2022 D3 tourney

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Unranked CWRU over #3 ranked and defending national champ Wisc-Oshkosh has got to be the D3 upset of the season.

GO SPARTANS!!!

Plus, according to the updated bracket on the NCAA site, Case gets to host Sectionals next weekend.

That strikes me as pretty surprising.  Would the committee really have had CWRU (#5RR, region 7) seeded higher than Elmhurst (#3RR, region 8) in that bracket?  EC higher win pct.  CWRU slightly higher SOS.  UMHB is flying no matter what.

Or perhaps there's an event at EC where they're not able to host the 2nd weekend?

I'm not sure how timing works for hosting, but it could be an instance where you don't think the likelihood is high enough to bother with the paperwork? Case was ready and they got it, I guess.

[Stretch4]

Unranked CWRU over #3 ranked and defending national champ Wisc-Oshkosh has got to be the D3 upset of the season.

GO SPARTANS!!!

Stevens over Mount Union in the 1st round is a huge upset as well, I would think.

Watching the game in person I will tell you that I didn't see the Stevens win over Mount Union as as much of an upset as may be perceived. You had a team in Stevens that led the nation in field goal % defense, is also an outstanding rebounding team, was on an eight game winning streak, and quite honestly just matched up well with Mount Union.  Most folks talked so much about a Mount Union / Williams match up in round two, and there was really no pressure on Stevens. Obviously the Stevens coaches and players embraced this.  Stevens had a tremendous shooting night from Matt LaCorte, but also had five players in double figures (as they have done all season).  Mount Union had a player in Newsome who was as hot (or hotter) than LaCorte, and Stevens adjusted their defense and locked him down.  Mount Union did not make the necessary adjustments.  So for me, don't call it a huge upset. 

Speaking of the Mount Union pod, really disappointed in the literally zero coverage from D3 hoops on this pod. You had Mount Union coach on your podcast Thursday, asked him all about Williams, Sweet 16, etc. (credit to him that he really didn't want to go there), then nothing.  Tremendous game with Stevens knocking off Mount Union on Friday, and then an even better game with Williams prevailing in an absolute battle with Stevens last night.  Tremendous basketball played over two days by Williams and Stevens, should have been a little credit and coverage given to these teams. 

[thebear]

So far, on the men's side IWU site is showing they are hosting a Sectional. 

Marietta is showing they are hosting Oswego, so one can assume they are the Sectional host.

Calvin site is showing at Elmhurst, which is the nominal top seed in that bracket.

Randolph Macon site and WPI site are showing TBA.

[Greek Tragedy]

I don't think either of us are wrong. I look at it as Stevens needed to win the AQ just to get in. CWR got a Pool C and are battle tested playing in a Top 3-5 league, which the MACF is not. Not sure what Massey had, but I'm guessing Mount Union was favored by more in their 1st round game vs Stevens than Oshkosh over CWR in their 2nd rounder.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I guess they've messed things up on the website before, but generally when the sites show up on the bracket on ncaa.com it's a done deal. Pro Tip: always click on the printable bracket, it gives more info. It had first round game times well before they were announced.

[SpringSt7]

I don't think either of us are wrong. I look at it as Stevens needed to win the AQ just to get in. CWR got a Pool C and are battle tested playing in a Top 3-5 league, which the MACF is not. Not sure what Massey had, but I'm guessing Mount Union was favored by more in their 1st round game vs Stevens than Oshkosh over CWR in their 2nd rounder.

Massey had Mount over Stevens by 17 if I remember correctly. With that being said this has been a tough year for Massey, with even less cross region matchups than usual thanks to Omicron.

[WPI89]

Will they be announcing the official hosts today?

[scottiedawg]

Will they be announcing the official hosts today?

Hosts have already been officially made public (maybe not "announced").

https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/print/basketball-men/d3/2022

[deiscanton]

Will they be announcing the official hosts today?

I believe that they did reveal the official hosts last night in the updated men's printed bracket on ncaa.com, with the game times.

According to the updated printed bracket on ncaa.com last night, WPI is playing Rensselaer at 4:30 PM Eastern on Friday, March 11 at Randolph-Macon in the first game of that sectional.  The second game of the sectional is Randolph-Macon vs UMass-Dartmouth at 7:30 PM Eastern, and the winners play on March 12 at 7:30 PM for a spot in Fort Wayne.

Randolph-Macon, Marietta, Illinois Wesleyan, and Case Western Reserve are hosting sectionals March 11 and 12 for the men.

[WPI89]

Got it. Thanks all!

[Greek Tragedy]

Wow. CWR over Elmhurst?

[Pat Coleman]

It sounds like Elmhurst was not available to host this weekend -- whether that's because Faganel Hall was already booked for another event or perhaps staffing issues with school being on break, not sure.

[GoPerry]

It sounds like Elmhurst was not available to host this weekend -- whether that's because Faganel Hall was already booked for another event or perhaps staffing issues with school being on break, not sure.

That would make a whole lot more sense.  Unfortunate for the team having to go on the road however.

[Gregory Sager]

It sounds like Elmhurst was not available to host this weekend -- whether that's because Faganel Hall was already booked for another event or perhaps staffing issues with school being on break, not sure.

I'm pretty sure it's the latter. There aren't any sporting events scheduled for Faganel next weekend -- but next Saturday the Bluejays will be hosting a softball doubleheader on their (off-campus) home field while simultaneously hosting a men's lacrosse game at Langhorst Field.

[thebear]

FWIW - I plugged in Ken Massey's analytics to the Third Round Bracket [Massey rank in Parens]:

Case Western Reserve Sectional
(22) Case Western Reserve 87 - (29) Mary Hardin-Baylor 82
(12) Elmhurst 77 - (23) Calvin 74

Illinois Wesleyan Sectional
(18) Williams 79 – (20) Wabash 78 – Closest game
(6) IWU 73 – (16) Wheaton 69

Marietta Sectional
(2) Marietta 78 – (14) Oswego 71 – Smallest combined ranking
(4) Chris. Newport 78 – (28) Stockton 73

Randolph Macon Sectional
(1) Randolph-Macon 78 – (26) UMass- Dartmouth 67
(9) Worcester Tech 62 – (44) Rensselaer 57

8 of 16 R1 & R2 "pod" hosts still alive.