Post by Commissioner on Dec 18, 2023 11:47:56 GMT -5
I was pleased when Mike Davis was hired, but I did note, way back then, some concern about whether some of his philosophies would transfer, with scheduling being high on the list. Coach's philosophy is schedule tough road games in non-conference, that will prepare you for league play, and then go to the NCAA. He was clear that in his view, no one really cared about how you did during the regular season, especially the non-conference season--just go to the NCAA.
I have expressed many times that while I think one should always be flexible and not glued to a "one philosophy fits all circumstances" approach, I tend not to agree with Coach's philosophy. I don't believe you can establish or maintain a fan base in Detroit if you begin your seasons 2-14, 4-13, 3-9, 1-10, 1-7, 1-6, 5-8 and 0-10 (and counting) as the Titans have done over the past 8 seasons (the first two under Bacari), and play virtually all these games on the road. You have to have games for fans to come to, and you have to give fans a reason to come, and the biggest reason is always winning. You have to break a culture of losing, of expecting lose. And the "we'll toughen 'em up and make the NCAA" doesn't work if you don't make the NCAA tournament virtually every year.
With that I mind, I bring you ... Longwood.
The Lancers are currently 12-1 with the nation's longest winning streak, and they are likely to extend that winning streak to 13 games on Wednesday when they face 4-7 North Carolina Central (whose wins include Virgina-Lynchburg, Mid-Atlantic Christian, Campbell, and Coastal Carolina). The Lancers appear to have gone systematically through the books to pick out the worst D-1 teams in the country. Though they boast three wins over non-D1 competition, they're also 9-1 again D-1 clubs.
They opened with a 4-point loss at St. Bonaventure--which does suggest that the Lancers can play with good mid-major competitors. They've won 12 straight since.
The victims (records against D-1 teams in parens):
St. Mary's (Md) (Non-D1)
@ Maryland Eastern Shore (1-6)
North Carolina Central (2-7)
Delaware State (4-7)
Lamar (4-5)
Bethune Cookman (3-5)
The Apprentice School (Non D-1)
@ Morgan State (1-8)
@ Delaware State (4-7)
Galaudet (Non D-1)
@ Milwaukee (2-7)
VMI (0-10)
Next up, as noted, is at North Carolina Central. So they'll likely be on a 13 game winning streak when they play at Dayton on December 30.
They're getting tons of local ink--I mean, how hard can that be in Farmville, Virginia--but also a nice write up in the Richmond paper and little bits and blurbs elsewhere.
Now, look, this isn't going to get them an at-large NCAA bid, and it's soft even by my standards. They play in the Big South, a conference considerably below the Horizon's already diminished status. Their RPI is 138, but their NET rank is a nice 82. KenPom has them at 142. They'll have 8 non-conference home games.
Of course, you have to win these games--it does no good to play 'em and lose. But they have won them, if they go even .500 in conference, they'll have 21 wins (assuming they lost to Dayton) entering their conference tournament. Are they meaningless wins? Well, yes and no. I think a 12 game winning streak, even against this schedule, would get some interest. I think fans would be interested thinking in January that they could win the league. I think a couple seasons of 23-25 wins would do wonders for the Titan fan base and recruiting--and then you can toughen the schedule.
Anyway, that's me.
By the way, Longwood's leading rebounder is a guy named Michael Christmas. So you have to root for them this month.
I have expressed many times that while I think one should always be flexible and not glued to a "one philosophy fits all circumstances" approach, I tend not to agree with Coach's philosophy. I don't believe you can establish or maintain a fan base in Detroit if you begin your seasons 2-14, 4-13, 3-9, 1-10, 1-7, 1-6, 5-8 and 0-10 (and counting) as the Titans have done over the past 8 seasons (the first two under Bacari), and play virtually all these games on the road. You have to have games for fans to come to, and you have to give fans a reason to come, and the biggest reason is always winning. You have to break a culture of losing, of expecting lose. And the "we'll toughen 'em up and make the NCAA" doesn't work if you don't make the NCAA tournament virtually every year.
With that I mind, I bring you ... Longwood.
The Lancers are currently 12-1 with the nation's longest winning streak, and they are likely to extend that winning streak to 13 games on Wednesday when they face 4-7 North Carolina Central (whose wins include Virgina-Lynchburg, Mid-Atlantic Christian, Campbell, and Coastal Carolina). The Lancers appear to have gone systematically through the books to pick out the worst D-1 teams in the country. Though they boast three wins over non-D1 competition, they're also 9-1 again D-1 clubs.
They opened with a 4-point loss at St. Bonaventure--which does suggest that the Lancers can play with good mid-major competitors. They've won 12 straight since.
The victims (records against D-1 teams in parens):
St. Mary's (Md) (Non-D1)
@ Maryland Eastern Shore (1-6)
North Carolina Central (2-7)
Delaware State (4-7)
Lamar (4-5)
Bethune Cookman (3-5)
The Apprentice School (Non D-1)
@ Morgan State (1-8)
@ Delaware State (4-7)
Galaudet (Non D-1)
@ Milwaukee (2-7)
VMI (0-10)
Next up, as noted, is at North Carolina Central. So they'll likely be on a 13 game winning streak when they play at Dayton on December 30.
They're getting tons of local ink--I mean, how hard can that be in Farmville, Virginia--but also a nice write up in the Richmond paper and little bits and blurbs elsewhere.
Now, look, this isn't going to get them an at-large NCAA bid, and it's soft even by my standards. They play in the Big South, a conference considerably below the Horizon's already diminished status. Their RPI is 138, but their NET rank is a nice 82. KenPom has them at 142. They'll have 8 non-conference home games.
Of course, you have to win these games--it does no good to play 'em and lose. But they have won them, if they go even .500 in conference, they'll have 21 wins (assuming they lost to Dayton) entering their conference tournament. Are they meaningless wins? Well, yes and no. I think a 12 game winning streak, even against this schedule, would get some interest. I think fans would be interested thinking in January that they could win the league. I think a couple seasons of 23-25 wins would do wonders for the Titan fan base and recruiting--and then you can toughen the schedule.
Anyway, that's me.
By the way, Longwood's leading rebounder is a guy named Michael Christmas. So you have to root for them this month.
