MBB: Liberty League

[with age comes?]

RPI beat Clarkson pretty handily.  Clarkson was awful except for the for first ten minutes of the second half when they actually rallied from down 13 to take a one point lead. RPI came back and went on to win, helped themselves by hitting foul shots down the stretch and by commiting only 6 fouls for the entire game.  Vassar loses to STL.  My understanding of the tie breaker is record against the highest seeded teams in the league, so Hobart is already eliminated because Clarkson has the tie break on them.  RPI on the other hand can finish at 7-7 by beating SLU on Saturday at home.  SLU has no incentive to win so it could be a real possibility.  Clarkson is in if they win....  must beat Vassar at Vassar.  If they do they end up the 3rd seed as they would have swept Vassar.  If Clarkson loses the only way they can get in is SLU beats RPI because RPI at 7-7 would own the tie break over Clarkson by virtue of beating the top seed SLU at home Sat to even their league record.  Pickering did not play against RPI but he did warm up so I don't know what his status is for tomorrow (Sat. vs Vassar)  Vassar is in as the 3rd seed if they win and the fourth seed if they lose. As an addendum to the tie breaker first tie break is head to head and all teams involved split.

[FWS]

HOW COULD RPI BE IN THE LL TOURNAMENT AFTER ADMITTEDLY USING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER ACCORDING TO A 2/20/08 TIMES UNION NEWSPAPER ARTICLE?

[OlBallCoach]

The OlBallCoaches Thoughts on Liberty League Awards:

Coach of the Year Award: St Lawrence Head Coach, Chris Downs
......
This Award is a no brainer for me as the Saints finished 12-2 in the LL, but far more importantly closed out the season with 5 consecutive wins,  while winning 7 of their last 8 (going 5-1 on the road in that span) games.

Player of the Year Award: Vassar Guard: Tyson Brazell

This award is up for much debate as there are a handful of LL players with a legit shot.

I'll go with Vassar's Tyson Brazell, who had a fabulous all-around season.

Brazell finished as the only Liberty League player ranking in both the Top 5 in scoring (5th)and Top 5 steals (2nd).

Although he ranked high in many other statistical categories (12th in rebounding & 12th in assists) if one takes a close look at the final Liberty League Free Throw stats, Brazell's attempts and FT's made make a statement in themselves. He was able to get to the line far more than any other LL player (81 attempts) and made far more than any other LL player (66), while converting a solid 82% (7th).

While statistics are what coaches usually use to guage MVP's, circumstances must also be thrown into the mix.....and with Vassar down Avitable almost all of the final three conference games, it was the senior leadership of Tyson Brazell who put the Brewers on his back, leading to 2 VC wins.

[sjfcards]

Are the LL tourny pairings out yet, or is the season not over yet? From what I can tell it could be a good show.

[OlBallCoach]

Are the LL tourny pairings out yet, or is the season not over yet? From what I can tell it could be a good show.

2008 Liberty League Championship
Friday, February 29 and Saturday, March 1
Hosted by St. Lawrence University

Semifinals - Friday, February 29
#3 Vassar vs #2 Hamilton - 6:00 pm
#4 Clarkson at #1 St. Lawrence - 8:00 pm

Championship - Saturday, March 1
Semifinal Winners - 3:00 pm

[labart96]

Tough break for Hobart not squeeking into the LL tourney, but a nice way for the 4 Statesmen seniors to wrap up their careers with a comeback win in Saratoga.

http://web.hws.edu/athletics/hobart/showrelease.asp?id=4450

[with age comes?]

Agreed tough break for Hobart to not make the tourney.  The loss that essentially put them out in my opinion was at Clarkson.  Clarkson did not have their leading scorer and rebounder (Elson Pickering) and they did not have him for the final 2 games at RPI or Vassar either, but somehow managed to squeek out the victory.  It must be said that a win over Hamilton would have put them in too, but Clarkson was the most vunerable.     As far as POY I've already said that Grazioli gets my meaningless vote.  He's the real deal. If he wants to be, a certain pro ballplayer in Europe, in my opinion.  Brazell is a good player but I'm not even sure if he's the best player on his own team.  Avitabile is an extremely hard worker who scores and rebounds exceedlingly well.  Simmons carried his RPI team on his back for virtually the whole season and if they win their last game against SLU they're in the playoffs. Woepper is the heart and sole of the SLU squad that was very deep and talented.  Harlee Wood at Hamilton was the stud for Hamilton and probably will get consideration but being a junior will probably not win.         As far as the annointing of Chris Downs as Coach of the year.  Yes he probably has the inside track, but Adam Stockwell brought Clarkson to the playoffs without a POY candidate, and possibly not even a first team all league candidate.  Pickering will probably be a 2nd teamer.  Linton and Murray may get looks for honorable mention but SLU, Hobart, Hamilton, Vassar, RPI all have first team possibles and possibly even Skidmore and Union may have as many candidates for honors.  That being said, it leaves coaching.  He had 5 of his top 8 players miss multiple games due to injury and they are still playing next weekend so I think he has to be at least considered for Coach of the year.

[bucketsallday]

agreed. the guy from clarkson should get COY.

[UCAAHoops21]

I would have to give the nod to SLU for the tournament...playing at home, Clarkson and Vassar have injury issues to big players (Pickering & Avitable).
I think SLU beats Hamilton to go to the NCAA's. 

Coach of the Year-Stockwell from Clarkson

Player of the Year-Simmons from RPI-had less help and was the focal point of opponents defensive efforts yet still put them in a position to get in postseason

Rookie of the Year-???

[Bart1117]

Id give Rookie of the Year to Estep from Hobart...


He had a great year but the fact that Llewellyn had a solid year as well, might take some votes from him...I believe Estep won either rookie of the week or guard of the week somewhere near 7 times..thats solid for a frosh!

[hoops]

i think brazell, avitable, graozli and simmon sall can play overseas it just depends on how good their "connections" are. What do people thinkk the first team and second team willl look like?

[XVII]

Simmons is playing next year, because he didn't play as a freshman and is attending RPI in 2008/2009.  Can anyone say back to back POYs?

First team: Grazioli, Simmons, Avitabile, Sharlow, and Wood

[hoops]

really wow thats great for him. Not only can he be considered the early POY favorite,  RPI can be considered a legit contender next year.

[XVII]

Except they are losing all three guards that played any significant minutes: Zullo (transfer from Hamilton), Kowalczyk (transfer from RIT), and Galvin (4 year player).

If the underclassmen guards can't step it up, they'll be in trouble.

[hoops]

i agree but i expect brion to step up and be a top player next year for them i think he has that ability