MBB: Liberty League

[Ice Bear]

Congrats to RPI for that win tonight at U. Engineers made some big 3's when they needed to and Union just couldn't hit the shots they needed to. Dlip also wants to note that the Engineers seemed to not only be playing against Union but the officials as well. Props for keeping their composure and battling through.

[stlawus]

SLU with the rare season sweep of Hobart and moves back into 1st after Skid gets a beat down by Ithaca.   DeRegis got scorching hot from 3 to give SLU the 2nd half momentum. 

[magicman]

I think the Saints just took over first place as they beat Hobart tonight 72-58.

[UfanBill]

RPI vs Union hoops... used to be the big rivalry game of the year.. not a full house, but pretty darned near... I turn the game on tonight, the stands behind the team benches might have 20 fans.... what a shame...

There was a Division I hockey game between Union and Cornell right next door plus RPI had a home hockey game vs. Colgate. There are only so many Union/RPI fans locally that are willing to go out on such a cold night.  Especially with all the games also available on streaming video.

[d3d3d3]

Saturday
SLU 80, RIT 65
Skid 83, Bard 72
Vassar 61, Union 55
Hobart 70, Clarkson 61
Ithaca 89, RPI 85 (OT)

Standings
SLU     11-2   14-6
Skid    11-3    13-7
Hob     10-4    13-8
Bard    8-6      12-9
Ith       7-6     11-9
RPI      6-8      11-10
Vass    5-9       9-12
Union   4-10    8-12
Clark    3-9     4-15
RIT      2-10   5-14

[hopefan]

RPI vs Union hoops... used to be the big rivalry game of the year.. not a full house, but pretty darned near... I turn the game on tonight, the stands behind the team benches might have 20 fans.... what a shame...

There was a Division I hockey game between Union and Cornell right next door plus RPI had a home hockey game vs. Colgate. There are only so many Union/RPI fans locally that are willing to go out on such a cold night.  Especially with all the games also available on streaming video.

Thanks, Bill.....fantastic scheduling by the AD's of both schools, eh???   As I used to say, who goes to the Basketball games?  The people who couldn't get tix for the hockey games...  SAD

[Caz Bombers]

I don't think there's anything they can do about it. Pretty sure the LL locks you into the 6/8 window on Friday and 2/4 on Saturday with ECAC hockey going at 7.

I imagine the same thing happens at SLU and Clarkson, plus whenever the men's hockey team is on the road in the league, usually the women are at home, so still a conflict. RIT games in AHA/CHA can't be much different either, not to mention HWS and Skidmore in D3.

Particularly in Union's case, lamenting that a D1 hockey team that may well make the NCAAs this year and won a natty 5 years ago is a more interesting draw than a D3 basketball team near the bottom of its conference is, well...whaddaya gonna do.

[jmcozenlaw]

For anybody who follows more closely than me, I see Thompson from Ithaca is second in the Liberty League in scoring. Have other teams not figured out how to defend him or does he have a secondary strength other than 3 point shooting? Thanks!

[Bartman]

For anybody who follows more closely than me, I see Thompson from Ithaca is second in the Liberty League in scoring. Have other teams not figured out how to defend him or does he have a secondary strength other than 3 point shooting? Thanks!

I have only watched him against Hobart, but he is a very exciting offensive player. Hobart did not really stop him but tried to limit his 3 point attempts( 2-12 against Hobart in 2 games on 3PT), but he figured out how to score 51 points in 2 games on 20-40 shooting and 9-11 from the line. Ithaca as a team has 2 great players in Thompson and Ezema, but Hobart is deeper and out rebounded the Bombers 85-52 in the 2 games , but Ithaca protected the ball, with a 20-39 advantage in turnovers over the 2 games. Hobart had to shoot over 50% in both games to beat IC to overcome their slippery fingers and errant passes. Both games were  fast paced and Riley seems to be the catalyst...a really fun player to watch.

[jmcozenlaw]

For anybody who follows more closely than me, I see Thompson from Ithaca is second in the Liberty League in scoring. Have other teams not figured out how to defend him or does he have a secondary strength other than 3 point shooting? Thanks!

