John Carroll men's basketball second to Mount Union in NCAA Region 7 rankings
Feb. 14—When the NCAA last week released its first batch of regional rankings for Division III men's basketball, it wasn't really a list of "rankings."
Rather, the seven teams in each of the 10 regions were listed in alphabetical order as teams considered.
For its second batch of regional rankings — the tool used by the NCAA to determine its 64-team D-III tournament field — there is now at least some clarity with the regular season winding down.
Feb. 14, the top three in Region 7 was revealed and here's how it played out in the eyes of the NCAA:
1. Mount Union (21-2, 14-2 Ohio Athletic Conference)
2. John Carroll (21-2, 15-1 OAC)
3. Case Western Reserve (18-3, 8-3 University Athletic Association)
Other Ohio teams ranked in Region 7 includes OAC member Heidelberg (16-7) at No. 7, and Wooster (18-4) at No. 6.
The Blue Streaks at No. 2 in the region might be a surprise for some. JCU owns four victories over regional-ranked teams — one against Mount, two vs. Heidelberg and a December victory over Wheaton — the No. 1-ranked team in Region 8.
The Purple Raiders have two wins over regional ranked opponents — JCU and Heidelberg.
A strength-of-schedule comparison is a virtual tie — JCU's is .557, Mount's is .555.
Mount has ranked higher than the Blue Streaks all season in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll, but that does not play a factor in the NCAA's regional rankings. This week, the Purple Raiders are ranked No. 4 by D3Hoops.com, and JCU is No. 6.
With two games to play in the regular season in the OAC, there might be more clarity with the JCU-Mount debate in less than two weeks.
The Blue Steaks close with games at Baldwin Wallace on Feb. 15 and at Wilmington on Feb. 18. JCU can clinch at least a share of the OAC regular-season title and the top seed in the OAC tournament with a win over BW. Mount's final two games are home vs. Muskingum on Feb. 15 and home vs. Otterbein on Feb. 18.
If those games are not enough to create movement in Region 7, the most logical is a JCU-Mount rematch in the OAC tournament championship game — a contest that would create plenty of national interest with NCAA implications.
First, the teams must get to the championship game. The Blue Streaks and Purple Raiders have clinched first-round byes into the semifinal round. If the teams hold serve and get to the OAC title game, JCU's chances of hosting that game look good.
If there is a tie atop the OAC standings, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head. JCU and Mount split two games. The second is record vs. the third-place team, which currently is Heidelberg. The Blue Streaks are 2-0 vs. Heidelberg, Mount 1-1.
Barring a slump to close out the season — for example, if JCU lost its final two games and bowed out in an OAC semifinal — the Blue Streaks appear to be a strong candidate to host a four-team, first-round NCAA tournament site.
John Carroll at Baldwin Wallace
When: 7 p.m., Feb. 15
Where: Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium
Records: JCU 21-2 (15-1 OAC), BW 11-12 (7-9 OAC)
