MBB: Liberty League

[hopefan]

VERY disappointing loss for RPI vs rival Union   -  hard to figure out the results of these two teams from afar....

[magicman]

VERY disappointing loss for RPI vs rival Union   -  hard to figure out the results of these two teams from afar....

hopefan,
Inconsistency has been the norm for every team in the LL this year. Just when any one  team takes a step forward they promptly go out and stumble in the next outing. Clarkson beats Rochester on the road, then Cortland, in back to back contests and follows those nice wins up with a loss to E8 celler dweller Elmira. Union beats a good Elms team(who has a win over ranked Amherst), and follows that up with a 47 pt loss to Skidmore on Union's home court. Union also has a loss to SUNY-Cobleskill a weak team in D3's weakest conference. Skidmore opens the year with a 5 game winning streak, which includes a win over NYU and proceeds to lose at HOME to a 4-13, last place in their league, Johnson St. Perennial powers, Hamilton and SLU have been up and down all year with both teams currently sporting losing records, although the Saints are starting to get their act together, having won 4 of their last 5. And your beloved RPI Red Hawks, who looked to be the class of the league just 2 weeks ago with a very good 9-2 record(and both losses were to D3 Hoops Top 25 ranked teams, MIT and Middlebury) have now dropped 3 of their last 5 to fall back into the pack. Strange happenings here in Northern NY. Crucial stretch upcoming for RPI starting tonight against Skidmore, followed by Clarkson and SLU next weekend. It's make or break time for the Red Hawks with these 3 games. At least, as you mentioned earlier, all 3 of them are at home, but so wasn't that Union game last night. And in my opinion, all three of the upcoming teams, are better than Union.

[with age came?]

Magic - my Knights are killing me!!  I am thinking about getting to the Hobart and Hamilton games if I can.  I think they need to hear my loud voice!! I was pretty sure that the "cream" would rise to the top with the SLU guys.  The sophmores seem to be getting their legs and the guard, Josh Sharlow, is  steady and good at point.  Also it looks right now that unless Skidmore stumbles badly they will accelerate my prediction and be right in the thick of things this year.  For the Knights its this year or bust I am afraid.  They rely heavily on 3 seniors and do not have any freshman playing any substantial minutes.  It also appears that RPI is headed in the wrong direction.  It is going to be an absolute "barnburner" for that final spot.  Only SLU and Skidmore seem to be in the driver's seat right now.  The rest is a 5 way battle for 2 spots. (At this point I am throwing in the towel for Vassar).  I am in "terror" mode about the east - it could be league champs only in every conference - especially if Brockport and SJF win the tournaments.  Guess I'll have hope that I am wrong again (as I have been often)!

[magicman]

St.Lawrence defeats visiting Clarkson 67-62 to retain a share of 1st place in the Liberty League to match Skidmore who also moved to 6-2 Tuesday night with an 83-77 decision over Union in Saratoga Springs.

The Saints improved their overall record to 10-9 marking the 1st time all season they have been over .500. It was their 4th win in a row and 6th out of their last 7, as this young team finally seems to be hitting their stride. 7 of their 9 losses have been in overtime (2 games) or by 4 points or less. SLU came out flying and jumped out to a 10-2 lead that quickly became a 16 point advantage 20-4 with less than 8 minutes gone in the 1st half. They reached their largest lead of the game at 37-18 and 39-20 before Clarkson hit a bucket  to go into the break up 39-22. The Golden Knights didn't fold, however, and started hitting their shots, outscoring the Saints 18-8 to cut the margin to 7 at 47-40 with 12:12 to go. SLU regained the momentum, scoring 6 straight pts and going back up by 13 a minute later. Saints maintained a double digit lead, stretching it back up to 16 with 5:24 left to play, when the Knights made one final push with a 15-2 run. After closing to within 3 at 65-62 with 49 seconds left a Clarkson 3 point attempt to tie at 42 second mark misses and Knights foul but Saints miss free throw giving Knights 1 last chance. Clarkson tries to find a 3 point shooter but Josh Sharlow intercepts the pass and fires it ahead to Terry Parham who makes the layup accounting for the final 5 point margin. Garrett Sharlow was the games high scorer as he led the Saints with 23 pts and 8 rebounds. Josh Sharlow added 10 pts, 4 rebounds. 4 assists, and 3 steals. Clarkson was led by Keith Murray with 16 pts and Felix Llanos with 13 points.  Clarkson falls to 4-4 in league play and 10-8 overall. Clarkson and travel partner SLU are both on the road this Fri and Sat at Vassar and RPI.   

