https://www.memorialcoliseum.com/events/detail/ncaa-division-iii-mens-basketball
This is the last year the "Final Four" will be played in Fort Wayne. The good news is we get six games as the Elite 8 and Final Four will be played in Fort Wayne with the Final being played in Indianapolis as part of the D1 Final Four and D2 Final the weekend of April 5.
The bad news is that, despite not playing the Final the same weekend, they've kept the Thursday/Saturday format. This means you'll probably need a FOUR night stay, depending on where you're coming from.
The website has been updated to show the 1st Elite 8 game starting at 1 pm with the 2nd 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 1st (standard practice). The two night session games start at 6:30 with the same format. Could be a late night.
Saturday's semi-finals start at 5:30.
Part of the argument for the new Thursday /Saturday format is because you should rest the players for the "biggest game of their lives (the Final)." Well, that's another 2 weeks away. If this is the norm, why not change every weekend to Thursday/Saturday. It can be argued that every tournament game is their "biggest game of their lives."
Anyway, I know it will never change, but that won't stop me from complaining every time I have to book for 3 or 4 nights instead of 2.
I suspect if they had more planning, there wouldn't be a rest day. This combined championship got rescheduled because of COVID, so the contracts were already signed. If they'd had four or five year's notice, like usual, it likely wouldn't be this way.
A day off in between for the semis and finals, though, is now standard practice across all d3 sports.
Greek I Agree, I know they do this every few years, but why not just push the start of the tournament out 1 week, then just do everything the same and then have just the final 4 in Indy.
The way the NCAA is so tight with D3 travel budget this would make more sense and less costly for families.
And the final 2 teams wouldn't be waiting 2 weeks to play a game. No other sport with exception of the Super Bowl in football has a 2 week break to play their final game. Both may be rusty and first half could be sloppy play.
But as you say they will never change.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on January 23, 2026, 08:22:53 AMI suspect if they had more planning, there wouldn't be a rest day. This combined championship got rescheduled because of COVID, so the contracts were already signed. If they'd had four or five year's notice, like usual, it likely wouldn't be this way.
A day off in between for the semis and finals, though, is now standard practice across all d3 sports.
More planning? Contracts? When did they decide to reschedule because of COVID? 2 or 3 years ago? Now they are planning for 8 teams and 6 games, not 4 teams and 3 games. I'm guessing new contracts had to be signed to accommodate the additional teams, doesn't seem to difficult to go to a Friday/Saturday format. Anyway, I don't know what it takes to plan all that, so I guess I'll just stay in my lane.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on January 23, 2026, 09:30:17 AMQuote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on January 23, 2026, 08:22:53 AMI suspect if they had more planning, there wouldn't be a rest day. This combined championship got rescheduled because of COVID, so the contracts were already signed. If they'd had four or five year's notice, like usual, it likely wouldn't be this way.
A day off in between for the semis and finals, though, is now standard practice across all d3 sports.
More planning? Contracts? When did they decide to reschedule because of COVID? 2 or 3 years ago? Now they are planning for 8 teams and 6 games, not 4 teams and 3 games. I'm guessing new contracts had to be signed to accommodate the additional teams, doesn't seem to difficult to go to a Friday/Saturday format. Anyway, I don't know what it takes to plan all that, so I guess I'll just stay in my lane.
I suspect they went to Ft. Wayne and said, "can we sign a new contract for one day less," and Ft. Wayne said, "you want us to give you back money you've already agreed to pay? No."
The 2028 combined WBB championship was part of the last bid packet, so we'll be able to see if they plan a Fri-Sat or if they're still doing Thu-Sat. Even though the bid was awarded, I'm not sure if that schedule is publicly available yet.
Yeah, they had to request extra hotel rooms and add staffing hours and catering and stuff for the arena, but the facility charge is definitely the largest cost and probably one Ft. Wayne did not want to give up.
So if I interpret this correctly, the concern is really not about what the day off in between does to the players, it's about the fans and having to convince your significant other that you need that extra day away?
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on January 23, 2026, 09:44:22 AMSo if I interpret this correctly, the concern is really not about what the day off in between does to the players, it's about the fans and having to convince your significant other that you need that extra day away?
It's a pretty significant extra cost for attendees. I do think it affects attendance Thursday, although they care less about that since most people buy a whole weekend pass anyway, regardless of whether they'll be there on Thursday.
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on January 23, 2026, 09:44:22 AMSo if I interpret this correctly, the concern is really not about what the day off in between does to the players, it's about the fans and having to convince your significant other that you need that extra day away?
My wife likes to tag along. It's about cost and at least an extra day of vacation I have to use. Friday seems like a wasted day, sitting around or, at least, finding something halfway interesting to do the whole day. Because of the games times, I don't want to get up at the crack of dawn and drive right to the games Thursday and I don't want to leave Fort Wayne at 10 pm and get home at 3 in the morning.
If you've never been to the Final Four in Fort Wayne, now is the time to do it. You get 6 games when you normally would only get 3.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on January 23, 2026, 09:51:13 AMQuote from: Flying Dutch Fan on January 23, 2026, 09:44:22 AMSo if I interpret this correctly, the concern is really not about what the day off in between does to the players, it's about the fans and having to convince your significant other that you need that extra day away?
It's a pretty significant extra cost for attendees. I do think it affects attendance Thursday, although they care less about that since most people buy a whole weekend pass anyway, regardless of whether they'll be there on Thursday.
I think I disagree with that. If I'm attending Thursday, I'd probably buy a weekend pass. Some fans may not attend Saturday's games if their team doesn't advance, at least they already have the ticket just in case. If I don't have any intentions of attending Thursday's game for whatever reason, I'm not simply buying a weekend pass. If I don't come Thursday and my team advances, then I'm just buying Saturday's games ticket.
Of interest to the topic of this section of the D3 Boards, this week's episode of The D3 Datacast features a conversation with Cam Fuller, chair of the men's basketball committee.
It was great to get a chance to talk with him about the transition from the old regional ranking and primary criteria system to NPI, thoughts on bracketing, and how this year's combined championship creates some new opportunities, potentially including a site hosting both MBB and WBB tournament games on the second weekend.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on January 24, 2026, 12:54:34 AMQuote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on January 23, 2026, 09:51:13 AMQuote from: Flying Dutch Fan on January 23, 2026, 09:44:22 AMSo if I interpret this correctly, the concern is really not about what the day off in between does to the players, it's about the fans and having to convince your significant other that you need that extra day away?
It's a pretty significant extra cost for attendees. I do think it affects attendance Thursday, although they care less about that since most people buy a whole weekend pass anyway, regardless of whether they'll be there on Thursday.
I think I disagree with that. If I'm attending Thursday, I'd probably buy a weekend pass. Some fans may not attend Saturday's games if their team doesn't advance, at least they already have the ticket just in case. If I don't have any intentions of attending Thursday's game for whatever reason, I'm not simply buying a weekend pass. If I don't come Thursday and my team advances, then I'm just buying Saturday's games ticket.
I agree, it's really up to the individual what they are going to do and how their team does. And players get I believe 2 tickets each to give out. The press is there for free? Not sure how much revenue really comes in at the gate. Obviously two years ago with Trine, and it being within an hour of the arena the place was certainly more crowded than it was last year for either the Thursday games or even the Saturday games. Some of the crowd for the Saturday game was only there because they had like 30 kids playing in the All-Star game and they had some of their family there as well. IMO shouldn't be doing it this way. It's more costly for the schools, the family and again 2 teams are sitting around for 2 weeks. Doesn't make a ton of sense.
In my opinion, going to Fort Wayne for this year's DIII Elite 8 seems only possible if you have the budget to do four to five days in an extended stay hotel such as Homewood Suites. I will never have the budget to spend $1500 to $2000 for travel, hotel, and game tickets for this event, so my only choice is to watch on NCAA Championships Pass/Hudl and ESPN+. If my alma mater (Brandeis men, BTW) ever gets fortunate to make it in the NCAA DIII Basketball Tournament that far ever again, I will just stick to buying that week's custom T-shirt through the Event1 Team Store as a memorabilia keepsake.
BTW, since the DIII Men's Basketball Championship's Final Four for the next 2 seasons after this year will be played at the UMPC Cooper FieldHouse at Duquesne U in Pittsburgh, I would love a future bid for this tournament to be played at URI's Ryan Center in Kingston, RI if the Little East is willing to sponsor a bid for this. 8,000 seats and not too far of a drive from either Boston or New York. Plus, it has been a while since the New England region got to host this event.
8,0000 is way too big. Even Fort Wayne's 4,500 is way too big unless Trine makes the final again.
As mentioned previously, there are two sessions. The 1st session consists of two games, starting at 1 pm. the 2nd session consisting of the other two games, starts at 6:30. I've been told if you want to leave to get a bite to eat, freshen up back at the hotel or just get a break, you'll have to pay the $8 parking fee TWICE. Another ridiculous setup. I do recall the concessions not being terrible, FWIW.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on January 28, 2026, 04:55:11 PM8,0000 is way too big. Even Fort Wayne's 4,500 is way too big unless Trine makes the final again.
That 4500 is with significant parts of the arena closed. I think they can get 10,000 in there. A lot of it is how a place is structured and whether there's an upper level they can close off. I've been the Palestra in Philly a half dozen times now - it's super intimate, with seats really close to the floor. They keep saying you could put 10,000 in there, but it's hard to believe - just feels so small.
A lot of places could work well, but this isn't a huge money-maker, so you have to get the right city that really wants to highlight something. It's not just about the venue, but the buy-in from the community to make it feel special.
I hope that there is enough buy-in from Pittsburgh in the next 2 years to make it worthwhile to not only have future D3 Men's "Final Fours" in basketball, but also to have return appearances for the D3 Women's "Final Fours" as well.
Pittsburgh is a very accessible city by air and bus, and the UMPC Cooper Fieldhouse (formerly known as the AJ Palumbo Center) is very close to Carnegie Mellon-- only about a 10 to 15 minute drive away from Carnegie Mellon's Highmark Center given traffic.
The father of current Colby athletic director Amanda Demartino took me to see a Duquesne women's basketball game at the then AJ Palumbo Center (now known as UMPC Cooper Fieldhouse) on one of my trips to Carnegie Mellon and Rochester back when Ms. DeMartino was the point guard on the Brandeis women's basketball team and the Judges were on playoff runs. This would be during the 2006-09 period-- at that time, Carnegie Mellon and Rochester were travel partners on UAA basketball trips, while Emory was paired with CWRU. John Wise, the father of one of Amanda Demartino's teammates also accompanied Mr. Demartino and myself on the trip. I would take a bus from Boston to New York where I would meet up with the other two, and then Mr. Demartino and Mr. Wise would take turns driving to Pittsburgh and Rochester before returning back to New York after Sunday's games at the Louis Alexander Palestra where I would get back on a bus to Boston's South Station. There was one year when I wanted to fly back from Pittsburgh through Philadelphia back to Boston to save money. On that trip, I could not fly back to Boston on Sunday night because Logan Airport was closed due to a winter storm. However, the leg of the trip from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia was not cancelled, so I had to make a decision on what to do. Fortunately, I had travel insurance to pay for meals incurred during the delay. If I had the money, and I had to do it over again, I would have booked an extra night in Pittsburgh and then attempted a direct non-stop flight from Pittsburgh assuming the airline would rebook me onto a seat. Then, I would file a claim with travel insurance for reimbursement of at least the hotel cost for the extra night. Any hotel room is better than having to sleep in the baggage claim area of the Philadelphia airport. I did get back from Philadelphia to Boston that Monday, but that is a personal experience of attempting to do a UAA road trip.
Reminder if you book any significant away trip for sporting events-- always get travel insurance, because you never know when weather can interrupt your plans.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on January 28, 2026, 04:55:11 PM8,0000 is way too big. Even Fort Wayne's 4,500 is way too big unless Trine makes the final again.
Fort Wayne seats way more than 4,500.
Quote from: Patrick Coleman on January 28, 2026, 11:23:11 PMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on January 28, 2026, 04:55:11 PM8,0000 is way too big. Even Fort Wayne's 4,500 is way too big unless Trine makes the final again.
Fort Wayne seats way more than 4,500.
Yes, Ryan already explained that to me. Thanks.
Quote from: deiscanton on January 26, 2026, 04:29:47 PMBTW, since the DIII Men's Basketball Championship's Final Four for the next 2 seasons after this year will be played at the UMPC Cooper FieldHouse at Duquesne U in Pittsburgh, I would love a future bid for this tournament to be played at URI's Ryan Center in Kingston, RI if the Little East is willing to sponsor a bid for this. 8,000 seats and not too far of a drive from either Boston or New York. Plus, it has been a while since the New England region got to host this event.
New England has never hosted the D3 men's Final Four. The closest it's been to New England was Reading, PA, as Albright hosted the first three Final Fours in the mid-'70s.
New England is too far away for the midwestern schools, which make up a huge chunk of the D3 constituency. Pittsburgh is actually the most reasonably central location that the D3 map offers.
I know how much people love the Salem experience, but if D3 was ever going to find a permanent home for the Final Four, then geography, the availability of potential arenas, and airport and hotel access would make Pittsburgh by far the most logical choice.
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 29, 2026, 12:46:32 AMQuote from: deiscanton on January 26, 2026, 04:29:47 PMBTW, since the DIII Men's Basketball Championship's Final Four for the next 2 seasons after this year will be played at the UMPC Cooper FieldHouse at Duquesne U in Pittsburgh, I would love a future bid for this tournament to be played at URI's Ryan Center in Kingston, RI if the Little East is willing to sponsor a bid for this. 8,000 seats and not too far of a drive from either Boston or New York. Plus, it has been a while since the New England region got to host this event.
New England has never hosted the D3 men's Final Four. The closest it's been to New England was Reading, PA, as Albright hosted the first three Final Fours in the mid-'70s.
New England is too far away for the midwestern schools, which make up a huge chunk of the D3 constituency. Pittsburgh is actually the most reasonably central location that the D3 map offers.
I know how much people love the Salem experience, but if D3 was ever going to find a permanent home for the Final Four, then geography, the availability of potential arenas, and airport and hotel access would make Pittsburgh by far the most logical choice.
The reason for that was that the Albright head coach or AD was a principal force in the formation of the D3 basketball concept. I attended the 2nd Final 4 at Albright(1976).
Yep, that was Wilbur Renken, Albright's all-time winningest coach. He was a mover-and-shaker on the administrative side of college basketball, chairing the selection committee for the 1976 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team, serving as the National Association of Basketball Coaches president for two years, and he was part of the NCAA basketball rules committee and multiple national tournament selection committees. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The UMPC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh lists a capacity of 3500. There have been d3 MBB final fours with attendance greater than that, usually when a very local school is participating.
For the Pittsburgh area, maybe a Mount Union appearance could push capacity, but that's about it.
I'm really looking forward to checking it out. 1) I can drive there! and 2) there were nothing but rave reviews from the WBB experience.
Ronk,
That would be Dr. Will Renkin you'd be referring to.
And, he was both AD & men's b-ball coach at Albright.
