NCAA TOURNAMENT 2024

[SierraFD3soccer]

Outplayed yes, but Trinity showed a lot and is a very good team. First goal did not come till late in the 1st half. I would say that the first two goals were not easy ones and the third was great shot.

[CarefreeTX]

Trinity will be in every game with their defense and have a good chance to win all of them with their attacking firepower. Knutson is at minimum a top 3 D3 player in the country.

[D3Reporter]

Does hosting priority go to the women's side next weekend?

[mngopher]

Another quirk in the draw is the strong possibility of last year's finalists meeting in the Sweet 16...with the difference in a rematch being some roster differences but also where the game likely would be played.

I'm really curious about how the NCAA will award the hosting privilege for the 3rd/4th rounds there. I'm aware of the bracketing procedures, but it is kind of an ideal case for them to make an exception. They'd be paying for flights for the 3 teams if Amherst hosts vs only one flight if one of the Midwest schools host. What is kind of funny is if Gustavus and St. Olaf win today, and Amherst ends up as host, then UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf might all be on the same flight out since MSP is the most convenient major airport for all.
I don't know the rules around when the NCAA pays for a hotel, but they might not even have to do that in a scenario where a Midwest team hosts if it is UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf. Olaf is about 100 miles to Eau Claire, and GAC is about 150. GAC and Olaf are less than 50 miles apart. I just wonder if the cost savings would be significant enough (could be as much as $30k-$40k) that they would justify a Midwest host.

[PaulNewman]

Scattered News and Notes....

Amazing how going comfortably (joking) through to the Sweet 16 creates a drafting dynamic for a surge in posting...

Can a team be a church-mouse quiet 19-0-3 and pretty much under the radar all season?  Say hello to the Trinity Tigers.  Conference hype and travel aside, I think the Tigers showed themselves rather than Bowdoin getting exposed.  The latter was coming off back to back draws with the #2 seed in the entire tournament. In fairness to any underestimation of Trinity, who would have predicted 19-0-3 after two tepid opening weekend draws against Hendrix and Methodist??? 

Regardless of what happens today, who else deserves plaudits for a stellar season?  Midd, Tufts, UWEC, obviously MWU, GAC, Babson, Buff St, and Denison. 

Notable teams on a roll.....St Olaf, W&L, Hopkins.  I mentioned the possible Amherst vs St Olaf rematch in the Sweet 16.  Hard to beat W&L at Hopkins today in a rematch of an early season clash.  Also hard to beat a very good team twice in one season, but Hopkins is at home, so.....

By the way, other conferences that got its teams squeezed into the same quad....ODAC, SCAC, MIAC, CCIW.

Most impressive wins so far (at least on paper)....Lynchburg over Emory 3-0, Vassar over Rowan 3-0, and maybe Stevens over Muhlenberg 2-0. 

Hypothetical for the NPI algorithm and bracket construction experts....IF OWU knocks out MWU, where would the sectional be played?  If Conn beats F&M (and btw, that should be a fantastic match), the Camels are the #5 seed in the entire tournament...only two spots down from MWU, and of course behind fellow NESCACs Midd, Tufts, and Amherst.  But there would be THREE Ohio teams.  Would they send three Ohio teams to New London, CT?  Or to Lancaster if F&M wins? And if in Ohio, where?  Kenyon edged out Denison in the NPI but it's super close, and Denison might have the better site setup given any weather issues with their brand new turf complex.  As for Fredricksburg, the video experience is not optimal.

[PaulNewman]

Another quirk in the draw is the strong possibility of last year's finalists meeting in the Sweet 16...with the difference in a rematch being some roster differences but also where the game likely would be played.

I'm really curious about how the NCAA will award the hosting privilege for the 3rd/4th rounds there. I'm aware of the bracketing procedures, but it is kind of an ideal case for them to make an exception. They'd be paying for flights for the 3 teams if Amherst hosts vs only one flight if one of the Midwest schools host. What is kind of funny is if Gustavus and St. Olaf win today, and Amherst ends up as host, then UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf might all be on the same flight out since MSP is the most convenient major airport for all.
I don't know the rules around when the NCAA pays for a hotel, but they might not even have to do that in a scenario where a Midwest team hosts if it is UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf. Olaf is about 100 miles to Eau Claire, and GAC is about 150. GAC and Olaf are less than 50 miles apart. I just wonder if the cost savings would be significant enough (could be as much as $30k-$40k) that they would justify a Midwest host.

I didn't see this until I hit SEND below you, but yes.  I'm sure this won't factor in at all, but if it did end being Amherst and Conn those are two of the worst fields among any of the top 50 programs.
I'm not even sure where teams fly to to get to Amherst.  Albany? Hartford? Logan? Rutland? Bernardstown?

[MunnyTim]

Hartford would be the ideal spot.  Airport is north of the city, right along I-91, and it would be an easy zip up the interstate to Amherst.

[PaulNewman]

Gotta say - the video quality and unbiased announcing by the Trinitiy crew is top-notch.

