2023 NCAA Tournament

[paclassic89]

I'd also put Macalester in there as a team that was on the wrong side of the bubble.  RvR let them down.  John Carroll and Otterbein were the lowest ranked teams by RPI to receive a Pool C.  Overall though, I don't think there were any hugely controversial decisions like last year. 

[Flying Weasel]

And North Central (MN) looks to continue their season as they appear on the bracket to be lining up against UW-Eau Claire. Kidding of course, but comical how this team continues to appear randomly(?) throughout NCAA's rankings, materials, etc.

Additionally, I'd be curious to hear any thoughts from the group on if there were any teams you felt were robbed of a bid and vice versa. Looking forward to the tourney!

Hi Midwest Fan, I think you have the wrong North Central. It is actually North Central (IL) from CCIW that is playing UW-Eau Claire.

Midwest Fan is well aware of that.  That's why he said "Kidding of course".  You see, earlier in the season the USC Regional Rankings had North Central (MN) in their rankings which obviously was a mistake due to confusing the two schools.  And then today, apparently the NCAA originally had North Central (MN) in their bracket instead of North Central (IL) before getting it corrected.  So that's what Midwest Fan is referring to and making light of.

I'm just glad to see that they got Johns Hopkins spelled correctly in the bracket after constantly having it spelled without the "s" on "John" in all their Regional Rankings.

[Ron Boerger]

Final Regional Rankings and worksheets are up at https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d3/regional-rankings.

[Gray Fox]

Looking a couple of round ahead, we could have the game that no one would want to referee--Amherst vs St. Thomas (TX).  Apologies to @EnmoreCat, but most of the country might be Ammirers in that match given the behavior we have witnessed from St. Thomas this year.

This is Occidental's first year in the tournament.  They play St. Thomas.  What behavior do they need to know about?

[Hopkins92]

And North Central (MN) looks to continue their season as they appear on the bracket to be lining up against UW-Eau Claire. Kidding of course, but comical how this team continues to appear randomly(?) throughout NCAA's rankings, materials, etc.

Additionally, I'd be curious to hear any thoughts from the group on if there were any teams you felt were robbed of a bid and vice versa. Looking forward to the tourney!

Hi Midwest Fan, I think you have the wrong North Central. It is actually North Central (IL) from CCIW that is playing UW-Eau Claire.

Midwest Fan is well aware of that.  That's why he said "Kidding of course".  You see, earlier in the season the USC Regional Rankings had North Central (MN) in their rankings which obviously was a mistake due to confusing the two schools.  And then today, apparently the NCAA originally had North Central (MN) in their bracket instead of North Central (IL) before getting it corrected.  So that's what Midwest Fan is referring to and making light of.

I'm just glad to see that they got Johns Hopkins spelled correctly in the bracket after constantly having it spelled without the "s" on "John" in all their Regional Rankings.

Well, thanks for this attention to detail FW. Announcers so routinely get this wrong that I've learned to not even really have it register.

[Ron Boerger]

Bracket challenge is up at https://d3challenge.com/ .

Looking a couple of round ahead, we could have the game that no one would want to referee--Amherst vs St. Thomas (TX).  Apologies to @EnmoreCat, but most of the country might be Ammirers in that match given the behavior we have witnessed from St. Thomas this year.

This is Occidental's first year in the tournament.  They play St. Thomas.  What behavior do they need to know about?

See specifically this post in the "Go WEST young man (and NORTH)" thread, and there are plenty of other examples earlier in the season including a tackle that broke a TLU player's leg.  Discipline is not one of their strong suits.

They are fast and have excellent ball control and passing.  It's a shame that they let their emotions get out of control too often.

[PaulNewman]

And North Central (MN) looks to continue their season as they appear on the bracket to be lining up against UW-Eau Claire. Kidding of course, but comical how this team continues to appear randomly(?) throughout NCAA's rankings, materials, etc.

Additionally, I'd be curious to hear any thoughts from the group on if there were any teams you felt were robbed of a bid and vice versa. Looking forward to the tourney!

I haven't seen the latest RR...so just assuming GAC and Denison cracked the final ranking and that, along with some favorites not getting AQs, left several worthy teams on the sidelines...imo, in no particular order...Mt Union, Brockport, Bowdoin, Kean, Texas Lutheran, Muhlenberg...

Btw, I had GAC in and Denison of course won AQ but assuming they got ranked and that had implications for several other teams.

Also MSOE and Carthage had competitive resumes...I preferred Kean to Rowan and Stockton but I guess they had arguments as well (with stronger SoS)...

And given Mt Union's fate I'd Carleton was very fortunate that GAC landed below them...and a case imo could be made for reversing them.

