2007-2008 Lindy's College Basketball Preview

[Dubl R 1]

Dyer will not win POY. He's a 1 dimensional player. Pretty soft big man who gets a lot of his points on medium to 3 point range jumpers. Take those away and he's not much of a threat. He CAN play inside, but doesn't prefer it, and any time you force a player into doing something they don't WANT to do, they eventually drift back to their comfort zone. He will not be a huge threat on the inside all year.

[Braves4Life]

Wow!

That POY list really shows just what a drop off in talent the Valley has experienced since Hersey graduated.

[tornado]

You make a very interesting point.......
that even though it might be argued the Valley is as strong as it's been in the past 20 years, the caliber of the individuals has simply never returned to what the Valley was virtually used to before that.

From 1969 through 1988, every single one of those POY's not only played in the NBA, many if not MOST had long and accomplished NBA careers (Bridgeman, Bird, Lloyd, Carr, Bird, McDaniel, Les, Hawkins).

But since 1988, only a couple have stayed more than a cup of coffee in the NBA, with Chris Carr (5 years), AP, and KK being the only one who have spent more than a stopover in "the League". Many were never even drafted, and one appears to have never even played pro ball, ending up as a well known "street ball" player.

I think the caliber of some of the recent MVC recruits is about to change all that.

[Dubl R 1]

I've been a huge BU fan my whole life, and have always followed BU closely year in year out, but I have absolutely NO memory of MVC POY's Bob Harstad of CU, Curt Smith of DU, or Gary Collier of Tulsa. It really surprises me that I don't remember Collier. It also surprises me that Shea Seals never won POY.

[DannyCooksey]

I've been a huge BU fan my whole life, and have always followed BU closely year in year out, but I have absolutely NO memory of MVC POY's Bob Harstad of CU, Curt Smith of DU, or Gary Collier of Tulsa. It really surprises me that I don't remember Collier. It also surprises me that Shea Seals never won POY.

Harstad was a 6'6 forward at Creighton and one of their all-time best players. He was also a soccer and I believe lacrosse star in HS so most colleges thought he'd go that route. Barone convinced him to play basketball and he was very good. Hard nosed rugged player who could score and board well. He and Gallagher were the best inside duo in the Valley those years. I believe he won as a sophomore.

Curt Smith was a 5'10 jet quick JUCO guard from Compton that Rudy Washington got to come to Drake. He had a very good junior (only season at Drake) and then foolishly declared for the NBA draft. He of course went undrafted and was hardly ever heard from again. He was talented but played out of control at times. he won newcomer of the year as well as league MVP

Collier was a good player at Tulsa originally recruited there by JD Barnett. He was a 6'4 guard/foward who was solid for 3 years, but really blew up in his senior year. He was on the team with Seals, Williamson, Kwanza Johnson and others that went to the Sweet 16 that season. He was drafted by the Cavaliers in the 2nd round, but didn't make the team. A very good athlete and good all around player.

Seals was good at Tulsa, but never quite did live up to his billing though he had a good 4-year career. He was a very highly touted recruit coming out of highschool. He didn't disappoint per se, but he was supposed to be POY multiple times and an NBA lock. that was the word when he came out of highschool.

[Dubl R 1]

Harstad was a 6'6 forward at Creighton and one of their all-time best players. He was also a soccer and I believe lacrosse star in HS so most colleges thought he'd go that route. Barone convinced him to play basketball and he was very good. Hard nosed rugged player who could score and board well. He and Gallagher were the best inside duo in the Valley those years. I believe he won as a sophomore.

Curt Smith was a 5'10 jet quick JUCO guard from Compton that Rudy Washington got to come to Drake. He had a very good junior (only season at Drake) and then foolishly declared for the NBA draft. He of course went undrafted and was hardly ever heard from again. He was talented but played out of control at times. he won newcomer of the year as well as league MVP

Collier was a good player at Tulsa originally recruited there by JD Barnett. He was a 6'4 guard/foward who was solid for 3 years, but really blew up in his senior year. He was on the team with Seals, Williamson, Kwanza Johnson and others that went to the Sweet 16 that season. He was drafted by the Cavaliers in the 2nd round, but didn't make the team. A very good athlete and good all around player.

Seals was good at Tulsa, but never quite did live up to his billing though he had a good 4-year career. He was a very highly touted recruit coming out of highschool. He didn't disappoint per se, but he was supposed to be POY multiple times and an NBA lock. that was the word when he came out of highschool.

Thanks DC for the reply. I'm starting to remember Collier, but I can't recall anything about Harstad and Smith. But again thanks for the reply and the info.

[Da Coach]

Shea Seals was a pretty good player. As a junior (1995-96) he was the Preseason POY pick and had a good year but was edged out for the POY by Anthony Parker as Bradley won the MVC.

Then in 1996-97 as a senior, he might have been the POY, since Parker broke his foot and had a subpar season. However, Tulsa was no longer a member of the MVC that year. They dropped out of the MVC after the '95-'96 season to join the WAC, mainly because they wanted to get into a football conference. They had been an independent in football from 1985 until 1996.
After the 2004 season, they left the WAC and joined the Conference USA.

[MacabreMob]

Shea Seals was a pretty good player. As a junior (1995-96) he was the Preseason POY pick and had a good year but was edged out for the POY by Anthony Parker as Bradley won the MVC.

Then in 1996-97 as a senior, he might have been the POY, since Parker broke his foot and had a subpar season. However, Tulsa was no longer a member of the MVC that year. They dropped out of the MVC after the '95-'96 season to join the WAC, mainly because they wanted to get into a football conference. They had been an independent in football from 1985 until 1996.
After the 2004 season, they left the WAC and joined the Conference USA.

96-97 was also the year the WAC increased in size to 16 teams. Which later split and the Mountain West was formed in 2000 (I believe).

IMO, Seals hit the weights between his Junior and Sr season and threw his shot off... or maybe I heard that about him at one time during that season. I remember Tulsa also had a very good big man then - was his name Ruffin?

[Da Coach]

Yes, Michael Ruffin was a freshman at Tulsa in 95-96, the last year they were in the MVC. I recall he had a very good game against Bradley in Peoria in 1996, and everyone was impressed. He went on to have good career at Tulas, and is still playing in the NBA--

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/michael_ruffin/index.html

[tornado]

Lindy's now has more of their issue online

http://www.lindyssports.com/content.php?SPSID=62449&SPID=6846&DB_OEM_ID=14500&id=1502