One chilly night in March 1976 the Rock & Roll Royals owned the Bollman Center & Reading, Pa. ;)
That would be TWO chilly nights in March 1976. I was in the Augustana student section and can still hear echoes of "rock and roll"! from the Vikings semi-final loss to Scranton. That was back-to-back bronze medals for Augustana as they'd lost to eventual champion LeMoyne-Owen in the initial Final Four. I was in attendance at both of those Final Fours at Albright College. Two years later I watched North Park win its first of five championships as Augustana hosted in 1978.
Augie,
I remember chatting with you on these boards maybe a decade ago about that final 4 game. 4,000 in attendance for the title game the next night.
Definitely a good size crowd but was it 4,000??
That's what it said when I googled the '76 final 4; was looking for the boxscores but couldn't come up with them.
Official attendance is recorded here, although you see a lot of round numbers early on, so, grain of salt.
https://www.d3hoops.com/archives/index-men
Copied from the UAA page.
Quote from: deiscanton on February 02, 2026, 01:40:11 PMThe NCAA DIII Men's Basketball Committee released the official NPI summary report for games through February 1, 2025. However, while the national NPI rankings of the UAA men's basketball teams are correct, the "official" NPI numbers of the UAA men's basketball teams as calculated by the NCAA computer are incorrect. That is because the NCAA DIII NPI computer, for the second year in a row, is incorrectly counting games where Coast 2 Coast teams are playing each other as conference round-robin games. The Coast 2 Coast Conference does not play conference round robin games-- only C2C conference tournament games are the official conference games in the C2C. Moreover, starting this season, the C2C is seeding the teams in their conference tournaments using the D3Datacast NPI numbers.
Since Emory and UChicago played C2C teams in their non-conference schedules this season, the NPI numbers being calculated by the NCAA DIII computer are different than the D3Datacast NPI numbers.
For the second year in a row, the NCAA DIII NPI calculator is also not programmed to account for the fact that the GNAC only plays a single round robin prior to their conference tournament, and is once again counting the first game where one GNAC team plays another as a conference game if the two GNAC teams play each other twice. In GNAC, if one GNAC team is playing another twice in the same season, only the second game counts as the conference round robin game. GNAC conference round robin action is being played as doubleheaders on the men's and women's sides-- but both the GNAC men's and women's conference games are single round robin.
The larger discrepancy in Brandeis's numbers in both NCAA and D3Datacast is explained by the fact that Brandeis played GNAC teams in their non-conference schedule.
The NCAA DIII NPI February 1, 2026 summary report for men's basketball can be located at:
http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/48516 (http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/48516)
Here are the discrepancies due to incorrect calculation by the NCAA of games where C2C teams played against each other and skewed the NPI numbers, as well as incorrect calculation by the NCAA of non-conference games where GNAC teams played against each other:
1.) UChicago-- ranked #1 in NPI by both NCAA and D3Datacast-- NCAA has the NPI at 69.155, while D3Datacast has it at 69.156
2.) Emory-- ranked #9 in NPI by both NCAA and D3Datacast-- NCAA has the NPI at 66.285, while D3Datacast has it at 66.283
3.) WashU-- ranked #20 in NPI by both NCAA and D3Datacast-- NCAA has the NPI at 62.742, while D3Datacast has it at 62.739
4.) Brandeis-- ranked #28 in NPI by both NCAA and D3Datacast-- NCAA has the NPI at 61.769, while D3Datacast has it at 61.761 (Brandeis played 2 GNAC teams, Emmanuel and Lasell, in their non-conference schedule.)
5.) NYU-- ranked #34 in NPI by both NCAA and D3Datacast-- NCAA has the NPI at 61.198, while D3Datacast has it at 61.196. (NYU played GNAC team University of St. Joseph in their non-conference schedule.)
6.) Carnegie Mellon-- ranked #64 in NPI in both NCAA and D3Datacast-- NCAA has the NPI at 58.345, while D3Datacast has it at 58.335
7.) CWRU-- ranked #117 in NPI in both systems-- NCAA has the NPI at 55.254, while D3Datacast has it at 55.251
8.) Rochester-- ranked #120 in NPI in both systems-- NCAA has the NPI at 55.194, while D3Datacast has it at 55.186
https://d3datacast.com/npi/
Amusing that Pool A is no longer Pool A, but AQ now and Pool C is now called At-Large.
Yes, the pools were abolished before last season, even.
Wow. Really? I guess I missed that too. Just though it was amusing when I saw the change on d3datacast NPI site.
The amount of AQs decided by one possession today is staggering.
Hood beat York (PA) in 2OT
Penn St-Harrisburg beat Cairn by 1
Neumann beat Gwynedd Mercy by 1
MUW beat Webster by 1
Bethany Lutheran beat Minn-Morris by 1
Aurora beat Marian by 1
TCNJ beat Montclair St by 2
Keuka beat Brockport by 3
UW-La Crosse beat UW-Whitewater by 3
Rhodes beat Trinity (TX) by 3
Still almost a dozen more games left tonight.
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on February 28, 2026, 08:22:27 PMThe amount of AQs decided by one possession today is staggering.
Hood beat York (PA) in 2OT
Penn St-Harrisburg beat Cairn by 1
Neumann beat Gwynedd Mercy by 1
MUW beat Webster by 1
Bethany Lutheran beat Minn-Morris by 1
Aurora beat Marian by 1
TCNJ beat Montclair St by 2
Keuka beat Brockport by 3
UW-La Crosse beat UW-Whitewater by 3
Rhodes beat Trinity (TX) by 3
Still almost a dozen more games left tonight.
That's the way it should be.
Quote from: ronk on February 28, 2026, 08:56:45 PMQuote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on February 28, 2026, 08:22:27 PMThe amount of AQs decided by one possession today is staggering.
Hood beat York (PA) in 2OT
Penn St-Harrisburg beat Cairn by 1
Neumann beat Gwynedd Mercy by 1
MUW beat Webster by 1
Bethany Lutheran beat Minn-Morris by 1
Aurora beat Marian by 1
TCNJ beat Montclair St by 2
Keuka beat Brockport by 3
UW-La Crosse beat UW-Whitewater by 3
Rhodes beat Trinity (TX) by 3
Still almost a dozen more games left tonight.
That's the way it should be.
One could only wish. To quote a friend, CNU was beaten "like a rented mule"
Big day tomorrow! The scenarios are starting to look quite clear with one day left.
We'll go live on our YouTube channel at 1 pm ET on Sunday to talk through where things stand and what needs to happen for those on the bubble and others jockeying for Top 8/Top 16 seeds.
Here is the stream link, we'd love to have you stop by: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sGNNoyvbrw
The automatic qualifiers
The at-large bids
The Top 8 protected seeds
The Top 16
It's all set.
Join us as we reveal the #d3hoops field, top seeds, first four/next four out and see how it could all fit together in a mock bracket.
https://youtu.be/QaWIbSCLQfE
The only good thing about having so many AQ teams among the 64 is that many kids, including bench warmers on top seed teams, will be able to tell their grandchildren that they played in an NCAA Tournament game or two.
Here was my attempt to put pods together. Everyone is the correct seed in their pod (1-16 hosts 49-64, 17-32 plays 33-48). I didn't check if 1st round matchups had played however.
I started with the three most isolated hosts (Emory, St Thomas, Redlands) and built those pods then started in the upper midwest area because trying to fill those pods would be tricky. Then I finished with the east coast pods. Ended up with just 2 flights the first round I believe.
1 Trinity (CT) hosts 64 Keuka; 30 WPI plays 34 Johns Hopkins
16 Redlands hosts 51 Maine-Farmington*; 27 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps plays 41 Whitworth*
8 Wesleyan hosts 58 Lehman; 24 New York University plays 42 Western Connecticut
9 Tufts hosts 57 Penn State-Harrisburg; 21 Babson plays 46 St. Joseph's (Maine)
4 Mary Washington hosts 60 Neumann; 29 TCNJ plays 33 Amherst
13 UW-La Crosse hosts 49 Hope; 19 UW-Whitewater plays 43 Loras
5 Chicago hosts 54 Heidelberg; 32 John Carroll plays 35 Otterbein
12 Gustavus Adolphus hosts 63 Bethany Lutheran; 20 UW-Stevens Point plays 39 Grinnell
2 Emory hosts 61 MUW; 22 Roanoke plays 37 Rhodes
15 Montclair State hosts 50 Vassar; 17 Hood plays 48 Susquehanna
7 Endicott hosts 59 Worcester State; 28 Bates plays 40 Gettysburg
10 Illinois Wesleyan hosts 53 Penn State-Behrend; 31 UW-Platteville plays 44 Washington & Jefferson
3 St. Thomas (TX) hosts 62 Belhaven; 26 Trinity (TX) plays 36 Mary Hardin-Baylor
14 Washington U. hosts 52 Transylvania; 18 Mount Union plays 47 Aurora
6 Randolph-Macon hosts 56 N.C. Wesleyan; 25 Franklin and Marshall plays 38 Cortland
11 Christopher Newport hosts 55 Stevens; 23 Catholic plays 45 Yeshiva
Is the selection/bracket show on NCAA.com? I didn't see anything listed.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 02, 2026, 12:27:13 PMIs the selection/bracket show on NCAA.com? I didn't see anything listed.
They always do such a bad job of making it easy to find exactly what the url or right page will be. They really should dual-post the video to NCAA.com and YouTube. Easy to set it up as a premier so that people can't jump ahead.
d3hoops.com has a post up now containing what should be the direct link (it might show up as Access Denied until show time, but I think that's right):
https://d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2026/selection-day
First complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
No favors to my guys placing them with the overall #1 pod @ Trinity.
Mathematically the 2nd round seeds, assuming chalk, would total around 33. I realize they can't even things out as well as D1, but Trinity (1) and Babson (21) = 22. And I realize the math for the first round comes out in Babson's favor with St. Joseph's (ME), who will be a handful now that they've got players back.
But how can you justify Catholic (23) not going to Trinity and Babson going to Tufts instead? Is it mileage?
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
Quote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
They are seeded perfectly but you don't put them all in the same bracket as only 1 of them has a chance to get to final 4, that is not right for a conference that is ranked 1st or 2nd in the country. If they put bates and or Amherst in then I get it.
Quote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
Actually, Pat Coleman got the NPI ranking of Tufts mixed up with the NPI ranking of Endicott when he did the commentary this afternoon on the Selection Show. Since Wesleyan is ranked #8 in NPI, and Tufts is ranked #9 in NPI, Tufts and Wesleyan can play against each other in the Sweet 16 for the right to go to Fort Wayne, IN. Endicott is ranked #7 in NPI, so Endicott is protected, and Wesleyan is protected, but not Tufts.
Emory, Chicago and Wash u can all get to final four. Last year they put Trinity and tufts in same bracket and put Wesleyan in another. Which was fair. Putting 3 teams that are top 9 teams in the country from the same conference all in the same bracket just not doing the right thing for tournament. It's shortsighted and being cheap.
I do have a problem with the bracket, specifically in the Trinity region. The NESCAC has 3 of the top 10 teams in the country, and the way it is set up, a maximum of one of them can make the final four, with only two even getting to Fort Wayne. I think they should have given Tufts Endicott instead of Wesleyan, and moved both of them to a region with one of the UAA teams.
Quote from: rdanie03 on March 02, 2026, 01:52:56 PMI do have a problem with the bracket, specifically in the Trinity region. The NESCAC has 3 of the top 10 teams in the country, and the way it is set up, a maximum of one of them can make the final four, with only two even getting to Fort Wayne. I think they should have given Tufts Endicott instead of Wesleyan, and moved both of them to a region with one of the UAA teams.
They got an extra flight to maintain perfect seeding for the Top 16 teams. It does stink Wesleyan and Tufts ended up in those spots, but they are the spots they earned.
Quote from: deiscanton on March 02, 2026, 01:49:43 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
Actually, Pat Coleman got the NPI ranking of Tufts mixed up with the NPI ranking of Endicott when he did the commentary this afternoon on the Selection Show. Since Wesleyan is ranked #8 in NPI, and Tufts is ranked #9 in NPI, Tufts and Wesleyan can play against each other in the Sweet 16 for the right to go to Fort Wayne, IN. Endicott is ranked #7 in NPI, so Endicott is protected, and Wesleyan is protected, but not Tufts.
Right, that is what I was saying. If you make a perfectly seeded 1-64 bracket, Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are exactly where they should be based on their final NPI ranking. Now that we have clear 1-64 seeding for all tournament teams based on NPI, I am exceedingly encouraged to see that show up in the bracket instead of moving off of that because 1, 8 and 9 come from the same conference.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:51:48 PMEmory, Chicago and Wash u can all get to final four. Last year they put Trinity and tufts in same bracket and put Wesleyan in another. Which was fair. Putting 3 teams that are top 9 teams in the country from the same conference all in the same bracket just not doing the right thing for tournament. It's shortsighted and being cheap.
It is actually worse and a real slight to the NESCAC League and should be an embarrassment to the committee. I posted above that UAA could get 3 teams to the final 4, they can actually can their top 4 teams all into the final 4, WT..... and NESCAC can only get 1. UAA Numbers 2, 5, 14, 24, yet the NESCA top 3 teams 1, 8, 9 in 1 bracket. There is ZERO justification for that!!!!
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:12:32 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:51:48 PMEmory, Chicago and Wash u can all get to final four. Last year they put Trinity and tufts in same bracket and put Wesleyan in another. Which was fair. Putting 3 teams that are top 9 teams in the country from the same conference all in the same bracket just not doing the right thing for tournament. It's shortsighted and being cheap.
It is actually worse and a real slight to the NESCAC League and should be an embarrassment to the committee. I posted above that UAA could get 3 teams to the final 4, they can actually can their top 4 teams all into the final 4, WT..... and NESCAC can only get 1. UAA Numbers 2, 5, 14, 24, yet the NESCA top 3 teams 1, 8, 9 in 1 bracket. There is ZERO justification for that!!!!
The seeding is the justification. This is how brackets work. 8 plays 9 if the seeds hold.
Now the NESCAC can finish their double round-robin.
Quote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 02:08:37 PMQuote from: deiscanton on March 02, 2026, 01:49:43 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
Actually, Pat Coleman got the NPI ranking of Tufts mixed up with the NPI ranking of Endicott when he did the commentary this afternoon on the Selection Show. Since Wesleyan is ranked #8 in NPI, and Tufts is ranked #9 in NPI, Tufts and Wesleyan can play against each other in the Sweet 16 for the right to go to Fort Wayne, IN. Endicott is ranked #7 in NPI, so Endicott is protected, and Wesleyan is protected, but not Tufts.
Right, that is what I was saying. If you make a perfectly seeded 1-64 bracket, Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are exactly where they should be based on their final NPI ranking. Now that we have clear 1-64 seeding for all tournament teams based on NPI, I am exceedingly encouraged to see that show up in the bracket instead of moving off of that because 1, 8 and 9 come from the same conference.
Does it work the exact same for the 4 UAA teams? The top-rated conference in the country by NPI and 3 teams in the top 10 in the country all in the same bracket, makes ZERO sense. You just don't do that. 2 yes, just like last year, 3 that is not right to those teams or the conference. Wouldn't even be a consideration in D1 to have all 3 together. It just the cheap and easy way out, but not the right thing for d3 basketball.
