ESPN previewing all DI teams.
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insid...3fid%3d4536718
See if you can guess who this paragraph is about:
"He's a very good athlete, but he needs to improve because the guys behind him are coming," Nagy said. "He understands he needs to be more of a leader. He's very efficient. He doesn't take a lot of shots, but he needs to take more of an aggressive role for us."
COACH AND PROGRAM
From the moment South Dakota State announced its five-year plan to move to Division I, Scott Nagy did his best to have the Jackrabbits ready to run for the program's first year of full D-I privileges.
Based on South Dakota State's history of success in Division II, there was every reason to expect a smooth transition.
But while everything worked out last season for neighboring North Dakota State -- which qualified for the NCAA Tournament in its first opportunity to do so -- everything went south for South Dakota State.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Last Season 13-20 (.394)
Conference Record 7-11 (7th)
Starters Lost/Returning 0/5
Coach Scott Nagy (Delta State '88)
Record At School 256-162 (14 years)
Career Record 256-162 (14 years)
RPI Last 5 years N/A-276-329-328-284
Among the issues strewn along the Jackrabbits' road from Division II to Division I were two players put on trial for rape and, though found not guilty, the players never suited up for SDSU. During that same time frame, a standout freshman decided to punt his scholarship and transfer home to play as a walk-on for the University of Illinois. Last year, SDSU lost a potential all-conference center when 6-10 Anthony Davis was diagnosed with transverse myelitis -- a neurological disorder of the spinal cord that affects his legs.
"It's been a mess," Nagy said. "We've lost at least 11 players over four years to the process. Anything that could go wrong has gone wrong."
But now it appears time for everything to go right. With so few seniors on the roster over the last few years, Nagy and SDSU finally get to reap the benefit of playing so many youngsters: The Jackrabbits welcome back everyone who made an impact in 2008-09 -- and there are at least two freshmen who'll contribute immediately.
"It's been awhile since we had a team that had some depth," Nagy said. "Now we have it. We've had to play a little slower than I like to play, but this year we can push it."
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insid...3fid%3d4536718
See if you can guess who this paragraph is about:
"He's a very good athlete, but he needs to improve because the guys behind him are coming," Nagy said. "He understands he needs to be more of a leader. He's very efficient. He doesn't take a lot of shots, but he needs to take more of an aggressive role for us."
COACH AND PROGRAM
From the moment South Dakota State announced its five-year plan to move to Division I, Scott Nagy did his best to have the Jackrabbits ready to run for the program's first year of full D-I privileges.
Based on South Dakota State's history of success in Division II, there was every reason to expect a smooth transition.
But while everything worked out last season for neighboring North Dakota State -- which qualified for the NCAA Tournament in its first opportunity to do so -- everything went south for South Dakota State.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Last Season 13-20 (.394)
Conference Record 7-11 (7th)
Starters Lost/Returning 0/5
Coach Scott Nagy (Delta State '88)
Record At School 256-162 (14 years)
Career Record 256-162 (14 years)
RPI Last 5 years N/A-276-329-328-284
Among the issues strewn along the Jackrabbits' road from Division II to Division I were two players put on trial for rape and, though found not guilty, the players never suited up for SDSU. During that same time frame, a standout freshman decided to punt his scholarship and transfer home to play as a walk-on for the University of Illinois. Last year, SDSU lost a potential all-conference center when 6-10 Anthony Davis was diagnosed with transverse myelitis -- a neurological disorder of the spinal cord that affects his legs.
"It's been a mess," Nagy said. "We've lost at least 11 players over four years to the process. Anything that could go wrong has gone wrong."
But now it appears time for everything to go right. With so few seniors on the roster over the last few years, Nagy and SDSU finally get to reap the benefit of playing so many youngsters: The Jackrabbits welcome back everyone who made an impact in 2008-09 -- and there are at least two freshmen who'll contribute immediately.
"It's been awhile since we had a team that had some depth," Nagy said. "Now we have it. We've had to play a little slower than I like to play, but this year we can push it."
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