Pool C

[CNU85]

I noticed in the Liberty League tournament that the #6 seed is playing #2 and the #4 seed is playing #1.

What's the reasoning behind not having #6 playing #1? I always thought as tournaments progressed that the highest seed always gets the surviving lowest seed.

[scottiedawg]

I can't answer the rationale piece but I believe a good number of conferences do not re-seed at all once the tournament has begun.

[Caz Bombers]

I've never known any D3 conference to re-seed. It's probably more convenient for everybody involved to know who they're scouting and what their travel arrangements will be.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Far more set a bracket and stick with it than re-seed. 

A lot of the six team tourneys, double bye formats, and re-seeding came about to maximize Pool C selection pre-NPI.  I do wonder if it will continue in the new era.

[CNU85]

Got it. Thanks for the education. As long as I've been around, sometimes I simply don't know. I appreciate all the feedback.

[deiscanton]

D3Datacast most recent computer unofficial run of the NPI numbers conducted Saturday, February 28, 2026-- 7:57 AM ET

The current official NPI report through games of Friday, February 27, 2026 can be found at:

http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/48955

These would be the picks if selections were done on Saturday morning, Feb. 28, 2026.

D3Datacast's/NCAA's Last 7 In through games of Friday, Feb. 27, 2026-- by NPI and NPI ranking

There are discrepancies in these runs of the numbers, as Massey does not have the result of the MASCAC semifinal between Anna Maria and Bridgewater State as of the D3Datacast data run, while the NCAA does.-- The D3Datacast NPI value will be given first, followed by the NCAA's NPI value

15.)  #32-- Gettysburg-- 59.780/ 59.784
16.)  #33-- Gustavus Adolphus-- 59.741/59.745
17.)  #34-- Randolph-Macon-- 59.731/59.733
18.)  #36-- DePauw-- 59.601/59.604
19.)  #38-- Carnegie Mellon-- 59.547/59.559
20.)  #39-- Otterbein-- 59.513/59.515
21.)  #41-- St. Mary's (MN)-- 58.986/58.989

D3Datacast's/NCAA's First 7 Out through games of Friday, Feb. 27, 2026-- by NPI and NPI ranking

22.) #43-- Susquehanna-- 58.878/58.880
23.) #45-- Bridgewater (VA)-- 58.708/58.709
24.) #46-- Hamline-- 57.968/57.972
25/26.) #51/#52-- Elizabethtown-- 57.792/57.794
26/25.) #52/#51-- RI College-- 57.762/57.796
27.) #53-- UW-Eau Claire-- 57.747/57.750
28.) #54-- Stevens-- 57.737/57.740

Update-- The NCAA D3 NPI summary report has a lot of scores from conference tournaments this week that Massey never entered into its system, so in this case, I will take the official NCAA numbers on the women's side as the correct numbers with the correct ranking placements.  The first NPI value is what D3Datacast calculated with the information given by Massey, while the second NPI value is the value given on the NCAA NPI summary report. 

[deiscanton]

The NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Committee has released the official NPI summary report for games played through Saturday, February 28, 2026.  It is available at:

http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/48969

  If selections were done this morning, here are the first 14 at-large picks in, as determined by the official NPI values as of this report.  If a conference has not yet determined its AQ, then I am working under the assumption that the team in that conference with the highest NPI value on the report gets the AQ, while other teams in the conference are eligible for the at-large picks.  Ranking is where the NPI value is ranked nationally.

1.)  #2-- UW-Oshkosh-- WIAC-- 69.049
2.)  #6-- Denison-- NCAC-- 65.563
3.)  #9-- John Carroll-- NCAC-- 63.718
4.)  #10-- UW-Whitewater-- WIAC-- 63.628
5.)  #12-- Concordia-Moorhead-- MIAC-- 63.332
6.)  #14-- WashU-- UAA-- 62.681
7.)  #15-- Ohio Wesleyan-- NCAC-- 62.670
8.)  #18-- UW-Platteville-- WIAC-- 62.250
9.)  #19-- U.Chicago-- UAA-- 61.985
10.) #20-- Carroll (WI)-- CCIW-- 61.976
11.) #21-- Bates-- NESCAC-- 61.806 (Will be playing for the AQ today vs #8 in NPI Bowdoin)
12.) #24-- Baldwin-Wallace-- OAC-- 61.460
13.) #25-- Trine-- MIAA-- 61.104
14.) #26-- UW-River Falls-- WIAC-- 60.833

