2023 NCAA Tournament

[SierraFD3soccer]

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?

Biblical

[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?

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.

I think it's one of those things where it's a slippery slope if you start allowing exceptions to the general rule, even if in situations where the basis for the rule isn't an issue.  It could become an administrative mess to have to review all the requests for an exception and then log/track all the approved exceptions.  And it would open the door to other schools crying "Unfair!".  And it's not just about the fields, it is also about staffing and making sure both tournaments are well hosted and maybe even things like adequacy of parking, locker rooms, etc.

If Amherst would be allowed to do that, then soon you might have other schools trying to prove that they have an adequate alternate field to host tournament games and asking for the same exception as Amherst.  I think I've heard that Chicago and some other schools have two different fields (usually one grass, one turf) that get used for regular season games and could make a case for dual hosting.  And there surely are numerous schools like Messiah who have very high quality practice fields that could temporarily be lined with bleachers for the hosting games.  And some of these school can legitimately pull it off from a staffing/quality standpoint, but again, how do you review and determine who can pull that off?

It's just simpler to apply the rule consistently without allowing for exceptions, I imagine.

[Midwest Fan]

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.

PN, thanks for the insight and initial impressions. Curious to hear your thoughts on Kenyon's draw and their chances this time around? Certainly a familiar face for Coach Wall in the first round, as he faced Dominican just two years ago at St. Olaf.

[Hopkins92]

On the issue of hosting both Men's and Women's, I'll channel G. Sager: I think it's too much of a burden/hassle for the hosting school to staff both events. I feel like he fairly routinely shoot down this notion, pointing to short-staffed ADs.

[PaulNewman]

Midwest Fan, tbh I don't feel great about the Owl's chances. Dominican has a long and proud history and will be tough...and I would expect either 2nd round foe to have at least even odds for advancing.

Imo this is the weakest Kenyon team in quite a few years, and in that context I think Wall has done a fantastic job in his first season.  That said, they're capable when playing well.

If Kenyon does advance to the Sweet 16, Mary Washington would be a huge challenge obviously and if JCU there would be some nice drama since JCU ended/usurped Kenyon's pedestal in the region in early September.

Honestly I can see Washington College reaching the Elite 8...IF the Shoremen can get past Otterbein (which imo is one of the best 1st round matchups.

[Ron Boerger]

On the issue of hosting both Men's and Women's, I'll channel G. Sager: I think it's too much of a burden/hassle for the hosting school to staff both events. I feel like he fairly routinely shoot down this notion, pointing to short-staffed ADs.

Not to mention that the staff will usually have other regular-season events going on to support.  Adding one tournament is plenty.

It's also an issue of fairness to the majority of schools that don't have facilities to host both men and women's tournaments in a weekend. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

On the issue of hosting both Men's and Women's, I'll channel G. Sager: I think it's too much of a burden/hassle for the hosting school to staff both events. I feel like he fairly routinely shoot down this notion, pointing to short-staffed ADs.

Not to mention that the staff will usually have other regular-season events going on to support.  Adding one tournament is plenty.

It's also an issue of fairness to the majority of schools that don't have facilities to host both men and women's tournaments in a weekend.

Think so too as to staffing.  F&M is doing Friday Saturday.  In the past it was generally Sat. Sun. I think it's because there is the final home football game on Saturday and one soccer game later in the afternoon is enough to staff.

[soccerpapa]

Others can correct me if i am wrong but the only reason for Friday/saturday games are for regions where one team is unable to play on Sunday due to religious reasons.....

Several regions have Sat/Sunday with a football game earlier in the day at the host institution

[PaulNewman]

Others can correct me if i am wrong but the only reason for Friday/saturday games are for regions where one team is unable to play on Sunday due to religious reasons.....

Several regions have Sat/Sunday with a football game earlier in the day at the host institution

Geneva College...

"Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor"

[SierraFD3soccer]

Others can correct me if i am wrong but the only reason for Friday/saturday games are for regions where one team is unable to play on Sunday due to religious reasons.....

Several regions have Sat/Sunday with a football game earlier in the day at the host institution

Makes more sense.

Geneva College...

"Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor"

[Falconer]

Geneva probably does object to scheduling athletics on Sunday, but I cannot speak to that where others might have more knowledge. Their heritage, which they take seriously, lies in the "Covenanter" Presbyterians from Scotland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenanters

An important consequence of their Christian heritage was their strong, early commitment to educating freedmen after the Civil War. https://www.geneva.edu/blog/the-college/foundation-for-right-to-education

I think they joined D3 around 15 years ago, perhaps even later. Prior to that time they were either NAIA ( more likely) or D2. Dustin Shambach, perhaps the best GK in Falcon history, had played baseball at Geneva before transferring to Messiah. He coaches at Virginia Wesleyan today. https://vwuathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/coaches/dustin-shambach/57

[SierraFD3soccer]

Wonder how many current teams are coached by Messiah grads?

Right now F&M, Geneva and obviously Messiah

[Bucket]

Wonder how many current teams are coached by Messiah grads?

Right now F&M, Geneva and obviously Messiah

Quite a number of Middlebury alums are head coaches, all having played for the legendary Dave Saward:

In this year's DIII tourney, alone:

*Midd's own Alex Elias
*Western New England's Devin O'Neill, who will face his alma mater in the first round
*Tuft's Kyle Dezotell

Plus, Bowdoin's Scott Wiercinski and Harvard's Josh Shapiro (who won four national titles coaching Tufts)

Quite a coaching legacy begun under Coach Saward.

[PaulNewman]

This is silly...now let's do Jay Martin.

It really is OK for other schools to hold the attention for more than five seconds.

[paclassic89]

How many national titles did the legendary Dave Saward win?