FruitSnackEater t1_jchxx34 wrote
Reply to comment by ShadyCrow in No. 15 Princeton shocks No. 2 Arizona with come-from-behind upset by okgusto
I think some of these guys at these P5 schools look down on some of the non-P5 schools and think the game is going to be easy somehow. And that’s how some of these upsets happen.
ShadyCrow t1_jchyh0r wrote
You're definitely right. As is pointed out often, the top schools are getting younger and the lower seeds are getting older.
And it's not like this is a super-recent problem, but so many of these players are sheltered and not challenged as soon as they get the right attention -- they play AAU on a team with D1 guys against teams of NAIA guys and they don't realize how good every D1 player is.
The margins are so small at the highest levels. The only reason a lot of the small-school guys aren't at a bigger place can just be a few inches of height or a few notches of athleticism. It might keep them out of the pros but they can beat you in any random game.
LiberalAspergers t1_jci3gtk wrote
And, if you are smart enough to KNOW you are a little too short or too slow for the NBA, a Princeton education can take you a lot farther in life than a Arizona degree. They know how to recruit the players who get that.
Downtown_Skill t1_jcjahbo wrote
My high school coach used to say this. We were a team who had 8 players go to NAIA schools, D3 or played for a community college including myself (although I'm far from D1 talent). My coach used to tell us, for encouragement, the difference between a D3 player and a D1 player is usually 3 or 4 inches for every position. The skill is still the same.
Maybe it's not entirely true but there is some truth to it. There's also usually a big difference in athleticism but he didn't mention that haha.
jack_spankin t1_jcjphy3 wrote
It’s absolutely true. I spent years in higher education from BIG10 and Big12 down to naia. Of those 1/2 were spent in athletics focused residential halls.
But there is also huge small school bias or bias against states not known for producing high level talent at that sport.
But your point is spot on. Coaches are often obsessed with height. Hell you’ll see absolute trash players get recruited with zero skill because they hover at near 7’
munchies777 t1_jck439k wrote
Probably because they have a bias towards their own coaching abilities. They think they can teach skill, but obviously no one can teach height.
littlesymphonicdispl t1_jcledi6 wrote
Guy i played high school football with got recruited by Pitt to play LT, because in high school he was 6'6 and 300lbs or so.
He was also absolute dogshit and never played in college. I was a backup linebacker and during our practices I'd line up at Defensive End against him specifically because I knew it'd increase my chances of playing, because I'd burn him off the snap every. Single. Play.
You can't coach size, so coaches go nuts for it, but having size doesn't mean they'll ever be able to coach you into becoming a decent player
LiberalAspergers t1_jci3hd0 wrote
And, if you are smart enough to KNOW you are a little too short or too slow for the NBA, a Princeton education can take you a lot farther in life than a Arizona degree. They know how to recruit the players who get that.
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