2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[PaulNewman]

Yeah, they made New England a killer region....the price to pay for getting to avoid Messiah.

[Durantula]

So did Trinity just not get to host because of the two red cards at the end of last season or what is the situation with that?

[lastguyoffthebench]

They needed someone close to Trinity to save some cash I guess.    UT-D, a step ahead of Lycoming.  SURE!

[Flying Weasel]

So did Trinity just not get to host because of the two red cards at the end of last season or what is the situation with that?

It would be interesting to know about that.  And was Texas-Dallas, consequently, invited just to provide an alternate host site that would also minimize travel?  Is it possible that Hardin-Simmons did not bid to host, making giving a berth to Texas-Dallas crucial for minimizing travel?  Very interesting.

[gustiefan04]

They needed someone close to Trinity to save some cash I guess.    UT-D, a step ahead of Lycoming.  SURE!

At the end of the day its all about money I guess.

[gustiefan04]

How about Whitworth getting shipped out to Atlanta? Very strange placement.

[PaulNewman]

How about Whitworth getting shipped out to Atlanta? Very strange placement.

A lot of direct flights into Atlanta! 

[hickory_cornhusker]

So did Trinity just not get to host because of the two red cards at the end of last season or what is the situation with that?

It would be interesting to know about that.  And was Texas-Dallas, consequently, invited just to provide an alternate host site that would also minimize travel?  Is it possible that Hardin-Simmons did not bid to host, making giving a berth to Texas-Dallas crucial for minimizing travel?  Very interesting.

The selection is supposed to be completely separate from the bracketing. So, travel concerns should have no bearing on what teams get into the tournament. At least that's how it is supposed to work.

[Letthekidsplay59]

Let's Literally Go.

Final Four Prediction:

Brandeis
Chicago
Messiah
Emory

[pelinho5]

Let's Literally Go.

Final Four Prediction:

Brandeis
Chicago
Messiah
Emory

Really? Three UAA teams? I know the UAA is a great conference, but three is a bit excessive. The UAA usually under performs in the national tournament. Surprise pick, Bowdoin. mmitmnbmbitmy

[swibbles]

It's pretty conservative, but I think I would go Brandeis, Wheaton IL, Messiah and Kenyon for final 4.

[lastguyoffthebench]

I have zero UAA teams reaching the Elite 8.  Have the boys from CSS upsetting Chicago as well.   

At a quick first glance still trying to pick SUNY-Oneonta quadrant but leaning F&M; Wheaton, Messiah, MSU...   


F&M/Amherst
Wheaton/Trinity
Messiah/Tufts
OWU/MSU

Wheaton over F&M
Messiah over MSU

Messiah over Wheaton

[GarbageGoals33]

St. Scholastica is definitely not a team to sleep on.  Feisty Brits that have some pretty skilled players.  I could see them pulling off an upset or two in their quadrant.

[Mr.Right]

I am really disappointed for RPI. I did realize last night John Carroll and RPI would not get  in but I did not think Brockport deserved to get in ahead of them. 10-3-6 is just telling schools to play a decent schedule and play 10 deep. In the end the RvR really hurt RPI

[PaulNewman]

Initial impressions....

Wheaton (Ill) at least by rankings and general impressions here skipped over some power teams for a #1 seed and even got a bye.  That said, they are one of the teams (other than Messiah) that I would most want to avoid.  They have pretty easy passage to Elite 8 comparatively but Wartburg (if Wart gets by Chicago) could be trouble.  Still, when you look at the other brackets Wheaton did well.  Loras and Trinity have pretty easy roads to the sweet 16 (which would be a monster sweet 16 game) assuming Loras can deal with GAC.

Brandeis and F&M have tough roads with Brockpt/Bowdoin and SLU/Amherst on the Brandeis side and then Oneonta  and Rochester/Salisbury on F&M side.  Oneonta has easy path to sweet 16.

Kenyon avoids Messiah, Wheaton (Ill) and F&M, but could face a tough North Park and then Calvin/OWU winner.  I could not take another Kenyon-OWU game...maybe in the Elite 8 but not in sweet 16.  The other side isn't bad either with Montclair, CNU, Emory and Whitworth.

And I don't see a single team that can trouble Messiah in that quadrant.  Maybe Cortland can give them a game, and maybe Muhlenberg if the Mules who appear to have realtively easy passage to the sweet 16 can get through Wheaton (MA)/Tufts/Dickinson.

The quadrants seem pretty balanced with power teams although Messiah's looks a little light, and several power teams have easier routes to the sweet 16.

John Carroll is huge snub.  I got no problem with Haverford with all those losses.  Also got no problem with Brockport getting in.  Always thought Dominican was being disregarded too easily (sort of like North Park until a day ago), and I know nothing about Texas-Dallas (although I bet Colorado and Willamette/Puget Sound would beat them).