The Bracket came out yesterday and we had every intention of bringing you our rapid reactions. We really did. D3WestWomens even sent out the questions and a template beforehand so we would be ready. Buuuuut then the site went down and we tanked a little bit. I think WestWomens is so frustrated by the bracket that she’s having a mental breakdown. She really surpassed me as the snarky one today. Way to go NCAA, you broke WestWomens.
You can find the full bracket breakdown at the NCAA site here, and we’ve recreated it below. Given this is a busy time for all of us with finals, road trip scheduling, and TV binging, we at the blog decided to give you our gut reactions to the NCAA’s choices this year. Please let us know how you feel in the comments.
ALSO, for the first time EVER the women’s side is doing a bracket challenge!!! Check out the article here and fill out your brackets!
*indicates host site
Italics indicates team will be flying
- CMS*, Pomona-Pitzer, Trinity TX, Linfield, UT-Dallas
- Emory*, Washington & Lee, Sewanee, NC Wesleyan, Hanover
- Wesleyan*, Skidmore, Brandeis, Messiah, Rhode Island College, Penn St-Abington, Brooklyn
- Midd*, Tufts, Stevens, Moravian, Cairn, St. Joseph’s (Long Island)
- Amherst, Mary Washington*, Johns Hopkins, TCNJ, Wilkes, Grove City, Franciscan
- Bowdoin*, MIT, SUNY-New Paltz, Husson, Colby-Sawyer, Nichols
- Chicago, UW-Whitewater*, Carleton, Lake Forest, Luther, Edgewood, St. Scholastica
- CMU, Kenyon*, Hope, John Carroll, Principia, Wheaton (Ill.)
What surprises you about the bracket this year?
ASouthW: The fact that there are 8 pool C spots when we were promised 7. It’s like the selection committee didn’t read the manual or something. Also the fact that both Chicago and CMU squeaked in and now get relatively easy paths to Elite 8. Also Williams not making it but I’ll let NEW express herself below.
WCentral: Yeah the 8 Pool C thing. Actually nice that there are 8 Pool C spots BUT disturbing and frustrating that whatever is in the manual doesn’t matter. Yes and ASouth nailed it, especially regarding CMU. They squeaked in and then get a relatively easy draw while Pomona plays CMS again and teams in the NE have to battle.
NEW: As West said on Twitter, WE GOT 8 POOL C TEAMS AND NO WILLIAMS?! Anyways, this was a real plot twist for me. That, plus despite the extra Pool C spot, Williams still didn’t get a nod?! Now I know that having a 6-10 record is far less than ideal, but they did play a very tough schedule AND they had good wins over teams like Chicago, Skidmore and Sewanee. I think here, I’m especially looking at their win over Chicago not being enough to get them a spot. Also, just a surprising side note, I’m guessing we’d have to go back 15+ years or so to find a year when a) Williams didn’t make the Elite 8 and b) Williams didn’t get into the tournament at all. Has a dynasty ended? I’m shook.
WestW: How amazingly fair the selection and seeding criteria are. As usual, every team that deserved it got into the tournament and each region is composed of teams of relatively equal strength. Extra points to the NCAA because we were able to keep it to 3 flights, get an extra Pool C qualifier, and make sure each team is in an appropriate region. The rules are infallible and I would be incredibly surprised if anyone is upset right now.
Analyst: The NCAA changed the selection rules and I am thoroughly confused and nothing makes sense. It makes me a tad sad that Chicago and CMU will probably make the Elite 8 but I’m past the point of being surprised about how geography opens doors for certain teams and closes them for others.
Which team got screwed the most?
ASouthW: This isn’t even a question any more. Sorry Pomona Pitzer we’ll remember you when we do year end Power Rankings.
WCentral: POMONA-PITZER.
NEW: Ok, we all know I stan Williams, but I already discussed my surprise above, so I guess I’ll have to beat a dead horse and say Pomona-Pitzer. We say it every year, yet they are STILL in the same regional as CMS, and it is a travesty. The Sagehens had a stellar year going 15-5, with their only losses coming to Cal State LA, Emory, Midd and CMS (x2). And here they are, yet again, popping up in CMS’ regional. With how CMS is playing, they shouldn’t be too worried about a loss to the Hens, but a team as good as this year’s PP team really deserves a shot to make it to the Elite 8. I really don’t like this number of flights rule…
WestW: The team selection process and the tournament bracket are both completely objective and in no way give certain schools advantages because of things like arbitrary flight caps, regional concentration, or their coach sitting on a committee. The NCAA is the bastion of character and integrity, like the NFL.
Analyst: Pomona-Pitzer forever and always <3
Who has the easiest road to the championship?
ASouthW: Emory – there are only 5 teams in their region with the number 2 seed being ranked #23. Plus they have one of the weaker Elite 8 matchups in Chicago, though Chicago was just able to push them to 5-4.
WCentral: Hmm, tough one but I’m going to have to say Emory simply because I do think they travel better than CMS, and because if I remember correctly, they haven’t missed the finals for the last 6 years. Chicago did push them to 5-4 but I don’t think that will happen again. And Wesleyan will give them a good match but Emory has the big match experience.
