NCAA Tournament

BlueZoneBruin · February 28, 2011, 01:31:02 AM

Pat,

I know y'all are really busy with all the predictions, brackets, and prepping for the big announcements tomorrow, but I'm curious about something and figured I'd ask. Anyone else can jump in if they feel like it.

My question is about why you have Chapman hosting Oxy and the two NWC schools. George Fox has the best in-region winning percentage of the four schools, the best in-region SOS, and the best winning percentage against regionally-ranked teams. The last regional ranking had L&C 2, GFU 3, and Chapman 4. GFU beat two regionally ranked teams (L&C and UPS) in the past three days to increase their SOS, winning percentage vs. regionally ranked teams, and probably bump ahead of #2 L&C. Chapman on the other hand, played two games against teams that are well below .500. I can't imagine they would jump Fox in the rankings, and have a hard time believing that they would jump Lewis & Clark (although SOS and head-to-head may affect that). In addition, you throw in (although not officially) recent history which has the So Cal teams traveling north, and it seems that Fox is the more likely venue. Of course, there is also the fact that Fox has already beat Chapman rather handily (75-57) this year as well. Thoughts?

I'm not opposed to Dahlby and the Chapman women hosting, but just don't see any reason for that selection.

Pat Coleman · February 28, 2011, 03:05:27 AM

Nope, agreed, I misread the last regional rankings and I have since flopped the projection.

deiscanton · February 28, 2011, 05:06:48 AM

Quote from: 7express on February 28, 2011, 12:29:50 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on February 28, 2011, 12:00:09 AM
Oh well, we put it in anyway.

Too bad, because Greensboro hosting saves the NCAA from having to fly Piedmont.

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/27/womens-tournament-bracketology/

All I want is to avoid Amherst as long as possible. I'd rather take my chances on upsetting Kean in Harwood Arena (though that matchup will never happen) then to face Amherst @ Amherst. Hopefully if they put Western on the road, the NCAA sends us up to Bowdoin again (likely won't happen) because that team is beatable this year.

I would like to see Chicago face Amherst sometime in this NCAA tournament. Amherst has already played Wash U, Rochester, NYU and Brandeis in previous NCAA tournaments over the past few years. Chicago has proven that they can play a quality game anywhere in DIII. It wouldn't happen under current NCAA DIII bracketology, (must have as few plane flights as possible...) but even if Chicago had to go to LeFrak Gym, they would not be scared of playing Amherst there-- since Chicago already won at the Wash U Field House this season....

(Like Wash U in the past, Amherst is tough to beat anywhere, though....)

Out_Of_My_Kitchen · February 28, 2011, 09:19:59 AM

Winning at Wash U Fieldhouse is worth about three wins. I don't know their home record last 15 years, but I know they don't lose their that often.

jaybird44 · February 28, 2011, 11:59:00 AM

Wash-U is 185-7 in its last 192 home games. 308-24 at home since the 1986-87 season.

dahlby · February 28, 2011, 12:06:37 PM

BlueZoneBriun:

I agree, as I wrote before, that if it is a four team pod hosted by one school, that the NW would host. I only mentioned the possibly of Chapman hosting the first game if the committee only wanted one team to fly up north. And, I really can't imagine the committee haviing the NW schools play each other in the first round. They both are ranked to high with better records and SOS. Unless the $$$$ situation is not good. (Although it would be nice to have Chapman host at least one game, as I donn't have time to fly up north).

7express · February 28, 2011, 03:23:30 PM

Richard Stockton??? Really??

Luckily Eastern still made it, otherwise I would've blown a fuse.

Western's draw isn't bad. Play Messiah at Kean, only about a 90 minute trip for me so I can save the hotel and get there and back Friday and Saturday on 1 tank of gas. I don't like the matchup with Kean, but if were hitting 3's we can easily advance.

Eastern can by their first round opponent and can easily beat Bowdoin in the second round.

David Collinge · February 28, 2011, 03:34:36 PM

All four teams in the Hope regional are in the current top 11 in the D3hoops.com poll, and this pod contains three of the five most recent NCAA champions.

That's the kind of thing that usually goes on in the men's bracket, not the women's!

7express · February 28, 2011, 03:41:35 PM

Yah, the Hope regional is insane. Hope vs. Depauw would've been good enough but then you add undefeted Denision against last year's winner Wash U. What a great Friday that'll be up in Holland, MI

troutman · February 28, 2011, 03:46:41 PM

Way to go Gallaudet play hard and enjoy the NCAA turny this year you deserve it.

deiscanton · February 28, 2011, 03:47:02 PM

(1) Good news-- Wash U is in the tournament.

Bad news-- Wash U has to play Hope in the second round to advance-- Rematch of tournament at Ohio Wesleyan. Hope has to be favored over Wash U in second round in Holland, Michigan with the Dew Crew in full battle mode.

7express and David Collinge-- you are right-- this Hope pod is insane!

