NCAA Tournament

[martin]

It seems that the NCAA paved the road for Illinois Wesleyan to reach the final four - which will be played at IWU.  The biggest obstacle in its way is UWSP.  And if the Pointer men and women both reach the sectionals - the men have hosting priority over the women.  So Sectional again at IWU.

All the power got shoved down into the lower bracket.  I would not be surprised if UWW beats Thomas More.  No way More is undefeated against UWW's schedule.

Lots of respect for Denison.  Go undefeated and get sent on the road to a Pool C team.  I guess the NCAA wants to see how much money it can get out of western Michigan.  That pod could just as easily have been held at Denison.  I don't think there is anything wrong with Denison's facility.  Babson does not get to host because its gym only seats 750.  And more good news for Denison - not only do you get to travel, but you get to play defending National Champion and perennial powerhouse Wash U.  I think Hope is favored because of the home court but I would not be surprised to see any of the four win.

I think Chicago will beat Hanover and stands a good chance against Calvin.  Chicago not only won at Wash U - they won easily.

Why is Juniata hosting?

My Final Four prediction - Kean, Amherst, IWU and whoever survives the "Bracket of Death".

[7express]

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.

Yah, for some reason I thought they went to Bowdoin, but then when I looked it was Amherst.  ECSU can defeat Baruch, Amherst is another question.  I think Western has a better chance to defeat Kean then Eastern does at defeating Amherst, but they played earlier this year and Amherst won by 14 so you never know.

[GuyFormerlyPSBBG]

Why is Juniata hosting?

It might have something to do with certain teams not putting into host. aka Greensboro.  Although I don't think they would have gotten it.

Off Topic:

I know on the Men's bracket a few years ago,  Johns Hopkins, I think was the host but they didn't play at Johns Hopkins.  Am I remembering wrong?


I am disappointed that Greensboro is going to Juanita.  I was planning on taking off work and making the trip, but not to PA.  I don't think there is an airport anywhere near where Greensboro will be.

[ronk]

There's nothing anywhere near where Greensboro will be; nobody in the Landmark enjoys that trip.

[troutman]

Ronk, i will be enjoying that trip very much.Wow u guys are vain that a location is (to) out of the way to root for your team.

[ronk]

Happy for you, troutman; Juniata supports their team well; Gallaudet beat out our Scranton women among others for a pool C spot. If u can't make it, Juniata videocasts their home games.

[seventiesraider]

Poor Denison, win your league, win your tourney and run the table and draw a first round game against Washington U. Sadly to go undefeated and face a probable one and done tournament may not be the nicest thing for Denison.

[augie]

How in the world does Rochester women get to host 1st and 2nd rounds i think for the last four years since 2008 and Bowdoin host the last three years how the hell does this work i thought they rotate?

[troutman]

Thanks ronk,Gallaudet has had a dream season this year.Voters must have saw the worth in this team this year.

[sumfun]

Augie - I've never had the impression that "hosting" rotates.  You earn the right to host.  In other parts of the country geography may play more of a role, but when so many schools are within a 3 to 5 hour drive of eachother hosting has to do with record, strength of schedule,  etc.

[augie]

In the Bowdoin bracket i think Mt St Marys is way more then 5hours my point is no school should host more then two consecutive years never mine 3 or 4 like Bowdoin and Rochester !

[Just Bill]

In the Bowdoin bracket i think Mt St Marys is way more then 5hours my point is no school should host more then two consecutive years never mine 3 or 4 like Bowdoin and Rochester !

B.S. that's junior high, everyone gets a ribbon crap.

You win enough games, you rank highly enough, you put in the necessary paperwork, you get to host. Period.

[augie]

Just Bill i most of hit a nerve truth hurt!

[Out_Of_My_Kitchen]

It seems that the NCAA paved the road for Illinois Wesleyan to reach the final four - which will be played at IWU.  The biggest obstacle in its way is UWSP.  And if the Pointer men and women both reach the sectionals - the men have hosting priority over the women.  So Sectional again at IWU.

The odds most likely say that IWU is seeded higher than Stevens Point anyway.  So the men/women priority would not apply anyway. 

On this note though between UWSP and IWU, what great non-conference rivals. If they play this March, that would be three straight NCAA match-ups and I think they played the last two years as well.  Could be five games in a 24 month period. 

[Dutchfan]

Here is how I think the so called "Great Lakes" region should look. I understand the theory behind the drive time, but then NCAA needs to do a better job of assigning regions.

Thomas More (KY)
St. Vincent (PA)
Denison (OH)
Mount Union (OH)

Hope (MI)
Hanover (IN)
DePauw (IN)
Calvin (MI)