All seven from Region VII getting in has got to be a record.  Probably one too many but the difference between the top and bottom spots was almost negligible.  Seven very solid to very good teams...but none are great...and would not be shocking if all are out by end of 1st weekend...or at least most of them.

[Kuiper]

Looking a couple of round ahead, we could have the game that no one would want to referee--Amherst vs St. Thomas (TX).  Apologies to @EnmoreCat, but most of the country might be Ammirers in that match given the behavior we have witnessed from St. Thomas this year.

This is Occidental's first year in the tournament.  They play St. Thomas.  What behavior do they need to know about?

It will be like facing a really strong team from Riverside or the Inland Empire.  They are superbly technical, can break a press with a couple of passes and turns on the ground, and can score from distance, but also know all the dirty tricks from their fathers' Sunday league games. 

Frankly, kids like Vicente Navarro and Sebastian Romero may be crucial for Oxy because I know they played for and against those types of teams growing up.

[PaulNewman]

Some other initial impressions...

Mary Wash better be in Elite 8 mode assuming they get JCU...sneaky tough 2nd rounder for one of the top seeds.

I like Conn's draw..tough for sure with Denison and F&M and then likely Montclair or CNU...but doable for them if they are on.  Not a good draw for Denison who surely hoped for better and will not have any physicality advantage versus a grizzled NESCAC.

I agree St Olaf got a nice draw and especially because if form holds will only have to play Calvin or Chicago and not both.  Not to say that Carleton, UW-P, North Central or even UWEC couldn't knock the Oles off but they should be favored. 

WPI hosting?  Wow.  Amherst has a good draw per usual...and they have history playing Trinity and Amherst isn't a team that UST is going to intimidate in the least.

Midd I think has a tough draw.  Doable, but tough.  CWRU or Hobart might upset Cortland but Midd would be favored against Cortland too.  Can the Panthers concentrate on a very tough 2nd round tilt (Hopkins or Babson) and not think about who they possibly could meet in the Elite 8?

Tufts will like their draw and if each wins a couple the drumbeat for finally getting Messiah vs Tufts will grow louder.  Would that match happen in Grantham or is there a conflict with the women? 

Best 1st round matchups?  Wash Coll vs Otterbein, Wartburg vs GAC, CWRU vs Hobart, Hopkins vs Babson, Ohio Northern vs Lynchburg, W&L vs West Conn.....honorable mentions to Conn vs Denison, Carleton vs Pac Lutheran, North Central vs UWEC, Colorado Coll vs Oglethrope, Oneonta vs Catholic.

[PaulNewman]

Looking a couple of round ahead, we could have the game that no one would want to referee--Amherst vs St. Thomas (TX).  Apologies to @EnmoreCat, but most of the country might be Ammirers in that match given the behavior we have witnessed from St. Thomas this year.

This is Occidental's first year in the tournament.  They play St. Thomas.  What behavior do they need to know about?

It will be like facing a really strong team from Riverside or the Inland Empire.  They are superbly technical, can break a press with a couple of passes and turns on the ground, and can score from distance, but also know all the dirty tricks from their fathers' Sunday league games. 

Frankly, kids like Vicente Navarro and Sebastian Romero may be crucial for Oxy because I know they played for and against those types of teams growing up.

Perfect!

[Flying Weasel]

Tufts will like their draw and if each wins a couple the drumbeat for finally getting Messiah vs Tufts will grow louder.  Would that match happen in Grantham or is there a conflict with the women? 

Being an odd-numbered year, the women have hosting priority for the 1st/2nd Round weekend, which is why Messiah men are on the road to Lynchburg this coming weekend.  However, that mean's that the men have hosting priority for the Sectional weekend and Messiah would surely host their Sectional if they advance. 

So I'm kind of happy about the way that worked out, as I probably wouldn't have been able to get to games this weekend anyways because of my kids' games.  However, the following weekend should be wide open (I say hesitantly, knowing I am probably forgetting something or just don't know about something quite yet!).  Besides, which game would I rather see in person?  Messiah vs. Baruch or a Top 25 game?

[d4_Pace]

Some other initial impressions...

Mary Wash better be in Elite 8 mode assuming they get JCU...sneaky tough 2nd rounder for one of the top seeds.

I like Conn's draw..tough for sure with Denison and F&M and then likely Montclair or CNU...but doable for them if they are on.  Not a good draw for Denison who surely hoped for better and will not have any physicality advantage versus a grizzled NESCAC.

I agree St Olaf got a nice draw and especially because if form holds will only have to play Calvin or Chicago and not both.  Not to say that Carleton, UW-P, North Central or even UWEC couldn't knock the Oles off but they should be favored. 

