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Div III Bracketology

Thanks guys,

That makes sense. I know there were more conferences in the past that didn't have the minimum number of teams, so the Pool B slot was a good idea. Now, it seems a little dated. It seems like it's essentially the WIAC autobid (not including conference tourney) at this point, given the strength of the independent programs. Hopefully they can find a 6th sooner rather than later.

Any rumors as to who they might target? I'm not sure if Stout would ever start a women's team, and I think it would be pretty hard to poach someone like St. Norbert or Concordia-WI. Possibly Finlandia? Not a strong add, but a sixth team nonetheless.
 
I don't think SNC would do it. Concordia, Finlandia, or even the new MSOE women's program could be targeted to become associate members though they would probably have to convince them to move the men's team over with them.

If thinking about the WIAC it doesn't necessarily have to be Stout. LaCrosse, Oshkosh, Platteville, and Whitewater don't have any hockey and there's no requirement they start a program for both genders, just that they remain in Title IX compliance which could be addressed via other sports. LaCrosse and Stout both have ACHA women's clubs. That isn't necessarily an indicator of which schools might start a varsity team but it shows there's interest on campus.
 
Scott_TG said:
I did a bracket that assumes Adrian as the NCHA winner, which is based on the belief that Adrian would be the NCHA leader right now if the number of NCHA games played were even.
Click to expand...

Could you explain how Adrian which is 5 points back could be the NCHA leader right now if they win their next two games? SNC has a conference tie and Adrian has a conference loss, and they have not played each other. Oh how I am sure everyone out there is so confident Adrian will kick SNC's butts in two weeks and you all will make sure I get crow shoved down my throat or Lutefisk.
 
4and20 said:
Could you explain how Adrian which is 5 points back could be the NCHA leader right now if they win their next two games? SNC has a conference tie and Adrian has a conference loss, and they have not played each other. Oh how I am sure everyone out there is so confident Adrian will kick SNC's butts in two weeks and you all will make sure I get crow shoved down my throat or Lutefisk.
Click to expand...
Adrian has 4 games left, two each against the two opponents ahead of them in the standings, at a max value of 3 points each. Those opponents, SNC and Aurora, only have their two games against Adrian left. By most statistical categories Adrian is the better team on paper vs both so thus considered the favorite to win both series.

That said SNC has the lead in the standings and if they can beat Adrian they deserve the #1 seed.

As for eating crow if SNC loses out I don't see how anyone could say that given that would be an upset. My projection is based on history and statistics, not meant to personally attack you or any other fan of SNC, Aurora or any other poster.

Personally I would love to be the one eating crow if SNC and Aurora could sweep Adrian in the regular season and they or someond else eliminate them in the Slaats Cup tourney. Please don't mistake projecting Adrian's success with cheering them on. Adrian has horrible refs at home and their location combined with the travel restriction forces them and Elmira into the QF, often forcing better ranked teams into the first round. I would love for Adrian to be left out of the national picture altogether and maybe see the tournament seeded normally.
 
Scott_TG said:
Adrian has 4 games left, two each against the two opponents ahead of them in the standings, at a max value of 3 points each. Those opponents, SNC and Aurora, only have their two games against Adrian left. By most statistical categories Adrian is the better team on paper vs both so thus considered the favorite to win both series.

That said SNC has the lead in the standings and if they can beat Adrian they deserve the #1 seed.
Click to expand...

My Bad, I was relying on USCHO Standing which appear to be incorrect as they are based on 2 points for a win rather than 3 as the NCHA web page show's. Either way SNC will need to win a least one of their remaining games at home against Adrian or get help from Aurora. If Adrian can beat Aurora and SNC on the road twice then they are very deserving of their accomplishments. Let the fun begin, looking forward to the next several weeks of watching some good hockey even if it is on a computer screen.
 
I learned the hard way about USCHO's standings discrepancy. It sucks because it takes longer but it is necessary to look at each conference's official page.
 
Scott_TG said:
I learned the hard way about USCHO's standings discrepancy. It sucks because it takes longer but it is necessary to look at each conference's official page.
Click to expand...

