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Messages - stlawus

#1
I could just be huffing the hopium but it seems like recruiting this year for SLU has been revamped.  Just got a really solid QB commit who also had an offer from Endicott.  If SLU is getting guys to come here instead of a now perennially strong program like Endicott maybe things could be on the up.  Also on the heels of getting a 6'4" 200lb 1st team all state WR from VT.  Of course, competition in VT is not the same elsewhere but getting the cream of the crop is still a step in the right direction.  Think they made the right hire in Zach Mallard to be the new DC since he's already securing a pretty solid class.
#2
Region 3 men's basketball / Re: Liberty League
March 21, 2024, 03:37:25 PM
Completely missed the announcement of McVean's retirement a few days ago.  40 years, what a run.  Don't know if you'll ever seen someone at one institution for that long again.   RIT has to now replace both the men's and women's HC position.  Should be a pretty sought after job. 
#3
Men's soccer / Re: Spring Practices
March 18, 2024, 07:05:47 PM
Not sure if SLU or Plattsburgh is hosting but on April 28th SLU, Plattsburgh and Mohawk Valley CC will be playing each other. 
#4
New York Region / Re: BB: LL: Liberty League
March 18, 2024, 03:05:51 PM
Lot of graduation losses from last year has the league looking a bit down compared to the last two seasons. Rochester lost a ton including Whitley who is using his 5th year at Richmond. Suspect Ithaca will be the clear #1 until proven otherwise. Union is 6-1 but haven't really played anyone. Pitching has been SLU's downfall the last two seasons in division play, looks like there a couple improvements in that department. Even with Caleb Clark transferring to Endicott the SLU outfield looks pretty solid on defense and at the plate so far.  Surprised at RIT's record but it's still early goings.  Given the results over the last decade you still can't count out RPI and Union. 
#5
Men's soccer / Re: Liberty League
March 17, 2024, 07:36:54 PM
From the sounds of it, although it wasn't 100% clear, it appears Josh Gaudiano won't be using his final year of eligibility at RPI that he has due to his medical redshirt.  In Clinton's interview with Simple Coach he made it seem like he wasn't coming back, which will hurt since he ended up having a very solid season. Always have to expect them to be competitive though, and I really liked their freshman CB Nana when I saw him in person 2 times.   RPI and SLU probably had the most youth last year in terms of minutes played, so there might be someone on one or both teams taking that next step next season.  SC interviews are giving us all our d3 soccer fix this time of year. 
#6
Region 3 men's basketball / Re: Liberty League
March 13, 2024, 10:09:12 PM
Plenty of LL players to go around in the all-region teams.  Angbazo gets LL player of the year and NABC Region 3 first team but no honors on any of the 3 teams on d3hoops.com, what a shocker /s. Glad to see Ryan Miles-Ferguson get his due in the all region selections as well as getting the chance to play in the all star game. 

Now that the dust has settled, I'm thinking the top of the standings next year could very well be the same 3 teams from this year in any order.  RPI losing Angbazo will hurt, but they still have a good amount of impressive underclassmen.  Hobart is losing their glue guy and best defensive player in Washington along with center Lucey, but otherwise bring back everyone else.  SLU losing Syroka will also hurt given his defense and ball handling, but they bring back all the remaining 4 starters.   That's tentatively at least, since you never know with the portal action especially as it relates to Dudzinski's stellar season and player profile.

This year definitely had some of the most parity I've seen, especially as it related to home and road splits.  SLU and Hobart were a combined 26-0 at home, don't know if the top two teams ever ran the table at home before.  There were surprises like Union who got production out of players in their senior year who hadn't done much their first 3 years, along with Bard making the playoffs with a new coach.  I was not shocked to see Ithaca take a step back, they lost a ton of 5th years and seniors from last year. One of the downsides of having 5th year players is that you can miss out on recruits that you might normally get, so I'm interested to see what Ithaca does next year one season removed from an uncharacteristic down season.

