We talk a lot about Division III men’s basketball rankings, tournament selections, seeding, bracketing and championship weekend but this time our audience can hear it from a real expert as we sit down for a chat with Cam Fuller, this season’s chair of the men’s basketball committee.

It was great to get a chance to talk with Cam about the transition from the old regional ranking system to NPI, evaluating the NPI “dials”, changes to this season’s tournament and the opportunities it creates as a result of the combined championship with Divisions I and II, bracketing, seeding and one last run in Fort Wayne.

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we take a spin around the country in our Four-Point Play, check in on Matt’s new Top 25 ballot, pick another slate of games against the computer line and wrap-up with three pieces of mail in the mailbag.

Related Episodes:

Unpacking NPI - New Tournament Selection Metric for Division 3 Sports - Episode 83: https://youtu.be/xrKp8McryUA

What Every D3 Basketball Fan Needs To Know About NPI - Episode 101: https://youtu.be/gqYqgCoG8aA

Did NPI Pick the Right Teams? - Episode 114: https://youtu.be/FZK-_qKO1CU

Non-D3 Games in the NPI Era - Episode 115: https://youtu.be/I0H7dyrNw0M

Does NPI Give Everyone an At-Large Chance? - Episode 116: https://youtu.be/h3xDMiblEqI

NPI Fact or Fiction? - Episode 117: https://youtu.be/-fD4iXSfyZ4

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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

It’s not quite time to buckle up for the stretch run of this Division III basketball season but it is a good time to get ready for it. To do that, we run through some important things to know before the stretch run heats up and eyes start turning to the tournament picture.

We start with the basics like how teams get in, how teams are seeded and how the bracket is arranged. We then look at the schedule for this season’s men’s basketball tournament and how the combined championship results in some changes to the normal tournament schedule. But before we get to the tournament there are plenty of games left to account for in NPI and that means understanding some fundamentals about NPI and how it works.

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we take a spin around the country in our Four-Point Play, check in on Matt’s new Top 25 ballot, pick another slate of games against the computer line and wrap-up with the mailbag.

Related Episodes:

Unpacking NPI - New Tournament Selection Metric for Division 3 Sports - Episode 83: https://youtu.be/xrKp8McryUA

What Every D3 Basketball Fan Needs To Know About NPI - Episode 101: https://youtu.be/gqYqgCoG8aA

Did NPI Pick the Right Teams? - Episode 114: https://youtu.be/FZK-_qKO1CU

Non-D3 Games in the NPI Era - Episode 115: https://youtu.be/I0H7dyrNw0M

Does NPI Give Everyone an At-Large Chance? - Episode 116: https://youtu.be/h3xDMiblEqI

NPI Fact or Fiction? - Episode 117: https://youtu.be/-fD4iXSfyZ4

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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

We are at the point in the Division III men’s basketball season that there is a lot we have learned and a lot still to be learned. We try to work through some of that with a segment we call “Can We Say That?” Bob Quillman joins us for this segment with each topic taking the form of a “can we say that…” question and we discuss whether it is something we can or can’t say at this point in time.

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we take a spin around the country in our Four-Point Play, check in on Matt’s new Top 25 ballot and pick another slate of games against the computer line.

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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

As we step into the 2026 portion of the 2025-2026 Division III men’s basketball season the next couple months will be about how conference races play out. We have talked on previous episodes about some interesting dynamics shaping up in a few conferences but this week we take a deeper look at ten conferences that look to be the most wide-open.

What makes a conference race wide open? Using the D3 Datacast efficiency ratings and season simulations, we look at the ten conferences with the lowest automatic qualifier odds for their favorite. In these conferences, we see multiple teams in the mix with odds to secure the league’s automatic qualifier spread among the contenders.

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we get caught up on the picks, pick a new five-game slate against the computer line and wrap up with a big mailbag.

Related Episodes:

Simulating the Rest of the D3 Basketball Season 1,000 Times - Episode 131: https://youtu.be/7EYi-9BqVf0

Top 10 Conferences in D3 Basketball Right Now - Episode 129: https://youtu.be/-nObR2iQraw

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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 calendar turns from 2025 to 2026, marking the unofficial turn from non-conference play to conference season. There are a ton of important games that will be played between now and the end of the season but how might they play out and how might that shape the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament? With the help of the D3 Datacast computer we can take a look.

