The Bulgarian Brothers – A College Hoops 2K8 & NBA 2K20 Dynasty

[studbucket]

It had been an up and down start to the season for Dinko, but he was gearing up for an important stretch: a few winnable games, including a showdown with his brother and his brother’s alma mater (which also signaled the beginning of conference play). His team was 2-2, coming off back-to-back road losses to Boise State and La Salle, and was looking forward to a home game against Youngstown State. This was the last game before a few meaningful events happened: the early signing period and games against Pitt, his brother (Northern Colorado), and local NEC rival Robert Morris (also his brother’s alma mater). A split of the next 4 games would be acceptable, and he really hoped he wouldn’t lose out on his main focus in recruiting, 7’0” Chris Nabors. However, that was a concern for next week – he wanted to stay undefeated at home and he’d need to beat the Penguins to do that.

Dinko and the Red Flash were able to stay undefeated at home, in large parts thanks to the size advantage they had. Zygis Keita had his best game under coach Dragomirov with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. They didn’t need Keita much in the first half, as they got out to a 12-4 lead and didn’t look back. They were up 28-21 at half thanks to a well-rounded team performance.

However, Keita and friends caught fire in the second half, pulling away quickly. Junior PG Noah Almond scored the first 5 points of the half and was responsible for two more with a beautiful pass to start a fast break. His playmaking led the way to an 18 point lead at one point as the Red Flash ended up winning 63-46.

Dinko would be ecstatic if his team can shoot 44% from three and exceed his opponent’s points in the paint and rebounds by 50% each game; we’ll see if this is something they can keep up in conference play.

Around the NCAA

• Through the first month of the season, we have 20 undefeated teams remaining, including #2 Tennessee (7-0), #3 Marquette (6-0), and #8 Arizona (5-0). Among teams that are unbeaten but not in the top 25, Davidson is the most impressive. Though only 3-0, they have double-digit victories over North Carolina and Duke. Kansas State also deserves recognition at 5-0 with victories over #7 Oregon and a 5-2 South Carolina team.

[trekfan]

Very nice win, those are some good numbers from the team -- doubt they can stay that hot, but it's reaffirming that they can put away a team in the second half like they did here.

[RMJH4]

Very very interesting take on this! I do not own College Hoops but I really want to now! Interested to see where this goes down the line! Setting records for young coaches! Nice that you didnt go with top of the line colleges either. Work your way up the ranks.

[RolePlayer]

Shaping up to be a very very interesting tale, so many possibilities with this series. Could we see the brothers meet up in the NBA Finals? The Final Four? or even team up at the next level as an impressive coaching tandem

[studbucket]

Quote: Originally Posted by seaboh

Very very interesting take on this! I do not own College Hoops but I really want to now! Interested to see where this goes down the line! Setting records for young coaches! Nice that you didnt go with top of the line colleges either. Work your way up the ranks.

Ha, thanks. I wanted to make a story that would keep me hooked. The brotherly competition has been fun for me to track (their showdown has already happened but COVID has actually made me busier).

I want to power through the season when I get a chance, just because I want to see what job offers they get

Quote: Originally Posted by RolePlayer

Shaping up to be a very very interesting tale, so many possibilities with this series. Could we see the brothers meet up in the NBA Finals? The Final Four? or even team up at the next level as an impressive coaching tandem

I hadn't thought of teaming up - interesting, especially if one seems to get more success than the other.

I definitely hope we see them start to compete in conference tourneys, NCAA, etc. I've already decided they are going to do a home-and-hoe series against each other every year.

Appreciate both of you taking an interest in this.

[RMJH4]

Quote: Originally Posted by studbucket

Ha, thanks. I wanted to make a story that would keep me hooked. The brotherly competition has been fun for me to track (their showdown has already happened but COVID has actually made me busier). I want to power through the season when I get a chance, just because I want to see what job offers they get I hadn't thought of teaming up - interesting, especially if one seems to get more success than the other. I definitely hope we see them start to compete in conference tourneys, NCAA, etc. I've already decided they are going to do a home-and-hoe series against each other every year. Appreciate both of you taking an interest in this.

