Regional Realignment

[Gregory Sager]

OK, so I have not paid much attention to this...

The UAA goes from having teams in multiple regions to every team being in one region?

Yeah, that's not going to happen. It'd be impossible for any UAA team aside from Emory to pick up regional non-conference contests.

[WUPHF]

It would be tough with this configuration:

Region 9 (46)
USAC – 13
SAA – 8
UAA – 8
ODAC - 13

Emory would have it easy but Washington University would have to drive to Conway, Arkansas, Danville, Kentucky and Memphis every other season.  Rochester and NYU would have to play UAA style weekends in the south.

[KnightSlappy]

There are also administrative regions and games within 200 miles (or did they extend that?) So Wash U would be able to play all the SLIAC and CCIW and UMAC and count those as in-region.

[deiscanton]

There are also administrative regions and games within 200 miles (or did they extend that?) So Wash U would be able to play all the SLIAC and CCIW and UMAC and count those as in-region.

It's actually 500 miles, not 200.

[Pat Coleman]

UAA schools wouldn't have to play anyone else in that region particularly, although it would help for head-to-head and common opponents in the regional rankings.

[WUPHF]

Interesting, thanks guys...

[Gregory Sager]

UAA schools wouldn't have to play anyone else in that region particularly, although it would help for head-to-head and common opponents in the regional rankings.

That's what I was getting at. Thanks, Pat. It's obvious that the radius rule and the administrative region rule would keep the UAA teams eligible in terms of regional games played, but my point was more about the H2H and common opponents stuff. Sticking the UAA in a new Southeast Region would be a major headache for regional rankings purposes.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

UAA schools wouldn't have to play anyone else in that region particularly, although it would help for head-to-head and common opponents in the regional rankings.

That's what I was getting at. Thanks, Pat. It's obvious that the radius rule and the administrative region rule would keep the UAA teams eligible in terms of regional games played, but my point was more about the H2H and common opponents stuff. Sticking the UAA in a new Southeast Region would be a major headache for regional rankings purposes.

I don't think as much changes as people think. Maybe some teams in Texas or north of them (whichever they aren't included with) won't be considered for rankings, but for selections, bracketing, etc., nothing changes.

[VT-Alum-NOVA]

I'm assuming the new look CAC/ACAA will also be split into diff regions??

if so, does this mean ACAA schools get called out separately into different regions while CAC teams go into 1 region?  or all just get assigned individually?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I'm assuming the new look CAC/ACAA will also be split into diff regions??

if so, does this mean ACAA schools get called out separately into different regions while CAC teams go into 1 region?  or all just get assigned individually?

Likely like the UAA and the current ACAA, assigned to their own individual regions.

[Gregory Sager]

UAA schools wouldn't have to play anyone else in that region particularly, although it would help for head-to-head and common opponents in the regional rankings.

That's what I was getting at. Thanks, Pat. It's obvious that the radius rule and the administrative region rule would keep the UAA teams eligible in terms of regional games played, but my point was more about the H2H and common opponents stuff. Sticking the UAA in a new Southeast Region would be a major headache for regional rankings purposes.

I don't think as much changes as people think. Maybe some teams in Texas or north of them (whichever they aren't included with) won't be considered for rankings, but for selections, bracketing, etc., nothing changes.

Nothing changes in the formal sense, but, as Pat pointed out, it would become more difficult to properly rank teams for regional ranking purposes when there is very little  crossover to aid in the comparison process.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Fair, though I think there are some regions like the West and South currently where that already exists. I don't think we can get rid of it in the West, but Emory does tend to play opponents near them in non-conference. Same with the rest of the UAA. I have a feeling they will be in regions with their geographical brethren. Thus I am not sure how much it will really impact.

Maybe I need to think it through more ...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It has been a few years since Division III found itself at a place where so many important decisions needed to be made along with other events needing time and attention. However, never in NCAA history have we found ourselves with winter championships cut short, no spring sports at all, and more questions than answers for what might happen with fall sports and beyond.

COVID-19 has certainly made it's mark.

However, the coronavirus isn't the only important item in front of Division III that requires attention and decisions. Expanding and realigning regions in all sports is nearing the end of a multi-year process. The NCAA's effort to revamp it's student-athlete rules with "Names, Images, Likeness" (NIL) is at critical juncture, especially in DIII. And with the shutdown of 'March Madness' brought with it a sudden budget deficit.

That's just what Division III is dealing with overall. Individual schools are fighting just to keep the doors open. That could result in cutting sports, teams, or other challenges. That could cause conferences to tackle sudden changes in membership or sports sponsorships.

And of course, student-athletes and their well-being is even more important.

Plenty to be thinking about in Division III even athletes and teams are not competing right now.

On this special Hoopsville Podcast, NCAA Vice President for Division III Dan Dutcher joins Dave McHugh for an extensive, in-depth, and detailed conversation on the "State of DIII." Dutcher talks about how the decisions to shut down winter and spring championships came to be. Plus, how COVID-19 continues to impact the division, NCAA, schools, and conferences around the country. Dutcher explains how this year's DIII budget was impacted and if there will be any impact down the road. And Dutcher discusses how NIL is taking form in DIII along with the latest on Regional Realignment and Expansion.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3apilyF

Hoopsville broadcasts from the WBCA/NABC Studio. All guests are featured on the BlueFrame Technology Hoopsville Hotline. The offseason plan is to do a podcast each month. The shows will be audio-only leading up to the start of the 2020-21 when we will restart the video shows.

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[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Another significant step for the new regions when they are created for 2021-22: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/regional-rankings-protocol-set-division-iii

[jmcozenlaw]

Another significant step for the new regions when they are created for 2021-22: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/regional-rankings-protocol-set-division-iii

Interesting read!