MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[bports]

Like i said bport changed there requirements around 5 years ago .

[Pat Coleman]

I find it amusing and/or sad that so many of the posts talking about academic standards have misspellings. 

[thebear]

Yeah- but not everyone these days is a working journalist or had spelling & punctuation drilled (literally & figuratively) into them by Sr. Mary St. XXXXX at an early age.  (I still have scars on my hands from the thin side of the metal ruler.)

I tell my students that spelling & punctuation count, even in businesses classes, but the discipline just isn't there any more.

[bball12]

Sorry, I don't usually check my work when I write something on the D3Hoops website.

[Pat Coleman]

I wasn't referring to your post, actually.

[Cards7580]

"...Exceptions are made, athletes, musicians, dancers, children of prominent alumni or friends of the college, members of underrepresented groups, all can (& do) get special handling.  It varies from school to school, but exceptions are made, everywhere, even the elite private schools in the NESCAC & UAA...."

thebear is correct. I would also bet that many colleges who are being mentioned on these boards are involved significantly with the practice.

"...My experience is a lot of the "such & so" couldn't get in here is to some extent "folklore".  In many cases the individual in question didn't even apply, or if they did, didn't do a great job on the application.  Even when a person gets in a one place and not another, they still have to go to class and do the work to remain eligible..."

thebear is correct again and in the most recent incident that spurred this discussion is dead on.  Just because a coach whines about not getting someone in because of no making requirements DOES NOT make it so. Players have to apply in order to be denied.

"...Keeping players eligible is just another burden that falls on the coaching staff, not to mention that players who have trouble in the classroom, often have trouble with the nuances of the college game, like who to guard, and what to do in a fraction of a second..."

The graduation rate of Plattsburgh basketball is 2nd to none.

"...All this being said, transfers are much easier to get into school, in general, a transfer with a 2.0 from an accredited institution can usually be admitted almost anywhere.  That lowers the bar somewhat and is why certain players wind up in places where the question "how did he ever get in there?" follows..."

I'm more interested in what someone does once they are in. What is the outcome. Did they graduate. Did they use the opportunity to do more than play a sport.

"...Give Coach Curle credit where credit is due.  He has turned the Cards into one of the elite programs in the East, has done it by starting with juco transfers and people who didn't succeed at other higher level  programs, is now enrolling elite freshman, and has his program poised to break into the top ranks.  ..."

Not sure who you are referring to. If you read the story D3hoops did about the current Plattsburgh team neither player "failed" at a higher division, but left under pressure from personal matters.  Tom Curle "gets the players" because he is a winner where ever he has coached. He is a great motivator. He knows the game of coaching from may different perspectives.  As a former player, as an assistant, as a coach at three different levels of competition.  He is great with/to his players.  Fair but firm.  He is good with the media, and an excellent example of a leader.   He responds to alumni and promotes positive relationships with former players from all seasons of Plattsburgh basketball.   If my son had lived and could play hoops, he would be at Plattsburgh even if it was to sit on the bench. He has brought a whole new attitude to the program.  If you listen to the Feb 3, Hoopsville interview with him, you can understand his sense of history of the game, his humility, his concern for his players and his perspective and respect for the other SUNYAC programs.

[Pat Coleman]

The graduation rate of Plattsburgh basketball is 2nd to none.

Really, No. 1 in all of Division III? Do you have those rankings?

[Cards7580]

"...The graduation rate of Plattsburgh basketball is 2nd to none.

Really, No. 1 in all of Division III? Do you have those rankings?..."

OKAY OKAY this statement is an opinion from me. 
The phrase "2nd to none" is an expression and in most cases is not taken literally.
I would however say that in five years to only have two players not get 4 year degrees
ranks pretty high.  Do I have the actual Division III "official rankings" from the NCAA or
whatever organization keeps track of such things?  NO I do not.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, in a conversation where we're taking so many things literally about who applied where and such, I figured we were still being literal.

[Cards7580]

Maybe D3Hoops should consider adding it as a Top 25 ranking to complete it's "full" coverage of Division III sports.

[thebear]

I would be very surprised if the NESCAC schools aren't in the 90's and have been there for a while.

I have a close friend who is a dean at MIT, and he says their attitude is "if we accept them, we are responsible to see that they graduate".  Since the grad rate at MIT (a D-III school) is 92%, with all due respect to my sibling institution in Plattsburgh, don't think we're in that class.