I have only watched him against Hobart, but he is a very exciting offensive player. Hobart did not really stop him but tried to limit his 3 point attempts( 2-12 against Hobart in 2 games on 3PT), but he figured out how to score 51 points in 2 games on 20-40 shooting and 9-11 from the line. Ithaca as a team has 2 great players in Thompson and Ezema, but Hobart is deeper and out rebounded the Bombers 85-52 in the 2 games , but Ithaca protected the ball, with a 20-39 advantage in turnovers over the 2 games. Hobart had to shoot over 50% in both games to beat IC to overcome their slippery fingers and errant passes. Both games were  fast paced and Riley seems to be the catalyst...a really fun player to watch.

thanks Bartman!! I still can not get my head around how the Bombers blew out Skidmore, with the insane size differential and basically shutting down both Meren and Rupkus!

[LibertyLeagueGuru]

Exciting final couple of weekends here in the LL. Here are the playoff races in progress:

1) Skidmore and St. Lawrence battling for the #1 seed and the right to host the semi-finals and finals. These 2 teams play in the final game of the regular season. That game will likely decide who hosts. Hobart also plays Skidmore this weekend so they have an outside chance to jump in the mix here too but they are likely locked into that #3 seed. However, if both Hobart and St. Lawrence beat Skidmore then Hobart likely takes over the #2 seed.

2) Bard and Ithaca for the #4 seed and the right to host in the first round. This will almost for sure be decided in the Bard/Ithaca matchup next weekend at Bard. Bard has already beaten the Bombers once this season so a win would secure any kind of tie break scenario. Alternatively, it Ithaca wins they would win a tie break due to their win against Skidmore. If I'm not mistaken this would be Bard's first ever playoff appearance in the LL (from the looks of it....it will be their first playoff appearance across ALL sports).

3) RPI vs. Vassar for #6 seed. Vassar is playing at RPI this Saturday and again, that will likely decide this. With a win, Vassar would have the tie break due to their win over St. Lawrence (they have also beaten Skidmore and Hobart.....surprising that their record isn't better). Union has a very outside shot to get to the #6 seed as well but it seems they are reeling with 5 straight losses.

Good luck to every team in the final 2 weeks!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Here are the first rankings for the men this season: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2019/02/men-regional-rankings-first

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Thursday night's Hoopsville will be an extended version of the show to cover both the conclusion of the UW Stevens Point men's basketball investigation and our normal programming this time of the season.

The show will begin with continuing coverage of the UW Stevens Point case that finally wrapped up after more than three-and-a-half years. Athletics Director Brad Duckworth will join us for an exclusive, in-depth, interview about the case, the findings, the punishments, and what it all means for UWSP and the basketball program.

We will then shift into what would be a normal Hoopsville episode talking to teams that are making headlines in the final month of the season. Not only are teams surging, but with Regional Rankings now out the focus on who may be in or may be out of the NCAA Tournament starts to come into focus.

In the WBCA Center Court segment, Dave will also talk with a women's assistant coach who is turning heads not only in the program, but also in the conference and around the country.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch Thursday's extended show starting at 7:00 p.m. ET here: http://bit.ly/2SyWv6X (or video Facebook Live and Periscope simulcasts).

If you have questions about Division III basketball, feel free to send them and we will answer them on a the show. Email them to dave.mchugh@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options below.

Guests Schedule (order subject to change):
- Brad Duckworth, UW Stevens Point Athletics Director
- Lauren Hayden, Lynchburg women's assistant coach (WBCA Center Court)
- Juli Fulks, No. 21 Transylvania women's coach
- John Krikorian, No. 16 Christopher Newport men's coach
- Chris Downs, St. Lawrence men's coach
- Bob Amsberry, No. 15 Wartburg women's coach

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
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[stlawus]

SLU with their worst performance of the year combined with Union's best results in a Dutchmen win in Canton.  SLU's best players shot an atrocious percentage and Union dominates with points off the bench.  Union playing like a team gunning for a playoff spot.

[d3d3d3]

Friday
Skidmore 79, Hobart 71
Union 70, SLU 61
RPI 84, Bard 77
Vassar 75, RIT 73
Ithaca 97, Clarkson 67

SLU     12-3   15-7
Skid     11-3   13-7
Hob      10-4   13-8
Ith        9-6     13-9
Bard     8-7      12-10
RPI       7-8      12-10
Vass     6-9      10-12
Union    5-10    9-12
Clark     3-11    4-17
RIT        2-12    5-16