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A little history lesson seemed like a fun way to spend my Saturday morning, so I thought I'd do a little research:

Former IV.28 Champions

1. Bertha Saucers, a #2 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. They were probably a bot when they won the league. But in season 2, the franchise fell into the hands of the Crazy Canadians who made it to the Cup Round of 32 in Ssn 4 and came two wins away from promoting to the NBBA in Ssn 5.

2. oJgJI pJLc, a #3 seed from the Big 8, are defunct. They stuck around only long enough to win the league before bailing. The franchise has bounced around D.IV and D.V ever since. Its most exciting iteration was as the Honolulu Surfboards, who won a playoff game in Ssn 7 and made it to the Cup's round of 256 in Ssn 9.

3. Hononegah, a #2 seed from the Big 8, are defunct. They only played for three seasons. But in Ssn 4 they made the Cup Round of 32. And that same season, they earned a #1 seed in D.III only to get sniped in the first round of the playoffs. The franchise has languished since then and is currently plays in IV.18 under the name: Boca Lions.

4. THE BIG BUCKS, a #3 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. They enjoyed success for 8 seasons before closing up shop after Ssn 12. In season 11, they won a playoff game in D.II and were a Sweet Sixteen team in the cup. From Ssn 16-23 the franchise operated as the Cornballers, who trained former USA U21 star, Anthony Lucas (22084927).

5. Axel Foleys Minions, an undefeated #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. They once (Ssn 6) made the playoffs as a #4 seed in D.III and reached the Cup Round of 256 in Ssn 7. Since Axel abandoned it, the franchise has spent all but one season in D.V.

6. Deadly Pepsi, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. They made three trips to D.III only to be relegated within a season each time. And in Ssn 10 they survived until the Cup Round of 128.

7. The Illusion, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. The team had a long and storied history, stretching from Ssn 4 to Ssn 22, when it went bot. The team made two trips to D.II, winning a playoff game in Ssn 16 and cracking the Cup Round of 128 in Ssns 8 & 19.

8. NF Hoopsters (23107), a #3 seed from the Big 8, currently sit in first place in the V.4 Big 8. PLaying since Ssn 4, they made one appearance in D.III before losing a relegation series in Ssn 9. And in Ssn 10 they snuck into the Cup Round of 256. The Ssn 8 IV.28 Champion trophy is the only gold in their hardware case.

9. Mongooses, a #3 seed from the Big 8, are defunct. In Ssn 12 the team made a playoff appearance in D.III, but went bot two seasons later. The franchise became the Bakersfield Rebels for a time, but has never made much of a splash.

10. Phoenix Warlords, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. Their greatest moments came in Ssn 15 when they won a playoff game in D.III and broke into the Cup Round of 128. But Ssn 16 saw them go bot, and they have been housed in D.V ever since.

11. Marine Corps Bulldogs, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. In their 12 seasons (Ssns 8-20) they never did much in the Cup. But in their final full season, on their third trip to D.III, they made the playoffs as a #3 seed. Mediocrity reigned thereafter.

12. Thunder Gods (23799), an undefeated #1 seed from the Big 8, currently sit in first place in the III.3 Great 8. Spending most of its franchise history in III.11, they bot-promoted into D.II in Ssn 21and staved off relegation for three seasons before heading back to D.III. Last season they came two wins from punching their ticket for D.II again, but came up short. The team has made many deep Cup runs, but the deepest was in Ssn 24 when they survived up to the Round of 32.

13. Bullish Mentality (28510), a #2 seed from the Big 8, are currently in second place in the NBBA Big 8, ranked #1 overall in the USA and #40 in the world. They are the reigning NBBA champions (Ssn 26) and have another NBBA gold trophy (Ssn 21) to go with their two silver ones (Ssns 20 & 24). Their Cup runs include appearances in the Finals (Ssn 21), the Elite Eight (Ssn 20), and the Round of 32 (Ssn 13). In Ssn 22 they represented the USA in the Buzzer Beater’s Best Tournament, going 7-1 in the Group Play portion to earn a #15 seed in the Knockout Stage Draw, where they advanced to the quarterfinals. Representing the USA in the B3 again this year, they are currently 3-1 and 27 places back from qualifying for the Knockout Stage.