NEW: Ok, I’m done being bitter now, and I probably sound like a broken record since everything I have said above has been said a billion and one times before. So, I had a hard time figuring this one out, but I’ve gotta say Emory. They should cruise through their regional to set up a QF match against Chicago – a team that Emory should have no problem with. This was where it got tricky, because I think Midd also has a fairly easy run to the Final Four. The thing is, if I were to choose a match-up against Wes versus one against CMS, I’d take my chances against the Cards any day. If seeds hold, which I see them doing, the semi-final matches will be AWESOME. But, I think Emory has the slightly weaker opponent in Wes. I know I’m going to get slack for this because Wes did just beat Midd for the NESCAC tltle, but still. Wes hasn’t seen the bigger stages at NCAAs as often as the other top teams, and I keep saying experience is important.
WestW: One thing that should be painstakingly obvious to everyone is that the sponsorship money from TNT, Pizza Hut, and Powerade is only enough to fly 3 teams per bracket, ever. As the manual states, “the Division III championships philosophy is to field the most competitive teams possible while minimizing missed class time.” The Hens are practically playing at home, so they shouldn’t miss any class and will have a really easy time.
Analyst: Well we all know West speaks the truth about the Hens, but I am going to have to copy the rest of the bloggers and say Emory. If I had to guess, I expect a CMS-Emory final and I think Emory’s big challenge will be against Wes (I think Emory will have learned from UAAs and take care of business against Chicago), whereas CMS has to face PP and Midd, and I think Midd will be playing with everything they have after falling at NESCACs.
Which region is ripe for an upset?
ASouthW: MIT is looking dangerous with their recent win over Tufts, and they’ll be in the same region with Bowdoin who notoriously has taken some surprising losses this year in Brandeis and Skidmore in the fall. Otherwise I think Brandeis/Skidmore and Sewanee/W&L will be really good matches, despite not having Elite 8 implications.
WCentral: I’m going to say Kenyon/CMU unless a ruling from the committee/chair deems some type of disqualification to Kenyon. Kenyon has had an incredible season going 18-3 with their only losses against Amherst (0-9), Wesleyan (3-6), and Chicago (3-6). Plus they’re playing in Gambier.
NEW: I think the Bowdoin/MIT region is the one where we could see the biggest challenge and potential upset. MIT has had an up and down year, but they’re playing well coming into NCAAs. Plus, let’s not forget how well they played last year, riding all the way to the Elite 8 in an incredible performance. If it’s not that region, it’s probably the CMU/Kenyon region, but I’ll leave that to Central/ASW because I don’t know enough about those teams to really comment…does that make me a bad blogger???
WestW: Any region where a #1 seed mistakenly provides their team with Gatorade and receives an automatic disqualification under section 6, sub-section 4a, paragraph 19 of the NCAA rulebook
Analyst: I’m basically just copying the other bloggers again (note to self: don’t be the last one to fill out rapid reactions next time) but I think Bowdoin/MIT has upset potential. MIT is coming off a big win over Tufts and domination in the NEWMAC tournament so I think they’ll step it up from compared to their match against Bowdoin earlier this season. I know that Kenyon/CMU probably has the #1 and #2 seeds who are closest in ranking, but I think CMU will hold off Kenyon, I still haven’t been convinced that Kenyon is at the CMU/Chicago level of play. And I agree with ASouth about Brandeis/Skidmore and Sewanee/W&L and also want to add Mary Washington/Hopkins to the list of interesting second-round matchups.
OK, I just wanted to get this out before we get to our Regional previews. Let us know what you think of the bracket in the comments below! Make sure to submit your brackets and stay tuned for a buttload of NCAA coverage!!
-ASW
I told you guys Carnegie Mellon had the easiest road to the final 8. So unfair to Pomona pitzer. What’s really unfair is that players considering between CMS and PP have to take in to account that only one school will emerge from this region to go to nationals
Easiest is a strong word. But yes very unfortunate for Pomona Pitzer. I wonder if that comes up in recruiting a lot.
Thank you all for speaking up about the Pomona situation. It’s getting to the point where excuses are no longer acceptable, simply because there are and always have been exceptions, changes, or whatever you want to call them. But Williams not getting special treatment kills an outright NESCAC conspiracy theory. It’s too hard to make sense of it all, but it still boils down to someone being biased, incompetent, or both at a fairly high level. There must be a person or people who can be rooted out over time. This can not be a coincidence.
I think Wesleyan is an incredibly talented team, and is probably tougher than Middlebury. Chicago is tougher than Bowdoin, so really Wesleyan has the easiest road to the 8. Plus PP and CMS are less competitive than Wesleyan. So arguably, Emory does not have the easiest path to the championship. Having said all that, obviously it’s got to be Emory on top at the end.
I’m on my phone and don’t remember my password to sign in but I agree about Wesleyan being tougher than midd they way they are playing now. At NESCACs they looked unstoppable but they haven’t been playing that way the whole season. They previously lost 7-2 to Emory, 5-4 to midd, and had pretty competitive 6-3 wins over Kenyon and CMU. I have more confidence in Emory in the big matches and the semis/finals would be new territory for Wes. Therefore a cms/midd semifinal is more likely to be a more competitive match than an Emory/Wes match based on the entire season. Especially since cms wont be at home and these matches could potentially be indoors. As for Chicago/bowdoin comparison I’m not convinced but we can agree to disagree on that one. Thanks for commenting, we like hearing your opinions!
ugh I meant CMU, not CMS. Too similar
haha! been there. CMU, CMS, and this year I started writing about CNU too. So confusing