2018 NCAA Tournament

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

What is the NCAA rule on waiting period when changing from NAIA to D3?

Same process for anyone coming into D3 no matter where they are coming from...
- Exploratory year
- Four year process following before being fully eligible
- Sometimes can fast-track one of those early years, but all that common
- Sometimes have to repeat one of the years if didn't get things done correctly

[WUPHF]

Wait... a computer knows how to rank and should be trusted? I think we know how this has worked out in the past... to the end that Minor League football got rid of it a few years back.

The computer always knows how to rank and should always be trusted...when the computer thinks my team is the best.

[Mr. Ypsi]

A charter member? Massey has ranked the IIAC as a top 4 conference the last 2 years. Takes all human bias out of the equation. Currently 2nd best league in the country behind the WIAC.

This hoary cliche' is totally ludicrous.  Computers do exactly what they are PROGRAMMED (by, you know, humans) to do.  As a considerably more accurate cliche' puts it "Garbage in, garbage out".  The IIAC MIGHT be a (lower) top ten conference (though teens seems more accurate) - #2 is to laugh!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wait... a computer knows how to rank and should be trusted? I think we know how this has worked out in the past... to the end that Minor League football got rid of it a few years back.

The computer always knows how to rank and should always be trusted...when the computer thinks my team is the best.

HAHA Yes... I have heard that sentiment... often.

[Gregory Sager]

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

Patron was extremely ordinary tonight: 12 points on 5-14 shooting, with six rebounds. He came in averaging 23.7 and 10.4. Then again, the only Cardinal who showed up at all tonight was Eric Mack (16 points), although Eli Bryant did dish out five assists. But, boy, did Swarthmore look impressive tonight. And it's not as though the Garnet got a huge night out of Cam Wiley, either. They shared the wealth -- five guys in double digits.

[Riley056]

Am I wrong questioning players who came to a school because of a scholarship and are still there although change to D3?

[Gregory Sager]

If you're pointing a finger at Nebraska Wesleyan, you're pointing it in the wrong direction. In spite of the fact that NebWes was in an NAIA league until two years ago, the school held dual membership in NAIA and NCAA-D3 and did not give out athletic scholarships.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Am I wrong questioning players who came to a school because of a scholarship and are still there although change to D3?

As I understand it, the transition period is long enough that all scholarship players have graduated (or at least left) by the time the school is 'fully' D3.

[AllStar]

Congratulations to those that advanced this evening!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

A charter member? Massey has ranked the IIAC as a top 4 conference the last 2 years. Takes all human bias out of the equation. Currently 2nd best league in the country behind the WIAC.

This hoary cliche' is totally ludicrous.  Computers do exactly what they are PROGRAMMED (by, you know, humans) to do.  As a considerably more accurate cliche' puts it "Garbage in, garbage out".  The IIAC MIGHT be a (lower) top ten conference (though teens seems more accurate) - #2 is to laugh!

Ha - that's one way I didn't think of... and now will stick with me. They are programmed ... perfect.

Yeah, IIAC has certainly risen quite a bit in my mind as a conference, but not the second best in DIII at this time.

Not sure I could rank ten off the top of my head, but we have said for years the top five have been (in no particular order): UAA, WIAC, CCIW, NESCAC, and ODAC. The ODAC isn't there any more, but the other four are still in the conversation, though maybe UAA has slipped because the bottom hasn't been able to produce as much as it had in the past.

Others that are certainly in the top ten conversation now include (no particular order; not mentioning IIAC just as an exercise - more than ten mentioned FYI): UAA, WIAC, CCIW, NESCAC, NCAC, OAC, ODAC, NEWMAC, Commonweatlh, Centennial, NJAC, SUNYAC.

That is tougher than I thought it would be... IIAC certainly could be in that conversation. Centennial and NJAC, while good at the top are not great at the bottom. The Commonwealth is one of the most competitive conferences year in and year out, but doesn't tend to have a top team that competes as well nationally as we expect. SUNYAC has been terrific for years, but I think they have had an off year or two. Top very good, rest this year was an after-thought.

There are probably some other conferences like the NWC that may be coming into that conversation (outside of the top two, it is improving). The Landmark could have been in there in the past, but really went in a weird direction this year. Might be underselling the LEC and MWC as well.

The IIAC I think could be in that top ten conversation this year to be sure. I couldn't put it above the WIAC, CCIW, NESCAC, or the UAA right now. Just isn't as competitive all the way through. IIAC may compare to the NCAC, OAC, and ODAC right now.

[Riley056]

Well deserved for NWU regardless. Was curious on how the NCAA handled it. Good policy on their end - can't believe just said that!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Am I wrong questioning players who came to a school because of a scholarship and are still there although change to D3?

As long as they don't have a scholarship any more, I believe it is perfectly fine.

And not sure where you are referencing... if it is Nebraska Wesleyan, remember they have been a DIII their entire life time(?) and never gave out scholarships in the first place.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

If you're pointing a finger at Nebraska Wesleyan, you're pointing it in the wrong direction. In spite of the fact that NebWes was in an NAIA league until two years ago, the school held dual membership in NAIA and NCAA-D3 and did not give out athletic scholarships.

Or that...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well deserved for NWU regardless. Was curious on how the NCAA handled it. Good policy on their end - can't believe just said that!

Yeah... NWU has been part of DIII for YEARS. They have had a split role, so none of their players have ever had scholarships. Kind of like Ivy League and Patriot in D1 (though, admittedly, I lost track of the Patriot per scholarships; I know football it went sideways a number of years back).

[Riley056]

How does the split role end up working out?