All Americans

[LogShow]

One name I would like to throw out there is Jason Foster from Puget Sound.  He is a 6'7 inside/outside do-everything player...and lots of fun to watch.

[Titan Q]

Was thinking about preseason All-Americans, and as far as a 1st Team, I think I'd go with...

G Andrew Olsen (Amherst)
G James Cooper (Wooster)
G Kent Raymond (Wheaton)
F Troy Ruths (Wash U)
C Ben Strong (Guilford)

Four months later, I still feel pretty good about this squad.

[nwhoops1903]

One name I would like to throw out there is Jason Foster from Puget Sound.  He is a 6'7 inside/outside do-everything player...and lots of fun to watch.

Wait til next year LogShow.  Foster is very good and would easily get my vote for preseason NWC conf. POTY, but he wasn't the best player in conf. this year and you know it.   Maybe after the Wheaton game, Ryan Symes name will be better known in D3 land.

[LogShow]

One name I would like to throw out there is Jason Foster from Puget Sound.  He is a 6'7 inside/outside do-everything player...and lots of fun to watch.

Wait til next year LogShow.  Foster is very good and would easily get my vote for preseason NWC conf. POTY, but he wasn't the best player in conf. this year and you know it.   Maybe after the Wheaton game, Ryan Symes name will be better known in D3 land.

Yeah that statement was made back in Feb.  when UPS was 9-1 and rolling.  Symes was definately the most deserving POY for the NWC and could get even more recognition.  Maybe next year for Foster

[YeAhItSmE303]

Let me just say a name that comes to my head um...............maybe Ryan Kroeger?!

lol, i am a big LU fan, just had to say.

[Hugenerd]

Jimmy Bartolotta is a junior at MIT and a two time 1st team all NEWMAC selection (he was rookie of the year his freshman year).  This past year he averaged 24 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg, and 2.3 spg, while shooting 53% from the field, 42% from 3, and 80% from the FT line.  He was ranked in the top 15 in every statistical category reported by the NEWMAC (12 categories), and ranked in the top 5 of most categories.  He was a finalist for the Jostens trophy and a first team academic all-american (as well as academic all NEWMAC).

[ILive4This]

You love pushing him, but I seriously doubt he will be getting all american other than perhaps an honorable mention, but I doubt that as well. Jostens trophy involves much more than just basketball, which is why you can be a good but not great baller and be a finalist. That being said, JB is a good player and with another year under his belt and a better season from MIT could be a candidate for both Jostens and AA next season.

[Hugenerd]

I was just simply stating the facts, and I dont know what you mean by pushing him.  This is the first time I posted about him on this board or with respect to being an all-american.  By the way, how many times have you seen him play to say he is not a "great" player.  How many other players have those types of credentials playing in a region as difficult as the northeast.  MIT's record my have suffered due to multiple injuries (including Bartolotta) during the last 8 games but he is one of the most complete players in d3.

Also, he is ranked nationally in 9 of 10 categories tracked by the NCAA, both offensive and defensive, including, #7 in scoring, #48 in steals, #96 in FG%, #112 in assists, and #149 in FT% (he is also ranked in rebounds, blocks, 3s, and assist/turnover).  Just as a comparison (I am not comparing the players in terms of talent or trying to take anything away from these incredible players, I am just comparing them in terms of the numbers), but Ben Strong is only ranked in 5 categories nationally and Andrew Olson is ranked in only 2 categories.  I am not saying he should be a first team all-american or anything like that.  All I am saying is that he deserves consideration when it comes to the all-region and all-american teams (whether it be honorable mention or higher).

Also, if you did some research, you would see that there was a first team all-american last year (Mike Hoyt, mount st. marys, given he averaged 34 ppg) on a team with a 9-16 record.  (I am not trying to take anything away from Hoyt, or comparing him to Bartolotta in anyway, I am just using this as an example of an all-american coming from a team with a subpar record.) 

If you go to the NESCAC board, I am sure there are people "pushing" the best players in that conference, Olson, Walters, Hasiuk, etc.  Or if you went to some other conference, like the WIAC, CCIW, UAA, etc, they would be "pushing" someone else.  Because I am the only one backing MIT, I feel like I have to make more posts.  It would be much easier for me to sit back and say nothing, but I am a fan, and as long as I am a fan, even if I am the only one that MIT has, I will continue to make posts supporting them on these boards.  And if you are going to say a player isnt great, maybe you should go see them play a few times before you pass judgement.  Also, if you can find a player ranked in more NCAA categories in d3 (www.ncaasports.com), I would love to know.  He may not be the best player in d3, but I dont think there are many more that are as intelligent and complete on both ends of the floor.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Jimmy B will get his due next season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

hugenerd, stick to your guns!

In addition to Mike Hoyt, Zach Freeman (IWU) was (deservedly) first-team AA, despite the team going 11-14 (4-10 in the CCIW), their worst record in the 60+ years of the conference.  Individual honors are (and probably should be, to a degree) affected by team success, but team success (or failure) should not be overly determinant of individual honors.  Afterall, there are numerous players in the various Halls of Fame who never won the World Series, NBA title, or Super Bowl.

[ILive4This]

you forgot lord stanley's cup

[Gregory Sager]

How many other players have those types of credentials playing in a region as difficult as the northeast.

"... a region as difficult as the Northeast"?

[Hugenerd]

How many other players have those types of credentials playing in a region as difficult as the northeast.

"... a region as difficult as the Northeast"?

It is a very deep region.  MIT's OWP was 0.58.  They were ranked 17th in OWP/OOWP.  8 of the top 20 OWP/OOWP teams come from the northeast.  The northeat may not be the toughest division, but there are a lot of tough teams.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

How many other players have those types of credentials playing in a region as difficult as the northeast.

"... a region as difficult as the Northeast"?

MIT plays as tough a schedule as anyone in the country.  Very few cupcakes, even in a region full of them.  They are one of the really courageous schedule-makers and it has probably cost them Pool C consideration in the past.

[Gregory Sager]

How many other players have those types of credentials playing in a region as difficult as the northeast.

"... a region as difficult as the Northeast"?

MIT plays as tough a schedule as anyone in the country.  Very few cupcakes, even in a region full of them.  They are one of the really courageous schedule-makers and it has probably cost them Pool C consideration in the past.

I'm not challenging MIT's schedule. I'm challenging the contention that the Northeast is a difficult region. Sure, it has its share of good teams, but that's mitigated by the fact that it's also by far the most populous region in D3. As you said yourself, it's Cupcake Central.