BB: Pool B

[Ralph Turner]

UDallas is looking stronger this year than in recent years.

I think that they could end up at 16-5 in-region.

[CrashDavisD3]

UDallas is looking stronger this year than in recent years.

I think that they could end up at 16-5 in-region.

Pool B bid could be riding on these games for these teams

4/30   UDallas at Chapman •    3:00 PM   PT
5/1   UDallas at Chapman •    2:00 PM   PT

[JohnnyU]

16-5? Whoa. That would mean winning all of these games...

3/1    at Howard Payne •    1:00 PM   
3/12    at LeTourneau •    1:00 PM   
3/12    at LeTourneau •    3:00 PM   
3/17    at Arlington Baptist    8:00 PM   
3/19    at Southwestern •    2:00 PM   
3/19    at Southwestern •    4:30 PM
4/5    vs. East Texas Baptist •    4:00 PM   
4/9    vs. Austin •    1:00 PM   
4/10    at Austin •    2:00 PM   
4/12    at East Texas Baptist •    7:00 PM

...and half of these...

4/2    at Texas-Dallas •    1:00 PM   
4/3    at Texas-Dallas •    3:00 PM   
4/16    vs. Trinity (Texas) •    2:00 PM   
4/17    vs. Trinity (Texas) •    2:00 PM   
4/30    at Chapman •    3:00 PM   LS A
5/1    at Chapman •    2:00 PM

If they do that, they're in the tournament. They're SOS should be pretty good with UT-Dallas, Trinity, and Chapman.

[Ralph Turner]

16-5? Whoa. That would mean winning all of these games...

3/1    at Howard Payne •    1:00 PM   
3/12    at LeTourneau •    1:00 PM   
3/12    at LeTourneau •    3:00 PM   
3/17    at Arlington Baptist    8:00 PM   
3/19    at Southwestern •    2:00 PM   
3/19    at Southwestern •    4:30 PM
4/5    vs. East Texas Baptist •    4:00 PM   
4/9    vs. Austin •    1:00 PM   
4/10    at Austin •    2:00 PM   
4/12    at East Texas Baptist •    7:00 PM

...and half of these...

4/2    at Texas-Dallas •    1:00 PM   
4/3    at Texas-Dallas •    3:00 PM   
4/16    vs. Trinity (Texas) •    2:00 PM   
4/17    vs. Trinity (Texas) •    2:00 PM   
4/30    at Chapman •    3:00 PM   LS A
5/1    at Chapman •    2:00 PM

If they do that, they're in the tournament. They're SOS should be pretty good with UT-Dallas, Trinity, and Chapman.

Yes JohnnyU!   

[Jim Dixon]

Central Region:  (3)
Nebraska Wesleyan(IND)

South:  (6)
Rust(IND)

These two teams are unlikely to have the minimum number of games for the D-III playoff.

[Ralph Turner]

Central Region:  (3)
Nebraska Wesleyan(IND)

South:  (6)
Rust(IND)

These two teams are unlikely to have the minimum number of games for the D-III playoff.

Neb Wes has received special permission in Men's basketball to submit a special schedule.

Rust has 15 games so far. I wonder how many games are not listed.

[biggio34]

Was just looking at Wash U's upcoming schedule.  It's crazy!

They play a DH today against Westminster, #5 Whitewater is coming to town for games on Thursday and Friday, they play #10 St. Thomas on Sunday, and double header scheduled for Saturday vs #18 St. Scholastica has been moved to Monday.  That is going to be quite a stretch of games.  They will quickly jump into the Pool B picture if they are successful over the next 7 days... but can they be successful?

[BigPoppa]

Was just looking at Wash U's upcoming schedule.  It's crazy!

They play a DH today against Westminster, #5 Whitewater is coming to town for games on Thursday and Friday, they play #10 St. Thomas on Sunday, and double header scheduled for Saturday vs #18 St. Scholastica has been moved to Monday.  That is going to be quite a stretch of games.  They will quickly jump into the Pool B picture if they are successful over the next 7 days... but can they be successful?

