The Division III basketball landscape has changed in terms of how teams are selected and seeded for the national tournament. The regional ranking system is a thing of the past, replaced by a single national ranking system called the NCAA Power Index, or NPI. The old system, for better and worse, was familiar so moving to a new system can lead to questions and confusion. That’s where we can help. We’ve been deep into NPI going back to an offseason episode giving an initial explanation but we’re back in the thick of basketball season to give a more specific look at NPI for men’s and women’s basketball. What is it? How does it compare to the old system? How does it work? What will ranking season look like now? Are regional rankings still a thing? These are all questions we answer and discuss in this week’s show. We also look back at how we did against our week ten picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week 11 picks, then wrap up with a check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Episodes: Unpacking NPI - New Tournament Selection Metric for Division 3 Sports - Episode 83: https://youtu.be/xrKp8McryUA What D3 Football Fans Should Know About NPI - Episode 89: https://youtu.be/94_NTM2k1nc Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ NPI: https://d3datacast.com/npi/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

The start of January marks the traditional start to conference play so we fire up the D3 Datacast computer to run 1,000 season simulations to see which conferences are shaping up to have the tightest races. Some conferences have already started conference play, giving some teams conference wins in the bank. How remaining games yet to be played end up turning projected odds into hard wins and losses will determine which of the branching paths through our 1,000 simulations becomes reality. It is fun to take a look at what could happen, whether it be likely or unlikely, then even more fun to watch the games play out to see what will happen. We also look back at how we did against our week nine picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week ten picks, then wrap up with a check in with our viewers in a fun mailbag segment. Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ NPI: https://d3datacast.com/npi/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

The break in the Division III basketball schedule has given us the opportunity to pause and reflect on what we’ve seen so far and how it may have differed from our expectations heading into the season. With a fresh set of eyes we take a look back at some things we thought in the preseason that haven’t, at least not yet, turned out the way we thought they would. Yes, we were wrong about some things and we’re ready to admit it and talk about them! We also look back at how we did against our week eight picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week nine picks, then wrap up with a check in with our viewers in a robust mailbag segment. Related Episodes: Hot Takes and Bold Predictions for 2024-25 - Episode 91: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Er0Pb3WXU Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ NPI: https://d3datacast.com/npi/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

Now that most teams have played at least eight games the D3 Datacast computer is relying solely on in-season results for calculating efficiency ratings. That makes this week the perfect time to check in to see how the computer views the developing national picture - both in terms of teams that stand out as the Top 20 overall but also dive in a little deeper to see which teams are performing as the top ten offenses and defenses. There are a lot of ways to get it done so it’s more about how well you do what you do rather than how fast you play. However, it can be fun to also check in on tempo to see which teams play fastests and which play at a more deliberate pace. We also look back at how we did against our week seven picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week eight picks, then wrap up with a check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ NPI: https://d3datacast.com/npi/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

The D3 Datacast Pool C Fantasy Draft returns for the new season! As we have done during previous seasons, we have some fun making way too early predictions on which teams will secure at-large bids to the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament. Our contest is set up in a draft format where we alternate picks. At the end of the season each team on our list that does indeed make the tournament as a Pool C pick earns three points while any team that we selected that ends up a Pool A team will earn us one point. We also look back at how we did against our week six picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week seven picks, then wrap up with a check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ NPI: https://d3datacast.com/npi/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

A total of 79 different teams have received at least one vote through the three D3Hoops.com Top 25 polls that have been released this season. Does that mean all the good teams are accounted for and already on the radar of voters? Not according to the D3 Datacast computer efficiency ratings! According to the D3 Datacast computer, ten of its top 50 teams (as rated by games played through 12/8/24) have yet to be named on a single voter ballot in either the preseason Top 25 poll or either of the two in-season polls. We take a look at each of these ten teams to see if we can figure out what the computer seems to like so much and whether or not we think the human voters in the Top 25 poll will agree that these are teams that should be in the mix. We also look back at how we did against our week five picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week six picks, then wrap up with a check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Episodes: 2024-2025 MBB Preseason Efficiency Ratings - Episode 85: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShM6jk94NhA Teams on the Rise! - Episode 95: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5xgpnmVIi0 Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAGZac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

Now that we are a few weeks into the 2024-2024 Division III basketball season it’s fair to start setting aside preseason expectations as teams show us who they truly are for this season. With each game played the D3 Datacast computer ratings rely less and less on the preseason ratings and more and more on this season’s results. Most teams have played enough games that the weighting has moved to at least 50% of current season results feeding into their computer rating rather than relying on any historical data. That being the case, we thought it would be a good time to check in to see who some of the biggest movers have been based on games played through December 1, 2024 compared to the preseason computer ratings we published prior to the season and discussed in episode 85. Which teams are exceeding their preseason rating more than others? Which teams are underperforming their preseason rating by the most? We dive into the numbers to look at the early season trends to see who is on the rise and who is struggling out of the gate. We also look back at how we did against our week four picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week five picks, then wrap up with a look at some ranked teams who have important games against unranked opponents this week and check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Episodes: 2024-2025 MBB Preseason Efficiency Ratings - Episode 85: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShM6jk94NhA Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

The 2024 Great Lakes Invitational is in the books and it once again gave us two great days of action. After seeing all eight games in person, we asked a panel of Division III basketball media to vote in a poll to determine our power rankings based on what we saw from Calvin, Emory, Hope, John Carroll, Johns Hopkins, Marietta, Saint John’s, UW-La Crosse this weekend. These games involving so many high-level teams will have a definite impact on the first in-season D3hoops.com Top 25 poll expected to be released on Monday evening. Matt will talk us through how he’s been thinking about what happened at the GLI along with other results from around the country as he reveals his ballot for this week. We also look back at how we did against our week three picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week four picks, then wrap up with a look at some ranked teams who have important games against unranked opponents this week and check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Episodes: Top 50 D3 Basketball Games in November 2024 - Episode 90: https://youtu.be/wmPIxcmBxjI Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

The first full week of the 2024-2025 Division III men’s basketball season is in the books and in a lot of ways the preseason Top 25 picture has been completely blown up. As we did in last week’s show, we take a look at some of the big results involving Top 25 teams and other games that caught our eye this past week. We are still a week away from the first in-season D3hoops.com Top 25 poll but Matt put together a mock bracket to give his updated outlook on the Top 25 picture. We also look back at how we did against our week two picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week three picks, then wrap up with a look at some ranked teams who have important games against unranked opponents this week and check in with our viewers in the mailbag. Related Episodes: Top 50 D3 Basketball Games in November 2024 - Episode 90: https://youtu.be/wmPIxcmBxjI Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder

The 2024-2025 Division III men’s basketball season got off to a fast start over the weekend and it is already having an impact on the Top 25 picture. Join us this week as we react to the biggest wins, surprising losses and best games and how that makes us think about the national rankings moving forward. We also look back at how we did against our week one picks slate and make our decisions on a new five-game slate for week two picks, then wrap up with a look at some ranked teams who have important games against unranked opponents this week. Related Episodes: Top 50 D3 Basketball Games in November 2024 - Episode 90: https://youtu.be/wmPIxcmBxjI Related Links: Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/ Show Links: ▶ Website:  https://d3datacast.com/ ▶ Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@d3datacast ▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/d3datacast ▶ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1twRPsVN00cCOxnFMldaw1?si=96c775bee5904b8e ▶ Become our Teammate on Patreon: https://patreon.com/D3Datacast ▶ D3 Datacast Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/d3-datacast/ Show hosts: Matt Snyder: https://twitter.com/FFTMAG Zac Snyder: https://twitter.com/ZacSnyder