Each year we invite a handful of men’s and women’s basketball players to provide us with insight on their season as it unfolds. This year we have a very interesting mix that covers a wide range of the Division III landscape. Let’s meet the second Insider who is setting his sights on playing games into March 2010

Introducing Justin Riley

Welcome to the 2009-2010 season! I am very excited that I have been selected to blog about our season this year. My name is Justin Riley and I am the starting power forward at Chapman University. I am in my junior season and couldn’t be more excited to enter this season with the group of guys we have.

I decided to come to Chapman and play Division III basketball because I wanted to go to a school that would provide me a great education and give me the opportunity to still play basketball. I had the opportunity to play at lower-tier Division I schools, but decided not to follow through because I didn’t think I wanted to play basketball in college and didn’t want to go to an average academic school just to play basketball. Looking back three years later, I would love to have had the opportunity to play Division I basketball, but nevertheless, I have enjoyed my experience at Chapman University.

For those of you who do not know, Chapman University is not apart of a conference and unfortunately we have been stuck as an Independent. As an Independent, it is very difficult to get a bid into the the post-season tournament. Last season, we went 24-3, but had the third “easiest” strength of schedule. We very well should have won one of the games we lost, and looking back, that could have been the game (UDallas) that cost us the post-season bid.

Anytime you are apart of a team that goes 24-3 and end up in the “other receiving votes category” for several weeks, you feel that you deserve the chance to prove yourself on the big stage, but that didn’t happen. I can go on until I am blue in the face arguing that we should have received a bid, but the season is over and there is nothing that is going to change; for that reason, I will let last year end and move on to this season with the hopes of finally getting the chance to play in the post-season tournament.

For the 2009-2010 season, my biggest goal is to earn a post-season bid. As a competitor, I am not satisfied with ending the season short of the post season. I have always wondered what it would be like to play in the tourney at any level, and now that we are knocking on the door, I will not accept anything less. We return all five starters from last years very successful team and have several talented role players that can come and fill any voids. Out of all the previous seasons at Chapman, this is the one year where it is our season to win or lose. All the guys have that bad feeling of what is was like to be so close, therefore all of us our ready to go out and win every game with pride and passion. Besides making it to the post-season, I am striving to earn All West Region honors. The west region is filled with many talented players and I would love to be able to enter the ranks of the top players in the West.

This season has the makings to be a great one and I am excited to see what will happen. I hope everyone will pay attention to us and realize that the Chapman team has the ability to make some noise.

Good luck to all Division III teams this season!