FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

So, the FBI busts of 10 people (with many more to come apparently) the DI basketball programs on fraud and bribery charges presumably to avoid NCAA recruiting reporting requirements (actual details yet to be released).  What do you think the solution can be?

I see two options:
- Double down in regs, reporting and enforcement.
- Bugger off the NCAA rules and let the org devolve to umpiring and tournament management

I'm actually for the second.  Let college go full professional. They would offer competition to the pro monopolies, which would be useful as a bonus.  Colleges would sort themselves out conference-wise, like Mac leaving the MIAC for easier pastures. We would have big time conferences and amateur conferences where programs select membership. Fluidly.

But the amateur rules now days are a farce anyway. So why pretend different?

[sjujohnnie]

Any predictions on how St John's will bounce back after their loss against St Thomas? They've been in this position, having to win out in hopes of receiving a playoff berth, each of the past three seasons. With the magnitude of the rivalry, as displayed by the record attendance at Target Field, would the NCAA be inclined to seed SJU & UST (assuming both make the playoffs) where they could meet again? If so, would that be a second round matchup as in 2015 or would they place them in separate brackets?

[art76]

So, the FBI busts of 10 people (with many more to come apparently) the DI basketball programs on fraud and bribery charges presumably to avoid NCAA recruiting reporting requirements (actual details yet to be released).  What do you think the solution can be?

I see two options:
- Double down in regs, reporting and enforcement.
- Bugger off the NCAA rules and let the org devolve to umpiring and tournament management

I'm actually for the second.  Let college go full professional. They would offer competition to the pro monopolies, which would be useful as a bonus.  Colleges would sort themselves out conference-wise, like Mac leaving the MIAC for easier pastures. We would have big time conferences and amateur conferences where programs select membership. Fluidly.

But the amateur rules now days are a farce anyway. So why pretend different?

My virgin ears are burning. 

It's a mess, that's for sure. I don't have an opinion yet on what's happened in this latest debacle, as it continues to develop.

As a whole, I tend to think you're on to something though, Oz, as the money is just too much temptation for many, nay, most folks to turn away. 

[OzJohnnie]

Any predictions on how St John's will bounce back after their loss against St Thomas? They've been in this position, having to win out in hopes of receiving a playoff berth, each of the past three seasons. With the magnitude of the rivalry, as displayed by the record attendance at Target Field, would the NCAA be inclined to seed SJU & UST (assuming both make the playoffs) where they could meet again? If so, would that be a second round matchup as in 2015 or would they place them in separate brackets?

I reckon their disappointment in last weekend greatly exceeds ours. I tip that they come back hard and with something to prove.

Same bracket second round, as usual. You've got to beat the best to be the best.

[sjujohnnie]

I certainly hope it serves as motivation! If I had to choose between beating St Thomas during the regular season or eliminating them from the playoffs, I'd take the latter!

[Pat Coleman]

Any predictions on how St John's will bounce back after their loss against St Thomas? They've been in this position, having to win out in hopes of receiving a playoff berth, each of the past three seasons. With the magnitude of the rivalry, as displayed by the record attendance at Target Field, would the NCAA be inclined to seed SJU & UST (assuming both make the playoffs) where they could meet again? If so, would that be a second round matchup as in 2015 or would they place them in separate brackets?

The geographical limitations make it unlikely the AA would put them in separate brackets. But in this case, too, with St. Thomas having lost a game already, it's even less likely because there wouldn't be a reason to "protect" UST from a rematch since they aren't a top seed. They wouldn't get a 4-5 rematch in the first round but perhaps a situation where they are the 2 and 3 seeds and meet again in the second round. Seeding is kind of irrelevant, especially in this part of the country, because the map will dictate the matchups.

* if both teams win out. Fun fact -- Concordia is more than 500 miles from UW-Oshkosh and that would rule them out as a first-round matchup.

[HansenRatings]

Any predictions on how St John's will bounce back after their loss against St Thomas? They've been in this position, having to win out in hopes of receiving a playoff berth, each of the past three seasons. With the magnitude of the rivalry, as displayed by the record attendance at Target Field, would the NCAA be inclined to seed SJU & UST (assuming both make the playoffs) where they could meet again? If so, would that be a second round matchup as in 2015 or would they place them in separate brackets?

The geographical limitations make it unlikely the AA would put them in separate brackets. But in this case, too, with St. Thomas having lost a game already, it's even less likely because there wouldn't be a reason to "protect" UST from a rematch since they aren't a top seed. They wouldn't get a 4-5 rematch in the first round but perhaps a situation where they are the 2 and 3 seeds and meet again in the second round. Seeding is kind of irrelevant, especially in this part of the country, because the map will dictate the matchups.

