MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

2. Of course he has a better chance to play at Utah Valley, but play how much??

Probably not much, but, again, that's my whole point. In that regard, Utah Valley is no different than just about every upper-level scholarship school out there. Countless student-athletes make this decision every year: Do I want to be a big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond? To our collective dismay on d3hoops.com, an awful lot of them choose the latter course.

Choosing a school means sorting through a bunch of tradeoffs. In D3 a kid like Meyerhoff will get to play early and often, and might possibly develop into an important player to his program. But he'll do it in front of a few hundred people every night, and perhaps the only media outlet in which he'll see his name in print will be the school paper. And he won't have the exalted status among his peers that his D1 counterparts have. D1 offers media exposure (to whatever degree), social glamour, better talent level with regard to competition (both internal and external), and bigger crowds. But to a kid like Meyerhoff, it doesn't offer playing time; even genuine blue chips often don't see the floor until they're upperclassmen.

We've discussed this D1 vs. D3 issue a million times in the past in CCIW Chat and in other d3hoops.com rooms. The only difference now is that the spotlight is on Utah Valley. I don't see why it's relevant to single out that one particular D1 school.

He would never be offered by schools like MO, KS, or The Hall.

How is that relevant, though? Even if he had gone to a D1 major as a preferred walk-on, he'd be in the same boat. The D1 vs. D3 question still applies for Utah Valley in the same way that it does for the majors. It's simply a question of degree -- somewhat better chance of seeing the floor at some point in his four-year career, somewhat worse chance of getting any public recognition or attention for it.

Bottom line: We don't know this kid, his family, his motivations, or theirs. All anyone can do is speculate about what he or she thinks is best for the kid, and given our lack of insight into the specifics of his situation that speculation is pretty thin gruel.

[cardinalpride]

You guys are amazing sometimes. 

D3 went 1-35 vs D1 this year........and those are all "real" D1 teams on Utah Valley's schedule.


According to massey's ratings........Utah Valley comes in at #219 ahead of about 128 other D1 programs including a few from the MAC you might recognize Ypsi.......Ball St, Easter Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo.   Not only are there no D3 teams rated ahead of them (or even close) there's only 1 D2 school rated ahead of them, Findlay.

http://mratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&yr=2009&sub=I&mid=6


Chances are pretty good that not only would they win the CCIW 14-0, it would probably be done so rather easily and they would probably beat WashU or any other D3 rather easily as well.

Gotta agree with Sac on this one (although not necessarily because of UV's size). While Utah Valley is by no means a D1 power, they're better than some are giving them credit for. True, they were beaten badly by NCAA tournament teams Utah State (30-5, lost to Marquette by 1) and North Dakota State (26-7, lost to Kansas by 10), but they split with Binghamton who also made the tournament (23-9, lost to Duke by 24). I doubt that any D3 teams would beat those teams too often.

We all love our respective programs and get frustrated when we lose recruits, but I think we need to be a little more objective with these assessments. I can see the frustration in Sac's posts: "Oh great, more arrogant claims from the CCIW posters..." But I will say I'd bet against 14-0 in the CCIW.

That said...It sounds like the kid from Benet was probably a reach.

I didn't see Utah Valley State play this year, but I have seen Chicago State play!  UVSU beat CSU twice this year and CSU would go 14-0 in the CCIW!  So, I'm in agreement with Sac on this one!

[crusader_nation]

Wanted to offer a quick update on the Wheaton head coaching search ...

I've heard from multiple sources that four candidates are interviewing this week. Three of the four names are names that have already been mentioned on this board. I will refrain from repeating them, so as to respect their privacy.

There is a very interesting fourth candidate who comes from a D1 program with extensive coaching experience at the D1 level. He's been an assistant at that level, and it's not entirely clear why he's interested in the Wheaton job. He doesn't have the ties to the program that the other candidates do, but he would bring a whole different set of skills to the program.

I'd guess we're a couple of weeks from an announcement.

[Above The Rim]

Wanted to offer a quick update on the Wheaton head coaching search ...

