Tournament Challenge

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'll have to find the list now.

I'll save you the time, Snaqs...

Link

Now that South Dakota State is in, that leaves Maine and Alaska as the only states that have never sent a team to the big dance.

Oh, and Alaska has no D-I schools.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I'll save you the time, Snaqs...

Link

Now that South Dakota State is in, that leaves Maine and Alaska as the only states that have never sent a team to the big dance.

Oh, and Alaska has no D-I schools.

I knew there would be at least one Southern Conference school (Citadel) on the list. I should have known about William & Mary since I live 15 minutes from their campus.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I knew there would be at least one Southern Conference school (Citadel) on the list.

It must be brutal trying to recruit top players to a military academy. I have two friends that went to The Cid (including our class clown), no chance in hell would I consider that.

I should have known about William & Mary since I live 15 minutes from their campus.

W&M and Maine are more about football, anyway. It's not easy being a CAA school up here, with most of the conference bunched up down your way, but Maine makes it work somehow.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Maine are more about football, anyway.

What about baseball?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

What about baseball?

Hockey primarily, of course (two national championships). Baseball has come back a bit (defending conference champions), but it will never be like it was in the '80s when they had five College World Series trips. The college baseball landscape has changed way too much, and a lot of northeastern schools have dropped baseball in favor of lacrosse. Maine baseball's nearest conference opponent is six hours away, but Maine has way too much history to consider axing the program.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Baseball five College ... World Series trips. Maine has way too much history.

Now that's the Maine program that I remember. Successful, even though the "warm season" is only two months long, and the black flies slow down a pitched, or a batted ball.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I'll save you the time, Snaqs...

Link

Now that South Dakota State is in, that leaves Maine and Alaska as the only states that have never sent a team to the big dance.

Oh, and Alaska has no D-I schools.

Too late, I was reading the list while you posted the link.

I'll say of the 8, it was 50/50 for me. With four, I was more surprised that they had been D1 for 50 years.

Interesting note, Denver would have been on the list had they not left D1 from '80-'99.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Oh, and Alaska has no D-I schools.

Although both UAA and UAF do compete at the D-I level in a number of sports.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Although both UAA and UAF do compete at the D-I level in a number of sports.

Right, Maine has played both in hockey plenty of times. I recall a Great Alaska shootout in-season tournament. Maine opts for the one in south Florida now.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Right, Maine has played both in hockey plenty of times. I recall a Great Alaska shootout in-season tournament. Maine opts for the one in south Florida now.

And Maine has won the hockey title twice. I was there for the very first game at Alfond, the first win over a D-I school (RPI), they went to the CWS while I was attending and 3 times in the 80s before the big school managers took control.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

And Maine has won the hockey title twice. I was there for the very first game at Alfond, the first win over a D-I school (RPI), they went to the CWS while I was attending and 3 times in the 80s before the big school managers took control.

UMaine has a pretty rich sports history. Alas, men's basketball has not yet been a part of it.

[BktBallRef]

Still a bunch of people who signed up that haven't bracketed yet. Don't wait!

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Still a bunch of people who signed up that haven't bracketed yet. Don't wait!

I'm just getting home. About to put mine in. The Air Force base I work at blocks entries to any bracket challenges.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I'll save you the time, Snaqs...

Link

Now that South Dakota State is in, that leaves Maine and Alaska as the only states that have never sent a team to the big dance.

Oh, and Alaska has no D-I schools.

While they were in D-I in 2008 when the USA Today story was written, Centenary began its transition to D-III on July 1, 2011. I question whether they should count any longer.