Last 7 teams in by official NPI if selections were done as of this post

15.) #30-- Randolph-Macon-- ODAC-- 60.183 (Will be playing for the AQ today vs #4 in NPI Wash & Lee)
16.) #32-- Cortland-- SUNYAC-- 60.065
17.) #34-- Gustavus Adolphus-- MIAC-- 59.967
18.) #36-- Gettysburg-- Centennial-- 59.800 (Will be playing for the AQ today vs #3 in NPI Johns Hopkins)
19.) #38-- Shenandoah-- ODAC-- 59.691
20.) #39-- Saint Mary's (MN)-- MIAC-- 59.143
21.) #40-- Carnegie Mellon-- UAA-- 59.066

First 7 teams out by official NPI if selections were done this morning :

22.) #41-- Susquehanna-- Landmark-- 58.901
23.) #44-- Bridgewater (VA)-- ODAC-- 58.332
24.) #45-- Cal Lutheran-- SCIAC-- 58.257
25.) #46-- Colorado College-- SCAC-- 58.241
26.) #47-- Hamline-- MIAC-- 58.160
27.) #48-- Emory-- UAA-- 58.056
28.) #50-- Linfield-- NWC-- 57.935

[deiscanton]

Out of the 13 conferences playing their title games today, D3Datacast only lists 3 conference title games that are clear bid thief scenarios:

(1)-- 1 PM ET-- NEWMAC-- Clark (#111 in NPI going into today) (bid thief if win) at Smith (lock-- #17 in NPI)

(2)-- 1 PM ET-- NJAC-- TCNJ (#132 in NPI going into today (bid thief if win) at William Paterson (lock-- #27 in NPI)

(3)-- 2 PM ET-- Northern Athletics CC-- St. Norbert (#86 in NPI going into today-- bid thief if win) at Wisconsin Lutheran (solid-- #31 in NPI)

Scott Peterson's D3StatLab also lists this game as a potential bid thief scenario, while D3Datacast disagrees:

(4)  1 PM ET-- Little East-- RI College (#53 in NPI) at S. Maine (#37 in NPI)-- D3StatLab has RI College as a potential bid thief, with S. Maine being in a bubble in getting an at-large 57% of the time in which they lose today.   D3Datacast, on the other hand, only has S. Maine getting an at-large in only 5.6% of the computer season simulations in which they lose today.)

Conferences where both teams will make the field, win or lose--

(5)-- Noon ET-- NESCAC-- Bates (#21 in NPI) at Bowdoin (#8 in NPI)

(6)-- 1 PM ET-- Centennial-- Gettysburg (#36 in NPI) at Johns Hopkins (#3 in NPI)

(7)-- 2 PM ET-- ODAC-- Randolph-Macon (#30 in NPI) v Wash & Lee (#4 in NPI)-- at Salem Civic Center, Salem, VA.

1 bid leagues--

(8)-- Noon ET-- GNAC-- St. Joe's Maine (#173 in NPI) at Emmanuel (#108 in NPI)

(9)-- Noon ET-- MASCAC-- Framingham State (#237 in NPI) at Bridgewater State (#193 in NPI)

(10)-- 1 PM ET-- Conference of New England-- Western New England (#103 in NPI) at JWU-Providence (#56 in NPI)

(11) 1 PM ET-- Skyline-- Merchant Marine (#75 in NPI) at Manhattanville (#110 in NPI)

(12) 2 PM ET-- Liberty League-- RIT (#70 in NPI) at Union (#52 in NPI)

(13) 3 PM ET-- SCAC-- Hendrix (#158 in NPI) vs Austin (#182 in NPI) at predetermined site Hendrix. 

[deiscanton]

  With 1 AQ left to be decided this afternoon, the SCAC (a 1 bid league where current #158 in NPI Hendrix and current #183 in NPI Austin are playing it out for the AQ), D3Datacast has these 21 at-large teams into the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Tournament.  Congratulations to these teams on their upcoming selection by NPI into the field, which will be confirmed in a few hours by the final NPI summary report released by the NCAA D3 Women's Basketball Committee.  NPI rankings are as calculated by D3Datacast as of 3:55 PM ET this afternoon.

1.)  #2 UW-Oshkosh
2.)  #5 Johns Hopkins
3.)  #6 Denison
4.)  #8 John Carroll
5.)  #9 Bowdoin
6.)  #10 UW-Whitewater
7.)  #12 Concordia-Moorhead
8.)  #14 Ohio Wesleyan
9.)  #15 Wash U.
10.) #19 UW-Platteville
11.) #20 Carroll (WI)
12.) #21 U.Chicago
13.) #24 Baldwin Wallace
14.) #25 Trine

  Last 7 teams in by at-large through NPI

15.) #26 UW-River Falls
16.) #33 Cortland
17.) #34 Gustavus Adolphus
18.) #35 Randolph-Macon
19.) #37 Shenandoah
20.) #38 William Paterson
21.) #39 Saint Mary's (MN)

The bubble has popped-- First 7 out

22.) #40 Carnegie Mellon
23.) #41 Susquehanna
24.) #44 Bridgewater (VA)
25.) #45 Cal Lutheran
26.) #46 Colorado College
27.) #48 Hamline
28.) #50 Emory

I will update this post with the official NPI values when the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Committee releases the final NPI summary report this evening at the conclusion of the Hendrix vs Austin game.  Last year, the committee was very prompt with the final release-- hopefully, I will have it posted before I go to bed, if not, it will be first thing in the morning. 

