Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (March 7)

The boys basketball regular season is done and the playoff pairings will likely be released by the NHIAA on Monday.

But who wants to wait until then?

Here’s a look at what the tournament field for Division I boys basketball should look like when the pairings are released. These are not official.

Note: With the NHIAA’s 70-percent rule in place for the postseason, all divisions will have 15 teams make the playoffs, except for Division III, which will have 14 teams. Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. Pairings for D2, D3 and D4 have already been released and can be found here. 

Division I

Playoff field (record, rating, previous)

1. Exeter (17-1, 3.7778, 1st)
2. Portsmouth (16-2, 3.5556, 2nd)
3. Nashua North (14-4, 3.1111, 4th)
4. Bishop Guertin (14-4, 3.1111, 3rd)
5. Keene (12-6, 2.6667, 7th)
6. Merrimack (12-6, 2.6667, 5th)
7. Bedford (11-7, 2.4444, 9th)
8. Winnacunnet (11-7, 2.4444, 8th)
9. Nashua South (11-7, 2.4444, 6th)
10. Alvirne (9-9, 2.0000 11th)
11. Goffstown (9-9, 2.0000, 13th)
12. Windham (9-9, 2.0000, 10th)
13. Salem (9-9, 2.0000, 12th)
14. Concord (8-10, 1.7778, 14th)
15. Manchester Central (8-10, 1.7778, 15th)

Eliminated: Dover (7-11, 1.5556); Manchester Memorial (4-14, 0.8889); Londonderry (4-14, 0.8889); Trinity (4-14, 0.8889); Spaulding (4-14, 0.8889); Timberlane (3-15, 0.6667); Pinkerton (1-17, 0.2222).

Tiebreakers

• Nashua North wins the tiebreaker with Bishop Guertin thanks to a head-to-head victory.
• Keene wins the tiebreaker with Merrimack thanks to a head-to-head victory.
• In a three-way tiebreaker, Bedford finishes ahead of Winnacunnet and Nashua South thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games. Winnacunnet finishes ahead of Nashua South thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.
• In a four-way tiebreaker, Alvirne finishes ahead of Goffstown, Windham and Salem thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games. Goffstown finishes ahead of Windham and Salem thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games. Windham finishes ahead of Salem thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.
• Concord wins the tiebreaker with Manchester Central thanks to a head-to-head victory.

First-round bye (changes in bold)

• No. 1 Exeter

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Nashua South at No. 8 Winnacunnet
• No. 13 Salem at No. 4 Bishop Guertin
• No. 12 Windham at No. 5 Keene
• No. 15 Manchester Central at No. 2 Portsmouth
• No. 10 Alvirne at No. 7 Bedford
• No. 14 Concord at No. 3 Nashua North
• No. 11 Goffstown at No. 6 Merrimack