All Americans

[Hugenerd]

I am just wondering under what criteria, one would pick Onyiriuka (12.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .8 bpg, 2.1 apg, 48.5 FG%, 39.1 FT%) over Ruths (19.6 ppg, 6.7 rbg, 1.5 bpg, 2.1 apg, 49.1 FG%, 74% FT%).  Was there a regional quota?

[fcnews]

It's based on regular season stats and the top vote getters from each district make up the AA team. This has been the criteria for quite a while. I'm not saying the criteria is right. But, you can't question the knowledge of those voting.

[Pat Coleman]

You can if they take Anthony Pettaway over Troy Ruths.

In the Midwest voting there are two UAA coaches and nine HCAC coaches. Are you sure there is no politics at work?

[fcnews]

Pat - Are your accusations based by facts? There are the same distribution of SID's for the D3hoops voting.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, now, the only thing I am accusing you of is not being sure. Don't overreact.

The SIDs for the same schools did seem to get it right. Perhaps they are more interested in rating players fairly rather than blindly voting for their own players.

[fcnews]

Your accusations were against the HCAC coaches, not me. The NABC does not allow voting for your schools nominee's. I hope your not trying to make this small discussion personal, again.

Well, now, the only thing I am accusing you of is not being sure. Don't overreact.

[Pat Coleman]

What I asked was if you were sure there was no politics at work. Are you sure? Seems like you are reading something into my post that isn't there.

We do not allow voting for your school's nominees either. However, you can certainly overrate other members of your own conference at the expense of accuracy.

The SIDs didn't do that. I suspect that may have happened with the NABC Midwest team. There is no way that Troy Ruths isn't somehow one of the three best players in the region.

[BUBeaverFan]

I am sure that Troy Ruths would have appreciated being named an NABC All-American but the fact that he and his fellow team members are holding the National Championship trophy today in St. Louis, probably helps him get over any disappointment he might feel.  The Josten's trophy, Final Four MVP, D3Hoops.Com POY, etc.  The guys mantle can only hold so many awards.  Living in HCAC country and seeing all of the men's teams one or more times per year, the league has many good to very good players and Anthony Pettaway certainly fits that category. Congrats to the Bears on a great year and to Troy and Aaron (Wash U #33) on being named to the All Final Four Team.  It made the drive down from NW Ohio to Salem that much more fun.

[ILive4This]

Which all america award is the "official" one in the eyes of the NCAA. In track it is simple, you place top 8 your an AA and you get the pretty plaque, in bball it seems much more grey, besides just the subjective voting.

[Pat Coleman]

There is no official All-American team in team sports in the eyes of the NCAA.

[ILive4This]

I mean I have seen a number of certificates in the soccer coaches' offices that resemble the same ones given for individual sports from the NCAA.

[Pat Coleman]

If you notice, the NCAA doesn't have any official national polls or any official national All-American awards (in team sports) at any level.

At D-I, the polls are provided by the coaches' association and the AP and AP does an All-American team. The NCAA doesn't like to get in the position of judging kids like that -- when there's a definitive time-based element to it, they give out awards, like swimming and track.

[the_real_gnac]

Hey pat just wondering were did statistics play a factor in the d3hoops selection because granted most of theses young men played on the top teams in the country did they actually put up major numbers. When i check the leading categories of many statistics none of those players are even honorable mention. When do you overlook great talent  for just a good player in a tough league

[Pat Coleman]

Well, we look at stats but we absolutely look at who the stats were compiled against.

You don't have to play on a top team to make our All-American team, but you need to play at least a representative schedule. From your part of the country, Nick Harrington and Doug Hammond were talked about, but it's hard to translate how they would do against a real schedule. Green Mountain played the 404th-"best" schedule in Division III (out of 405 ranked by Massey), while Southern Vermont played schedule No. 361.

Compared to what Chad McGowan did against schedule No. 201 or Dan Holbrook did against No. 174, schedules smack-dab in the middle, fairly average, it was hard to make good cases for them getting on.

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, I guess I'll put my thoughts here on the PRE-SEASON All-Americans...

Not sure if d3hoops did their homework or not, but rumor around the campfire is that Pete Rortvedt (3rd team) isn't playing this year.  At this time, it seems like no one knows yet.

I guess we'll wait tomorrow when Point has their annual Purple Gold game...