2026 NCAA Tournament

[blue_jays]

What the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.

This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography. 

Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!

It's not good for the NESCAC, perhaps. It doesn't matter for D-III basketball.

No number of posts from you on it is going to change the facts of seedings, or anyone's minds.

You have no idea whether it's changed anybody's mind!!!!!

Dude, chill out. You made your point many times. We don't all agree, and a lot of us know the realities of D3 and the limitations inherent to it. The bracketing in other D3 sports IMO are far worse than the issues basketball faces. Don't even get me started on NESCAC soccer and the huge NPI advantages they get.
End of the day, beat the teams in your bracket. Doesn't matter who it is.

[Ralph Turner]

What the D1 committee does is irrelevant. The D3 bracket is constructed differently by design. It is abundantly clear you do not like this, but your dislike does not change the systemically different realities, even if you continue to ignore them.

This year it is the NESCAC. As ziggy alluded to above, Hope/Calvin have been placed in the same pod on multiple occasions. WIAC teams are regularly bracketed to meet each other sooner than they would like. And you will certainly get no sympathy from our friends in Texas. The UAA avoids this not out of preference towards them but because of geography. 

Don't disagree, it's not fair and it's not good for d3 basketball. But easy changes could have been made, and not kill the bank. A huge bank!!!

It's not good for the NESCAC, perhaps. It doesn't matter for D-III basketball.

No number of posts from you on it is going to change the facts of seedings, or anyone's minds.

You have no idea whether it's changed anybody's mind!!!!!

Dude, chill out. You made your point many times. We don't all agree, and a lot of us know the realities of D3 and the limitations inherent to it. The bracketing in other D3 sports IMO are far worse than the issues basketball faces. Don't even get me started on NESCAC soccer and the huge NPI advantages they get.
End of the day, beat the teams in your bracket. Doesn't matter who it is.

+1, blue_jays!  Well stated. You show a 30,000-foot perspective of the playoffs in our beloved D3, shortcomings and all. But still the best of amateur athletics in the USA!

[WPI89]

Anyone been able to enter the bracket challenge - I have discovered about 14 different ways for it not to let me in so far.

[Ryan Coleman]

Anyone been able to enter the bracket challenge - I have discovered about 14 different ways for it not to let me in so far.

Can you try again and DM or email me (support@d3photography.com) with what you're seeing?

I did reboot a related server a few moments ago but I'm also at my computer working on a feature in development so I can look into anything quickly.

[WPI89]

I am in Ryan - thanks for the reset!  Good luck with your Feature!

[Ryan Coleman]

Glad it's working now and much appreciated. Trying to make the process a little more user friendly for mobile devices. Hoping to get it done this afternoon yet.

[Greek Tragedy]

I believe more than half (33) of this year's participants were not in the field last year. That seems crazy.

[Jake Feldman]

I believe more than half (33) of this year's participants were not in the field last year. That seems crazy.

Don't forget the three debutants this year (Keuka, Belhaven, and MUW)

[SpringSt7]

This thread just doesn't get used anymore for actual games? What a bummer

[BaboNation]

You know, I don't want AI running all aspects of my life anymore than the average Joe, but with advancements in technology there's just no way a human can do a better job than AI in constructing a tournament bracket.  AI should be used to construct the bracket going forward and a human can validate its accuracy.

Feed it the NPI, mileage restrictions, flight limitations, etc. etc.

There were no egregious errors in this year's bracket, but there were plenty of misplaced 2 & 3 seeds, lower ranked (NPI) teams getting better placements, etc.

Why are we settling for 'pretty good' for no good reason?

By next year the technology will be exponentially better.  Put ego aside and let the computer do the work.  In fact, if anyone hasn't already done so I'd be interested to see what AI would come up with for this year's bracket.

[Ralph Turner]

I believe more than half (33) of this year's participants were not in the field last year. That seems crazy.

That is exciting!