2021 NCAA Tournament

[d4_Pace]

Alright we're finally at the best time of the year. Doesn't seem like there were too many huge shocks in regards to selections but that certainly won't be true of the games themselves.

Some op first round matchups in my mind:
1:Hopkins vs PSU-Harrisburg
2: Midd vs SUNY Oneonta
3: NYU vs St Joes
4:Calvin vs Rochester
5: Rowan vs Mt St vincent Over/under 5.5 yellow cards

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, the Dolphins aren't very... dolphin-like.

[College Soccer Observer]

Alright we're finally at the best time of the year. Doesn't seem like there were too many huge shocks in regards to selections but that certainly won't be true of the games themselves.

Some op first round matchups in my mind:
1:Hopkins vs PSU-Harrisburg
2: Midd vs SUNY Oneonta
3: NYU vs St Joes
4:Calvin vs Rochester
5: Rowan vs Mt St vincent Over/under 5.5 yellow cards

With regard to #5, it depends on who the refs are.  At this point, I would take the over if it is a ref from NY Metro area.  If is a ref from New England, where no blood, no foul seems to reign, I will take the under.

[deiscanton]

Alright we're finally at the best time of the year. Doesn't seem like there were too many huge shocks in regards to selections but that certainly won't be true of the games themselves.

Some op first round matchups in my mind:
1:Hopkins vs PSU-Harrisburg
2: Midd vs SUNY Oneonta
3: NYU vs St Joes
4:Calvin vs Rochester
5: Rowan vs Mt St vincent Over/under 5.5 yellow cards

With regard to #5, it depends on who the refs are.  At this point, I would take the over if it is a ref from NY Metro area.  If is a ref from New England, where no blood, no foul seems to reign, I will take the under.

And if the NCAA assigns referees from another area of the country (neither NY or New England), as sometimes the NCAA does for early rounds to have "fair, neutral" officiating-- like FIFA, UEFA, or CONCACAF does in assigning referees from a neutral country when clubs of different countries face off against one another?  Would it be over or under then?

[LetteroftheLaw]

Alright we're finally at the best time of the year. Doesn't seem like there were too many huge shocks in regards to selections but that certainly won't be true of the games themselves.

Some op first round matchups in my mind:
1:Hopkins vs PSU-Harrisburg
2: Midd vs SUNY Oneonta
3: NYU vs St Joes
4:Calvin vs Rochester
5: Rowan vs Mt St vincent Over/under 5.5 yellow cards

Agree that all of these should be great first round games, I'm also intrigued by Swarthmore vs Stevens.

Looking ahead to the second round, my favorite potential matchups are:
Montclair St. vs WAC (get to see really how good CC champs are)
W&L vs. Denison (get to see if W&L is legit or overrated)
Messiah vs. Kenyon (early test for Nat'l Champ hopeful)
WashU vs. NP (rematch game)
Chicago vs. Otterbein (two good teams)
Ohio Wesleyan vs. Calvin (powerhouse programs)
Amherst vs. Babson (established programs from the North-East)

[Hopkins92]

With regards to W&L, as was pretty well chronicled on the board the last 2-3 weeks... W&L needs to show something radically different than the way they've come out recently or they won't get out of the first game, let alone match-up with a pesky Denison squad.

The pressure of being #1 in the country combined with usual end-of-year jitters has them decidedly on their back foot.

[PaulNewman]

Can we just put Tufts in the Final Four, already.  What a draw, unless Montclair can get to the Tufts game, show up for real, and keep their cool for 90 minutes.  St Joe's will beat NYU and Conn, and Tufts will get St. Joe's in the Elite 8.  And if possible, Amherst got an even better draw...put them in the Elite 8 without breaking a sweat.  W&L's draw is excellent as well.  I like John Carroll's draw. 

St. Olaf got no favors...potential 2nd round with North Central and then North Park or Wash U likely, and then OWU or Chicago or Calvin waiting in Elite 8.

[blooter442]

Can we just put Tufts in the Final Four, already.  What a draw, unless Montclair can get to the Tufts game, show up for real, and keep their cool for 90 minutes.