My son went to Geneseo, and their grad rate is stratospheric for a public institution, (6 year grad rate - 78%), they were #1 nationally in the rankings cited by magicman.  I think they graduate a pretty high % of their student athletes.

[scooterman]

Wow--My comments really instigated a great discussion!!  I would be very interested to know the top 5 schools with the highest graduation rates. Aren't many leagues formed because they have the same educational philosphies and treat athletics similiarly?

[bearnation]

Its fun to start a great debate.

The reason I brought up the size of Memorial Hall is because unless something dramatic happens.  The SUNYAC title will go thru Plattsburgh.  For many years the great debate was should the SUNYAC title be played in Utica.   
Besides Plattsburgh is anyone going to be happy playing in place that maybe holds 1000 people.  I believe Plattsburgh has about 6000 students.  When they play hockey in an arena that hold over 3000, its a full house.  Then again they are really a hockey school. Otherwise someone would made an update years ago.
I can't remember who said it but one of the Plattsburgh fans posted that they only played 9 home games.  Its mostly likely do to the size and location of the gym and school.

[scooterman]

Honestly--If Plattsburg hosts which probably will happen--Only the real diehard fans from Bport or any other school from the western conference will show. I will listen to the radio, but I consider myself a real fan. Its just to far!!

[Cards7580]

"... Its mostly likely do to the size and location of the gym and school. ..."

Size of Gym determines who wants to play on your schedule ?   
Location of gym determines who wants to play on your schedule? 

This is not Division I.  When the Cards used to play University of Vermont we went THERE because
supposedly they would draw more people.  Actually the didn't draw that much more than we did
for our home games, but they did charge more for admission.  The gate was split.  If these two reasons
were even options to determine where to play, St John Fisher would not have any home games.  Mike Neer the coach at U of R made a statement today in a radio interview, that he can't understand why U of R hasn't been
selected as an NCAA 1st of 2nd round host site.  "I would like that advantage" was his reason. 

I remember the Lyndon St gym, Fitchburg st and Norwich Academy facilities.  Two were really high school gyms
with poor lights and the Norwich military facility was built back in George Washington time 
They used to claim that the visitors locker room window was broken and could not be shut completely. They had a pile of towels keeping the blowing snow out but not the cold.  And the showers were across the hall which lead directly out the door to the arctic air.  Inside the court was a decent size, but not very wide. There was an upper deck track running around the building. Alot of the cadets used to hang over the railing in uniform which was an imposing image.  Luckily they were not always very good.  But one thing they always did was hustle and play hard for the entire game. 


Location of SCHOOL, yes.    Quality of the team, for sure.
That's probably a good reason. More likely its got to do with coaches not wanting to travel to the
North Country and get beat and then hope the return trip isn't snow, fog, rain or whatever other
bad weather in brewing in the  mountains.  Back in the day, when NY Tech and Hartwick (Division II)
used to be on the Cards schedule I believe they wanted more than ONE game for the weekend. 
I think St Lawrence volunteered one year.   I know Union used to try to get a game for Joe Cardany
from Plattsburgh to play at least once during his time there.   And RPI was up there and we went
to their place in alternating years.  I believe Middlebury, St. Lawrence, and Clarkson deals  are always
home and home in alternating seasons.   The men's team doesn't host a tournament. This year they
went to three.  So that's 6 away games.   6 + 8 SUNYAC away games  = 14 away  +
Clarkson + Middlebury = 16 away. 9 home for 25 total.  Not much room left in a schedule for more home games.

As far as the field house goes for Hockey. Things haven't changed much there since 1980 either. I think there are plans to revamp the seats and make "luxury boxes" of some sort for contributors.  They also are going to create a viewing area over the one end where you come into the arena.

The last update that Memorial hall got was a new floor, new bleachers (cutting capacity from 1500 to 1200) and some new padding on the walls.  The capacity cut was due to the creation of another fire exit at the opposite end of the gym from the main doors and across the gym from the team benches.  I haven't been to a game since 1996 so I am really exercising my memory.  I believe they also repainted the center circle and out of bounds areas.   The real advantage in memorial was taken away when the dead spots in the floor were fixed.  There were at least three spots that OUR guards would steer clear of and they would make the opponents dribble toward.  I remember one game when during a trapping press, (I think it was Cortland), our guards forced their guard to one of the spots just over the half line.  He took two dribbles and was breaking out of the trap, UNTIL  that third dribble went down BUT only rebounded up about 1 foot.   Most other teams seem to know about the spots, and I know Ed Jackim of Potsdam used to walk the floor and find them all.