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.