Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sim Bhullar story
Here is my story on Sim Bhullar. Let me know if you non Sun-News online subscribers are able to read it. I'll put links to all of my hoops stories online from here on out.
Aggies land another big man
Internet reports this morning have NMSU landing 7-foot-5 Xavier de-commit Sim Bhullar. Here is an interesting article from a Xavier writer, who describes Bhullar as, "expected to be a project at Xavier and was a likely redshirt had he stayed with the Muskies."
Also from the article.
The 7'5" recruit was slated to be part of Xavier's 2012 class. However, after reportedly being spotted on Xavier's campus as late as last week, Bhullar apparently decided to head west where he could play this year.
so far the best story is from the Sporting News, which talks about Bhullar's plan to originally spend another year in Prep school.
I spoke briefly with an assistant at Hunington Prep in West Virgina, where Bhullar played last year. Here is a quick description.
"Is a good one-on-one defender on the block and will block shots around the basket. Doesn't rebound out of his area well. Has to put forth the effort and get the laziness out of him. Offensively he has great hands and a jump shot. He has the tools to be great."
Also from the article.
The 7'5" recruit was slated to be part of Xavier's 2012 class. However, after reportedly being spotted on Xavier's campus as late as last week, Bhullar apparently decided to head west where he could play this year.
so far the best story is from the Sporting News, which talks about Bhullar's plan to originally spend another year in Prep school.
I spoke briefly with an assistant at Hunington Prep in West Virgina, where Bhullar played last year. Here is a quick description.
"Is a good one-on-one defender on the block and will block shots around the basket. Doesn't rebound out of his area well. Has to put forth the effort and get the laziness out of him. Offensively he has great hands and a jump shot. He has the tools to be great."
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Grades are good
Just a quick note that entering the fall semester, no NMSU men's player will miss time due to academics and should be good to go when practice starts in October. That includes walk ons such as Temjae Singleton and Terrel de Rouen. The only question mark is KC Ross-Miller, whose situation isn't a matter of grades, but rather working through what has been a unique transfer process.
Friday, August 12, 2011
New APR standards and recruiting calendar
I'm working on a story about the recent bullet points coming out of NCAA meetings in Indianapolis in the past week.
I'm still talking around, but I did get ahold of New Mexico State athletics director McKinley Boston about the increased APR expectations, which could result in the elimination of postseason play, as well as a new recruiting calendar for college basketball.
The increased APR expectations aren't going to be a problem exclusive to NMSU at all regarding men's hoops, as this article clearly shows. But the Aggies' hoops team is the only sport at NMSU with postseason expectations that falls below the current standard of 925. Unless there is a miracle on the football field this season or in seasons in the near future.
NMSU has done a good job since the APR was established of increasing its score every year. The Aggies had a 906 score in the most recent report. What saved NMSU from incurring postseason penalties in the past was the fact that they constantly improved over time. If the new standard of 930 is passed (more on that later) the NCAA is trying to do away with that waiver process, which kept the Aggies eligible for the postseason run they made to the NCAA Tourney two years ago.
While the NCAA seems determined to put an increased emphasis on academics, Boston still believes there will be a gray area depending on certain situations in how the new standard is implemented.
"We are talking about three or four years out," Boston said. "Schools with resources and money will find a way to fix it. I think that what we are seeing today and what we will be dealing with in the next three to four years, that the elimination of the waivers and appeal process is going to be so unfair to individual student athletes. You can always play hard ball but there are going to be extenuating circumstances where people just make mistakes. I don't see presidents being that inflexible myself."
NMSU and schools like NMSU will have a bigger adjustment to make I think. The school has used walk ons before to up the APR score and in order to compete on the court, some coaches take chances on players who may not be able to get the work done in the clasroom. Marvin Menzies has done a good job bringing in guys who aren't as liable in school than other coaches.
But let's look at his last roster.
Each player is worth two points per semester. One point is an eligibility point and other point is retention.
Abdoulaye N'doye transferred for more playing time but was eligible at the time he left making him a 1-for-2. Troy Gillenwater will count two points against NMSU or leaving while ineligible at the time he left (0-2) But had Gillenwater been eligible, there is a rule in the APR where if a player leaves school to pursue a pro career, he would only count for 1 point. Had Gillenwater been eligible at the time he left school (that's not to say he would have missed next season if he didn't leave) he wouldn't have hurt the APR.
