"John T. Whelan" <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>
>         I was going to wait another month or two for the dust to
> settle before wondering about this, but:
 
Some things are still not clear so it is true that questions still remain.
But much of the picture has been cleared up recently.
 
>         On the subject of who in the MAAC would be eligible for the
> NCAA tournament, and whose games are to be included in the RPI and
> pairwise comparisons, it's been pointed out that AIC and Sacred Heart
> are still in their probationary periods.  As I understand, that
> doesn't mean they're still Division II, but rather that they're
> Division I and not eligible, just like Nebraska-Omaha was last season.
 
Actually, the NCAA still considers these programs (AIC, Sacred Heart) to be
D2.  Lee Urton of USCHO clarified this with the NCAA recently.  They are D2
but not eligible for the D2 NCAAs.
 
Thus the MAAC will have two D2 programs and six D1 programs this season.
In 1999-2000, AIC and Sacred Heart will become D1, and Bentley and
Mercyhurst will join.  Those two will then be D2 programs (in their second
year of provisional D1 membership) while the other eight will be D1.  In
2000-2001, all ten MAAC teams will be D1 (unless others move up and are
still provisional members).
 
I cannot say for sure what the status of UNO is this season.  I believe
they will be considered D1 and eligible for the tourney but I'm not sure.
Their situation may be slightly different because when they established
their program, they did so as D1.
 
>         Here's my understanding of the status of MAAC schools:
>
> Full Division 1:
>         Canisius, Iona, UConn, Fairfield, Holy Cross
>
> Probationary:
>         American International, Sacred Heart
>
> ????:
>         Quinnipiac
 
Quinnipiac is D1 this season.
 
There is also Bemidji State, which is in the same boat as Bentley and
Mercyhurst -- provisional D1 for the next two seasons and considered D2,
but not eligible for the D2 (or D1) tourney.
 
And Alabama-Huntsville, which I believe will at the least be also in that
boat for the next two seasons -- maybe three if the paperwork was not filed
by June 1st and they do not receive some sort of exemption.
 
> Dick Tuthills says:
>
> >        Quinnipiac only did one year of D-2 to D-1 probation which I believe
> >finishes in a few days.   They received a waiver of the second year from
> >the NC$$,  and will be full-fledged D-1 this summer in all sports.
>
> But a quick check on the web seems to indicate that they competed in
> Division II last year.  Which one of us is confused?
 
I think the above should clarify this question.  They were D2 last season.
 
>         Finally, I think the other big question is whether UNO is
> getting their second D1 probationary year waved, as Mankato did last
> season.  I'm sure a member of the Maverick Horde will be glad to
> volunteer that information. :-)
 
I believe this will be the case, but again I'm not certain.
 
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                [log in to unmask]               *HMM* 11/13/93
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