MBB: University Athletic Association

[LogShow]

So many possible outcomes...I love this time of year!

[Hugenerd]

Makes them a better prospect... but they still have more regional losses than the other two - if I remember correctly. Though... I could be wrong since I am doing this off the top of my head.

five losses - Chicago twice, Washington, U-Mass Dartmouth, Emory (?), memory is fading ...

top 25 will be interesting this week too, how high will Chicago climb?

Actually, Brandeis 5 losses have all been to (potential) NCAA tournament teams: Chicago (2), WashU, Rochester, and UMD.  I dont know what the NCAA will do, but Brandeis has 0 bad losses and has played in a much much tougher conference.  On the other hand,  UMD has one bad loss (to Keene State, who is 16-11) and two losses to LEC champ RIC.  UMD owns the head to head, but how much will the NCAA penalize Brandeis for losing on the road, in over time, 3 months ago (8th game of the year).  I honestly think Brandeis' record is the most impressive in UAA, in the sense that they have not had any big letups.  WashU has had an upset (at the hands of Calvin) and was obliterated by CMU by 31.  Brandeis conversely has not lost by more than 8 points and 2 of their losses were by 2 points and one was in OT (the other losses were by 6 and 8 points, respectively).  Rochester has lost to Emory and NYU, and Chicago has lost to 4 teams with 7+ losses.  I think Brandeis deserves hosting over UMD, but obviously my opinion doesnt count.

None of that margin-of-victory stuff included in your post is relevant to the D3 tourney, although it may or may not be relevant in terms of the Top 25. And in the eyes of the selection committee, "good" losses can be even more punitive than "bad" losses, because the former constitute entire criteria all by themselves (head-to-head vs. other Pool C aspirants, and record vs. regionally-ranked teams).

OK, then I change my argument to:  Brandeis only has one loss to a team that actually competes in the Northeast/East and that was 3 months ago.  Additionally, UMD has now lost twice to RIC in the past month (who is ranked in region).  Will the committee be able to rank UMD above RIC with the 2 head-to-head losses or will the win over Brandeis take precedent.

[ILive4This]

That is an interesting point, I would hope the committee would look at the fact that Brandeis has only that one "real" in region loss, and that every loss is to tournament teams, unlike UMD which lost to Keene State, which is a possible ECAC candidate. Also, They are one of only two d3 teams to defeat Amherst.

[Pistol Pete]

Congrats to Mike McGrath and the Maroons.  What a great run to close out the season.  Hope to see you guys at the tournament.

Cheers,
Pete

[Gregory Sager]

That is an interesting point, I would hope the committee would look at the fact that Brandeis has only that one "real" in region loss

The committee won't look at it that way. According to the rules, the UAA losses are just as much in-region losses as was the loss to UMD.

and that every loss is to tournament teams, unlike UMD which lost to Keene State, which is a possible ECAC candidate. Also, They are one of only two d3 teams to defeat Amherst.

Again, these are not among the selection criteria listed in the handbook, either primary or secondary.

[deiscanton]

It looks like the odds have gotten more favorable for the Brandeis men to be hosting first weekend games when the men's bracket gets released later today.  Amherst will not be hosting men's games this weekend-- the Amherst Lady Jeffs got selected to host first weekend games at LeFrak Gym this weekend on the women's bracket.  That means that Brandeis moved up on the men's side in the secret regional rankings for the Northeast Region.

[pabegg]

One possibility on Amherst: they get a bye and therefore have a single game rather than a full regional. If memory serves, the NCAA has done this in the past where both men and women host on the same day.

[Jacketfan2011]

Same goes for UR.  Women are hosting the first two rounds.

[Jacketfan2011]

Never mind.  Sources say somehow the women's regional was shifted to Scranton.  Where it always is.

[jagluski]

Wash U is in...and they get a very strong regional.

At Augustana:

Wash U vs. Wooster
Augustana vs. Aurora

[Greek Tragedy]

@ St. Thomas v Buena Vista

Chicago v Stevens Point

[pabegg]

Brandeis hosting Lasell, with Bowdoin vs. Curry

[pabegg]

Brandeis ends up with the "phantom regional" hosting. This has been the annual exercise of giving the Northeast a third hosting spot.

[ILive4This]

What does that even mean.

The Lasell/Brandeis game will be a fun one, as the campuses are about 2 miles or less apart from one another. The gym will certainly be packed. The judges are 1 and 0 against teams in their pod, having beaten curry earlier this season. The possibility of a Brandeis Bowdoin second round matchup is an exciting one to me, and I for one am glad if it happens it will be played in Waltham.

[old_hooper]

Lasell should be a good matchup for Brandeis.  They are a hot team right now and it should be an interesting game.  Bowdoin will match up well with the Judges but they do not have the depth of deis.