Quote from: sac on March 02, 2026, 02:15:58 PMNow the NESCAC can finish their double round-robin.
They just did that in Playoffs!
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 02, 2026, 02:14:47 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:12:32 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:51:48 PMEmory, Chicago and Wash u can all get to final four. Last year they put Trinity and tufts in same bracket and put Wesleyan in another. Which was fair. Putting 3 teams that are top 9 teams in the country from the same conference all in the same bracket just not doing the right thing for tournament. It's shortsighted and being cheap.
It is actually worse and a real slight to the NESCAC League and should be an embarrassment to the committee. I posted above that UAA could get 3 teams to the final 4, they can actually can their top 4 teams all into the final 4, WT..... and NESCAC can only get 1. UAA Numbers 2, 5, 14, 24, yet the NESCA top 3 teams 1, 8, 9 in 1 bracket. There is ZERO justification for that!!!!
The seeding is the justification. This is how brackets work. 8 plays 9 if the seeds hold.
Ryan you are being selective in looking at the seedings, it is not that way thru out the brackets. Someone in that room should have had some common sense. If the common sense was that well at least 2 of them can get to FT Wayne for the elite 8, that is not common sense.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:16:35 PMDoes it work the exact same for the 4 UAA teams? The top-rated conference in the country by NPI and 3 teams in the top 10 in the country all in the same bracket, makes ZERO sense. You just don't do that. 2 yes, just like last year, 3 that is not right to those teams or the conference. Wouldn't even be a consideration in D1 to have all 3 together. It just the cheap and easy way out, but not the right thing for d3 basketball.
Yes, Emory, Chicago and WashU pods are exactly where you would expect their overall NPI rank to be in a 1-64 bracket. Just as the Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts pods are.
Diverging from true seeding because teams from the same conference could meet in the Sweet 16 would be crazy.
Quote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 02:31:52 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:16:35 PMDoes it work the exact same for the 4 UAA teams? The top-rated conference in the country by NPI and 3 teams in the top 10 in the country all in the same bracket, makes ZERO sense. You just don't do that. 2 yes, just like last year, 3 that is not right to those teams or the conference. Wouldn't even be a consideration in D1 to have all 3 together. It just the cheap and easy way out, but not the right thing for d3 basketball.
Yes, Emory, Chicago and WashU pods are exactly where you would expect their overall NPI rank to be in a 1-64 bracket. Just as the Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts pods are.
Diverging from true seeding because teams from the same conference could meet in the Sweet 16 would be crazy.
I was just told by someone if Wesleyan had beaten Trinity yesterday, and even with them moving up NPI wise, that all 3 NESCAC's would still have been the exact same. So Trinity/Wesleyan still protected thru elite 8, but all 3 in the same bracket.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:18:41 PMQuote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 02, 2026, 02:14:47 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:12:32 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:51:48 PMEmory, Chicago and Wash u can all get to final four. Last year they put Trinity and tufts in same bracket and put Wesleyan in another. Which was fair. Putting 3 teams that are top 9 teams in the country from the same conference all in the same bracket just not doing the right thing for tournament. It's shortsighted and being cheap.
It is actually worse and a real slight to the NESCAC League and should be an embarrassment to the committee. I posted above that UAA could get 3 teams to the final 4, they can actually can their top 4 teams all into the final 4, WT..... and NESCAC can only get 1. UAA Numbers 2, 5, 14, 24, yet the NESCA top 3 teams 1, 8, 9 in 1 bracket. There is ZERO justification for that!!!!
The seeding is the justification. This is how brackets work. 8 plays 9 if the seeds hold.
Ryan you are being selective in looking at the seedings, it is not that way thru out the brackets. Someone in that room should have had some common sense. If the common sense was that well at least 2 of them can get to FT Wayne for the elite 8, that is not common sense.
I'm looking at the top 16 seeds, the pod hosts. They are in perfect alignment all the way through. Yes, some of the teams on the 2 lines are out of whack - I don't know what - but the overall seeds are lined up perfectly - and the committee is spending an extra flight to do it.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:47:59 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 02:31:52 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:16:35 PMDoes it work the exact same for the 4 UAA teams? The top-rated conference in the country by NPI and 3 teams in the top 10 in the country all in the same bracket, makes ZERO sense. You just don't do that. 2 yes, just like last year, 3 that is not right to those teams or the conference. Wouldn't even be a consideration in D1 to have all 3 together. It just the cheap and easy way out, but not the right thing for d3 basketball.
Yes, Emory, Chicago and WashU pods are exactly where you would expect their overall NPI rank to be in a 1-64 bracket. Just as the Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts pods are.
Diverging from true seeding because teams from the same conference could meet in the Sweet 16 would be crazy.
I was just told by someone if Wesleyan had beaten Trinity yesterday, and even with them moving up NPI wise, that all 3 NESCAC's would still have been the exact same. So Trinity/Wesleyan still protected thru elite 8, but all 3 in the same bracket.
If Wesleyan had beaten Trinity (CT) yesterday, Wesleyan would have finished NPI #6 and Trinity NPI #3. So while they still would have been bracketed together at opposite sides of a quadrant, it likely would have been without Tufts. Jumbos are still the #9 overall seed but still line up well geographically for natural seeding with #8, who would have been Endicott in that scenario.
Quote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
(Much conversation has transpired since I saw D3BALL's post. Ahhh work! But it does play the bills.)
Actually, I believe that the NESCAC schools have gamed the system quite effectively.
1) They only play single round robin. The NESCAC only played 10 conference games. Almost all other conferences play double round robin, intra-division with crossover or intra-conference. The NESCAC only played 10 conference games. The CCIW, the NCAC, the OAC and the ODAC play 16 conference games. (Last season 2024-25, the MIAC cut back to 16 conference games from 20.) That 10-game conference schedule permitted insightful coaches to play a non-conference schedule that would boost the NPI with a beatable good team from another conference rather than taking a loss from a "better" NESCAC team. The UAA long ago figured out that it did not want to inflict a damaging loss to a ("Pool C") bubble team in the post-season tourney. The UAA also has the advantage of geographical diversity that broadens the number of available opponents who can contribute to a good NPI.
It is not uncommon for some teams to play 3 teams before that NCAA's.
2) If #9 is scheduled to play #8 in the round of 16, great! The system is working. The conference is guaranteed an avenue to the Elite 8.
Quote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 02:58:18 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:47:59 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 02:31:52 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 02:16:35 PMDoes it work the exact same for the 4 UAA teams? The top-rated conference in the country by NPI and 3 teams in the top 10 in the country all in the same bracket, makes ZERO sense. You just don't do that. 2 yes, just like last year, 3 that is not right to those teams or the conference. Wouldn't even be a consideration in D1 to have all 3 together. It just the cheap and easy way out, but not the right thing for d3 basketball.
Yes, Emory, Chicago and WashU pods are exactly where you would expect their overall NPI rank to be in a 1-64 bracket. Just as the Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts pods are.
Diverging from true seeding because teams from the same conference could meet in the Sweet 16 would be crazy.
I was just told by someone if Wesleyan had beaten Trinity yesterday, and even with them moving up NPI wise, that all 3 NESCAC's would still have been the exact same. So Trinity/Wesleyan still protected thru elite 8, but all 3 in the same bracket.
If Wesleyan had beaten Trinity (CT) yesterday, Wesleyan would have finished NPI #6 and Trinity NPI #3. So while they still would have been bracketed together at opposite sides of a quadrant, it likely would have been without Tufts. Jumbos are still the #9 overall seed but still line up well geographically for natural seeding with #8, who would have been Endicott in that scenario.
I am just telling what I was told. I don't know anyone that can look at this with an open mind and think this right and best for the NCAA D3 tournament. No one I have talked to thinks it is. Why is Babson who is technically a 5 seed lined up to play the #1 seed in the country, in the second round, while Mary Washington the 4th seed set to play WPI a 7/8 seed in the second round? Distance is pretty much the same for both Babson and WPI and within the 500 miles. Seems like the committee clearly didn't value the NESCAC league or has a bias. Trinity's bracket has 8 of the top 25 NPI teams, no other bracket has more than 6. Last year many people thought by far Trinity had the toughest bracket and looks the same this year as well. How did they miss this? And in reality, it doesn't matter, because they are all close enough 21 compared to 30, but it just shows the committee doesn't look at everything the correct way. This would never happen in D1, 3 top 10 teams in the country from the same conference all meeting before the final 4, just wouldn't be done.
Also, not that it matters, but if Trinity lost in the finals, I thought they only moved down 1 spot, they couldn't go any lower, at least by your NPI numbers after Saturday's games.
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 02, 2026, 03:30:47 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
(Much conversation has transpired since I saw D3BALL's post. Ahhh work! But it does play the bills.)
Actually, I believe that the NESCAC schools have gamed the system quite effectively.
1) They only play single round robin. The NESCAC only played 10 conference games. Almost all other conferences play double round robin, inter-division with crossover or inter-conference. The NESCAC only played 10 conference games. The CCIW, the NCAC, the OAC and the ODAC play 16 conference games. (Last season 2024-25, the MIAC cut back to 16 conference games from 20.) That 10-game conference schedule permitted insightful coaches to play a non-conference schedule that would boost the NPI with a beatable good team from another conference rather than taking a loss from a "better" NESCAC team. The UAA long ago figured out that it did not want to inflict a damaging loss to a ("Pool C") bubble team in the post-season tourney. The UAA also has the advantage of geographical diversity that broadens the number of available opponents who can contribute to a good NPI.
It is not uncommon for some teams to play 3 teams before that NCAA's.
2) If #9 is scheduled to play #8 in the round of 16, great! The system is working. The conference is guaranteed an avenue to the Elite 8.
Interesting point, maybe Ziggy in his spare time (lol) could do an analysis of how playing each other twice would change their NPI. UAA because of NCAA rules, I believe, plays 2 less games, they can only play 25, so does that help or hurt them, I guess depends on who they play and whether or not they win. But 2 years in a row Trinity has by far the toughest bracket based on NPI ratings, hummmmmm!!!! And then they put in next 2 best NESCAC teams and top 10 teams hmmm..., makes no sense. There were questions last year about the NESCAC and how good it really was. Well Wesleyan went to the final four, played a good non-conference schedule and played well against Trinity, who beat an UAA team filled with Grad players.
Probably doesn't make you feel any better, but the WIAC has 3 of their 4 teams in the same bracket.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 02, 2026, 04:09:34 PMProbably doesn't make you feel any better, but the WIAC has 3 of their 4 teams in the same bracket.
Yes, just talked about that in the NESCAC thread. But they are 13, 20 and 31 in NPI rankings in the same bracket, which is different. If they put Bates, Amherst, Tufts and Trinity in the same bracket, I would be more ok (still wrong) with it then what they did, obviously as long as Tufts and trinity couldn't meet before the Elite 8.
Pods by total seed from "toughest" to "easiest" (pods should total 130)
122- 2 Emory
124- 5 Chicago
125- 6 Randolph-Macon
126- 4 Mary Washington
128- 11 Christopher Newport
128- 14 Washington U
130- 7 Endicott
130- 8 Wesleyan
131- 9 Tufts
131- 12 Gustavus Adolphus
131- 16 Redlands
132- 1 Trinity (CT)
132- 3 St Thomas (TX)
135- 10 Illinois Wesleyan
136- 13 UW-La Crosse
139- 15 Montclair St
1st round matchups furthest from the standard (seeds should total 65)
56- 20 UW-Stevens Point vs 36 Mary Hardin-Baylor
58- 53 Penn St-Behrend @ 5 Chicago
59- 22 Roanoke vs 37 Rhodes
71- 32 John Carroll vs 39 Grinnell
73- 28 Bates vs 45 Yeshiva
74- 27 C-M-S vs 47 Aurora
75- 63 Bethany Lutheran @ 12 Gusavus Adolphus
I personally think the NCAA should expand the D3 tournament to 72 teams, since there will be over 425 Division III institutions that at least field one varsity team (mostly both, but 22 single-gender schools like Smith or Wabash) to give more schools a chance to qualify. I would also like to see host institutions be allowed to host both tournaments in the same weekend. (Using a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format, with respect to Yeshiva if they make it). Would any of you get on board with an expanded field and allowing schools to host both men's and women's games in a weekend?
Quote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 09:49:50 PMI personally think the NCAA should expand the D3 tournament to 72 teams, since there will be over 425 Division III institutions that at least field one varsity team (mostly both, but 22 single-gender schools like Smith or Wabash) to give more schools a chance to qualify. I would also like to see host institutions be allowed to host both tournaments in the same weekend. (Using a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format, with respect to Yeshiva if they make it). Would any of you get on board with an expanded field and allowing schools to host both men's and women's games in a weekend?
Football expanded from 32 to 40 not long ago but that was needed because there were only 4 or 5 at large spots. There's no way they'd expand basketball to just 72. It'd have to be a significant jump to 80 or 96 and that's not happening unless we get get a mass exodus from D1 to D3.
It would be nice to see schools be able to host both the same weekend, but I'm sure there are some schools that just don't have the ability to (locker rooms, hotels, etc).
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 02, 2026, 10:00:23 PMQuote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 09:49:50 PMI personally think the NCAA should expand the D3 tournament to 72 teams, since there will be over 425 Division III institutions that at least field one varsity team (mostly both, but 22 single-gender schools like Smith or Wabash) to give more schools a chance to qualify. I would also like to see host institutions be allowed to host both tournaments in the same weekend. (Using a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format, with respect to Yeshiva if they make it). Would any of you get on board with an expanded field and allowing schools to host both men's and women's games in a weekend?
Football expanded from 32 to 40 not long ago but that was needed because there were only 4 or 5 at large spots. There's no way they'd expand basketball to just 72. It'd have to be a significant jump to 80 or 96 and that's not happening unless we get get a mass exodus from D1 to D3.
It would be nice to see schools be able to host both the same weekend, but I'm sure there are some schools that just don't have the ability to (locker rooms, hotels, etc).
Regarding your quote, I see the 72-team field as the perfect size until the inevitable non-revenue share school exodus occurs, and even then, they may either offer scholarships in D2, or be in the non-scholarship divisions (D3 or D4 depending on athletic budgets, travel and history)
Quote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 10:43:48 PMQuote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 02, 2026, 10:00:23 PMQuote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 09:49:50 PMI personally think the NCAA should expand the D3 tournament to 72 teams, since there will be over 425 Division III institutions that at least field one varsity team (mostly both, but 22 single-gender schools like Smith or Wabash) to give more schools a chance to qualify. I would also like to see host institutions be allowed to host both tournaments in the same weekend. (Using a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format, with respect to Yeshiva if they make it). Would any of you get on board with an expanded field and allowing schools to host both men's and women's games in a weekend?
Football expanded from 32 to 40 not long ago but that was needed because there were only 4 or 5 at large spots. There's no way they'd expand basketball to just 72. It'd have to be a significant jump to 80 or 96 and that's not happening unless we get get a mass exodus from D1 to D3.
It would be nice to see schools be able to host both the same weekend, but I'm sure there are some schools that just don't have the ability to (locker rooms, hotels, etc).
