2023 D3 NCAA Tournament Bracket

[Nescac12001]

I think it's unrealistic to ask Stevie to add more teams to the Classic when they have 10 teams already. Pretty absurd at how fluid the event is when you consider the manpower it must take to put that on.

I also don't think it's too much to ask some of these NESCAC teams to schedule some tougher games OOC. Bowdoin went on spring break to Florida and played WNE and Nazareth. Amherst went to the Mustang Classic, Tufts went and played Cabrini and Stevens. Used that week to boost your OOC if you have institutional restrictions that make it tough to get good non-conference games in otherwise.

Again, I don't have a dog in the fight but when Bowdoin misses the NCAAs they have nowhere to point except for their OOC. Also would've helped if they could've knocked off a few more NESCAC w's.

I think it’s tough to require OOC games to prove a team is worthy. Bowdoin plays one of the most difficult schedules in the country solely because it plays in the NESCAC. Who needs OOC games when the teams you’re playing in conference are the best in the country. Granted Bowdoin hasn’t beat the top teams in the NESCAC this year, but has played all 4 of them tight except for Midd at beginning of season. So yes an OOC game with someone like W&L or Lynchburg (whom they have a great chance of beating) would look good because everyone obsesses about OOC games, but if you’re really worried about strength of schedule, I think having to play all those other NESCACs (even the middle of the pack teams) is enough to say that a team like Bowdoin certainly doesn’t have it easy

[Laxisback]

Looking at regional rankings Bowdoin SS is only .573, one of the lowest in the NASCAC. Also based on where they are in regional rankings today, they would need region 1 to get 4 pool C bids, because they sit behind Tuffs (AQ) Middlebury, Williams and Amherst. No hate for them but their season is over because those 4 teams are still playing. Basically, if you’re not going to build an OOC schedule, you better win a few games in conference to teams ahead of you and they haven’t done that this year.

We can all agree that they are better than at least 20 of the AQ teams, but that’s irrelevant because they have to be better then the 10 teams regionally ranked higher then them to get the pool C bids.

[Unknown Participant]

If Amhearst wins this next game, they are definitely in. Even if they lose, they have a good argument. In their defense, schedules were made in the fall. At that time SJF was highly ranked. So was York. And doing the mustang classic was also strong. Bowdoin didn’t even try to schedule anyone outside of their conference. They must have assumed they would get in on conference reputation.

Bowdoin does have a natural disadvantage for scheduling opponents. Yes it could be overcome, but it isn’t as easy as just scheduling whomever you want.

1) The NESCAC schedule is tricky, especially when you are on the farthest most edges of the league geographically. You can only travel certain distances for midweek games so that forces your hand to play certain teams on weekends. Bowdoin had a conference game every single weekend until April 15th, including their spring break. So outside of spring break they cannot travel an extended distance. When you are in Maine that pretty much limits your out of conference to NE teams only.

2) Their only bye weekend from the NESCAC is in mid April, it is very challenging to get out of conference games at that time of year and most teams are in the thick of their conference schedule.

3) They chose to take a spring break trip to Florida, that has been their norm. Not many teams want to do that anymore. So if that’s the route you chose you’re at the mercy of the other teams that have the same spring break and are willing to travel to Florida. Because they had back to back Saturday NESCAC games during their spring break they couldn’t even schedule a game with a team that had break the week before or after.

4) If they are looking for a team that would return the trip to Brunswick then they are going to have a small list of teams.

None of these are insurmountable, but they have to be managed.

There are also a great many NESCAC coaches that complain a lot that Tufts has had their Saturday bye in mid March for a decade. Which can be frustrating if you struggle finding great out of conference games.

While I acknowledge there are challenges, there are teams in the Empire 8 that they could play which would boost their OOC schedule.

Let me be more specific, NESCAC schools are not allowed to travel more than 90miles for a midweek game unless they are on spring break. Albany is over 300 miles away from Bowdoin.

But Tufts played Union midweek this season, as well as Bowdoin, which is 140 miles away.

[SpartanLaxFanatic]

Looking at regional rankings Bowdoin SS is only .573, one of the lowest in the NASCAC. Also based on where they are in regional rankings today, they would need region 1 to get 4 pool C bids, because they sit behind Tuffs (AQ) Middlebury, Williams and Amherst. No hate for them but their season is over because those 4 teams are still playing. Basically, if you’re not going to build an OOC schedule, you better win a few games in conference to teams ahead of you and they haven’t done that this year.

