Great Lakes Region

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Unbelievable finish for the season for Mount... SMH.

[HOPEful]

Does a loss to Wooster tonight knock Hiram out of being regionally ranked?

[EttaFan1]

Not an expert, but most of what I've read indicated that Hiram needed to beat Wooster and advance to the nCAC finals to have a slim chance at a Pool C bid.  If they lost to the Scots, I'd say their season is likely over.

The good news for the bubble teams is since both Marietta and JCU were mortal locks to make the tourney, there won't be another OAC stealing a bid from someone else.  That won't sit well with the Raider fans out there, but there are some people smiling on other campuses. 

[Fifth and Putnam]

Does a loss to Wooster tonight knock Hiram out of being regionally ranked?

My guess is Hiram will stay regionally ranked regardless. My best guess is that Trine is probably the next team off the list if they ranked another team. Trine would need to get a win over Hope in my mind to get onto the list (which I am assuming you don't want). Another scenario is Trine could use the SOS boost from playing at Hope tonight and jump on the list if St. Vincent lose their conference final. KnightSlappy would be the guy to break those numbers down to know if that was a reasonable guess.

[KnightSlappy]

Does a loss to Wooster tonight knock Hiram out of being regionally ranked?

My guess is Hiram will stay regionally ranked regardless. My best guess is that Trine is probably the next team off the list if they ranked another team. Trine would need to get a win over Hope in my mind to get onto the list (which I am assuming you don't want). Another scenario is Trine could use the SOS boost from playing at Hope tonight and jump on the list if St. Vincent lose their conference final. KnightSlappy would be the guy to break those numbers down to know if that was a reasonable guess.

Trine or AMCC champ would be the next team to be ranked. Trine would have trouble making that jump. Right now they're 0.667/0.510/0-5 compared to Hiram's 0.760/0.501/2-2. I think the Terriers are on for good.

[sac]

The best scenario for Trine to get back in the poll was probably St. Vincent losing to Westminster last night, which almost happened.   St. Vincent still has their win over Marietta, which is apparently like having a bar of gold in your pocket.

[EttaFan1]

St. Vincent still has their win over Marietta, which is apparently like having a bar of gold in your pocket.

scarcity does create value.  (and the fact Marietta had a 7 point lead with 45 seconds to go and blew it makes it mind boggling to most Pioneer fans that it even happened).

You have to wonder had that one played out differently if St. Vincent would even be in the regional rankings. 

[Fifth and Putnam]

St. Vincent still has their win over Marietta, which is apparently like having a bar of gold in your pocket.

scarcity does create value.  (and the fact Marietta had a 7 point lead with 45 seconds to go and blew it makes it mind boggling to most Pioneer fans that it even happened).

You have to wonder had that one played out differently if St. Vincent would even be in the regional rankings.

The end of that Marietta-St.Vincent game was so uncharacteristic of how steady Marietta has been with the ball and handling the press all year. I've really tried to blast that one from my memory and hope Marietta has too. Credit St. Vincent though, they didn't give up, pressured Marietta into those mistakes and made the comeback before winning it in OT. A basketball game isn't over until it's over.

[HOPEful]

One of these years I'll actually buy the manual and read up on these things...

Is the number of ranked teams in a region predetermined? Does the GL always need to be at 9 (not 8, not 10)...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

You don't have to buy the manuals... the NCAA puts them out for free. LOL

The regional rankings numbers are pre-determined. The NCAA ranks 15% of eligible teams in a region or a minimum of six by applying the 6.5 teams to 1 championship selection criteria.

Now, that is the men's information. The women have apparently asked for different percentage ranked in some regions... but it is all predetermined.

[KnightSlappy]

One of these years I'll actually buy the manual and read up on these things...

Is the number of ranked teams in a region predetermined? Does the GL always need to be at 9 (not 8, not 10)...

PDFs of the manuals are free.

http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2015-16_PreChamps_DIII_Men_Basketball_20160212.pdf

The number of ranked teams is based on region sized. 15% of the region is ranked (pg 14).

[HOPEful]

Thank you gents! Now I know...

[Onward on, John Carroll]

The manual states that the host teams must play at 8:00. Is that enforced? Carroll always opted to play at 6:00 in the past for, I assume, the longer rest. Is that new? Not enforced? Waivable?

[sac]

My crack at the region

1. John Carroll
2. Marietta
3. Ohio Wesleyan
4. Alma
5. Hope
6. Wooster
7. St. Vincent
8. Hiram
9. Mt. Union
-----------------------
10. Trine

I have to believe the committee will spend a long time this afternoon on that #8 and #9 slots since it could sway rankings at the top of the region a little and potential Pool C ramifications. 

[Titan Q]

My crack at the region

1. John Carroll
2. Marietta
3. Ohio Wesleyan
4. Alma
5. Hope
6. Wooster
7. St. Vincent
8. Hiram
9. Mt. Union
-----------------------
10. Trine

I have to believe the committee will spend a long time this afternoon on that #8 and #9 slots since it could sway rankings at the top of the region a little and potential Pool C ramifications.

In looking at the numbers, I would have Wooster higher than Hope:

* Wooster  .741/.563/3-4
* Hope  .913/.504/1-1

When the rubber meats the road, the regional committees have to line their Pool C candidates up in order of national Pool C competitiveness.  As I interpret the numbers (which i acknowledge is a subjective thing), Wooster would get selected a few rounds earlier than Hope (I have Wooster #9 and Hope #13).  Putting Hope higher pushes both candidates down in my opinion.

I say this knowing the Great Lakes committee had Hope higher last week, without much changing.  So who knows.  Unfortunately we will never see that final ranking.

And bottom line, both Hope and Wooster are safe Pool Cs.