Clarkson is losing the league's leading scorer, but still bring everyone else back including who I thought should have been rookie of the year. We saw this year that Hobart losing the league's leading scorer from last season had no effect, so if Clarkson can add some depth pieces it would be extremely disappointing if they miss the playoffs again next year.
#7
Quote from: northb on March 09, 2024, 08:45:06 AM
Quote from: stlawus on March 08, 2024, 07:29:06 PMI'm not sure Overway is long for the division III ranks after this season.  He can start or be the first option off the bench for plenty division I mid majors. 

Then you don't understand Calvin or the MIAA.  Calvin (and other MIAA schools) have a long history of guys that could play at another level, but remain at Calvin for a bunch of other reasons.

If the current college basketball landscape was the same as it was 10 years ago I'd agree, but again, things have changed.  And I already said I'd like for him stay in division III.
#8
Multi-Regional Topics / Re: 2024 NCAA Tournament
March 08, 2024, 10:38:14 PM
Nobody hyped the ARC up as being the best conference in the country.  The UAA was.  NYU started 3 5th year players who were all transfers, it wasn't just Case.  Both of those teams garnered attention as being pre-season favorites to win the national championship.  The ARC also doesn't have teams regionally ranked with .600 or lower winning percentages like the UAA did. Chicago was 13-12 and were in the last regional rankings! 
#9
Multi-Regional Topics / Re: 2024 NCAA Tournament
March 08, 2024, 09:36:15 PM
I try to be a positive person and not be one to drag or disparage, but it gets a bit obnoxious seeing all the conference tribalism which seems to get dialed up even higher when it comes to the UAA.  This league has just about every advantage possible in the world of D3 when it comes to recruiting, scheduling, regional rankings and the opportunity to get 5th year players, yet two years in a row they crash out despite all the attention they got throughout the whole season for being the supposed best league in the nation.   These teams should be good given the aforementioned advantages, so it baffles me that some have to continuously play the league up as if they are experiencing newfound success after a down era of being underdogs. 

One or two games can be explained by typical NCAA tournament variance.  But two straight years of disappointment?  That's not variance, that's a trend.   2 years in a row with majorly suspect UAA teams getting bids, which coincided with 2 years of a UAA coach being the vice chair and chair of the national committee.  2 years in a row both of those teams losing their first round games and the rest of the league bowing out early as well, along with undeserving UAA teams getting regionally ranked at the expense of deserving teams.  The highest level of math I took in college was only calc 3, but I can still work out the equations here.
#10
Multi-Regional Topics / Re: 2024 NCAA Tournament
March 08, 2024, 08:57:01 PM
Another UAA blowout.  Not one UAA winning a third game despite hearing all year how it's the best conference in the country.  All those 5th years and grad transfers along with regional ranking advantages all added up to...not much. 
#11
I certainly would like a player like that to stay at this level, but he'll definitely have suitors.
#12
I'm not sure Overway is long for the division III ranks after this season.  He can start or be the first option off the bench for plenty division I mid majors. 
#13
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
March 08, 2024, 06:14:57 PM
Admittedly I kind of bought into the "CNU has too many injuries/issues to overcome" narrative that was kind of being whispered going into the tournament, but they've just put together about as impressive 3 game run through the tournament that I've seen relative to a team's situation.   Williams doesn't have anything to hang their heads over.  Been following the program the past few seasons given the great games that they've played with SLU and also having a Canton native on the team. Williams had the size advantage in terms of height but several CNU players play significantly bigger than their size given some of their extremely long wingspans.   Great season for the Ephs, especially coming into this game beating the best Oswego team that's probably ever been assembled on their home court.  Williams is poised to have quite a bit of sustained success given all the players coming back, especially since this current run was with several key players out with injuries. 
#14
Multi-Regional Topics / Re: 2024 NCAA Tournament
March 08, 2024, 06:03:27 PM
Can't say I'm too bothered seeing another 5th year/grad transfer loaded UAA team bow out early relative to their expectations. 
#15
I don't disagree with that assessment as it specifically pertains to football, but SLU has done well in other sports under the same circumstances.  The soccer team keeps bringing in players from California and Florida, lacrosse still recruits at an elite level and basketball has not been affected at all.  Different dynamic for football since the talent pool in NY and New England is not great, so the current established programs are getting the better talent that's left over in this region. 

It all goes back to what I said about the investment in facilities, "if you build it they will come" etc.