Newest NCAA Graduation Rate Data

[tornado]

2009 NCAA Division I Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Data is available...

and CONGRATS to Jim Les, Ken Kavanagh, and the rest who have succeeded
in placing Bradley among the elite in ther Nation in these data!!


Overall Average for D-I is at al all time high, average is 79%

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/ncaa+news/ncaa+news+online/2009/division+i/division+i+graduation+rates+reach+all-time+highs_11_18_09_ncaa_news

Here are the data for the MVC Men's Basketball Programs...
*** CAUTION - ISU fans please look away from the screen....viewer discretion advised!!***

SIU 91%
Bradley 90%
Drake 83%
Indiana State 78%
Northern Iowa 78%
Missouri State 77%
Creighton 75%
Evansville 73%
Wichita St. 73%
Illinois State 50% - not only last place in the Valley, but way, way last - so far behind the next to last it ain't funny!
They may just possibly be at risk to lose scholarships!!

I have a lot more on this graduation data and some interesting things that can bee seen here--

http://bubravesblogger.blogspot.com/2009/11/latest-ncaa-academic-and-graduation.html

[amckillip]

90% is a great rate, Definitely in the upper percentages of D-I schools. A couple years ago I did a research paper and series of articles (Back was I was planning on going to Vandy for Sports Journalism), and the levels the NCAA accepts for GSR and APR are disgusting. Especially one you figure it is based of 6 years to graduate... They do unfairly target schools where players transfer away though.

For BU to have a 90% graduation rate speaks to what type of program we have here, and I'm proud to call BU my Alma Mater!

[tornado]

read the fine print...the NCAA now uses the GSR data for the main reason that it still catches almost all the transfer kids and thus is as fair as the data can get...
Just about the only kids who DO NOT get counted as graduating are those who DO NOT get their 4-year degree after 7 years times...even if they go elsewhere or drop to D-II or whatever - they are still counted...

Last year when Gary Williams' data t Maryland said he hadn't graduated even one kid in the previous eight years, he disputed that and claimed all his kid were off in the NBA..

But that bogus alibi was debunked...mainly because only a few (4) Maryland players were in the NBA, but also because the formula gives them almost a decade to finish up wherever they are are - and they never did!!

[Braves4Life]

90% is a great rate, Definitely in the upper percentages of D-I schools.

It sure is amckillip. I wish others would remember this when they knock BU and Coach Les for not winning the MVC. It is VERY difficult to get the type of recruit and player that is capable of helping you to win championships when the administration and university demand such excellence in the classroom. Very few schools can recruit the smart stud athlete. I think Duke basketball may be the best at this.

I, for one, like that BU demands this level of academic excellence (not to mention character) from their STUDENT-athletes. When you add it all up -- quality character kids, academically successful, high game attendance, good alumni support/giving, competitive basketball team with 4 straight postseason tourneys -- I think you can see why so many are happy (note I didn't say satisfied) with where Bradley basketball is right now.

[tornado]

I had lunch today at the Fieldhouse...learned a few more things....
we'll be hearing some of it soon, but mostly GOOD news regarding the academics at BU......

[Stryker]

It's great that we have such great kids at our school. I don't want to discredit the achievement, but I am going to bring out a hypothesis for you all.

Applies to all D-I sports, as a generalization:

The number of felonies per program has a direct positive correlation to the number of wins per program.

Also - The lower overall GPA of the team, the more wins the team has.

Prove me wrong.

[AZ BU Fan]

OK, if success at BU MBB is the graduation rate, and, the outstanding students BU recruits (well except for a couple of bad apples along the way), fine. I suggest we ask BU to drop the high season ticket prices and matching donations to BU, along with higher concession prices, that are comparable to other MVC and other larger school's prices who apparently have winning as their only criteria....

I'd also ask JL to be honest with fans/season ticket holders that he can't win/recruit at BU...BU can't have it both ways, wanting to charge like the big boys, but apparently not compete....

I just don't get everyone's opinion that winning championships and graduating players have to be mutually exclusive. Its like you have to believe it to be happy with JL and the current BU program.

This is certainly not Jim Les's opinion, everyone's BU coach for life...

[Braves4Life]

I suggest we ask BU to drop the high season ticket prices.....

I'd also ask JL to be honest with fans/season ticket holders that he can't win/recruit at BU...BU can't have it both ways, wanting to charge like the big boys, but apparently not compete....