Yeah its an option, I always wanted to see the Van Gundy brothers work together!! I'm pretty sure that in soccer Sweden mens national team had dual head coaches for years!

[studbucket]

The early signing period has opened and we’re starting to see some of the top prospects around the country sign with schools.

• UCLA has to be thrilled with landing the #1 recruit in the nation, as PG Malcolm Nahra will join them next year.
• Duke has their backcourt of the future locked up, with PG Mason Delgado and SG Sheldon Newman headed to Durham, NC next year.
• He may not be Klay Thompson, but Washington State has to be thrilled with stealing Randy Vignale away from the California schools.
• Boston College is making a strong push for ACC supremacy in coming years, grabbing 2 of the top 4 shooters in this class.
• Out of nowhere, Arizona State is looking like a more attractive destination that Arizona, as they have the inside track on the #3 and #20 recruits over their in-state rival.
• In the biggest shock of them all, the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette are the frontrunners for big man Marcello Barber.

	Prospect	Position	Hometown	School
1	Malcolm Nahra	PG	Los Angeles, CA	Signed with UCLA
2	Marcello Barber	PF	Houston, TX	Louisiana-Lafayette, Duke, Memphis
3	Roland Mayes	PG	San Diego, CA	Arizona State, Arizona, UCLA
4	Leighton Byerson	SG	Bronx, NY	Signed with Boston College
5	Sheldon Newman	SG	Cincinnati, OH	Signed with Duke
6	Curtis Bitee	SG	St. Paul, MN	Signed with Kansas State
7	Danko Matthews	PG	Sioux Falls, SD	Signed with Arkansas
8	Mason Delgado	PG	Cape Coral, FL	Signed with Duke
9	Keston Mendoza	PF	Mountain View, CA	Signed with Stanford
10	Gerard Engle	SG	Boston, MA	Signed with Boston College
11	V.J. Andres	SF	Albuquerque, NM	Colorado, Kansas, UCLA
12	Wilt McCully	SG	Houston, TX	Signed with Auburn
13	Duane Parker	SG	St. Louis, MO	Marquette, Memphis
14	Reid Ziri	C	Vancouver, Canada	Oregon, Washington, Gonzaga
15	Britton Wainright	SG	McAllen, TX	Mississippi State, Florida
16	Randy Vignale	SG	Clovis, CA	Signed with Washington State
17	Bobby Reed	SG	Flint, MI	Signed with Pittsburgh
18	Paul Clifton	SG	Huntington Beach, CA	California, Washington State, Arizona
19	Jonas Shavies	SG	Chicago, IL	Signed with Wisconsin
20	Dan Diaz	PG	Phoenix, AZ	Texas Tech, Arizona State, Arizona

The Brothers Dragomirov
How did things go for the brothers? Dinko bet it all on 7’0 3-star Christopher Nabors…and lost that bet with Nabors committing to Drake, choosing to spend his college years in Des Moines, IA instead of Western PA. It’s hard to blame him – it’s closer to home and a better program, but it was a bitter pill for Kostadin to swallow.

In addition to losing out on Nabors, he saw 5 of his top 6 targets sign with other schools (including James Madison and Bethune Cookman). So who is next for Dinko? He looked at the players he had been in contact with and looked at who didn’t have any scholarship offers yet – one player jumped out. Biloxi, Mississippi’s 2-star 7-footer: Ruandy Mencio. He has great size, which is obviously something the Red Flash need, but his ABL stats were certainly lacking: 4 points and 4 rebounds in 10 minutes per game.

Oggy was a bit more diversified in his recruiting because of his three scholarships, and was also fortunate not to lose any of his top recruits. He is still in a tough fight with Denver for C Garrett Guerrero and UTSA for SG Jim Flores.

[trekfan]

Bummer on missing out on Dinko's top recruit, but Mencio is at least really tall -- can't teach size. He's gonna be a project player, but developing him will be a big testament to Dinko's coaching.