I am pretty sure they are competing.... And they do control the bracket they are in. It is based off wins and losses during Pool Play. Louisville Magic had too many losses during pool play to make it into the Gold Bracket, therefore mitigating them to the Silver Bracket. I think they lost 2 out of 3 games during pool play.

 

I have been around AAU for many years and the bracket you play in can be very deceiving. Just because one team made Gold bracket and another Silver doesn't necessarily mean one is better than another. One teams pool could be stacked and they get pushed to a lower bracket due to that. And a team could win a bracket and make Gold, then get blown out in a first round game. Have seen it all the time and every weekend in every tournament for that matter. The only comparison of 2 teams is when they play each other. All other results are irrelevant.

 

Having said all that, I don't understand why their is so much competition AGAINST each other. KY teams should want each other to do well and simply applaud them when they do.

 

It seems there are more high quality teams in this state than quite a while and it's great to see them do well. I am out of the mix now, but still use Twitter every weekend to catch up with local AAU teams results and I am always hoping they can go deep in tournaments. I always wanted to beat the heck out of local teams when we played, but wanted to see them win otherwise.

This may help:

I have been around AAU for many years and the bracket you play in can be very deceiving. Just because one team made Gold bracket and another Silver doesn't necessarily mean one is better than another. One teams pool could be stacked and they get pushed to a lower bracket due to that. And a team could win a bracket and make Gold, then get blown out in a first round game. Have seen it all the time and every weekend in every tournament for that matter. The only comparison of 2 teams is when they play each other. All other results are irrelevant.

 

The Magic were not even in the top 2 in their pool, so for your statement to be remotely correct, both teams they lost to in their pool should have made it to the Championship since you think they were in a "STACKED" pool.... However neither team they lost to even made it past the first round of 32 teams during Tournament play in the gold bracket??? Doesn't sound too "STACKED" to me.... Both teams Team Manimal played and either beat or lost to by 2 made it to the Sweet 16 and the elite 8 of the Gold Bracket. Fact's are facts and one fact is true. The Magic 15's are really not that great. Most players on their team are 1-2 years older than kids on other teams around the state. When they were all younger, these boys had a competitive advantage, but all of those kids have caught and surpassed these boys now. Sorry to say but it is true.

Most of the boys on Team Manimal are 14y/o. They may not win state however Coach Maze will have them ready to play. With all the new teams on the aau circuit things will change in the near future for sure. For those of you who think these boys will pick EYBL over other programs ( you're wrong )because of talent level most know that each of these 15u teams Hoop Dreams,Magic,Team Manimal,Heat Check each have at least 1or more players that are as good or better then players on the travelers.

The Magic were not even in the top 2 in their pool, so for your statement to be remotely correct, both teams they lost to in their pool should have made it to the Championship since you think they were in a "STACKED" pool.... However neither team they lost to even made it past the first round of 32 teams during Tournament play in the gold bracket??? Doesn't sound too "STACKED" to me.... Both teams Team Manimal played and either beat or lost to by 2 made it to the Sweet 16 and the elite 8 of the Gold Bracket. Fact's are facts and one fact is true. The Magic 15's are really not that great. Most players on their team are 1-2 years older than kids on other teams around the state. When they were all younger, these boys had a competitive advantage, but all of those kids have caught and surpassed these boys now. Sorry to say but it is true.

 

 

You may want to read the post again. He never said they were in a stacked bracket he said it could have been possible. All I saw was an example. I do agree that comparing results against different teams isn't a good measuring stick. Too many variables for it to be an accurate measuring stick. Head to head competition is the only true measuring stick.

 

If the Magic and Team Manimal meet I sure hope Team Manimal wins. :lol:

You may want to read the post again. He never said they were in a stacked bracket he said it could have been possible. All I saw was an example. I do agree that comparing results against different teams isn't a good measuring stick. Too many variables for it to be an accurate measuring stick. Head to head competition is the only true measuring stick.