Regarding your quote, I see the 72-team field as the perfect size until the inevitable non-revenue share school exodus occurs, and even then, they may either offer scholarships in D2, or be in the non-scholarship divisions (D3 or D4 depending on athletic budgets, travel and history)
The problem is, you're adding an extra round which is great in theory but a lot of trouble in reality. When will it be played? How many extra flights will it cost trying to match these teams up? You'll have just 16 teams playing the opener while 56 don't.
Comparing to football, the expansion would be 25% which would make it 80 teams for basketball. Football went from 12.5% at large bids (4/32) in 2023 to 32.5% (13/40) in 2024. Basketball is already at 32.8% (21/64). Football has roughly 245 teams and 40 tournament bids. That's a ratio of 6.13 teams per bid. Basketball had 404 eligible teams this year I believe. That's a ratio of 6.31 teams per bid. Even a small enlargement to 72 bids would drop that down to 5.61 teams per bid.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:40:34 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
They are seeded perfectly but you don't put them all in the same bracket as only 1 of them has a chance to get to final 4, that is not right for a conference that is ranked 1st or 2nd in the country. If they put bates and or Amherst in then I get it.
But this year, the Elite 8 round is in Fort Wayne due to the fact that the national championship game is delayed a few weeks until Indianapolis so that it can be held on Division I's Final Four Weekend. In effect, this year, making it to the Elite 8 round will get the same treatment as making it to the D3 "Final Four" in the sense that all 8 teams that do make it to Fort Wayne will get the same Fort Wayne experience as if they made it to the D3 Final Four.
Last year, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT) and Tufts were in the top 8, so they got protected until the Elite 8 round, but only 2 of those NESCAC teams could still make it to Fort Wayne, because the Elite 8 round was not played in Fort Wayne.
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 02, 2026, 11:23:39 PMQuote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 10:43:48 PMQuote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 02, 2026, 10:00:23 PMQuote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 09:49:50 PMI personally think the NCAA should expand the D3 tournament to 72 teams, since there will be over 425 Division III institutions that at least field one varsity team (mostly both, but 22 single-gender schools like Smith or Wabash) to give more schools a chance to qualify. I would also like to see host institutions be allowed to host both tournaments in the same weekend. (Using a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format, with respect to Yeshiva if they make it). Would any of you get on board with an expanded field and allowing schools to host both men's and women's games in a weekend?
Football expanded from 32 to 40 not long ago but that was needed because there were only 4 or 5 at large spots. There's no way they'd expand basketball to just 72. It'd have to be a significant jump to 80 or 96 and that's not happening unless we get get a mass exodus from D1 to D3.
It would be nice to see schools be able to host both the same weekend, but I'm sure there are some schools that just don't have the ability to (locker rooms, hotels, etc).
Regarding your quote, I see the 72-team field as the perfect size until the inevitable non-revenue share school exodus occurs, and even then, they may either offer scholarships in D2, or be in the non-scholarship divisions (D3 or D4 depending on athletic budgets, travel and history)
The problem is, you're adding an extra round which is great in theory but a lot of trouble in reality. When will it be played? How many extra flights will it cost trying to match these teams up? You'll have just 16 teams playing the opener while 56 don't.
Comparing to football, the expansion would be 25% which would make it 80 teams for basketball. Football went from 12.5% at large bids (4/32) in 2023 to 32.5% (13/40) in 2024. Basketball is already at 32.8% (21/64). Football has roughly 245 teams and 40 tournament bids. That's a ratio of 6.13 teams per bid. Basketball had 404 eligible teams this year I believe. That's a ratio of 6.31 teams per bid. Even a small enlargement to 72 bids would drop that down to 5.61 teams per bid.
Whether it makes sense or not, never going to happen. NCAA is not going to pay more for D3 sports.
Quote from: deiscanton on March 03, 2026, 05:20:09 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:40:34 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 02, 2026, 01:33:09 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 02, 2026, 01:18:24 PMFirst complaint, how do they put Trinity and Tufts and Wesleyan all in the same bracket. The announcer just said, it's good that Tufts and Wesleyan can't meet until elite 8, that is wrong they will meet in sweet 16 and then a potential Trinity vs Tufts/Weslyan in elite 8, makes no sense at all.
Trinity (CT), Wesleyan and Tufts are actually bracketed perfectly true to overall seeding. I understand NESCAC fans won't really like it but I take this happening as a great development.
They are seeded perfectly but you don't put them all in the same bracket as only 1 of them has a chance to get to final 4, that is not right for a conference that is ranked 1st or 2nd in the country. If they put bates and or Amherst in then I get it.
But this year, the Elite 8 round is in Fort Wayne due to the fact that the national championship game is delayed a few weeks until Indianapolis so that it can be held on Division I's Final Four Weekend. In effect, this year, making it to the Elite 8 round will get the same treatment as making it to the D3 "Final Four" in the sense that all 8 teams that do make it to Fort Wayne will get the same Fort Wayne experience as if they made it to the D3 Final Four.
Last year, Wesleyan, Trinity (CT) and Tufts were in the top 8, so they got protected until the Elite 8 round, but only 2 of those NESCAC teams could still make it to Fort Wayne, because the Elite 8 round was not played in Fort Wayne.
Actually, all 3 were in different brackets last year and they could have all made the final 4.
Not sure if this has been brought up but the D3 championship game is on Easter Sunday. This is going to hurt attendance from the local/Indy area as well as people coming in from out of state, as they are not going to come with it being Easter. Another blunder.
Okay, D3BBall, I goofed in saying that last year, only 2 of the 3 NESCAC teams in the NPI Top 8 could have made it to Fort Wayne. The third team, Tufts, could have made it in had they defeated Redlands in the second run and then won at the NYU sectional. I still think, however, that even if Tufts had defeated Redlands in the second round at Cousens Gym last year, NYU would have beaten Tufts at the Paulson Center in New York in the Elite Eight had it come down to it.
So, Tufts did have a path to the D3 Final Four last year without having to go through Wesleyan or Trinity (CT). That was because the DIII Men's National Committee last year decided to put Tufts as a #2 seed in a potential sectional headed by NYU rather than forcing Tufts to go to Wesleyan's sectional. Emory, as the #5 overall seed by NPI last year, went to Wesleyan's sectional last year instead.
Quote from: deiscanton on March 03, 2026, 09:05:01 AMOkay, D3BBall, I goofed in saying that last year, only 2 of the 3 NESCAC teams in the NPI Top 8 could have made it to Fort Wayne. The third team, Tufts, could have made it in had they defeated Redlands in the second run and then won at the NYU sectional. I still think, however, that even if Tufts had defeated Redlands in the second round at Cousens Gym last year, NYU would have beaten Tufts at the Paulson Center in New York in the Elite Eight had it come down to it.
So, Tufts did have a path to the D3 Final Four last year without having to go through Wesleyan or Trinity (CT). That was because the DIII Men's National Committee last year decided to put Tufts as a #2 seed in a potential sectional headed by NYU rather than forcing Tufts to go to Wesleyan's sectional. Emory, as the #5 overall seed by NPI last year, went to Wesleyan's sectional last year instead.
I know it's impossible to get it perfect. But sure seems like last year and this year the brackets played out not in favor of the NESCAC teams. Tufts/Wesleyan/Trinity bracket has 8 of the top 25 NPI teams, all other have 6. By seeding Trinity has to play a 5 seed (a team they already played in non-conference play) in the 2nd round, moving Babson and WPI was a no brainer.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 09:27:24 AMQuote from: deiscanton on March 03, 2026, 09:05:01 AMOkay, D3BBall, I goofed in saying that last year, only 2 of the 3 NESCAC teams in the NPI Top 8 could have made it to Fort Wayne. The third team, Tufts, could have made it in had they defeated Redlands in the second run and then won at the NYU sectional. I still think, however, that even if Tufts had defeated Redlands in the second round at Cousens Gym last year, NYU would have beaten Tufts at the Paulson Center in New York in the Elite Eight had it come down to it.
So, Tufts did have a path to the D3 Final Four last year without having to go through Wesleyan or Trinity (CT). That was because the DIII Men's National Committee last year decided to put Tufts as a #2 seed in a potential sectional headed by NYU rather than forcing Tufts to go to Wesleyan's sectional. Emory, as the #5 overall seed by NPI last year, went to Wesleyan's sectional last year instead.
I know it's impossible to get it perfect. But sure seems like last year and this year the brackets played out not in favor of the NESCAC teams. Tufts/Wesleyan/Trinity bracket has 8 of the top 25 NPI teams, all other have 6. By seeding Trinity has to play a 5 seed (a team they already played in non-conference play) in the 2nd round, moving Babson and WPI was a no brainer.
There definitely could have been different ways to arrange the pod #2s and #3s in the eastern/northeastern areas that would have been better in line with seeding per NPI and work out just fine geographically. That is maybe a spot where we see the old ways of bracketing still seeping into this process, where teams were seen more even within their pod seed buckets.
It is strange to see considering how perfectly the top 16 overall seeds were placed in the bracket in relation to each other. Overall, I think this is a very good bracket and a step forward from what we got after year 1 of NPI and more in line with what I expected with the committee being able to work with black-and-white seeding top to bottom for every team in the tournament.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 09:27:24 AMI know it's impossible to get it perfect. But sure seems like last year and this year the brackets played out not in favor of the NESCAC teams.
Two NESCAC teams made it to the Final Four last year. What more do you want?
This week on The D3 Datacast, we use our efficiency ratings to dive into the first round matchups. See who the D3 Datacast computer sees as the first round favorites and by how much in this week's show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbwg3WwkBs0
Quote from: Patrick Coleman on March 03, 2026, 10:06:23 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 09:27:24 AMI know it's impossible to get it perfect. But sure seems like last year and this year the brackets played out not in favor of the NESCAC teams.
Two NESCAC teams made it to the Final Four last year. What more do you want?
I said last year they had all 3 teams in different brackets; this year they are not. Issue last year was some brackets were really overloaded especially the one trinity was in, just like this year for the Weslyean/Tufts/Trinity bracket.
Again, you and Ziggy point that the got the seedings right 1-16 going to the elite 8, my point is that you want to do what is best for the tournament. Seeds 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16 are all interchangeable and should have been placed so that 3 NESCAC teams, all top 10 rated, are not in the same bracket. No one that I know thinks this is right or the best for tournament. I would be saying the same thing if the top 3 UUA teams or any other league that has top 15 teams were all placed in the same bracket. It just makes no sense. Tufts could have easily been placed in another bracket. For Tufts and Wesleyan to play in the sweet 16, it not good for the tournament or Trinity/Wesleyan to play in the elite 8. Just like WPI and Babson should have been switched. The committee and the NCAA don't care about D3 sports, IMO, the way they should.
Last year the 2 best conferences had 2 teams each in the final 4, why because they were spread out. This year the 2nd best rated conference can get 3 top 15 teams into the final 4, and the best rated conference can only get 1 of 3 top 10 teams into the final 4. Doesn't make sense. I don't know how anyone can disagree with this. Wouldn't even be a consideration in D1 sports, certainly not basketball. Could have easily been avoided. It's just common sense!
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMSeeds 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16 are all interchangeable
This is definitely not true. Not true according to the committee, not according to the intentions of the division in moving to NPI.
This is the main sticking point. You continue to base your argument on a fallacy.
Under the current system, those seeds are interchangeable only if the NCAA limits flights, which they did not do this year - at least not to the extent in previous iterations of the tournament.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 11:12:39 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMSeeds 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16 are all interchangeable
This is definitely not true. Not true according to the committee, not according to the intentions of the division in moving to NPI.
This is the main sticking point. You continue to base your argument on a fallacy.
Under the current system, those seeds are interchangeable only if the NCAA limits flights, which they did not do this year - at least not to the extent in previous iterations of the tournament.
My point was that in D1 it is definitely true and in D1 now for a number of years they reseed the final 4. They have done it for years so that teams ranked in the top 10 in the same conference don't play each other before elite 8 or final 4. I was not saying they do it this way for D3, my point was they don't. Not disagreeing with what you just wrote, it just makes my point. In the end, imo, it is a disservice to the tournament, and it comes down to money and not really caring about D3 and it has been this way for a long time.
Are you saying that you are OK with, and it's the best for the tournament, that 3 top 10 teams from the same conference are in the same bracket? Its Ok if you are, we will just disagree about what it best for the tournament and actually getting the best teams in the elite 8 and final 4.
In the end maybe no NESCAC team or UAA team make it to the final 4, but if you are doing it objectively and using common sense and didn't care about the money it wouldn't be this way. You want to protect the top 8 and that makes sense, but there needs to be some flexibility to make the brackets the best for the tournament and fair. How does the committee justify the Babson/WPI placements. Because they had it done this way on Friday we won't change it, again makes my point about D3 not being that important. Maybe every UAA team would beat each NESCAC team or vis versa, but you already know what each team has done against each other in the conference play, no need to see it so early in the NCAA, especially the high ranked elite teams.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 11:39:52 AMMy point was that in D1 it is definitely true ...
Nothing in D1 should be used as a point of comparison. It's simply not the same.
Division I absolutely does not reseed the Final 4. Never has. Division II has reseeded the Elite 8 or whatever they call it for a number of years now, in all sports (semifinals for soccer and I think football).
Technically with current bracketing principles put in place by the Championships Committee, the men's basketball committee would have had the latitude to not put #8 overall seed Wesleyan and #9 Tufts on a path to meet in the Sweet 16 as their true seeding warrants but I am glad they did not.
Coming at this as a general Division III basketball fan, I do want to see conference matchups avoided whenever possible in the opening weekend but have a preference for seeding holding over trying to avoid conference matchups beyond that.
I don't think it is unfair to the NESCAC schools to be in the correct spot they earned via their seeding and moving them in the bracket simply because they are from the same conference would create an unfair matchup according to seeding for the teams they would instead play as a result.
As for the balance of the Trinity (CT) pod (and treatment/placement of some other pod #2/3s), I am in complete agreement that different decisions could have and should have been made. I see these two things that are getting mixed into one discussion as two completely separate issues, however.
Reasonable people can certainly disagree, staying within the context of current bracketing principle mandates and the familiar constraints of creating a D3 bracket. That's OK.
Quote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 12:00:20 PMTechnically with current bracketing principles put in place by the Championships Committee, the men's basketball committee would have had the latitude to not put #8 overall seed Wesleyan and #9 Tufts on a path to meet in the Sweet 16 as their true seeding warrants but I am glad they did not.
I won't retract the statement above, and I'm not sure a committee would ever look at it this way, but it is interesting to look beyond the seed assigned by NPI and into the final NPI values themselves within the Top 16.
Doing so reveals the largest difference between individual seeds between #6 Randolph-Macon and #7 Endicott (overall NPI difference of 1.5). It just so happens that the smallest difference is between #7 Endicott and #8 Wesleyan (overall NPI difference of 0.053).
I wouldn't change how the Top 8 are arranged in the bracket, nor should they be based on current bracketing principles, but those bracketing principles don't extend beyond the Top 8.
