MBB: Centennial Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Does anyone know how to get access to previous games that require a password? I wasn't able to catch the Dips v. Haverford last night and wanted to hopefully watch it this morning. Any suggestions appreciated.

Don't get me on my soap box on this one ...

The school is the only option. Ask them. They should be making all broadcasts available to everyone, but ...

[GoDiplomats]

Does anyone know how to get access to previous games that require a password? I wasn't able to catch the Dips v. Haverford last night and wanted to hopefully watch it this morning. Any suggestions appreciated.

Don't get me on my soap box on this one ...

The school is the only option. Ask them. They should be making all broadcasts available to everyone, but ...

Thank for this Dave. I guess I'll be giving Haverford a call lol. Never understood why they lock them anyway but hey.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Especially Haverford.

[lefty2]

There are coaches - in all sports - that prefer that their games don't remain on-line.  They'd rather not have opponents be able to see all of their games.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

There are coaches - in all sports - that prefer that their games don't remain on-line.  They'd rather not have opponents be able to see all of their games.

Only problem ... those same coaches are putting their games up on systems like Synergy, by conference rule, where they are available basically for all coaches. The games are also broken down to play by play on those systems.

So, they can claim "not have opponents be able to see all their games," but opponents are seeing all of their games anyway.

The excuse is a cop-out. They are only hurting parents, alums, others on campus, media, and many others who can't just tune in when the game is live.

Let's not even talk about the fact that coaches compare and share ideas ALL of the time. I've sat there listening to them. They do it at conventions and smaller gatherings.

This issue continues to anger me because it is completely baseless. It only hurts those who shouldn't be affected by the egos of coaches. Also, no one can prove it helps them win. There is plenty of proof that it doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

[noonhooper]

Dave,
You had me until the last line. I agree that Synergy (and especially the conferences that mandate every-game sharing) has basically made the idea of keeping your games secret obsolete. Older coaches probably remember fondly the days of mailing vhs to each other and only having to share one or two games within the conference. Old habits die hard.

These games should be available to everyone so fans/families from anywhere can watch their team/kids play. Based on their general game management I would guess that Haverford, specifically, just can't figure it out.

BUT there are plenty of teams out there that are "scouting report" teams and being able to notice tendencies of players/defenses can swing two or three possessions a game. I don't think you can claim amazing parity in d3 hoops and then argue against the importance of being able to plan for an opponent by watching them play beforehand when a 4-point swing can be the difference. Some coaching staffs (complete side note: the plural of "coaching staff" should be "coachings staff") might not choose to utilize it, or have the ability to break it down effectively, but it is a useful tool. I am being sincere because I am interested: Can you point me to the "proof" that having the ability to scout an opponent "doesn't make a damn bit of difference"? Is there research? An article? Or is it anecdotal?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I did not say scouting doesn't make a damn bit of difference ... I'm saying hiding the web streams doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

Yes, scouting is important and it's being done both by video and in-person. That won't go away. But hiding the web streams isn't helping or hurting scouting. These games are already broken down by companies like Synergy. You can watch the entire game or you can watch individual moments or plays. The plays are even broken down to individual players on offense or defense with reports per those players. There is basically nothing, from what I have seen (been given access to these programs myself), that can't be done, broken down, or seen from game tapes.

Considering all conferences dictate that game film must be uploaded from all games and available on these platforms AND considering the games are NOT restricted to just in-conference (when I have been given access, I can see every single college program in the country on that platform, no matter the division or affiliation) ... the fact web streams are hidden is uncalled for.

I can give you a great example of how hiding videos doesn't change a damn thing. One school I know well who was hiding videos had a play early in the season that worked pretty well against a zone - especially a 2-3. It was a backdoor, baseline, cut from the wing with the guard throwing an alley-oop from the opposite elbow-line extended (beyond the three point line) for a slam dunk. Worked the first game or two, though the games were not available on archive. However, the games were uploaded and scouts were in the building. By the fourth or fifth game of the season ... that play was no longer working or even available. Teams had figured it out. Crazy considering the archives were not available, right?

Also, how in the world does Duke men's basketball, Alabama football, and "you name a program" continue to succeed, win games, get the tournaments, and even win championships, when their games on are broadcast on TV, re-aired COUNTLESS times on TV, and broken down by "experts" on TV thousands of ways? Those games aren't "hidden." Those games aren't kept from the viewing public ... and yet, those programs still seem to succeed. In fact, they get better and better.