"The key for us is the implementation," Boston said. "We are talking about anywhere from a three to five year cycle and I think we are going to be in good shape. I'm not concerned. Losing three points is not a bad thing. You don't want to lose any though."
It may not be a bad thing right now Boston and other schools are hoping that three points here or there will not add up and cost teams postseason consideration.
While it was a group of presidents that suggested the new APR guidelines, a number of those individuals will also be voting on the proposal at the next NCAA Board of Directors meeting in October. Since presidents suggested it and presidents are voting on it, chances are presidents will pass it.
"We all have a vote but if people are opposed to the new APR, there will plenty of presidents who will lobby against it," Boston said. "It will probably pass but it doesn't mean there won't be plenty of debates."
Also garnering headlines in Indy was the establishment of new recruiting calendar and text messages. Boston actually sits on the NCAA leadership council, which has been working on a proposal to the NCAA Board.
"It's been a year long process," Boston said. "We have had focus group discussions with coaches at the Final Four, the leadership of the Basketball coaches association about third party influences on recruiting."
Boston said his group last met Aug. 1-2 in Indianapolis, but its purpose was heavily talked about last week as well as reported on.
"We are still fine tuning what has to be done but the recruiting calendar and access to players are the highlights," Boston said. "It hasn't come forward as a finished product to the committee yet as a finished product but it will be ready to go to the Board by the October meeting."
Regarding a timeframe where changes including moving back the time a player can make official visits to re-implementing the text message as a form of communication, Boston said, "The current calendar is already in place. I don't think next summer's calendar will be the same as this summer's."
While the APR increase and the new schedule in recruiting are not linked exclusively, there is a correlation to be made there, at least in hoops.
Players transferring is a major factor in a school's APR number in the current college climate. From a basketball standpoint, I think the hope behind a new recruiting schedule means a better relationship between players and coaches and a better relationship leads to more player retention.
"Coaches have a longer time to know recruits and hopefully players and coaches will make better decisions," Boston said. "Coaches and players will make better decisions if they spend more time off campus and on campus. There will be less mistakes."
I'm still talking around, but I did get ahold of New Mexico State athletics director McKinley Boston about the increased APR expectations, which could result in the elimination of postseason play, as well as a new recruiting calendar for college basketball.
The increased APR expectations aren't going to be a problem exclusive to NMSU at all regarding men's hoops, as this article clearly shows. But the Aggies' hoops team is the only sport at NMSU with postseason expectations that falls below the current standard of 925. Unless there is a miracle on the football field this season or in seasons in the near future.
NMSU has done a good job since the APR was established of increasing its score every year. The Aggies had a 906 score in the most recent report. What saved NMSU from incurring postseason penalties in the past was the fact that they constantly improved over time. If the new standard of 930 is passed (more on that later) the NCAA is trying to do away with that waiver process, which kept the Aggies eligible for the postseason run they made to the NCAA Tourney two years ago.
While the NCAA seems determined to put an increased emphasis on academics, Boston still believes there will be a gray area depending on certain situations in how the new standard is implemented.
"We are talking about three or four years out," Boston said. "Schools with resources and money will find a way to fix it. I think that what we are seeing today and what we will be dealing with in the next three to four years, that the elimination of the waivers and appeal process is going to be so unfair to individual student athletes. You can always play hard ball but there are going to be extenuating circumstances where people just make mistakes. I don't see presidents being that inflexible myself."
NMSU and schools like NMSU will have a bigger adjustment to make I think. The school has used walk ons before to up the APR score and in order to compete on the court, some coaches take chances on players who may not be able to get the work done in the clasroom. Marvin Menzies has done a good job bringing in guys who aren't as liable in school than other coaches.
But let's look at his last roster.
Each player is worth two points per semester. One point is an eligibility point and other point is retention.
Abdoulaye N'doye transferred for more playing time but was eligible at the time he left making him a 1-for-2. Troy Gillenwater will count two points against NMSU or leaving while ineligible at the time he left (0-2) But had Gillenwater been eligible, there is a rule in the APR where if a player leaves school to pursue a pro career, he would only count for 1 point. Had Gillenwater been eligible at the time he left school (that's not to say he would have missed next season if he didn't leave) he wouldn't have hurt the APR.