(2) Chicago has a tough pod to get to the Sweet 16 as well-- they have to travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan and beat Hope's arch-rival Calvin at Calvin to advance to the Sweet 16.

I'll take Wash U and Chicago winning those first round games over Denison and Hanover on Friday-- but neither Denison nor Hanover is a pushover opponent.

(3) I like Rochester's pod. Some intriguing matchups there. Great story that Daniel Webster won the NECC title, but sorry, Coach Kunzman, Rochester is way better than Lesley and Mitchell. Kunzman was interviewed on the January 23rd edition of Hoopsville.

In the other game, Williams plays Muhlenberg. Former Brandeis player Cassie Loftus is an assistant coach at Williams-- Loftus played at the Palestra when she was a freshman before transferring to DII Saint Anselm to conclude the rest of her college playing career. Brandeis vs Muhlenberg may probably be a one-time affair unless Muhlenberg accepts an invite to a future Brandeis Classic, but Loftus can represent the 'Deis legacy in that game. I'll be looking to see how the Ephs, including 3 pt shooter Grace Rehnquist, fare against the Mules with Alex Chili.

(4) As for Amherst's pod-- if Husson can't win at Brandeis, there is no way that Coach Kissy Walker can get her Eagles squad past Amherst. I smell an Amherst blowout in Round One-- Husson played courageously last year at Colby-- but Amherst is way better than Colby.

Baruch vs Eastern Connecticut is an intriguing game as well in its own right-- but Amherst will solidly beat either team in the second round to advance.

(5) Reward for Babson finishing undefeated-- a trip to the Geneseo Valley in the Finger Lakes section of New York State to play Medaille in the first round-- Babson would have to win that game and beat SUNY-Geneseo to advance to the Sweet 16. All things considered, this is not a bad trip for Babson-- it could be much worse. Babson played well in Las Vegas, and if they had a healthy Sarah Collins, the Beavers would be favored to win the pod-- Babson may still do so, but it won't be easy.

(6) I don't like Colby's chances at William Paterson, but I think that the Mules have a shot to beat Stevens in the first round to advance.

(7) Kean's pod is intriguing. I pick Western Connecticut over Messiah--- Melissa Teel is really playing well right now for the Colonials. W. Conn could upset Kean in the second round as well-- Kean is favored to advance, though.

(8) Good to see Gallaudet and St. Vincent getting at-large bids-- let's see what they can do....

Just my thoughts right now.....

7express · February 28, 2011, 03:51:57 PM

Kean has a big who plays really well to throw a Teel. I don't think she'll have a big of a game against Kean as she's had recently. We need to put on a 3 point barrage to defeat Kean. Not impossible, but it won't be easy. We should get past Messiah though in the first round. Since Friday is my birthday, I'll pray for the best birthday present I can get and hope kean somehow loses to Vassar, that'll make the Messiah/Western winner's second round game a lot easier.

deiscanton · February 28, 2011, 03:54:19 PM

Quote from: 7express on February 28, 2011, 03:23:30 PM
Richard Stockton??? Really??

Luckily Eastern still made it, otherwise I would've blown a fuse.

Western's draw isn't bad. Play Messiah at Kean, only about a 90 minute trip for me so I can save the hotel and get there and back Friday and Saturday on 1 tank of gas. I don't like the matchup with Kean, but if were hitting 3's we can easily advance.

Eastern can by their first round opponent and can easily beat Bowdoin in the second round.

You mean Emmanuel-- no, you definitely mean Mt. St. Mary. Mt. St. Mary plays terrific defense, and I would not be surprised to see the Knights win. Mt. St. Mary played Emmanuel a few years ago at the Emmanuel Invitational tip-off tourney-- it's a natural rivalry between Boston area and close to New York City area Catholic schools. The winner probably plays Bowdoin to advance-- I would not be surprised to see Mt. St. Mary finally get to the Sweet 16 this year out of this pod.

Eastern Connecticut is in the Amherst pod, not the Bowdoin pod.

deiscanton · February 28, 2011, 03:56:05 PM

Quote from: 7express on February 28, 2011, 03:51:57 PM
Kean has a big who plays really well to throw a Teel. I don't think she'll have a big of a game against Kean as she's had recently. We need to put on a 3 point barrage to defeat Kean. Not impossible, but it won't be easy. We should get past Messiah though in the first round. Since Friday is my birthday, I'll pray for the best birthday present I can get and hope kean somehow loses to Vassar, that'll make the Messiah/Western winner's second round game a lot easier.

After seeing Kean beating Amherst at Harwood Arena (watching the game on video stream) earlier this year, Kean should be favored to get by Western Connecticut.

GuyFormerlyPSBBG · February 28, 2011, 03:57:29 PM

I wonder if even though Greensboro didn't put into host they are the technical #2 seed in that bracket, and therefore the favorites at Juanita. I don't believe that to be the case, but I wonder if they are the top seed in the Juanita pod.