Bump with an update from the expanding SUNYAC

Provisional Pipeline for 2025-26
Full Membership: Hartford, Lyon (expected)
3rd year provisional members: Carlow (expected)
2nd year provisional members: Penn State-Brandywine (expected)
1st year provisional members: Regent, Johnson and Wales (NC) (expected)
Applications expected: Azusa Pacific (reclassification from D2), St. Francis (PA) (reclassification from D1)

Provisional Pipeline for 2026-27
Exploratory: Azusa Pacific (reclassification from D2), St. Francis (PA) (reclassification from D1)

*Games against Year 3 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for NPI and tournament selection purposes (possibly changing to include provisionals that conform to all D3 bylaws but may be earlier in the pipeline)

Conference Changes Starting in 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Bryn Athyn (UEC) drops athletics
Ferrum leaves the ODAC for D2
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
Hendrix leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Hiram leaves the NCAC for the PAC
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
Johnson & Wales (NC) joins the C2C
Johnson & Wales (RI) leaves the GNAC for the CNE
Keystone (UEC) is doing the limbo, but allowed to play
LeTourneau leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Northland closes
Regent joins the C2C
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
St. Elizabeth leaves the UEC for the AEC
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2026-2027
Alfred State leaves the AMCC for the SUNYAC
Asuza Pacific joins the SCIAC (full NCAA member 2028-29 academic year)
Luther leaves the ARC for the MWC
Maryville leaves the CCS for the SAA
McMurry leaves the SCAC for the ASC
Neumann leaves the AEC for the MAC(?CF?)
New Jersey City leaves the NJAC for the CUNYAC
Rosemont (UEC) ceases athletics (merging into Villanova)
St. Francis (PA) joins the PAC (full NCAA member 2028-29 academic year)
Schreiner leaves the SCAC for the ASC
SUNY Cobleskill leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Delhi leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY New Paltz leaves the SUNYAC for the NJAC

QuoteI wonder if Gordon has heard anything and could or would shed any light?

Sorry, I haven't been on this page in a while.

All of the DelVal scuttlebutt is news to me. I wasn't aware of the Gates foundation stuff or the Penn State overture. Improvements to the facilities there would certainly be welcome, though I'm quite comfortable in the football press box nowadays.

My uninformed impression is that it's better to stay independent and strong than to pulled into the Penn State orbit where you're subject to the fortunes of the larger branch campus system (which is not healthy), the needs of D1 Penn State, political crosswinds, etc.

But if the alternative is to stay independent and weak, then maybe Penn State is worth it?

On the other question, yes, I'm aware of the rumors regarding another MAC school being in trouble. I hope nothing happens to that school because I'm very fond of that community, but I have no special insight into their situation.

Northland College announced it will close at the end of this academic year.

https://www.northland.edu/closure/

No impact on men's basketball, but Mount Mary will be leaving NCAA and joining NAIA in 2025-26.

https://mtmaryathletics.com/general/2024-25/releases/20241008g7tlho

Provisional Pipeline for 2024-25 (Now confirmed)
Full membership: Asbury, Warren Wilson
3rd year provisional members: Hartford, Lyon
2nd year provisional members: Carlow
1st year provisional: Penn State-Brandywine (I don't see a report on this one yet)

Exploratory: Regent, Johnson and Wales (NC)

Mayville State withdrew from the exploratory process. The Membership Committee also recommended reducing the reclassification process from three to two years and asked for more information on the proposed merger of Bluffton University with D2 Findlay.

* Games against Year 3 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Conference Changes Starting in 2024-2025
Asbury joins the CCS
Berea leaves the CCS for the HCAC
Birmingham-Southern (SAA) closes
Brockport leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
Cabrini (AEC) closes
Clarks Summit (UEC) closes
Concordia (Texas) leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Defiance (HCAC) leaves D3 for NAIA
Eastern Nazarene (NAC) closes
Fontbonne athletics in limbo? (closing in 2025-26)
McMurry leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Morrisville State leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
Penn State-Brandywine joins the UEC (provisional pending)
Pratt leaves the C2C for the AEC
SUNY Canton leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Geneseo leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
SUNY Poly leaves the NAC for the E8
Texas-Dallas leaves the ASC for D2 (application accepted)
University of the Ozarks leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Wells (AMCC) closes
CCS expected to gain Pool A bid
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Ferrum leaves the ODAC for D2 (application pending)
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
Hendrix leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Hiram leaves the NCAC for the PAC
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
Johnson & Wales (RI) leaves the GNAC for the CCC
LeTourneau leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2026-2027
SUNY New Paltz leaves the SUNYAC for the NJAC

Provisional Pipeline for 2024-25 (Assumed, not confirmed)
Full membership: Asbury, Warren Wilson
3rd year provisional members: Hartford, Lyon
2nd year provisional members: Carlow
1st year provisional: Penn State-Brandywine

Exploratory: Regent, Mayville State, Johnson and Wales (NC)

* Games against Year 3 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Conference Changes Starting in 2024-2025
Asbury joins the CCS
Berea leaves the CCS for the HCAC
Birmingham-Southern (SAA) closes
Brockport leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
Cabrini (AEC) closes
Clarks Summit (UEC) closes
Concordia (Texas) leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Defiance (HCAC) leaves D3 for NAIA
Eastern Nazarene (NAC) closes
Fontbonne athletics in limbo? (closing in 2025-26)
McMurry leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Morrisville State leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
Penn State-Brandywine joins the UEC (provisional pending)
Pratt leaves the C2C for the AEC
SUNY Canton leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Geneseo leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
SUNY Poly leaves the NAC for the E8
Texas-Dallas leaves the ASC for D2 (application process pending)
University of the Ozarks leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Wells (AMCC) closes
CCS expected to gain Pool A bid
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Ferrum leaves the ODAC for D2 (application pending)
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
Hendrix leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Hiram leaves the NCAC for the PAC
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
Johnson & Wales (RI) leaves the GNAC for the CCC
LeTourneau leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2026-2027
SUNY New Paltz leaves the SUNYAC for the NJAC

Good stuff, Berewyn. Thanks.

