NESCAC

[PaulNewman]

Does anyone ever remember 8 teams getting in to the tournament from NESCAC or any other conference?

No. Never.  8 is a respectable haul for SEC, ACC, and Big 12 for March Madness.  Unprecendented in D3, I'm sure.

I have deep ambivalence about NESCAC in almost every regard, but I hope those most upset prepare themselves for the possibility that the "middling" NESCAC entries may do quite well...and will breathe in very fresh oxygen by getting away from their conference.  Bowdoin, Wesleyan, and Hamilton will definitely not be awed at all by the stage.  I would not be tempted to bet against any of them.

[EnmoreCat]

I don't want to say too much, as negotiations are ongoing, but this is the NCAA's way of handling the proposed North East D3 Super League.  Offer the eight team concession for the tournament and maybe NESCAC will stay...

[SoccerFan2025]

Does anyone ever remember 8 teams getting in to the tournament from NESCAC or any other conference?

No. Never.  8 is a respectable haul for SEC, ACC, and Big 12 for March Madness.  Unprecendented in D3, I'm sure.

I have deep ambivalence about NESCAC in almost every regard, but I hope those most upset prepare themselves for the possibility that the "middling" NESCAC entries may do quite well...and will breathe in very fresh oxygen by getting away from their conference.  Bowdoin, Wesleyan, and Hamilton will definitely not be awed at all by the stage.  I would not be tempted to bet against any of them.

what would quite well be?  all eight make sweet sixteen?  Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Hamilton, and even Williams all have tough draws. Both Hamilton first games and potential second game are legit teams.  Conn College and Middlebury 2nd games also good opponents and winners of tough conferences.

[PaulNewman]

Statistically all eight in the Sweet 16 would be a surprise...but I wouldn't be shocked.  More likely that one of the top 5 NESCACs trips up while one of the other three goes on a nice run to Sweet 16 or Elite 8.  Put it this way, I'll be mildly surprised if Bowdoin, Wesleyan, and Hamilton are all out after the first weekend.

[PaulNewman]

I don't want to say too much, as negotiations are ongoing, but this is the NCAA's way of handling the proposed North East D3 Super League.  Offer the eight team concession for the tournament and maybe NESCAC will stay...

This is actually a very interesting topic.  Deep ambivalence runs both ways.  NESCAC-World needs "The Field" because otherwise its relevance would be relegated to the less than 2.5% of the US population who reverberate around "NESCAC" at all. The vast majority of folks in the country know almost nothing about these schools, and even those that do aren't necessarily impressed.  If NESCAC seriously operated entirely separate from the NCAA and D3, the NESCAC schools would only be relevant within its own tiny, insular, exclusionary circle.  Sure, NESCACs could compete for their Country Club Championship but most of the rest population would not notice and even less would care.  Bottom line....NESCAC needs D3 more than D3 needs NESCAC.

[northman]

I agree with your take, PN.  The NESCAC is a D3 conference in every respect.  Typically...smaller private liberal arts colleges that are academically rigorous...and strike a great balance between academics and athletics.  Isn't that what the majority of D3 schools are all about?

What I have said about the NESCAC in the past, and will reiterate, is that the conference is amazingly competitive across a number of sports...and it also benefits from being in a compact geographic area (Hamilton notwithstanding).  It's easy for supporters to get to every away game if they're so inclined.

[College Soccer Observer]

I don't want to say too much, as negotiations are ongoing, but this is the NCAA's way of handling the proposed North East D3 Super League.  Offer the eight team concession for the tournament and maybe NESCAC will stay...

This is actually a very interesting topic.  Deep ambivalence runs both ways.  NESCAC-World needs "The Field" because otherwise its relevance would be relegated to the less than 2.5% of the US population who reverberate around "NESCAC" at all. The vast majority of folks in the country know almost nothing about these schools, and even those that do aren't necessarily impressed.  If NESCAC seriously operated entirely separate from the NCAA and D3, the NESCAC schools would only be relevant within its own tiny, insular, exclusionary circle.  Sure, NESCACs could compete for their Country Club Championship but most of the rest population would not notice and even less would care.  Bottom line....NESCAC needs D3 more than D3 needs NESCAC.

Unitl 1993, NESCAC schools were prohibited from participating in NCAA tournaments by their conference.  That prohibition still applies to football.  NESCAC football teams have a nine game conference season (Conn does not play football) with no out of conference play.

[PaulNewman]

I don't want to say too much, as negotiations are ongoing, but this is the NCAA's way of handling the proposed North East D3 Super League.  Offer the eight team concession for the tournament and maybe NESCAC will stay...

