Central Region Thoughts

[Thunder]

I don't have the same understanding of the committee's approach as some do like Inkblot, but in looking at the RPI and KPI numbers I'd say it is likely the NSIC gets 5 teams into the regional and I don't think 6 is completely out of the question. Outside of Washburn and Southern Nazarene I think 8 or 9 NSIC teams have as good of an argument as anyone else in the region. The conference largely had a very good nonconference portion of the schedule. SMSU, CSP, Winona, Duluth, Minot, Mankato, & Moorhead (if they keep winning). Heck, even Coach Q's boys in St. Cloud might have a chance.

[Purple Mav Man]

I do get what he’s saying though. They replaced Waldorf, Dakota State and Bethany with Florida Southern, North Georgia and Truman State.

They replaced a non-con game with St. Cloud with a non-con game at SMSU.

They replaced a game against a bad Arkansas-Monticello team with a game vs #1 Washburn.

Our tone about the Mavs would be much different if they were sitting at 19-5 or 18-6 with an easier schedule.

This is a team that could have benefited from having a few more gimme games.

I get it. They played a more difficult non-conference schedule. But they still lost those games.

My tone would be the same even with a better record from playing lesser teams. Doesn’t mean the team would be any better, they are who they are. They really lack any offensive facilitation most games. They had an BIG hole when Malik exhausted his eligibility, and didn’t fill it. Also, team defense has become optional again this season.

[GHawks]

I don’t see how it can be Mankato. Unless they win the NSIC tournament. They have no business in the regional. When they played games out of conference…they lost.

I do get what he’s saying though. They replaced Waldorf, Dakota State and Bethany with Florida Southern, North Georgia and Truman State.

They replaced a non-con game with St. Cloud with a non-con game at SMSU.

They replaced a game against a bad Arkansas-Monticello team with a game vs #1 Washburn.

Our tone about the Mavs would be much different if they were sitting at 19-4 or 18-5 with an easier schedule.

This is a team that could have benefited from having a few more gimme games. They probably didn’t need a good SoS to get in. They’re the defending champs, they would get the benefit of the doubt if they were on the bubble.

[Purple Mav Man]

I wonder if Mankato is going to be done-in by the non-conference portion of their schedule. I bet if they played better early in the season, their spot would be more secure. I've got SMSU, Minot and CSP as fairly secure regional bids right now. I think the NSIC could still get a fourth, but it's not a lock to be Mankato.

I don’t see how it can be Mankato. Unless they win the NSIC tournament. They have no business in the regional. When they played games out of conference…they lost.

[Stanger86]

I wonder if Mankato is going to be done-in by the non-conference portion of their schedule. I bet if they played better early in the season, their spot would be more secure. I've got SMSU, Minot and CSP as fairly secure regional bids right now. I think the NSIC could still get a fourth, but it's not a lock to be Mankato.

[Stanger86]

Barring a couple of bad losses (not happening) or injuries, I’d have to think the regional being at Washburn is almost locked up, even though it’s only early February. SMSU would probably dang near have to win out, including the conference tourney, to have an argument if Washburn does slip up a few times.

I think you're probably right.

[Purple Mav Man]

I’m not convinced that the NSIC (in particular) being down this year is due to the transfer portal. That, of course, is the easy and knee-jerk answer for anything these days though. Yes, Winona got hit hard by transfers out. They also got plenty in. People a lot of times conveniently forget that kids transfer IN as well.

Augustana lost their coach, and players followed him. Likely many would have stayed if he did.

Northern has been ruined by their coach (per their fans)

Moorhead has injuries and consistency issues

Mankato lost players to graduation, not the portal

Those are a few teams that typically are at/near the top, and are nowhere near what they typically are. And yes, players left Augustana via the portal, it was to follow their coach, not leave for a ‘better’ opportunity. Some years just aren’t as good, and this is one of them. Next year may be spectacular. Guess we’ll see.

[GHawks]

Their average margin of victory is twenty two points, that's obscene in recent MIAA and NSIC history. They've had two of their twenty one wins decided by less than ten points. They deserve their flowers for beheading the competition so far this season.

