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Looks like we will be playing the New Jersey Institute of Technology twice in '06-'07. Here are highlights from a Herald News story on the Highlanders and their move to D-I.
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=...Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2
Barker, NJIT set to make jump
By ADAM ZAGORIA
HERALD NEWS
NEWARK - Clayton Barker has spent the last three full seasons as the starting point guard for the New Jersey Institute of Technology. A NCAA Division II program, NJIT competes against similar schools in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, including Caldwell, Felician and Dominican. A week ago, Barker, a former Passaic standout, poured in a career-high 31 points against Molloy (N.Y.) College and hit the game-winning jumper with seven seconds remaining.
But a year from now, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior will be playing Division I basketball against the likes of St. John's, Richmond and La Salle.
No, Barker isn't transferring for a chance at greater glory. He won't even have to leave Newark to play at the top collegiate level.
Instead, NJIT will play a full Division I schedule as part of a four-year process to reclassify to that level under NCAA regulations. . . .
"It's exciting. After high school, everybody wants to go Division I," said Barker, who led Passaic High School to NNJIL, Passaic County and North 1, Group 4 titles as a junior in 2001, and now studies business management. "And then (when) you play D-2, a lot of people at home think you underachieved or stuff like that. I'm happy playing where I'm at right now, but just the experience of playing Division I is real exciting, different teams and stuff."
Newark's only D-I team
But there will be other dividends that pay off beginning next November, when the Highlanders open D-1 play in the Columbia University Tournament, and then play St. John's at Carnesecca Arena a month later.
"If you think about it, we will be Newark's college sports team because we're the only Division I program in the city," university President Dr. Robert A. Altenkirch said in a telephone interview.
NJIT's move to Division I is part of a larger plan to bring the university's athletic programs in line with its academic programs.
"Our overall goal as an institution is to be recognized nationally as a research university," Altenkirch said. "In this part of the country in Division 2 athletics, most of the institutions tend to be small, private religiously-affiliated schools and we really don't have a lot in common with them.
"By staying in that division, we don't get to line up athletically with our academic peers."
Of course, a successful move to D-1 athletics won't happen overnight.
"This year is the first recruiting season where we're going to get attention from high school players who have the potential to play Division 1," Altenkirch said. "It will probably take us three or four years before we can put on the floor or the field players who are all of a Division I playing ability." . . .
Patriot League bound?
Aside from recruiting, the other major challenge facing Casciano and the NJIT administration is becoming affiliated with a conference. With four Patriot League schools on the schedule for 2006-07, that would seem the most natural possibility. But the America East and Northeast Conferences have also been mentioned as options.
"It all comes down to, can you get into a conference?" Casciano said. "Literally, you can get into a conference tomorrow or it could take forever."
In the meantime, Casciano has built an independent schedule heavy with games in November and December, prior to the start of conference play other teams. . . .
Come January and February, the Highlanders will settle in and play 12 games against the other six "independent" D-1 schools seeking conference affiliation. That will mean trips to North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Indiana.
"That's one of the most exciting parts about it, just being able to get out and see different places and play in different types of environments," Barker said. "The traveling is what I'm really looking forward to. It's a good experience playing against these different types of people." . . .
Go State! ;D
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=...Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2
Barker, NJIT set to make jump
By ADAM ZAGORIA
HERALD NEWS
NEWARK - Clayton Barker has spent the last three full seasons as the starting point guard for the New Jersey Institute of Technology. A NCAA Division II program, NJIT competes against similar schools in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, including Caldwell, Felician and Dominican. A week ago, Barker, a former Passaic standout, poured in a career-high 31 points against Molloy (N.Y.) College and hit the game-winning jumper with seven seconds remaining.
But a year from now, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior will be playing Division I basketball against the likes of St. John's, Richmond and La Salle.
No, Barker isn't transferring for a chance at greater glory. He won't even have to leave Newark to play at the top collegiate level.
Instead, NJIT will play a full Division I schedule as part of a four-year process to reclassify to that level under NCAA regulations. . . .
"It's exciting. After high school, everybody wants to go Division I," said Barker, who led Passaic High School to NNJIL, Passaic County and North 1, Group 4 titles as a junior in 2001, and now studies business management. "And then (when) you play D-2, a lot of people at home think you underachieved or stuff like that. I'm happy playing where I'm at right now, but just the experience of playing Division I is real exciting, different teams and stuff."
Newark's only D-I team
But there will be other dividends that pay off beginning next November, when the Highlanders open D-1 play in the Columbia University Tournament, and then play St. John's at Carnesecca Arena a month later.
"If you think about it, we will be Newark's college sports team because we're the only Division I program in the city," university President Dr. Robert A. Altenkirch said in a telephone interview.
NJIT's move to Division I is part of a larger plan to bring the university's athletic programs in line with its academic programs.
"Our overall goal as an institution is to be recognized nationally as a research university," Altenkirch said. "In this part of the country in Division 2 athletics, most of the institutions tend to be small, private religiously-affiliated schools and we really don't have a lot in common with them.
"By staying in that division, we don't get to line up athletically with our academic peers."
Of course, a successful move to D-1 athletics won't happen overnight.
"This year is the first recruiting season where we're going to get attention from high school players who have the potential to play Division 1," Altenkirch said. "It will probably take us three or four years before we can put on the floor or the field players who are all of a Division I playing ability." . . .
Patriot League bound?
Aside from recruiting, the other major challenge facing Casciano and the NJIT administration is becoming affiliated with a conference. With four Patriot League schools on the schedule for 2006-07, that would seem the most natural possibility. But the America East and Northeast Conferences have also been mentioned as options.
"It all comes down to, can you get into a conference?" Casciano said. "Literally, you can get into a conference tomorrow or it could take forever."
In the meantime, Casciano has built an independent schedule heavy with games in November and December, prior to the start of conference play other teams. . . .
Come January and February, the Highlanders will settle in and play 12 games against the other six "independent" D-1 schools seeking conference affiliation. That will mean trips to North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Indiana.
"That's one of the most exciting parts about it, just being able to get out and see different places and play in different types of environments," Barker said. "The traveling is what I'm really looking forward to. It's a good experience playing against these different types of people." . . .
Go State! ;D
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