2012 Division III NCAA Tournament

[Ralph Turner]

As #1 in the West, Whitworth deserves and home game, probably as a result of the bye.

[(509)Rat]

As #1 in the West, Whitworth deserves and home game, probably as a result of the bye.

So do you send CMS to a 4 team sectional (let's say Texas) and then fly the winner of an upper midwest game, where you can bus the teams in round one, to Spokane (maybe a UW-somebody v Gustavus/St Thomas)?

In years past the 1st round bye was set up nicely by having two SoCal teams in the tourney, but this year there doesn't seem to be a scenario that makes a ton of $$ sense...

[sac]

I see a possibility of both Whitworth and CMS flying into two different 4 team pods.  The two byes being used for the 2 highest seeds in the tournament, whoever they happen to be.

[Gregory Sager]

My guess is this: The committee has two byes with which to play, since it's a 62-team field. They use one bye in Texas, turning the McMurry/Trinity (TX)/Mary Hardin-Baylor trio into a triad pod. And they use the other bye in Spokane, using Whitworth, CMS, and a third team that's flown in (could be from anywhere, really) as the other triad pod.

There is no conceivable way that the committee can avoid two plane trips in the bracket's travel itinerary. There's two teams on the west coast, and they aren't within bus distance of each other, or of anybody else. Therefore, since you're going to have to have two teams fly, anyway, why not reward the team that will most likely be the West #1 in the final regional ranking (since current #1 UWW lost the WIAC tourney title game today to UWRF) by giving them the bye and the Saturday-night host privilege for one of the triad pod championships?

[fritzdis]

The NCAA distance tool puts Birmingham-Southern to Wash U at 499 miles.  If BSC makes the field, I think Wash U gets a great boost to their hosting chances (which are good already).

[(509)Rat]

I see a possibility of both Whitworth and CMS flying into two different 4 team pods.  The two byes being used for the 2 highest seeds in the tournament, whoever they happen to be.

Last year was the first year where Whitworth would have been considered one of the "2 highest seeds" in the tournament. So the bye they received in years past was simply for $$ and geographical reasons.

I would love nothing more than to see Whitworth get a bye and a 2nd round home game...but being a fan of a WAY out West team, I'm understandably skeptical

[Ralph Turner]

A (creative) two flight solution...

CMS to Belton TX for a four-team bracket with McMurry, Trinity and UMHB. (TU had played CMS earlier in the season and McMurry and UIMHB are in the same conference).  (One flight)

Maryville TN to B-SC on Thursday night and the winner to Whitworth on Saturday night!

[fritzdis]

Here's a new publicly editable (I think) map with different colors for each pod:

http://g.co/maps/nbbmw

The pins indicate hosts (11 so far).  There are only 7 colors available, so I've had to reuse them, but I tried to separate them enough to avoid confusion.  The blue and red icons with dots are not yet assigned.  There still needs to be 1 more pool C team, likely from the NE.

I haven't done much in the NE, as the possibilities are almost endless.  Aside from Texas, I think I managed to avoid conference foes in the same pod in the GL, MW, W, and S.  Little consideration was given so far to seeding (aside from hosts), and none was given to how the pods might set up sectionals.

[sac]

<clap> <clap> <clap> <clap>

Well done NCAA on a terrific bracket.

[HopeConvert]

I agree. Regions are fair and locations make sense. I think they did a great job

[(509)Rat]

Why did I let you guys convince me something other than a 2007 repeat would happen for Whitworth?? My dreams have been shattered...

[WUPHF]

Why did I let you guys convince me something other than a 2007 repeat would happen for Whitworth?? My dreams have been shattered...

I think Alaska Airlines flies to Austin from Spokane (via Seattle).  Do it!  Good luck to the Pirates in Texas.

[(509)Rat]

<clap> <clap> <clap> <clap>

Well done NCAA on a terrific bracket.

Of course, I strongly disagree 

[njachoopsfan]

I am surprised that NYU who lost 3 of their last 5, got an at-large bid.  Stockton goes 4-1 down the stretch and has a tougher schedule and doesn't get in..

[Ralph Turner]

I am surprised that NYU who lost 3 of their last 5, got an at-large bid.  Stockton goes 4-1 down the stretch and has a tougher schedule and doesn't get in..

Last 5 games is not a criterion for the tourney.