How many d1 lacrosse teams are there. NCAA Division I Lacrosse: Teams, Growth, and Top Programs

How many D1 lacrosse teams are there in the US. What are the top NCAA Division I lacrosse programs for men and women. Which schools have recently added D1 lacrosse programs. How has the growth of women’s lacrosse compared to men’s lacrosse at the collegiate level.

The Current Landscape of NCAA Division I Lacrosse

As of 2022, the NCAA Division I lacrosse landscape is thriving, with a total of 194 teams competing at the highest collegiate level. This figure is split between 74 men’s teams and 120 women’s teams, highlighting the remarkable growth of the sport, particularly in women’s programs. The disparity in numbers between men’s and women’s teams is indicative of the faster growth rate in women’s lacrosse, a trend that extends beyond the collegiate level to high school programs as well.

Key Statistics on NCAA D1 Lacrosse

• Total D1 lacrosse teams: 194
• Men’s D1 lacrosse teams: 74
• Women’s D1 lacrosse teams: 120
• Male D1 lacrosse players: Over 4,000
• Female D1 lacrosse players: Over 4,500

The growth of lacrosse at the collegiate level has been substantial since the inception of the NCAA lacrosse tournament in 1971. Over the past five decades, more than 40 new men’s programs and 90 new women’s programs have been added, with a significant portion of this growth occurring after 2010.

The Rise of Women’s Lacrosse in NCAA Division I

Women’s lacrosse has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, outpacing men’s lacrosse in terms of program additions and player participation. This trend is evident not only at the collegiate level but also in high school athletics. According to the 2018-2019 NFHS high school athletes participation survey, lacrosse ranks as the tenth most popular girls’ program, while it stands at eleventh for boys.

Several factors contribute to the rapid expansion of women’s lacrosse programs:

1. Title IX compliance: This federal law makes it easier for NCAA schools to add women’s programs, encouraging gender equity in collegiate athletics.
2. Lower operational costs: Women’s lacrosse teams generally require less equipment and have smaller roster sizes, making them more cost-effective for institutions to implement and maintain.
3. Growing interest: The sport’s popularity among female athletes has surged, leading to increased demand for collegiate programs.
4. Scholarship opportunities: As more programs are added, the number of available scholarships for female lacrosse players increases, attracting more talent to the sport.

Top NCAA Division I Lacrosse Programs

The elite echelon of NCAA Division I lacrosse is dominated by prestigious institutions, many of which are located on the East Coast. These programs consistently produce top talent and compete for national championships.

Top 10 Men’s D1 Lacrosse Programs

1. Princeton University (Ivy League)
2. Yale University (Ivy League)
3. Harvard University (Ivy League)
4. University of Michigan (Big Ten)
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Atlantic Coast)
6. University of Virginia (Atlantic Coast)
7. Ohio State University (Big Ten)
8. University of Maryland (Atlantic Coast)
9. Duke University (Atlantic Coast)
10. University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League)

Top 10 Women’s D1 Lacrosse Programs

1. Princeton University (Ivy League)
2. Stanford University (Pacific-12)
3. Harvard University (Ivy League)
4. Yale University (Ivy League)
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Atlantic Coast)
6. University of Michigan (Big Ten)
7. University of California, Berkeley (Pacific-12)
8. University of Florida (Southeastern)
9. Vanderbilt University (Southeastern)
10. University of Virginia (Atlantic Coast)

These rankings highlight the dominance of Ivy League and Atlantic Coast Conference schools in both men’s and women’s lacrosse. However, it’s worth noting that programs from other conferences, such as the Big Ten and Pacific-12, are also making their mark in the top echelons of the sport.

The NCAA D1 Lacrosse Season Structure

The NCAA Division I lacrosse season follows a structured timeline that begins in early February and culminates with the championship games in late May. Understanding this schedule is crucial for players, coaches, and fans alike.

Key Dates in the D1 Lacrosse Season

• Season start: Early February
• Regular season: Approximately 13 games
• Conference tournaments: Late April
• NCAA Championship: Late May (May 28-30 at Rentschler Field for the current year)

The season’s structure allows for intense competition throughout the spring, with teams vying for conference titles and national rankings to secure their spots in the NCAA tournament. The championship weekend, featuring both men’s and women’s finals, has become a marquee event in the collegiate sports calendar, drawing thousands of spectators and national media attention.

