MBB: General Mid-Atlantic Conversation

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - Regionally rankings will come out on Thursday next week due to the planned stat computer outage (upgrade) at the NCAA headquarters this weekend. Thus all committee calls pushed back a day and as a result rankings will be posted Thursday this week. Game info still through Sunday's games.

[ronk]

 I'll move my regional ranking prediction to this board:

1. Catholic  20-2   2-1(vrro)
2. Johns Hopkins 20-3  2-2
3. Dickinson  19-4  3-1
4. F&M  19-4  2-2
5. Scranton  18-5   0-2
6. St. Mary's 17-4  0-0

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Considering how low CUA's SOS is... I don't know if that overcomes a Hopkins loss... but who knows. SMC is also dealing with a below .500 SOS, maybe Lycoming who has a decent SOS replaces them?

CUA: .476(!)
Hopkins: .531
Dickinson: .532
F&M: .498
Scranton: .509
St. Mary's: .482
Lycoming: .550

That spread of .06 between CUA and Hopkins I just don't think will trump basically identical records.

[CardsFan]

Considering how low CUA's SOS is... I don't know if that overcomes a Hopkins loss... but who knows. SMC is also dealing with a below .500 SOS, maybe Lycoming who has a decent SOS replaces them?

CUA: .476(!)
Hopkins: .531
Dickinson: .532
F&M: .498
Scranton: .509
St. Mary's: .482
Lycoming: .550

That spread of .06 between CUA and Hopkins I just don't think will trump basically identical records.

Ah yes, the eternal question of whether to schedule tough and get punished for not winning, or schedule soft and get punished for not playing good teams. Too bad Catholic didn't have last years non-conference schedule (Eastern Conn., at R-MC, Dickinson) this year. Last week, I was surprised Catholic was ahead of Dickinson and Dickinson may well move ahead of the Cards this week (I know they lost their midweek game, but a win over Hopkins brings some goodwill towards them).

It would be tough for Catholic to drop this week when they did nothing to hurt their case, but the gap in SOS is glaring.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yes... Cards did nothing to hurt themselves, but outside of the Hoopsville Classic, they didn't get any good out of conference games. And admittedly, we paired them up with teams in the off-season looked great for Catholic. However, Purchase was desimated by injuries in the pre-season including a player who probably would have been in the conversation for national player of the year and Gwynedd Mercy has had a disappointing season since.

But, Frostburg, Washington & Lee, and York are bad choices with a history (recent and long) that doesn't say that will help your SOS cause. And playing Davidson might be a nice feather in the cap (and money in the bank), but it is a waste of a game otherwise.

CUA double-dipped into the CAC which has a poor SOS thanks to the bottom of that conference (Frostburg, Southern Virginia, PSU-Harrisburg, etc.) and then grabbed a W&L team that never has a great record.

I know scheduling is hard... but that is three games that kill the SOS especially when you have a conference that is already weak on the bottom. Then you play St. Vincent who is having an average season coming out of a bad conference.

Coach Howes has stated on Hoopsville he doesn't even look at the numbers or really focus on how it all works out. I hate to say it... maybe he or someone on his staff should. We have seen teams left at home with great records but sub-par SOS numbers (Staten Island last year among others)... and I have a feeling anyone with a below .500 SOS looking for an at-large bid is going to be left at home.

As for the rest of the rankings... Dickinson might get a boost thanks to that win over Hopkins since it will help the vRRO add a win... but the top of the rankings might just remain the same.

[CardsFan]

D-mac I'm with you 100% on Catholic's schedule. For years I wished Catholic would stop playing Haverford (no disrespect meant, but it didn't do anything for SOS), and it seems that while that wish was granted, they were replaced with Frostburg, another team that doesn't help. As for York, that was at the holiday tournament and CUA always seems to schedule one "bad" team, but you're right that doesn't help.

