Newest Kool Aid recruiting thread

[RichmondCat]

Davidson interest in transfer Zach Laput, 6’4 G, Sr., Bentley(D2). Great shooting guard.

https://x.com/pdtscouting/status/177228 ... 2c1mKS_QvQ

[85Wildcatsky]

What is the new rule? You can just enroll and take classes even if you are not pursuing a degree? I’m assuming these Ivy guys will graduate this spring.

Did Foster get a degree from Davidson? Seemed like he could and I assumed he did. But transfers to Davidson after 3 college years are not something I had heard of.

Correct. If one of these grad guys comes to Davidson they will take classes but not get any type of degree. This is my understanding.

Yes, Foster did graduate from DU.

This is the point where the NCAA and college Presidents could nip this all in the bud and bring back legitimacy to college sports. Without the academic side of the equation this is nothing but "club" basketball. How is a student progressing toward a degree when they attend 3-6 schools in their athletic career? How are you obtaining a degree when you are not required as a grad student? Schools used to promote their graduation rates on a yearly basis,
Why would top schools make their education a joke? Personally if we continue on the portal trend, I will stop supporting the Cats. I have no desire to watch yearly teams of free agents. Sure a rare transfer is ok but I don't wish to see a roster where the bulk of the players did not share their freshman experience with other non athlete Davidson students.

As always another seismic change is happening in a beloved sport and as usually a key component "the fan" has no seat at the table. The mega schools will continue to have fans because of their "super sized enrollments" but I feel this will kill attendance at the mid major schools because that unique bond of "student athletes" that the fans enjoy, will be gone.

[wildforthecats]

What is the new rule? You can just enroll and take classes even if you are not pursuing a degree? I’m assuming these Ivy guys will graduate this spring.

Did Foster get a degree from Davidson? Seemed like he could and I assumed he did. But transfers to Davidson after 3 college years are not something I had heard of.

Correct. If one of these grad guys comes to Davidson they will take classes but not get any type of degree. This is my understanding.

Yes, Foster did graduate from DU.

This is the point where the NCAA and college Presidents could nip this all in the bud and bring back legitamacy to college sports. Without the academic side of the equation this is nothing but "club" basketball. How is a student progressing toward a degree when they attend 3-6 schools in their athletic career? How are you obtaining a degree when you are not required as a grad student? Schools used to promote their graduation rates on a yearly basis,
why would top schools make their education a joke? Personally if we continue on the portal trend, I will stop supporting the Cats. I have no desire to watch yearly teams of free agents. Sure a rare transfer is ok but I don't wish to see a roster where the bulk of the players did not share their fresman experience with other non athlete Davidson students.

As always another seismic change is happening in a beloved sport and as usually a key component "the fan" has no seat at the table. The mega schools will continue to have fans because of their "super sized enrollments" but I feel this will kill attendance at the mid major schools because that unique bond of "student athletes" that the fans enjoy, will be gone.

I seriously doubt Davidson will do what I typed above.

[MLC67]

When I matriculated the ball down the court for 45 minutes in 1967, the student experience for both freshman and sophomore’s included compulsory ROTC. No separate dorms, eating halls or exceptions from Army training was afforded to our scholarship athletes. I still remember seeing Mike Maloy marching with the other several hundred cadets across the football field. He was easy to see, as he was a full head taller than everyone else marching. This common experience definitely helped us all bond with each other and support the basketball and football players. It will, therefore, be difficult to continue to drink the Kool-aid, should our teams become hired employees instead of fellow students. Sad.

[ScootCat]

Should we be excited or concerned that the coaching staff is interested in two D2 portal guys?

[wildforthecats]

Should we be excited or concerned that the coaching staff is interested in two D2 portal guys?

Excited.

[collegecoach8502]

Should we be excited or concerned that the coaching staff is interested in two D2 portal guys?

Excited.

Worked out for Oakland

[85Wildcatsky]

Should we be excited or concerned that the coaching staff is interested in two D2 portal guys?

I would be concerned that we didn't land them right out of high school if they are that good and academically qualified.

[Waitress]

What is the new rule? You can just enroll and take classes even if you are not pursuing a degree? I’m assuming these Ivy guys will graduate this spring.

Did Foster get a degree from Davidson? Seemed like he could and I assumed he did. But transfers to Davidson after 3 college years are not something I had heard of.

Correct. If one of these grad guys comes to Davidson they will take classes but not get any type of degree. This is my understanding.

Yes, Foster did graduate from DU.

This is the point where the NCAA and college Presidents could nip this all in the bud and bring back legitimacy to college sports. Without the academic side of the equation this is nothing but "club" basketball. How is a student progressing toward a degree when they attend 3-6 schools in their athletic career? How are you obtaining a degree when you are not required as a grad student? Schools used to promote their graduation rates on a yearly basis,
Why would top schools make their education a joke? Personally if we continue on the portal trend, I will stop supporting the Cats. I have no desire to watch yearly teams of free agents. Sure a rare transfer is ok but I don't wish to see a roster where the bulk of the players did not share their freshman experience with other non athlete Davidson students.