SO, using the final overall NPI values you could make a justifiable argument that there really isn't much difference between Endicott and Wesleyan so pairing the #9 with the #7 (and then #10 with #8) isn't a big deal at all. #10 Illinois Wesleyan is a projected flight regardless of whether you're pairing them with Endicott or Wesleyan and Tufts is drivable either way.
Now how much am I going to regret saying this? Did I just give a dead horse new life? ;D
Drive versus fly is always preferable for the fan.
I do have a statistics question for the experts on these boards.
In scientific and especially large epidemiological analyses, we have Confidence Intervals. Do those apply to the NPI in any way?
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 11:39:52 AMHow does the committee justify the Babson/WPI placements.
This may be the key point. I think they bracketed Babson and Bates poorly, based on their own criteria and stated intentions. These committees are human and there are always sacrifices made to align with the prescribed limitations of the tournament.
I'm just not sure it's right to argue that because they diverged from their intentions and criteria in one place, it justifies doing so further in another.
Perhaps a better argument would be, "hey, you moved things around to avoid sending some (but not all) teams to a different location than last year - why is that consideration more important than keeping conference opponents apart as long as possible.
Of course, as a NESCAC fan, you'd have to be prepared for the rebuttal that, in the history of the d3 tournament, it's been much, much easier to keep NESCAC teams apart longer than it has for any other conferences (except the UAA). The WIACs have been crammed together for decades - they've never had even two teams make the final four the same year, rarely even had the opportunity for it to happen. The NESCAC got three one time and two fairly often.
Again, I agree it stinks this year and it wouldn't be that difficult to resolve. You have that point in spades. I tend to think, though, in the grand scheme of things, very few in D3 are going to have much time for those complaints, given the history.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 01:56:23 PMI tend to think, though, in the grand scheme of things, very few in D3 are going to have much time for those complaints, given the history.
Diverting the paths of Tufts and Wesleyan from each other on the second weekend is an awful lot of consideration going to a pair of teams that have only played one game against each other this season.
Just curious, what year did the NESCAC get three teams in the Final Four? I know two teams has happened quite a few times. That would have to be the only time, or one of a very few, that a conference got three teams into the Final Four.
Quote from: Patrick Coleman on March 03, 2026, 11:43:56 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 11:39:52 AMMy point was that in D1 it is definitely true ...
Nothing in D1 should be used as a point of comparison. It's simply not the same.
So that makes it right???
Quote from: Caz Bombers on March 03, 2026, 11:44:42 AMDivision I absolutely does not reseed the Final 4. Never has. Division II has reseeded the Elite 8 or whatever they call it for a number of years now, in all sports (semifinals for soccer and I think football).
You are correct, my bad. There was talk of doing it but they never did.
Quote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 12:00:20 PMTechnically with current bracketing principles put in place by the Championships Committee, the men's basketball committee would have had the latitude to not put #8 overall seed Wesleyan and #9 Tufts on a path to meet in the Sweet 16 as their true seeding warrants but I am glad they did not.
Coming at this as a general Division III basketball fan, I do want to see conference matchups avoided whenever possible in the opening weekend but have a preference for seeding holding over trying to avoid conference matchups beyond that.
I don't think it is unfair to the NESCAC schools to be in the correct spot they earned via their seeding and moving them in the bracket simply because they are from the same conference would create an unfair matchup according to seeding for the teams they would instead play as a result.
As for the balance of the Trinity (CT) pod (and treatment/placement of some other pod #2/3s), I am in complete agreement that different decisions could have and should have been made. I see these two things that are getting mixed into one discussion as two completely separate issues, however.
Reasonable people can certainly disagree, staying within the context of current bracketing principle mandates and the familiar constraints of creating a D3 bracket. That's OK.
Agree we can disagree, but the d1 committee would agree with me. And yes, it it 2 different things. And the committee has stated they want to protect the top 8, my point is they need to protect the tournament. You and others can say don't compare to D1, but this is pretty simple and common sense. As much as I knock the ncaa the d1 committee is smart enough not to put 3 top 10 teams from the same conference in the same bracket. It is just fundamentally smart and common sense, imo. Something this committee is just not good at, again imo.
The babson/wpi is just the committee being lazy and not caring.
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 03, 2026, 01:16:32 PMDrive versus fly is always preferable for the fan.
I do have a statistics question for the experts on these boards.
In scientific and especially large epidemiological analyses, we have Confidence Intervals. Do those apply to the NPI in any way?
Quote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 02:33:18 PMQuote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 01:56:23 PMI tend to think, though, in the grand scheme of things, very few in D3 are going to have much time for those complaints, given the history.
Diverting the paths of Tufts and Wesleyan from each other on the second weekend is an awful lot of consideration going to a pair of teams that have only played one game against each other this season.
I disagree, how can anyone compare 1 conference to another without them playing against each other unless you are just using analytics. That is what should be done here. Could care less where bates, Amherst, nyu are placed. but the other 6, seeing they are the best 2 conferences, by far, and 6 of the top 14 in NPI won't play until the final 4, again it would never happened in D1.
Again in the end they could all lose early and it doesn't matter.
Quote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 02:33:18 PMQuote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 01:56:23 PMI tend to think, though, in the grand scheme of things, very few in D3 are going to have much time for those complaints, given the history.
Diverting the paths of Tufts and Wesleyan from each other on the second weekend is an awful lot of consideration going to a pair of teams that have only played one game against each other this season.
Not sure if it is you or your brother that is a voter, but they both did beat your or your brother's choice ALL year long for the #1 team ;) And the Wesleyan/Tufts game was a 1-point game with 40 seconds to go. Tufts stayed with Trinity basically all game long in their 2nd matchup while missing their best player and a all D3 candidate. So, if you are not that high on giving them consideration to move, why so high on Trinity? ;)
Quote from: el_jefe_90 on March 03, 2026, 02:41:14 PMJust curious, what year did the NESCAC get three teams in the Final Four? I know two teams has happened quite a few times. That would have to be the only time, or one of a very few, that a conference got three teams into the Final Four.
No. You're right. I'm wrong. I always get that mixed up in my mind because there was one year it was set up to happen and one of them didn't win. I'm getting old. Apologies.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 03:09:44 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 12:00:20 PMTechnically with current bracketing principles put in place by the Championships Committee, the men's basketball committee would have had the latitude to not put #8 overall seed Wesleyan and #9 Tufts on a path to meet in the Sweet 16 as their true seeding warrants but I am glad they did not.
Coming at this as a general Division III basketball fan, I do want to see conference matchups avoided whenever possible in the opening weekend but have a preference for seeding holding over trying to avoid conference matchups beyond that.
I don't think it is unfair to the NESCAC schools to be in the correct spot they earned via their seeding and moving them in the bracket simply because they are from the same conference would create an unfair matchup according to seeding for the teams they would instead play as a result.
As for the balance of the Trinity (CT) pod (and treatment/placement of some other pod #2/3s), I am in complete agreement that different decisions could have and should have been made. I see these two things that are getting mixed into one discussion as two completely separate issues, however.
Reasonable people can certainly disagree, staying within the context of current bracketing principle mandates and the familiar constraints of creating a D3 bracket. That's OK.
Agree we can disagree, but the d1 committee would agree with me. And yes, it it 2 different things. And the committee has stated they want to protect the top 8, my point is they need to protect the tournament. You and others can say don't compare to D1, but this is pretty simple and common sense. As much as I knock the ncaa the d1 committee is smart enough not to put 3 top 10 teams from the same conference in the same bracket. It is just fundamentally smart and common sense, imo. Something this committee is just not good at, again imo.
The babson/wpi is just the committee being lazy and not caring.
D1 gets a little more leeway. Unless there are nine teams in a conference in the tournament, their rules say conference opponents can't meet until the Elite Eight.
But the thing is, three top ten teams do meet in one bracket every year. That's how the 1-8-9 overall seeds work.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 04:04:35 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 03:09:44 PMQuote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 12:00:20 PMTechnically with current bracketing principles put in place by the Championships Committee, the men's basketball committee would have had the latitude to not put #8 overall seed Wesleyan and #9 Tufts on a path to meet in the Sweet 16 as their true seeding warrants but I am glad they did not.
Coming at this as a general Division III basketball fan, I do want to see conference matchups avoided whenever possible in the opening weekend but have a preference for seeding holding over trying to avoid conference matchups beyond that.
I don't think it is unfair to the NESCAC schools to be in the correct spot they earned via their seeding and moving them in the bracket simply because they are from the same conference would create an unfair matchup according to seeding for the teams they would instead play as a result.
As for the balance of the Trinity (CT) pod (and treatment/placement of some other pod #2/3s), I am in complete agreement that different decisions could have and should have been made. I see these two things that are getting mixed into one discussion as two completely separate issues, however.
Reasonable people can certainly disagree, staying within the context of current bracketing principle mandates and the familiar constraints of creating a D3 bracket. That's OK.
Agree we can disagree, but the d1 committee would agree with me. And yes, it it 2 different things. And the committee has stated they want to protect the top 8, my point is they need to protect the tournament. You and others can say don't compare to D1, but this is pretty simple and common sense. As much as I knock the ncaa the d1 committee is smart enough not to put 3 top 10 teams from the same conference in the same bracket. It is just fundamentally smart and common sense, imo. Something this committee is just not good at, again imo.
The babson/wpi is just the committee being lazy and not caring.
D1 gets a little more leeway. Unless there are nine teams in a conference in the tournament, their rules say conference opponents can't meet until the Elite Eight.
But the thing is, three top ten teams do meet in one bracket every year. That's how the 1-8-9 overall seeds work.
I know but my point is not from the same conference. If they can have WPI/Babson in the wrong spot and we all agree with that, then they could have tweaked the 1-4 or 5-8 and made so that same conference teams don't meet until elite 8. Most everyone would do this, maybe you and others wouldn't.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 04:02:13 PMNo. You're right. I'm wrong. I always get that mixed up in my mind because there was one year it was set up to happen and one of them didn't win. I'm getting old. Apologies.
No need to apologize! I was genuinely curious because that would have been an amazing feat for the conference. Also would have been funny if it happened and the team that wasn't in the conference took home the title.
Map of the 2026 tournament (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1FyC7gcxCnsIQmYqH3IAEWCzK5MZkh4E)
Quote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 12:35:37 PMNow how much am I going to regret saying this? Did I just give a dead horse new life? ;D
Yes. Yes you did. :)
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 04:04:35 PMBut the thing is, three top ten teams do meet in one bracket every year. That's how the 1-8-9 overall seeds work.
Two brackets... don't forget 2-7-10.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2026, 04:04:35 PMD1 gets a little more leeway. Unless there are nine teams in a conference in the tournament, their rules say conference opponents can't meet until the Elite Eight.
But the thing is, three top ten teams do meet in one bracket every year. That's how the 1-8-9 overall seeds work.
D1 actually changed that rule a while back. The current rule is if they played once they can meet in the second round, if they played twice they can meet in the Sweet 16, and if they played three times they can meet in the Elite Eight; but the rules can be relaxed if a conference has 9+ selected.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMNo one that I know thinks this is right or the best for tournament.
I guess no one in this thread counts
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMAgain, you and Ziggy point that the got the seedings right 1-16 going to the elite 8, my point is that you want to do what is best for the tournament.
What does "best for the tournament" mean? I don't think there's a single answer to that.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMFor Tufts and Wesleyan to play in the sweet 16, it not good for the tournament or Trinity/Wesleyan to play in the elite 8.
Why is it not good? The 8th and 9th seeded teams should be playing in the sweet 16. The 1st and 8th seed should be playing in the elite 8. Why should it matter what conference they come from?
If higher seeds won every game as they should in theory, The NESCAC should have 4 teams in the 2nd round (1, 8, 9, 28). The NESCAC should have 3 make the Sweet 16 (1, 8, 9). The NESCAC should have 2 make the Elite Eight (1, 8). The NESCAC should have just 1 team make the final four (1). That's not being prevented by this bracket.
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 03, 2026, 05:07:59 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMNo one that I know thinks this is right or the best for tournament.
I guess no one in this thread counts
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMAgain, you and Ziggy point that the got the seedings right 1-16 going to the elite 8, my point is that you want to do what is best for the tournament.
What does "best for the tournament" mean? I don't think there's a single answer to that.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 10:39:29 AMFor Tufts and Wesleyan to play in the sweet 16, it not good for the tournament or Trinity/Wesleyan to play in the elite 8.
Why is it not good? The 8th and 9th seeded teams should be playing in the sweet 16. The 1st and 8th seed should be playing in the elite 8. Why should it matter what conference they come from?
If higher seeds won every game as they should in theory, The NESCAC should have 4 teams in the 2nd round (1, 8, 9, 28). The NESCAC should have 3 make the Sweet 16 (1, 8, 9). The NESCAC should have 2 make the Elite Eight (1, 8). The NESCAC should have just 1 team make the final four (1). That's not being prevented by this bracket.
I didn't say that, I said anyone I know, I don't know you, lol :)
It means if a conference is loaded and I think a lot of us agree that UAA and NESCAC are by far the best 2 conferences, then you should be able to make sure they don't play conference games, for elite teams, early, that means before elite 8.
Like I said 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16 are usually fairly comparable, not perfect, but it is how D1 looks at this at times. I am not saying move a 4th seeded team to 5th, but you could move them to 3rd, not saying move 5-8 out of 2 seeds, but you could move them around and so forth. This year 1-4 difference is 3.05 points, 5-8 difference is 2.09 points, 9-12 is 1.50 points, 13-16 is .455. 1's are 1's, 2 are 2's, 3 are 3's so on, why not move them up down, it just makes sense and it is what D1 does, so it is not something new. Could easily move Wesleyan up, or Tufts down, or move Trinity to the second spot. They basically told Trinity you are not really the #1 seed as you are going to maybe play a 5th seed in second round. Would never happen in D1.
When you get down to the sweet sixteen, lets say the UAA teams are so much better than anyone else and they knock each other out, how it that doing it correctly. Again, this is my opinion and the way D1 does it. You can use analytics, and I am not against that, but in the end some common sense needs to come into play.
Your last statement, is 100% correct, but what does that mean. Does it mean just give the title to Trinity, of course not. They are #1 in every ranking used I can see (Massey, D3Datacast efficiency, NPI, the voted top 25). Again, IMO, the Committee needed to use common sense. The 3 top UAA (2, 5, 14) teams all have a chance to get to the final 4, the NESCAC the #1 rated conference in the country can only get 1 of the top 9 (1, 8, 9) into the final 4. That is 100% why D1 doesn't do it this way. We are not talking about teams above 20 in rankings, where it doesn't matter.
In this year's bracket the NESCAC can get 3 teams in the Final Four, but that would require upsets to happen. The exact same thing would still be required in your proposal to split up Wesleyan/Tufts/Trinity.
I think the NESCAC just got unlucky to have their teams ranked perfectly to end up in the same quadrant but they're still appropriately placed. The UAA was one spot away from a sweet 16 matchup had WashU or Emory been one spot worse. If Wesleyan or Tufts won a game or two more it wouldn't be an issue.
Ultimately I think the 1-16 seeding was done correctly and you don't. Agree to disagree.
Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 03, 2026, 07:29:44 PMIn this year's bracket the NESCAC can get 3 teams in the Final Four, but that would require upsets to happen. The exact same thing would still be required in your proposal to split up Wesleyan/Tufts/Trinity.
