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D3hoops.com

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D3hoops.com
NameD3hoops.com
TypeSports news and fan site
LanguageEnglish
RegistrationOptional (for forums)
OwnerPat Coleman and Gordon Mann
Launch date0 1999
Current statusActive

D3hoops.com is a comprehensive independent website dedicated to covering NCAA Division III men's and women's college basketball. Founded in 1999, it has become the preeminent online source for news, scores, statistics, and community discussion focused exclusively on Division III basketball. The site is operated by Pat Coleman and Gordon Mann and features extensive original reporting, a long-running blog, and one of the most active internet forums in small-college sports. Its annual postseason awards and all-region teams are widely recognized within the NCAA Division III basketball community.

History and founding

The website was established in 1999 by Pat Coleman and Gordon Mann, who sought to fill a significant void in media coverage for NCAA Division III basketball. At the time, mainstream sports outlets like ESPN and major newspapers provided scant attention to Division III athletics. The founders, leveraging early internet technology, created a centralized hub for scores, news, and fan engagement. The site's launch coincided with the growth of online sports communities and preceded the rise of major social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Its early operations were based on manual score reporting and basic web design, but it quickly gained a dedicated following among coaches, players, alumni, and fans of institutions such as UW-Stevens Point, Amherst College, and Augustana (Ill.).

Content and coverage

The site provides exhaustive coverage of the entire NCAA Division III basketball season, from preseason previews through the Division III men's tournament and women's tournament. Core content includes daily scoreboards, up-to-date national and regional rankings, detailed statistical leaders, and in-depth game recaps. A major feature is its extensive tournament coverage, including live updates and "Bracket Central" during March Madness. The site also publishes feature stories on players and coaches from conferences like the MIAA, UAA, and MIAC. Unlike national outlets, it offers granular analysis of regional dynamics and NCAA selection criteria specific to Division III.

Daily Dose blog

The Daily Dose blog serves as the site's primary channel for editorial content, analysis, and timely commentary. Written primarily by the site's editors, including Coleman and Mann, it provides insights on national polls, tournament bracketology, and significant games. The blog is known for its "Around the Nation" columns, which summarize key results and storylines from across the country, often highlighting performances from teams in the ODAC or NESCAC. It functions as a daily digest and opinion platform, fostering discussion and often referencing conversations from the site's own message boards.

Message boards and community

The message boards represent one of the most active and enduring online communities in Division III sports. Divided into regional and conference-specific forums, they allow fans, alumni, and sometimes coaches from schools like Williams College or Washington University in St. Louis to debate, share news, and organize meetups. The boards are famously self-policing and have developed a distinct culture and etiquette over decades. This community aspect has been integral to the site's longevity, creating a dedicated user base that contributes scores, rumors, and firsthand reports, supplementing the editors' work and creating a real-time news wire.

Awards and recognition

The site administers several prestigious annual awards that have gained official stature within Division III basketball. The most prominent are the D3hoops.com All-America teams for men and women, which are released in conjunction with the NCAA tournament finals. These awards are considered among the highest honors for Division III players, alongside those presented by the NABC and WBCA. The site also names national Players of the Year, Coaches of the Year, and All-Region teams, with winners often hailing from powerhouse programs like UW-Whitewater or Hope College.

Influence and impact

D3hoops.com has profoundly influenced the media landscape and culture of NCAA Division III basketball. It has brought unprecedented visibility to athletes and programs traditionally overlooked by major media, effectively acting as a specialized wire service for hundreds of colleges. Many athletic departments, including those at Illinois Wesleyan University and St. Thomas, routinely cite its rankings and awards in official releases. The site has also impacted the NCAA's own marketing and coverage, demonstrating a viable model for niche sports journalism. Its sustained success has inspired similar independent sites for other Division III sports and cemented its role as an essential institution within the community.

Category:Sports websites Category:College basketball in the United States Category:NCAA Division III