Mail time

First off, please read the post below, I covered all your tourney talk and put some time into it, so don't skip it!

And now, to the mailbag.

Blue, you asked about the difference in importance of height between the men and women. The answer is simple: In the NEC, it's about guards for the men and bigs for the women. There isn't as much emphasis on height in the men's game because there is so much athleticism that you can get by height (look at the recent NEC players of the year). For the men, it's a guard's league.

For the women, where the game is more based on 5-on-5 half-court stuff and less on guard play and 1-on-1 stuff, the bigs are more involved in the offense.

Fans aren't "against" a big for the men, they just get that height isn't as important. Would Shaq help? Of course, but it's a guard league in the men's game. This isn't the Big East.

As for your thoughts of Howie losing his aggressiveness, I think those who work with him and for him would tell you you're crazy. Remember two things about him: 1) He's not a public, rah-rah kind of guy. It doesn't mean he doesn't care and is CERTAINLY doesn't mean he's not trying. He's just not the type that is going to go out of his way to be public. He's not Mac. He also isn't building a program like Beryl and Mac are. They need the pub as they are trying to get to where the men are.

As to why he pumps his players up in public, what do you want him to do, rip them? He's too loyal to the school to ever do that, and he's too loyal to his own players. Besides, this is the 21st century... if you rip a kid in public he's just more likely to leave. Times have changed. At the very least it would just get the player down. Howie rips into his players, just not in front of you guys.
Well, unless you sit near the bench during games.

I was asked about scheduling... which brings me back to the board for a second. Please remember that scheduling is a two-way street. CCSU can want to bring in everyone, but it has to make sense for the other team, too.
You don't think Mac wanted Yale? Why would Yale play Central right now? CCSU football doesn't draw people to Yale Bowl and there's no competitive advantage to playing them for Yale.
And in that way, you're right Bob, schools are scared of Central. If Yale ever lost that game it would be awful for them, and if they win it they don't draw a crowd or get a competitive boost, so it could only be a disaster. The only teams looking for schools like Central are other small schools, or a really good FCS team looking for a win.

That goes for hoops, too. An ACC team is going to come play at Central? Why? If they win they beat an NEC team. If they lose, they're on SportsCenter. And remember, losing to even a decent mid-major is costly. Ask Providence, which saw "Bad loss: Northeastern" on their profile all week on ESPN. And my Huskies were winning the CAA for much of the year.

One more about Central "going soft." Again, much of this was directed at Howie. I think if you asked his players, they'd tell you how laughable an idea that is. The idea was presented that RMU and the Mount are now the standards of the league because they're more aggressive. Now, again, I'm in no way knocking Mike Rice, and if you've ever read my thoughts on here you'd know I love Milan Brown. But can they do it for more than a couple years before we make it sound like the last decade at Central doesn't matter anymore? Maybe RMU will win the next 11 NEC titles. But until they do, sheesh, let's not anoint them.

Monmouth was a force, then it was down. The Hawks will never be good again? Central will have one senior next year for the second straight year. When CCSU has six seniors in two years, the Devils have no chance to be good? Really?
As a dear friend of mine would say, "you're so silly!".

Last thought on this, and I hate to do it but it must be done. I know everyone has named Tom Moore the next Calhoun, and I have no doubt he's on that level. But can Quinny get to at least the top half of the NEC consistently before we name them as a power? Not saying Quinny will never be good, but can we wait until it happens before we say they're good? If he stays, Tom Moore will win games. But for now, he has, what, one more NEC Tourney win than I do?

Ok, off the soap box now. As always, send mail to mstraubblog@hotmail.com