100% agree. It’s almost impossible at this level to destroy a schedule like they have. Especially being highly ranked all year. Getting everyone’s best game every night. We’ll have to wait until the regional to truly see how good they are (or how bad or good the MIAA is—I tend to think it’s a bad league this year apart from them.) But you can only play the games on your schedule and they’ve bulldozed everybody.

Barring a couple of bad losses (not happening) or injuries, I’d have to think the regional being at Washburn is almost locked up, even though it’s only early February. SMSU would probably dang near have to win out, including the conference tourney, to have an argument if Washburn does slip up a few times.

[Augieholic]

Consistency seems pretty rare in the men's game right now, so I think the fact Washburn hasn't slipped up says something. Seeing them live a couple times, they pass the eye test as a great D2 team to me. No idea how that actually compares to the rest of the region, I've seen great D2 teams miss it entirely here.

Their average margin of victory is twenty two points, that's obscene in recent MIAA and NSIC history. They've had two of their twenty one wins decided by less than ten points. They deserve their flowers for beheading the competition so far this season.

[D2Rover]

Consistency seems pretty rare in the men's game right now, so I think the fact Washburn hasn't slipped up says something. Seeing them live a couple times, they pass the eye test as a great D2 team to me. No idea how that actually compares to the rest of the region, I've seen great D2 teams miss it entirely here.

[LukeMcConnell1]

I've thought about this too. I know people say the NSIC is down too, but I wonder if it's just D2 basketball as a whole. Who knows....maybe Southern Nazarene will surprise us all and run away with the region!

There's some ebb and flow in the GAC. For example, Southeastern is really down this year, but have several young guys who you can already see are the core for the next few years if they stick around. But also, Oklahoma Baptist is a really veteran team that's been together for a few years now and they're just not getting it done. So I'm not sure what the answer is.

I will say, I'm so impressed with BJ Foster. I thought SNU would take a big step back after Bohac left, but man. Foster can coach. And most of this year's group are juniors so there's potential to run it back next year.

[Bballfan]

I've thought about this too. I know people say the NSIC is down too, but I wonder if it's just D2 basketball as a whole. Who knows....maybe Southern Nazarene will surprise us all and run away with the region!

With the constant turnover now in the transfer portal, it is hard to build a really good, consistent team. Really good D2 players are hopping up D1. And those bench players that are developing will transfer to a lesser D2 school just to get more playing time. The transfer portal is impacting a lot of sports, but football and basketball are the ones that get hurt the most.

[Stanger86]

Men's side in the MIAA is way down. It's Washburn, then every body else. It does make me wonder how good Washburn really is. Their record is over-inflated due to how bad the MIAA really is. Washburn may still be undefeated and #1 in the country heading into the regionals playing a weak schedule. Will find out how good they really are when they play some real teams in the regional. Can they win close games after destroying the weak MIAA?

I've thought about this too. I know people say the NSIC is down too, but I wonder if it's just D2 basketball as a whole. Who knows....maybe Southern Nazarene will surprise us all and run away with the region!

[Stanger86]

MIAA women is a dogfight like usual. Think there is more depth in the league this year. MOSO women only make the regionals if the win the MIAA tourney. However, they are more likely to be one and done in the tourney than to win it all. Throw a full court press at them and they are toast.

Meanwhile, the NSIC has a three-way tie for first place.

[mosofan1]

MIAA women is a dogfight like usual. Think there is more depth in the league this year. MOSO women only make the regionals if the win the MIAA tourney. However, they are more likely to be one and done in the tourney than to win it all. Throw a full court press at them and they are toast.

Men's side in the MIAA is way down. It's Washburn, then every body else. It does make me wonder how good Washburn really is. Their record is over-inflated due to how bad the MIAA really is. Washburn may still be undefeated and #1 in the country heading into the regionals playing a weak schedule. Will find out how good they really are when they play some real teams in the regional. Can they win close games after destroying the weak MIAA?