Basketball Standards

[reeder]

From the AE website

 

Standards Set for America East Basketball

BOSTON – In an effort to further the development of the league as a whole, the America East Conference has established a set of men’s and women’s basketball standards that will enhance the league’s premier sport by implementing competitive scheduling policies, radio and television requirements and a marketing fund aimed at boosting basketball awareness conference-wide. The standards are a product of the league’s annual Athletic Director’s meeting in June and were later approved by the conference’s nine member-institution Presidents.

“Our Presidents and Athletic Directors have set the bar high with our new basketball standards,” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “The tougher scheduling policy, additional television games and shared marketing fund are some of the standards that should enable the sport of basketball to flourish in numerous aspects over the coming years.”

 

“Committing to improve America East basketball was a priority during our annual President’s Meeting this summer,” said University of Maine President Robert Kennedy, the Chair of the America East Board of Presidents. “The league’s premier sport of basketball has thrived in recent years and the new standards pledge to evolve America East into one of the top mid-major conferences in the country.”

 

“The wide spectrum that the basketball standards cover will enable all nine conference institutions to make advancements in several areas of their athletic departments,” said Stony Brook University Athletic Director Jim Fiore, the chair of the conference’s Athletic Directors’ Council.

 

With an emphasis on an opponents’ two-year average RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), the league’s new scheduling policy calls for member institutions to effectively schedule games versus tougher non-conference foes. Effective for the 2007-08 season, minimum requirements have been established to stress the importance of strength-of-schedule around the league, which should help bolster the conference’s overall RPI.

 

“Minimum scheduling requirements should go a long way in ensuring that our schools are conscious of their scheduling RPI,” said Nero. “Our overall goal is to continually get multiple teams into the postseason and a proven way to make that happen is to play competitive schedules and win some tough non-conference games.”

 

“The commitment to the sport of basketball that the Presidents and Athletic Directors around America East have shown is remarkable,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward, the chair of the conference’s men’s basketball coaches’ group. “The standards will help put every team in the league in a better position to succeed and I would expect America East basketball to continue to improve annually as a result.”

 

With more than 50 televised basketball games planned for the 2006-07 season, the increase in television coverage is the most significant and visible standard established. The comprehensive television schedule is more than double any previous season total in conference history. Likewise, every basketball game will now be available online via a streamed radio broadcast, with men’s games required as over-the-air broadcasts as well.

 

“We are very excited about having the largest television package in America East history,” Nero said. “The increase in TV games should get our schools the exposure necessary to take the next step in growing as a Division I basketball conference.”

 

A number of new marketing initiatives have been set up for the 2006-07 season with none more beneficial than the marketing fund. Established for basketball marketing and promotions efforts, institutions shall apply to the conference office for use of this fund.

 

Among the conference’s other marketing initiatives are the promotion of America East Opening Night, a full-color, 24-page America East Basketball Fan Guide, a nightly fan handout, the recognition of America East Players of the Game following each men’s and women’s basketball contest and a re-designed website through a partnership with XOS Technologies, set to launch in early November.

 

“It is really an exciting time for America East basketball,” Nero added. “Our Presidents and Athletic Directors have dedicated a lot of resources to help put forward an improved product on and off the court and their contributions will directly benefit the fan experience at games, on television and online.”

[Dane Pound]

This is great news although I wish it had happened a few years ago. Great to see the conference finally making a greater commitment to basketball.

[NYR]

Will this be known as the Maine rule? They consistently play non D1 opponents. Hopefully the easy way no meet these minimum RPI requirements will not be scheduling an extra guarantee game each year. Schedules need to have winnable games against quality opponents.

 

Again a lot of what was announced today were moves in the right direction.