2014 NCAA Tournament

[toad22]

I love the VWC program, and it sure would be fun for Williams to go at it again with VWC. However, both teams have more pressing business at the moment!

[DeWayneCarter]

I think VWC will come out focused this weekend. We owe MW payback for the game in December and we just can't get over that Williams hump! VWC had been inconsistent at times earlier in the year but they seem to be playing their best ball at the right time. We should have a good contingent of fans since the game is still in VA so hopefully the crowd will be more neutral than it was in the past 3 years at this time, which will hopefully make for a better result (Williams twice, UW-Whitewater in 2012). I am predicting a VWC/Williams rematch. Williams has a D-1 sized frontline so the Marlins will have to continue to be hot from 3 to neutralize that

[Mr. Ypsi]

As an optimist, I choose to view IWU hosting a sectional as a good omen.  The last time they hosted a sectional was 1997.  That was also the year of their (so far) only national title.

To win the title you have to be good, of course, but you also have to have good luck.  In 1997 we faced RHIT in the second round.  Earlier in the season, we beat them by 25.  In round two it took an off-balance, hand-in-the-face shot by Bryan Crabtree to win by one point.  Rarely does a team win the title without a game similar to that somewhere along the line.  IMO the 1997 Titans are probably not even in the top five Titan teams, all time; this one probably wouldn't be either.

[Greek Tragedy]

I was reading the Pointer preview and it said aince 2000 at least one sectional host has made it to the Final Four but all four have never made it. So I posed the question as a poll.

[7express]

I was reading the Pointer preview and it said aince 2000 at least one sectional host has made it to the Final Four but all four have never made it. So I posed the question as a poll.

With the way SP has played the first 2 games I'd say Stevens Point because Whitewater isn't Central or Marian plus I think that's a pretty big rivalry game in the WIAC.  However, with the sheer quality of all 4 teams, Mary Washington is the least likely, and that's who I voted for.  With all due respect to Whitewater, Dallas, Calvin, Wheaton, Plattsburgh & Stockton, the home teams are clearly the best team of those quintuplets, while MW is probably only the 3rd or possibly even 4th best team in their half.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm not confident at all in Point's ability to get to the Final Four. I'm a forever pessimist when it comes to the Pointers and the way they've played the first two games hasn't helped my minimal confidence. Admittedly, I always lowball my expectations for them, so maybe they will get out of this sectional. Point easily lost to Marian and were in a battle with Central. Hass carried Point in the 1st game and Heuer in the 2nd. Tillema hasn't done much offensively, but has done well on the boards and dishing out assists. I guess the optimist could say that he's due for a huge game. I know very little about Emory, but even if we get past them, a 4th date with Whitewater may loom. I am deathly afraid of playing them again. We won the 1st game by double digits. However we quickly blew a 20-point halftime lead and even though we were up double-digits most of the 2nd half, it wasn't comfortable. We lost in OT down there and then blew them out in the WIAC tourney final.  I sense a battle if both make it past Friday night.

[Greek Tragedy]

I was reading the Pointer preview and it said aince 2000 at least one sectional host has made it to the Final Four but all four have never made it. So I posed the question as a poll.

With the way SP has played the first 2 games I'd say Stevens Point because Whitewater isn't Central or Marian plus I think that's a pretty big rivalry game in the WIAC.  However, with the sheer quality of all 4 teams, Mary Washington is the least likely, and that's who I voted for.  With all due respect to Whitewater, Dallas, Calvin, Wheaton, Plattsburgh & Stockton, the home teams are clearly the best team of those quintuplets, while MW is probably only the 3rd or possibly even 4th best team in their half.

You sure about that?

Stolen from the WIAC page, which was stolen from the MIAA page.

Stolen from the MIAA page:

This is all per Massey, rankings in parens:


Probabilities of going to Final Four:

IWU (3) 49.2%
Wheaton (6) 32.5%
Calvin (9) 12.0%
Dickinson (25) 6.3%

Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1)   67.8%
Wisconsin-Whitewater (2)   24.3%
Texas-Dallas (10)   5.9%
Emory (34)   2.1%

Amherst (7)   52.1%
Richard Stockton (12)   30.3%
Plattsburgh State (11)   17.0%
Morrisville State (177)   0.6%

Mary Washington (14)   43.1%
Williams (17)   21.9%
Virginia Wesleyan (21)   17.8%
Albertus Magnus (18)   17.1%

[Mr. Ypsi]

I was reading the Pointer preview and it said aince 2000 at least one sectional host has made it to the Final Four but all four have never made it. So I posed the question as a poll.