"The key for us is the implementation," Boston said. "We are talking about anywhere from a three to five year cycle and I think we are going to be in good shape. I'm not concerned. Losing three points is not a bad thing. You don't want to lose any though."
It may not be a bad thing right now Boston and other schools are hoping that three points here or there will not add up and cost teams postseason consideration.
While it was a group of presidents that suggested the new APR guidelines, a number of those individuals will also be voting on the proposal at the next NCAA Board of Directors meeting in October. Since presidents suggested it and presidents are voting on it, chances are presidents will pass it.
"We all have a vote but if people are opposed to the new APR, there will plenty of presidents who will lobby against it," Boston said. "It will probably pass but it doesn't mean there won't be plenty of debates."
Also garnering headlines in Indy was the establishment of new recruiting calendar and text messages. Boston actually sits on the NCAA leadership council, which has been working on a proposal to the NCAA Board.
"It's been a year long process," Boston said. "We have had focus group discussions with coaches at the Final Four, the leadership of the Basketball coaches association about third party influences on recruiting."
Boston said his group last met Aug. 1-2 in Indianapolis, but its purpose was heavily talked about last week as well as reported on.
"We are still fine tuning what has to be done but the recruiting calendar and access to players are the highlights," Boston said. "It hasn't come forward as a finished product to the committee yet as a finished product but it will be ready to go to the Board by the October meeting."
Regarding a timeframe where changes including moving back the time a player can make official visits to re-implementing the text message as a form of communication, Boston said, "The current calendar is already in place. I don't think next summer's calendar will be the same as this summer's."
While the APR increase and the new schedule in recruiting are not linked exclusively, there is a correlation to be made there, at least in hoops.
Players transferring is a major factor in a school's APR number in the current college climate. From a basketball standpoint, I think the hope behind a new recruiting schedule means a better relationship between players and coaches and a better relationship leads to more player retention.
"Coaches have a longer time to know recruits and hopefully players and coaches will make better decisions," Boston said. "Coaches and players will make better decisions if they spend more time off campus and on campus. There will be less mistakes."
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Joe Boyd commits
The New Mexico State men's basketball team got a big verbal from Phoenix area big man Joe Boyd. Boyd is a 2013 prospect who is playing with the Arizona Aces this summer. Sam Esposito, a 5-8 guard and Boyd's AAU and high school teammate at Chaparral.
Here is my story in the Sun-News.
Boyd would fill an immediate need in the post and on the wing for the Aggies, who lose Wendell McKines following this season.
"I was a post up player when I started but have been working on bigger and better things like handling the ball and shooting and at 6-9, that comes in handy," Boyd said. "I can handle the ball and I can shoot the 3 pretty well."
A 16-year-old, NMSU was one of two offers this early with an offer from Weber State. He also went on unofficial visits to UNLV and USC this summer.
Charles Gosa is the last Phoenix product I can think of to play for the Aggies. Actually some of you told me that on a previous post. Following are some some comments from Boyd's AAU coach, BJ Letcher, starting with Phoenix as a hoops recruiting ground.
"The Phoenix area, you would expect a lot more players because it has the population, but basketball wise, more people like myself are moving into the valley and training kids in basketball and it has started to get on the rise in the last 10 years. Baseball is huge here and the other outdoor sports are better in Arizona. I wouldn't call it a hotbed yet but more Division I players are starting to come through."
Marvin Menzies as a recruiter and why Boyd committed early
"New Mexico State was on Joe very early. (Menzies) was one of the first coaches who really saw Joe and that factors into his decision. ... I think it depends on the kid and what the kid is looking for but the relationship with the coach really played a big factor to do it so early. A lot of kids get wrapped up in the school and where they are going to play that they lose focus on the No. 1 factor, which is the relationship with the coach."
Here is my story in the Sun-News.
Boyd would fill an immediate need in the post and on the wing for the Aggies, who lose Wendell McKines following this season.
"I was a post up player when I started but have been working on bigger and better things like handling the ball and shooting and at 6-9, that comes in handy," Boyd said. "I can handle the ball and I can shoot the 3 pretty well."