Recent Additions to NCAA Division I Lacrosse

The landscape of NCAA Division I lacrosse continues to evolve, with new programs being added regularly. This growth reflects the increasing popularity of the sport and the desire of institutions to capitalize on its rising profile.

Notable Recent Additions

• Lindenwood University: Announced transition to NCAA D1 lacrosse on February 23, 2022
• University of Akron: Added women’s lacrosse program in 2020

It’s important to note that recent additions have primarily been in women’s lacrosse. The absence of new men’s programs highlights the challenges faced in expanding men’s lacrosse at the D1 level, including Title IX compliance and the higher costs associated with starting and maintaining men’s programs.

Challenges and Opportunities in D1 Lacrosse Expansion

While the growth of NCAA Division I lacrosse has been substantial, particularly in women’s programs, there are several factors influencing the expansion of the sport at this level:

Challenges for Men’s Program Expansion

• Title IX compliance: Institutions must balance athletic opportunities between men’s and women’s sports, often making it difficult to add new men’s programs without corresponding women’s teams.
• High operational costs: Men’s lacrosse requires more equipment and typically has larger roster sizes, increasing the financial burden on athletic departments.
• Limited scholarship opportunities: NCAA regulations restrict the number of scholarships available for men’s lacrosse, potentially limiting the sport’s growth at some institutions.

Opportunities for Women’s Program Growth

• Title IX alignment: Adding women’s lacrosse programs can help institutions meet gender equity requirements.
• Lower startup and operational costs: Women’s lacrosse generally requires less equipment and has smaller roster sizes, making it more financially viable for many schools.
• Increasing popularity: The growing interest in women’s lacrosse at the youth and high school levels provides a strong pipeline of talent for collegiate programs.

These factors contribute to the current trend of faster growth in women’s lacrosse programs compared to men’s at the NCAA Division I level.

The Impact of D1 Lacrosse on Student-Athletes

Participating in NCAA Division I lacrosse offers student-athletes numerous benefits and opportunities for personal and athletic growth. These programs provide a platform for players to compete at the highest collegiate level while pursuing their academic goals.

Benefits of Playing D1 Lacrosse

• Elite competition: Athletes face top-tier opponents, pushing them to improve their skills and game understanding.
• Professional development: Many D1 programs offer comprehensive support systems, including strength and conditioning, nutrition guidance, and academic assistance.
• Exposure: D1 lacrosse games often receive media coverage, providing players with visibility that can lead to professional opportunities in lacrosse or other fields.
• Scholarship opportunities: While not all players receive full scholarships, many D1 programs offer partial athletic scholarships to help offset educational costs.
• Time management skills: Balancing the demands of D1 athletics with academic responsibilities helps players develop crucial life skills.

For aspiring high school lacrosse players, aiming for a spot on a D1 roster can be a significant motivator and goal. The competitive nature of D1 recruitment encourages young athletes to excel both on the field and in the classroom, as academic performance is a crucial factor in college admissions and NCAA eligibility.

The Future of NCAA Division I Lacrosse

As lacrosse continues to grow in popularity across the United States, the future of NCAA Division I lacrosse looks promising. However, the sport faces both opportunities and challenges as it evolves.

Potential Areas of Growth

• Geographic expansion: While traditionally strong in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, lacrosse is gaining traction in other parts of the country, potentially leading to new D1 programs in these areas.
• Increased media coverage: As the sport’s fanbase grows, there may be more opportunities for television and streaming broadcasts, increasing visibility and revenue potential.
• International recruitment: With lacrosse’s global growth, D1 programs may increasingly look to international talent to bolster their rosters.

Challenges to Address

• Balancing growth between men’s and women’s programs: Ensuring equitable opportunities while navigating Title IX requirements will be crucial.
• Maintaining competitive balance: As new programs emerge, the NCAA will need to work to maintain a level playing field across conferences and regions.
• Addressing cost concerns: Finding ways to make D1 lacrosse more financially sustainable for athletic departments will be essential for continued growth.

The continued evolution of NCAA Division I lacrosse will likely involve a delicate balance of expanding opportunities while addressing these challenges. As the sport grows, it has the potential to reach new audiences and provide even more opportunities for student-athletes across the country.

How Many D1 Lacrosse Teams Are There?