If they even go .500 in that stretch, they should be a contender.

[JohnnyU]

.500 would be impressive, especially since you have to consider the pitching depth they'll have to go through. Scholastica, St. Thomas, and Whitewater only have to throw 2 or 3 guys. WashU has to throw at least 5, maybe closer to 7.

[Piobark]

That will be a real test of pitching depth - particularly this early in the season when arms need a little more time and when they are not ready to go deep into games.

I'd guess that the starters from todays DH would come back on Monday - but they will need at least 5 starters and probably 5 or 6 relievers. And if any of those games go extra innings - ouch!!!

[biggio34]

.500 would be impressive, especially since you have to consider the pitching depth they'll have to go through. Scholastica, St. Thomas, and Whitewater only have to throw 2 or 3 guys. WashU has to throw at least 5, maybe closer to 7.

To get through 2 nine inning games against Whitewater, and one against the Tommies, i would think you are looking at using at least 5 pitchers in those 3 games alone.  And that is best case scenario.  Whitewater has yet to play a game, by their lineup is going to put up runs, so pitching depth when you oppose them is a must.

Also, CSS and St. Thomas might have to go alittle deeper into their rotations too as they are playing a single game against each other on Sunday in St. Louis as well.

[MIACLUV]

Although I applaud first year Head Coach Duncan's enthusiasm to play a good schedule, but this is leading the sheep to slaughter. He's going to need to burn pitching today, then turn around and likely face Whitewater's Tincher, Leitner & Donovan on thurs and friday. Then folow up wth St. Thomas' Edwards or Gapinski, then after you've burned massive amounts of pitching against two very good offensive teams, they get St. Scholastica's #2 & #3 after CSS and UST play a single on sunday.
.500 would not only be impressive, it would be a miracle. Call the Vatican if it happens.

[BigPoppa]

Although I applaud first year Head Coach Duncan's enthusiasm to play a good schedule, but this is leading the sheep to slaughter. He's going to need to burn pitching today, then turn around and likely face Whitewater's Tincher, Leitner & Donovan on thurs and friday. Then folow up wth St. Thomas' Edwards or Gapinski, then after you've burned massive amounts of pitching against two very good offensive teams, they get St. Scholastica's #2 & #3 after CSS and UST play a single on sunday.
.500 would not only be impressive, it would be a miracle. Call the Vatican if it happens.

Still, the NCAA does reward teams that compete against top-notch schedules. See Carthage in 2010 and St. Norbert in 2009.

[Ralph Turner]

Although I applaud first year Head Coach Duncan's enthusiasm to play a good schedule, but this is leading the sheep to slaughter. He's going to need to burn pitching today, then turn around and likely face Whitewater's Tincher, Leitner & Donovan on thurs and friday. Then folow up wth St. Thomas' Edwards or Gapinski, then after you've burned massive amounts of pitching against two very good offensive teams, they get St. Scholastica's #2 & #3 after CSS and UST play a single on sunday.
.500 would not only be impressive, it would be a miracle. Call the Vatican if it happens.

Still, the NCAA does reward teams that compete against top-notch schedules. See Carthage in 2010 and St. Norbert in 2009.

Yes, the Handbook  says that one of the criteria is in-region results versus regionally-ranked teams.

You gotta play the good teams to get a result.  The committee knows more about a team that is 4-7 versus regionally ranked teams than one that is only 2-0.

[El Hombre]

Are Pool B teams selected based upon their Region?  Or based upon their overall record versus all Pool B teams?

What happens if the best 2 or 3 Pool B teams happen to be from the same Region?  I read a recent post that listed a significant number of teams from the West Region that are nationally ranked (although early in the season).

Are the Pool B teams that receive a bid automatically sent to the Region in which they play?