2007 Playoff Field

[K-Mack]

Although the discussion will also be going on all week on our blog, The Daily Dose, the bracket this year was different enough that we know you'll all want to react in any way you can. We've got more Texas vs. Texas, but Redlands is going to St. John's, Ithaca to Mount Union and Widener to Case Western Reserve. Wow. How about Capital at Whitewater for a first-round game ... or the omission of Whitworth aka Pool B No. 4?

The bracket is here. Pat and Gordon's Saturday night predictions are here. Let us know what you think.

[johnnie_esq]

Certainly surprised by the slight of Whitworth/NWC this year.  They aren't that far removed from some very good Linfield/PLU teams.  Perhaps the redshirt rule has really been a problem for them? I don't know.

A lot of respect shown to the WIAC and MIAC this year-- two MIAC teams hosting in the first round, and two WIAC teams playing, one of whom had two in-region D3 losses.  Seems like the committee threw out the strength of schedule and looked at the secondary criteria in making the field!

We in the West are ecstatic about this bracket, as the West is wide open this year, with a date in Alliance for the winner. 

[K-Mack]

Wheaton left out too after two losses in their final two. Would've been a great team to see if they'd stayed healthy.

Occidental lost 67-61 to ruin not only their own chances, but Cal Lutheran's on Saturday night. But Hartwick won 72-70 in 4 OTs to get themselves in, and help two of their conference mates (SJF and Ithaca).

North Central, Hampden-Sydney and Ithaca doing the opposite, losing twice early but rallying to get in. Widener and N.C Wesleyan lost early too, but clinched last week.

Lots of craziness, as always.

[HScoach]

OK. The first thought I had as the brackets were shown was "Is the NCAA on crack?".

After studying the brackets, I'm sure they are. This is just crazy.

MUC is hosting the "East Region".

Whitewater is hosting the "North Region".

W&J bracket looks OK.

Central gets the gift of the day in having WWW elsewhere.

Interesting. Very interesting.

We've been taking about wanting to see some new teams come to Alliance in the playoffs, but we were thinking North Central, Franklin or Case. We got our wish, but with eastern team.

Interesting indeed.

[Bob.Gregg]

What would y'all think of Mules being seeded #1 in the East Bracket?

Already with a win over NCAA East #1 New Jersey, plus a win over LL co-leader Union....

As far as I could find, haven't seen an import seeded #1 in a region.  Of course, also couldn't find a possible import with wins over a Region's #1, plus another conference leader...

Thoughts...

It isn't a stretch at all if they were in the East, but in eight years, with 32 No. 1 seeds, the NCAA has yet to do it. And there have been years that were screaming for it -- always with a team moving into the East, oddly enough.

I guess the 'AA CAN hear the screaming after all...

I had the right idea, just the wrong team...

And now, we have Imports as #1 teams in TWO regions...

[thenwcfan]

All the arguments about D-I going to a playoff system can be thrown out of the window after this year's D-3 selection committee proved to us that a playoff system also does not work.  How this group leaves the Northwest Conference Champion Whitworth Pirates out of this disgraceful playoff tree in incomprehensible.  Many of this year's players were on the team that went unbeaten and to the second round of the playoffs last year.  To be a top 25 team for much of this season, lose it's only D-III game to a top 25 team (in their first game of the year) which got a 5 seed, have the best take away defense in the country and to go 5-0 in a tough conference that has produced 2 National Champions since 2000 and not get in is a travesty.  My guess is after beating #12 Linfield a couple of weeks ago and ending their season, their representative who is on this selection committee did not end up fighting for his own conference.  

[Foss]

Keith, how do they explain UW-Eau Claire (2 D3 losses) over Whitworth (1 D3 loss), especially when the last regional rankings had Whitworth RANKED ABOVE UW-Eau Claire???

[Bob.Gregg]

Keith, how do they explain UW-Eau Claire (2 D3 losses) over Whitworth (1 D3 loss), especially when the last regional rankings had Whitworth RANKED ABOVE UW-Eau Claire???

Perhaps they'll use the Eau Claire OWP 108 ranking over Whitworth's #122...

How about how Eau Claire gets in over:

Wheaton  OWP #24
Wartburg #30
St. Olaf #39
Wittenberg #55
Dickinson #78
Randolph-Macon #79

And so on....

Eau Claire???

Huh?

[Pirat]

RE:Whitworth
Bob, that is the only reason I can see.  I posted a short time ago that Whitworth played over half their D3 regional games against teams with a winning percentage of 23% which pretty much killed their OWP (.501/.510). It appears the committee put a lot of emphasis on SOS this year.  There are a lot of conspiracy theories about East Coast bias and losing to an NAIA school but I don't think those are the reason.  To me it appears the committee stuck to their criteria just putting more emphasis on OWP than regional winning percentage.  It is unfortunate that a little subjectivity didn't creep in like you would think might happen with reasonable intelligent people.  After all, the Rats had to play the people on their schedule and they had no control over how those teams played.  I guess the Rat management needs to start looking to schedule perennial winners so their SOS looks good for Pool C bids. 

I am probably closer to the Rat football program than most and this has been a crushing day. But I will recover as will the team and we will be ready for next year. 

[Bob.Gregg]

pirat,

Doesn't the NWC go AQ status next year?

If so, they'll have total control of getting in.

[KitchenSink]

I was certain that the NCAA would find a way to have 2 West Coast teams to give them an easy matchup.

Oops.

Wait - is St John's on the West Coast?  Where's my damn globe ... ?

Congrats to Eau Claire.  I'm not sure exactly why they got in versus a couple of others - but there are smiles here in Wisconsin.

[Foss]

Bob, yes the NWC does get the auto next year.

[Pirat]

Yes Bob next year they will have AQ status.  But, I am greedy and want to get 2 or maybe 3 (E8 this year??? wow) of our teams in.

[billrt66]

Obviously I don't know a great deal about North Central, but as a confessed "homer" for the Grizzlies, it is really gratifying to have them not only in as the HCAC champion, but hosting a first round game as well!! They certainly deserve it. Being left out of the field of 32 last year at 9-1,  obviously their goal this season was to first win the conference and then let the selection process play itself out......clearly their patience and focus has been nicely rewarded. Nice that the conference also qualified their first at large team in Mt. St. Joe as well.  Can't wait for Saturday.....it will be "nuts" at Faught Stadium on the Franklin campus!!!

[dc_has_been]

I still can't believe that Case Western is a 2 seed in the Whitewater bracket.  I understand that they went 10-0, their schedule wasn't the most challenging w/ a .495 OWP in region plus to out of region games vs. Gallaudet 2-6 & St. Vincent 0-10. 
I'm also not sold on Capital this season, especially w/ their offensive struggles.  Yes they went 8-2, but they did not dominate against their weaker opponents. 
I do like the fact that Mount Union is in the east, but Whitewater is not an easy task as well.  If you can control their run game & get some points on them early then you may have a shot.