This is actually a very interesting topic.  Deep ambivalence runs both ways.  NESCAC-World needs "The Field" because otherwise its relevance would be relegated to the less than 2.5% of the US population who reverberate around "NESCAC" at all. The vast majority of folks in the country know almost nothing about these schools, and even those that do aren't necessarily impressed.  If NESCAC seriously operated entirely separate from the NCAA and D3, the NESCAC schools would only be relevant within its own tiny, insular, exclusionary circle.  Sure, NESCACs could compete for their Country Club Championship but most of the rest population would not notice and even less would care.  Bottom line....NESCAC needs D3 more than D3 needs NESCAC.

Unitl 1993, NESCAC schools were prohibited from participating in NCAA tournaments by their conference.  That prohibition still applies to football.  NESCAC football teams have a nine game conference season (Conn does not play football) with no out of conference play.

Not sure if this has any relevance to why you posted the above...but to me seems like a great illustration.  I know I knew that NESCAC had football teams (absent Conn) but had never occurred to me that they only play each other.  I mean I knew that but had never registered with me as a thing. But when I think about D3 football I never think about NESCACs.  I instead (and I don't follow it at all) think about Mt Union, Wisc-Whitewater, JCU, N Central, etc.  NESCAC football and NESCAC fans may have zero complaints about the set up but I'm pretty sure the rest of football-playing D3 doesn't give it a single thought. 

[EnmoreCat]

I didn't say it was just NESCAC by the way...

[D3Navy]

I feel really bad for Bowdoin, even as a jumbos fan. They are in their best form of the year, but being sent to San Antonio to play Trinity is no joke

agreed - but as far as D3 soccer goes that will be as close to a D1 experience they will get with travel and facility - great experience for them win or lose.

We're looking forward to hosting y'all here in San Antonio.  The weather should be perfect, and the pitch is terrific.  The city is a lot of fun and Trinity is close to downtown.  Gonna be great!

[camosfan]

Bowdoin has players who have the capacity to surprise teams! I saw that team played badly at Bates and some good games elsewhere.

[MunnyTim]

NESCAC homer here.  But even I am not all in on the NESCAC (or any conference) getting 8 teams into the field.  As someone who has been involved with other conferences around the country (NCAC, Centennial, ODAC), 72% of one league getting in doesn't feel, in a word, fair.

Leads to the perpetual argument when selecting teams for a post-season tournament - are you trying to gather the BEST teams or the ones who are MOST DESERVING?  Sometimes, those objectives align, other times they don't.  In D1 Football at the moment, one could make the argument that the Georgia Bulldogs are probably one of the best 12 teams in the country (talent wise).  But, with their resume, are the deserving of a bid over some other teams? 

Curious to see how the conference as a whole does across the first weekend.

[LibbyMoore]

NESCAC homer here.  But even I am not all in on the NESCAC (or any conference) getting 8 teams into the field.  As someone who has been involved with other conferences around the country (NCAC, Centennial, ODAC), 72% of one league getting in doesn't feel, in a word, fair.

Leads to the perpetual argument when selecting teams for a post-season tournament - are you trying to gather the BEST teams or the ones who are MOST DESERVING?  Sometimes, those objectives align, other times they don't.  In D1 Football at the moment, one could make the argument that the Georgia Bulldogs are probably one of the best 12 teams in the country (talent wise).  But, with their resume, are the deserving of a bid over some other teams? 

Curious to see how the conference as a whole does across the first weekend.

Agreed, it seems like a lot, hard to say what the best technique for sorting really is! Interestingly, on the women's soccer side, I think only four NESCAC teams are in. There must be lots of other teams routinely stronger and better than women's NESCAC teams for the NPI to spread it out more.

[PaulNewman]

I don't see any unfairness or major reasons for complaint, which to me is different than acknowledging some teams got better draws (at least on paper/history/aura) than others. I'd personally much prefer to be sitting where Tufts and Amherst are than where Midd and Williams are. And I'd probably slot Conn in between those four.  Even aside from the mystique argument, not sure why Messiah would be less credited for going on a long unbeaten streak and/or strong second half of the season than, say, W&L, Rowan...or even St Olaf or Hopkins who had relatively uneven early season results.  Not quite ready to make a prediction but will not be surprised at all if Midd or Williams does not survive the first weekend. I'll be shocked if either Tufts or Amherst don't advance.

[FanofNescac]

I'm liking Bowdoin's chances of advancing out of their pod in the first weekend. For Wesleyan, I like their draw too, but I believe this is their first appearance in the NCAA tournament. It would be a challenge to get past Babson on the road.

Bowdoin is a huge sleeper imo to get to the Elite 8. They compete with all the other nescac front runners and have players with tons of experience. Huck is a great player.