I've heard from multiple sources that four candidates are interviewing this week. Three of the four names are names that have already been mentioned on this board. I will refrain from repeating them, so as to respect their privacy.

There is a very interesting fourth candidate who comes from a D1 program with extensive coaching experience at the D1 level. He's been an assistant at that level, and it's not entirely clear why he's interested in the Wheaton job. He doesn't have the ties to the program that the other candidates do, but he would bring a whole different set of skills to the program.

I'd guess we're a couple of weeks from an announcement.

Does the new candidate subscribe to the religious philosophy of the College?
Is he someone that there is a chance we've heard of?
What about the school he has been associated with--well known or another Utah Valley State?

[Pat Coleman]

That person, from what I've heard, is Nick Bennett. Whether that is a package deal with his father, Jack Bennett, is a good question. I know Jack was pondering getting back into coaching this time last year and the year before but eventually decided against it. But as an assistant with his son, not having to move too far from the grandkids, that could be possible.

[crusader_nation]

Does the new candidate subscribe to the religious philosophy of the College?
Is he someone that there is a chance we've heard of?
What about the school he has been associated with--well known or another Utah Valley State?

I know nothing of the candidate's religious philosophy. My guess would be that in order for the college to extend him an interview opportunity, he would have to be line with the college's requirements for religious belief.

Doubtful that anyone on this board has heard of him. The last three programs that he's been a part of are all well-known programs that have appeared in the NCAA tournament in recent years.

[Gregory Sager]

Wanted to offer a quick update on the Wheaton head coaching search ...

I've heard from multiple sources that four candidates are interviewing this week. Three of the four names are names that have already been mentioned on this board. I will refrain from repeating them, so as to respect their privacy.

There is a very interesting fourth candidate who comes from a D1 program with extensive coaching experience at the D1 level. He's been an assistant at that level, and it's not entirely clear why he's interested in the Wheaton job. He doesn't have the ties to the program that the other candidates do, but he would bring a whole different set of skills to the program.

I'd guess we're a couple of weeks from an announcement.

Since you know the identity of the fourth candidate (as do I), as well as the timing (Wheaton hopes to have the new coach announced by May 1, but it could be as late as the school's commencement a week later), crusader_nation, look at the bio on the website of the school where this assistant coach has had his most recent coaching assignment. There's a non-institutional basketball organization listed on his bio which should make his interest in Wheaton more clear.

Also, it should be added that Bill Harris had no Wheaton ties when he was hired. He is a Gordon grad, and his previous post was as the head coach of The King's College in downstate New York.

Does the new candidate subscribe to the religious philosophy of the College?

He wouldn't be among the four finalists if he didn't. In fact, his application would've been rejected out of hand if he did not subscribe to Wheaton's religious philosophy.

Is he someone that there is a chance we've heard of?

Well, there's always a chance, but I'd say that the odds of any regular CCIW Chat readers having heard of this guy before are exceedingly slim.

What about the school he has been associated with--well known or another Utah Valley State?

Familiarity is a relative concept -- if you lived in the Beehive State, the Utah Valley program might be more familiar to you than, say, Dayton's or Iona's or Alabama-Birmingham's -- but this candidate's most recent D1 posting has a higher national media profile than Utah Valley.

That person, from what I've heard, is Nick Bennett. Whether that is a package deal with his father, Jack Bennett, is a good question. I know Jack was pondering getting back into coaching this time last year and the year before but eventually decided against it. But as an assistant with his son, not having to move too far from the grandkids, that could be possible.

That's not what I've heard, Pat. What my source, whom I consider unimpeachable, has told me is in complete agreement with what crusader_nation has said. And, while I shouldn't tip my hand any further other than to say that Candidate #4 (yikes, now I sound like Blagojevich! ) comes from a D1 program that's better-known to most people than Utah Valley, I'll also divulge that he is not Nick Bennett. Among other things, Bennett does not fit crusader_nation's (accurate, from what I know) description of Candidate #4 as someone with "extensive coaching experience at the D1 level"; Bennett served for a year as Marquette's "Director of Basketball Technology" (I don't know what the heck that is, but it doesn't sound like a coaching job to me) and for three years as an assistant coach at Florida Gulf State University, which just completed its second year in D1.

