Rapid Reaction: Bracket Release!

RAPID FIRE ROUND TABLE: Bracket Reaction

1) What is your initial reaction to the bracket in 5 words or fewer?

D3AS: No real complaints here.

D3Central: UAA > NESCAC.

D3NE: Good job with Pool-C.

D3West: Trinity. 🙁

D3Regional: Every region looks relatively even.

Guru: Emory is going to win

2) Which region excites you the most (for whatever reason, we don’t judge)?

D3AS: The CMU/UMW/Hopkins region, because that is the one region where I could see an upset with Hopkins lurking.

D3Central: The one MIT is in. They could decide to show up one day and surprise a top seed. They also could lay an egg and lose to a good Stevens team as well.

D3NE: Case and Kenyon. I do think this bracket will have a chalk filled quarterfinals, but Kenyon poses the biggest threat in my mind. We finally get to see the match that didn’t happen at the Stag Hen!!!

D3West: The CMU/UMW/Hopkins region is probably my favorite because you’ve got two great story lines. On one hand, you’ve got a chronically underachieving team looking to break into the Elite Eight for the first time in a decade. On the other hand, you’ve got the ultimate tank and tree waiting to happen. Should be interesting.

D3Regional: The rest of the regional isn’t all that great, but I love that Case and Kenyon look to be on a collision course for the third round.  Given the difficulties that these teams had in scheduling their Stag Hen match, I think it’s awesome that these teams will now be forced to play each other.  I think it also sets up to be a terrific match.  

Guru: The CMU regional. CMU overachieved this year and Hopkins vastly underachieved, setting up a situation similar to last year when Hopkins came alive at the end of the season. Hopkins has made three of the last four Final 8s, whereas CMU has made none in the last five years. We can’t forget about a very solid #2 seed in Mary Wash as well.

3) Which hypothetical quarterfinal are you most excited about?

D3AS: Hopefully, we get to see a Bowdoin/CMU quarterfinal.  However, both teams need to make it there with a tricky MIT/Stevens match for Bowdoin and a tricky potential Hopkins match for CMU.

D3Central: Case has to get by Kenyon first, but the Case vs. Emory rematch is intriguing to me as Case lost 6-3 early in the year with two losses from Krimbill. If he has a good day, he could turn the table although I don’t see Emory losing at some of the other spots that they did previously.

D3NE: All four seeded quarterfinals would be very entertaining. The CMU/Bowdoin match will be a popular pick, but I’ll go Midd/Wash U. Two teams who play good dubs, storied NCAA histories, and coaching legends. Should be a fun one.

D3West: I agree with the rest of the bloggers that all of the potential quarterfinals are intriguing. I’m interested in Midd/Wash U because you’ve got two well-coached teams that seem to peak at the end of the season every year going at it.

D3Regional: Bowdoin vs. CMU.  CMU does have to get past Hopkins (and Bowdoin over MIT/Stevens won’t be a cakewalk either), but this should be a really even match.  It will also guarantee a new face in the final four, which is always nice.

Guru: CMU/Bowdoin because it will produce a first time Final Four participant

4) Which team will benefit the most from its draw?

D3AS: Chicago I believe is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the draw.  They not only got in but they also avoided Emory in the Elite 8 should they make it there.  Also, having Gustavus as a #2 seed is not half bad considering where the Maroons were ranked.

D3Central: I’ve gotta say Carnegie Mellon. While they are known to not show up on days, they don’t have a terribly challenging round of 16 match. Yes Hopkins will likely beat Mary Wash and seem to be on the uptrend, but overall I think CMU could upset a team like Bowdoin.

D3NE: I’m not sure that this will be a popular pick, but I’m going to say Bowdoin. I think the Polar Bears match up better with CMU than Wash U, and given that both teams would be in somewhat uncharted territory (neither team has ever made the Final Four), the nerves should balance out. Having to match up with Emory in the semis (if they get there) would be tough, and both MIT/Stevens have their strengths, but my initial reaction is Bowdoin to the semifinals! That being said, I think CMU also got a good draw…

D3West: Honestly, after years of brutal Regions of Death, CMS finally got a pretty good draw. To get to the Elite Eight, all they have to do is beat the winner of what promises to be a knock-down drag-out Round of 32 match between Whitman and Tyler. Then they draw a Chicago team that hasn’t been playing their best at the end of the year. I think they would prefer Chicago to Case, Wash U, or Bowdoin at this point, even though any team could beat them on any given day.

D3Regional: I think Midd should cruise into the quarters without much difficulty, as their toughest match will be against a Skidmore team they just easily beat 7-2.  

Guru: I think Chicago got the best break. They host, avoid Trinity TX, avoid Emory in the quarters and avoid having to play at Gustavus.

5) Which team was treated unfairly by its draw?

D3AS: I’ve got to say Trinity TX, who was flown out to Emory simply because they were a Texas team.  The 500 mile flight rule is always in effect.  This was a top 10 team that has lost a player but still, they were the highest ranked #2 seed.  They shouldn’t have been flown out to the top overall seed.

D3Central: Emory for sure. They have tough matches from the start to finish. Not exactly what you would expect the top seed getting.

D3NE: Emory. The overall No. 1 seed got the shaft, in my opinion, or at least as much shaft was given this year (I think the overall bracket is pretty fair). Emory has to play Trinity Tx just to make the quarterfinals. Now, Trin without Krull is a different team, but they’re still the highest ranked #2 seed in the draw. If they get by Trin, they might have to play Case (if they beat Kenyon), who played the closest match with Emory this season. Then a semi vs CMU/Bowdoin, and a finals against Midd/CMS? The Eagles will have to earn their 2016 NCAA title.

D3West: It’s obviously either Emory or Trinity, but I’m going with Trinity. As the highest-ranked #2 seed, they have to travel to play the top seed in the entire draw at home. It’s just been a disappointing season for the Tigers.

D3Regional: I know it’s all geography, but Emory as the #1 seed has a tough draw.  They’ll play the winner of NC Wesleyan and W&L in the second round which they should win, but they then have to take on Trinity TX in the third round, which I think is the toughest third round match for any of the top 8 seeds.  

Guru: Trinity TX. They could have been sent anywhere but the committee prioritized Emory hosting over balanced regions.

6) Without breaking down any matchups or any extra analysis, give us your “gut reaction” champion, runner up, and final score prediction.

D3AS: Emory over Middlebury, 5-3.

D3Central: My pre-season #1 was Middlebury and I will ride them to the end. Midd 5-3 over Emory

D3NE: I can’t go against my pre-season pick. Midd over Emory, 5-4. REGIONAL BIAS!

D3West: My brain says Emory. My gut says Midd. My heart says CMS. I’m going to go with my brain. Emory 5-4 over Middlebury.

D3Regional: Emory over Middlebury 5-4 with Rafe over Farrell for the clinch.  I like to be dramatic.  

Guru: Emory over Midd 5-3