The Division III basketball season is underway. You just don’t know it yet.
Unless, that is, you’re one of the many players or coaches who started practice back about 10 days ago. While a lot of work is happening behind closed gym doors, that doesn’t make it unimportant. Now is the time to build stamina, work on chemistry with new players and – for two teams – begin a march to a national championship.
Since there are way too many teams for us to cover them all fairly during the preseason, I’ll try to use the Daily Dose to highlight some stories that others are writing about for the upcoming season.
Our first stop is Gorham, Maine where MaineToday.com takes a look at last year’s women’s runner-up Southern Maine. The Huskies are gearing up for another run at the national semifinals but will have to do so with a considerably different starting five. Three starters have graduated and first team D3hoops.com All-American Ashley Marble is recovering from ankle surgery.
The Appleton (Wisc.) Post-Crescent gives Lawrence basketball fans a look at life without 2006 Jostens Trophy winner Chris Braier. Hopefully senior co-captain Matt Osland didn’t read that last sentence. Says Osland, “Obviously Chris was a huge part in what we did…I’ve heard so much the last… I’m a little sick of it.” The Vikings were the last Division III team to lose a game last year, falling to Illinois Wesleyan in the Regional Semifinals.
Speaking of CCIW teams, Millikin is taking its Big Blue nickname to heart with three freshman who are at least six-foot-seven. Millikin finished in seventh place in the CCIW last year at 3-11, 10-15 overall. The (Decatur, Ill.) Herald & Review has more.
Keep in mind that we’re also working to add schedules for every team from Adrian to York (Pa.) for men and women. Our partnership with D3scoreboard.com makes that a little easier, but there’s still plenty to do. This month I’ve learned a lot about non-Division III small college basketball in the Husker State while entering Nebraska Wesleyan’s schedule. Hello, Hastings.