A 16-year-old, NMSU was one of two offers this early with an offer from Weber State. He also went on unofficial visits to UNLV and USC this summer.
Charles Gosa is the last Phoenix product I can think of to play for the Aggies. Actually some of you told me that on a previous post. Following are some some comments from Boyd's AAU coach, BJ Letcher, starting with Phoenix as a hoops recruiting ground.
"The Phoenix area, you would expect a lot more players because it has the population, but basketball wise, more people like myself are moving into the valley and training kids in basketball and it has started to get on the rise in the last 10 years. Baseball is huge here and the other outdoor sports are better in Arizona. I wouldn't call it a hotbed yet but more Division I players are starting to come through."
Marvin Menzies as a recruiter and why Boyd committed early
"New Mexico State was on Joe very early. (Menzies) was one of the first coaches who really saw Joe and that factors into his decision. ... I think it depends on the kid and what the kid is looking for but the relationship with the coach really played a big factor to do it so early. A lot of kids get wrapped up in the school and where they are going to play that they lose focus on the No. 1 factor, which is the relationship with the coach."
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Benson overly optimistic for new WAC?
So the WAC has it's 10-team league for 2012. It looks like this after last week's addition of Texas-Arlington.
New Mexico State
Utah State
San Jose State
Idaho
Louisiana Tech
Denver
Seattle
Texas State
Texas-Arlington
Texas-San Antonio
It's Karl Benson's job as WAC commissioner to be optimistic about the future of his league. And nobody has seen more turnover than Benson over his tenure in the WAC. But in this ESPN.com story, Benson says that the WAC could return to a level where Benson said, "The WAC will return as a multiple-bid conference."
Benson believes that with 10 teams and true travel partners, travel costs will go down and quality road wins will go up increasing RPI and putting more teams in the conversation for at-large bids.
The WAC is simply not a basketball league. Departing schools Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada and Hawaii are legitimate football programs that have occasionally made some noise on the basketball court. But losing all four in a two-year span is a substantial loss to the league's limited remaining prestige.
The WAC's current membership is hardly ever in the conversation for at-large berths, let alone multiple teams. Can market size, travel partners and new arenas make up for that lack of tradition for the new WAC?
It remains to be seen.
Since Mark Fox left Nevada, Utah State has carried the banner for WAC hoops and I've written about the way the UtAgs schedule and we all saw what that got them this past season with 30 somewhat meaningless wins, a 12 seed and another first-round exit for the league.
The Aggies had a great schedule last year, but injuries left the team a shell of the squad that I thought could have given Arizona a run for its money on the road and a group of subs who played host to St. Mary's. Next year's schedule is Utah State like in nature, which is good for this particular team. Marvin Menzies needs wins and the community needs a team that wins in order to come out on a more consistent basis.
I guess my question for Benson is what kind of time table does he believe before the WAC will turn into a multi bid league? Because with the previously mentioned schools who are departing, it's happened three times with current WAC members since 2006. Nevada and Utah State were knocked out in the first round in 2006, Nevada won a first-round game in 2007 and NMSU lost to Texas. And Utah State was an at-large team in 2010, where both USU and NMSU lost in the first round.
And it's hard to see the following schools turning things around that drastically.
Last year W-L, RPI and Strength of schedule according to RealTimeRPI.com
Denver (13-17, 9-8 in the Sun Belt; 244 RPI; 227 SOS) The Sun Belt ranked No. 23 in RPI last year and No. 21 in strength of schedule.
Seattle (11-20 as an independent; 289 RPI; 310 SOS)
Southland Conference additions: The Southland Conference ranked 29th in RPI and 29th in Strength of Schedule in 2010-11.
Texas-Arlington (9-16, 7-9 Southland; 272 RPI, 304 SOS)
Texas State (14-15, 11-7 Southland; 224 RPI; 263 SOS)
Texas-San Antonio (16-13, 12-7 Southland; 193 RPI, 298 SOS)
What has been proven at NMSU is that the Aggies were an already established program in the Big West and the Sun Belt before making the jump to the WAC. UTEP and UNM were consistent contenders in the WAC before moving on to have success in bigger and better leauges.
If the new additions are mediocre teams in below mediocre leagues now, what makes Benson confident they will enjoy similar success in the WAC?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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