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Just a question(s) for the forum. There are lots of discussion these days about where the college players on Big Ten rosters are coming from and how they are impacting those teams. And because of where most of our loyalties lie - how it effects tOSU. Here is a quick bit of data based on team websites.
Wisc - 7 players from the West coast (1 of them from TX)
Minn - 5 players from the West coast (1 of them from Colo)
NW - 11 players from the West coast (1 of them from Okla)
m*ch - 6 players from the West coast (1 of them from TX)
The above are the teams tOSU is chasing for relevance in the Big Ten, and hopefully a trip to the NCAA tournament down the road. Here is the OSU roster breakdown.
OSU - 9 players from the West coast (1 of the from TX)
*Facts are facts - players from the west are impacting the better teams in the conference. Not sure how they are performing on the field, but the spots they assume on the roster are telling.
*I doubt that the NCAA powers are mortified by drawing any Big Ten teams they will face in the tournament. I am not saying the teams from the Big Ten won't win - just that the Nation won't be scared.
*Big Ten teams have ALWAYS recruited players from the west - and dispite a few great runs the conference as a whole has not stood out in the NCAA's.
All that being said here are a few discussion points.....
1) Are the players that the bulk of the teams are recruiting from the west top tier players out there, or are the Big Ten schools getting the kids passed over by the majority of teams that land annually in the NCAA tournament? Granted some are stars before they arrive.
2) Are these same western players that are being picked by conference schools squeezing rosters and making it easier for local talent to choose other schools. Or is it simply that these local based players are looking for better competition and a better chance to play in the big dance?
3) Are the western based players better at the recruiting game? An example is that one of the toughest showcases to get an Invitation to on the East Coast each June is the Team New Jersey Showcase. Of the 57 teams invited - 15 are from the West. That's 15 teams traveling as far as humanly possible to be seen by ANY school interested. That is committment.
4) If the local kids all stayed in the Big Ten would the conference be any better than they currently are?
We have had this discussion every year for the last 15 years. Since the smartest people in the history of this sport are on OFC - lets look at the above starting points, add to them, and figure this whole thing out.....
Wisc - 7 players from the West coast (1 of them from TX)
Minn - 5 players from the West coast (1 of them from Colo)
NW - 11 players from the West coast (1 of them from Okla)
m*ch - 6 players from the West coast (1 of them from TX)
The above are the teams tOSU is chasing for relevance in the Big Ten, and hopefully a trip to the NCAA tournament down the road. Here is the OSU roster breakdown.
OSU - 9 players from the West coast (1 of the from TX)
*Facts are facts - players from the west are impacting the better teams in the conference. Not sure how they are performing on the field, but the spots they assume on the roster are telling.
*I doubt that the NCAA powers are mortified by drawing any Big Ten teams they will face in the tournament. I am not saying the teams from the Big Ten won't win - just that the Nation won't be scared.
*Big Ten teams have ALWAYS recruited players from the west - and dispite a few great runs the conference as a whole has not stood out in the NCAA's.
All that being said here are a few discussion points.....
1) Are the players that the bulk of the teams are recruiting from the west top tier players out there, or are the Big Ten schools getting the kids passed over by the majority of teams that land annually in the NCAA tournament? Granted some are stars before they arrive.
2) Are these same western players that are being picked by conference schools squeezing rosters and making it easier for local talent to choose other schools. Or is it simply that these local based players are looking for better competition and a better chance to play in the big dance?
3) Are the western based players better at the recruiting game? An example is that one of the toughest showcases to get an Invitation to on the East Coast each June is the Team New Jersey Showcase. Of the 57 teams invited - 15 are from the West. That's 15 teams traveling as far as humanly possible to be seen by ANY school interested. That is committment.
4) If the local kids all stayed in the Big Ten would the conference be any better than they currently are?
We have had this discussion every year for the last 15 years. Since the smartest people in the history of this sport are on OFC - lets look at the above starting points, add to them, and figure this whole thing out.....