Top 25 talk

[nescac1]

Wow, Greg, even more stacked teams heading into next year. 

This may have been discussed before but I'm not really well-versed on Wooster-Wittenberg.  Interesting to me that one of Wittenberg's key guys, Balser, is a Wooster transfer.  How often in D3 do we see key players transfer from one rival school to another, especially among the most prominent rivalries?  I certainly can't think of any Williams-Amherst transfers of consequence, for example. 

[Fifth and Putnam]

Wittenberg loses All-American center Chad Roy, but everybody else of consequence is back -- including double-digit scorers Mitchell Balser, Jacob Bertemes, and Connor Seipel, and the two leading rebounders for the Tigers in Seipel and Jordan Pumroy. Speedy 6'2 freshman guard Rashaad Ali-Shakir came on at the end of the season, scoring 15 in the NCAC tourney championship game against Ohio Wesleyan and following that up with 10 points against Misericordia in the first round of the D3 tourney; he looks like he could be a breakout player next season.

Wooster loses leading scorer Spencer Williams, but the next four leading scorers for the Fighting Scots -- Danyon Hempy (15.0), Reece Dupler (14.4), Blake Blair (7.5), and Eric Bulic (6.9 and 7.2 rpg) -- all return.

Marietta could be scary next season. The Pioneers lose their leading scorer, PG Dillon Young, but return a pair of All-OAC performers in Kyle Dixon (13.1) and Anthony Wallace (12.9), plus leading rebounder Avery Williams (11.6 and 7.5) as well as DeVaughn Wingard (10.2) and Caleb Hoyng (7.9) and part-time starters Mel Schuler and Mike Hall. They'll all be seniors next season, except for Hoyng and Hall, who will be juniors.

If Marietta is going to make a serious run, next year is the year to do it.

[Pat Coleman]

We were having similar discussions as we were debating the All-America teams and looking down the list for players for next year's preseason. We could end up having a similar season to this year because of all the talent returning.

Should be fun!

[WUPHF]

If I had to evaluate the UAA for Top 25 worthy teams based on what I imagine a Top 25 team looks like after following Division III for 10 seasons, I would say no UAA team will be in the Top 25.

If I evaluated the teams based on what the Top 25 looked like this season, Emory is likely in the Top 25 next season to begin and likely to stay in the Top 25 depending on the non-conference schedule.  They return Gebereal Baitey who scored 11 points per game in 29 minutes and Beau Bommarito who averaged 7 points per game in 26 minutes along with four freshmen that averaged 30 points and 10 rebounds per game.  I have said it many times and I'll say it again: the Emory freshmen that are not a household name yet are going to be very good.

Rochester has a shot at a sustained Top 25 ranking as they return everyone except Tucker Knox who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game.

[kiltedbryan]

Wow, Greg, even more stacked teams heading into next year. 

This may have been discussed before but I'm not really well-versed on Wooster-Wittenberg.  Interesting to me that one of Wittenberg's key guys, Balser, is a Wooster transfer.  How often in D3 do we see key players transfer from one rival school to another, especially among the most prominent rivalries?  I certainly can't think of any Williams-Amherst transfers of consequence, for example.

I've followed Wooster for a long time, and I can't recall any other direct transfer between the programs. Admittedly, I don't follow every roster move, but it's surely not common. Balser's transfer (and Witt's '17-'18 resurgence) added some spice back into a Woo-Witt rivalry that had slanted in Wooster's direction in recent seasons: the Scots went 11-1 overall against the Tigers from the start of the '12-'13 season through the end of the '16-'17 year.

[Gregory Sager]

I'd be curious to know if there's ever been a Hope-to-Calvin men's basketball transfer, or vice-versa.

[gordonmann]

Siblings Carrie Snikkers (Hope) and Tom Snikkers (Calvin) is the best I can come up with, though the Verkaik sisters who played at Calvin were babysitters for Hope Coach Brian Morehouse.

[nescac1]

Interesting, thanks kiltedbryan. 

So, in terms of teams returning the most impressive rosters, seems like (going roughly from West to East) the following squads are all in the mix:

Whitman, Whitworth, Nebraska Wesleyan, Whitewater, Plattesville, Stevens-Point, Oshkosh, Illinois Wesleyan, Augustana, Marietta, Wooster, Wittinberg, Hamilton, Swarthmore, Williams, Springfield, MIT all seem to be in the mix (I tossed Swarthmore and Johns Hopkins in, they appear to easily be the class of the Mid-Atlantic next year).  That's 17 teams with, in my view, viable pre-season top 10 resumes.  I imagine there may be a few others as well ...

The only top-tier / noteworthy teams from this season that look likely to be headed for major drop-offs are Wash U., St. John's (MN), Eastern Conn, Ramapo and York, all of whom are fairly decimated by graduation. 

I think after an unpredictable and often cryptic season this year, next year is going to very strong and consisten at the top.  But, of course, much can change between now and November! 

