MBB: Liberty League

[airball55]

Just can't see RPI as a D1 school.  They haven't really dominated any sports at the D3 level within their leagues and I would hate to see them overmatched.  With that said, the upgrade in facilities is enticing to the D1 schools and Albany would have a nice three way rivalry with UA, Siena and RPI.

[Pat Coleman]

Did Albany or Binghamton dominate at the D-III level before moving up? I don't recall that being the case.

[hopefan]

Albany under Doc Sauers was pretty good when I played and coached - beating them in a consolation game in the first NCAA D3 tourney was one of my biggest basketball thrills....  Binghamton, which was referred to as Harper when I played, was not very good... not sure if they ever made the tourney

Moreover, Dominance in Div 3 is not a requirement to move to D1, but rather the commitment to facilities, the ability to attract a higher level of student athlete, the commitment to spend some $ on the teams (not necessarily scholarship $)....   RPI COULD do it at a Patriot League Level, attracting Student Athletes with its Engineering/Science reputation

[thebear]

Doc could never win the big one.  Even when he got to the D-III dance and had talent, he couldn't get it done.  That said, Albany was a tough place to place.  The football team, after drinking all afternoon, usually showed up two hours early behind the visiting bench, and I remember one memorable game where Welsh had his players carry their chairs out to the foul line during timeouts.  Visiting teams rarely won at Albany, and you never saw so many flop charges called in your life against the visitors stars.  Turns out a couple of the refs were Sauers golfing partners during the off season.

Binghamton was generally terrible, although they had an upsurge right before they moved up, when the great Dick Baldwin (JUCO legend at Broome Tech, - over 800 career wins) took over the program.

Some of this may be coming from the NCAA.  There are pretty tight shackles on the D-I hockey programs that are D-III in other sports (RPI, Union, SLU, Clarkson), which are becoming increasingly hard to manage.  There are enough marginal D-I programs with football, that RPI should be OK (e.g. MAAC ).

[airball55]

Good luck to them then.  I still question having three small D1 schools in such a small area.  But, with that said it does not mean all that much to be a D1 school.  Many D3's compete when they cross over against the higher level schools and if you are not a fully funded (scholarships) athletic department then the difference is and can be very small.  NYC has a bunch of small D1's, but, it is the city and those schools are primarily basketball schools with little success in other sports.  The basketball is marginal as well with now only St. John's starting to revive itself some.  The point being (apologize for the ramble), the move to me makes little sense unless the actual talent level increases at the RIP and they get some players for their sports well above what they already have.  Albany can only be split up so many ways with the high school kids coming into college. 

[met_fan]

Albany can only be split up so many ways with the high school kids coming into college. 

But how many kids on Albany's and Siena roster are actually local kids?  I would guess most ther is a smattering of local kids, but the impact players are recruited from out of the area.  Don't see why RPI couldn't do that.

[Pat Coleman]

Albany can only be split up so many ways with the high school kids coming into college. 

But how many kids on Albany's and Siena roster are actually local kids?  I would guess most ther is a smattering of local kids, but the impact players are recruited from out of the area.  Don't see why RPI couldn't do that.

+1 -- exactly.

[airball55]

We will see.  Good luck to them if they do...they will need it.

[Ethelred the Unready]

Has Metz left Hobart?  I just heard Mike Neer from U Of R is their new head coach.  Odd....

[hopefan]

Just got a note that Joe Gibbons, who had an outstanding Frosh season at RPI last year, has transferred to Hobart.  Good timing for Coach Neer...

[airball55]

Metz is off to BC to be the director of basketball operations.  I just love this position.. waiting for Field Hockey to add this as well.  I guess those D1 programs with seventeen people on staff can't handle everything!!  Anyway, also have heard that Jason Leone is heading to Oswego, not a LL move but a guy with former roots in the LL.  D3 is getting a lot like D1 with all of this coaching movement.  Kind of a joke, but, good luck to all of them.

[SKYLINEBOY]

How does everybody think Bard will do in this league this year? They honestly were not as bad as their record was last year, played very competitively with some of the top teams in the skyline. Also, how do you think this league compares to the skyline?

[magicman]

How does everybody think Bard will do in this league this year? They honestly were not as bad as their record was last year, played very competitively with some of the top teams in the skyline. Also, how do you think this league compares to the skyline?

I'll be surprised if Bard manages to win a game this year in the LL. I think they will be hard pressed to improve upon last year's 2-23 record. Several of the top teams in the Skyline conference could compete in the LL but overall the teams in the LL are stronger from top to bottom. Bard's coach is high on their recruiting class this year but he will need an immediate impact from those recruits to break into the league win column. 

[OldDanny]

 Any predictions out there?  Looking forward to another great season.  I'm picking the Statesmen again!

[Ethelred the Unready]

Any predictions out there?  Looking forward to another great season.  I'm picking the Statesmen again!

It will be interesting to see if  the Hobart players have to adapt to Coach Neer's style, or if he adapts to what is there.  Which by all accounts is a pretty talented group.