2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Ron Boerger]

Enjoy all this now because when this proposal gets put into place we will be going back to the early 2000's with only 3 At-Large bids.

On Friday, the Division III Presidents Council endorsed five recommendations from the Division III Management Council that will cut a projected $2 million from the division's championships budget, according to a news release on the NCAA's website.

So, the only reference I could find to this dates to August (http://www.iberkshires.com/story/47164/NCAA-Looks-to-Trim-Division-III-Playoffs.html) and IIRC these endorsements have to be voted in by the entire membership.    Anyone know if that has happened, or when a vote might take place

[jknezek]

Geez, 2.5 million dollars spread over 500 institutions. If you charged $6,000 for dues, instead of $900, you'd clear it up instantly. While I know there are some schools that would struggle to find $5000, I'm sure the vast majority of the membership would find it pretty easily. Cutting out a few athletic director trips to conferences would cover it.

[Flying Weasel]

With regard to Emory's and CNU's chances specifically and in regard to at-large berths in general, everyone should remember that last year the committee gave no at-large berths to the Central Region, and it's not too long ago that the Great Lakes region was shutout (two different years IIRC about four to eight years ago).  So even if Emory and CNU manage to stay at or near the top of the South Atlantic rankings (due to the weakness of the region this year) despite additional blemishes in not gaining their conferences' AQs, do not assume that they get picked because the committee has to take a couple from the region.  Just ask 2013 North Park.  I think CNU has put themselves on the bubble because they have a lot of blemishes without any wins vs. ranked.  The SOS is what is in their favor (and the fact that teams all over the place are picking up blemishes), but not sure it will be enough if they falter again and don't grab the CAC AQ.

[PaulNewman]

Flash Feature Request....

Oneonta cruised past Scranton 3-0 this afternoon and now is a sparkling 16-0-2.  Can someone familiar with Oneonta give us some insights into the strengths of this squad, style of play, etc?  Frankly, they are having the kind of season I was expecting from SLU.

[PaulNewman]

Wow.  With less than 5 minutes left in 2nd OT Messiah's Ramirez takes advantage of his own player being injured and slow to get up to take a quick free kick into box to Payne who heads it in.  Alvernia not set at all in the confusion of waiting for injured Messiah player to fully get up and for ref to set free kick and walk off the 10 yards.  Actually thought ref was stopping play to issue a yellow.  Future opponents of the Falcons take note.  Saw something very similar last year when Wheaton took a quick free kick to cut Kenyon lead to 2-1.

And Gordon goes down to RWU 3-2.

[Mr.Right]

quick set pieces are the most dangerous. Why wait for everyone to get set or get back in the box when you can catch the opponent off guard. I especially like them from midfield as they lead to quick combination play to set up an advantage

[PaulNewman]

Midfield is one thing but seems to be a real grey area in refereeing.  That's why you see defenders stand in front of the ball and sometimes get yellows for that.  Sometimes refs blow the whistle and marks off 10 yards, and sometimes they allow the quick kick.  Not sure that is right.  And especially when there is a question of an injured player where the opposing players are taught that the sportsmanlike play is to wait or play ball out.  During regulation an Alvernia player did stand in front of Ramirez in a free kick situation and Ramirez pushed him out of the way.  Alvernia didn't deserve to lose like that.  Their coach must be just beside himself.

[PaulNewman]

Dubuque just tied up Luther 3-3 with less than 10 to go in an Iowa shootout.  Pretty good video.

[PaulNewman]

And Luther GK just stopped a PK.  Luther defender sent off.

[Medicated Pete]

And Luther GK just stopped a PK.  Luther defender sent off.

heading into the 2OT @UD.. UD playing their hearts off with a man up..

[Domino1195]

OAC teams continue to display mediocre/schizophrenic tendencies. While JCU continues to win, they leak too many goals to go more than one game in the NCAA tournament - IF they make it.  At this point I have no idea which team, from each school, will show up at next week's tournament.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Calvin drops from 1st to 3rd...  hmmm

Luther drops completely off the charts

Idle Emory remains 1st

Rochester climbs to 4th (from 7th) after a 90th min goal over Kean.

[Flying Weasel]

Calvin drops from 1st to 3rd...  hmmm

Yeah, I don't understand that.  Sure, the record vs. ranked came into play this week.  And I can see the argument for Wheaton over Calvin for #1 based on the criteria they use and favor.  But North Park over Calvin?  Really?  Slightly better SOS, but 4 losses instead of 2 and less wins vs. ranked.

Wheaton (Ill.) 14-3-0  |  SOS .603   |  4-2-0 vs. ranked
Calvin 14-2-0  |  SOS .561   |  3-2-0 vs. ranked
North Park 11-4-0  |  SOS .583  |  2-1-0 vs. ranked

[Mr.Right]

Luther's schedule is not good. The UAA is given plenty of clout on these rankings. The New England region befuddles me. How does Tufts not get to #2 over Coast Guard. This weekends games in the UAA should clear that up

[PaulNewman]

These are some crazy rankings.

Dropping Luther completely seems just outrageous.

The Rochester jump, including over RPI and even above Stevens, seems unexplainable.

Swarthmore at #5 out of nowhere?

Geneva?  Really?

Calvin dropping to 3rd?  How many games in a row have they won?  Is this just a strategic ploy to get Norht Park through?  Same question for Rochester.

Didn't Babson just lose to WPI (and at home)?

No Willamette or Puget Sound in the West?

And Emory should be no higher than #4.