Great Lakes Region

[sac]

and that as well.  Which never hurts.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Looking at the final rankings, Hope must be hosting solely because of geography.  Wash. U.'s women had hosting priority, and Wooster (ahead of Hope in the GL) was too far east to host that pod.

Yes... this is absolutely a hosting shift due to WashU women hosting. Happened three times in the men's bracket this year.

Did you ask about those specifically?  Because I'm wondering if Tufts wasn't in line to host their pod - I can't imagine they were ranked ahead of SJF in the rankings.  Or maybe Williams was in line to host and Scranton wasn't?  Hard to know exactly what criteria they used for selecting.  Was it two per region or just straight top 16 like last year?

Yes.. I asked KVS off air specifically before I did the NCAA bracket show so I knew for sure. Furthermore, in the lower left the hosts tend to be the bottom team. Williams was not going to host, Scranton was as well.

And as it was discussed in the past... they are trying to have the best 16 host to a degree... top two in each region is hard to fulfill by that standard and the standard alone.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Though, I will add the UW-River Falls is the top seeded team in that pod. WashU may not be in a good position, though I think all teams can get to WashU with no problems.

[fantastic50]

Wooster is not the favorite in the Hanover group, but if the Scots win this weekend, they can't get to River Falls, and I am not sure that they can get to Wash. U., either. If Wooster advances, the sectional might end up in Whitewater.

[sac]

Hanover can't get to River Falls without a flight either.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It does get complicated... but nice to see the committee is willing to be more creative and the NCAA willing to be a little less stringent.

[Fifth and Putnam]

The 2017 Great Lakes Invitational at Marietta College game schedule was released this morning...should be a fun weekend of competitive basketball.

Friday, November 17, 2017:
2:00 p.m. — Wittenberg (18-9) vs. Mount St. Joseph (20-7)
4:00 p.m. — Birmingham-Southern (14-14) vs. St. John Fisher (23-6)
6:00 p.m. — St. Thomas (19-8) vs. Dickinson (16-11)
8:00 p.m. — Marietta (26-5) vs. Hope (23-7)

Saturday, November 18, 2017:
1:00 p.m. — Wittenberg vs. Birmingham-Southern
3:00 p.m. — Hope vs. St. John Fisher
5:00 p.m. — Mount St. Joseph vs. Dickinson
7:00 p.m. — Marietta vs. St. Thomas

[Smitty Oom]

This will be a good test for UST, who loses their stud All-American PG Grant Shaeffer but not much else. They always reload well and have good depth. Interested to see how they will do against some good GL Region squads. All of these games will be big results come Pool C time next Feb.

[Fifth and Putnam]

It is my understanding that Thomas More has sent a letter of interest to the OAC. Do I think it's something that happens? Probably not as I don't believe schools in the conference want 11 members. The only scenario I can imagine working out from here is that Wilmington has a desire to go back to the Heartland and is accepted back making room for Thomas More (not completely out of the question in my opinion).

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It is my understanding that Thomas More has sent a letter of interest to the OAC. Do I think it's something that happens? Probably not as I don't believe schools in the conference want 11 members. The only scenario I can imagine working out from here is that Wilmington has a desire to go back to the Heartland and is accepted back making room for Thomas More (not completely out of the question in my opinion).

I am willing to bet TMC has sent an letter of interest to a number of conferences. I am not surprised in the least OAC got one. I am sure they sent another (or continued conversations) to the MIAA. I am sure the NCAC and the HCAC also got letters.

And who knows... now-a-days, 11 members isn't as bad a deal as it used to be. Unbalanced schedules are also starting to become a bit more normal - or at least discussed.

[KnightSlappy]

It is my understanding that Thomas More has sent a letter of interest to the OAC. Do I think it's something that happens? Probably not as I don't believe schools in the conference want 11 members. The only scenario I can imagine working out from here is that Wilmington has a desire to go back to the Heartland and is accepted back making room for Thomas More (not completely out of the question in my opinion).

I am willing to bet TMC has sent an letter of interest to a number of conferences. I am not surprised in the least OAC got one. I am sure they sent another (or continued conversations) to the MIAA. I am sure the NCAC and the HCAC also got letters.

And who knows... now-a-days, 11 members isn't as bad a deal as it used to be. Unbalanced schedules are also starting to become a bit more normal - or at least discussed.

Thomas More and the MIAA have had conversations about Membership? That's surprising. They're a four-hour drive away from the closest current members.

[HOPEful]

It is my understanding that Thomas More has sent a letter of interest to the OAC. Do I think it's something that happens? Probably not as I don't believe schools in the conference want 11 members. The only scenario I can imagine working out from here is that Wilmington has a desire to go back to the Heartland and is accepted back making room for Thomas More (not completely out of the question in my opinion).

I am willing to bet TMC has sent an letter of interest to a number of conferences. I am not surprised in the least OAC got one. I am sure they sent another (or continued conversations) to the MIAA. I am sure the NCAC and the HCAC also got letters.

And who knows... now-a-days, 11 members isn't as bad a deal as it used to be. Unbalanced schedules are also starting to become a bit more normal - or at least discussed.

Thomas More and the MIAA have had conversations about Membership? That's surprising. They're a four-hour drive away from the closest current members.

Still closer than Finlandia!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I thought I had read that on the boards somewhere... maybe I am confusing things, but fairly sure that had been discussed previously (I'm not great at searching the boards SMH).

[AndOne]

It is my understanding that Thomas More has sent a letter of interest to the OAC. Do I think it's something that happens? Probably not as I don't believe schools in the conference want 11 members. The only scenario I can imagine working out from here is that Wilmington has a desire to go back to the Heartland and is accepted back making room for Thomas More (not completely out of the question in my opinion).

I am willing to bet TMC has sent an letter of interest to a number of conferences. I am not surprised in the least OAC got one. I am sure they sent another (or continued conversations) to the MIAA. I am sure the NCAC and the HCAC also got letters.

And who knows... now-a-days, 11 members isn't as bad a deal as it used to be. Unbalanced schedules are also starting to become a bit more normal - or at least discussed.

Thomas More and the MIAA have had conversations about Membership? That's surprising. They're a four-hour drive away from the closest current members.

Stranger things have happened.
Nebraska Wesleyan joined the IIAC last season. The two closest schools are a 3 1/2 hour bus ride away. Three of the conference schools are SIX hours distant.
NWU is the only school not in Iowa (as the conference name implies).

[sac]

Text of conversation:

Thomas More:  hey, you know we're looking for a new conference what do you think?
MIAA:  You're in Kentucky   <click>