Chapman is buying up Old TOWN Orange. That must be where they got that from.

It is clear that most of the Board is sick of this particular line of discussion, so I hope that this might be my last post on the matter, but if we are going to get things "right" then there is a lot to clean up from PN's latest post.

First, I did point out that I had argued before the All-Conference selections were announced that I thought DR absolutely deserved First-Team All NESCAC honors.  However, contrary to the implication of your most recent post, I did not raise this bit of recent history in the hopes of earning "immunity" for my current or future arguments.  I was merely refuting your completely erroneous assertion that my (unchanging) view that DR should have been First Team All-NESCAC "rel[ied]" on his recent scholarship offer rather than his statistical accomplishments.  I argued back in February -- based on stats and my own observations -- that DR should have been a First Teamer.  Subsequent scholarship offers had nothing to do with it.  To assert or imply otherwise was an obvious error on your part.  This most recent comment only compounded this error.

To be clear, I have never asserted that John Beilein's interest in DR makes him an automatic First-Team selection.  Indeed, we all know that DR was not a First Team All-NESCAC selection.  Again, what I have said is that one would expect any NESCAC player offered by a Michigan to have displayed objective and subjective excellence at the NESCAC level (in addition to other traits) and that such excellence one would also expect to be rewarded with First Team honors.

Your Tom Killian example seems to rest on shaky assumptions.  As we seem to debate every February, it is not at all clear that NESCAC coaches base their all-conference selections only on regular season conference play. I think it is a fair assumption that conference play is the dominant factor, but I do not believe there are any formal directives in this regard. Indeed, as I have argued previously, I am pretty sure that, at the very least, NESCAC Tournament play is included in these deliberations.  As I believe I corrected you at the time, my understanding is that the final ballots are due after the NESCAC Championship game (whether some or all coaches actually wait till then is anyone's guess).

Also, I am no statistician, but I am not sure that the simple reordering  of games is as statistically plausible as you suggest given the sample sizes involved.  There are a lot of factors to consider here: disparity in playing time, competition, etc. 

However, one key aspect that you seem to be completely overlooking is that the conference games are not randomly distributed throughout the season but rather strategically concentrated towards the end of the season (but not the very end -- at least not for Amherst and Williams!).  In my mind, a sudden, sustained drop off in play by DR in January and February undoubtedly would have seriously affected my overall evaluation of him (even if he did turn things around during the NCAA Tournament).  My Exhibit 1, sadly, is Connor Green.  Connor finished the year with a 17.9 ppg on splits of 43.9/34.8/76.  But Connor struggled mightily (by his lofty standards at least) in conference play: 14.3/36.3/24.5/81.2.  I don't think you could argue that this drop off had a detrimental impact on our collective perception of Connor.  Again, don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that CG is a Jeff and I look forward to him lighting up the Conference next year, but this late season swoon unquestionably hurt his stock.  Part of what made Duncan's season so remarkable is that, for the most part at least, he steadily improved and rarely, if ever, had a prolonged slump.

Finally, speaking of poor logic, this idea that the fact that multiple top tier D1 programs were interested in offering DR renders my argument "untenable" is just plain strange.  This fact is in no way inconsistent with what I have been saying (not that it proves it either, to be sure).  To recap (and simplify) my view: In the ordinary course of life, top tier D1 programs don't even think about any NESCAC players.  Once in a blue moon, the NESCAC lands an individual with exceptional size, athleticism, and talent.  If that individual can prove his worth by establishing himself as a dominant d3/conference player on the hardwood, then some number of these coaches MIGHT offer him.  However, this is not some sliding scale.  That is, if 10 coaches offer DR, that does not mean, or really even suggest, that DR could have been 10% less efficient and walked away with 9 offers.  There is a (incredibly steep) threshold one needs to cross.  Once you cross it, you might attract offers.

 

Quote from: olddog on Yesterday at 03:17:35 pm

The players love playing on it. I think it is safer than turf. Over the years I have heard some funny comments, if not a perfect green hue it is not in good shape. Next time you are at UR, go stand in the end zone and you will the surface is well taken care of.

For what it's worth DOC enjoyed laying on the field at the runner when we were there watching MHB beat Redlands last season.  It is a nice grass field....which works well in the desert.....

Due to the extreme drought conditions in Southern Cal. the city has banned all watering of athletic fields. Sand will be put down to help cushion the field  .

Great article in the McMinnville news paper on the start up of George Fox football.
The Catdome is looking gooood! Like the purple "L", someday we will get the cat on the 50!

Went by tonight and they were grooming the field. GF field will be a nice one to win on. They've got the blue endzone and I like the Logo. Stadium is small, Press box is nice but not only will they fight the support posts but also the windows. Bleacher seating still needs to go in.

If you know anyone who has a food cart and would like to set up contact GF.

I still think we should call the stadium the Tindome  

There's a robust conversation on the NESCAC board about Duncan Robinson with references to Spike Albrecht.  You Michigan fans might enjoy jumping in.

MIAA's been-there, done-that... Mike Gotfredson