I think if you compared BU's season ticket prices and maintenance policies to "the big boys" (I have) you would find that this is a TREMENDOUS value. Especially when it's the only game in town.

Regarding the second comment........ Riiight. That would go over with the fans like a fart in church.

[amckillip]

OK, if success at BU MBB is the graduation rate, and, the outstanding students BU recruits (well except for a couple of bad apples along the way), fine. I suggest we ask BU to drop the high season ticket prices and matching donations to BU, along with higher concession prices, that are comparable to other MVC and other larger school's prices who apparently have winning as their only criteria....

I'd also ask JL to be honest with fans/season ticket holders that he can't win/recruit at BU...BU can't have it both ways, wanting to charge like the big boys, but apparently not compete....

I just don't get everyone's opinion that winning championships and graduating players have to be mutually exclusive. Its like you have to believe it to be happy with JL and the current BU program.

This is certainly not Jim Les's opinion, everyone's BU coach for life...

Are you serious??? We charge like the Big Boys??? I looked into getting U of A season tickets - I could have easily afforded two BU season tickets. I make a GREAT salary for someone just out of college and couldn't come close to reasonably affording season tix at U of A. And saying JL can't win/recruit? JL took us somewhere he hadn't been in DECADES!!!! Period. I don't mind questioning JL, but this is just ridiculous. It's a market economy, I don't doubt that you're conservative/capitalist - if the prices are too high, quantity demanded will go down - That is not the case, so why would BU drop the price? Because you don't like it? Get over it. I could be nice and sugarcoat it, but I feel like in this case it doesn't matter.

[BU_EMT128]

I think if you compared BU's season ticket prices and maintenance policies to "the big boys" (I have) you would find that this is a TREMENDOUS value. Especially when it's the only game in town.

Regarding the second comment........ Riiight. That would go over with the fans like a fart in church.

I don't have a bit of a problem paying $20 for student season tickets...

[AZ BU Fan]

I really don't think BU will roll back cost to go to BU game, or JL will let us know graduation and player personality are more important...I guess I need to add more "Smiles" to my posts..

What I am is frustrated. Frustrated that the past 3-4 years I get all pumped up for BU MBB and the new recruits BU brings in with great hoopla....who then dont have the skills to play if they are over 6'6". Frustrated BU started jacking up season ticket prices and matching donations to BU after their great NCAA run year with the implication the funding was needed to help BU recruit better and help their BB program step up and win something. Frustrated that the NCAA run and the new training facility hasn't yielded enough talent to be in the top of the MVC, win a MVC season, or, a MVC post season title...Frustrated BU lives and dies with a three point shooting offensive strategy, Frustrated that many BU fans/supporters are apparently satisfied with graduation rates/good young men and don't think BU has the opportunity to become a winner, Frustrated with a coach who got me all fired up about BU and their ressurection and had phenominal success one post season that got me hooked on BU but has apparently stalled in moving BU up the ladder...

I am just an old, frustrated, fart

Of course that all changes with 3-4 wins in the next week

[Da Coach]

Here is a nice report on the graduation data from the Creighton website. They report that Creighton

http://www.gocreighton.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1000&ATCLID=204836949

Creighton University student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom as well as on the field, water or court, according to the Division I Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Reports released earlier this week by the NCAA. Graduation Success Rate was also included in the data and Creighton's 92 percent Student-Athlete GSR was second in the MVC to Bradley's 93 percent.

This is great news for Bradley, but I can't find it reported anywhere in Peoria.
Interesting to see all 4 private schools ahead of all 6 state schools in the MVC in the GSR.

[tornado]

Wow...SIU's numbers for basketball (91% GSR) are really, really weighed down by, I guess, football,
so that when the data show ALL their student athletes, the GSR is only 79%...while Bradley's is 93%!!!!

This is again, a tremendous feather in the hat for Ken Kavanagh!

It is really too bad the local news hasn't reported this story...it should be front page news. Bradley has the best graduation data for both athletes and also for all students among all in the Valley!
BTW- what's with Wichita State's 38% graduation rate for all students?
Are there that many kids dropping/flunking out at WSU??

[Braves4Life]

BTW- what's with Wichita State's 38% graduation rate for all students?
Are there that many kids dropping/flunking out at WSU??

If you ever scan the crowd at a WSU game I think you might understand....... The movie "Deliverance" comes to mind

[tornado]

B4L - that's cruel...