2018 NCAA Tournament

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Based on the poll, looks like everyone is pretty confident that Augustana will advance. The other 42 votes are spread evenly, well exactly, amongst the other 3 pods not going the hosts' way. 14 votes apiece.

I'm not sure that necessarily reflects strength, just that Augie seems to be the only host who is most likely to be seen as the best team in their sectional.  You can sure make a case for any of the other hosts, but it won't be as strong as Augustana's.

[WUPHF]

While we are talking about changes, I do think they should start the tournament play around 2:00 or 3:00 ET to stagger the action, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

[AndOne]

I've always thought the best size for a Division III conference tournament is half the membership (rounded up to make an even number). I think that keeps enough teams in the race and competitive all the way to the end of the season. I don't like putting everyone into the conference tournament at this level, because I think you ultimately hurt the top seeds who might be competing nationally for at-large bids, and there's not nearly as many at-large bids available as in D-I.

I think I would be in favor of limiting the criteria to the 25 game regular season schedule. Conference tournaments can be for the AQ. Your regular season is to establish your Pool C bona fides.

Not sure I agree or disagree with the proposition that a conference tournament should include half the teams, 2/3s, all of them, or any other number. However, if all teams were included, we wouldn't have to listen to any team argue that they deserved a bid to the national tournament when they couldn't even make their own conference tourney. 

[Greek Tragedy]

While we are talking about changes, I do think they should start the tournament play around 2:00 or 3:00 ET to stagger the action, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Why?

[Caz Bombers]

I wanted to drive down to the Middlebury-MIT and F&M-Ramapo games tonight but they're all sold out! Good job by the students and community, guess I'll just have to watch online like everybody else.

[AndOne]

While we are talking about changes, I do think they should start the tournament play around 2:00 or 3:00 ET to stagger the action, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Also, beginning play earlier in the day would allow fans of a team that played and lost the 2nd game of a doubleheader and had, lets say, a 3 or 4 hour drive home, to not have to drive late into the night and not get home until 11:00-midnight, or even later if they stopped to eat. This could apply to either a conference or national tourney.
Sure, people could always stay over, but an earlier start would both allow for the possibility of not having to shell out $100 or more for a hotel 🏫, and would help with the issue of safety in not having to be driving late into the night 😴. And, if there is only one game that night (usually Sat), start it at 6:00 instead of 7:30.
Initially, this might seem silly, but think about it. 🤔

[WUPHF]

While we are talking about changes, I do think they should start the tournament play around 2:00 or 3:00 ET to stagger the action, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Why?

Why should they start the games around 2:00-3:00?

So I can watch more live action games.

[AllStar]

Tonight:

[Greek Tragedy]

While we are talking about changes, I do think they should start the tournament play around 2:00 or 3:00 ET to stagger the action, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Why?

Why should they start the games around 2:00-3:00?

So I can watch more live action games.

OK, so you're talking about staggering games, like D1, so you can watch more games, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 7:30...etc.? Got it.

While we are talking about changes, I do think they should start the tournament play around 2:00 or 3:00 ET to stagger the action, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Also, beginning play earlier in the day would allow fans of a team that played and lost the 2nd game of a doubleheader and had, lets say, a 3 or 4 hour drive home, to not have to drive late into the night and not get home until 11:00-midnight, or even later if they stopped to eat. This could apply to either a conference or national tourney.
Sure, people could always stay over, but an earlier start would both allow for the possibility of not having to shell out $100 or more for a hotel 🏫, and would help with the issue of safety in not having to be driving late into the night 😴. And, if there is only one game that night (usually Sat), start it at 6:00 instead of 7:30.
Initially, this might seem silly, but think about it. 🤔

I get that. In fact, I'm disappointed that the WIAC went back to 7:00 games on Saturdays. I liver 2 hours away, having a 3:30 or even 5:30 game would allow me to make a run to Point and get back home at a decent hour. I can't get home at 11:00 or later if I work the following day.

The opposite may apply as well, those who have teams in the 1st game. If there's a 2:30 game. Some may not want (or be able to) get up at leave the house by 8 am, drive 4 hours and also get breakfast/lunch and have time to settle down in your seat for the early game. They may get a hotel Friday night to avoid the early leave time.

I do enjoy the early start time for the Final in Salem because I have been able to enjoy some of the after-game festivities, leave soon after and get 5 hours of driving in before finding a hotel, thus making my Sunday drive a little more manageable.

[irapthor]

SWEET 16/SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL PREDICTIONS

Ramapo def. F&M
Middlebury def. MIT
Emory def. UW-Oshkosh
John Carroll def. Augustana

Whitman def. UW-Stevens Point
Nebraska Wesleyan def. UW-Platteville
Plattsburgh State def. Swarthmore
Hamilton def. Springfield

[AndOne]

SWEET 16/SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL PREDICTIONS

Ramapo def. F&M
Middlebury def. MIT
Emory def. UW-Oshkosh
John Carroll def. Augustana

Whitman def. UW-Stevens Point
Nebraska Wesleyan def. UW-Platteville
Plattsburgh State def. Swarthmore
Hamilton def. Springfield

Irapthor,

Kudos for your willingness to go public with your picks. Mine are in bold.
Hope all the games are close/interesting/fun to watch. 🏀  🙂

[Smitty Oom]

Here are mine...

SWEET 16 PREDICTIONS

Ramapo def. F&M
Middlebury def. MIT
UW-Oshkosh def. Emory
Augustana def. JCU

Whitman def. UW-Stevens Point
Nebraska Wesleyan def. UW-Platteville
Swarthmore def. Plattsburgh
Hamilton def. Springfield

Nothing against the WIAC, but I would love an Elite 8 game of Whitman vs. NWU tomorrow, kind of rooting for that one.

[irapthor]

SWEET 16/SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL PREDICTIONS

Ramapo def. F&M
Middlebury def. MIT
Emory def. UW-Oshkosh
John Carroll def. Augustana

Whitman def. UW-Stevens Point
Nebraska Wesleyan def. UW-Platteville
Plattsburgh State def. Swarthmore
Hamilton def. Springfield

Irapthor,

Kudos for your willingness to go public with your picks. Mine are in bold.
Hope all the games are close/interesting/fun to watch. 🏀  🙂

LOL, we agree on half of them

I also go public from time to time on my Top 25 ballot...

[irapthor]

Also, don't sleep on Plattsburgh....saw them in person and they are REALLY GOOD....Patron is a  special player...and a good drink

[Gregory Sager]

I'm calling it to be:

Ramapo over F&M
Middlebury over MIT
UW-Oshkosh over Emory
Augustana over JCU

Whitman over UW-Stevens Point
Nebraska Wesleyan over UW-Platteville
Plattsburgh State over Swarthmore
Hamilton over Springfield