Great Lakes Region

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The percentage is actually 70% in region games - I wish it was 75... but it is 70.

25 x .7 = 17.5   rounded up to 18
25 x .75 = 18.5  rounded up to 19

because that 1 game makes all the difference?

There are more sports than basketball... and I think that one game will keep teams from being more travel crazy. I also wanted it more than 75%... so like 20 games.

What's wrong with traveling if a program has the means and desire to do so?  Doesn't interregional play help give us some points of reference when trying to flesh out a field for a national tournament?

This is a perfect time to point out that Hope and Calvin can play at Mississippi College for an in-region game but not the western suburbs of Chicago...

It all goes back to the philosophy of Division III, which is solid. They've just managed to bumble the way the philosophy is carried out with a set of rules that don't always make sense.

Talk to the college presidents... they control the ship.

Dave, I don't think the beef is with Division III philosophy (which the college presidents set).  It's with the administration of the philosophy.  As said above...

"It all goes back to the philosophy of Division III, which is solid. They've just managed to bumble the way the philosophy is carried out with a set of rules that don't always make sense."

Today, Wheaton can travel 2000 miles to L.A. to play an in-region game vs Occidental...but a game at Calvin (203 miles away) is out-of-region.

Well the Presidents do have a role in this... and to be honest there is nothing you can do about your example. You have to draw the line somewhere and the regions and the administrative regions have existed for a very long time. Plus, remember this is about more than just basketball - it has to do with all of the NCAA sports. That being said, look for regional realignment to be the big topic of conversation in the off-season.

I worry that the schools that can afford to play where ever they want will do so... basically ignoring the teams in their backyards who can't afford the travel... and thus setting up scenarios where some schools can't fill their schedules with quality opponents because those quality opponents are more interested in spending their money to travel out of the region.

I don't think this actually happens, Dave.

From the Midwest point of view, probably not. However, I know a number of schools in the Northeast who travel already and will certainly welcome the fact that travel will not restrict them. I am not worried that CCIW teams and the like will leave the region to play games. I am worried that teams like Amherst, Williams, Middlebury, and they kind will do so leaving many in their regions holding the bag. It may not happen often, but I have already seen small signs of it in the last few years. Remember, these schools pull from across the country and they use their athletics as a recruiting tool for more than just their teams... they want to keep their name out in the conversation across the country.

[KnightSlappy]

Well the Presidents do have a role in this... and to be honest there is nothing you can do about your example. You have to draw the line somewhere and the regions and the administrative regions have existed for a very long time. Plus, remember this is about more than just basketball - it has to do with all of the NCAA sports. That being said, look for regional realignment to be the big topic of conversation in the off-season.

If the goal of regional re-alignment is really to "even up" the numbers in the regions, then the GL won't really see any change. The obvious move is to send the WIAC to the MW and the HCAC to the GL. Presto, the regions are even, but I don't know that it has any impact on what is or isn't a regional game for any team.

I wrote this in August: http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2012/08/on-second-thought-regional-realignment.html

[iwumichigander]

Will the top power conference teams not play a good team that could beat them, like the D-1 power conferences avoid teams like Creighton and VCU?

Sometimes - yes.  I think it is more the case that teams, in a rebuilding mode, will avoid playing a top power conference team because the coach with the rebuilding team does not want to get blown out.

[kiltedbryan]

Wooster falls at Wabash, 48-55. Credit the Little Giants with the big upset win.

My assumption is that barring Calvin also losing, the Scots probably have given up their chances at being #1 in the Great Lakes in the initial rankings next week.

[calvinite]

Calvin won 92-50 with Jordan Brink in street clothes.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well the Presidents do have a role in this... and to be honest there is nothing you can do about your example. You have to draw the line somewhere and the regions and the administrative regions have existed for a very long time. Plus, remember this is about more than just basketball - it has to do with all of the NCAA sports. That being said, look for regional realignment to be the big topic of conversation in the off-season.

If the goal of regional re-alignment is really to "even up" the numbers in the regions, then the GL won't really see any change. The obvious move is to send the WIAC to the MW and the HCAC to the GL. Presto, the regions are even, but I don't know that it has any impact on what is or isn't a regional game for any team.

I wrote this in August: http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2012/08/on-second-thought-regional-realignment.html

That certainly makes plenty of sense and would help be more even with the women's regions (and there would be a name change for the Midwest or the Central to make it consistent). The bigger issue(s) is the Northeast, East, and Atlantic. The Northeast has 75 mens teams... the East and Atlantic MIGHT equal 75 combined (don't know off the top of my head).

There are also other issues like conferences split in different regions (which I don't have an issue with, but apparently Presidents do have an issue with) and the regions in other sports are just not working (i.e. lacrosse with just a North and South).

I am not sure what the answers will be, but it won't be perfect... but small things to make improvements would be nice.

[sac]

Marietta 92 Heidelberg 89 2OT

game of the day in the region.  H'berg hit a 3 with 11 seconds left to send it to OT, Marietta hit a 3 with 10 seconds left to send it to 2OT.
http://www.oac.org/sports/mbkb/2012-13/boxscores/20130202_v9r5.xml?view=plays

Capital at Marietta next Wed for the outright lead in the OAC

[sac]

Wooster falls at Wabash, 48-55. Credit the Little Giants with the big upset win.

My assumption is that barring Calvin also losing, the Scots probably have given up their chances at being #1 in the Great Lakes in the initial rankings next week.

I saw Wabash way back in the first weekend of the season beat Albion by 1 on a late basket.  I find this result very hard to believe even with taking team improvement over 3 months into consideration.

Give Wabash credit though they've beaten DePauw and Wooster in back-to-back games, no one probably saw that coming.

Calvin is much further out in front than people realize and is, imo, very underrated in the National Poll.

[smedindy]

The fuzzy cheeked youngsters have finally learned that defense wins.

[calvinite]

Calvin is much further out in front than people realize and is, imo, very underrated in the National Poll.

Massey has Calvin at #9 -- whatever that means -- and WI Stevens Pt. was ranked higher and lost their last two games -- 3rd and 4th losses of the season (maybe that has already been factored in....).

I don't think there's any doubt that Calvin's defense over the past several weeks is night and day different than the defense that Calvin showed in their only two losses earlier in the season. Calvin is certainly playing improved offense and defense that at times makes me think they should be ranked higher. On the other hand, I doubt there's a team in the top 30 that can't look extremely good at times.  And, unfortunately, I think Calvin has not really been tested much.... It's really too bad that they haven't played a couple more really tough games.

[calvin_grad]

Regional rankings come out today?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yep... D3hoops will tweet and such when they are released.

[sac]

A man can only hit 'refresh' so many times

[KnightSlappy]

ziggy noticed that the data sheets are live at the bottom of the NCAA's rankings page. It appears they have neglected to count the Hope-Covenant game as in-region.

[calvinite]

ziggy noticed that the data sheets are live at the bottom of the NCAA's rankings page. It appears they have neglected to count the Hope-Covenant game as in-region.

Link?