As always another seismic change is happening in a beloved sport and as usually a key component "the fan" has no seat at the table. The mega schools will continue to have fans because of their "super sized enrollments" but I feel this will kill attendance at the mid major schools because that unique bond of "student athletes" that the fans enjoy, will be gone.

College presidents lost control long ago. The Preparation-H cannot be put back in the tube.

[Dr. Bliss]

Should we be excited or concerned that the coaching staff is interested in two D2 portal guys?

Excited.

I think we should know a thing or two about players who don't "fit the mold" but turn out to be superstars.

[MrMac]

What is the new rule? You can just enroll and take classes even if you are not pursuing a degree? I’m assuming these Ivy guys will graduate this spring.

Did Foster get a degree from Davidson? Seemed like he could and I assumed he did. But transfers to Davidson after 3 college years are not something I had heard of.

Correct. If one of these grad guys comes to Davidson they will take classes but not get any type of degree. This is my understanding.

Yes, Foster did graduate from DU.

This is the point where the NCAA and college Presidents could nip this all in the bud and bring back legitimacy to college sports. Without the academic side of the equation this is nothing but "club" basketball. How is a student progressing toward a degree when they attend 3-6 schools in their athletic career? How are you obtaining a degree when you are not required as a grad student? Schools used to promote their graduation rates on a yearly basis,
Why would top schools make their education a joke? Personally if we continue on the portal trend, I will stop supporting the Cats. I have no desire to watch yearly teams of free agents. Sure a rare transfer is ok but I don't wish to see a roster where the bulk of the players did not share their freshman experience with other non athlete Davidson students.

As always another seismic change is happening in a beloved sport and as usually a key component "the fan" has no seat at the table. The mega schools will continue to have fans because of their "super sized enrollments" but I feel this will kill attendance at the mid major schools because that unique bond of "student athletes" that the fans enjoy, will be gone.

College presidents lost control long ago. The Preparation-H cannot be put back in the tube.

Might as well use it then. Anybody got an extra toothbrush?

[Acorn]

When it comes transfers, I see two separate issues. One is whether they help DC MBB win. Two is whether the process of taking transfers (including the individual student athletes that process ultimately brings to campus) is consistent with what the institution wants its MBB program to be.

Regarding winning, I don’t think it’s obvious that focusing on transfers is the best available strategy for maximizing Davidson’s MBB wins sustainably for the foreseeable future. Davidson has more resources than most schools, but fewer resources than the top programs. That means Davidson has to be smart in seeking its comparative advantages. Watching a former D2 player hit a bunch of threes in the NCAA tournament proves that it’s possible to have success with former D2 players, it doesn’t prove that recruiting former D2 players will result in success. And guess what? Every team is now giving a closer look at former D2 players. Davidson shouldn’t fish in the same spot where every other team is. And recruiting grad transfers and one-year mercenaries seems really short sighted. Do we do that in perpetuity and abandon the development of “home-grown” talent? There are likely many more sensitivities with respect to playing time. Transfers in come because they want to play (and because the recruiting pitch probably makes that seem like a good possibility—the first question at the Red–Black scrimmage press conference was for Moss and asked him why he transferred from Stanford, and he said, quite simply and clearly, “because I want to play”). Competition is at the heart of sports, so at some level guys have to expect this, but I would feel different if I had put two years in biding my time only to have a transfer come in and take my spot. From my seat in the stands, I thought Des Watson looked pretty upset that despite his buying into TCC, the team brought in Kochera to take his starting spot.

Regarding what kind of program Davidson wants to have, I don’t have a problem whether the coaches bring in guys from D1, D2, or D3 guys, as long as they and Admission believe they can cut it at Davidson. But I would like to see a program that values community. I want Davidson MBB to win, but not at any cost. I’m not very worried about this. The coaches are wonderful people and the players seem to be really good guys. My main concern is whether there’s a culture and community where the players feel cared for and given a fair opportunity to develop and contribute to a winning team. One-year players (whether from an Ivy League school or a college much less selective than Davidson) seem inherently inconsistent with that idea.

[ScootCat]

Acorn, You nailed it. Could not agree more. Go Cats!

[wildforthecats]

“ I thought Des Watson looked pretty upset that despite his buying into TCC, the team brought in Kochera to take his starting spot.”

T$ didn’t seem to mind when Davidson brought in Brian Sullivan.

[Acorn]

“ I thought Des Watson looked pretty upset that despite his buying into TCC, the team brought in Kochera to take his starting spot.”

T$ didn’t seem to mind when Davidson brought in Brian Sullivan.

In Sullivan’s first year playing for Davidson, both he and Kalinoski started 30 of 33 games. Tyler averaged 33.8 minutes to Brian’s 31.1.

But even if the situation had been similar, that doesn’t mean that both situations were handled the same way or both handled well.

Regardless, Des appears to have made a good decision for himself.