14. Wahoos, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. The capping moment of their 10-season stint was surviving until the Cup Round of 128 in Ssn 12. They met the Thunder Gods and Bullish Mentality in the finals of the previous seasons, and finally earned promotion. After fighting off relegation in D.III once, they succumbed and spent another season and a half in D.IV before going bot in Ssn 19.

15. DC Smokers, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. Much like the Wahoos, they lasted 10 seasons, during which they made the Cup Round of 128 (Ssn 14), promoted to D.III, relegated after their second season, spent a Ssn in D.IV and went bot. The only difference is that they played a playoff game in D.III. The franchise now carries the name “WINNING Celtics”, and sits 5th in the IV.24 Big 8.

16. Basket Brawlers, a #1 seed from the Big 8, are defunct. While they were active, they made two runs to the Cup Round of 128 (Ssns 9 & 13). The hard-fought finals in Ssn 16 saw them defeat Frozen Phoenix in straight games by a combined five points. Having already spent a one-and-done season in D.III, this championship gave the Brawlers a second chance, which they spent earning a trip to the league semifinals and then going bot. The remnants of the team kept on chugging and won two D.V championships without management before the franchise became Jackpot and started bouncing between D.IV and V.

17. Frozen Phoenix, a #1 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. Having just missed promotion the previous season, they pounded through the finals to earn their entry into D.III. And they lasted a season, winning a relegation series before going bot. Their best showing in the Cup was the Round of 256 in Ssn 15.

18. 3PointPlayers, a #2 seed from the Great 8, are defunct. The team, which started in Ssn 4, made three one-season trips to D.III, but always bounced back to D.IV, finally going bot in Ssn 25. The team’s high water mark was progressing to the Cup Round of 64 in Ssn 20.

19. Lone Stars (28953), a #1 seed from the Great 8, are currently a #2 team in the IV.26 Great 8. This team has been active since Ssn 7 and has spent most of it –11 seasons– in this league. After finally playing their way out of the league, they lasted three seasons in D.III, placing 5th, winning a relegation series, and then relegating. Twice they made it to the Cup Round of 128, once way back in Ssn 11 and then again in Ssn 19, when they won the league.

20. Chicago Dire Wolves (29492), a #2 seed from the Big 8, are currently third in the II.2 Great 8. The team has made steady progress from its beginnings in Ssn 14 and been a contender for its league’s championship nearly every season. Predictably, then, its best two seasons have been its most recent: Ssn 25, including a trip to the Cup Round of 32 and a playoff berth; and Ssn 26, including appearances in both the Round of 64 and the league playoffs.

21. lakey (28954), a #1 seed from the Great 8, currently sit in third in the III.6 Great 8. Playing since Ssn 7, IV.28 was just a three-season stop-off on the teams journey back to D.III after a brief stint there in Ssn 18. But the team stayed long enough to put together some great Cup runs including a trip to the Round of 64 in Ssn 19. They seem poised for greatness now, having won their first D.III playoff game last season while making it to the Round of 256 for the seventh time.

22. ExplosiveBubbleWrap (32018), a #1 seed from the Great 8, currently hold the fifth place spot in the III.1 Big 8. Perhaps this team’s biggest claim to fame is that its manager also currently manages the USA U21 NT. And though the team has been around since Ssn 18, last season marked the first time it stayed in one league for two consecutive seasons. The season spent in IV.28 came in between two relegations from D.III. The team has made two Cup Round of 128 appearances: last season (Ssn 26) and their season here (Ssn 22).