I think the NESCAC just got unlucky to have their teams ranked perfectly to end up in the same quadrant but they're still appropriately placed. The UAA was one spot away from a sweet 16 matchup had WashU or Emory been one spot worse. If Wesleyan or Tufts won a game or two more it wouldn't be an issue.
Ultimately I think the 1-16 seeding was done correctly and you don't. Agree to disagree.
Yes, Bates and Amherst and one of Trinity Tufts Wesleyan could get in so they could get three in. But in the same vein, UAA could get all four of their teams in.
You just actually think, and we will agree to disagree on this, that it's fair that the uaa can get three teams that are in the top 15 into the final four and the NESCAC that has three teams in the top 10 can only get one into the final four. Again D1 would not do this and it's a proven fact they wouldn't do this.
I said earlier, it would be fine if they had two of tufts Wesleyan or Trinity in the same bracket, but having three is not the right way to do it. The number one rated conference in the country by NPI and three top 10 teams by NPI can only get one into the final four. Makes absolutely no sense and would never ever be done this way in D1.
Hot take: any consideration of conference affiliation when forming a bracket shouldn't apply for teams that have only played once during the season. If you're only going to play once in the regular season and not meet up in the conference tournament, there isn't much functional difference between those teams and two teams that play a non-conference game.
There are teams in separate conferences that have played more games against each other than Wesleyan and Tufts have this season. Why should it matter that Wesleyan and Tufts are in the same conference then?
(sorry, I'm still scarred by the year my team faced their rival five times in one season, ending in the second round of the NCAA tournament.)
Ok, I swear I'm done now. :)
Quote from: ziggy on March 03, 2026, 07:56:48 PMHot take: any consideration of conference affiliation when forming a bracket shouldn't apply for teams that have only played once during the season. If you're only going to play once in the regular season and not meet up in the conference tournament, there isn't much functional difference between those teams and two teams that play a non-conference game.
There are teams in separate conferences that have played more games against each other than Wesleyan and Tufts have this season. Why should it matter that Wesleyan and Tufts are in the same conference then?
Ziggy is that from the Committee? Is it just regular season and not including conference playoffs playing twice.
If not then Trinity played both tufts and Wesleyan twice and they are in the same bracket.
You and others I guess just don't believe what the D1 committee does is correct.
There are three conferences that have multiple teams in the top 16. NESCAC is the only one that has more than one team in the same bracket and they have all three in the same bracket. The other two conferences can get two or three (all teams) into the final four yet the number one rated conference in the country can only get one of three.
Again, there is no way that the D1 committee would do it this way. And again to top it all off the number one rated team in the country might have to play a number five seed in the second round.
Common sense, the D1 committee moves same seeded teams around to avoid this. Especially top 10 teams.
What the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.
This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography.
D3BALL
As previously mentioned, you can't say "D1 does this, D1 does that..." That is not an argument when discussing D3. They are completely different and can't be compared to one another. I think we all wish D3 could be a true national tournament. I mean, do you think those Texas schools always want to play each other? It seems like a WIAC school always plays a MIAC school in the early rounds of the tournament. It really seems like a regional tournament until you get past the 1st weekend.
I agree with you. It's disappointing that all three top teams in the same conference are in the same bracket. To a lesser extent, the WIAC has 3 of 4 in the same bracket.
I really don't know if anyone outside the NESCAC, or in previous years, the UAA, have too much sympathy for those two conferences. There always seems to be a thought of unfair advantages for those two conferences for reasons we all know.
Quote from: monsoon on March 03, 2026, 08:46:23 PMWhat the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.
This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography.
Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 03, 2026, 08:49:44 PMD3BALL
As previously mentioned, you can't say "D1 does this, D1 does that..." That is not an argument when discussing D3. They are completely different and can't be compared to one another. I think we all wish D3 could be a true national tournament. I mean, do you think those Texas schools always want to play each other? It seems like a WIAC school always plays a MIAC school in the early rounds of the tournament. It really seems like a regional tournament until you get past the 1st weekend.
I agree with you. It's disappointing that all three top teams in the same conference are in the same bracket. To a lesser extent, the WIAC has 3 of 4 in the same bracket.
I really don't know if anyone outside the NESCAC, or in previous years, the UAA, have too much sympathy for those two conferences. There always seems to be a thought of unfair advantages for those two conferences for reasons we all know.
Again don't disagree, but it could have easily been made better, not perfect but better. And saying D3 is not D1, doesn't mean d3 shouldn't try to do it. It's not rocket science. Moving some same seeded teams to other brackets is not that tough and it is just the lack of caring from the ncaa and the committee and being cheap. With NPI there is no argument who is in and who isn't but its not perfect and after you have the 64 teams there should be common sense and there isn't. I would feel the same way for any conference that it happened too. WIAC, as you said, perfect example as they should move those teams around more.
Tufts and Wesleyan played the same number of times as Tufts and Endicott.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 09:11:06 PMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 03, 2026, 08:49:44 PMD3BALL
As previously mentioned, you can't say "D1 does this, D1 does that..." That is not an argument when discussing D3. They are completely different and can't be compared to one another. I think we all wish D3 could be a true national tournament. I mean, do you think those Texas schools always want to play each other? It seems like a WIAC school always plays a MIAC school in the early rounds of the tournament. It really seems like a regional tournament until you get past the 1st weekend.
I agree with you. It's disappointing that all three top teams in the same conference are in the same bracket. To a lesser extent, the WIAC has 3 of 4 in the same bracket.
I really don't know if anyone outside the NESCAC, or in previous years, the UAA, have too much sympathy for those two conferences. There always seems to be a thought of unfair advantages for those two conferences for reasons we all know.
Again don't disagree, but it could have easily been made better, not perfect but better. And saying D3 is not D1, doesn't mean d3 shouldn't try to do it. It's not rocket science. Moving some same seeded teams to other brackets is not that tough and it is just the lack of caring from the ncaa and the committee and being cheap. With NPI there is no argument who is in and who isn't but its not perfect and after you have the 64 teams there should be common sense and there isn't. I would feel the same way for any conference that it happened too. WIAC, as you said, perfect example as they should move those teams around more.
Yes, this is one of the keys. Being cheap. As far as I know, D3 doesn't make any money. You never hear D1 talking about how many flights they can save. They make all the money. I believe the selection and geography has improved greatly over the years. I imagine it will never be perfect. In the past, it was unheard of flying a West Coast team to the far East.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 08:55:55 PMQuote from: monsoon on March 03, 2026, 08:46:23 PMWhat the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.
This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography.
Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!
It's not good for the NESCAC, perhaps. It doesn't matter for D-III basketball.
No number of posts from you on it is going to change the facts of seedings, or anyone's minds.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 08:25:02 AMQuote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 02, 2026, 11:23:39 PMQuote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 10:43:48 PMQuote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on March 02, 2026, 10:00:23 PMQuote from: Jake Feldman on March 02, 2026, 09:49:50 PMI personally think the NCAA should expand the D3 tournament to 72 teams, since there will be over 425 Division III institutions that at least field one varsity team (mostly both, but 22 single-gender schools like Smith or Wabash) to give more schools a chance to qualify. I would also like to see host institutions be allowed to host both tournaments in the same weekend. (Using a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format, with respect to Yeshiva if they make it). Would any of you get on board with an expanded field and allowing schools to host both men's and women's games in a weekend?
Football expanded from 32 to 40 not long ago but that was needed because there were only 4 or 5 at large spots. There's no way they'd expand basketball to just 72. It'd have to be a significant jump to 80 or 96 and that's not happening unless we get get a mass exodus from D1 to D3.
It would be nice to see schools be able to host both the same weekend, but I'm sure there are some schools that just don't have the ability to (locker rooms, hotels, etc).
Regarding your quote, I see the 72-team field as the perfect size until the inevitable non-revenue share school exodus occurs, and even then, they may either offer scholarships in D2, or be in the non-scholarship divisions (D3 or D4 depending on athletic budgets, travel and history)
The problem is, you're adding an extra round which is great in theory but a lot of trouble in reality. When will it be played? How many extra flights will it cost trying to match these teams up? You'll have just 16 teams playing the opener while 56 don't.
Comparing to football, the expansion would be 25% which would make it 80 teams for basketball. Football went from 12.5% at large bids (4/32) in 2023 to 32.5% (13/40) in 2024. Basketball is already at 32.8% (21/64). Football has roughly 245 teams and 40 tournament bids. That's a ratio of 6.13 teams per bid. Basketball had 404 eligible teams this year I believe. That's a ratio of 6.31 teams per bid. Even a small enlargement to 72 bids would drop that down to 5.61 teams per bid.
Whether it makes sense or not, never going to happen. NCAA is not going to pay more for D3 sports.
Also, the math behind the expansion would make sense, as D1 invites 19%, D2 invites 21%, and NAIA invites 27% of schools. D3 only invites 16% of schools. We either expand the tournaments or a divisional split between bigger-budget leagues like the NESCAC, UAA, and WIAC, and the rest of D3, similar to the Power schools splitting in D1.
We all just need to get some beers, or whatever your beverage of choice may be, together in Fort Wayne. I think we can all agree on that!
Quote from: Patrick Coleman on March 03, 2026, 09:24:03 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 08:55:55 PMQuote from: monsoon on March 03, 2026, 08:46:23 PMWhat the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.
This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography.
Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!
It's not good for the NESCAC, perhaps. It doesn't matter for D-III basketball.
No number of posts from you on it is going to change the facts of seedings, or anyone's minds.
You have no idea whether it's changed anybody's mind!!!!!
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 04, 2026, 01:47:37 AMQuote from: Patrick Coleman on March 03, 2026, 09:24:03 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 08:55:55 PMQuote from: monsoon on March 03, 2026, 08:46:23 PMWhat the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.
This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography.
Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!
It's not good for the NESCAC, perhaps. It doesn't matter for D-III basketball.
No number of posts from you on it is going to change the facts of seedings, or anyone's minds.
You have no idea whether it's changed anybody's mind!!!!!
Dude, chill out. You made your point many times. We don't all agree, and a lot of us know the realities of D3 and the limitations inherent to it. The bracketing in other D3 sports IMO are far worse than the issues basketball faces. Don't even get me started on NESCAC soccer and the huge NPI advantages they get.
End of the day, beat the teams in your bracket. Doesn't matter who it is.
Quote from: blue_jays on March 04, 2026, 10:07:54 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 04, 2026, 01:47:37 AMQuote from: Patrick Coleman on March 03, 2026, 09:24:03 PMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 03, 2026, 08:55:55 PMQuote from: monsoon on March 03, 2026, 08:46:23 PMWhat the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.
This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography.
Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!
It's not good for the NESCAC, perhaps. It doesn't matter for D-III basketball.
No number of posts from you on it is going to change the facts of seedings, or anyone's minds.
You have no idea whether it's changed anybody's mind!!!!!
Dude, chill out. You made your point many times. We don't all agree, and a lot of us know the realities of D3 and the limitations inherent to it. The bracketing in other D3 sports IMO are far worse than the issues basketball faces. Don't even get me started on NESCAC soccer and the huge NPI advantages they get.
End of the day, beat the teams in your bracket. Doesn't matter who it is.
+1, blue_jays! Well stated. You show a 30,000-foot perspective of the playoffs in our beloved D3, shortcomings and all. But still the best of amateur athletics in the USA!
Anyone been able to enter the bracket challenge - I have discovered about 14 different ways for it not to let me in so far.
Quote from: WPI89 on March 04, 2026, 01:13:59 PMAnyone been able to enter the bracket challenge - I have discovered about 14 different ways for it not to let me in so far.
Can you try again and DM or email me (support@d3photography.com) with what you're seeing?
I did reboot a related server a few moments ago but I'm also at my computer working on a feature in development so I can look into anything quickly.
I am in Ryan - thanks for the reset! Good luck with your Feature!
Glad it's working now and much appreciated. Trying to make the process a little more user friendly for mobile devices. Hoping to get it done this afternoon yet.
I believe more than half (33) of this year's participants were not in the field last year. That seems crazy.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 05, 2026, 11:46:37 AMI believe more than half (33) of this year's participants were not in the field last year. That seems crazy.
Don't forget the three debutants this year (Keuka, Belhaven, and MUW)
This thread just doesn't get used anymore for actual games? What a bummer
You know, I don't want AI running all aspects of my life anymore than the average Joe, but with advancements in technology there's just no way a human can do a better job than AI in constructing a tournament bracket. AI should be used to construct the bracket going forward and a human can validate its accuracy.
Feed it the NPI, mileage restrictions, flight limitations, etc. etc.
There were no egregious errors in this year's bracket, but there were plenty of misplaced 2 & 3 seeds, lower ranked (NPI) teams getting better placements, etc.
Why are we settling for 'pretty good' for no good reason?
By next year the technology will be exponentially better. Put ego aside and let the computer do the work. In fact, if anyone hasn't already done so I'd be interested to see what AI would come up with for this year's bracket.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 05, 2026, 11:46:37 AMI believe more than half (33) of this year's participants were not in the field last year. That seems crazy.
That is exciting!
Hey everyone!
Just a quick note to let you know that I did a buuuuuuuunch of updates to d3challenge the last few days that you're just now going to be able to see.
Biggest one is you can download an up-to-date PDF version of your brackets. You need to first review your bracket before you can download the PDF. The PDF also has all the winners and losers clearly marked and shows you where your eliminated teams fall short later in the bracket. At the bottom you will also find a key and the breakdown of your points by round.
Also on the standings pages you will see not just your points but the total possible points you could get the rest of the tournament. You can also view the other brackets in the challenge.
There's a dark mode that you can activate if you want to see the site in a dark space.
Carrying from past years it's possible to get the numbers on who picked what winners in each round... like finding out that 8 brackets had Maine-Farmington winning in the first round.
If you have other ideas on functions for the site please feel free to pop over to the provide support page (https://devchallenge.d3photography.com/support/provide) and drop us an email. Also there's zero advertising on the platform and I hope to keep it that way but development doesn't come free. If you have the ability to help out check out the options on that page as well.
Cheers! And thanks for your support of not just us over at d3photography but also D3hoops.com and the rest of the D3sports.com Network.
Quote from: Ryan Coleman on March 07, 2026, 01:20:14 AMHey everyone!
Just a quick note to let you know that I did a buuuuuuuunch of updates to d3challenge the last few days that you're just now going to be able to see.
Biggest one is you can download an up-to-date PDF version of your brackets. You need to first review your bracket before you can download the PDF. The PDF also has all the winners and losers clearly marked and shows you where your eliminated teams fall short later in the bracket. At the bottom you will also find a key and the breakdown of your points by round.
Also on the standings pages you will see not just your points but the total possible points you could get the rest of the tournament. You can also view the other brackets in the challenge.
There's a dark mode that you can activate if you want to see the site in a dark space.
Carrying from past years it's possible to get the numbers on who picked what winners in each round... like finding out that 8 brackets had Maine-Farmington winning in the first round.
If you have other ideas on functions for the site please feel free to pop over to the provide support page (https://devchallenge.d3photography.com/support/provide) and drop us an email. Also there's zero advertising on the platform and I hope to keep it that way but development doesn't come free. If you have the ability to help out check out the options on that page as well.
