As to their basketball front, not having a coach this time of year has to be playing havoc for recruiting and even returning players.  Quite a possible downfall for a program that was in Final Four just a year ago.

There's a lot of bad news in the Guilford article.  I remember three years ago that GC was having issues, but I had no idea that the situation was as dire as this article outlined.  Good luck to them.

Bryn Athyn is dropping all athletic  programs.  Their last men's basketball game ever is a loss to HSC.

Another PA school, St. Francis is dropping from DI to DIII.

^^^  Thanks for your post and congratulations to these three gentlemen!

Jknezek, great analysis on your part, as you always do.

^^^  I'm with you, rooting for Trinity.  It's the only one of the four that I've been on campus.

My thoughts on the ODAC season and where things go next season.  Overall, probably a disappointing tournament for the ODAC, getting four teams in was a nice plus, but not getting anyone into the final 8 is disappointing.  HSC and RMC clearly underperformed at the end of the season.  Both were highly rated during the season, but failed early in the ODAC tournament.  I think they both also exited the NCAA earlier than expected.  RC probably over performed, going to the ODAC final and into the third round of NCAA.  GC, as well, overperformed by winning ODAC.

Looking into next season, RMC returns the whole team.  They need to find a PF or two next season.  HSC loses Brazil, who is the best ODAC player since Buzz.  He'll be a huge loss for HSC.  Not sure how RC or GC will look next season.  Overall, the ODAC next season will be even more balanced as a league, as VWU and others challenges again.

The Final Four is represented by only two conferences, but these schools have even more in common and in many ways are not typical of most DIII colleges.

Interestingly, these four colleges are some of the most highly rated academic colleges, not only in DIII, but at all levels.  Also, these colleges have huge endowments, all four over $1B, with Wash U. at $11.5B.  The student enrollments are also higher than most DIII schools.

Given these commonalities, do their athletic department have commonalities?  For example, do these large endowments give their athletic departments an advantage over other DIII programs.  Or, is this final four just an anomaly?

Additionally, are there common threads in their basketball teams, such as style of play or roster makeup?

Are all of my comments just bull, or is there something there?

Likewise, HSC would likely need NYU and Tufts to lose for second weekend hosting.

^^^  I had that same question initially.  Whereas, CNU Women are highly ranked in the poll, I think they're only #20 in NPI, outside the Top 16 for hosting.  A one loss team being as low as #20 is also curious.

Quote from: algernon on March 04, 2025, 11:02:59 AM

Quote from: el_jefe_90 on March 03, 2025, 04:25:07 PM

Quote from: algernon on March 03, 2025, 04:21:03 PMHowever, I'm still not clear on whether the NYU men or the NYU women have the priority on hosting the second weekend.  The women have the priority the FIRST weekend.  Do they continue to have priority the SECOND weekend, or will the NYU men have priority the second weekend?

Men have priority second weekend this year.

Thanks for the info, el_jefe_90.  That's good for the Yellow Jacket men!

Only if Trinity loses.  Otherwise, YJs head to Connecticut.

As to first round ODAC games, I think HSC got the easiest match up, while GC has the toughest.

HSC got to host, but their students are on spring break the next two weekends.  May diminish the home court advantage.

Good luck to all ODAC teams!

^^^  Thanks!!

If I remember correctly,  the NCAA controlled the viewing options for football playoffs and it was on a pay for view.

Is that going to be the case for basketball as well?

As to officiating, I've not watch any of the ODAC games in Salem.  But, I generally agree with comments above.  I'd also say, that I did watch the end of the Tennessee game and the whole Duke game yesterday, and the officiating there was not good either. 

As to RMC 3-point shooting in Salem Civic Center, just converting 2 of the 13 missed 3 points as 2 pointers in the second half may have won the game.  I don't have any historical stats, but my impression is that RMC seldom shoots well in the SCC.

Interesting that RMC women were just 1-15 yesterday on 3s, but ironically won.