23. Hunterz (29379), a #1 seed from the Great 8, currently sit in seventh in the III.16 Big 8. This team has been around since Ssn 11. And they spent six seasons in IV.28 after a one-and-done stint in D.III. Their best league result was an appearance in the III.16 playoffs in Ssn 25. And they have never progressed past the fifth round of the Cup.

24. Miu & Co. (28917) (recently renamed Backcourt Violation), a #1 seed from the Great 8, currently sits atop the III.4 Great 8. The Ssn 20 expansion team had a monster Ssn 24. Not only did they win the league, they became one of only 28 D.IV teams to make the Cup Round of 32 since the institution of the thirteen-round format in Ssn 14. The aura of greatness lasted long enough to win them a playoff game, their first season in D.II. And with their 7-1 start, they look like they have a chance of making the push to D.II.

25. Mt. Zion Rebels (28309) (formerly Decatur DTT), a #1 seed from the Great 8, currently sit in sixth in the IV.43 Big 8. Formed in Ssn 12, this team spent 11 seasons in IV.15 before making it to D.III for a season. Then this league was their springboard back into D.III before relegating again. Aside from their two D.IV trophies, their best showing was their 5-17 record before losing a relegation tournament in two games last season. And they have never progressed past the fifth round of the Cup.

26. Charlotte Hornetss (22915) (formerly Miami Fuego), a #1 seed from the Big 8, currently hold third place in the III.12 Big 8. This team has only been around for six seasons, but has managed to make the Cup Round of 128 twice, in Ssns 23 & 24. Winning this league has been their best league result.

If you’re keeping score…

- Only two teams (Alex Foley’s Minions and Thunder Gods) ever put together a perfect season in this league. But both lost a game in the finals.
- The Big 8 teams are 9-17 vs. Great 8 teams in finals series outcomes.
- Of all the league champions, fifteen are defunct; one is in D.V; two are back in D.IV; six are in D.III; one is in D.II; and one is in the NBBA
- Of all the league champs, seventeen entered the playoffs as #1 seeds. Five were #2 seeds, and four were #3 seeds.
- The last #3 seed to win was in Ssn 9. And the last #2 to win was in Ssn 20.
- In 26 seasons, the team with HCA throughout the playoffs has won 14 times.
- The most recent time HCA was broken was Season 25, when Miu & Co. stole the trophy from Springfield on a lead-changing Owen Goins dunk with 11 seconds remaining in game 3 of the finals. Before that it was Season 21, when Chicago Dire Wolves won two do-or-die games in a row by getting to the line in the final minutes.

Last edited by rhyminsimon at 5/4/2014 3:20:38 PM

well, thats a lot of history, its too bad most of the teams are now defunct, anyways that must have taken you a long while to track and write, and i appreciate it

I'd say I'm a IV.28 legend... Lol

That's quite a lot of work to look through all of that league's history. Seems like I'm the only one to hit the NBBA, and only a few have gone onto DII. I remember from my brief time here, the other teams weren't really taking advantage of training.

P.S. I'm currently using your training planner thingie. Definitely helping in Utopia.

Any other advice?

Manage your Game Shape well. Try and keep your entire roster between Strong and Proficient GS. That usually means having your guys play between 50-70 minutes a week.

Go Take It Easy, a lot. Enthusiasm matters, you want to keep it high. Since this is D.IV, the Cup shouldn't be a priority (training and League wins are what matters). Extra income from Cup wins is nice, but I would not sacrifice League play for it.

Scrimmages are useful for training and getting your players into that 50-70 minute range. If you don't have enough players to fill out your scrimmage roster, look on the TL for guys you can buy for $1,000. Then fire them after the scrimmage to avoid paying their salaries.

I just checked your arena, it looks great for a D.IV arena. If you wanted to, you could add in a few Luxury Boxes. But besides that I wouldn't bother upgrading it for awhile. It's just fine for D.III as well. Use that arena expansion money into trainees and improving roster depth.

Last edited by AZ at 5/8/2014 10:53:25 AM

Thank you for the tips. This is really helpful.