Cheers! And thanks for your support of not just us over at d3photography but also D3hoops.com and the rest of the D3sports.com Network.
So, I can't click the "opt out" on the email preference page, even after clicking edit on the top. I can't seem to click anything on that page or through to the challenges.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 07, 2026, 07:40:15 AMSo, I can't click the "opt out" on the email preference page, even after clicking edit on the top. I can't seem to click anything on that page or through to the challenges.
::blank stare::
I'll get that fixed before we send out the first email... I swear I tested all the things before moving to live. Also that explains the surprising 100% retention. I'm more surprised that you're the first one to say anything.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 07, 2026, 07:40:15 AMSo, I can't click the "opt out" on the email preference page, even after clicking edit on the top. I can't seem to click anything on that page or through to the challenges.
This has been fixed in the dev environment and will be included in the nightly update to production. There will be a note in the emails that go out tonight. Hoping to have a couple other new features in there tonight, too, before I have to stop working on this for the next two weeks to focus on indoor track.
Outside of Montclair St being upset in the 1st round and Yeshiva advancing to the Sweet 16, it was chalk. Great job by the committee.
1 Trinity CT v 17 Hood (hosted over #16 Redlands)
8 Wesleyan v 9 Tufts
4 Mary Wash v 13 La Crosse
5 Chicago v 12 Gustavus Adolphus
2 Emory v Yeshiva
7 Endicott v 10 IWU
3 St. Thomas v 14 Wash U
6 RMC v 11 CNU
I'm curious what format would've worked better.
They did 2 rounds this weekend and 1 round next weekend. If I'm correct, that's 56 teams traveling over the two weekends. 3 teams traveling to 16 pods and then 8 teams traveling for the Sweet 16. How many flights were there this weekend and how many are there next weekend?
If they flip the schedule and play one round the 1st weekend, there's 32 teams traveling. Then the 2nd weekend 3 teams are traveling to 8 pods, it's still 56 teams traveling. Would there be more flights the 2nd weekend?
To prevent an extra week between the semis and final, it probably would've been best to have single rounds the first 3 weekends and then the Elite 8 and semis the fourth weekend and final in Indianapolis. I'm assuming Fort Wayne didn't want to move the weekend, so we're stuck with a 2-week gap and playing the Final on Easter Sunday.
Does anyone else find it odd that all 8 Sweet 16 games aren't played on the same day?
https://x.com/i/status/2030524723747016747
It's not like the games are spread out so you can watch all of them.
And why is IWU hosting Endicott?
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 08, 2026, 10:45:43 AMDoes anyone else find it odd that all 8 Sweet 16 games aren't played on the same day?
https://x.com/i/status/2030524723747016747
It's not like the games are spread out so you can watch all of them.
And why is IWU hosting Endicott?
Endicott may be hosting NCAA D3 Ice Hockey tournament games next Saturday, and the Endicott staff wanted to keep that weekend clear for Ray Bourque Arena on the Endicott campus to host them. (Endicott is a well known D3 Ice Hockey power school.) The Gulls just won the CNE AQs for both the Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Tournaments yesterday. As a result, I would not be surprised if Endicott did not bid to host men's basketball third round action.
Puck drop for all NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey first round Tournament games is scheduled for 3 PM EDT next Saturday, and puck drop for all NCAA DIII Men's Ice Hockey first round tournament games is scheduled for 7 PM EDT next Saturday. If Endicott is hosting an NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey tournament game on Saturday, that would affect their ability to host basketball tournament games. If Endicott had to prioritize ice hockey vs basketball for a hosting site, I am not surprised if Endicott chose next weekend to host ice hockey tournament games-- especially since Endicott is going on spring break as of next weekend as well.
Endicott is currently #12 in NPI in women's ice hockey as of this morning, and #2 in the NPI in men's ice hockey. If it holds going into tonight's selection shows, the Endicott men's ice hockey team may get a first round bye and go straight to the second weekend's national quarterfinal round, but the Endicott women's hockey team may be hosting next Saturday at 3 PM ET.
((8:39 PM EDT update-- Sunday, March 8, 2026-- 13 team bracket just announced -- Endicott (#12 NPI in women's ice hockey) women's ice hockey team are playing away at Hamline (at-large pick, #7 in NPI in women's ice hockey) in next Saturday's first round action, with the winner going to a national quarterfinal game the following Saturday at Norwich. (#2 in NPI-- got one of the 3 first round byes)). . UW-River Falls, the defending D3 women's ice hockey champion, is the overall #1 seed, with Nazareth (#3 in NPI, getting the other first round bye.)
BTW, I don't mind spreading out the Sweet 16 DIII Men's Basketball third round over 2 days this year.
Good explanation about the hockey games.
What is the reason of spreading the Sweet 16 games over two days? It's not like the games are at 3, 5 , 7, and 9.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 08, 2026, 10:45:43 AMDoes anyone else find it odd that all 8 Sweet 16 games aren't played on the same day?
https://x.com/i/status/2030524723747016747
It's not like the games are spread out so you can watch all of them.
And why is IWU hosting Endicott?
Exactly on the spread out of games, would be much easier to watch if they were spread out a few hours
UMHB led by 8 over GA at halftime and trailed by 1, 63-64, with 9:24 left and trailed by 5, 70-75, with 4:51 left. The Gusties pulled away from there to win 90-72.
Was home court advantage over a team from 3,000 miles away the difference in #17 Hood over #16 Redlands?
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 08, 2026, 06:24:39 AMOutside of Montclair St being upset in the 1st round and Yeshiva advancing to the Sweet 16, it was chalk. Great job by the committee.
1 Trinity CT v 17 Hood (hosted over #16 Redlands)
8 Wesleyan v 9 Tufts
4 Mary Wash v 13 La Crosse
5 Chicago v 12 Gustavus Adolphus
2 Emory v Yeshiva
7 Endicott v 10 IWU
3 St. Thomas v 14 Wash U
6 RMC v 11 CNU
This should be used as the counter to everyone complaining about the NPI not being an accurate measure of team's ability. If your system can produce 14 of the Top 16 making the Top 16, with another of the last 16 #17, I think it has shown its about as good as one can hope for predictive validity.
Quote from: rdanie03 on March 08, 2026, 06:38:04 PMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 08, 2026, 06:24:39 AMOutside of Montclair St being upset in the 1st round and Yeshiva advancing to the Sweet 16, it was chalk. Great job by the committee.
1 Trinity CT v 17 Hood (hosted over #16 Redlands)
8 Wesleyan v 9 Tufts
4 Mary Wash v 13 La Crosse
5 Chicago v 12 Gustavus Adolphus
2 Emory v Yeshiva
7 Endicott v 10 IWU
3 St. Thomas v 14 Wash U
6 RMC v 11 CNU
This should be used as the counter to everyone complaining about the NPI not being an accurate measure of team's ability. If your system can produce 14 of the Top 16 making the Top 16, with another of the last 16 #17, I think it has shown its about as good as one can hope for predictive validity.
My complaint was not about it being an accurate measure of a team's ability. It was more of you don't put three top 10 teams from the same conference in the same bracket. I've gone back and couldn't find one time, it was done in D1. And if you strictly want to use NPI rankings then do that for every game and shuttle teams all over the country. I know that's not realistic and it's not even done in D1 as they move teams out of certain brackets to keep them home or move them away or move them up and down a seed, even lower seeded teams. I know Babson was not happy being basically a 5th seed team having to play the number one ranked team in the second round away. Done strictly on the NPI, Babson would've been playing a fourth seed or a 3rd seed in the second round. The way Babson had been playing and the way they played against Trinity, they could've easily upset a three seed maybe even a two seat. Also, you have to remember that the way D3 works, it is a home court advantage for most of the top 16 teams. That is a huge advantage.
Maybe Matt or Zach can go back and look at last year and see how many upsets there were of the top 16 NPI.
And if this year, say six teams of the top 16 had lost in the first round, it still wouldn't make the NPI rankings wrong. Most of those teams would've been in the top 16 of the D3 Massey rankings, D3 data cast efficiency rankings, and the top 25 coaches rankings.
Apropro of nothing, the only multi Sweet 16 team conferences are the NESCAC (3), UAA (3) and C2C (2).
It helps to host. Hosts went 30-1 the 1st weekend.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 09, 2026, 09:03:28 AMIt helps to host. Hosts went 30-1 the 1st weekend.
That is just a huge advantage, wonder what it has been like the first weekend the past 5 years.
A team like Trinity has played 10 straight home games the last 3 years in the NCAA's to get to the sweet 16/final 4. They are 10-0 and an average margin of victory of 17 points, only 2 games under 10 points, and 1 of those they had a 16-point lead with 7 minutes left. It sure has been an advantage for them so far.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 09, 2026, 09:03:28 AMIt helps to host. Hosts went 30-1 the 1st weekend.
I think it depends on the year. We usually have at one host lose the first night (Montclair) and then one or two the second. Endicott was close. Hood could've easily lost - Redlands shot so poorly in the second half, that should've come down to the end. Emory was close. WashU was close.
There's an advantage to being at home, for sure, but you also have the advantage of generally being favored in those games to begin with, due to seeding. I think NPI better seeds the tournament, even if its not perfect.
It seems there were more upsets in years past. 15 out of 16 seems really high. You are obviously right, hosting means you're supposed to be favored, so it's no surprise the winning % is usually pretty high for hosts. Well deserved too.
I think my point with the NESCAC, UAA and CC having multiple teams in the Sweet 16 is because, partially, they all hosted. The WIAC got 4 teams in the tournament, but only 1 hosted and, not coincidentally, they are the only ones to advance.
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 09, 2026, 11:15:46 AMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 09, 2026, 09:03:28 AMIt helps to host. Hosts went 30-1 the 1st weekend.
I think it depends on the year. We usually have at one host lose the first night (Montclair) and then one or two the second. Endicott was close. Hood could've easily lost - Redlands shot so poorly in the second half, that should've come down to the end. Emory was close. WashU was close.
There's an advantage to being at home, for sure, but you also have the advantage of generally being favored in those games to begin with, due to seeding. I think NPI better seeds the tournament, even if its not perfect.
... but was a 3,000 mile flight across 3 earlier time zones a factor against Redlands, versus sending Hood (and 2 other schools) to the West Coast?
We geographic orphans/island conferences are a little sensitive about this issue.
I hear ya, Ralph. I guess, in hindsight, I think the nerds came to the conclusion that it could've worked out with the same amount of flights. Yes, huge difference, IMO.
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 09, 2026, 12:06:17 PMQuote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 09, 2026, 11:15:46 AMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 09, 2026, 09:03:28 AMIt helps to host. Hosts went 30-1 the 1st weekend.
I think it depends on the year. We usually have at one host lose the first night (Montclair) and then one or two the second. Endicott was close. Hood could've easily lost - Redlands shot so poorly in the second half, that should've come down to the end. Emory was close. WashU was close.
There's an advantage to being at home, for sure, but you also have the advantage of generally being favored in those games to begin with, due to seeding. I think NPI better seeds the tournament, even if its not perfect.
... but was a 3,000 mile flight across 3 earlier time zones a factor against Redlands, versus sending Hood (and 2 other schools) to the West Coast?
We geographic orphans/island conferences are a little sensitive about this issue.
I mean, that definitely had something to do with it, right? Bridgeland hasn't been quiet about his feelings that if they'd hosted they would've advanced - and it certainly would've been easier to do.
The refs were not great in that game. I thought they were pros and adjusted well overall. Neither team liked how the game was officiated (Hood was in a ton of foul trouble all game), but obviously that kind of officiating always hurts Redlands more than their opponent.
At the same time, Redlands was getting good shots and o-boards, and everything they needed to win. There were a ton of empty possessions and missed layups down the stretch.
Yes, Redlands would've had an easier time at home. They should've had that opportunity. The committee missed on that. At the same time, Redlands could've won that game exactly how it was, foul trouble and all. They missed shots.
... and Hood hit their FTs down the stretch.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 09, 2026, 09:41:45 AMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 09, 2026, 09:03:28 AMIt helps to host. Hosts went 30-1 the 1st weekend.
That is just a huge advantage, wonder what it has been like the first weekend the past 5 years.
I went back just to last year's, and hosts went 22-8 if I counted right. I'd have to do more digging to see how stuff was pre-NPI.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 09, 2026, 12:02:26 PMIt seems there were more upsets in years past. 15 out of 16 seems really high. You are obviously right, hosting means you're supposed to be favored, so it's no surprise the winning % is usually pretty high for hosts. Well deserved too.
You are right about fewer upsets, and it wasn't just among hosts.
This last weekend saw favorites out-perform expectation according to D3 Datacast efficiency ratings win probabilities by about 2.5 wins each day. This was a flip from the first weekend last year when underdogs out-performed by about 3.5 wins each day.
Interesting that while upsets were down this year, it brings things pretty well in line with expectations over a two year span.
Back to Endicott having to go to IWU, great explanation as to why! Funny thing is, the hockey teams aren't hosting this weekend, so they could have hosted men's basketball!
Men's ice hockey got a bye and is hosting on Saturday, March 21st. Women's ice hockey is going to Hamline. Seems like a lost opportunity for the Gulls.
I guess they didn't want to risk it? Huge advantage for IWU. There'll be 2500 at the Shirk.
It seems like there are indications that it was purely a miss on Endicott's part and there wasn't a reason they couldn't host besides not submitting to.
Quote from: el_jefe_90 on March 10, 2026, 11:54:27 AMBack to Endicott having to go to IWU, great explanation as to why! Funny thing is, the hockey teams aren't hosting this weekend, so they could have hosted men's basketball!
Men's ice hockey got a bye and is hosting on Saturday, March 21st. Women's ice hockey is going to Hamline. Seems like a lost opportunity for the Gulls.
Unfortunately, Endicott had to make that decision on whether or not they wanted to host an NCAA basketball tournament game on the weekend of March 14 back in the middle of February when the paperwork for the hosting bids were due. Given the possibility that they could also be in a position to host women's and/or men's ice hockey that same weekend, Endicott may have chosen to play it safe and file bids just for hockey for that weekend, not knowing in advance the position of both hockey teams. Hindsight is 20/20.
Quote from: deiscanton on March 10, 2026, 12:40:31 PMQuote from: el_jefe_90 on March 10, 2026, 11:54:27 AMBack to Endicott having to go to IWU, great explanation as to why! Funny thing is, the hockey teams aren't hosting this weekend, so they could have hosted men's basketball!
Men's ice hockey got a bye and is hosting on Saturday, March 21st. Women's ice hockey is going to Hamline. Seems like a lost opportunity for the Gulls.
Unfortunately, Endicott had to make that decision on whether or not they wanted to host an NCAA basketball tournament game on the weekend of March 14 back in the middle of February when the paperwork for the hosting bids were due. Given the possibility that they could also be in a position to host women's and/or men's ice hockey that same weekend, Endicott may have chosen to play it safe and file bids just for hockey for that weekend, not knowing in advance the position of both hockey teams. Hindsight is 20/20.