And worse, every conference seemingly does something different. Then to confuse matters even worse, they sometimes do something different for the men vs. the women. Oh, the humanity!

RANT MODE: I am sick and tired of hockey thinking they are so special, having to handle overtime wins and losses differently than regulation results. No other sport does this. Even with those sports, like football, which have "weird" overtime rules. A win is a win. A loss is a loss. If you can't handle it, don't play the sport.

There, I'm done...
 
Russell Jaslow said:
And worse, every conference seemingly does something different. Then to confuse matters even worse, they sometimes do something different for the men vs. the women. Oh, the humanity!

RANT MODE: I am sick and tired of hockey thinking they are so special, having to handle overtime wins and losses differently than regulation results. No other sport does this. Even with those sports, like football, which have "weird" overtime rules. A win is a win. A loss is a loss. If you can't handle it, don't play the sport.

There, I'm done...
Click to expand...

The point for losing in OT can be argued both ways. I am not sure how I feel about it.
 
LongGame said:
Will those graduating seniors not play the rest of the hockey season? Are they not allowed?
Click to expand...

The Midd graduates? I don't know actually. I had assumed you couldn't play if you weren't attending the school, and Middlebury had some 200+ students (largest class ever) graduate. It may be they are taking graduate classes and are technically still at the school. But I don't know that either.
 
tjoneslo said:
The Midd graduates? I don't know actually. I had assumed you couldn't play if you weren't attending the school, and Middlebury had some 200+ students (largest class ever) graduate. It may be they are taking graduate classes and are technically still at the school. But I don't know that either.
Click to expand...

How about spring sports? Most graduations are way before the NCAA tourneys. Example is baseball.
 
tjoneslo said:
The Midd graduates? I don't know actually. I had assumed you couldn't play if you weren't attending the school, and Middlebury had some 200+ students (largest class ever) graduate. It may be they are taking graduate classes and are technically still at the school. But I don't know that either.
Click to expand...
Applicable rule in the DIII Manual:

14.1.8.1.7.7 Eligibility After Completion of Degree Requirements.

A student-athlete who was eligible during the term in which degree work was completed may continue to practice and compete (through the conclusion of the season) after the final day of that term, only if:

(a) A postseason event (e.g., NCAA championship, NAIA championship, NCCAA championship) in the student-
athlete's sport begins within 60 days after the end of the term in which the student-athlete completes degree
requirements;

(b) The student-athlete completed their degree requirements in fewer than four consecutive years from their
initial collegiate enrollment and has been charged with a season of participation for that year prior to the
completion of degree requirements; or (Revised: 5/18/17, 4/21/21)

(c) The student-athlete is continuing enrollment pursuant to Bylaw 14.1.9 (see Bylaw 14.1.8.1.7.6).


By having a January end of term instead of December, Midd could be within 60 days of the championship...
 
Last edited:
1) Updated bracketology using results through the end of games played on 2/11.

Field:
Bid-School-PWR
CCC-Suffolk-23
MIAC-GAC-3
NCHA-SNC-13
NEHC-Elmira-9
NESCAC-Amherst-1
NEWHL-Plattsburgh-2
UCHC-Nazareth-17
Pool B-UW-River Falls-4
Pool C-Hamilton-5
Pool C-Adrian-6
Pool C-Middlebury-7

First Round:

Nazareth at Elmira
SNC at River Falls
Suffolk at Middlebury

Quarterfinals:

Hamilton at Amherst
Naz/Elmira at Adrian

SNC/UWRF at Gustavus Adolphus
Suffolk/Midd at Plattsburgh

2) Updated bracketology projecting Utica retaking the lead in the UCHC by picking up 3 points with a win over 4-16-2 Wilkes and that Marian vs Finlandia doesn't impact the PWR enough to make a difference [the only two games on 2/12]:

Bid-School-PWR
CCC-Suffolk-23
MIAC-GAC-3
NCHA-SNC-13
NEHC-Elmira-9
NESCAC-Amherst-1
NEWHL-Plattsburgh-2
UCHC-Utica-11
Pool B-UW-River Falls-4
Pool C-Hamilton-5
Pool C-Adrian-6
Pool C-Middlebury-7

First Round:

Suffolk at Hamilton
Utica at Middlebury
SNC at River Falls

Quarterfinals:

Utica/Middlebury at Amherst
Elmira at Adrian

SNC/UWRF at Gustavus Adolphus
Suffolk/Hamilton at Plattsburgh

This is the fairest bracket I can come up with that obeys the 500-mile rule and prevents intraconference in the first round. It does give the top 3 teams a first-round bye.
 
