Patch

If I could come up with just reason why any DI team would play an extremely weak DIII - I would say OK.

But I can't!!!

Suffolk, Mount Ida and now Eastern (15-11 last year in a real crap conference) - The AE gives up three chances for DI wins to play this crap and we wonder why the conference ranks so low in RPI

ecasadoSBU

Well I guess its fine to disagree. I'm excited for Stony Brook's 6am game tomorrow. Early in the morning basketball!!!!

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farfromtheshow

Coaches constantly preach that they need to "get better" each and every day from the start of the first practice to the final whistle of the season, while building towards their end goal.

You don't get better from playing a D3 school, in any way, shape, or form. Teams get more out of an inter-squad scrimmage or 4-on-4 drills in practice, where, in competing against themselves, they're at least going up against DI athletes.

A D3 school against an AE club is more over-matched than a DI cream-puff is against a high-DI power... People blast High-Majors for scheduling easy W's, an AE school playing a D3 is even worse...

And, as far as being prepared for the season, and getting better every day, I'd suggest people go and look up the combined W-L record of AE schools that have played non-DI's in their next game out (when they go back to facing DI's)... it's not good.

The last AE school to play a non DI and go to the NCAA tournament in the same season: Vermont, 2003.

Patch

I just went to Eastern's website - they are in the Freedom Conferenence were 15-11 last year and it appears they graduated or lost their top four (4)scorers from last season.

On their roster they don't even list heights and weights?

Does anyone want to pick a score for this one????

SaltySeawolf

How does Albany get better playing Ohio St.? They don't. If they were smart they would get a pay day, but I don't think Albany could even pull that off.

UAalum72

Playing Ohio State reminds the players that a slow defensive switch or a lazy pass - something you could get away with against Mt. Ida - will be punished by a Divison I team.

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Patch

If you have to ask that question - I understand why you try to be funny at times.

farfromtheshow

I think if I interpret you correctly, you are being funny and sarcastic. But, for those out there who honestly feel this way (because there are some). It's the same philosophy that most athletes learn first hand on the individual level: You get better by playing better competition. It's the reason the best young players often play up in age group against bigger and stronger kids. It's the reason a lot of successful pros will cite getting roughed up playing against grown men when they were young kids as one of the keys to their growth and development as players...

SaltySeawolf

First of all - I dont "try" to be funny. I just am funny.

My point is that while I do agree with Sam that you get better by playing better competition there is a point of diminishing returns. When you play a vastly superior team that you have no chance of competing with you gain nothing from that contest. No one can tell me that Albany is a better team today for getting blown out by Ohio St. I think an argument could be made that SB playing Mt. Ida is about the same talent differential as Ohio St. playing Albany.

NotDeadYet

Except Albany didn't get "blown out" by Ohio St. Albany really gave them a game. OSU had to play their starters nearly the whole second half. If Croft hadn't gotten hot from 3, who knows???? They played the AE game of the year, so far.

According to SI, the D1 teams playing D3 opponents tonight include:

Lipscomb vs the Fighting Scots

Delaware St. vs the Highlanders

North Carolina Central vs the Wildcats

South Carolina-Spartanburg vs the Tigers

Mercer vs the Stormy Petrels

SI only knows these D3 teams by their mascots.

It just seems tacky.

farfromtheshow

I would disagree. Albany kept it competitive, SBU went up something like 47-3 on Mt Ida - that game was never competitive. The difference between a low DI program and a bad division III is much greater than that between a low-major and a top 25 school.

Playing a high-major power for an America East program can be good preparation for playing in the NCAA tournament. Playing a non-DI doesn't prepare an AE school for anything.

SaltySeawolf

Im probably trying too hard on this one. It's been so long since we've had any good debate though. Im leaving the house at 3 am for the game at Rider btw.

uvm4life20

Playing a quality d2 team is fine. I dont personally like it but it def helps a team out. The best d2 teams would beat the worst d1 teams.

uvm4life20

Getting blown out by a bcs team helps out any team. A reasonalbe blowout anyways where it was ok to be in the same gym. UA didnt get blown out. They kept it close to competitive most of the game. Losing is one of the best ways to learn. Going over a film on all the mistakes you made could go a long way and you need to play teams who take advantage of these mistakes. The lesson is a lot stronger and clearer when you watch the other team steal the ball instead of pointing out the other team COULD of stolen the ball. It's night and day. Also when you play a team that's very overmatched you are more likely to pick up bad habits. You think something will work against stronger competition because it worked last time. These are facts.

UVM Hoop Cat

And just look at those D1 schools. It's just not the company you want to keep.

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