MBB: Liberty League

[FWS]

DeckTop- Re: your 2/15 post.
Apparently, the RPI team was informed of this situation last week.

[labart96]

What a weekend.    Hamilton comes into Potsdam and comes away with victory aided by the fact that Hamilton shoots 48 free throws (not a misprint) on Clarkson's home floor. Clarkson outscored by 22 points from the foul line on their home court in a 59-42 loss. I'm not one to comment on the refs after the fact (and Clarkson did play horrendously) but this crew shouldn't be doing HS JV games let alone college games, but what I say doesn't matter.  I'm sure some other teams will have the "pleasure" soon enough.  So the Knights have to face the hot Hobart Statesman the next day without their leading scorer and rebounder (Elson Pickering) who lay writhing on the floor in the Hamilton game for about 20 seconds in pain before this crew noticed him (how you can miss a 6"7" 235 pound man twitching like a fish out of water for 20 seconds is beyond me-a comment on their eyesight I guess). And as Bart and TGP know Clarkson smoke & mirrors and little bit of Houdini engineers a 75-72 win.  And this just in- Grazioli gets my useless vote for POY.  He was magnificient 12-20 from the floor 8 for 9 from the line numerous rebounds and played many minutes with 4 fouls (Izzi did a lot of offense/defense subbing quite well).  If he wants, he should definitely play pro ball overseas.  The man has skills.  No easy fast break points in this game just nifty back to the basket moves and a soft touch. Statesmen still have viable chance to get into the playoffs but most likely will have to run the table, which means must beat Hamilton tomorrow at home and take care of business against Union and Skidmore at home on the weekend.  RPI has truly difficult task as they too probably will have to sweep remaining 3 games @ Vassar on Tuesday and Clarkson & Saint Lawrence this weekend.  Vassar probably just needs to win 1 of three home games against RPI, Clarkson or SLU to get in.  Clarkson has to win one on the road @RPI or Vassar to have a legitimate shot.  Don't know status  of Pickering but I don't know that the Knights have enough "smoke and mirrors" to accomplish that.  6 teams with legit shots at the playoffs in the final week of the season is pretty awesome. What would be really interesting would be three teams tied for the 4th spot at 7-7 which I think is a possiblity.  I haven't a clue what the tie break would be? That may be my longest post ever so I'll shut up now!!

I am not certain how the LL would select a #4 seed if several teams end up 7-7 in the conference.  I know that in football the LL has a head to head tie breaker, but this would be tough to apply in a bb instance (especially b/c Hobart spilt their season series with Vassar, Clarkson and RPI).  The LL website is down at the moment, but I'll check back later to see whether or not there's any additional tie-breaker info.

The reality is that Hobart blew it's chance to control their own destiny with the loss to Clarkson.  A win against Hamilton would be huge, but I am not counting on it.

[bucketsallday]

nice win for vassar tonight against rpi. rpi jumped out to a big early lead 28-15 but vc pressed them and went on a 24-7 run and ended up 1 at the half, then used a 12-0 run at the start of the second. rpi cut it to 3 with about 40 seconds left, but never got closer. the most impressive part of the win is that they did it with avitabile out for the last 30 minutes and kyle magnus, their starting center, in foul trouble the whole game. vc has a bunch of tough athletic wings that can pressure the heck out of you.

another great game for matt nunn and joe davis. and it is too bad sam simmons doesnt have more around him - i really like his game. he has an array of moves down low, he is tough on the boards, and he is strong as an ox.

[with age comes?]

With Hobart loss coupled with win over RPI means that  Vassar is in the playoffs.  Why was Avitabile out?  He's too good not to be playing in this big a game!!!   Sick?  Hurt?  Hope not, he's a really good player and a really good person too from what I see.  Now it remains to be seen how the rest of the weekend plays out for the final spot.  We could conceivably have 3 teams at 7-7.  TGP did you have any luck at the website determining tie breakers after head to head?  Anyone else know?

[labart96]

With Hobart loss coupled with win over RPI means that  Vassar is in the playoffs.  Why was Avitabile out?  He's too good not to be playing in this big a game!!!   Sick?  Hurt?  Hope not, he's a really good player and a really good person too from what I see.  Now it remains to be seen how the rest of the weekend plays out for the final spot.  We could conceivably have 3 teams at 7-7.  TGP did you have any luck at the website determining tie breakers after head to head?  Anyone else know?

Probably sick.  A lot of the Hobart lacrosse starters didn't/weren't able to play in the prior weekend's scrimmage against Colgate, then Colgate went to Denver and got thumped with a lot of their starters out sick too.  Chances are a bug was involved.

I wasn't able to find anything on the LL website about tie breakers, but it is feasible that if the season ends in a 3 way tie for 4th place at 7-7, and all 3 teams split their season series, the next possible tie breaker could be regular season records, and/or PF/PA either overall or against LL opponents.  Right now I hope this favors Hobart since they have the "easiest" road to 7-7 with games against Union and the Skids, while Clarkson and RPI will face each other, then have to face Vassar and SLU, respectively.

The reality is, however, that if Clarkson beats RPI Friday, they are in as the 4 seed and your 08 LL tourney looks like this:

Clarkson vs. SLU
Hamilton vs. Vassar

[bucketsallday]

the tie breaker after head to head is record against the other teams that made the tourney. so stl has already all but clinched home court because even if vassar wins out and stl loses out, they will have split their season series. both teams split with hamilton, but stl swept clarkson and hobart, and (assuming vassar wins out and rpi does not win the fourth seed) vassar split with hobart and clarkson. so if rpi can somehow get the fourth seed and vassar wins out, then they will host because they swept rpi and stl will have split.

[bucketsallday]

and avitabile wasnt sick, he got his legs taken out by simmons going for a rebound and landed on his back hitting his head on the floor pretty hard. he has had multiple concussions during his career, and it looks like he may have gotten another one. after he hit, he left the gym and didnt return.

[labart96]

and avitabile wasnt sick, he got his legs taken out by simmons going for a rebound and landed on his back hitting his head on the floor pretty hard. he has had multiple concussions during his career, and it looks like he may have gotten another one. after he hit, he left the gym and didnt return.

ouch!  didn't see or read about that.  hopefully avitabile will be ok. 

[airball55]

sully is the best noon player in the liberty league!!!  take that to the bank ricky ro!

[bucketsallday]

isnt ricky ro the guy from blue chips that wasnt penny or shaq?

[UCAAHoops21]

crazy last two weeks in the LL...very interested in the RPI situation, anyone have more info about it?

I know a lot still needs to be decided, but any thoughts on post season awards?
I think POY is a tough call with Avitable, Grazioli & Simmons all good picks

If Clarkson gets in this weekend, I have to give Coach Stockwell Coach of the Year.

any thoughts?

[bucketsallday]

as a vassar guy, I say you still have to give it to avitabile, although since he has been battling injuries and sickness all season he hasnt put up the best numbers. but vc is def havin the best year of the three teams, and he is their best player so..... it will be close, they all can ball.

[FWS]

How could RPI be in the LL tournament over Hobart when they beat Hobart using an ineligible player?

[shooters]

If RPI is using an ineligble player then RPI should forfeit any games they won the player played in. That would be interesting on several different fronts, the 2 games that come to mind are against Hobart and Hamilton. Has it become "official" that an inelgible player was used because if so its kind of a no-brainer, and both Hobart and Hamilton would benefit with another win.

[bucketsallday]

the danish guy on the team sat out against vassar on tuesday night, and i know he joined the team half way thru the season. thats a good question because that would be a big difference in hamilton and stl end up tied.

whats the word on pickering? is he still hurt?