2025 Playoffs

[Ralph Turner]

The at-large bids will be determined by the NPI, which used in the other sports this year. Thanks to Bmo who found this link.

Looks like we have the first look at NPI numbers.

https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/43934

LaVerne 2
Claremont 10
Trinity 22

I'm rooting for Claremont to break into the top 8 to see what chaos will ensue in the West Regionals with the protected seeds. 

[Ralph Turner]

The discussion proceeded to identify the "best" teams from Pool A conferences that were beyond #64, trying to identify how low a Pool C could go and still earn a bid. Bmo posted this, assuming the highest team listed from a Pool A conference would get the bid.

Quick math shows 12:

Alfred St. (67)

Neumann (85)

Carthage (72)

Lasell (98)

Manchester (83)

Westfield St. (89)

Grinnell (128)

Husson (165)

Aurora (129)

Puget Sound (94)

Farmingdale St. (127)

Bethany Lutheran (156)

[Ralph Turner]

Ron Boerger posted the link to the Pre-season Championship Manual.

Selection critera are the 41 Pool A conference winners and 23 Pool C teams from those not in Pool A in order of NPI.  Regional rankings are basically meaningless as it's straight numerical order that determines those 23.  But ... the NCAA will still publish them with the first out April 22.

There will be sixteen four-team regionals beginning May 16.  The sixteen winners will meet in eight two-team super regionals.  The regionals and super regionals are double-elimination format.   The D3CWS will be in Eastlake, Ohio, May 30-June 5.  Lots of other detail in the prechampionship manual:  https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/championships/sports/baseball/d3/2024-25D3MBA_PreChampionshipManual.pdf

[Ron Boerger]

Only 22 Pool C ... there are, if I counted correctly, 8 Pool B teams and thus one Pool B before the Pool Cs:  Baruch, CCNY, John Jay, Lehman, Salisbury, CNU, Mary Washington, Marantha Baptist (assuming these are still correct given the egregious errors in the ASC and SCAC conference memberships).

[Ralph Turner]

Only 22 Pool C ... there are, if I counted correctly, 8 Pool B teams and thus one Pool B before the Pool Cs:  Baruch, CCNY, John Jay, Lehman, Salisbury, CNU, Mary Washington, Marantha Baptist (assuming these are still correct given the egregious errors in the ASC and SCAC conference memberships).

Since Salisbury at #5 is a virtual lock to get a bid then their bid likely comes from Pool B.

From this, 64 bids minus 12 teams below #64 suggests that #52 in the NPI is the last team in this week.

[Ralph Turner]

At #52, Arcadia from the MAC Freedom appears to be that conference's Pool A bid.
So #51 is the threshold this week.

[Pat Coleman]

I know the handbook still talks about Pool B, but you'll see there is no number of bids for B or C. It's just 23 at-large teams.

[Ron Boerger]

Wow, thanks.  Whoever is reponsible for publishing that handbook in its current condition needs to find a new job.

[Ron Boerger]

The NPI has been updated to reflect games through Sunday.

1. Johns Hopkins (27-3) 64.465
2. UW-Whitewater (21-2) 64.255
3. Denison (21-5) 62.821
4. Salibury (25-5) 62.706
5. La Verne (23-5) 62.161
6. Endicott (21-3) 61.918
7. Lynchburg (27-5) 61.091
8. Kean (25-5) 60.962
9. CWRU (20-9) 60.554
10. UW-La Crosse (19-6) 60.396

[Ralph Turner]

I ran thru the NPI from 04/13. Here are the at-large. The cut-off on 04/13 is at #48 Mary Washington.
#49 is Rutgers-Camden.
#50 is B'water

1) Salisbury
2) UW-La Crosse
3) Rowan
4) Millsaps

4a) Claremont M-S (error caught on 04/21)
5) UW-Oshkosh
6) Chicago
7) Buena vista
8) Belhaven
9) Emory
10) Montclair St

11) Ramapo
12) Ohio Northern
13) Oswego
14) Gettysburg
15) Cal Lu
16) Rhodes
17) Concordia TX
18) Spaulding
19) TCNJ
20) Bethel

21) McMurry
22) Mary Washington
_______
__________________

23) Rutgers-Camden at #49


24) B'water at #50

[Ron Boerger]

The NPI has been updated through games of the 20th:

1. Johns Hopkins (32-3) 65.748
2. UW-Whitewater (25-2) 64.203
3. Denison (25-5) 62.739
4. Kean (30-5) 62.630
5. La Verne (26-5) 62.295
6. Endicott (25-3) 62.184
7. Lynchburg (31-5) 61.466
8. Salisbury (26-7) 61.317
9. UW-La Crosse (24-6) 60.611
10. Case Western (22-10-1) 60.160

[Ralph Turner]

I ran thru the NPI from 04/20. Here are the at-large bids. The cut-off on 04/13 was at #49overall Rutgers-Camden and
#50 overall was B'water. This week, the cut-off is Randy-Mac at overall #44. Cal Lu is overall #45.

1) Salisbury -- was bid #1
2) UW La Crosse -- was bid #2
3) Rowan -- was bid #3
4) Claremont MS - was #5
5) Millsaps -- was #4

6) Belhaven -- was #9
7) Coe -- was Pool A; jumped by Buena Vista
8) Chicago -- was #7
9) UW Oshkosh -- was #6
10) Emory -- was #10

11) Cortland -- jumped by Brockport
12) Ramapo -- was #12
13) Bethel -- was #21
14) Concordia Texas -- was #18
15) Montclair State -- was #11

16) Babson -- was #58 overall and jumped a bunch of teams
17) Rhodes -- was #17
18) Wash U St L -- was #53 overall and jumped a bunch of teams
19) Ohio Northern -- was #13
20) Mary Washington -- was #23

21) McMurry -- was bid #22
22) Spalding -- was bid #19
23) Randy Mac -- was #59 overall and jumped a bunch of teams

________

24) Cal Lu -- was bid #16
25) Gettysburg -- was bid #15
26) Shenandoah -- was #61 overall


----------------
Corrections are always appreciated

[Ralph Turner]

Here are the at-large bids listed by ranking in the NPI

8) Salisbury
9) UW La Crosse
12) Rowan
16) Claremont MS
19) Millsaps

21) Belhaven
24) Coe
26) Chicago
27) UW Oshkosh
28) Emory

29) Cortland
30) Ramapo
31) Bethel
32) Concordia Texas
35) Montclair State

37) Babson
38) Rhodes
39) Wash U St L
40) Ohio Northern
41) Mary Washington

42) McMurry
43) Spalding
44) Randy Mac

________
... and just look at these bubble-busters who are not dark horses in their conference tourneys


45) Cal Lu
47) Gettysburg
48) Shenandoah
49) Piedmont
50) Pomona-Pitzer
51) Rutgers-Camden
52) Wittenberg
53) Oswego State
54) Keystone
56) Redlands

[Ralph Turner]

Tip of the hat to D3Follower...

I am away from my database so I am not sure if I failed to detect an error in my working draft.

Brockport is E8.
Cortland is SUNYAC.

That may give us one more Pool C bid.