 

If the Magic and Team Manimal meet I sure hope Team Manimal wins. :lol:

If it happens I'll be the one laughing the loudest

The Magic were not even in the top 2 in their pool, so for your statement to be remotely correct, both teams they lost to in their pool should have made it to the Championship since you think they were in a "STACKED" pool.... However neither team they lost to even made it past the first round of 32 teams during Tournament play in the gold bracket??? Doesn't sound too "STACKED" to me.... Both teams Team Manimal played and either beat or lost to by 2 made it to the Sweet 16 and the elite 8 of the Gold Bracket. Fact's are facts and one fact is true. The Magic 15's are really not that great. Most players on their team are 1-2 years older than kids on other teams around the state. When they were all younger, these boys had a competitive advantage, but all of those kids have caught and surpassed these boys now. Sorry to say but it is true.

 

Please read my post again. Wasn't specifically about last weekend, it was a general comment about a tournament setup. I have no idea if the Magix are the worst or best in the state.

AAU basketball = pimps and players... wanna be coaches who buy their talent... the Kansas example is another reason why the top layer of this sport is tainted! in my opinion it's about the 'B' programs that take NAIA talent along with marginal D 2 talent and teach the game the way it is supposed to be played with respect, high energy, and passion. Getting better. Those are the kids that need AAU. Most coaches think it is their greatness that is winning games but in reality it is because they have the better talent. Then they want all the credit for their super talents going D 1. Most would be surprised that they would go there anyway. Eyes don't lie and talent doesn't hide. Feedback welcome -

AAU basketball = pimps and players... wanna be coaches who buy their talent... the Kansas example is another reason why the top layer of this sport is tainted! in my opinion it's about the 'B' programs that take NAIA talent along with marginal D 2 talent and teach the game the way it is supposed to be played with respect, high energy, and passion. Getting better. Those are the kids that need AAU. Most coaches think it is their greatness that is winning games but in reality it is because they have the better talent. Then they want all the credit for their super talents going D 1. Most would be surprised that they would go there anyway. Eyes don't lie and talent doesn't hide. Feedback welcome -

With all due respect, I don't know exactly where you're headed with this post, but I'll gladly add. When you get to the soph/jr/sr level, the only teams that get talked about are the CIA Bounce, Meanstreets, Houston Defenders, NY Gauchos, and on down the proverbial line. Fact of the matter is that those programs are loaded with elite talent. I suppose your angle may be that the talent is "bought" and I'm sure with sponsorship from the Nike's and Adidas' of the world, perhaps that is true. However, the overwhelming majority of all AAU programs are not of that ilk. You can travel from any of the serious facilities across America each weekend from April to August in NCAA certified events and there will be a majority of teams not chalked full of those type players. Here in KY, most of the teams are loaded with D2 and down talent. And that's what I love about AAU. Kids playing to get exposure and to get better. It's not the monster many portray it to be. I dare say that Hoop5's team is more the norm than the exception.

 

For instance, and I will take the opportunity to brag for a minute. I coached the River City Hurricanes for several years. As of this date here's a list of the kids who played for us and are graduating this month.

Austin Hunt - signed to play basketball at D2 Lincoln Memorial

Trevor Tiller - signed to play basketball at Transy

Jonathan Jackson - signed to play football at Murray

Labront Scott - signed to play football at Murray

Eli Wilson - signed to play football at Murray

Tyson Williams - signed to play football at EKU

 

I couldn't be prouder of those kids. While most are playing football, they all spent time getting better on the court, none were prima donnas and they all played full speed and with respect for their opponents, the officials, their parents and for the game.

 

I love AAU basketball.

Edited May 10, 201313 yr by spindoc

Great to hear! That's what it is all about! congrats to you and your players for modeling the true intention of AAU basketball. These are the stories that warrant posting.

