MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[Teamski]

........of course Wesley's next game against Hampton-Sydney on the 26th will answer a lot of questions!

-Ski

[ronk]

Which St. Mary's players would you classify as D1 talent?

With so many great young basketball players in the world, it was only a matter of time before D1 schools would have too many quality players to offer schollies to.
Amherst had at least 3 on their roster last season.
It served them well.

  I'd classify Troy Spurrier F as a lower 1/2 D1 talent; he's only been a reserve so far, so either the players in front of him are better or Coach Heaney doesn't share my view.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

D1 caliber players at D3 is very common. I see it all of the time. The biggest reasons are their academics sometimes get them better financial assistance than a D1 athletic scholarship, the interest in playing and not riding the bench, the chance to actually compete for title or a national title instead of having no chance, even deciding that what D3 offers in terms of academics is more important, etc. Nothing surprising about D1 caliber talent (and that is really based on who claims they have D1 talent as well) deciding D3 is a better fit for themselves.

I do know of D3's who somehow had people talking in their ear about how they were really D1 caliber players and left to pursue that... only they haven't found it. See McAuley at SMC and there was a guy at Goucher that did that. I wish I had the opportunity to pull them aside and tell them how wrong they were.

[Clutch]

Dave very interesting point, perhaps more ought to be said about D3 as a level of play comparable to D1 despite height, size , and talent. Some folks think D3 (the general public) is a level closer to high school sadly, although this years format for the tourney did help to dispel this premise.   If D3 teams can get to play in a national spotlight more often or get some more TV exposure once in a while it would help as well.  Problem is the size of some d3 schools does not get the huge fan base as those giant d1 institutions.  The mission of D3 with more emphasis on academics I would think could attract more highly talented hoopsters who want life more or after basketball.  To this end, would a blitz of advertising about the D3 "experience" the rounded athlete be a successful campaign for attracting this type of player especially in the traditionally saturated D1 urban areas?  Showing the painted faces, dunks, etc.....to promote an image just as competitive as d1?   The demand for D3 needs attention, focus, and marketing towards this level of play as an alternative to a D1 which typically is thought of when you mention "college basketball" interestingly the women of Immaculata in the 70's show the image of a small school winning a national championship and fans of all hoops seem to enjoy the simple concept.( understand the Title9 etc... different times and pioneering of womens hoops)  To stay on your point I just don't think the average person or fan realize a D1 talent is in the d3 pool, looking at a player like Aaron Walton Moss( a lottery pick for the NBA draft) this could stimulate the interest for D3 hooping if more publicity was made.  Not saying of course one would be successful at the professional level, but if more articles on players after the D3 experience were written about more often (not just on d3 hoops but in general) folks may get a sense of how the d3 level is not a watered down hoops league...of tiny little schools who are for women only.

[CNU85]

Here's an interesting topic to discuss (I think). What is interesting is that I bet there are many points of view.....

To me, there seems to be more D3 football players in the NFL, than D3 basketball players in the NBA. There are probably more High School players in NBA than D3. But with the new NBA rule on high school eligibility, that may cloud the issue. Is it a numbers game? Totally different structure, and thus comparing apples and oranges? What's the impact of foreign professional leagues in basketball? There are some pro football leagues in Europe that are really trying to catch on. CNU's Tunde Ogun plays somewhere over there...Austria maybe?

CNU had a pretty decent player drafted in 2nd round of NBA draft in early 90's. LaMont Strothers.

[Clutch]

Wesley making scoring look easy, wondering if they just kept the pedal to the metal the whole game and ran it up , or did their bench come in as well, noticed Cabrini was well on their way to 100 pts but the coach took out the best players for last 10 minutes or they would have scored at least 100, not sure how Wesley did it or how good or bad the defense of Albright is this year.

[Clutch]

CNU85 I was thinking of football as well!  You could not have said it any better sir ! ! !  Just hoping the D3 experience of legitimacy as far as a level of play catches on for the sake of the student athletes, the d1 high schooler is thinking of the  $$$$$$$$ not the fact that life can change quickly.  Youth is temporary, guess they feel take the bucks and go to school later but not so sure what one thinks when they are on top of the world at age 18 and king of the court.... Your point is well-stated and thought provoking.  Appreciate your post.

[Clutch]

Lamont, that man scored almost 3000 points in D3 for you guys I believe, he was amazing and was drafted by Golden State very high not sure what happened to him after that...

[Teamski]

Wesley making scoring look easy, wondering if they just kept the pedal to the metal the whole game and ran it up , or did their bench come in as well, noticed Cabrini was well on their way to 100 pts but the coach took out the best players for last 10 minutes or they would have scored at least 100, not sure how Wesley did it or how good or bad the defense of Albright is this year.