Provisional Pipeline for 2024-25 (Assumed, not confirmed)
Full membership: Asbury, Warren Wilson
3rd year provisional members: Hartford, Lyon
2nd year provisional members: Carlow
1st year provisional: Penn State-Brandywine

Exploratory: Regent, Mayville State, Johnson and Wales (NC)

* Games against Year 3 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Conference Changes Starting in 2024-2025
Asbury joins the CCS
Berea leaves the CCS for the HCAC
Birmingham-Southern (SAA) closes
Brockport leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
Cabrini (AEC) closes
Concordia (Texas) leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Defiance (HCAC) leaves D3 for NAIA
Eastern Nazarene (NAC) closes
Fontbonne athletics in limbo? (closing in 2025-26)
Johnson & Wales (RI) leaves the GNAC for the CCC
McMurry leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Morrisville State leaves the UEC for the SUNYAC
Penn State-Brandywine joins the UEC (provisional pending)
Pratt leaves the C2C for the AEC
SUNY Canton leaves the NAC for the SUNYAC
SUNY Geneseo leaves the SUNYAC for the E8
SUNY Poly leaves the NAC for the E8
Texas-Dallas leaves the ASC for D2 (application process pending)
University of the Ozarks leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Wells (AMCC) closes
CCS expected to gain Pool A bid
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Conference Changes Starting in 2025-2026
Anna Maria leaves GNAC for the MASCAC
Ferrum leaves the ODAC for D2 (application pending)
Fontbonne (SLIAC) closes
Hendrix leaves the SAA for the SCAC
Hiram leaves the NCAC for the PAC
John Carroll leaves the OAC for the NCAC
LeTourneau leaves the ASC for the SCAC
Southwestern leaves the SCAC for the SAA
SUNY New Paltz leaves the SUNYAC for ?TBD?
Trinity (Texas) leaves the SCAC for the SAA
Expecting 43 Pool A bids, 0 Pool B bids, 21 Pool C bids

Big ups to Misericordia (including Lefty2 if he's lurking) for winning the D3baseball title!

https://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/2024/world-series-d3cs-game-two

MAC Freedom doesn't get too many national titles.

Big ups to Misericordia (including Lefty2 if he's lurking) for winning the D3baseball title!

https://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/2024/world-series-d3cs-game-two

MAC Freedom doesn't get too many national titles.

Sorry to see her go, but the Prairie Stars got a good head coach, to go with their very entertaining nickname.

https://uisprairiestars.com/news/2024/5/31/womens-basketball-olivia-lett-takes-the-helm-of-uis-womens-basketball-program.aspx

Speaking of Scranton coaches, former head coach Nick DiPillo was just named head coach at D2 Le Moyne, up near Syracuse.

https://lemoynedolphins.com/news/2024/5/23/wbbDiPilloHire.aspx

Wells announced it is closing at the end of this academic year.

https://www.wells.edu/announcement-of-closure/

Oh! Good catch.

Our men's basketball Top 25 archive has been updated through the end of the 2023-24 season.

Here are some nuggets from last season's national rankings.

Road to the top

Trine became the fourth team ever to win the national championship despite not being ranked in our preseason Top 25. The Thunder join Nebraska Wesleyan (2017-18), UW-Whitewater (2011-12), and Otterbein (2001-02). Trine appeared in the middle of a bunch of teams that "also received votes" in the preseason poll.

Trine had a rollercoaster ride to the top of the rankings: Unranked...24...19...12...11...7...3...2...7...9...13...1

First time for everything

Four teams made their first appearance in the Top 25. Coe is the only one that also finished the season nationally ranked. The others were Hood, Redlands, and Shenandoah.

Hitting the highwater mark

In addition to Trine and the four Top 25 debutants, five other teams reached their highest Top 25 placement last season: John Carroll (No. 1), Case Western (2), Trinity (Conn.) (3), Oswego State (4), and Cal Lutheran (8).

In the long run

Here are the five longest runs of consecutive Top 25 appearances entering next season:
1st Randolph-Macon: 83 straight (Every poll since Week 1 of the 2017-18 season)
T-2nd John Carroll: 28
T-2nd Keene State: 28
4th John Carroll: 23
5th Hampden-Sydney: 21

There was some movement in the list of programs with the most Top 25 appearances. Illinois Wesleyan and Randolph-Macon are now tied with Whitworth for the eighth most appearances (189). Williams has tied St. Thomas (Minn.) for fifth place all time and will likely pass the now-D1 Tommies next season.

The three programs with the most appearances remain Wooster (249), UW-Stevens Point (240), and Amherst (237), though none appeared in last season's national rankings. WashU (234) could move as high as second next season, unless the Pointers and Mammoths return to the rankings.