I love that song! Let's hear it for Faster Pussycat.

I think Sammi Beyer is the best returning player in the conference (hence her preseason All-American selection) but who else should I watch?

Give me the best player on each team.

Thanks, Greg.

I was hoping you'd enjoy it. It was a pleasure to talk to Coach McCarrell and Coach Bosko Djurickovic, who's always a great chat.

I really enjoy writing these pieces since it gives me a chance to connect with D3's past greats.

You're on!

QuoteDoing well... Living in south Florida at Delray Beach. Love the lifestyle. Beach, Boat, Golf, Tennis, Fish, Bike, etc. year round outdoors. Such a healthy lifestyle. Was hard leaving Doylestown, but much of my family now is leaving as well and heading south to the Carolinas or Florida. I make up back there a couple of times a year usually but probably will be less and less as more family moves south. I follow DVU from a distance. Be well.

Glad you're doing well. Delray Beach sounds pretty sweet.

Lefty:

Congrats to your guys, so far! Who would've thunk that Miseri/Eastern would be the de facto title game!

Has to be a little divine intervention in there, right?

Ha. Didn't realize you're still lurking about! Hope you're doing well.

JM:

Check your personal messages. I sent you something a week or so ago

Last week was definitely disappointing, especially the play along both lines. It's hard to win when you get outgained on the ground 237-61 and have zero sacks (a stunning stat considering DelVal's run of front-seven All-americans).

But hopefully today will be better. The coaches on the staff have had recruiting responsibilities for a while and know what it takes to win.

Provisional Pipeline for 2025-26 (now confirmed)
Full Membership: Hartford, Lyon
3rd year provisional members: none
2nd year provisional members: Carlow, Penn State-Brandywine
1st year provisional members: Regent, Johnson and Wales (NC)

Provisional Pipeline for 2026-27
Applications expected: 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 D3 member 2028-29 academic year)
Luther leaves the ARC for the MWC
Maryville leaves the CCS for the SAA
Marywood leaves the AEC for the MAC Freedom
McMurry leaves the SCAC for the ASC
Neumann leaves the AEC for the MAC Commonwealth
New Jersey City leaves the NJAC for the CUNYAC
Rosemont (UEC) ceases athletics (merging into Villanova)
St. Francis (PA) joins the PAC (full D3 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

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