2026 NCAA TOURNAMENT MEGA-THREAD: THE ROAD TO UTICA

[Pioneer247]

Bracketology is over, the bracket is now we take the 14 qualifiers to find our national champion!

FIRST ROUND (3/14)

#14 Neumann @ #3 Hamilton
#13 Williams @ #4 Utica
#12 Anna Maria @ #5 UW-Stout
#10 Norwich @ #6 Salve Regina
#11 Saint John's @ #7 Aurora
#9 UNE @ #8 St. Norbert

QUARTERFINALS (3/21)

QF1: #9 UNE/#8 St. Norbert @ #1 Hobart
QF2: #11 Saint John's/#7 Aurora @ #2 Endicott
QF3: #10 Norwich/#6 Salve Regina @ #14 Neumann/#3 Hamilton (highest seed hosts)
QF4: #12 Anna Maria/#5 UW-Stout @ #13 Williams/#4 Utica (highest seed hosts)

SEMIFINALS (3/27, 3 and 7 PM ET)

SF1: QF1 winner vs QF4 winner
SF2: QF2 winner vs QF3 winner

FINALS (3/29, 3 PM ET)

SF1 winner vs SF2 winner

 

[bakdraft21]

looks like some Line-up,just curious, how many of these teams are public institutions???? TIA....

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

looks like some Line-up,just curious, how many of these teams are public institutions???? TIA....

I believe UW-Stout is the only public school on there.

Now that the MASCAC and SUNYAC have private schools in them, the only fully public school D3 league left is the WIAC I believe.

 

[altazo]

I believe UW-Stout is the only public school on there.

Now that the MASCAC and SUNYAC have private schools in them, the only fully public school D3 league left is the WIAC I believe.

Almost. The WIAC had Northland and now Beloit.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Almost. The WIAC had Northland and now Beloit.

Nevermind...now there are no fully public school leagues anymore.

 

[***JCB***]

Go Norwich!

 

[ColdInRomney]

What's the history of at-large teams making it to the final four or national champion?

 

[Pioneer247]

What's the history of at-large teams making it to the final four or national champion?

Here's the list from 2000-2025. The only years where 0 At-Large teams made the semis are 2002, 2004, and 2008

Frozen Four:
Utica - 2025
Adrian - 2024
UNE - 2023
Augsburg - 2022
Hobart - 2019
Stevens Point - 2019
Salve Regina - 2018
Stevens Point - 2018
Adrian - 2017
Stevens Point - 2016
St. Norbert - 2016
Stevens Point - 2015
Trinity - 2015
Stevens Point - 2014
Geneseo - 2014
Utica - 2013
Eau-Claire - 2013
Oswego - 2012
Oswego - 2011
Plattsburgh - 2010
Hobart - 2009
Oswego - 2007
Hobart - 2006
St. Norbert - 2006
Trinity - 2005
Middlebury - 2003
River-Falls - 2001
St. Thomas - 2000

National Champion:
Stevens Point - 2019
Stevens Point - 2016
Trinity - 2015
Eau-Claire - 2013
Oswego - 2007

 

[altazo]

Here's the list from 2000-2025. The only years where 0 At-Large teams made the semis are 2002, 2004, and 2008

Frozen Four:
Utica - 2025
Adrian - 2024
UNE - 2023
Augsburg - 2022
Hobart - 2019
Stevens Point - 2019
Salve Regina - 2018
Stevens Point - 2018
Adrian - 2017
Stevens Point - 2016
St. Norbert - 2016
Stevens Point - 2015
Trinity - 2015
Stevens Point - 2014
Geneseo - 2014
Utica - 2013
Eau-Claire - 2013
Oswego - 2012
Oswego - 2011
Plattsburgh - 2010
Hobart - 2009
Oswego - 2007
Hobart - 2006
St. Norbert - 2006
Trinity - 2005
Middlebury - 2003
River-Falls - 2001
St. Thomas - 2000

National Champion:
Stevens Point - 2019
Stevens Point - 2016
Trinity - 2015
Eau-Claire - 2013
Oswego - 2007

Dang, was Point really a Pool C team in 2019? I would’ve guessed they were either Pool B or the WIAC had gotten their autobid by then.

 

[Pioneer247]

Dang, was Point really a Pool C team in 2019? I would’ve guessed they were either Pool B or the WIAC had gotten their autobid by then.

I believe that the WIAC didn't have the auto-bid at this point, so they we're an "at-large", but were also the #1 overall seed