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July 10, 2022March 25, 2022 by Adrian James

As a fun experiment, I wanted to dig in deeper and figure out how many D1 lacrosse teams there are currently in the US. This not only serves as a demonstration of how much attention colleges are putting into the sport but also further proves the point lacrosse has grown very quickly over the years.

Additionally, I am also keen to find out how much progress has been done in women’s sport, specifically women’s lacrosse to close the gender gap. Currently, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse still differ in many significant ways, but we are seeing two sports slowly converge with one another in rules and style. Furthermore, Title IX makes it easier to add a women’s program to an NCAA school, which led to the continuous growth of women’s lacrosse.

As of 2022, there are 74 NCAA D1 men’s lacrosse teams and 120 NCAA D1 women’s lacrosse teams in the US. In total there are 194 lacrosse teams at the NCAA D1 level. 

As you can see, there are actually more D1 women’s lacrosse programs than men’s, marking women’s lacrosse a faster growing sport than men’s lacrosse. In fact, the same is true at the high school level as well. If you take a look at the 2018-2019 NFHS high school athletes participation survey, lacrosse is the tenth most popular girls’ program whereas it’s the eleventh most popular boys’ program.

Read also: Most popular lacrosse states in the US

NCAA D1 Lacrosse

Thanks to the rising popularity, new college lacrosse programs continue to spring up every year; scholarship opportunities multiply. 

Ever since the first NCAA lacrosse tournament started in 1971, the NCAA has added more than 40 new men’s programs and more than 90 new women’s programs, with 48 of those programs taking place after 2010. Over 14,000 men and 12,000 women participate in NCAA lacrosse, over 4,000 men and 4,500 women playing NCAA D1 lacrosse. 

The NCAA D1 lacrosse season begins every year at the beginning of February. Teams play roughly 13 regular-season games and those advance to the post-season conference will start at the end of April. The championship game will take place at the end of May. This year the championship game is between May 28-30 at Rentschler Field.

Top 10 NCAA D1 Lacrosse Programs

Even in D1 lacrosse, there are many lacrosse teams in the league. If you are a college lacrosse fan or an aspiring high school laxer, you probably wonder what the best NCAA D1 lacrosse programs are in the states today. 

As you can see below, almost all the best D1 lacrosse programs remain on the east coast:

Men’s Top Lacrosse Programs

Learn more at NCSA. com

Women’s Top Lacrosse Programs

Learn more at NCSA. com

Full list of NCAA D1 Lacrosse Programs

Now it’s time to take a look at every school with a D1 lacrosse program. Especially for a high school athlete looking to compete at the next level of lacrosse, aiming for one of the D1 schools should be on your agenda. D1 schools have the best athletic programs and sources to help athletes continue to train and improve.

Click here to see all women’s D1 programs

Click here to see all men’s D1 programs

Newest NCAA D1 Lacrosse Programs

One great thing about the NCAA multi-division system is the fact that they don’t stay static. Every year there are new institutions that are being added to D1, D2 and D3. On Feb 23, Lindenwood University announced its transition to NCAA D1 lacrosse. Lindenwood’s women’s lacrosse is recognized for its outstanding performance and success over the past couple years. In addition, the lions will also host the 2022 NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse National Championship in May. 

Moreover, since 2020, there are several women’s lacrosse programs being added to the Division I league, namely the University of Akron in Ohio. In contrast, there was no D1 men’s lacrosse program being added.

As I wrote in the beginning, women’s lacrosse appears to be the ongoing winner in terms of growth and development. The reality is compared to women’s lacrosse, there are many challenges to overcome to add more D1 men’s programs for institutions such as Title IX and the cost of starting and operating a program. I hope this current situation could further help strengthen the popularity and growth of women’s lacrosse, leading to a more equal environment for both sports.

Read also: Lacrosse to return the summer Olympics, How much it costs to play lacrosse

Categories Lacrosse Info

Adrian James

I am Adrian from Florida. After playing lacrosse for 15 years, I decided to start this website to share my journey and knowledge to help people get better at lacrosse.

2022 All-Black NCAA Lacrosse Team | by Dan Kihanya

4 min read

·

May 18, 2022

2022 All-Black NCAA Men’s D1 Lacrosse

This is the 4th year (since 2018) that I’ve assembled an All-Black NCAA team for Division 1.

Headline — black players on D1 Men’s Lacrosse programs more than doubled since 2021! Thats right. 2022 is a break out year for black players in mens college lacrosse.

