D3 Playoffs

[MRMIKESMITH]

Now that we know (most likely) who the field is, can anyone do the calculations to see what would it have looked like had the refs not made the controversial call in OT of the Hope-Alma game back in week 4?

Currently Hope is Pool C at 9-1 and seeded #17 while Alma is Pool A at 8-2 and seeded #24. Had the call gone the other way Hope would be 10-0 and certainly hosting round 2 but could they have reached a top 8 seed? Alma would be 7-3 and would they drop out and let fellow Region 4 team Ohio Northern in?

Hope may still host because of regionality. I believe had Hope been 10-0, they'd been a Top 8 seed or no less than 3 seed. Alma most likely would be out, probably drops UW-RF to #7 seed. Definitely getting Ohio Northern into the field.

[Captainred81]

I like this years bracket more than I thought I would.  There is a lot of geography but it's not all geography. 

I love the LaGrange and Framingham matchup... Hope and LaCrosse, Endicott-Salisbury, UWW-DePauw, Susqu - W&J. 

I think we all got so used to the Mount Union v Whitewater Stagg Bowls.  I think it was necessary to keep them on opposite sides of the bracket.  While these teams are ranked 1 and 2, there are cases to be made for some other teams to be ranked at #2. 

I appreciate how NPI takes creates the field of 40 so instantly.  I think we have the most fair, and best possible field we could, without eliminating AQ.  I think we have a ton of h 2 h matchups to compare.  I wonder how many matchups are the first time ever.  I assume LaGrange has not Framingham, and Eastern has not played F&M, W&J v CNU?  Those are the things about D3 that I love. 

I think Berry has a shot to make it to the quarterfinals this year. potentially getting a shot at Mount.  I think Hardin Simmons could do the same.  I'm sure they have ever played Mount. 

I'm still filling out my bracket, so no predictions yet. 

[ziggy]

Now that we know (most likely) who the field is, can anyone do the calculations to see what would it have looked like had the refs not made the controversial call in OT of the Hope-Alma game back in week 4?

Currently Hope is Pool C at 9-1 and seeded #17 while Alma is Pool A at 8-2 and seeded #24. Had the call gone the other way Hope would be 10-0 and certainly hosting round 2 but could they have reached a top 8 seed? Alma would be 7-3 and would they drop out and let fellow Region 4 team Ohio Northern in?

I ran the numbers and at 10-0 Hope would have easily been a Top 8 seed. Switching just the Hope-Alma result, the top four seeds would have been the same but Hope would be the fifth-overall seed, Bethel sixth, Johns Hopkins seventh and UW-River Falls eighth.

UWRF stays in the Top 8 but gets jumped by Hopkins because they don't get as much out of their Alma win in this scenario. Berry falls out of the Top 8 with Hope moving in and Ohio Northern gets the last at-large bid with Hope in as an AQ instead of at-large.

Have to feel for Ohio Northern. Certainly you leave certain things out of your hands when you lose two games but they are in as long as EITHER:
1. The Hope-Alma game ended as it should have instead of an especially egregious officiating call extending the game that turned into an Alma win.
OR
2. Weather doesn't force an early end to the game and Rowan is able to finish off a week one win against CWRU.