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» Tuesday. Let’s Do This. 

» What’s Happening. The DIII Championships Committee meets today at 11 a.m. while the DIII Convention Planning Subcommittee meets at 2 p.m.

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TOP STORY
1. NCAA Launches Ground-Breaking Initiative to Study and Understand Online Abuse in College Sports

“The NCAA announced today that it has engaged Signify Group to provide its Threat Matrix artificial intelligence service to support the Association in studying and responding to online abuse and threats directed at NCAA Championship participants including student-athletes, coaches, officials and committee members. This unique initiative is intended to further promote the mental health and well-being of the college sports community through data collection and analytics.

The service will go live this month with a particular focus on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Tik Tok. The Threat Matrix project will offer various capabilities and deliverables as part of a pilot during the 2023-24 NCAA Championships.”

» Situational Awareness. “Online abuse and threats are too common within sports. Signify has vast experience working across a range of sports and at different levels, from club level, player unions, federations, to major international tournaments.”

» What They’re Saying. “"Engaging Signify to monitor NCAA championships reflects our resolute commitment to college athlete safety and well-being. This is a first-of-its-kind project in college sports focusing on online abuse and threats, while arming social platforms and law enforcement to take action to protect thousands of student-athletes and all championship participants. This pilot is just the start of much broader online protection measures the NCAA will put in place to guide our longer-term strategy in this crucial space." - Charlie Baker, NCAA President.

» Read More

FOOTBALL
2. AFCA All-America Team

The American Football Coaches Association announced its 2023 NCAA Division III All-America football team on Monday.

First Team Offense
QB-Luke Lehnen, Jr., North Central
RB-Brandon Cade, Jr., Berry
RB-Giovanni Weeks, Sr., Wheaton (Ill.)
WR-Collin Brunstein, Sr., Illinois College
WR-Wayne Ruby, Sr., Mount Union
TE-Alex Larson, Sr., Saint John’s
OL-Miguel Valdez, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
OL-Vinny Lepre, Sr., Grove City
OL-Kendrioun Boatman, Gr., Belhaven
OL-Mike Bertoia, Sr., UW-La Crosse
OL-Matt Hale, Sr., Randolph-Macon

First Team Defense
DL-Luke Schuermann, Sr., Johns Hopkins
DL-Justin Blazek, Sr., UW-Platteville
DL-Ryan Bodlous, Sr., Ursinus
DL-Anthony Cikauskas, So, Monmouth
LB-Robert Coury, Sr., Carnegie Mellon
LB-Owen Grover, Sr., Wartburg
LB-Blake Rybar, Sr., Linfield
DB-Korey Kelley, Gr., Howard Payne
DB-Keith Green III, Sr., Susquehanna
DB-Raylens Boutin, Sr., Brockport
DB-Egon Hein, Sr., UW-Whitewater

First Team Specialists
PK-Matthew Jumes, Jr, Trinity (Conn.)
P-Cameron Shirangi, Sr., Pomona-Pitzer
AP-Jailen Hobbs, Sr., Rose-Hulman

» Complete Team

BASKETBALL
3. Top Four Remain In Place in Hoop Polls

The top four teams in Division III women’s and men’s basketball remain in place in the latest D3hoops.com polls.

The Tufts men made the week’s biggest move, leaping seven spots from No. 12 to No. 5.

» Notable (W). Add two more names to the list of 40-point scorers as Williams’ Arianna Gerig ripped the cords for 43 vs. Smith, while Cairn’s Taylor Hinson poured in 41 vs. Rosemont. Notre Dame’s Amani Watts made all 11 field goal attempts in the Gators’ contest vs. Valley Forge. Aurora’s Gabrielle Wolff went 6-for-6 from beyond the arc vs. St. Norbert.

» Notable (M). Penn State Abington’s Alex Podolski drained all 14 free throws vs. Mount Saint Vincent. Middlebury’s David Brennan grabbed 28 rebounds vs. Plattsburgh State. Gordon’s Justin Yu made eight of nine three-pointers vs. U. of New England.

ICE HOCKEY
4. A New Women’s No. 1

After knocking off previously top-ranked Gustavus Adolphus, Wisconsin-River Falls ascended to the top spot in the latest USCHO.com Division III women’s ranking.

» Worth Noting (W). Saint Benedict’s Ava Stinnett tallied four times vs. Dubuque, while teammate Corrine Brown handed out five assists. Hilbert GK Brook Thompson turned aside 63 shots vs. Trine.

» Worth Noting (M). Nichols GK Tyler Bost made 56 saves vs. Slbertus Magnus.

NEWS
5. Lightning Round

🗞 News. “S&P Global Ratings is projecting a “bifurcated” outlook for higher education next year, with strong institutions faring well and less selective colleges expected to face challenges.

🗞 News. “New York state lawmakers will unveil legislation on Tuesday that would eliminate enormous property tax breaks for Columbia University and New York University, which have expanded to become among New York City’s top 10 largest private property owners.”

STREAMING
6. What We’re Watching Online

 
🏀 WBB: Knox (6-3) at Aurora (7-1), 600
🏀 WBB: Northwestern (7-2) at UW-Stout (7-1), 800

TRANSACTIONS
7. Comings and Goings

• LAKE FOREST - Katie Rueffer stepped down as head women’s volleyball coach

• MILLIKIN - Whitney Nichols named head women’s volleyball coach

• RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE - Cody Kauffman named head baseball coach

• SUNY POLY - Daniel Short named head men’s volleyball coach

• WILLAMETTE - Aric Williams named head football coach

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