It's worth saying that although the Australian play-by-play guy is a professional, the color commentator is a junior at Trinity who is on the club soccer team (EDIT:  He was actually a varsity player, but got injured and now plays club).  He's a pretty high-level student commentator

Would have never guessed that.  The color commentator sounded at least 45 yo.

[Ron Boerger]

Does hosting priority go to the women's side next weekend?

Yes

[Kuiper]

Gotta say - the video quality and unbiased announcing by the Trinitiy crew is top-notch.

It's worth saying that although the Australian play-by-play guy is a professional, the color commentator is a junior at Trinity who is on the club soccer team (EDIT:  He was actually a varsity player, but got injured and now plays club).  He's a pretty high-level student commentator

Would have never guessed that.  The color commentator sounded at least 45 yo.

I definitely thought he was older until I looked him up.  Lebo is also a sports reporter for the school newspaper the last two years.  Here's his bio and photo:

https://trinitonian.com/staff_name/scott-lebo/

[eyeofthetiger1988]

Colorado College 2 - Pacific Lutheran 1

Colorado College retakes the lead on a great switch to the CC left back, who played a square ball to Jack Hilliard who beats PLU's Gaston at the near post.

Game is heating up.  PLU comes right back with a cross of its own to Thompson who forced the CC GK to make a great save

That was the 10th assist on the season by CC's left back (Rex Karjian)...PLU played a great game and were dangerous at times, but CC always felt in control, and could/should have scored more...the fact they won this game with a trio of starters succumbing to the injury bug in game says a lot for their depth. It should be a good game today against CMS. (go tigers!!)

[Ron Boerger]

Another quirk in the draw is the strong possibility of last year's finalists meeting in the Sweet 16...with the difference in a rematch being some roster differences but also where the game likely would be played.

I'm really curious about how the NCAA will award the hosting privilege for the 3rd/4th rounds there. I'm aware of the bracketing procedures, but it is kind of an ideal case for them to make an exception. They'd be paying for flights for the 3 teams if Amherst hosts vs only one flight if one of the Midwest schools host. What is kind of funny is if Gustavus and St. Olaf win today, and Amherst ends up as host, then UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf might all be on the same flight out since MSP is the most convenient major airport for all.
I don't know the rules around when the NCAA pays for a hotel, but they might not even have to do that in a scenario where a Midwest team hosts if it is UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf. Olaf is about 100 miles to Eau Claire, and GAC is about 150. GAC and Olaf are less than 50 miles apart. I just wonder if the cost savings would be significant enough (could be as much as $30k-$40k) that they would justify a Midwest host.

I don't know that I've ever see the NCAA break up a D3 bracket once it's been designed, even to save money as they have been so fond of doing.  With the purse strings being loosened this year (see: three teams flown to Colorado Springs), it seems even more unlikely. 

[mngopher]

Another quirk in the draw is the strong possibility of last year's finalists meeting in the Sweet 16...with the difference in a rematch being some roster differences but also where the game likely would be played.

I'm really curious about how the NCAA will award the hosting privilege for the 3rd/4th rounds there. I'm aware of the bracketing procedures, but it is kind of an ideal case for them to make an exception. They'd be paying for flights for the 3 teams if Amherst hosts vs only one flight if one of the Midwest schools host. What is kind of funny is if Gustavus and St. Olaf win today, and Amherst ends up as host, then UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf might all be on the same flight out since MSP is the most convenient major airport for all.
I don't know the rules around when the NCAA pays for a hotel, but they might not even have to do that in a scenario where a Midwest team hosts if it is UWEC/Gustavus/St Olaf. Olaf is about 100 miles to Eau Claire, and GAC is about 150. GAC and Olaf are less than 50 miles apart. I just wonder if the cost savings would be significant enough (could be as much as $30k-$40k) that they would justify a Midwest host.

I don't know that I've ever see the NCAA break up a D3 bracket once it's been designed, even to save money as they have been so fond of doing.  With the purse strings being loosened this year (see: three teams flown to Colorado Springs), it seems even more unlikely. 

Could be. I think we'll see just how much those purse strings are loosening. I count as many as 8-9 flights, which could be cut down to 4 if they went with the lowest cost host. I'm guessing the cost of air/hotel/meals per team is at least $20k — meaning that total difference is a minimum of $80k.  I'd wonder about working something out with Amherst like flying them in a day earlier than usual or something along those lines. Would cost an extra $3k-$5k, but would be worth it for the overall savings. Not saying any of this is going to happen, but I bet these conversations are happening at the NCAA.

I'm no air travel expert either, but in the case of UWEC/GAC/St Olaf being the Midwest trio (likely, but no guarantee) I'd wonder about the logistics of getting 80+ plane tickets from MSP to BDL all arriving on Friday. Probably not impossible, but it's going to have to be a consideration with all trying to leave from the same airport.

[EnmoreCat]

Hartford would be the ideal spot.  Airport is north of the city, right along I-91, and it would be an easy zip up the interstate to Amherst.

Know it well and if there is a bus delay after that, then the English Literature majors get the bonus of a side-trip to Mark Twain's house.

[PaulNewman]

It's not very often that you see OWU holding on for dear life in the first 10 minutes of a match.

And how good is Ben Diffley?