I guess they did they not realize they could still turn it down if they got that far. I heard same thing happened last year at Trinity for 2nd weekend, but they got lucky as none of the 4 teams filed, so NCAA went back at Trinity and asked if they wanted it since they were the highest seed.
Here's some trivia for you...NCAA men's basketball...DI D2 and D3...since 2016....only two schools have reached the Sweet 16 round 8 times! Can you name them?
I did a copy and paste from a text I received asking me this. I eventually got it correct.
Quote from: CNU85 on March 10, 2026, 08:49:49 PMHere's some trivia for you...NCAA men's basketball...DI D2 and D3...since 2016....only two schools have reached the Sweet 16 round 8 times! Can you name them?
I did a copy and paste from a text I received asking me this. I eventually got it correct.
CNU makes sense. I'll go with Gonzaga from D1?
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 10, 2026, 09:26:53 PMQuote from: CNU85 on March 10, 2026, 08:49:49 PMHere's some trivia for you...NCAA men's basketball...DI D2 and D3...since 2016....only two schools have reached the Sweet 16 round 8 times! Can you name them?
I did a copy and paste from a text I received asking me this. I eventually got it correct.
CNU makes sense. I'll go with Gonzaga from D1?
Bingo!
Emory 101 Yeshiva 80
https://d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2025-26/boxscores/20260313_jwcz.xml?view=boxscore
St. Thomas 65 Wash U 63
https://d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2025-26/boxscores/20260313_lpqn.xml?view=boxscore
CNU 59 RMC 57
https://d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2025-26/boxscores/20260313_otgh.xml?view=boxscore
IWU 83 Endicott 77
https://d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2025-26/boxscores/20260313_16i2.xml?view=boxscore
So it's Emory vs IWU and CNU vs St. Thomas
St. Thomas v CNU 1 pm
Emory v IWU 3:30 pm
Trinity CT v Tufts 6:30
Chicago v Mary Washington 9:00 pm.
Are there any Mac & Bob's-type places in Fort Wayne that fans are going to?
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 18, 2026, 05:23:48 PMAre there any Mac & Bob's-type places in Fort Wayne that fans are going to?
We tend to hang out at the hotel restaurants downtown. Henry's is a few blocks from the team hotels and stays open late. Folks tend to hang out there as well.
On the eve of tomorrow's games it seems to me that if you take a step back and appreciate what Tufts is doing across men's sports if they go on to win the championship then the university can claim something akin to the Tiger Slam.
Consider what trophies they'd currently retain:
Soccer
Lacrosse (2 x defending champs and probably safe to pencil them in for this year's as well)
Basketball (TBD)
So, you might say that's only 3 sports, whereas Tiger won all 4 majors. True, but a championship in all 3 collegiate seasons (fall, winter, and spring) is pretty special. Tiger only won in 2 seasons. I'd need to see him tame Bethpage Black in February.
Meanwhile, the Tufts Baseball team has started 7-1, Massey #9. Don't sleep on that team or their coach.
And then of course the conference is going to begin competing in the Football playoffs in 2026. They aren't a powerhouse in that sport yet, but it won't hurt recruiting to know that playoffs are now in the offing.
Quote from: BaboNation on March 18, 2026, 05:55:03 PMOn the eve of tomorrow's games it seems to me that if you take a step back and appreciate what Tufts is doing across men's sports if they go on to win the championship then the university can claim something akin to the Tiger Slam.
Consider what trophies they'd currently retain:
Soccer
Lacrosse (2 x defending champs and probably safe to pencil them in for this year's as well)
Basketball (TBD)
So, you might say that's only 3 sports, whereas Tiger won all 4 majors. True, but a championship in all 3 collegiate seasons (fall, winter, and spring) is pretty special. Tiger only won in 2 seasons. I'd need to see him tame Bethpage Black in February.
Meanwhile, the Tufts Baseball team has started 7-1, Massey #9. Don't sleep on that team or their coach.
And then of course the conference is going to begin competing in the Football playoffs in 2026. They aren't a powerhouse in that sport yet, but it won't hurt recruiting to know that playoffs are now in the offing.
Tufts is on a great run across the board in athletics. They've emerged as a legit national power in most of their sports and seem to be only going up.
However, nothing will touch what Wisconsin-Whitewater did in the 2013-14 academic year: they won national title in football, men's basketball, and baseball. A truly unbelievable feat.
Quote from: blue_jays on March 18, 2026, 06:39:36 PMQuote from: BaboNation on March 18, 2026, 05:55:03 PMOn the eve of tomorrow's games it seems to me that if you take a step back and appreciate what Tufts is doing across men's sports if they go on to win the championship then the university can claim something akin to the Tiger Slam.
Consider what trophies they'd currently retain:
Soccer
Lacrosse (2 x defending champs and probably safe to pencil them in for this year's as well)
Basketball (TBD)
So, you might say that's only 3 sports, whereas Tiger won all 4 majors. True, but a championship in all 3 collegiate seasons (fall, winter, and spring) is pretty special. Tiger only won in 2 seasons. I'd need to see him tame Bethpage Black in February.
Meanwhile, the Tufts Baseball team has started 7-1, Massey #9. Don't sleep on that team or their coach.
And then of course the conference is going to begin competing in the Football playoffs in 2026. They aren't a powerhouse in that sport yet, but it won't hurt recruiting to know that playoffs are now in the offing.
Tufts is on a great run across the board in athletics. They've emerged as a legit national power in most of their sports and seem to be only going up.
However, nothing will touch what Wisconsin-Whitewater did in the 2013-14 academic year: they won national title in football, men's basketball, and baseball. A truly unbelievable feat.
Without doing a deep dive I'll concede that UW-W is the current gold standard. But I think Tufts would be in the same conversation if they were to win MBB this year.
Going forward there's no getting around the NESCAC dominance in team sports once they've entered the playoff picture in sports: Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Hockey (legendary runs with Middlebury; recently not so much). Baseball is probably an outlier, although the '08 Trinity team (with which I have some familiarity) is arguably the greatest modern-era team across any NESCAC sport. Football will be interesting. It may take a while, but I believe they'll be a factor.
As a fan of a team that goes head to head with NESCAC teams and competes with those teams in recruiting I respect their achievements and never underestimate their power.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 18, 2026, 05:23:48 PMAre there any Mac & Bob's-type places in Fort Wayne that fans are going to?
There are bunch of places you can go. Irish bar, Mexican just walk around you will find one you like.
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 18, 2026, 11:21:34 PMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 18, 2026, 05:23:48 PMAre there any Mac & Bob's-type places in Fort Wayne that fans are going to?
There are bunch of places you can go. Irish bar, Mexican just walk around you will find one you like.
I was curious about an unofficial designated place that fans hangout at, not just any place. If you've ever been to the Final Four in Salem, Mac & Bob's was that place.
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 19, 2026, 07:39:34 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 18, 2026, 11:21:34 PMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 18, 2026, 05:23:48 PMAre there any Mac & Bob's-type places in Fort Wayne that fans are going to?
There are bunch of places you can go. Irish bar, Mexican just walk around you will find one you like.
I was curious about an unofficial designated place that fans hangout at, not just any place. If you've ever been to the Final Four in Salem, Mac & Bob's was that place.
Not sure on that. Parents hang out at hotels as Ryan said. Unless a local team is here, like Trine a few years ago, not a ton of fans come out.
Were the Elite 8 games behind a paywall? If so, ridiculous!
There were four outstanding games yesterday. 3 of the 4 really went down to the wire while the Chicago v Mary Washington was still in doubt late in the game. Some outstanding individual performances as well.
https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2025-26/schedule?date=20260319
The most exciting game was the IWU v Emory game with Mason Funk putting on a show and Emory being Emory.
Trinity v Tufts was a real physical grind.
St.Thomas missed a ton of FTs in a defensive battle.
Chicago v Mary Washington was a battle of height vs quickness. Balanced scoring was also the name of the game with both teams having 4 players in double-figures.
Two great games tomorrow with Emory v CNU and Trinity v Mary Washington, along with the all-star game.
I'm going Emory v Trinity heading to Indy.
ESPN+ has the right to every game of the d3 tournament. They can put them all behind a paywall. They don't do it early, because they want a level of production our schools can't generally provide.
However, bringing the final eight to the site of the final four, where they're already bringing in a production crew, it made sense for them to broadcast the games on their platform. They're already paying for the rights anyway.
Looks like you can sign up for a 5 day trial on Fubo and get ESPN
Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 20, 2026, 09:33:02 AMESPN+ has the right to every game of the d3 tournament. They can put them all behind a paywall. They don't do it early, because they want a level of production our schools can't generally provide.
However, bringing the final eight to the site of the final four, where they're already bringing in a production crew, it made sense for them to broadcast the games on their platform. They're already paying for the rights anyway.
They need to make these games free to watch, its D3.
Was the NCAA/Fort Wayne too embarrassed to release attendance numbers for the Elite 8. None of the box scores on this site had attendence numbers listed.
Obviously St. Thomas only had a handful of fans. CNU and Mary Washington did ok. Trinity and Tufts were small (Tufts pretty vocal). IWU had the biggest and a band, disappointed in Chicago's numbers. Emory was decent.
1,281 combined attendance was the number I heard.
Quote from: KnightSlappy on March 21, 2026, 10:18:10 AM1,281 combined attendance was the number I heard.
Does that include media?
Little over 300 per game, not good.
Hopefully today attracts more local fans.
Should have combined it with bowling. The PBA was in Fort Wayne this week for the Indiana Classic. The televised finals are tomorrow and I bet that will have at least 200-300 in attendance.
The numbers are disappointing, but not surprising. I don't know what the Thursday numbers were last year, though.
I was disappointed in Chicago's numbers. 3 hours away? You could literally leave after work and make the game. Not sure about Spring Break etc. Outside of IWU, everyone else was pretty far away. I'm not sure if Fort Wayne is a basketball town, but not too many folk on the opposite side of the team fans either.
Obviously Wisconsin is more out of the way, but the Fox Valley seems to be a basketball hot bed, an hour from Milwaukee, an hour from Green Bay. Oshkosh Arena, where the Wisconsin Herd play (Bucks G-League affiliate) would be a perfect spot. Seats about 4,500. I know I've mentioned this before.
Anyway, hopefully a move to Pittsburgh will attract more of the East Coast fans if their team qualifies. I'll be real hard pressed to drive 9 hours to Pittsburgh unless Point is in it. As a fan, I'll never like this Thursday/Saturday format.
I enjoyed this year's Elite 8, some really good games, but I didn't have any interest staying two more nights to see 2 games today. But that's just me.
Mary Washington wins. On to the final. This is the second trip to a national championship for Marcus Kahn. He takes his second different school to a national championship game. I saw that a couple other coaches took 2 different teams to a final four. How many have taken 2 teams to a final? Congrats to Mary Washington and Coach Kahn.
Quote from: mailsy on March 21, 2026, 10:13:55 PMMary Washington wins. On to the final. This is the second trip to a national championship for Marcus Kahn. He takes his second different school to a national championship game. I saw that a couple other coaches took 2 different teams to a final four. How many have taken 2 teams to a final? Congrats to Mary Washington and Coach Kahn.
None others. He's the first.
For the Chinese it's the year of the Horse. For D3 hoops it's the year of the Eagles.
The margins of victory were 3, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 14.
Pretty impressive weekend. I don't regret leaving Friday, but I definitely missed 2 great games last night.
Good luck to Emory and Mary Washington.
Time to become a Mary Wash fan for 1 game! Congrats to the Eagles.
CNU hung tough for most of the game and just didn't have enough in the tank for the last few minutes. Emory is too good of a team to mount a comeback.
We will be back.
Quote from: CNU85 on March 22, 2026, 10:40:52 AMTime to become a Mary Wash fan for 1 game! Congrats to the Eagles.
CNU hung tough for most of the game and just didn't have enough in the tank for the last few minutes. Emory is too good of a team to mount a comeback.
We will be back.
I would think (before seeing final rosters) CNU would be preseason top 3.
The last time Coach Kahn took his team to a final Cabrini was ranked no.5 and this Mary Washington team was also ranked 5th at the end of the regular season. This time his team is ranked behind their opponent(Emory no.2 vs Whitewater no.8) in 2012 Final.
Rooting for Marcus and UMW to win it all!
If you will be rooting for the 🦅 Eagles 🦅 in the National Championship game, you're guaranteed to be a winner! 😉
Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 19, 2026, 07:39:34 AMQuote from: D3BBALL on March 18, 2026, 11:21:34 PMQuote from: Greek Tragedy on March 18, 2026, 05:23:48 PMAre there any Mac & Bob's-type places in Fort Wayne that fans are going to?
There are bunch of places you can go. Irish bar, Mexican just walk around you will find one you like.
I was curious about an unofficial designated place that fans hangout at, not just any place. If you've ever been to the Final Four in Salem, Mac & Bob's was that place.
Greek,
In your honor, I had a fine Cuban sandwich at Mac and Bob's last night, celebrating defeating 91 consecutive winner NYU Thursday; unfortunately, Scranton couldn't close out a 3-pt lead with 8 mins to go yesterday for the chip.
Quote from: BaboNation on March 22, 2026, 11:33:08 AMQuote from: CNU85 on March 22, 2026, 10:40:52 AMTime to become a Mary Wash fan for 1 game! Congrats to the Eagles.
CNU hung tough for most of the game and just didn't have enough in the tank for the last few minutes. Emory is too good of a team to mount a comeback.
We will be back.
I would think (before seeing final rosters) CNU would be preseason top 3.
Could be. CNU loses one senior. UMW has zero seniors. There's always the transfer portal issue, but I'm not too worried about that. I'm not sure about the other top teams. Maybe I will do some research in the off season.
Quote from: CNU85 on March 23, 2026, 08:12:49 AMQuote from: BaboNation on March 22, 2026, 11:33:08 AMQuote from: CNU85 on March 22, 2026, 10:40:52 AMTime to become a Mary Wash fan for 1 game! Congrats to the Eagles.
CNU hung tough for most of the game and just didn't have enough in the tank for the last few minutes. Emory is too good of a team to mount a comeback.
We will be back.
I would think (before seeing final rosters) CNU would be preseason top 3.
Could be. CNU loses one senior. UMW has zero seniors. There's always the transfer portal issue, but I'm not too worried about that. I'm not sure about the other top teams. Maybe I will do some research in the off season.
IWU loses two rotation guys, one starter, but gets Fridman (PG) back from injury. They should be better next year than this year, at least talent-wise.
Gustavus loses three rotation guys, but their top three scorers are all juniors or sophomores.
Trinity and Tufts should reload pretty well. I think Wesleyan has a good core and Amherst is super young.
CMS brings back most of their team. Redlands is pretty much always loaded, even if they lose a bunch of guys.
Chapman and Babson are both really young, but they may be a year away.
Emory loses the back court, but not much else. They should be good again.
WashU is quite young.
There will be a lot of good teams.
In talent-rich Houston, I think that St Thomas just re-loads. Coach Anthony Medina has come home to his alma mater. I can foresee 2 pathways for him: (1) building a 20-year dynasty and winning 500 games or (2) winning a national championship and then getting a coaching offer that he cannot refuse and St Thomas cannot counter-offer.