Mike, I agree with your statement that MT needs to get away from recruiting JUCO players. If you look at the formula that successful mid-major programs have for advancing far in the NCAA Tournament, you will find they have several fifth year players. The reason for this is because a fifth year player from a mid-major can win against a big time first year player of a bigger program. Another way to look at it is that a first and second year player of a mid-major program, most of the time, cannot compete with a first or second year player from a big time program. In fact it is becoming more unusual to see a fourth or fifth year player at the really big programs because they leave for the NBA after a second or third year, thus the rise in competitiveness of the good mid-major programs with older players. That is the reason why Kent State was able to advance to the Elite 8 in 2002. Even one coach suggested that Kent had an unfair advantage because of having so many players that had been together four or five years, whereas the bigger name schools had so many more talented but less experienced players due to players leaving for the NBA. Transfers and JUCO players are fine but the ideal situation is to have a steady core of incoming freshman who will be in the program four or five years, provided that they are good enough to compete at that level.
Note: Kent State might have advanced to the Final Four if it wasn't for Indiana's record setting 3-point shooting. The Hoosiers finished 15-for-19 on 3s -- 78.9 percent, the fifth-highest ever in an NCAA Tournament game. The 15 made set a school record.
Indiana lost to Maryland in the championship game but I'm convinced that no one could have defeated Indiana the night the Hoosiers played Kent and shot lights out from 3-point range. Despite Kent State's loss, the Flashes showed the nation how good a mid-major team can be with four and five-year players.
This post was edited on 11/20 7:06 PM by nashvillegoldenflash
Note: Kent State might have advanced to the Final Four if it wasn't for Indiana's record setting 3-point shooting. The Hoosiers finished 15-for-19 on 3s -- 78.9 percent, the fifth-highest ever in an NCAA Tournament game. The 15 made set a school record.
Indiana lost to Maryland in the championship game but I'm convinced that no one could have defeated Indiana the night the Hoosiers played Kent and shot lights out from 3-point range. Despite Kent State's loss, the Flashes showed the nation how good a mid-major team can be with four and five-year players.
This post was edited on 11/20 7:06 PM by nashvillegoldenflash