Hiding the archives is a cop-out. Plain and simple. And I DO realize coaches read these forums and I hope they take what I am saying to heart. This only hurts the program. When people complain their programs aren't ranked high enough in Top 25 polls (or receiving votes) and that program hides its archives ... it isn't helping the program. When people talk about alumni involvement and recruiting advantages of programs who don't hide their archives ... the answer is pretty simple.

We have to stop working under the guise that people can tune in to the games when they are aired live. Parents, alumni, media, etc. can't always tune in on a Saturday at 4pm to catch the game. I'd LOVE to watch more games, but when the archives are hidden, I am screwed. I am sure parents would love not to have to worry about carving out time at a specific time to watch (if they want to watch live, that's fine, but when it is in the middle of the work day or the drive home, it might be too difficult). And alumni are known to contribute more to departments and programs when they can watch them.

There is a reason the DVR is so popular and yet we hid archives of Division III sporting events ... because a coach doesn't want to be easily scouted ... despite the fact the same coach is uploading the game to programs behind the scenes AND using those same programs to scout their next opponents.

This has got to stop so more fans can enjoy Division III sports.

[noonhooper]

Dave,
I totally agree with everything you are saying. I must have misunderstood what the "it" in "It doesn't make a difference" was, I thought you were saying scouting doesn't make a difference (which was a surprise take by you). Thanks for clearing up your stance. I had never considered that Top 25 voters would use archived games to make voting decisions and now I think hiding the archives is more than just mean to fans and family but also downright stupid!

As someone who lives far from the east coast teams they want to support I am ALWAYS glad to have a chance to see teams I can't catch live. I will join you in this crusade!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Dave,
I totally agree with everything you are saying. I must have misunderstood what the "it" in "It doesn't make a difference" was, I thought you were saying scouting doesn't make a difference (which was a surprise take by you). Thanks for clearing up your stance. I had never considered that Top 25 voters would use archived games to make voting decisions and now I think hiding the archives is more than just mean to fans and family but also downright stupid!

As someone who lives far from the east coast teams they want to support I am ALWAYS glad to have a chance to see teams I can't catch live. I will join you in this crusade!

Thank you! The more the merrier!

[Hank Mardukas]

What does Hank have in common with Michael Jordan, Jesus and The Undertaker... all of these extraordinary humans have made an epic comeback just like you are all witnessing Hank doing now. Let me take you all down a trip to memory lane. June 5th 2008, not a cloud in the sky in Boston that night when the emphatical Paul Pierce exits the game in a wheelchair early in the game. A packed stadium of 40,000 people, completely silent hoping to wake up from this petrifying nightmare. All Bostonians knew without Paul their destiny was nothing but impending doom. Paul came out of that locker-room full throttled just like Hank is doing on the boards. Paul was later crowned a champion and he cemented his legacy as will I, in advance you are all welcome.



Who would I be not to chime in on the Mules season. Yes, at times I was a harsh critic of Coach Hopkins and I do admit this was partially due to my undying loyalty for Scott McClary. Having said that I think Coach Hopkins has done an extremely good job with this young team. Whenever a coaching change is made you get to see the philosophy of the new coach through the newly recruited players. McClarley liked long athletic players who could get up and down the court in transition. He loved above the rim players like LaRose ad Rindock. Coach Hopkins seems to like more skilled and higher IQ players as shown by his more complex offense. Having the ability to instill the fundamentals in these sensational freshman shows that he truly has the potential to be great coach. I do agree that this blog should be more positive, but I would like to quickly mention that I believe the departure of Jake "DJ" Brown is a large contributor to this years Mules Success. When there is a divergence of ideas and ideologies between coaches', it is never a positive for the players.



Season is young and I'm looking forward to watching another great year of Centennial Conference Basketball!



-PS, I would gladly speak on any of your podcasts if given the opportunity to do so

[Gabriel]

As this is a slow time for this board, I am going to revisit the topic of financial aid which we addressed a couple of weeks ago---particularly as it relates to the ten teams that participate in Centennial Conference MBB.  First of all, there are the important NCAA rules:

---Financial aid should be the same for all students.  Student athletes and non-athletes should be treated the same.
---Athletics staff members are not allowed to have any role in determining institutional aid and are not permitted to modify or arrange
          financial aid packages.
---All institutions must participate in an annual electronic reporting process which compares financial aid packages of freshmen and
          transfer student athletes with those of aid packages of other freshmen and transfers.

How much financial aid can an institution award?  That depends on the institution and what they can afford----but, it must be allocated equitably between athletes and non-athletes.  How much an institution budgets for financial aid is probably related to the size of their endowments---more specifically---their endowment ratios per student.  Here are some interesting numbers for the ten CC schools.