Last edited:
Scott_TG said:
1) Updated bracketology using results through the end of games played on 2/11.

Field:
Bid-School-PWR
CCC-Suffolk-23
MIAC-GAC-3
NCHA-SNC-13
NEHC-Elmira-9
NESCAC-Amherst-1
NEWHL-Plattsburgh-2
UCHC-Nazareth-17
Pool B-UW-River Falls-4
Pool C-Hamilton-5
Pool C-Adrian-6
Pool C-Middlebury-7

First Round:

Nazareth at Elmira
SNC at River Falls
Suffolk at Middlebury

Quarterfinals:

Hamilton at Amherst
Naz/Elmira at Adrian

SNC/UWRF at Gustavus Adolphus
Suffolk/Midd at Plattsburgh

2) Updated bracketology projecting Utica retaking the lead in the UCHC by picking up 3 points with a win over 4-16-2 Wilkes and that Marian vs Finlandia doesn't impact the PWR enough to make a difference [the only two games on 2/12]:

Bid-School-PWR
CCC-Suffolk-23
MIAC-GAC-3
NCHA-SNC-13
NEHC-Elmira-9
NESCAC-Amherst-1
NEWHL-Plattsburgh-2
UCHC-Utica-11
Pool B-UW-River Falls-4
Pool C-Hamilton-5
Pool C-Adrian-6
Pool C-Middlebury-7

First Round:

Suffolk at Hamilton
Utica at Middlebury
SNC at River Falls

Quarterfinals:

Utica/Middlebury at Amherst
Elmira at Adrian

SNC/UWRF at Gustavus Adolphus
Suffolk at Hamilton

This is the fairest bracket I can come up with that obeys the 500-mile rule and prevents intraconference in the first round. It does give the top 3 teams a first-round bye.
Click to expand...

Where did Plattsburgh go to in Bracket 2?
 
1) Updated bracketology using results through the end of games played on 2/18. There are no games scheduled for tomorrow.

Field:
Bid-School-PWR-Seed
CCC-Suffolk-23-11
MIAC-GAC-3-3
NCHA-Adrian-4-4
NEHC-Elmira-9-9
NESCAC-Amherst-1-1
NEWHL-Plattsburgh-2-2
UCHC-Nazareth-15-10
Pool B-UW-River Falls-6-6
Pool C-Hamilton-5-5
Pool C-Middlebury-7-7
Pool C-Colby-8-8

This field, with only 2 western teams in bus distance of each other and four teams from the same conference will force the committee to choose between making an exception to their directive to avoid intraconference in the first round or forcing the 2nd seed into the first round:

My bracket that allows intra-conference first round (better seed integrity):

First Round:

Nazareth at Elmira
Suffolk at Hamilton
Colby at Middlebury

Quarterfinals:

Elmira/Nazareth at Adrian
River Falls at Gustavus Adolphus

Hamilton/Suffolk at Amherst
Colby/Middlebury at Plattsburgh

The more likely bracket (in my opinion) that meets all the guidelines but shafts the 2nd seed:

First Round:
Nazareth at Elmira
Suffolk at Middlebury
Colby at Plattsburgh

Quarterfinals:

Nazareth/Elmira at Adrian
River Falls at Gustavus Adolphus

Middlebury/Suffolk at Amherst
Plattsburgh/Colby vs Hamilton at best seed remaining.
 
The one thing that's going to throw this into a confused mess is just how tight the NESCAC really is. Amherst is a on a tear this year, but any of the 8 teams could, in a win or go home tournament, could win the whole thing. But of one of the "bottom rank" teams manages to win the NESCAC, it may do more than just push Colby off the bottom.
 
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