2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Mr.Right]

I think they seed in between 2 regions geographically and $$$. That would be my guess, however it is more fun to do it the way you did.

[PaulNewman]

I actually don't know, lastguy.  Mr.Right probably does 

My assumption is that they have to do at least some rough kind of seedings and then compromise based on that and the geography/cost issues.  In other words, I would assume they try to make the quadrants fairly balanced within the geography/cost constraints.  It wouldn't make sense to have 4 teams in the top 8 in the national polls all in the same quadrant.  And of course they can't do much about the impact of AQs where the New England region is overrepresented with a handful of AQ teams that are usually fairly weak comparatively.  As Mr.Right noted, one or two teams in the New England region should have relatively safe passage to the sweet 16.

[Mr.Right]

Agreed. One exception was in 2011 or 2012 remember out of the blue they sent Colorado College to Babson? The way the NCAA has been talking about budgets, cutting fields, cutting schedule sizes and crying poor I cannot imagine they will be doing anything but thinking about $$$$

[PaulNewman]

Mr.Right, what adjustments would you make to my lists?

BTW, if you can keep it together, you may be in the running for Comeback Poster of the Year.

[PaulNewman]

Pool C's evaporating by the hour.

Amherst needs one now.

Colorado College leading Trinity early 1-0.  Trinity in addition to taking an at large spot could be losing a bye.

Will interesting to see what happens with WPI.

And Texas-Dallas down 1-0 at the half to Hardin-Simmons.  Not sure Tex-Dallas is in play for an at large but they have been highly ranked regionally all 3 weeks.

[Mr.Right]

I cannot predict if I will be able to keep it together. Sometimes without my meds I become unhinged.   

I like your list except now with Bowdoin winning Nescac things are starting to get muddled. I think WPI and Brockport are off the bubble and finished. Colorado College and Roanoke should not be on any bubble as they are done. Have you seen Colorado College SOS? UWO is done as is Kalamazoo. I thought Elmhurst was better than North Park just on watching them play but neither will get in. Oddly enough Elmhurst coach is on committee so stay tuned. I like Haverford and Dickinson to get in and I now believe Tufts gets in. Bowdoin's win might really harm RPI. RPI is on a severe bubble watch right now

[PaulNewman]

Keep in mind Colorado up 1-0 at the half!

[PaulNewman]

I'm moving all of my #4 seeds above Amherst now.

[PaulNewman]

Now Texas-Dallas is down 2.

[Mr.Right]

Texas Dallas is finished. I also think John Carroll is in some trouble.

[Mr.Right]

You can feel tensions rising as we head into selection time, seedings, hosting, etc.  You could tell listening to the Messiah broadcast yesterday that things are ramping up.  The 3-member broadcast team was trying to remain in easygoing mode with lots of jokes and light fanfare, but even with a big lead there were a few more ref comments and some overtly expressed sensitivity to Mr.Right's (and I assume Ryan H's) comments about the Fri/Sat deal.  Clearly they are very tuned in to the happenings on this message board.




NCAC I actually like the Messiah announcers. I think their soccer knowledge and Messiah knowledge gives an outsider an inside view Of Messiah.I am curious what were they saying about the Fri / Sat thing. Please tell me they were not defending that.

[chelseafc30]

If the Trinity result holds, it would really be a fitting end to a crazy weekend full of surprises and upsets. A Trinity loss would also open up a first round bye spot for someone else.

[PaulNewman]

I didn't stick around to listen, but one of them said the comments made on this website (by you presumably) needed to be addressed/corrected.  So yes, they were going to counter the impressions about the Fri/Sat deal here.

They are VERY knowledgeable, and they will talk about other teams and what is happening on the national scene which I like, but when they start becoming anxious about their team the performance deteriorates.  They also tend to go on and on about their "extended Messiah family" like player alums and coaches on the Messiah coaching tree, which, since they have their regular, faithful audience, I have come to accept as my problem to ignore.

And they are very confident that there is nothing in their performance (or opinions) to question.

[Mr.Right]

LOL....

[PaulNewman]

Based on the upsets so far I'm thinking Haverford has to get the AQ, and Dickinson may be in real trouble too (akin to possibly John Carroll).  Even wonder about Rochester the way everything is trending.