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Many D1 fans are not aware that many upper level D2 teams with good coaching and high basketball iq players can be quite competitive with D1 schools on a given night.
I invite folks to post the scores of competitive D1 versus D2 so that we can raise awareness of the quality of D2 basketball.
It has also been my experience that D1 teams DO NOT want to lose to D2 teams in exhibition and will play their top players as needed to secure a win, as evidenced by the minutes played in the box score (D1 fans often unknowingly assume that the D1 team emptied the bench and did not care). Also, typically they are always played on D1 home court (findlay versus toledo was a notable exception).
Sometimes, D2 plays D1 tough for a half but eventually gets worn down by the depth. But that does not tarnish the high level of basketball play.
Here are a few games, as a starting point.
Year - Game - Score - Notes
2017 Win - Barry defeated Auburn 100-95 despite committing 8 more turnovers and shooting 20 less free throws
2017 Win - Findlay beats Toledo 89-86
2017 Loss - Ferris State plays Michigan State tough down to the last few minutes before falling 80-72 with MSU not pulling away until 6 minutes left (MSU was behind at the half).
2015 Win - Augustana beats Iowa 76-74
2015 Win - St. Thomas Aquinas beats St. Johns University 90-58
2007 Win - Findlay beats Ohio State 70-68, which was the season BEFORE Findlay won the National Championship.
I invite folks to post the scores of competitive D1 versus D2 so that we can raise awareness of the quality of D2 basketball.
It has also been my experience that D1 teams DO NOT want to lose to D2 teams in exhibition and will play their top players as needed to secure a win, as evidenced by the minutes played in the box score (D1 fans often unknowingly assume that the D1 team emptied the bench and did not care). Also, typically they are always played on D1 home court (findlay versus toledo was a notable exception).
Sometimes, D2 plays D1 tough for a half but eventually gets worn down by the depth. But that does not tarnish the high level of basketball play.
Here are a few games, as a starting point.
Year - Game - Score - Notes
2017 Win - Barry defeated Auburn 100-95 despite committing 8 more turnovers and shooting 20 less free throws
2017 Win - Findlay beats Toledo 89-86
2017 Loss - Ferris State plays Michigan State tough down to the last few minutes before falling 80-72 with MSU not pulling away until 6 minutes left (MSU was behind at the half).
2015 Win - Augustana beats Iowa 76-74
2015 Win - St. Thomas Aquinas beats St. Johns University 90-58
2007 Win - Findlay beats Ohio State 70-68, which was the season BEFORE Findlay won the National Championship.
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