We can all agree that they are better than at least 20 of the AQ teams, but that’s irrelevant because they have to be better then the 10 teams regionally ranked higher then them to get the pool C bids.

Pretty much 100% agree. Never said Bowdoin isn't a good team, they are probably one of the better teams in all of D3. But they haven't really proven it with the difficulty of their non-conference wins and they struggled in conference.

[The12lov3]

At the end of the day Bowdoin had all the hype at the beginning of the season and under-delivered.

[Frank Rizzo]

At the end of the day Bowdoin had all the hype at the beginning of the season and under-delivered.

All the banter back and forth is exhausting. Win and this isnt an issue. Bowdin can watch teams that won play in the tourney.

[UpperCorner22]

Just saw the D-3 Mens Tennis tournament field - 44 teams… discuss…

[SixBySix]

Just saw the D-3 Mens Tennis tournament field - 44 teams… discuss…

328 tennis programs, 245 lacrosse.

[Laxattackjack]

At the end of the day Bowdoin had all the hype at the beginning of the season and under-delivered.

All the banter back and forth is exhausting. Win and this isnt an issue. Bowdin can watch teams that won play in the tourney.

Why is this team still being discussed? Possibly the most over hyped team in D3

[UpperCorner22]

Just saw the D-3 Mens Tennis tournament field - 44 teams… discuss…

328 tennis programs, 245 lacrosse.

Yikes - that’ll do it!

[SKUD]

Why is this team still being discussed? Possibly the most over hyped team in D3
[/quote]

Not a chance they could ever dethrone York!

[Laxattackjack]

Why is this team still being discussed? Possibly the most over hyped team in D3

Not a chance they could ever dethrone York!
[/quote]

You are the only one comparing them to York. Not sure why. If York wins the conference, they are in. Just like every other conference.

[RE6ULATOR]

Not a chance they could ever dethrone York!

Ah yes. The aptly named “skud” with a well timed one liner.

[jetdirect47]

Just saw the D-3 Mens Tennis tournament field - 44 teams… discuss…

Tennis teams have way smaller rosters in addition to more teams the country. Much less costly for travel, etc.

[ah23]

Not a chance they could ever dethrone York!

You are the only one comparing them to York. Not sure why.

You’re not sure why someone would bring up a counterargument to your claim that Bowdoin is the most overhyped team in D-III? Seriously?

If York wins the conference, they are in. Just like every other conference.

Bit of a different conversation when you’re talking about cakewalking through a blah conference that doesn’t have a single team anywhere close to a Pool C bid.

[Laxattackjack]

Not a chance they could ever dethrone York!

You are the only one comparing them to York. Not sure why.

You’re not sure why someone would bring up a counterargument to your claim that Bowdoin is the most overhyped team in D-III? Seriously?

It would have made more sense if he compared Bowdoin to messiah or bridgewater, or St Lawrence. Those are all 5 seeded teams in their conference that lost the play in game. Well, st Lawrence has a solid win or two.

[ah23]

It would have made more sense if he compared Bowdoin to messiah or bridgewater, or St Lawrence.

Just to clarify: you think Messiah or Bridgewater have more hype/are more overhyped than York?

[Laxattackjack]

It would have made more sense if he compared Bowdoin to messiah or bridgewater, or St Lawrence.

Just to clarify: you think Messiah or Bridgewater have more hype/are more overhyped than York?

Not sure why you and your pal are bringing up York. This is apples and oranges. Just to be clear. D3 lax has 28 automatic bids. Win your conference and you are in. York is still alive for that. Most teams that get talked about on this board are still alive. Except the teams I just mentioned. So yes, Bowdoin has more in common with those other 5th seeded teams that have already been eliminated from winning an AQ.

[smoova]

Not sure why you and your pal are bringing up York.

Because York was over-hyped this year. More so than Bowdoin.

[ah23]

It would have made more sense if he compared Bowdoin to messiah or bridgewater, or St Lawrence.

Just to clarify: you think Messiah or Bridgewater have more hype/are more overhyped than York?

Not sure why you and your pal are bringing up York. This is apples and oranges. Just to be clear. D3 lax has 28 automatic bids. Win your conference and you are in. York is still alive for that. Most teams that get talked about on this board are still alive. Except the teams I just mentioned. So yes, Bowdoin has more in common with those other 5th seeded teams that have already been eliminated from winning an AQ.

You: “Team A is the most overrated in the country!”
Them: “Actually, I think Team B is the most overrated team in the country.”
You: “Wow that’s totally random and uncalled for, no idea why you even brought them up!”

I legitimately have no idea how you are confused by any of this.