 Wesley finds itself in the regional rankings, but there are more Pool B teams listed than there are spots for them in the postseason. Wesley athletics photo |
The first (and second-to-last) public NCAA regional rankings have been released.
Remember that regional rankings primarily take Division III games into account. Teams are listed with their Division III record first, followed by their overall record. For more information about the playoff format and how participants are determined, check out our FAQ.
No teams have clinched an automatic bid to the playoffs as of yet.
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EAST 1 Hobart 7-0 7-0 2 Ithaca 7-1 7-1 3 Gallaudet 8-0 8-0 4 Rowan 6-2 6-2 5 Lebanon Valley 7-1 7-1 6 Framingham State 7-1 7-1 7 Alfred 6-2 6-2 8 St. John Fisher 6-2 6-2 9 Salve Regina 6-1 6-2 10 St. Lawrence 6-2 6-2 |
Notes: Framingham State is a Pool B-eligible team. One-loss Ithaca is ranked ahead of unbeaten Gallaudet, likely on the strength of a better strength of schedule, plus two wins vs. regionally ranked opponents. |
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NORTH 1 Mount Union 8-0 8-0 2 North Central (Ill.) 8-0 8-0 3 Wabash 8-0 8-0 4 Wittenberg 7-0 7-1 5 John Carroll 8-0 8-0 6 Illinois Wesleyan 7-1 7-1 7 Franklin 6-1 6-2 8 Wheaton (Ill.) 7-1 7-1 9 Heidelberg 7-1 7-1 10 Hope 7-2 7-2 |
Notes: In this region, all of the unbeaten D-III teams come first, followed by all of the teams with losses. Franklin’s performance vs. common opponent Butler doesn’t seem to weigh into how it is ranked vs. Wittenberg. Heidelberg needs to beat John Carroll to have a fighting chance anyway, but definitely once you see where they’re ranked. The North Region rankings were released with conference record rather than Division III record printed. We have corrected this to show consistent data. |
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SOUTH 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor 8-0 8-0 2 Johns Hopkins 8-0 8-0 3 Texas Lutheran 7-0 7-0 4 Wesley 4-2 6-2 5 Millsaps 8-0 8-0 5 Thomas More 7-1 7-1 7 Maryville (Tenn.) 7-1 7-1 8 Washington U. 6-2 6-2 9 Hampden-Sydney 6-2 6-2 10 Washington and Jefferson 6-2 6-2 |
Notes: More or less lines up according to form except that Wesley’s strength of schedule (.688, best in D-III) gives it a big advantage over Millsaps (.484). Texas Lutheran, Wesley, Millsaps and Wash U are all Pool B eligible in this ranking. |
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WEST 1 UW-Whitewater 8-0 8-0 2 Bethel 8-0 8-0 3 Linfield 7-0 7-0 4 UW-Oshkosh 7-1 7-1 5 Concordia-Moorhead 7-1 7-1 6 UW-Platteville 7-1 7-1 7 Pacific Lutheran 7-1 7-1 8 Illinois College 8-0 8-0 9 Wartburg 6-2 6-2 10 St. John’s 6-2 6-2 |
Notes: Bethel has two wins vs. regionally ranked opponents and if the Royals finish running the table, will have three. UW-Whitewater is 3-0 vs. regionally ranked opponents (including Wash U.). Strength of schedule is basically a wash. Unbeaten Greenville (.394 SOS, eighth from the bottom in Division III) is not ranked. |
How to use these regional rankings: If you are an at-large candidate, you want to be sure you are the top at-large candidate in your region. That will ensure you get discussed by the national committee and have a chance to be put in the field.
There are 24 automatic bids, three Pool B bids and five Pool C (true national at-large) bids. Selection Sunday is Nov. 17.
Being listed in these rankings is not a guarantee of selection to the playoffs. There is no guarantee an at-large team will be taken from each region.