I’ve come up with 159 players in total across the 73 D1 programs, compared with only 72 players last year. This includes Hampton — the only historically black university with a D1 men’s team. Hampton restarted playing in 2022 in the SOCON league.

Below are the stars… but here is my full list for the All-Black NCAA team, Division 1 college men.

I’ve put together this list in the spirit of showcasing progress and the presence of diversity in the game. As noted in past years, I’m not an expert at evaluating lacrosse capability. I’m simply a fan and an African American father of lacrosse players. So I am definitely open to suggestions or revisions. I tried to be thorough, but apologize if I missed or mischaracterized anyone; no slight was intended.

Join me in celebrating these wonderful athletes!

First Team:

• Asher Nolting, Gr, A, High Point
• Xavier Arline, So, A, Navy
• Jordan Galloway, Fr, A, UMBC
• Nakeie Montgomery, Gr, M, Duke University
• Dylan Willis, Sr, M, St. John’s
• Levi Anderson, Sr, M, Saint Joseph’s
• Koby Smith, Gr, D, Towson
• Jaryd Jean-Felix, Sr, D, Rutgers
• Tony Diallo, Jr, D, UMBC
• Bobby Van Buren, Fr, D, Ohio State
• Trevor Yeboah-Kodie, Jr, SSDM, Brown
• James Pryor, Jr, SSDM, Army
• Mustang Sally, Jr, SSDM, Loyola
• Malik Sparrow, Jr, LSM, Denver
• BJ Farrare, Sr, LSM, Penn
• Justin Joseph, Sr, FO, LIU
• Zion Dechesere, Jr, G, Utah

Second Team:

• Amiri Austin, So, A, Cleveland State
• Khairi Sears, Fr, A, UMass — Lowell
• Miles Fawcett, Jr, A, Hampton
• Jeremy Winston, Gr, M, Jacksonville
• Josh Bass, Sr, M, VMI
• Justin Brown, So, M, Michigan
• LaJhon Jones, So, D, Bryant
• Jackson Phillips, So, D, Mount St. Mary’s
• Izu Onyekachi, Sr, D, Siena
• Stevie Jones, Jr, SSDM, Villanova
• Donovan Lacey, Sr, SSDM, Sacred Heart
• Mason Edwards, So, SSDM, UMBC
• Adrian Enchil, Gr, LSM, Brown
• Jordan Young, Jr, LSM, Jacksonville
• Judah Hicks, Sr, LSM, Lehigh
• Thomas Washington, Jr, FO, Marquette
• Aleric Fyock, Jr, G, Penn State
• Jayson Tingue, So, G, UMBC

Honorable Mention:

• Andre Myers, Jr, A, Hampton
• Ari Allen, Fr, M, Ohio State
• Wayne White, Gr, M, Stony Brook
• Dami Oladunmoye, Jr, SSDM, Syracuse
• Alex Smith, Gr, SSDM, Maryland
• Xavier Ritter, Sr, LSM, NJIT
• Ian Groom, Sr, FO, Hampton
• Colton Teitelbaum, Jr, G, Loyola

The depth of talent dictated a breakout of classifications:

• 1st and 2nd Team (35): elite players or best black players at their position
• Honarable Mention (8): players emerging as significant for their team
• Unranked (61): players who see the field and have playing time of note
• Roster (55): players who have limited or no playing time, or out on injury

2022 SEASON OVERVIEW

It has been in interesting year for college lacrosse in 2022— in many ways. The increased volume in the transfer portal, the number of 6th-year players with extended, COVID-driven eligibility, and the return of a daunting Ivy League. A particularly interesting trend with some black players is the emergence of the legit two-sport players coming from football. Navy, Duke, Michigan, and Ohio State specifically had star football players step into the lacrosse spotlight.

Watching my kids play, as well as their friends and teammates, I’ve grown to love and appreciate the game. I’ve enjoyed watching the game at every level, from youth to pro, over the last 12+ years. So I love to see such great growth at the college ranks.

Below are some interesting stats and a few trends from my research. Enjoy!

Positives trends:

• 78% of programs have one or more black player (UMBC and Hampton by far have the most with 8 and 31 respectively). This is up from 60% in 2021. At least a dozen teams added black players for the first time this season.
• Black players come from 26 states (+DC) and 3 Canadian provinces (New York is the clear leader again this year with 29 players from the Empire State). In 2021 there were only 19 states and 1 province.
• The list includes not just roster or role players, but potential All-Americans, All-Conference, and even player of the year candidates — showing the depth of talent.

