if you are in a mid-low D1 conference, can you build a program into a serious power (i.e. compete for national titles), or realistically, will your conference prestige always keep you from getting the recruits you need for that?

Cant do it nowadays.  I tried like hell and ee's kill you.  Say you make a deep run e8.  You lose 3 soph or jr's to ee's and have 3-4 graduate then your screwed.  You may be able to win the ct and make the nt fairly often but its even harder to get the better players when you competeing $ wise with the big conferences.

It's possible...but definitely not easy.  LM obviously is doing it here: http://whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Roster.aspx?tid=6138

Posted by tkimble on 11/11/2010 3:34:00 PM (view original):
It's possible...but definitely not easy.  LM obviously is doing it here: http://whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Roster.aspx?tid=6138

Not to diminish LM's accomplishment in any way, but I'm not sure I'd call St. Bonaventure a mid-low D1 school, and the Atlantic 10 isn't really a mid-low conference. St. Bonaventure has B- baseline prestige, and every school in the Atlantic 10 has at least B- baseline. So they're in a much better position to compete than the vast majority of mid-majors or low-majors.

Even before the engine changes, it's always been easier from the BCS.  If you're a good coach, anything you can do from a mid-low DI you can do better from the BCS.  If you're not, it probably won't matter :)

LM built that empire before the new recruits engine

i do think its possible tho, albeit may require near-perfect player evaluation, strategy and a bit of luck in recruiting battles

EE's?

Posted by brianp87 on 11/11/2010 7:27:00 PM (view original):
EE's?

Early Entries.

Posted by psuarva on 11/11/2010 2:54:00 PM (view original):
if you are in a mid-low D1 conference, can you build a program into a serious power (i.e. compete for national titles), or realistically, will your conference prestige always keep you from getting the recruits you need for that?

I don't think you can any more in a low/mid conference. (And agreed with professor ... not to take anything away from LM, but the A-10 is not low-mid, and in that world it may even be the best conference.) 

From a true low/mid conference, I no longer think you can build a team that is a really serious power. Perennial postseason? Absolutely. Perennial NT qualifier? Yes. But not a legit national power.

lots of high potential players - lots of redshirting. don't play to win everyyear - but every other year.

Posted by trobone2 on 11/12/2010 2:44:00 AM (view original):
lots of high potential players - lots of redshirting. don't play to win everyyear - but every other year.

Then you can never move up one year out of the nt and it screws you.  And if you lose a few to ee and graduate a few it may take 2 seasons to rebuild so that 2 runs and 2 not so good runs.

I think it can be done, you gotta know what you are doing, and get in a d1 populated market, where you can find the 'right' mid 500 level players for local prices.

I think this is sort of Rail's topic, but I would say the worst single issue in this game is how recruit population affects outcome.  But, to suceed in the heavy recruit populated areas, you need to be thick skinned, and never let losing recruits bother you, as you will lose often.

The places that the new recruit generation has harmed the most, are the low recruit populated areas, as there, even mid 500 level guys who can make your team into a champion are few and far between, I think St francis of new york in the new game, may be easier than the university of minnesota for example????????

i still think recruits generation should follow real-life population density/recruit locations. I dont see how it would be any worse that what it is now.

random thoughts:

1. baseline prestige should be based off of total conference prestige about a 20-previous-season-window for your school to account for the 18-year "lives" of recruits before they are recruited.
2. prestige of local colleges should affect the percentage of local 8-12 year-olds who pick up the sport of basketball.

if the system worked like this, you could, in theory, NOT ONLY could you build your school's prestige over time and make a powerhouse out of a small school BUT YOU COULD ALSO help your conference and local schools by making nearby cities hotbeds for basketball youths

I think that you can still make a mid team a Sweet 16 team, but not a final 4 level team.  Just too hard with the great top 10 recruits.