Using the D3 Datacast team efficiency ratings we can simulate the remaining games yet to be played and run it through NPI. Do it 1,000 times and we can get a picture of how likely teams are to win their automatic qualifier and, if necessary, qualify for the tournament as an at-large selection. We go through those probabilities as we stand today, and look further at the teams most likely to end up seeded in the top eight or to be in hosting position as a top 16 seed. With a tournament field set, we also make a mock bracket and talk about general bracketing philosophies that will shape the bracket we ultimately get come tournament time.

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we have five more games to pick against the computer line then wrap up with a peek in the mailbag.

Related Episodes:

Tournament At-Large Pick Predictions - Episode 130: https://youtu.be/hZgBTvJ7rko

Top 10 Conferences in D3 Basketball Right Now - Episode 129: https://youtu.be/-nObR2iQraw

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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

We love a way too early contest here at The D3 Datacat so it’s time to break out our annual draft to predict which teams will receive at-large bids to the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament! Zac and Matt alternate selections for 11 picks each with three points awarded for each pick that ends up making the tournament as an at-large. Any pick that winds up as their conference's automatic qualifier for the tournament will gain one point. Who do we think have positioned themselves well so far this season?

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we take our usual look around in a new four-point play, a new five game slate for our picks in what will be a thin week of games, then we’ll wrap up with a peek in the mailbag.

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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

We often use the D3 Datacast computer efficiency ratings to talk about the strength of teams and how they stack up compared to each other but what about conferences? This week we zoom out from our usual focus on individual teams and look at how efficiency rating conference rankings are taking shape through the early portion of this Division III men’s basketball season.

Join us this week on The D3 Datacast for that and more as we take our usual look around in a new four-point, see what Matt has cooking in his ballot for the new Top 25 poll, then we’ll wrap up with our weekly picks slate and a quick mailbag.

Related Episodes:

Conference Champion Draft 2025-26 - Episode 121: https://youtu.be/eAZaSQAhwO0

Preseason Efficiency Ratings 2025-26 - Episode 118: https://youtu.be/KRW-DitTCgg

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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 71 Division III men’s basketball teams have been named on at least one D3Hoops.com Top 25 ballot so far this season. In this week’s show we turn to the D3 Datacast efficiency ratings and take a look at the top ten teams that have not yet been named on a ballot. Are there some hidden gems, some teams flying under the radar?

Join us this week as we take our usual look around D3 hoops with our four-point play, examine those ten top teams not yet receiving Top 25 votes, talk about what the computer seems to like and how a human voter might or might not agree with the evaluation.

There will be a new D3hoops.com Top 25 poll this week so Matt reveals the ballot he will submit and we talk about where the Top 25 picture stands, how the past week’s results are helping to shape it and working through what can seem like confusing and conflicting results. We’ll wrap up with our weekly picks slate and a word of thanks for our great supporters.

Related Episodes:

Conference Champion Draft 2025-26 - Episode 121: https://youtu.be/eAZaSQAhwO0

Preseason Efficiency Ratings 2025-26 - Episode 118: https://youtu.be/KRW-DitTCgg

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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 week of Thanksgiving tends to be a lighter week in the Division III men’s basketball calendar but there is still plenty to react to and talk about from the holiday weekend. Join us this week for another four-point play where we talk about what has been catching our eye across the country then dive in to take a look at a few programs who have made notable moves in our efficiency ratings so far this season.

There will be a new D3hoops.com Top 25 poll this week so Matt reveals the ballot he will submit and we talk about the dynamics at play in what has been another difficult to decipher the Top 25 picture. We’ll wrap up with our weekly picks slate and three questions in the mailbag.

Related Episodes:

Preseason Efficiency Ratings 2025-26 - Episode 118: https://youtu.be/KRW-DitTCgg

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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 intensity of the 2025-2026 Division III men’s basketball season has ramped up with another great week of non-conference games, including the always fantastic Great Lakes Invitational. This year’s event was hosted by Washington & Jefferson and had a field that included Carthage, Case Western Reserve, Marietta, Mary Washington, Maryville, Trine and Trinity (TX).

Join us this week for another four-point play where we talk about what has been catching our eye across the country then dive in deep into what happened at the Great Lakes Invitational. We’ll review the GLI with our poll-style power rankings based on the games this weekend, then wrap up with the picks and mailbag.

Related Links:

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll: https://d3hoops.com/top25/index

Efficiency Ratings: https://d3datacast.com/efficiency-ratings/

NPI Rankings: 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