All Americans

[chip]

AWM is a remarkable talent. His rebounding skill should remind people that size does not always dictate rebounding and post play. He out rebounds and pushes guys that are 6'8 around. Cabrini losing their point guard was a big loss. AWM is the best in the country at finding his way to the hoop and he is surrounded with shooters who can knock down shots. As long as Cabrini can defend and rebound, they can beat anyone.

[stag44]

A quick note to give Tyler Gaffaney from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps some national recognition. He was a first team all conference guard as a Sophmore and was hurt all last year, but has come back this year with some incredible stats and is a complete player for the Stags.

2013-14 Overall Stats: 18.2ppg, 60% fg, 45% 3pt, 76% ft, 5.5rpg, 3.4apg
2013-14 Conference Stats: 20.4ppg, 66% fg, 54% 3pt, 86% ft, along with 5rpg, 3apg and 2stl/game.

While they aren't eye-popping, the Stags are averaging 64ppg overall and 68ppg in conference. Tyler is getting all the focus on him in conference opponents defensive plans and he is still performing at a very high level. More than anything his efficiency on the offensive end is incredible for a guard.

On defense he is tasked with guarding the other teams best perimeter player and is averaging 35+ minutes a game.

He is the best player in the SCIAC and I think should be in consideration for some national accolades given how dominant he has been against the SCIAC and even GSAC (NAIA-1) teams

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With the All-Region teams out - http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-region/2013-14/index - it's time to speculate on the All-American teams.

I think Tillema, Toomey, and Walton-Moss are locks.  I'd give Toomey the edge for POY simply because his team is still playing - largely because of his effort.

I think Michael Mayer deserves to be on the first team.  He's the best big man in the country, in my opinion.

From there, I don't know if we need to force another big guy onto the team or if we can go with four guards.  DJ Woodmore probably gets my vote next.  If we need a big man, Kyle Schleigh from UT-Dallas; he was very impressive to me in the tournament.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Just bringing this up to add Tavon Sledge to the watch list.  He's a 5'9" PG at Albertus Magnus - a transfer from Iona.

This doesn't appear to be a kid with big dreams who missed out at d1.  He went to Iowa State for a year, then transferred to Iona, where he starred on the team - including scoring 20 points against Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  From the stats available it seems like he fell out of favor on the team last year.

I went to the game without knowing any of this - only that he was new and had a good reputation.  He really impressed on the court.  He's 5'9", but he's very strong and super, super quick.  His handle is out of this world and his court vision is really special.  I haven't seen anyone look so at home and in control on the court since Cory Lemons at Cabrini - those players who likely should be playing at a higher level and everything just seems to look easy for them.

Sledge was definitely a pass-first guard, but he scored 32 in their opener, so he can do that, too.  He didn't foul anyone most of the game, even as he played really tight, aggressive defense (another good sign of his awareness and control).

I'm not coming in with any bias - in fact I was pretty repulsed by the way AMC played overall, but Sledge was great.  He and Big Vic are a pretty impressive inside-outside combo.  If the rest of the guys get their heads on straight and fall in line, AMC could be very formidable.

The obvious drawback for Sledge is that he's 5'9," but he's incredibly athletic and strong.  He had two pretty impressive breakaway dunks and they even threw an alley-oop for him in traffic that would've been very nice had the pass not been telegraphed.

Keep an eye out.

[magicman]

Gordon Lyons has opened the season on a tear and he is the leading candidate for the SUNYAC Player of the Week and ECAC Upstate Player of the Week after the first 2 games of his Senior season. He left no doubt why he was selected as a D3hoops preseason All American. He was named to the 2nd Team but if he continues to put up numbers like he did this weekend the boys at this website will have no choice but to bump him up to the 1st team at year's end. Last year Gordon had 17 double doubles in 28 games. He may break that mark this season. Here is the 2 day total that Gordon put up this weekend. With numbers like these, I hope that the school nominates him for the D3hoops Team of the Week...I think he's a lock if nominated.

51 points...23 today and 28 yesterday
30 rebounds...15 today and 15 yesterday
10 assists 5 each day... He now leads the team in that category as well.
17x24 from the field 70.8 %
17x21 from the line 80.9%
Played 78 out of 80 minutes
Ast/TO   2.0

Geneseo's season got a late start as their opening game of the year against Medaille on Tuesday Nov. 18th was postponed due to the bad weather in Western NY. They opened up in the Case Western Reserve Tournament this weekend and went 1-1 as they lost to Wilmington in a barnburner 83-81. Today they defeated Rose-Hulman by a 73-57 margin.
   

