Posted by tkimble on 3/30/2016 9:23:00 AM (view original):

Posted by Benis on 3/30/2016 7:09:00 AM (view original):

Posted by CoachWard95 on 3/30/2016 12:35:00 AM (view original):

Posted by jghowell07 on 3/29/2016 3:38:00 PM (view original):
So, I just signed up for my first league that starts on 4/11. Do you guys have any idea when I will have access to potential recruits for the first season? Does it happen on 4/11 or earlier?

Thanks in advance.

Take Chowan to a winning program! Get your loyaliy up first, then work on home court then perstige. That's the route i'm going before I leave for division 2. Be prepared to have a losing record if the Usa south is anything like world 6 Allen's untill you get your own guys in. I am a fellow Chowan coach starting my third season all with Chowan. I got accepted into Chowan as a student in real life but didn't go to school there I went to community college and am a drop out about to have 2 jobs in the future 1s. Youtube 2.part time job for a year temporary. What's your reason for taking the job at Chowan? 1 more thing I would go to the mentor list amentor and find a mentor that suits you. Good luck in many wonderful seasons of coaching ahead!!!!

I'd ignore the advice about loyalty and homecourt.

+1 This is not what you want to focus on.

Loyalty doesn't affect how good your team is, all it affects is being able to move up to D2, you get loyalty by saying at the same school. Home court isn't a huge difference maker at D3 and D2, and it's not really something that you can focus on, it just comes along with having a good program and winning, same thing with prestige.

Posted by tgblackw on 3/29/2016 4:16:00 PM (view original):
JGH and I are friends and we both just reserved teams in the Smith world. I have Methodist University and he has Chowan.

If you want specific advice, here is what I see with your team.

You are going to have 5 scholarships (3 seniors, 2 walk-ons) open at a school that doesn't have a strong track record of success (15 seasons since a winning record or NT bid). So you have to think of this as a rebuilding job, especially since you are in a very tough conference (5 schools with top 60 RPIs this season).

I would cut Hamilton. I don't think he will ever be a useful player, even as a backup. That would give you six scholarships and allow you to turn over half of your roster right away.

Here is how I would recruit for the next four seasons:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
Spencer -- JR	Fresh	Fresh	Fresh	Fresh	PG
Reagan -- SO	Chapple -- SO	Copeland -- JR	Baillie -- JR	Shaw -- SR
			Fresh
PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
RS -- Fresh	Soph	Soph	Soph	Soph	SF
Spencer -- SR	Chapple -- JR	Copeland -- SR	Baillie -- SR	Soph
Reagan -- JR
PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
RS -- SOPH	Junior	Junior	Junior	Junior	PG
Reagan -- SR	Chapple -- SR	RS -- FR	Fresh	Junior
			Fresh
PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
RS -- Junior	Senior	Senior	Senior	Senior	PF/C
RS -- Fresh	Freshman	RS -- Soph	Soph	Senior
			Soph

And yes, start the freshmen in that first recruiting class right away. Your team is not going to compete for the national tournament in the next season or two (at least). But more playing time will help maximize the ratings increase for those players. If you are going to lose in this game, lose with young players.

Posted by grimacedance on 3/30/2016 3:56:00 PM (view original):

Posted by tgblackw on 3/29/2016 4:16:00 PM (view original):
JGH and I are friends and we both just reserved teams in the Smith world. I have Methodist University and he has Chowan.

If you want specific advice, here is what I see with your team.

You are going to have 5 scholarships (3 seniors, 2 walk-ons) open at a school that doesn't have a strong track record of success (15 seasons since a winning record or NT bid). So you have to think of this as a rebuilding job, especially since you are in a very tough conference (5 schools with top 60 RPIs this season).

I would cut Hamilton. I don't think he will ever be a useful player, even as a backup. That would give you six scholarships and allow you to turn over half of your roster right away.

Here is how I would recruit for the next four seasons:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
Spencer -- JR	Fresh	Fresh	Fresh	Fresh	PG
Reagan -- SO	Chapple -- SO	Copeland -- JR	Baillie -- JR	Shaw -- SR
			Fresh
PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
RS -- Fresh	Soph	Soph	Soph	Soph	SF
Spencer -- SR	Chapple -- JR	Copeland -- SR	Baillie -- SR	Soph
Reagan -- JR
PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
RS -- SOPH	Junior	Junior	Junior	Junior	PG
Reagan -- SR	Chapple -- SR	RS -- FR	Fresh	Junior
			Fresh
PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Redshirt
RS -- Junior	Senior	Senior	Senior	Senior	PF/C
RS -- Fresh	Freshman	RS -- Soph	Soph	Senior
			Soph

And yes, start the freshmen in that first recruiting class right away. Your team is not going to compete for the national tournament in the next season or two (at least). But more playing time will help maximize the ratings increase for those players. If you are going to lose in this game, lose with young players.

I agree with grimace, I would get my players in as soon as possible..

I can't see my team right now but thanks for the detailed advice.

Posted by tgblackw on 3/30/2016 8:06:00 PM (view original):
I can't see my team right now but thanks for the detailed advice.

This link should allow you to see them.

Also, you need to decide before recruiting starts if you are going to change the offense/defense. Right now, your team runs motion/man-to-man. Too many rookie coaches just start recruiting players and then go, "Hmm, what kind of offense can I run for these guys." Tom Izzo or Bill Self can do that, but that is almost always fatal in HD. The game is designed so that it takes at least a full season for a player to go from being an "F" in an offense/defense to a "B-." And B- is basically the equivalent of being minimally competent. So decide right now if you plan to change the O/D and then recruit players who will fit that specific O/D.

I was leaning towards a fast break offense and a man to man defense. I will have to go back to the recruiting link you guys sent me and refresh on what I need to focus on for those styles. Thanks for the link. That was a big help.

Posted by tgblackw on 3/31/2016 12:03:00 PM (view original):
I was leaning towards a fast break offense and a man to man defense. I will have to go back to the recruiting link you guys sent me and refresh on what I need to focus on for those styles. Thanks for the link. That was a big help.

i would recommend sticking with motion/man, its a good set, and a good set to start with. if you do decide to switch, stay away from fastbreak. it is a great offense, but it is the worst offense for a new coach to start learning. the other offenses are pretty similar, and most of the conventional wisdom you'll hear, on the forums or from coaches you coach with or talk with, is based on non-fastbreak offenses. most of the teams available for you to look at, to get a feel for how they are played, don't run fastbreak. so, its just not a set that makes a lot of sense for new coaches.

Understood. Sticking with what the team is already running will likely help me be competitive more quickly since my players already have some time in that system. Thanks for the advice gillispie.