But there’s work still to be done:

• 22% of programs have NO black players on the roster, including several top 20 and well-known teams.
• 24 states have no black players in D1.
• Black players still overwhelmingly come through the elite high school and club programs — and hotbed states; so still work to do with opportunities to come from public programs and modest resources.

Black players by positionBlack players by year in schoolTeams by number of black players on rosterTop home states represented by black players

Articles for December 2022 » AllLacrosse.org

In another match of the game day, the San Diego Seals came to visit the Calgary Roughnecks and, of course, the main event was the return of forward Curtis Dixon to the home court, but as part of an opponent. Dixon played for Calgary for 11 seasons. It was the team he won his only championship with, the team he set records with, and most importantly, the only team he called home in the NLL as they selected him third overall in the 2010 NLL Draft.

Calgary respectfully welcomed the arrival of their former San Diego leader. The fans greeted the “superman” with standing ovations, and the team allowed the guests to score five unanswered goals in the first 9 minutes of the match and thus make a good start for the final victory. Only after that the captain of “Roughnecks” Jesse King soaked the account. The first quarter ended with the numbers 2:7 on the scoreboard.

On this New Year’s eve, another NLL match took place across the ocean. In Buffalo, the local Buffalo Bandits hosted the Halifax Thunderbirds.

Buffalo forward Josh Byrne and Dane Smith put on a show for their fans in this game. Burn scored 11 points with 7 goals and 4 assists, Smith in turn scored 10 points (3 goals and 7 assists). For Halifax, the best on the floor were Randy Staats (3 goals and 5 assists), Clark Petterson (2 goals and 4 assists) and Cody Jamison (3 plus 2).

The Owen Sound Bug Juice North Stars are one step closer to becoming the new officially registered team in Major Series Lacrosse.

It was announced Thursday afternoon that major lacrosse franchises Brampton and Owen Sound have reached an agreement to split their pool of players ahead of the 2023 season.

The Professional Box Lacrosse Association has started at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Jim Thorpe All-Americans vs Syracuse Spark got the right to open the first season of the new League.

The first quarter ended in a 3-3 draw with Syracuse’s Ree Johnson equalizing with a second left in the quarter. As for the first historic goal in the history of the League, it was scored by Marty Hill forward “Jim Thorpe”, who performed a penalty shot.

The Buffalo Bandits have placed forward Chris Cloutier on the injured list.

According to general manager Steve Dietrich, Chris has a thumb injury and will miss a “significant” amount of time. This season, Cloutier took part in the first two games, where he scored 9 points (4 goals and 5 assists). Instead of Cloutier, “The Bandits” announced Thomas Vaesen.

The Redwoods Lacrosse Club has hired Pro Lacrosse Hall of Famer John Grant Jr. as their new assistant coach.

Two-time MLL MVP, Grant Jr. scored 643 points (393 goals, 18 two-point goals, 232 assists) in his playing career. A native of Peterborough, he combined physical strength, agility and creativity.

At the moment when the Finnish team refused to go to the World Lacrosse Championship 2023, the Danish team, following the USA, published their list of players who will go to San Diego.

This will be the fourth world forum for the Danish team, having previously taken part in the championships in 2006, 2010 and 2018. The best achievement of the team was 16th place in 2006. Now Denmark has the opportunity to improve their numbers, and it’s all in the hands and feet of these 26 shortlisted players:

On June 18, 2022, the Colorado Mammoth made history by capturing the third NLL championship in franchise history with a Game 3 road win over the Buffalo Bandits. The triumph was made much sweeter because the club was able to defeat the incredibly talented Bandits, and that without the services of regular-season top scorer Ryan Lee and playoff goals and assists from the staunch Eli McLaughlin.

As the new season begins and the Mammoths are firmly established on the top of the NLL mountain, we (nll.com) caught up with the aforementioned McLaughlin and head coach Pat Coyle to discuss the past season and what steps are being taken to stay at the top. .

The 2023 season will begin for the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 8th. However, you will no longer find “Buckeyes” at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Instead, Ohio State will be in a brand new state-of-the-art $24 million lacrosse-only facility.