With DeSales, it doesn't ever seem to matter how good or bad CUA is, they cannot EVER win in DeSales gym. It doesn't look good to the outside world, but that was an entirely expected loss from my point of view (one could wonder why I keep driving to watch them go there to lose). The St. Vincent loss only gets more disappointing as the season has gone on mainly because CUA would've won that game had they not left their defense in the locker-room at halftime.

In regards to Davidson, I can do nothing but shake my head as CUA continues with this insistence on playing a D-1 opponent. It looks great for recruits, but like you said in the long run it is a meaningless game. Recruits will be impressed with NCAA tournament appearances

I listened to your Hoopsville interview with Coach Howes and did find it a little troubling that he admitted he hasn't looked at the SOS numbers or regional rankings. It's nice to think he's focused on winning the AQ, but losses do happen and you don't want to be left at the table on selection day wondering what else could have been done.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

One thing I have stated often on Hoopsville and elsewhere... coaches who decide they want to serve on regional commitee (and maybe national) completely change their scheduling. It is almost uncanny. That includes Goucher when Trevino served one year (before stepping down for personal reasons). His scheduling after that year changed completely. Goucher might not compete, but he at least put some challenging teams in there more than he used to.

[ronk]

D-mac I'm with you 100% on Catholic's schedule. For years I wished Catholic would stop playing Haverford (no disrespect meant, but it didn't do anything for SOS), and it seems that while that wish was granted, they were replaced with Frostburg, another team that doesn't help. As for York, that was at the holiday tournament and CUA always seems to schedule one "bad" team, but you're right that doesn't help.

With DeSales, it doesn't ever seem to matter how good or bad CUA is, they cannot EVER win in DeSales gym. It doesn't look good to the outside world, but that was an entirely expected loss from my point of view (one could wonder why I keep driving to watch them go there to lose). The St. Vincent loss only gets more disappointing as the season has gone on mainly because CUA would've won that game had they not left their defense in the locker-room at halftime.

In regards to Davidson, I can do nothing but shake my head as CUA continues with this insistence on playing a D-1 opponent. It looks great for recruits, but like you said in the long run it is a meaningless game. Recruits will be impressed with NCAA tournament appearances

I listened to your Hoopsville interview with Coach Howes and did find it a little troubling that he admitted he hasn't looked at the SOS numbers or regional rankings. It's nice to think he's focused on winning the AQ, but losses do happen and you don't want to be left at the table on selection day wondering what else could have been done.

Or, in the case of Matt Donahue, having to leave the table last year because his Cards women's team was under discussion.

[CardsFan]

We're all agreeing with each other. At least Goucher is playing teams like Amherst, who while having a down year by their ridiculously high standards, is still waaaay better than your average D-3 team.

Once I started going to the Final Four consistently (every year since 2006) I gained a real appreciation for how good the teams at the top are and what it would take to make the leap from being a program that puts some 20-win seasons together on a fairly consistent basis to being a program that really challenges for Salem year-to-year.

I think a lot of Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic teams would benefit hugely from playing the top of the NESCAC and ODAC in the non-conference. Really they would benefit from playing some CCIW and WIAC teams, but with budgets that isn't likely.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yes... it would help and that is why there are events like the Hoopsville Classic (sorry, shameless plug). Amherst has a connection to Goucher and this was their first trip... they enjoyed it actually and would probably come back again to play.

You have to mix in challenging games sometimes... not much more to say regarding that.

And as for Matt Donahue... you are very right, ronk... he sat off the call for I think about the last 3/4s of the selections. You know he probably knew it was bad the longer it went. Not sure if he could hear what was going on (I have heard that sometimes they just mute themselves, but can hear the conversation)... but that has to be the worst experience.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Week 2's regional rankings made an early appearance today: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/?p=2630

[ronk]

RR forecast:


1. Johns Hopkins 22-3  3-2
2. Dickinson  20-5  3-2
3. Catholic  21-3   1-1
4. Scranton  20-5   1-1
5. F&M  20-5  3-2
6. St. Mary's 18-4  0-0

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Final public men's basketball regional rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2015/02/25/final-public-ncaa-regional-rankings-released/

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For the third consecutive year, Hoopsville will air for 12 hours as the regular season enters the final four weeks. Dave McHugh will chat with coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and others involved in Division III basketball from around the country. Other guests will include those who have Division III roots or appreciate the division and the game along with the student-athletes who play the sport.

