We got e-mail asking why Duke was ninth in the ACC graduation rates,
according to the Graduation Success Rates formula the NCAA uses. While we
don't understand the formula exactly, and we're not even trying to at the
moment, we can perhaps shed some light on a formula so odd that while the NCAA
recognizes Duke almost every year for graduating 100% of its football players,
by their formula, Duke is just fourth in the conference at 87%.
The formula covers the percent of freshmen from 1995 to 1998 who graduated
(or not). Those who left school early were not counted, but transfers in
were. So we're assuming that means those who left early for the NBA don't count,
but those who transferred in from, say, a JUCO, would.
In Duke's case, that's not an easy break. We looked for a comprehensive
list of recruits and years but couldn't find it. If you guys can tell us
what we got wrong, and who we might have missed, we'd appreciate it.
Obviously something is wrong, since Duke is listed at 50% and we have 13
players. Would Roshown McLeod make 14?
In 1995, if memory serves, the freshman class was Wojo, Trajan Langdon, and
Ricky Price.
In 1996, was it just Taymon Domzalski?
1997: Chris Carrawell, Nate James, and Mike Chappell
1998: Elton Brand, Chris Burgess, William Avery, Shane Battier
We can't remember what year Matt Christensen signed, but he took a Mormon
mission after his freshman year. We're also not sure and can't find out
right now what years Joey Beard and Taymon Domzalski signed.
Of the players we can recall, here's the breakdown:
Players graduated: Wojo, Langdon, Domzalski, James, Battier, Price,
Christensen, McLeod
Player did not graduate in six years:
Chris Carrawell
NBA Early Entry
Brand, Avery
Transfer
Beard, Chappell, Burgess
So while three players left and were counted against Duke, and two found
instant wealth in the NBA, as far as we know, only one who stayed for four years
failed to graduate, and our understanding is that C-well either has done it or
can do it at any time.
To reiterate, we realize this is incomplete and not entirely accurate.
However, it is accurate enough to prove the point we were trying to make: 50% sounds bad, but it's not as bad as it seems