The new stadium will be home to the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The stadium can accommodate 2,000 to 3,000 fans. In their last home game last season at the former arena, the Buckeyes drew 5,000 lacrosse fans. The stadium will feature various types of seating, from traditional seating to standing sections and an observation deck. Ohio State has one of the most vocal and passionate fan bases in the area. And there is no doubt that the new lacrosse stadium will be one of the loudest and most intimidating in collegiate lacrosse for opposing teams.

France have qualified for the 2023 World Cup in San Diego after being rejected by Finland due to funding problems. Finland was one of 11 teams that qualified for the European Championships at the European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) qualifying tournament in April 2022 in Poland.

The French team placed 12th in the ELF qualifiers and thus filled the vacant spot at the 2023 Men’s World Cup. In the qualifiers, France posted a record of three wins and two losses, beating Belgium, Greece and Finland and losing to the Netherlands and Sweden.

In Hartford we are not a team, but a family in which the coach is its head!

Russian forward talks about basketball and NCAA training

Can you tell us a little about your basketball journey from when you first took the ball to getting the Hartford Hawks uniform?

I came to basketball in the second grade, trained at Trint. In the eighth grade, he moved to Dynamo Youth of Moscow, where he spent two seasons. During this time, I have grown a lot and added in basketball, so I decided to try myself in the Spanish Canarias Basketball Academy. This is a large academy where guys of different ages from different countries are studying. There I learned about American basketball from the NCAA student league, because a lot of guys went straight from there to study and play in America. I spent a year and a half in CBA, after which I moved to the USA and finished the 12th grade at Balboa City School, which is located in San Diego, California. At that time, I did not have complete confidence in what I would do next. Although most of the guys from the Balboa City school linked their future with the NCAA, except, perhaps, DeAndre Ayton, who was the first number in the rating among the centers, and wanted to immediately go to the NBA.

As for me, I decided to return to Russia for a year and trained individually, after which, at the end of August 2017, I went to study and play in Hartford.

What were the achievements in Russia?

With “Trinta” he repeatedly won the championship of Moscow and once the championship of Russia. But I would not attach any decisive importance to this: children’s basketball differs significantly from adult basketball.

Are 8 foreigners the norm in today’s NCAA or is your team different from others in the 1st division?

This is more of a matter of team selection. There are the same teams in which there are many foreigners, but the majority are still made up of Americans.

How can you explain the fact that you still rarely and briefly go out on the floor? Is that how it is on your team with the first years, or do you have a lot of competition in the position?

Rather, it is so accepted. Our core team consists of guys who have been playing together for 3 or 4 years. Plus, combinations and movements in the game are brought to automatism. Therefore, all of our 5 rookies do not have regular playing time. When I went to the USA, people in the know told me that I would have to be patient, because many teams are in no hurry to release “freshmen”. But this does not mean that I have relaxed and lead a resort life – nothing like that. On the one hand, I have before my eyes examples of my yesterday’s teammates: the same Ayton, who is now in Arizona, and Jaylen Hands, who entered UCLA.

They are the leaders of their teams. In Balboa, I played with them in the same five, spent the whole season, the result was 29-10, despite the fact that we played only with teams in America’s Top 100. I have repeatedly received individual prizes in tournaments. On the other hand, the Hartford Hawks team is doing quite well this season, ahead of the playoff game, where you need to show 150%. So I’m working full time, hoping that I can help my team this season. Our goal is to win the conference!

Tell us about your coach. How does he differ from those mentors that you had in Russia and Europe?

Coach Gallagher has been in charge of Hartford for 8 years, you can be sure that he is a professional with a capital letter. It’s not my job to compare coaches, but I’ll still note one detail. We are not a team, we are a family, and the coach is the head of the family. I have never had such excellent relations both between the players and with the coaching staff. Here’s an example: some players on the team have cars, others don’t. So, these cars are actually already common – the whole team uses them, we ask the owner for the keys, and we go to the city, to the store . ..

How is training in the NCAA different from anything you’ve had before?

There are 4 coaches in our student team. They solve organizational issues together with managers. The attitude of the trainers is professional. Before each game, they analyze the team game of the opponent and individual players. In training, we discuss how to play against them, play their combinations against ours. And so, I repeat, before each game. Plus, when there is a desire to work out individually, trainers are always available. Special mentors are responsible for training in the gym, who train all the sports teams of the university.

