Top 25 talk

[mailsy]

http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/blog/lessons-learned-student-athlete Everyone should read this story. Really cool. Division 3 gained another fan this day. Purity of D3 is like no other. I love the Purity of the sport.

+1. Thanks for sharing that story! 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Williams head coach Mike Maker on to Marist: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/06/mike-maker-takes-d1-job

[mailsy]

Wow! What a way to start the season for the Cavaliers at the Hoopsville Classic. SUNY Purchase on Saturday(11-22) and then WPI on Sunday. Could help set the tone for the season as it did last year when Cabrini went 2-0. I'll probably be taking the trip down again. Very nice tournament last year. If you can't go down to Stevenson, the video is really good. Should be a great tournament again! 

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/06/hoopsville-classic-pairings-announced

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Everything you wrote... is what we strive for

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Forgot to update... I believe my information on a 6-6 transfer from an A10 school is incorrect... he actually may be 6-10! I need to double-check.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Update to an update... I have circled back on this and found out from my source that the report is unfounded. He was pretty sure (and he should be as he would know) that this was happening, but now reports rank this report up there with Walton Moss leaving the school for UMW... not true. Sorry for the confusion. I usually stay out of the fray regarding recruiting and transfers... and this example #1 as to why. I will go back to ignoring everything I hear until an SA is in a jersey and playing .

On a completely seperate note, we are rebuilding the Hoopsville studio and are looking for your help. Find out why we are rebuilding and what you can do to help us here: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2014/07/14/rebuilding-hoopsvilles-studio/. Then let us know your ideas!!! Thanks!

[mailsy]

About 2 1/2 weeks until the preseason begins. I saw something from Cabrini's website re the Sporting News on the Division 3 Preseason Top 10. Here is the top 10. Any thoughts?

Sporting News Division III Preseason Top 10
1.  Amherst College
2.  University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
3.  Augustana College
4.  Williams College
5.  Cabrini College
6.  Albertus Magnus College
7.  Dickinson College
8.  Randolph-Macon College
9.  Virginia Wesleyan College
10. Rhode Island College

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

About 2 1/2 weeks until the preseason begins. I saw something from Cabrini's website re the Sporting News on the Division 3 Preseason Top 10. Here is the top 10. Any thoughts?

Sporting News Division III Preseason Top 10
1.  Amherst College
2.  University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
3.  Augustana College
4.  Williams College
5.  Cabrini College
6.  Albertus Magnus College
7.  Dickinson College
8.  Randolph-Macon College
9.  Virginia Wesleyan College
10. Rhode Island College

The Sporting News never really has a clue.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I would have UWW #1, Augie #2, Amherst maybe 7 or 8, and Williams (who lost the two best players in D3, and their coach), no where near the top 25, much less the top 10.

[nescac1]

The Sporting News rankings were posted before Robinson announced his transfer.  I think had Robinson stuck around, the Ephs' ranking would have been dead-on given how much the rest of the top D3 teams are losing.  Without him, Mayer, Epley and Maker, however, yeah, a lot of things will have to go right for the Ephs to finish the season as a top 25 team, although it's not totally out of the question as they return a strong group of seniors who will have a chance to shine in the spotlight.  Top 10, though, would be a minor miracle. 

I'd agree with UWW at 1, Augie at 2, and Amherst in the bottom half of the top 10. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah... that list is a bit of a question mark. Does anyone really think RIC is a top ten team? Dickinson is good, but they lose some valuable talent... number seven? Albertus Magnus I don't think has proven they are a top ten team. Amherst loses a ton so really number one? Augustana, I know they bring back a lot, but number two?

[sac]

Augustana brings back everyone

[Gregory Sager]

Yeah... that list is a bit of a question mark. Does anyone really think RIC is a top ten team? Dickinson is good, but they lose some valuable talent... number seven? Albertus Magnus I don't think has proven they are a top ten team. Amherst loses a ton so really number one? Augustana, I know they bring back a lot, but number two?

As sac said, Augustana brings back everyone from a 20-8 team that made it to the second round last season before losing to UWW on the home floor of the Warhawks. Augie's a more than reasonable choice for preseason #2.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I know... but I don't know if I would jump them to #2... while they brought back everyone, they also underperformed (though, you can't knock them for losing to UWW). I guess I am just used to them underperforming my expectations that I think #2 is too high to start.

[Gregory Sager]

It's a new year, Dave, and this team shouldn't be penalized for the tendency of Augie teams in the past to fall short of expectations. After all, those disappointments had nothing to do with the current cast of characters. I don't think that last season's team underperformed at all. The Doggies were picked to finish third in the CCIW preseason poll (with zero first-place votes), and that's precisely where they ended up. And as far as the tournament was concerned, Augie went as far as could be reasonably expected of that team, given the competition.

There's a lot to be said for upperclassmen in terms of their focus, their drive, and their ability to learn from the mistakes of their previous campaigns. Augie's going to be a team that plays eleven or twelve guys every night, all of whom are juniors and seniors, and all of whom have put in at least two previous seasons of varsity ball. That's a great recipe for success.

I just don't see anyone else who leaps to mind except for UWW who looks better situated coming into this season. And I don't say that as a CCIW partisan, because it certainly wouldn't break my heart if Grey Giovanine never had a chance to cut down the nets in Salem.