* if both teams win out. Fun fact -- Concordia is more than 500 miles from UW-Oshkosh and that would rule them out as a first-round matchup.

Wartburg, BVU and Luther are also the only IIAC schools within the Concordia 500 mile footprint. All the contenders in the MWC are out of their radius, too. If someone other than Wartburg wins the IIAC, and the Cobbers win the MIAC, we could see a MIAC/UMAC & NWC/SCIAC or ASC/ASC quad. Very unlikely, but fun to think about.

[miac952]

It's not like they don't all have all the film to look at anyway.

Which makes me wonder, with almost all games streamed live these days, do future opponents spend time watching (recording?) those streams?

Yes.

Now, all conference games are automatically exchanged but if you thought as UST that you could learn something from watching Stout play Simpson to open the season and you weren't going to get that game footage otherwise, absolutely you're recording the livestream. Or, if you're a team expecting to make the playoffs, you likely have a GA making sure you grab as many games for anyone within 500 miles before Selection Sunday.

It seems there might be an entrepreneurial opportunity here. If someone has access to quite a few computers and storage, you could be selling streams to teams that aren't organized, don't have the resources, or would find it more economical to work with a contractor. A black market hudl if you will. 

[miac952]

So, the FBI busts of 10 people (with many more to come apparently) the DI basketball programs on fraud and bribery charges presumably to avoid NCAA recruiting reporting requirements (actual details yet to be released).  What do you think the solution can be?

I see two options:
- Double down in regs, reporting and enforcement.
- Bugger off the NCAA rules and let the org devolve to umpiring and tournament management

I'm actually for the second.  Let college go full professional. They would offer competition to the pro monopolies, which would be useful as a bonus.  Colleges would sort themselves out conference-wise, like Mac leaving the MIAC for easier pastures. We would have big time conferences and amateur conferences where programs select membership. Fluidly.

But the amateur rules now days are a farce anyway. So why pretend different?

This is interesting. And now the Fed's are subpoenaing Nike and Under Armor's AAU reps as well. It's something that many assumed existed but the FBI with all its might and subpoena power was able to connect the coordinated scheme between college coaches, shoe companies, agents / financial advisors, and the recruits/families/handlers. This is the Balco of college basketball. What happens with it will change the sport. As you note above, will it be deregulation and paying players or a more restrictive focus on the rules by the NCAA. Right now it feels like no-mans land somewhere in between, especially for D1 hoops where a player or two can mean a Final Four appearance.

Its not too hard to connect the dots to the other trouble makers. If a college has had a number of one and dones that played for AAU teams that have the same shoe contract that they do, that presents a whole lot of smoke.

[BDB]

Online OzJohnnie
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Lager, mate?

Oz, Congrats on post #8000!!!   

[OzJohnnie]

Online OzJohnnie
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Oz, Congrats on post #8000!!!   

I didn't even realize the number was approaching, BDB. Thanks for the congratulations.

I have a lot of people to acknowledge for their help in reaching this remarkable milestone. The first is Pat Coleman and the whole d3football.com crew.  Without their vision and persistence then this den of procrastination and time-wasting would not exist.  My efforts at avoiding effort would have most assuredly been directed somewhere else, perhaps they may have even failed altogether and I would have been doomed to an existence of hard work and success.  So thanks Pat & Co.

Next, I must thank the Johnnies, Bennies and other members of the Johnnie Nation who through their own efforts at avoiding effort have so encouraged mine. Thank you. I would have never managed to waste the time I have without your constant support.

My family, particularly Mrs Oz, must also be acknowledged. Without her insistence on watching Master Chef, Grand Designs and Sex in the City reruns then my procrastination efforts could have been limited to the prime daytime hours. She ensured my time was wasted well into many an evening.  Thank you, hun.

Lastly, I must thank the Tommies.  If you all had not been so fun to troll, so easy to befuddle, so committed to the stereotype then I may have lost interest. But, no you delivered. And for that I can only say one thing:  Tommies Suck!

[DuffMan]

Way to go, Oz!

[sjujohnnie]

The last paragraph of your acceptance commentary was it's very befitting culmination! My congratulations to you, sir, and I concur!

[wartknight]

I'm an Iraq War combat veteran. We studied the Vietnam War pretty closely. It always felt somewhat distant due to my age. The documentary does an outstanding job of personalizing the conflict, making it feel so contemporary. So many parallels to my era...

Just saw this - thank you for your service!!!
Watched part of the doc - Pretty good.

[DuffMan]

Boy, there's not a lot of chatter about this week's games.  I'll be interested to see how the Johnnies will bounce back after their loss last Saturday.  I have a feeling that they'll come out firing on all cylinders.  It'll be our first visit to Collegeville this season, and the forecast is great, so I am looking forward to it.