Based on their 2018 performance when they were 3-0 down inside 20 minutes and 4-0 down inside 35, that doesn't seem like smart money, lol.

[PaulNewman]

Can we just put Tufts in the Final Four, already.  What a draw, unless Montclair can get to the Tufts game, show up for real, and keep their cool for 90 minutes.

Based on their 2018 performance when they were 3-0 down inside 20 minutes and 4-0 down inside 35, that doesn't seem like smart money, lol.

Exactly!

[Bobcat1]

Tufts has earned the right to play at home until they either make the Final Four or bow out. It is intriguing the committee has allowed for a possible third match-up (rubber game) with Conn College for the right to go to the Final Four.  A lot of work to do for both those teams before that can happen though... I agree, Amherst has a favorable draw to the Elite 8. The question is will they host the third and fourth round games. Seems like that decision could go in a few directions.

[PaulNewman]

Agreed, Tufts absolutely deserves (this time) to host to the Final Four, but look at who some other very top teams have to play by the second round.

Of course I can't deny how favorable the Kenyon draw is.  As a Lords All American just texted me, if Kenyon can survive Catholic then a second round match-up with Mt Aloysius "shouldn't be too bad."

[PaulNewman]

Also can't believe if form holds the cmte is again sending Trinity to Boston, New London, NYC, or an island off the coast of Maine in the Bay of Labrador.  Brutal.

[d4_Pace]

Agreed, Tufts absolutely deserves (this time) to host to the Final Four, but look at who some other very top teams have to play by the second round.

Of course I can't deny how favorable the Kenyon draw is.  As a Lords All American just texted me, if Kenyon can survive Catholic then a second round match-up with Mt Aloysius "shouldn't be too bad."

Yep Kenyon-Messiah has to be the matchup of the second rd if it comes to pass. I think for whatever reason Kenyon were constantly underrated this year in the polls. I also think losing to Denison really cost them in terms of hosting and matchups. That being said, you're gonna have to get through one of the current big 4 eventually so may as well knock it out early.

[PaulNewman]

Agreed, Tufts absolutely deserves (this time) to host to the Final Four, but look at who some other very top teams have to play by the second round.

Of course I can't deny how favorable the Kenyon draw is.  As a Lords All American just texted me, if Kenyon can survive Catholic then a second round match-up with Mt Aloysius "shouldn't be too bad."

Yep Kenyon-Messiah has to be the matchup of the second rd if it comes to pass. I think for whatever reason Kenyon were constantly underrated this year in the polls. I also think losing to Denison really cost them in terms of hosting and matchups. That being said, you're gonna have to get through one of the current big 4 eventually so may as well knock it out early.

LOL.  D4, you are a very blessed young man.  Did you already book your flight to Greensboro?  Be honest!  What other teams can say they had a right back score the first goal in a national semi (OWU) and then a left back score the first goal in another national semi another year (vs St Thomas, correct?)?

I mean come on, Tufts second round probably gets a team nobody even had making the tournament.  They weren't even in the "off the bubble" category.

And yes, absolutely, if I'm gonna be miserable, end my misery early!  I'm actually excited.  No predictions, except to predict if it happens Kenyon-Messiah will be one of the top 3 games of the whole tournament.  Truth be told, I doubt Messiah is happy about it.

And yes, I think they paid a heavy price for the Denison loss.  Bianco is laughing all the way to the bank.  Can't stand that guy!  That said they weren't gonna get past OWU in the RRs, and I prefer this to getting OWU 2nd round (which shows you just how deep my trauma with OWU is haha).

And yes, absolutely, expect me for the next few days to make a few meals out of the disrespecting Kenyon angle.  Unreal how they were treated all season on ESPN, CNN, Fox, D3soccer.com, Denison and OWU recaps, etc, etc. 

[D3SoccerTalker]

I speculate the Messiah boys are anxious and gnawing at the bit to have the chance to compete so early in the tournament. Especially against the quality side that Kenyon is. First round is the focus though, can't start looking ahead which is the cool part about the tournament. Take it one game at a time.