How did the Hartford option come about, can you elaborate on that? Were there other options?

There were three variants in the USA, two in Europe and two in Russia. But I wanted to get an education in parallel with playing basketball, and in Europe and Russia this is almost unrealistic. The player of a professional team simply will not be able to get to classes. Therefore, after weighing all the pros and cons, the family council decided that it would be Hartford. And this option arose thanks to Alexander Skryagin from Pro Futuro Sports. He, knowing that I was looking for a team in the NCAA, offered me the phone of a coach in Hartford.

No idea to move to another team or lower division for more playing practice?

I completely forgot to say that there were many proposals from the divisions below, but I did not seriously consider them. I will play in NCAA D1. The team, the team, the coaches – everything is wonderful. Game time? I am confident in myself and will take the first chance that presents itself. This is not bravado. You see, over the past 7 years I have played in several strong teams and have been in the public eye everywhere (my average performance was in double digits, I run a hundred meters faster than 12 seconds with a height of 205cm), many of my partners now play for various national teams. But I also know that the sport loves the patient, and sometimes it takes time to get used to a new championship, to new speeds. So you have to work and break into the starting five.

In what aspects of the game do you think you need to improve?

First of all, you have to get used to the speed and hardness of the game in the USA. This is an American feature of basketball. Sometimes not the most technical basketball players look confident because they do everything very energetically: quickly, sharply, powerfully. To do this, I need to continue to work on my physical condition. Moreover, we have a lot of interactions in the team that lead to a three-point shot, which should also be actively worked on.

What did Russia, Europe and now America give you in terms of basketball?

Russia first of all gave me equipment. In Spain, we also devoted a lot of time to it, but there we did everything at high speeds, which allowed me to learn how to apply the techniques I already knew faster and better. And in the American school, I probably ran more than in my entire previous life. Physical condition, speed – this continues to give me America. At the same time, with tactical analysis, my understanding of the game also improves.

Considering your considerable life experience abroad, probably, there were no problems with adaptation and language at the beginning of this season?

There were no problems with the language. But it’s always hard to adapt. However, all students face this at the university, so all conditions are created there for the first academic year to pass without problems.

Tell us about the conference that Hartford plays in, who are the leaders and what are your team’s goals for this season?

Hartford plays in the America East Conference. Vermont is considered the favorite, having gone undefeated in the conference last season. The rest of the teams are roughly equal. Our task is to take a place in the regular season as high as possible, preferably the first. And everyone has the same maximum goal: win the conference playoffs and get into the NCAA playoffs (March Madness).

Given that Hartford used to have an NHL team, isn’t ice hockey the city’s most popular sport?

In Russia, hockey is more popular than basketball, but this is not the case here. We don’t have a hockey team at the university, and I hope basketball is the most popular sport here. Yes, there is lacrosse!

What basketball teams in the state do you have to fight for popularity?

There are two other division one universities near Hartford. It’s UConn and Central Connecticut, who we played the first game of the season with and won in overtime. I also note that Yale University is located in the state. Judging by the appearance of Yale, Quidditch must be popular there!

Are your games shown on local TV?

All our home games are broadcast by ESPN3. In addition, two of our games were shown live on free central TV channels.

Where do you live now, what do you manage to do besides basketball and study?

I live in a hostel, and it’s convenient, because it’s a minute walk to the sports center. Probably, apart from basketball and studying, I do nothing else. I get very tired, so I just rest in the room.

Who are you studying to be? Have you ever wanted to master this specialty?

I am studying biology. Yes, I’m interested in biology. However, the university has a lot of course requirements, so I have more than half of the humanities subjects in my schedule.

Are there any academic benefits for student athletes?

The perks are that we are given course choices earlier than all students so we can create a schedule that doesn’t interfere with practice. They also provide textbooks for free. We have a study room in the sports center with computers and a printer where you can print your work. Also, there are people there who can help if you have any questions.

You are the first from Russia in your college program, they are interested in our country, what do they ask?

Americans are very talkative, so they are interested in everything that comes to mind. They ask how Vladimir Putin is doing. Or how cold it is in Russia.

Do you keep in touch with any of your compatriots in the States?

Yes, I am in touch with teammates I used to play in, former classmates, and just acquaintances who study in North America.

Can you tell me how Connecticut is different from other states?

It differs significantly from California. And the weather is more like ours, and nature. Besides, Connecticut is New England.