This is my second season in DII
http://whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx?tid=2612
For the past season and a bit, I seem to be winning or within a few points every game at half and always end up losing by 10 points (sometimes more). I have tinkered for over a season now and can't seem to figure out why. Can anyone offer me some tips?

Your players' stamina isn't high and you're asking a lot of minutes out of your starters.

And in general, you need to improve your overall ATH, SPD and DEF.

Are you using the 'Fatigue' or 'Minutes' setting?   if you're using 'minutes', switch to 'fatigue' and your players won't play tired as much

Cooper needs to stop shooting 3's. Switch him to -2. In fact, I'd start Pagan over Cooper

jaxo is right....Glissen, Northcutt and Treadway have woeful DEF ratings.  

Please take these comments as constructive. There is a learning curve that takes place in this game. Until a coach learns the  ins and outs of recruiting he should never jump to D2. In addition to the items mentioned above, this is simply a bad D2 team. Every thing needs to improve. Your Freshman class is poor.You are looking at a 4-5 year rebuild. Pay close attention to alblack. He's one of the best there is.

You want your player's core scores to be above 70 at D2.....I think of players as roles....I want my 3 point shooter to have PER/SPD/BH all near or above 70....I want my PG to have SPD/PASS/BH at or near 70.....I want ALL my players to be good defenders so I try to get everyones ATH/Spd or Block/DEF at or near 70...........It doens't always work out that way and there is some give and take.....a 90 SPD 90 PER 50 BH guy is still going to be a good shooter  so there is some give and take with the #'s

This is good advice and a good thread.

I'm relatively new, and really get a lot out of threads like this.
Athleticism and Defense are huge components for every player.
In addition, guards need high Speed ratings.
Everything else is built from these components.

One other thing I'd say to put things in perspective in general....

Northern Michigan is a C- prestige school, and is in a remote location. So while 70 ratings for PG's speed, defense, ball handling and passing is the goal, it is unrealistic to expect alanasdad to just go out and recruit those quality players easily. The higher prestige school owners will gobble up these types of players pretty quickly and easily. And being located in the UP will make things expensive.

The best recruits in this situation are the high potential players who may not have gaudy high school ratings. Under the radar types that will struggle as freshmen but be solid by their junior year. Make each recruiting class a little better than the next.

I also think that balanced classes of either 3-3-3-3 or 4-2-4-2 are good because your team will maintain a solid level of competitiveness year to year.

Anyway, these were some of my main roadblocks and sources of frustration when I first started.

Northern Michigan is a C- prestige school, and is in a remote location. So while 70 ratings for PG's speed, defense, ball handling and passing is the goal, it is unrealistic to expect alanasdad to just go out and recruit those quality players easily.

This is true.  I'm an adherent to the "Rule of 70" myself, but it's tough to just go get those guys right out of the gate.  Just keep trying to ensure that each player you recruit will be better than the last guy at his position.  Incremental improvements will build on themselves and get you there.

Also, while new coaches are learning and building, I encourage them to embrace flawed players.  That guy who would be a really good SF if only his passing didn't suck?  Get that guy.  The PF who would be great, except his REB is 52 and not going anywhere?  Get that guy.  Get those guys until you have access to players who make it so you don't have to get those guys.

Read the Post on forum page 6 by aejones entitled "How to win at D2 and D3".  It will give you so much information you will be forever changed!  And I too say listen to what allblack says!  He IS one of the best, and willing to help newbies.

Sorry, I meant get to 70, not start at.....there are always guys with blue 42's around at D2....look for them and sign them!.... If you can't to 70, get close!...In theory anything better than what you have now is better than what you have no but you need to get to around 70 before you start making the NT and winning games there.

Also, as a new player in HD, it's important to understand that only a small percentage of owners actually win national championships. Maybe 1%...?
Actually, only a small percentage of owners make Final Fours.
Even to break into the Sweet 16 is a huge accomplishment.
For me, I haven't even won an NT game yet.
I once lost an NT game by 37 points (vs Hamline in Crum, i think Hamline opened the game on a 27-2 run)...!
My biggest NT accomplishment is having lost by only single-digits!

Sometimes there are entertaining threads with owners counting national titles. Some have 20+ titles!
This can be intimidating to new owners, and can lead to frustration and bailing on HD.

While national titles are the ultimate goal, I realize that it would be an enormous accomplishment to win one.
I have 2 teams. One is in Crum Div-2. The list of hall of fame coaches in Crum is insane.

So my goal is just to try to keep improving. Enjoy the game that way.

HD is enjoyable with enough variables and different ways to win.
And remember, to those owners who get frustrated, 99% of us don't win national championships...!

I've lost six nt finals and interminable final fours and elite eights!

I somehow made a NC game with a sim recruited team, in the 2nd round I almost lost I think I was down 5 with 2 minutes and caused like 3 turnovers in that time.  As well as upsetting the no 1 overall seed undefeated team that had beat me by 20 earlier in the season.

Then of course I struggle to make the NT with my other teams, because I'm a bad scheduler and bad coach in general, I'm just a above average recruiter...  hopefully my Cal Tech team changes that this season and La Grange team can go far next season.

I definentily think S16 are huge accomplishments for new players and E8 is top notch.

Be sure when you are recruiting to understand how to "pull down" D1 players or use "drop downs". You can get better quality players like this.

Guys - great advice!  Thanks.   I would never take any of the criticism to heart - I know my current team sucks and it is my own doing.  So much to look into and get caught up on.  Looking forward to many seasons of HD - Thanks!