MBB: Centennial Conference

[Gabriel]

Two weeks until the first practice---albeit without balls for the first week---for some strange reason

Tis strange, but I am sure NCAA has thier reasons.

It is a Centennial Conference rule.

[Swat Fan #1]

They really can't use balls the first week? Is that true? What in the world is the reason for that?

[kate]

Swat Dad, just a guess here, but my husband always said "You need a little bit of brains to play this game", so the coaches might just want to see some "educated" moves, particularly from their new players.  Just a guess.

[Gabriel]

They really can't use balls the first week? Is that true? What in the world is the reason for that?

It is true.  I was told that the rule was put in at the behest of the college presidents to reinforce the fact that academics come before sports in the Centennial Conference.  How that rule does that is beyond me.

[Old Man Terror]

Wow.  My first post.  I once heard the "no balls in the first week" rule originated as a compromise.  When the NCAA rule moved the basketball start date to October 15 the Centennial Conference initially wanted to opt out and keep the original later date.  Coaches were concerned the conference would fall behind others in the division and the compromise allowed conditioning practices only.  Don't know if its accurate but heard that version from Bob Flynn when I asked him "why?".

[Reserved Seat]

Big target on F&M
Sporting News ranks them 4th in pre-season poll.

[old ends]

It will be nice for the Coaches to go over plays and defense without someone dribbling or just dropping a ball. Most distracting for a Coach when he his talking.

[Swat Fan #1]

If it is true then it is news to freshmen players. You should have seen their faces when I mentioned it to them. Their reply was, "Yeh right." Kinda funny.

[BRCE4]

This is a perplexing rule to say the least. The kids are still in the gym, not in their rooms studying. If this is an academic statement, it's one that is very difficult to understand. If anything, coaches will be forced to resort to conditioning drills that likely will leave the players more tired when they do return to their dorms. It obviously made sense to those who made the rule but it's difficult for me to see how this "helps" the players

[diplomaniac1]

Well folks - the fun officially begins at midnight tonight. I can hardly wait for the season to begin in just over a month. Does any one have any news on recruiting classes, returnees, injuries, no-returnees? Let's get this room buzzing!

Regards to all.

Eric

[old ends]

Someone will have to run the picks this year... Still rehabing and staying in FL until May.

[mcdanielsid]

To clarify all of the confusion over the "conditioning week":

- The NCAA rule for Division III was always practice could start on Oct. 15 (same date as D1 and D2) but the first week was termed "conditioning week", meaning no basketball-related activities could take place.
- The NCAA changed this rule a few years back (they all run together for me, maybe '04, '05, '06) allowing all three divisions to start full basketball practices on Oct. 15 - realizing how dumb the rule was. Those making the decisions on the national level determined (after listening to the coaches) that the players are in the gym for two hours any way, might as well just let them have the ball.
- It was just after the huge push for reform (that the CC was a large part of), so the CC Presidents determined that the conference would still continue by the old rules thus not allowing "basketball-related activities" during the first week.

To clarify someone's post, the intent of the rule was not just to not have a ball. Coaches cannot teach or any other "basketball-related activities" during that week. It is intended strictly for conditioning.

The coaches have continued to push for a "level playing field" with the rest of the country but to no avail. The presidents did concede on the other end and allow for a competition sdate in line with the rest of the country (Nov. 15) but have continued to hold firm on the week of conditioning.

Thus, the first day of "real" practice is actually Thursday for the CC. Hope that helps the confusion.

[old ends]

Thanks for the information and clearing it all up.

So now the Conference wants to run the players, so they become to tired to study.
Just being a little screw turner.

Again thanks

[ddm1027]

The Centennial does pride itself on being an academic conference (despite being a little top-heavy, it is probably the second or third best conference in D3 academically- behind the NESCAC and probably the UAA as well). At least the Centennial has not adopted the NESCAC rule. It is impressive that NESCAC teams do as well as they do in non-conference play given that coach-led practices do not begin until November.

What have people heard about the freshmen classes? I have heard a few schools recruited a bunch of people (F&M and McDaniel) but those programs have brought in large classes in the last few years as well (and may over-recruit a bit). The Ursinus class, although small, looks pretty impressive on paper.

[ddm1027]

Not surprisingly F&M is ranked #6 in the D3hoops preseason poll and the rest of the conference failed to get a vote. I actually thought they may be a few spots higher. Does anyone know when the SID/Coaches preseason poll for the CC will be up?