WPI hosting?  Wow.  Amherst has a good draw per usual...and they have history playing Trinity and Amherst isn't a team that UST is going to intimidate in the least.

Midd I think has a tough draw.  Doable, but tough.  CWRU or Hobart might upset Cortland but Midd would be favored against Cortland too.  Can the Panthers concentrate on a very tough 2nd round tilt (Hopkins or Babson) and not think about who they possibly could meet in the Elite 8?

Tufts will like their draw and if each wins a couple the drumbeat for finally getting Messiah vs Tufts will grow louder.  Would that match happen in Grantham or is there a conflict with the women? 

Best 1st round matchups?  Wash Coll vs Otterbein, Wartburg vs GAC, CWRU vs Hobart, Hopkins vs Babson, Ohio Northern vs Lynchburg, W&L vs West Conn.....honorable mentions to Conn vs Denison, Carleton vs Pac Lutheran, North Central vs UWEC, Colorado Coll vs Oglethrope, Oneonta vs Catholic.

I think if all the NESCAC teams, Conn ended up with most favorably draw despite being the lowest ranked. That being said to achieve your goals, you're gonna have to beat a whole bunch of good teams, so you might as well get them out of the way early.

For Tufts specifically, its going to be a tough opening weekend, and they are going to have to make home field count.  Tufts has been playing Salem St pretty consistently for the last few years and I would imagine Bridgewater St should be a similar side. 

I think Rochester should be favored over Johnson and Wales, and would present a tough test. When we played them back in the 2018 final four, Tufts had a pretty significant advantage in size and athleticism. I don't thint the current Tufts team is nearly as big as that one was so it would be an interesting matchup. But the worst thing you can do is overlook the first round opponent so the only thing that matters is Saturday

[Hopkins Walk-On]

And North Central (MN) looks to continue their season as they appear on the bracket to be lining up against UW-Eau Claire. Kidding of course, but comical how this team continues to appear randomly(?) throughout NCAA's rankings, materials, etc.

Additionally, I'd be curious to hear any thoughts from the group on if there were any teams you felt were robbed of a bid and vice versa. Looking forward to the tourney!

Hi Midwest Fan, I think you have the wrong North Central. It is actually North Central (IL) from CCIW that is playing UW-Eau Claire.

Midwest Fan is well aware of that.  That's why he said "Kidding of course".  You see, earlier in the season the USC Regional Rankings had North Central (MN) in their rankings which obviously was a mistake due to confusing the two schools.  And then today, apparently the NCAA originally had North Central (MN) in their bracket instead of North Central (IL) before getting it corrected.  So that's what Midwest Fan is referring to and making light of.

I'm just glad to see that they got Johns Hopkins spelled correctly in the bracket after constantly having it spelled without the "s" on "John" in all their Regional Rankings.

Well, thanks for this attention to detail FW. Announcers so routinely get this wrong that I've learned to not even really have it register.

In the "turnabout is fair play" department, my former teammates jokingly refer to John Carroll as Johns Carolls.

[d4_Pace]

Tufts will like their draw and if each wins a couple the drumbeat for finally getting Messiah vs Tufts will grow louder.  Would that match happen in Grantham or is there a conflict with the women? 

Being an odd-numbered year, the women have hosting priority for the 1st/2nd Round weekend, which is why Messiah men are on the road to Lynchburg this coming weekend.  However, that mean's that the men have hosting priority for the Sectional weekend and Messiah would surely host their Sectional if they advance. 

So I'm kind of happy about the way that worked out, as I probably wouldn't have been able to get to games this weekend anyways because of my kids' games.  However, the following weekend should be wide open (I say hesitantly, knowing I am probably forgetting something or just don't know about something quite yet!).  Besides, which game would I rather see in person?  Messiah vs. Baruch or a Top 25 game?

FW I figure you are the expert on this. I understand the alternating priorities for men and women teams. But why could Amherst whose teams play on separate fields not have hosted both.

[PaulNewman]

D4, sounds like we had similar reactions to the Conn draw.  That said, it's not an easy draw.  And depends quite a bit on how one views Denison, F&M, Montclair/CNU....NESCAC folks have reason to doubt how formidable F&M and Montclair might be, and you probably view CNU similarly, but very possible at least one of these teams will be better than you think.  If only looking at the opening weekend, Bridgewater/UR seems easier than Denison/F&M.  As for the second weekend, I doubt Tufts would mind playing W&L or Oneonta, and there's no one on the other side except for Messiah where Tufts wouldn't be the favorite.