By 6 minutes left in the game, Wesley had their entire bench out on the floor.  Before that, they slowly subbed out their starters. 

-Ski

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well it is a numbers game... there are 32 NFL teams with rosters of 53 guys (not counting practice squads)... meaning there are nearly 1,700 players in the NFL. In the NBA there are 30 teams consisting of 15 players... meaning there are just 450 players in the league. That is 26% of the player pool.

There have actually been a number of successful players from Division III that have played in the NBA. One of the most recent was Devon George (lots of championship rings).

However, the NBA is different in that it caters to a specific talent pool - the kind that play more of a street-ball game above the rim... not an X's and O's game, which is why the success of Phil Jackson is tremendous.

The NFL is the same basics, though faster, as the game in college. So if you are a player who can play the game well at any level, you will play in the NFL.

[purpleheart22]

I would disagree with that statement about the NBA being a street ball mentality league.  I think the NBA has shifted and has started looking for more athletic guys with potential then solid players who aren't as athletic.  The NBA game is still very much about X's and O's.  Those guys know the game, but all the highlights and stuff you see on TV is all about dunking and blocked shots.

D1 talent play D3 for a number of reasons.  Height, strength, and athleticism play a part in a lot of cases, but I have seen time and time again guys that play D3 roast guys that play D1 in high school.  D3 guys seem to be more cerebral bc of their lack of certain skills they have to make up for it somehow to still be able to compete.  In regards to D1 talents playing D3 ball I can name a lot of players from the CAC that would have contributed at the D1 level not just sit the bench.  Camonte Griffin from SMCM  a few yrs ago would have fit in great at a lot of D1 schools but they overlooked him bc of his height. Rashawn Johnson from Wesley would have been a very good D1 player.  I think Don Hill and Nick Laguerre from SMCM this yr should have been D1 out of high school.  Alex Irmer who was a 6'8 wingman for SMCM a few yrs ago had D1 offers but turned them down to play D3.  Chad McGowan from York back in the day could have played D1.  The list could go on and on for certain programs in the league.

I do agree that D3 does not market itself well enough though especially in the urban areas.  People look down on D3 and because they may have to pay they don't see the bigger picture.  The opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament, The quality academics most D3 schools provide, and the freedom to enjoy college not feeling like playing sports is a job like most D2 and D1 schools are.   This is why I think the Hoopsville Classic is so important to be played in Baltimore because most of the kids in that area believe its either scholarship or nothing.  When in reality there is a ton of options outside of a scholarship where you can compete in collegiate sports. This weekend will be an opportunity to show off D3 basketball to a very saturated D3 athlete area.  I'm excited to see these quality teams get after it. 

[Clutch]

thanks you guys for all your perspectives, on a positive note, D3 getting noticed more for whatever it is worth I would have to conclude.  Thinking that pg Cory Lemons from Cabrini could be far greater with a little height I believe he is playing semi pro at Tampa Bay.... but where else can you go to a quality level of hoops in an intimate environment and see talent etc..... D3 ! ! !
The exposure has been getting better with more parity in conferences, the ODAC is the standard these days it seems for strong conferences.  Would it help if there were more games at neutral sites in locations with teams close by such as the old palestra and the big 5 was in D1....... each region perhaps could play their conference tourneys at neutral sites with higher exposure?  OK OK  I don't mean to stretch it but seems to be a double edge sword, small place is better sometimes and if a team earns a home game advantage guess that's a problem too if they want to host. But on the otherhand would the exposure be more positive?

[CNU85]

Lamont, that man scored almost 3000 points in D3 for you guys I believe, he was amazing and was drafted by Golden State very high not sure what happened to him after that...

I'm not 100% sure...but his story is something like this....I believe at one point he signed a 10 day contract with Dallas, and maybe one other team. Then some international ball (Israel maybe?). Came home and coached a local high school team (my old high school and same high school Allen Iverson went to) for awhile and was even an assistant women's coach at CNU.

Not sure what he is doing now.

[CCHoopster]

Andy Panko, LVC. Has a few 10 day contracts with the Lakers, Hawks and maybe one other place. Could have had a longer contract but no sure if any exceeded a 10 day. He is playing in the top League in Europe and believe he may have been MVP. Dude could have played and started for 30% of D1 schools by his jr year. Went in to LVC as a 6-3 pg and grew to about 6-8 in college. I could be off on a stat or two, height, but its pretty close.

[Reserved Seat]

Panko was a fantastic player.  He lit up F&M several times.