Kudos to the Wheaton broadcast team for honestly going over the perilous situation Wheaton is in with its Pool C status. Detailed explanation of the selection process and criteria as well as distinguishing from Division I. Good reminder for the well versed and tutorial to someone newer to D3.
What were the key points in that discussion?
1. Pool A (Automatic Bids)-Given to conference champions
2. Pool C (At Large Bids)- At Large Bids which covers all 6 regions-5 Pool C berths available this year
3. Assuming that both North Central and Wheaton win out or that both Wheaton and North Central finish with identical 8-1 records, Wheaton not eligible for a Pool A Berth, as NCC won head to head.
4. Each region will have a final ranking of teams within that region decided by a committee from that specific region
5. Pool C Bids decided by a National Committee based on specific criteria from remaining regionally ranked teams not given an automatic bid by Pool A.
6. One of the criteria is strength of schedule.
7. Strength of schedule is partially determined by both opponents winning percentage and the opponents opponents winning percentage (the winning percentage of the teams your opponent played).
8. Wheaton will have a low strength of schedule in light of playing Northwestern who has a poor record and plays in a conference with a poor out of conference winning percentage.
9. Wheaton will also have a low strength of schedule as the CCIW performed uncharacteristically poor in their non-conference games this year. As a result, Wheaton's CCIW opponents will also have lower strength of schedule.
10. There is no such thing as the "eye test" with regards to selection.
11. With there being 6 regions and only 5 at large berths, Wheaton may be blocked from being considered by other teams from other regions with identical records and better strength of schedule.
12. Where Wash U and Chicago are ranked regionally will be important for the Thunder's selection.