Women's Basketball 25-26

[Bballfan]

Down goes another #2 in West Texas A&M. Thanks for playing.

But the most shocking score of the day to me... Colorado Mesa 80, Lubbock Christian 45. Mesa was suppose to win, but I don't think I have ever seen Lubbock take a beating like that.

[ucmjennies]

Unfortunate ending for the Mavericks. Record breaking season but they fall ultimately short of their goal. I need a breather after this heart breaker. I really think this team would have gone all the way if they stayed fully healthy. At the end of the day, this group of young women played their hearts out, I'm going to miss this senior class.

[Bballfan]

I had them going down in the regional semis, but they looked pretty bad today. Bremer started forcing in the 4th quarter and took a lot of bad shots.

A good season by most accounts, but given this team's success over the last few years this one will hurt awhile.

[Inkblot]

Not a single 1 vs. 2 matchup in the regional finals. Five 1 vs. 3 matchups, with the remaining three 2 vs. 5, 3 vs. 5, and 2 vs. 8.

[Bballfan]

A lot of 2's went down.

Seems like the seeding process hasn't been the best this year either.

[Bballfan]

I will give my opinion...

Atlantic- IUP
Central- Central Missouri
East- Bentley
Midwest- Grand Valley State
South Central- Texas Women
South- Nova Southeastern
Southeast- Columbus State
West- Cal Poly Pomona

See what I got left here:
Atlantic- IUP - will stick with them
Central- well Central was a bad pick. I think Concordia has been playing the best lately so will go with them, although Duluth wouldn't surprise me.
East- Bentley. Really could care less about the East. D2 women's hoop there hasn't been relevant in a good while. Will go with Daemen.
Midwest- Grand Valley State - obvious pick. Only question is will they win by less than 20.
South Central- Texas Women - sticking with them, although Colorado Mesa has been impressive.
South- Nova Southeastern - Eckerd stomped a good Union team. So I will go with them.
Southeast- Columbus State - feeling Carson-Newman.
West- Cal Poly Pomona - Central Washington has been playing better so they probably win this one instead.

[Goods]

West- Cal Poly Pomona - Central Washington has been playing better so they probably win this one instead.

While they still earned the #1 seed, CWU limped into the west region, but have stepped up big. TBH, I thought Western Washington would beat Pomona based on Pomona's near loss to Azusa in the first round, but what do I know? This is the second straight year for CWU in the Sweet 16. Let's hope we get our first Elite 8 bid.

[D2Rover]

See what I got left here:
Atlantic- IUP - will stick with them
Central- well Central was a bad pick. I think Concordia has been playing the best lately so will go with them, although Duluth wouldn't surprise me.
East- Bentley. Really could care less about the East. D2 women's hoop there hasn't been relevant in a good while. Will go with Daemen.
Midwest- Grand Valley State - obvious pick. Only question is will they win by less than 20.
South Central- Texas Women - sticking with them, although Colorado Mesa has been impressive.
South- Nova Southeastern - Eckerd stomped a good Union team. So I will go with them.
Southeast- Columbus State - feeling Carson-Newman.
West- Cal Poly Pomona - Central Washington has been playing better so they probably win this one instead.

I didn't get around to picks at the start. Too busy for my own good these days.

Atlantic - I'd have picked Gannon, so shows what I know. IUP seems solid.
Central - UCM and CSP both came in hot, apparently Duluth did too. Top talent for CSP is better than Duluth's so I'll lean Concordia.
East - Daemen is consistently underrated, which still means good not great, but they're my pick here. Resume isn't incredible but it's solid for an East team.
Midwest - GVSU obviously, but I'll take Northwood to keep it within 20.
South Central - Saw Mesa at the start of the year and in the first round and very impressed. Suspect Woman's is slightly overrated this year too. Winner is a top 3 team in the eight either way.
South - I know nothing but I'll take Eckerd
Southeast - ??? LR I guess. I don't suspect either will make much noise in Pittsburgh.
West - The first two rounds from Central looked much more like the unstoppable offense they were the first half of the year than rather average group they were the last month. Nervous about the Pomona physicality but I'll stick with CWU, especially at home.

[Bballfan]

Some outstanding games tonight!

So I will predict the Elite Eight rankings:
1) Grand Valley - and will be favored to repeat
2) Colorado Mesa
3) IUP
4) Cal Poly

From there it will be a pickem. I think Minnesota Duluth could be dangerous and is deserving of a 5. But not sure they will put them there. I could see them slotted as a 6 with UAH as the 5.

7) Carson Newman
8) Holy Family

[Inkblot]

The pre-tournament metrics agreed on this order for the Elite Eight, so we'll likely see something close to this:

1. Grand Valley State
2. Indiana (PA)
3. Colorado Mesa
4. Cal Poly Pomona
5. Alabama–Huntsville
6. Holy Family
7. Minnesota–Duluth
8. Carson–Newman

[Bballfan]

If that is what it is an awful matchup for IUP.

The winner of the east region should just be slotted into 8th seed, regardless of the metrics.

I am picking a Grand Valley/Colorado Mesa matchup for the finals.

[D2Rover]

1. GVSU
2. IUP
3. Mesa
4. Pomona
5. Huntsville
6. Duluth
7. Holy Family
8. Carson-Newman

[Bballfan]

I have to revisit some of the bracket predictions....

A region-by-region preview of the 2026 DII women’s basketball championship | NCAA.com

Atlantic - wrong on Gannon and wrong on Glenville State. No mention of IUP.
Central - no mention of Duluth
East - no mention of Holy Family
Midwest - right on Grand Valley
South - right on UAH as a team to watch
South Central - at least a mention of Colorado Mesa in the first round
Southeast - mention of Carson-Newman in the first round
West - no mention of Cal Poly.

1 for 8. Ouch.

[laker]

UMD was an 8 seed and pretty close to not making the regional at all. Now they are 6th in the Elite 8. They got hot at the right time.

"The Bulldogs are entering the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight as the No. 6 seed! They will face the No. 3-seeded Colorado Mesa University on March 24th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania".

[Bballfan]

I agree that Duluth is a very dangerous team. Mesa got the worst first round matchup in my opinion. And I think the winner of that game will play Grand Valley in the finals.