Update-- The official NPI summary report with all of the games played through today has just been released by the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Committee.   It can be found at:

http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/48990

[deiscanton]

  The NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Committee has just released the selections NPI summary report which has the official NPI values as of the conclusion of conference tournament play March 1, 2026.  Congratulations to these teams on their selection by NPI into the field.  NPI rankings are as published in the just released NPI summary report as of 6 PM ET.

1.)  #2 UW-Oshkosh-- 69.042
2.)  #5 Johns Hopkins-- 66.651
3.)  #6 Denison-- 65.559
4.)  #8 Bowdoin-- 63.763
5.)  #9 John Carroll-- 63.713
6.)  #10 UW-Whitewater-- 63.624
7.)  #12 Concordia-Moorhead-- 63.338
8.)  #15 Wash U.-- 62.678
9.)  #16 Ohio Wesleyan-- 62.664
10.) #19 UW-Platteville-- 62.267
11.) #20 Carroll (WI)-- 61.973
12.) #21 U.Chicago-- 61.958
13.) #24 Baldwin Wallace--61.457
14.) #25 Trine-- 61.104

  Last 7 teams in by at-large through NPI

15.) #26 UW-River Falls-- 60.829
16.) #33 Cortland-- 60.069
17.) #34 Randolph-Macon-- 60.062
18.) #36 Gustavus Adolphus-- 59.981
19.) #37 Shenandoah-- 59.819
20.) #38 William Paterson-- 59.538
21.) #39 Saint Mary's (MN)-- 59.148

The bubble has popped-- First 7 out

22.) #40 Carnegie Mellon-- 59.065
23.) #41 Susquehanna-- 59.023
24.) #43 Bridgewater (VA)-- 58.401
25.) #45 Cal Lutheran-- 58.254
26.) #47 Colorado College--58.204
27.) #48 Hamline-- 58.163
28.) #49 Emory-- 58.067

The official NPI summary report with all of the games played through today as released by the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Committee can be found at:

http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/48990

[Ralph Turner]

By the projected bracket, the travel orphans, each the Pool A, Whitman (NWC), C-M-S (SCIAC), HSU (ASC), Austin (SCAC), Millsaps (SAA) and LaGrange (USAC) all fly.

https://d3hoops.com/playoffs/women/2026/projected-womens-bracket

Back in the old days, Millsaps could have hosted Webster (~490 miles), Austin College and LaGrange.

Hardin-Simmons would be flown somewhere as would Whitman and C-M-S.

[Patrick Coleman]

By the projected bracket, the travel orphans, each the Pool A, Whitman (NWC), C-M-S (SCIAC), HSU (ASC), Austin (SCAC), Millsaps (SAA) and LaGrange (USAC) all fly.

https://d3hoops.com/playoffs/women/2026/projected-womens-bracket

Back in the old days, Millsaps could have hosted Webster (~490 miles), Austin College and LaGrange.

Hardin-Simmons would be flown somewhere as would Whitman and C-M-S.

The old days have nothing to do with it. Could have happened today if Millsaps had filed to host.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

By the projected bracket, the travel orphans, each the Pool A, Whitman (NWC), C-M-S (SCIAC), HSU (ASC), Austin (SCAC), Millsaps (SAA) and LaGrange (USAC) all fly.

https://d3hoops.com/playoffs/women/2026/projected-womens-bracket

Back in the old days, Millsaps could have hosted Webster (~490 miles), Austin College and LaGrange.

Hardin-Simmons would be flown somewhere as would Whitman and C-M-S.

The old days have nothing to do with it. Could have happened today if Millsaps had filed to host.

If Millsaps has filed to host, those 100% would've been the three teams there and WashU would've been the 1 seed.  That would've been the first and easiest pod they put together.

[Ralph Turner]

By the projected bracket, the travel orphans, each the Pool A, Whitman (NWC), C-M-S (SCIAC), HSU (ASC), Austin (SCAC), Millsaps (SAA) and LaGrange (USAC) all fly.

https://d3hoops.com/playoffs/women/2026/projected-womens-bracket

Back in the old days, Millsaps could have hosted Webster (~490 miles), Austin College and LaGrange.

Hardin-Simmons would be flown somewhere as would Whitman and C-M-S.

The old days have nothing to do with it. Could have happened today if Millsaps had filed to host.

Thank you.

[Inkblot]

Map of the 2026 tournament