                                      Endowment                   Per Student
Johns Hopkins                 $3,381,000,000             $  140,794
Swarthmore                    $2,116,000,000             $1,044,833 
Haverford                       $   528,000,000             $   344,938
Dickinson                       $   381,000,000             $   150,958
Franklin & Marshall         $   367,000,000             $    131,757
Gettysburg                     $  314,000,000              $   109,660
Muhlenberg                    $   263,000,000             $     89,937
Washington                    $   201,800,000             $    124,145
Ursinus                          $   137,000,000             $      87,732
McDaniel                        $   109,500,000             $      47,845

Numbers from U.S. News and are a snapshot of a recent point in time.

[ronk]

Gabriel,
   Thanks for the info. Would u know for what the endowments are used each year? I would guess some % for financial aid, but what other uses - academic chairs, special programs, facilities? or just retained for investment?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Gabriel,
   Thanks for the info. Would u know for what the endowments are used each year? I would guess some % for financial aid, but what other uses - academic chairs, special programs, facilities? or just retained for investment?

It varies a lot by schools and they're not required to break it down publicly if they don't want to do so.  I do believe the IRS has "suggested" schools have to use at least 5% of their endowments each year, but I don't think there's any requirements on how.

Financial aid decisions vary wildly from school to school.  I imagine a place like Johns Hopkins, with higher visibility, doesn't need the same kind of financial aid incentive as Muhlenberg or Dickinson, say.  JHU and Swat now both have no loan guarantees, right?  That makes a huge difference.

[Swat Fan #1]

"As this is a slow time for this board, I am going to revisit the topic of financial aid which we addressed a couple of weeks ago---particularly as it relates to the ten teams that participate in Centennial Conference MBB.  First of all, there are the important NCAA rules:

---Financial aid should be the same for all students.  Student athletes and non-athletes should be treated the same.
---Athletics staff members are not allowed to have any role in determining institutional aid and are not permitted to modify or arrange
          financial aid packages.
---All institutions must participate in an annual electronic reporting process which compares financial aid packages of freshmen and
          transfer student athletes with those of aid packages of other freshmen and transfers.

How much financial aid can an institution award?  That depends on the institution and what they can afford----but, it must be allocated equitably between athletes and non-athletes.  How much an institution budgets for financial aid is probably related to the size of their endowments---more specifically---their endowment ratios per student."

Thank you for that. Financial aid I believe is a tricky thing to figure out. I know my three kids at three different colleges (Swarthmore, Skidmore, and Ithaca College) had widely different financial aid packages. Swarthmore's was by far the best, especially the last two years. I never realized it was a set rule that athletes and non-athletes had to have the same financial aid package. Is that really a NCAA rule or just they should be somewhat close? Why can a kid who is good at science or playing the tuba allowed to get huge scholarship type aid help, but not a kid with a good jump shot? I am really interested why a good tuba player is ok and a good jump shot is not. Thanks. Good and interesting topic by the way.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

As this is a slow time for this board, I am going to revisit the topic of financial aid which we addressed a couple of weeks ago---particularly as it relates to the ten teams that participate in Centennial Conference MBB.  First of all, there are the important NCAA rules:

---Financial aid should be the same for all students.  Student athletes and non-athletes should be treated the same.
---Athletics staff members are not allowed to have any role in determining institutional aid and are not permitted to modify or arrange
          financial aid packages.
---All institutions must participate in an annual electronic reporting process which compares financial aid packages of freshmen and
          transfer student athletes with those of aid packages of other freshmen and transfers.

How much financial aid can an institution award?  That depends on the institution and what they can afford----but, it must be allocated equitably between athletes and non-athletes.  How much an institution budgets for financial aid is probably related to the size of their endowments---more specifically---their endowment ratios per student.

Thank you for that. Financial aid I believe is a tricky thing to figure out. I know my three kids at three different colleges (Swarthmore, Skidmore, and Ithaca College) had widely different financial aid packages. Swarthmore's was by far the best, especially the last two years. I never realized it was a set rule that athletes and non-athletes had to have the same financial aid package. Is that really a NCAA rule or just they should be somewhat close? Why can a kid who is good at science or playing the tuba allowed to get huge scholarship type aid help, but not a kid with a good jump shot? I am really interested why a good tuba player is ok and a good jump shot is not. Thanks. Good and interesting topic by the way.

I believe the variation for fin-aid between athletes and non-athletes can't be more than 3% in either direction.  Don't quote me on that, but it's something close.  That obviously applies to merit aid.  Need-based is more straightforward.  As long as you've got a standard you use for all students, that goes smoothly as well.