[rlgyank]

As a Nebraska Wesleyan fan and an IIAC fan, I would throw Loras in there as a pre season top 25 team for next year. They only lose 1 senior. He was a starter but was not a major contributor, at least stats wise. I don't know about his leadership and things like that.

They should probably get some consideration for the top 25 in the season ending poll this year also.

[KnightSlappy]

I'd be curious to know if there's ever been a Hope-to-Calvin men's basketball transfer, or vice-versa.

Siblings Carrie Snikkers (Hope) and Tom Snikkers (Calvin) is the best I can come up with, though the Verkaik sisters who played at Calvin were babysitters for Hope Coach Brian Morehouse.

Going back to the mid-2000s, Dustin Smith played football at Hope for a year then transferred to Calvin to play basketball for the remainder of his career.

Tom Morrison, on Calvin's current roster, went to Hope for a year as part of their JV basketball team. He transferred to Calvin and now plays with his younger brother.

I'm sure there are several others that I've forgotten or was unaware of.

[Gregory Sager]

As a Nebraska Wesleyan fan and an IIAC fan, I would throw Loras in there as a pre season top 25 team for next year. They only lose 1 senior. He was a starter but was not a major contributor, at least stats wise. I don't know about his leadership and things like that.

They should probably get some consideration for the top 25 in the season ending poll this year also.

Among those Loras returnees is All-Region second-team guard Josh Ruggles, who averaged 22.4 ppg and 4.7 rpg and had an assist:turnover ratio of nearly 3:1. If the d3hoops.com guys don't put Ruggles on their preseason All-American list next fall, then they're not doing their jobs. His running mate Ryan DeCario overaged 17.8 and 7.1. The Duhawks will be heard from next season.

One team that hasn't been mentioned thus far that really intrigues me is New Jersey City. The Gothic Knights, who made the D3 tourney field this month as an at-large, will return every player of consequence from this season's team, including All-American Sam Toney (20.6 and 9.7) and All-NJAC pick Lavonne Green (14.3). Don't sleep on the Knights.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Ruggles was one of the last guys off the AA list and definitely on the radar for next year.  No worries.

[Gregory Sager]

The only top-tier / noteworthy teams from this season that look likely to be headed for major drop-offs are Wash U., St. John's (MN), Eastern Conn, Ramapo and York, all of whom are fairly decimated by graduation.

North Central, as it stands now, could fall off as well. NCC's 6'8 All-American center Alex Sorenson is going to be very difficult to replace, and, although the Cardinals somewhat got used to playing without their two-time All-CCIW senior swingman Erwin Henry after losing him to injury late in the season, it'll be another thing entirely to be without him altogether going into next season. Of course, the Cardinals have one of the best all-around players in D3 in 6'6 G/F Connor Raridon, so if they can find a CCIW-ready big man somewhere (scuttlebutt is that they have a 6'9 freshman from South Sudan coming in, but nobody should ever bank upon a freshman recruit filling an All-American's shoes) they could bounce back next season.

[Greek Tragedy]

As a Nebraska Wesleyan fan and an IIAC fan, I would throw Loras in there as a pre season top 25 team for next year. They only lose 1 senior. He was a starter but was not a major contributor, at least stats wise. I don't know about his leadership and things like that.

They should probably get some consideration for the top 25 in the season ending poll this year also.

Among those Loras returnees is All-Region second-team guard Josh Ruggles, who averaged 22.4 ppg and 4.7 rpg and had an assist:turnover ratio of nearly 3:1. If the d3hoops.com guys don't put Ruggles on their preseason All-American list next fall, then they're not doing their jobs. His running mate Ryan DeCario overaged 17.8 and 7.1. The Duhawks will be heard from next season.

One team that hasn't been mentioned thus far that really intrigues me is New Jersey City. The Gothic Knights, who made the D3 tourney field this month as an at-large, will return every player of consequence from this season's team, including All-American Sam Toney (20.6 and 9.7) and All-NJAC pick Lavonne Green (14.3). Don't sleep on the Knights.

Like they did in the 1st round? 

[Greek Tragedy]

I feel bad for Whitworth. They'll again play in the shadow of Whitman and their stock will fall in the fantasy leagues because of that. They return everyone and, I'm assuming, they'll get Lester back as well. The NCAA has to find out a way to separate the Whits the 1st weekend.

For the CCIWers out there, how will Wheaton fair? They were the 4th best team in the conference and also were in and out of the regional rankings. They lose #2 scorer Samuelson, but return everyone else. Some guy named Francis might be able to carry the load (again). Can they leapfrog NCC and grab a Pool C bid next season? I haven't really looked into Carthage either.

Hope should again rule the MIAA as they only lose Hawkins. Everyone else comes back as far as I know. I'm guessing Marietta will win the OAC. JCU loses two starters but also leading scorer Csuhran. Ohio Northern, close to getting a Pool C, loses Burger and #3 scorer DiOrio, but returns Bruns.