that many teams to go around (unless there are major tournament upsets).

One unorthodox way that an NCAC team might host would be if Hope gets the bye and the NCAC team hosts a Thursday game with the winner to Hope on Saturday.

Otherwise, I'm thinking that if the NCAC draws three teams they might all go in different directions: I could see one in a "Hope pod", one in a "Transy pod", and one somewhere else altogether (e.g., OWU to a "Midwest" bracket or Wooster to an "East" bracket).

Just some thoughts:
1 - Hope may not get that bye... since there are only two and they tend to be used for geographical reasons - like the west and northwest parts of the country, Texas, etc. With just two byes... can't imagine anyone except in geographical locations getting those byes.
2 - Not sure what could be "easy" anymore... there has been a lot of parity this season... the first weekend could be one of the most interesting on the men's side in a long time.
3 - You are right, they will have to go somewhere... I believe the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, East could be regions they could head depending on hosting schools. They could also be at the same site, but set-up to play in the second game - which may be an unavoidable chance.
4 - Yeah... OAC may be in line for a Pool C bid depending on today's results... we shall see.

Dave-

Yes, I understand (and agree) that it's most likely that both byes will be needed for geographical reasons. But, if there are enough teams around to make pods elsewhere that one "seeded bye" is available, I have to think that Hope (which is unbeaten in the NCAA's eyes) would be in the running for it.

There were more byes available, but in 2008 it looks like Capital hosted Bethany in the first round with the winner traveling to Hope--a scenario that could play out this year as something like Witt/Woo hosting the OAC champ or a non-Transy HCAC winner.

NCAC could still end up with anywhere from 2 to 4 teams in. A Wooster win tonight might help keep OWU on the right side of the bubble. A Denison upset of Wooster insures three teams in (Woo/Witt are both locks), but probably helps keep OWU out.

Also- it's worth remembering the 2010 tournament draw: Wooster hosted, but didn't draw any other NCAC or OAC teams into its pod. Instead, both OAC teams drew long road trips to the ODAC--John Carroll to Guilford for a first rounder against Maryville, and Wilmington to Eastern Mennonite for a first rounder against Lycoming. Hope went to UWSP that year. It's at least possible that the committee basically splits them all up.

To your point #4, I don't think the OAC has any Pool C chances. In TitanQ's current Pool C selections, he does have JCU "at the table" at the end, but JCU's resume doesn't look that great compared to the other teams. They're staying home, and Wilmington and Capital both don't have a chance at Pool C. The OAC is a one-bid league this year.

[sac]

Holy crap did I just hear that right?

Denison hasn't won in Springfield in 62 years?

Amazing to see the end of a 62 year run - congrats to the Big Red.

I have a great question for my uncle.  Were you a student and were you there when Denison last beat Wittenberg in Springfield? 

and my uncle returned the answer

No, I was a H.S. sr. that yr., leading Homer to a 0-16 record!

[monsoon]

Here are the pods containing Great Lakes teams.

at Cabrini (26-1)
    Castleton State (19-9)

    Hobart (22-5)
    Ohio Wesleyan  (20-7)



at Transylvania (23-4)
    Carroll (16-9)

    Wittenberg (21-6)
    Birmingham-Southern (25-2)



at Wooster (24-4)
    Maryville (18-9)

    Randolph-Macon (21-6)
    Capital (18-9)



at Hope (26-1)
    Westminster (MO) (17-10)

    UW-Stevens Point (20-7)
    Illinois Wesleyan (19-7)



Thursday:
  at St. Mary's (MD) (19-7)
      Bethany (25-3)

winner plays Saturday:
  at Virginia Wesleyan (25-3)

[sac]

Here are the pods containing Great Lakes teams.

at Cabrini (26-1)
    Castleton State (19-9)

    Hobart (22-5)
    Ohio Wesleyan  (20-7)



at Transylvania (23-4)
    Carroll (16-9)

    Wittenberg (21-6)
    Birmingham-Southern (25-2)



at Wooster (24-4)
    Maryville (18-9)

    Randolph-Macon (21-6)
    Capital (18-9)



at Hope (26-1)
    Westminster (MO) (17-10)

    UW-Stevens Point (20-7)
    Illinois Wesleyan (19-7)



Thursday:
  at St. Mary's (MD) (19-7)
      Bethany (25-3)

winner plays Saturday:
  at Virginia Wesleyan (25-3)

This list clearly demonstrates the importance of the regional system.