All Americans

[Titan Q]

It's very difficult to compare players, and Djurickovic vs Wallis is the perfect example...

Steve Djurickovic, 6-3 Jr (Carthage)
27.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.4 apg, 2.3 A:TO
(.498 FG, .432 3-pt, .833 FT)

Sean Wallis, 6-3 Sr (Wash U)
11.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 8.1 apg, 3.0 A:TO
(.413 FG, .352 3-pt, .835 FG)


These guys both play the point, but they couldn't be more different.  The entire Carthage offense revolves around Djurickovic - he had 416 FGA attempts last year (17 per game).  Wallis is your protypical pass first, "floor general" type point-guard - he had "just" 252 FGA per game in 2008-09 (8 per game).

Having seen Wallis play so many times in his career (including in the Sectional and Final Four last year), I do think he is a no-brainer as the 1st Team PG.  Just a tremenous leader.

I also think Aaron Thompson has to be on that 1st Team.  He might be the best pure shooter in Division III - 96-205 (.468) from 3 last year, even with every team keying on him.  Thompson has evolved from a spot-up 3-point shooter to an all-around "scorer" as he's gotten older.  Great player.

I've never seen D.J. Marsh play, but I've heard he is great.  Still, I think Djurickovic is so good - I mean, those sophomore stats are crazy - that he has to be on that 1st Team.  I would have had 3 guards (Wallis, Thompson, Djurickovic)...and in real life, those 3 could easily start together.  Djurickovic can play the 1, 2, or 3, and Thompson the 2 or 3.   

[Hugenerd]

The one at the end of the season is the real one that counts.  I am sure if Djurokovic has another exceptional season he will get serious consideration for the 1st team.

[wooscotsfan]

I also think Aaron Thompson has to be on that 1st Team.  He might be the best pure shooter in Division III - 96-205 (.468) from 3 last year, even with every team keying on him.  Thompson has evolved from a spot-up 3-point shooter to an all-around "scorer" as he's gotten older.  Great player.

Well, here is Player X who outshot Aaron Thompson from the 3 point arc last year.
Three pointers made 94 of 183 for 51%
88% made on Free Throws compared to 82% for Thompson
4.7 Rebounds/Game compared to 3.9 for Thompson
50% FG compared to 52% for Thompson
14 ppg compared to 18 ppg for Thompson

Player X is Justin Hallowell of Wooster who was the D3Hoops Rookie of the Year

Having seen Thompson play, I actually agree with Titan Q that Aaron Thompson is a First Team player.  Great player from Ohio

I also agree that it is very difficult to compare players depending on their respective team roles.  Wooster has two other excellent scorers in Ian Franks and Nathan Balch (both shoot ~50% FG) so Hallowell isn't expected to always be the leading scorer.  Also, Hallowell at 6'7" is a Wing/Forward Player while Thompson is a Shooting Guard.

The point of this post is that Hallowell is a great shooter/player and IMO, he probably should have been picked somewhere on the All American teams.  Of course, he is only a sophomore -- could that be the reason he wasn't selected even as Honorable Mention?  If Hallowell has another great year, I hope that he does get selected for the end of the season awards! 

[All-around]

So much for the Northeast on the pre-season ballot...other than Jeremy Shannon...anyone surprised?

[thatdude 30]

I am very surprised because this year the northeast and the midwest are so much more balanced in terms of talent and good teams so it surprises me that the northeast got no love. Once this season is over there will be alot more northeast players as all americans then 1.

[Gregory Sager]

I am very surprised because this year the northeast and the midwest are so much more balanced in terms of talent

Upon what are you basing this conclusion?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Once this season is over there will be alot more northeast players as all americans then 1.

I think this is probably true, but very few of the NE players have produced the sort of career that would give them pre-season rep.  NE players on the end of season team, like every other member, will have to earn it on the floor.  There's just not many returning stars in the region.  That makes the season a bit more exciting to watch.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm not touting his name for AA just yet, but a player to watch on a pretty poor team is Mark Mastrullo at Curry College.  I know he's been playing below expectations for most of his career, but on this year's team he's about the only offensive option and despite being keyed on by defenses, managed to put up 49 points on 15-28 shooting from 3pt range in just two games over the weekend.  His scoring and 3pt% will probably be among the leaders for most of the year.  I know big stats at small schools have gotten some notice in the past; I don't know if Mastrullo is deserving, but he's a gifted scorer.