With the way SP has played the first 2 games I'd say Stevens Point because Whitewater isn't Central or Marian plus I think that's a pretty big rivalry game in the WIAC.  However, with the sheer quality of all 4 teams, Mary Washington is the least likely, and that's who I voted for.  With all due respect to Whitewater, Dallas, Calvin, Wheaton, Plattsburgh & Stockton, the home teams are clearly the best team of those quintuplets, while MW is probably only the 3rd or possibly even 4th best team in their half.

You sure about that?

Stolen from the WIAC page, which was stolen from the MIAA page.

Stolen from the MIAA page:

This is all per Massey, rankings in parens:


Probabilities of going to Final Four:

IWU (3) 49.2%
Wheaton (6) 32.5%
Calvin (9) 12.0%
Dickinson (25) 6.3%

Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1)   67.8%
Wisconsin-Whitewater (2)   24.3%
Texas-Dallas (10)   5.9%
Emory (34)   2.1%

Amherst (7)   52.1%
Richard Stockton (12)   30.3%
Plattsburgh State (11)   17.0%
Morrisville State (177)   0.6%

Mary Washington (14)   43.1%
Williams (17)   21.9%
Virginia Wesleyan (21)   17.8%
Albertus Magnus (18)   17.1%

I'd agree with 7express.  I think the MW/VaWes is a toss-up (on a neutral court, I'd favor VaWes), but I think the FF team from that sectional is the winner of AM/Williams.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And except for the bean-counters, the sectional should have been at Williams, in which case I'd call them the definite favorite.  That's who I had on my bracket, before we knew the sectional hosts.

I've had some definite blips early in the tourney, but my FF of UWSP, IWU, Amherst, and Williams are all still alive (I have UWSP over Amherst in the title game.)

[CardsFan]

Williams has to be the favorite. They will be far and away the best D3 team AM have played all season. I'm sure AM is very good and their tempo could hurt Williams but if it slows down I think AM will be in trouble.
VWC/UMW does seem like a toss-up. Saw UMW twice in their conference tourney and was very impressed. I just feel their lack of height is going to hurt them at some point.

[Mr. Ypsi]

A week ago I would have agreed with you, but AM has been very impressive in beating both WPI and then Purchase on their home court.  Because of my bracket, I hope Williams will win, but I'm no longer so confident.

[CardsFan]

I don't really know what to make of AM. They are clearly a good team and no one in their league can touch them, but is that more about AM or their other league teams? Purchase had a good season and they were at home, but like AM I'm not sure how much they were challenged during the season.

It's what happened to Cabrini last weekend. Stockton was the best team they played all season and Cabrini looked panicked the longer that game went and they couldn't pull away. I just feel Williams has been challenged more during the season (arguments over NESCAC depth notwithstanding) than AM.

I've got Williams as a FF team so I gotta ride with them.

[Pat Coleman]

I was reading the Pointer preview and it said aince 2000 at least one sectional host has made it to the Final Four but all four have never made it. So I posed the question as a poll.

This data sounds familiar:
http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2014/sectional-hosts-announced

[GnacBballFan]

I don't really know what to make of AM. They are clearly a good team and no one in their league can touch them, but is that more about AM or their other league teams? Purchase had a good season and they were at home, but like AM I'm not sure how much they were challenged during the season.

It's what happened to Cabrini last weekend. Stockton was the best team they played all season and Cabrini looked panicked the longer that game went and they couldn't pull away. I just feel Williams has been challenged more during the season (arguments over NESCAC depth notwithstanding) than AM.

I've got Williams as a FF team so I gotta ride with them.

Gnac was weak as usual. Except for Johnson and Wales who I think was underrated all yr(just won the ecac in New England). Albertus seems to step it up a notch when they play meaningful games(d1 central who they probably beat if eian Davis doesn't cramp up with one point lead under a minute. Really he couldn't walk and it became 5 on 4 during centrals winning possession bucket. Also against JWU and all postseason.) I haven't seen Williams play, but if they aren't as strong as WPI defensively then albertus is going to put up 80-90. Just don't know if albertus clamps down like they have been all postseason. I give Williams a slight edge, but on a neutral court I really think albertus has a great shot at winning. If albertus gets into a rhythm early and Williams starts out slow like they did against Gordon, well let's just say I don't see albertus giving up a lead if they get comfy

[GnacBballFan]

And as good as WPI's defense was, and it was good, albertus still scored 29 in the first 11 mins of play until pg eian Davis exited with his third foul. Then albertus didn't hit a field goal for about another 7 mins I believe. If fouls aren't a problem early is gonna be a scoring slugfest