[izzy stradlin]

I have no idea who this mysterious D1 assistant coach is, but I am curious.   Since you guys don't want to give a name, I can't help but speculate for fun.

Names I can think of who might fit the description above ("religious philosophy" etc.):

Mark Morefield
Tim Maloney
Fred Quartlebaum
Rob Judson

[thundermike]

I have no idea who this mysterious D1 assistant coach is, but I am curious.   Since you guys don't want to give a name, I can't help but speculate for fun.

Names I can think of who might fit the description above ("religious philosophy" etc.):

Mark Morefield
Tim Maloney
Fred Quartlebaum
Rob Judson

Interesting that you would say you have "no idea" and then proceed to list four names

It will be interesting to see who Wheaton ends up choosing. It really all boils down to what type of coach the athletic department is looking for. The four candidates all bring something different to the table. I have my own inclinations as to who the choice will be, but that is fruitless conjecture at this point. The announcement will be made soon enough.

[sac]

Will it be the coach behind curtain #1, curtain #2..........

[izzy stradlin]

I have no idea who this mysterious D1 assistant coach is, but I am curious.   Since you guys don't want to give a name, I can't help but speculate for fun.

Names I can think of who might fit the description above ("religious philosophy" etc.):

Mark Morefield
Tim Maloney
Fred Quartlebaum
Rob Judson

Interesting that you would say you have "no idea" and then proceed to list four names

It will be interesting to see who Wheaton ends up choosing. It really all boils down to what type of coach the athletic department is looking for. The four candidates all bring something different to the table. I have my own inclinations as to who the choice will be, but that is fruitless conjecture at this point. The announcement will be made soon enough.

Sorry, bad choice of words.  What I meant was that I don't have the info that Greg and crusader nation have.  Feel free to share your inclinations.  Fruitless conjecture is what message boards are for (especially in the offseason).

[thundermike]

I have no idea who this mysterious D1 assistant coach is, but I am curious.   Since you guys don't want to give a name, I can't help but speculate for fun.

Names I can think of who might fit the description above ("religious philosophy" etc.):

Mark Morefield
Tim Maloney
Fred Quartlebaum
Rob Judson

Interesting that you would say you have "no idea" and then proceed to list four names

It will be interesting to see who Wheaton ends up choosing. It really all boils down to what type of coach the athletic department is looking for. The four candidates all bring something different to the table. I have my own inclinations as to who the choice will be, but that is fruitless conjecture at this point. The announcement will be made soon enough.

Sorry, bad choice of words.  What I meant was that I don't have the info that Greg and crusader nation have.  Feel free to share your inclinations.  Fruitless conjecture is what message boards are for (especially in the offseason).

I would, except my inclinations are based on the fact that I know who the 4 finalists are and I am not at liberty to disclose that information.

[Above The Rim]

Will it be the coach behind curtain #1, curtain #2..........

I like it, sac!

[Gregory Sager]

Will it be the coach behind curtain #1, curtain #2..........

I like it, sac!

I'll take Door Number Three, behind where Carol Merrill is now standing.

[crusader_nation]

The interesting dilemma that Wheaton may face is whether to go with one of the candidates that has strong ties to the college and the program or to go with an outsider whose experience greatly eclipses all of the other candidates.

Wheaton is generally not know for promoting from within. There have been exceptions, but unless there is an obvious successor already in the program, Wheaton will most often hire from outside.

Without knowing much about what recruits are in the pipeline or may have already committed, given the current state of the program and knowing all of the candidates, my inclination would be to go with the outsider. There's something to be said for experience, especially when Wheaton has some significant rebuilding ahead of it. As much as my heart says I want one of the insiders to get the job, my head says that if Wheaton is committed to running a competitive program, building on what Bill Harris accomplished, you need to go to the next level.

I'm looking forward to an announcement, as this hire will speak volumes about where the program will be going in the years to come.