[Hugenerd]

I'm not touting his name for AA just yet, but a player to watch on a pretty poor team is Mark Mastrullo at Curry College.  I know he's been playing below expectations for most of his career, but on this year's team he's about the only offensive option and despite being keyed on by defenses, managed to put up 49 points on 15-28 shooting from 3pt range in just two games over the weekend.  His scoring and 3pt% will probably be among the leaders for most of the year.  I know big stats at small schools have gotten some notice in the past; I don't know if Mastrullo is deserving, but he's a gifted scorer.

Unless Curry starts winning some games (currently 0-6), I doubt Mastrullo will get any consideration (he is averaging 17 ppg).  He may be in the same boat as Jon Pierce.  Tufts has looked horrible in their first 4 games (losing to Lesley University yesterday), so they may be playing him out of consideration for individual awards.  Pierce is currently averaging 17 and 7, which is not that spectacular on a team that hasnt won any games (same argument as Mastrullo).  You need to put up really special numbers if you are going to get consdieration on a losing team and I dont think either of those two guys are doing anything to get anyones attention yet.  There are quite a few players around the country that average about 17 ppg (almost every team in the country has at least one guy averaging 15-20 ppg), so does the guy on the 0-X team get the nod or the guy on an NCAA tourney team.  I think we all know the answer to that question.

Jeremy Shannon may be in a similar boat, he has been injured the last two games and his team is now 1-3.  In his first two games he averaged 8 and 8. He was the northeast's only Preseason All-American.

I think the Northeast will eventually have a few guys emerge as All-Americans, but it looks like it may not be any of the 3 guys listed above.

[nescac1]

The Ephs haven't played very tough competition to date, but Blake Schultz has been putting up some stellar numbers and will certainly be in the mix for All-American honors despite no pre-season recognition.  After making first team all-NESCAC as a junior, he has really stepped up this year, and is averaging 24-5-1.5 plus one steal per game in only 28 mpg, and shooting 56 / 50 / 86.  He is also a very strong defender and team co-captain. 

[Hugenerd]

Didnt know what the best board for this was, but the NCAA has updated stats for d3 (including rankings) up through 12/13:

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings?sportCode=MBB

[John Gleich]

Steve Djurickovic (point-guard) sophomore year stats...

27.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.4 apg

2.3 A:TO
.498 FG
.432 3-pt
.833 FT

I hear you, but that is the team-factor of these individual awards that is inherently built in.  I made the same argument in the past (for a different player) but the truth is, you need to make a splash on the national scene (NCAAs) before you are recognized on the top team.

There have been plenty of players make both the preseason and final 1st team without "making a splash."  Just looking at this year's 1st Team, I don't think D.J. Marsh has ever played a postseason game.

By the way, I do not dispute the selections of Sean Wallis and Aaron Thompson - no brainers.

This is from a long time ago... but Vince Thomas (UW Superior class of '01) and Rich Melzer (UW River Falls class of '05) didn't make the NCAA tournament either, though both were POY in D-III I believe, or at least first team All-American.

[therock]

anyone in the odac have a chance other than sanborn? there are some outstanding guards and perimeter players in clay henson, todd phillips, dominic trawick, steven echols, dj hinson, stephen fields, etc. i don't really know how they compare against players in other regions since all I ever really see is the ODAC and usa south.

[John Gleich]

anyone in the odac have a chance other than sanborn? there are some outstanding guards and perimeter players in clay henson, todd phillips, dominic trawick, steven echols, dj hinson, stephen fields, etc. i don't really know how they compare against players in other regions since all I ever really see is the ODAC and usa south.

The first question from this is whether they are the best in their respective region at their position.  I believe that the voting for All-American comes from the regional teams (i.e. you can't be an All-American if you're aren't All-region, which makes sense).

[RustCollege]

Need to take a look at these two players from Rust College

#40 Larry Veasley       
           
Games played: 21
Minutes/game: 26.5
Points/game: 15.2
FG Pct: 59.7
3FG Pct: 0.0
FT Pct: 70.0

Rebounds/game: 8.8
Assists/game: 0.7
Turnovers/game: 1.6
Assist/turnover ratio: 0.5
Steals/game: 1.0
Blocks/game: 0.4


#23 Markeith Wilson     

Games played: 23
Minutes/game: 24.9
Points/game: 15.4
FG Pct: 49.2
3FG Pct: 40.7
FT Pct: 52.3

Rebounds/game: 2.8
Assists/game: 1.0
Turnovers/game: 1.5
Assist/turnover ratio: 0.7
Steals/game: 1.2
Blocks/game: 0.1