AAU basketball = pimps and players... wanna be coaches who buy their talent... the Kansas example is another reason why the top layer of this sport is tainted! in my opinion it's about the 'B' programs that take NAIA talent along with marginal D 2 talent and teach the game the way it is supposed to be played with respect, high energy, and passion. Getting better. Those are the kids that need AAU. Most coaches think it is their greatness that is winning games but in reality it is because they have the better talent. Then they want all the credit for their super talents going D 1. Most would be surprised that they would go there anyway. Eyes don't lie and talent doesn't hide. Feedback welcome -

 

I agree with most of what you say, however I disagree with your "AAU basketball = pimps and players" because I believe some AAU coaches, or maybe even most AAU coaches truly are working on making players better. Working on skills, fundamentals, and playing a team game. I don't think most teams are made up of superstars, but most are made of average to really good talent that is looking to get better and they win by working hard and playing together.

 

I agree with your comment on coaches taking the glory. When you take on a kid in HS to your AAU team, but he has been a super talent since 6th grade, its almost wrong for coaches to even want to be recognized. It should always be about the kids, first and foremost. Not to mention, I know some AAU programs that list players on their websites who go d1 or d2 and they only played with them for a year, and sometimes less than a year, maybe a few tournaments.

Why is everyone going all coo-coo over Team Manimal? What have they done that is so impressive, or that other teams in the state haven't done? They are a solid group of young men, I'm sure, who can all play ball. But, some of the people talking about them all sound like a bunch of salty parents trying to command respect in a world where respect is earned not given. Give the team some time to play, build, and grow. Also, if a they play and beat the Magic 15s, great, but the fact that some of these Manimal lovers are degrading the Magic 15s and talking about their matchups, losses, or near losses kind of downgrades a victory over them. Every victory is earned, and as equally important and satisfying as the next.

Why is everyone going all coo-coo over Team Manimal? What have they done that is so impressive, or that other teams in the state haven't done? They are a solid group of young men, I'm sure, who can all play ball. But, some of the people talking about them all sound like a bunch of salty parents trying to command respect in a world where respect is earned not given. Give the team some time to play, build, and grow. Also, if a they play and beat the Magic 15s, great, but the fact that some of these Manimal lovers are degrading the Magic 15s and talking about their matchups, losses, or near losses kind of downgrades a victory over them. Every victory is earned, and as equally important and satisfying as the next.

 

I hope the chatterers on this thread are reading Big Fundamental's and spindoc's most recent posts carefully and taking them to heart. The "my team can beat your team" approach doesn't help anyone -- particularly when, as BF just pointed out, it consists of speculation without a head-to-head contest. Consider the following points (and disagree with them if you like):

1. AAU rosters are fluid to say the least. Next year's Magic or Team Manimal may have nothing in common with this year's team beyond the uniforms, and kids who are playing against each other this week may be teammates by the time Nationals roll around. Hollering about "your team" might make sense if your kid is on the same team for years on end and the players around him don't shift that much either. Emphasis on the "might"....

2. I have this next statement directly from a local university's basketball coach: they aren't looking at teams so much as individual players. This coach said flat out said that he almost never bases his opinion on whether a kid's team is winning or losing a particular game; they typically know who they're there to evaluate, and they simply want to see whether that prospect is a "go-to guy" on whatever team he plays for. I don't think any BGP veterans are surprised by this.

3. A little perspective: let us assume there is a Magic-Manimal matchup. Once the game is over and the winning team's parents are done crowing, we can bus both teams straight up to Detroit or Chicago and watch them both get clobbered by 25 points. And why is that other team running up the score? Because they themselves just lost by 30 points to DC Assault or Meanstreets or whomever. This is not meant to denigrate our local scene, but we should call it what it is -- a local scene, and a nice one, where we tend to be familiar with most of the players and coaches. We should appreciate the talent we have, celebrate the KY hoopsters who occasionally make it onto the bigger stage, and quit going at one another like we are somehow the ones out on the court. It's bad karma.

 

....stepping out of pulpit....

Playing at the Adidas May Classic

The NKY Bulldogs U15 went 2 - 0 in pool play and won their opener of the gold bracket. They play tomorow against St louis Gateway.

Playing at the Adidas May Classic

The NKY Bulldogs U15 went 2 - 0 in pool play and won their opener of the gold bracket. They play tomorow against St louis Gateway.

 

I saw some of those scores on some email updates. Good job! Good luck tomorrow.

How are the St Henry boys doing---Goetz and Wallenhorst?