NCAA Tournament

[seventiesraider]

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)

Please apply to work for the NCAA. You and I apparently understand drive time better than they do: Wisconsin Whitewater??

[GuyFormerlyPSBBG]

I think Greensboro's game against St. Vincent will be very interesting.  I think on paper these two teams are pretty evenly matched.  Both teams enjoy shooting the ball whether or not they go in the basket .  I think deciding factor for Greensboro will be their speed and athleticism.  I don't think St. Vincent has seen something like that all year.  The advantage goes to Greensboro with their rebounding and FT shooting, which are very key in women's basketball.  The advantage St. Vincent has they shoot the ball better and do an excellent job of taking care of the basketball.  Also very key in the women's game.  St. Vincent has also played at that gym this year.


I do see this game going into the hands of Greensboro.  Greensboro has a little more NCAA experience than St. Vincent. (2 players have been there before. They are the also the leaders of the Greensboro squad)

I see a possible of 2 scenarios.  They win close 64-60 or they win moderately big, 71-57.   

[7express]

That Greensboro St. Vincent game will be the first game soneone loses to a team other then its conference winner.  Greensboro has 2 losses, both at the hands of Christopher Newport who won the USA south.  St. Vincent has 3 losses, all 3 to undefeted Thomas More who won the President's.

My fault St. Vincent has 4 losses so they obviously lost to someone other then Thomas More.

[GuyFormerlyPSBBG]

That Greensboro St. Vincent game will be the first game soneone loses to a team other then its conference winner.  Greensboro has 2 losses, both at the hands of Christopher Newport who won the USA south.  St. Vincent has 3 losses, all 3 to undefeted Thomas More who won the President's.

My fault St. Vincent has 4 losses so they obviously lost to someone other then Thomas More.

Yeah they lost to Juanita.

Greensboro's 2 losses came against CNU. (They also beat CNU)  CNU lost to Thomas More too.  I think Thomas More is overrated at #1 and I expect them to lose to Whitewater in the 2nd round.  What is the furthest Thomas More has reached in the NCAA tournament?

[monsoon]

What is the furthest Thomas More has reached in the NCAA tournament?

Thomas More reached the sweet 16 in 2009; lost at home to the George Fox team that went on to win the title.

[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)

Please apply to work for the NCAA. You and I apparently understand drive time better than they do: Wisconsin Whitewater??

As long as I can use you as a reference.   

[7express]

Any first weekend surprizes, final 4 predictions, championship predictions:

I got Illinois Wesleyan vs. Wash U in 1 semifinal, Kean vs. Amherst in the other, with Illinois Wesleyan beating Amherst for the title.
First weekend surprizes for me: Whitewater beating Thomas More, Wash U winning the Hope pod (with DePauw beating Hope.  I know Hope almost never loses at home, but those are 4 really good teams there, any of the 4 can win), Chicago and Greensboro both winning their pods to meet in the Sweet 16 (who would have thought that at the beginning of the season), Medaile beating Babson in the first round (sure Babson is undefeated, but they haven't played anyone.  I think Western would beat them right now if they played today). Muhlenberg over Williams in round 1, Mount St. Mary going 2-0 in Maine to advance to the sweet 16, and Randolph-Macon beating Lebanon Valley.

[ronk]

I'll pick IWU,UW-Whitewater, and Juniata to win their pods, and William Paterson to meet Johns Hopkins in the Elite 8.

[GuyFormerlyPSBBG]

Here are my final 4 picks.  WI-Stevens Point, Hope, Amherst. The final pick is a huge shocker  the Lady Captains of Christopher Newport.  All 5 starters returning from a sweet 16 team. Believe me it was hard to even consider CNU, because I am a supporter of Greensboro.  I think they are peaking again at a very good time.

[sumfun]

The other team that has all players from last year with two Final Four experiences, as well as two All-mericans is Amherst.  Their All-American from two years ago and injured last year, and their last year All-American, injured earlier in the season,  both are hitting their strides.  That doesn't mention their post player who made the Final Four All-Tournament Team last year.   I'm not picking a winner because I haven't been close to being right in a number of years, but Amherst has experience and depth.

[gordonmann]

With the exception of Washington U. this is the same exact field that played at Hope lst year in the first two rounds.  Last year...
Friday
Hope 68
Denison 40

DePauw 79
Lakeland46

Saturday
Hope 68
DePauw 54

Three of the teams may be the same but there are two very big differences between the 2010 and 2011 Hope pod.  

The fourth team was Lakeland last year and Washington U. this year.  Even if the numeric criteria between Lakeland 2010 and Wash U 2011 look the same, it would be hard to argue those two are interchangable.

Second, Denison was 21-7 when they went to Hope last year.  This year they are 28-0.

[7express]

The other team that has all players from last year with two Final Four experiences, as well as two All-mericans is Amherst.  Their All-American from two years ago and injured last year, and their last year All-American, injured earlier in the season,  both are hitting their strides.  That doesn't mention their post player who made the Final Four All-Tournament Team last year.   I'm not picking a winner because I haven't been close to being right in a number of years, but Amherst has experience and depth.

Amherst's half seems like theirs to lose to be honest.  Really can't see any team comming within 15 points of them until they get to Bloomington.  Rochester is the only one in the half that could potentially give them a game, but since it'll more then likely take place in Amherst I can't see that happening.

[GuyFormerlyPSBBG]

I'll pick IWU,UW-Whitewater, and Juniata to win their pods, and William Paterson to meet Johns Hopkins in the Elite 8.

John Hopkins in the elite 8 very bold.  Go take a look at how many consecutive games CNU has won at the Freeman Center.   If any team beats them there, they deserve a trophy too

[Maine 1]

I don't see anyone coming close to Amherst until the final four.  Amherst has their entire team back from last year, and the team is stronger, as Daigneault was hurt last year, and is playing at an extremely high level. If they play close to their best, they should finally win a national championship, after a tremendous four year run.

[amh63]

Gordon Mann wrote this year's WBB D3hoops projections/predictions for this year.  He also will be at the WBB Final 4 and accepts comments on site wrt his views.  I will hold my comment/concerns with Mr Mann's views until Amherst reaches the Final 4.  It stems from his biases.  Until then, enjoy the games and view the play with open minds/eyes.