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Likely not an all-american, but certainly, in the NE region that lost so many post players from last year, Gordon's Hans Miersma went for 23 and 24 tonight in a rivalry game against Endicott.  Someone to keep an eye on.

[stag44]

Looks like some of the first All American Teams are out. Great to see Tyler Gaffaney on the list here as 2nd Team CoSIDA CapitalOne Academic All American.

I think this will be the beginning of many accolades for Tyler. He has made a strong push for West Region POY, in my opinion, and should be a 1st Team All American

His stat line is 22.3ppg, 55% FG, 46% 3pt, 85% ft%, 6.6rpg and 3.6apg. He also guards the other teams best player and plays 36mpg in a physically demanding system.

According to my PER metrics he is also has the 4th highest PER in the nation and is tops in the West Region.

http://www.cosida.com/documents/2015/2/24/2014_15_CapOne_D3_Basketball_Teams.pdf

[stag44]

Just finished up putting together PER metrics and published the top 100 players in the nation this year. I'll narrow this to include just the NCAA eligible players later this week.

It does seem that the figures skew slightly higher than I would have expected but that could be attributed to the larger variance between players in D3 vs the NBA.

I love seeing Tyler Gaffaney at #3 - he should be a 1st Team All American this year!

http://stag44.blogspot.com/2015/03/ncaa-division-3-per-rankings-march-2.html

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With the All-Region teams out, now's time for some speculation.

I think Tyler Gaffney, Aaron Walton-Moss and Gerry Wixted have to be on the first team.

I'd add Big Vic from Albertus as the Center.  I know Flannery got ahead of him in player of the year, which makes sense, but Flannery is much more a wing player.

Then, for me, you're choosing between Quardell Young and Jordan Brink - I might lean towards Brink.

I think Tavon Sledge is the best PG in d3, but with just one year of play and a second round exit, he's not done enough to earn that spot.

That being said, I don't have a problem with Flannery taking that other Forward spot - obviously, he's tremendous.

[Greek Tragedy]

http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-region/2014-15/index

[Mr. Ypsi]

Anyone have any thoughts on the importance of tourney play for national PoY?  Aaron Walton-Moss would certainly be a leading candidate - does Cabrini not even making the field doom his chances?  Among other leading candidates, does UWW losing in round one severely damage Quardell Young?  How much are Gerry Wixted (Dickinson, lost in Elite Eight) and Joey Flannery (Babson, in the FF) and Hunter Hill (Augie, in the FF) helped by their team's success?

[Greek Tragedy]

I don't know when voting actually ends, but I would've take A. W-M. off my list as soon as Cabrini didn't make the tourney. I mean, how many times does the COTY end up being the guy who's team won the National Championship? I don't think that's a coincidence unless voting actually ends before that!

[stag44]

Congrats to Gaffaney from CMS for West Region POY!

I certainly think that he should be up for National POTY as well. His numbers and efficiency are the best of any Region POY and he led the Stags to their first NCAA win in 20 years. I think that any team that played CMS would attest to him being the single toughest and most important player they had to play against, including UWSP (he scored more than any player did on UWSP 26pts on 9-12, 2-2 on 3s, and 6-7 from the line).

He should be a lock for 1st team, but I think he is also the National POTY

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Aaron Walton-Moss was clearly the best player in d3 this year, but word out of Cabrini is he's also largely responsible for the chemistry issues that plagues the team.  I've heard from multiple people that last year with a strong personality in Kahn, plus four seniors, they were able to keep him in check - this year, with a first time head coach and no one to challenge him on the court, his personality has really wreaked havoc.

Again, it's all second hand stuff.  I found him pretty amenable and helpful to the young guys when I saw them in November at the Hoopsville tournament, but a lot can change over the course of a disappointing season.

I think he's first team for sure, but not POY.  Wixted is my favorite, but Flannery could get it if Babson takes home the title.  I wonder if there's ever been a Soph POY for d3hoops?

[Pat Coleman]

Wixted is my favorite, but Flannery could get it if Babson takes home the title.  I wonder if there's ever been a Soph POY for d3hoops?

We've only done player of the year for the past nine years and haven't yet named a sophomore.

This award will be decided before the title game. Dave and I have yet to confer and decide for sure whether it will also be before the semifinals.