Hoopsville will air from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (and maybe later) on Thursday, February 4 live from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can see what guests are scheduled, get more information, and watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2015-16/feb4

You can also read the press release about the show: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/hoopsville-marathon-2016

Here is the guest list as we speak. All times are Eastern and subject to change. Additional guests to be added if and when necessary:


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Time	Guest	School
10:15am	Connie Tilley	St. Norbert (WBB) - WBCA Center Court
10:40am	Jamie Purdy	Peidmont (WBB)
11:00am	Keri Carollo	UW-Whitewater (WBB) - Nat'l Committee Chair
11:20am	Brent Pollari	Saint Mary's (Minn.) (WBB)
11:40am	Kent Madsen	No. 21 Wheaton (Ill.) (WBB)
12:00pm	Russell Loyd	Rose-Hulman (MBB)
12:20pm	Kevin Broderick	Nazareth (MBB)
12:40pm	Justin Scott	Arcadia (MBB)
1:00pm	Sam Hargraves	No. 12 Alma (MBB)
1:20pm	Lenny Reich	Mount Union (SID)
1:40pm	Maureen Webster	Clarkson (WBB)
2:00pm	Betsy Witman	York (Pa.) (WBB)
2:20pm	Sara Lee	Denison (WBB)
2:40pm	Klay Kneuppel	Wisconsin Lutheran (MBB)
3:00pm	Brian Van Haaften	Buena Vista (MBB) - Nat'l Committee Chair
3:30pm	Sydney Moss	No. 1 Thomas More (WBB)
3:45pm	Aaron Rousell	Bucknell (WBB) - former Chicago coach
4:00pm	Tim Shanahan	Staten Island (WBB)
4:20	Pat Cunningham	Trinity (Texas) (MBB) - NABC Coach's Corner
4:50pm	Bubba Smith	Sewanee (MBB)
5:15pm	Ben Strong	Former Guilford All-American
5:30pm	Kevin Connors	ESPN SportsCenter Anchor - Ithaca alumnus
6:00pm	Kristen Dowling	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (WBB)
6:20pm	Allison Coleman	Sage (WBB)
6:40pm	Landry Kosmalski	Swarthmore (MBB)
7:00pm	Dave Niland	No. 23 Penn State-Behrend (MBB)
7:20pm	Aaron Galletta	Lasell (MBB)
7:40pm	John Baron	Gwynedd-Mercy (MBB)
8:00pm
8:20pm
8:40pm	Melissa Hodgdon	Wheaton (Mass.) (WBB)
9:00pm	G.P. Gromacki	No. 2 Amherst (WBB)
9:20pm	James Wagner
9:40pm	HAPPY HOUR	Free-for-all of calls, tweets, and fun!

We hope to get at least the full show on a podcast, or several podcast, during the on Friday. You can find it here:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

And a reminder the Hoopsville Fundraising Project has begun yet again. Please consider helping us cover Division III basketball the way it deserves to be covered. If you can not donate, please don't worry about - we understand. At least share the campaign with anyone you think might be interested: http://igg.me/at/hoopsville-fundraiser/x/6029509

Also, if you know any advertisers interested in promoting their company or products on the show, send them our way: hoopsville@d3hoops.com

Thanks!

[ronk]

Knight Slappy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Ranking projection

Data updated through Sunday 2/7. We'll see the first regional rankings using this data on Wednesday.

http://detroitjockcity.com/division-iii-mens-basketball-regional-rankings-data/

Susquehanna
Christopher Newport
Salisbury
Catholic
F&M
Scranton