[magicman]

The NCAA released the first set of Regional Rankings today. Here is the East Region:

East Region
1. St. John Fisher 15-4 16-4
2. Stevens 15-4 15-4
3. New York University 12-5 13-5
4. Medaille 18-1 19-1
5. Rochester 9-5 13-5
6. Nazareth 12-6 13-7

Complete rankings for all regions can be found here:

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2010/02/03/mens-regional-rankings-feb-3rd/

[with age came?]

I keep forgeting about Medaille.  I truly think they would be in the pool c hunt even if they do not win their tournament.  However I can see just about all of the other bids allocated to Northeast teams that lose in tournaments late.  Could be very "slim pickings" for the east this year.

[magicman]

Hobart absolutely hammers visiting Union tonight 97-47. Hobart hikes Liberty League record to 4-4 and joins a logjam for the 4th and final playoff spot with Hamilton and RPI. The Statesmen are 11-8 overall. Union misses an opportunity to catch Skidmore and has sole possession of 3rd place with a 5-3 LL mark, 9-10 overall. Union travels to Hamilton on Saturday, while Hobart is hosting Skidmore. 

[magicman]

St Lawrence takes over sole possession of 1st place as they travel to Vassar and come away with an 82-60 win. Saints improve to 7-2 in league play and 11-9 overall. Vassar falls to 0-8, 2-17 overall.

Skidmore, tied with SLU going into this evening, travels to Hamilton and gets handled by the Continentals 64-45. Thoroughbreds drop into 2nd place with a 6-3 record, 13-7 overall. Hamilton evens their league record at 4-4, 8-10 overall, and is now tied with RPI and Hobart for 4th place. 

[magicman]

Clarkson visits RPI and loses another close game, falling to the Red Hawks 59-53.
With their 3rd league loss in a row the Golden Knights have tumbled into 7th place in the standings with a 4-5 league slate, 10-9 overall. RPI now stands at 4-4 in the Liberty League and 12-6 overall. An important game is on tap tomorrow afternoon in Robison Gym at 4 PM as the 1st place SLU Saints travel to Troy and try to win their 6th straight league game.   

[platinumondubs]

Robison Gym is closed.... RPI plays in ECAV now

[hopefan]

Just got off the phone with old buddy Mike Griffin, coach at RPI,   after last weeks crushing losses at home, needless to say, he was one happy camper after beating Clarkson and St Lawrence this weekend.... RPI is back in it, but a tough weekend next week at Skidmore and Union....

[platinumondubs]

RPI beats St. Lawrence today in ECAV and climbs back into the playoff discussion after a sweep of the North Country teams.   They were propelled by an all-around team effort; they have no go-to guy and depend on someone getting hot at the right time.  Griff has them playing good team defense, and they crash the offensive boards very well.  Look for them to split next weekend, probably dropping the Skidmore game, but winning at Union in front of hundreds of rowdy Engineer fans who made the short ride down Route 7.

[magicman]

Results on Saturday:

RPI takes down visiting league leader SLU 66-61

Hobart hosts 2nd place Skidmore and wins 85-79

Union rebounds with a win over host Hamilton 58-40

Clarkson visits Vassar and keeps the host team winless 75-60

Updated standings through 2-6-10

1.   SLU                    7-3
2.   Skidmore             6-4
2.   Union                  6-4
4.   RPI                     5-4
4.   Hobart                 5-4
6.   Clarkson               5-5
7.   Hamilton               4-5
8.   Vassar                  0-9

[hopefan]

Totally bizarre    Union loses by 50 at Hobart, then comes back to win at Hamilton easily the next afternoon...   Magicman, help!!!!!!

[buck1053]

The topsy turvy LL continues, RPI sweeping the North Country teams, Hamilton winning big and then getting drilled on their home court (can't wait to see how the Continentals fare in the NESCAC next season), Skidmore continues to lose or win in streaks, Union can't decide whether they are worse than Vassar or a contender, St. Lawrence's big winning streak ends, Clarkson snapping its three-game losing streak and Hobart reeling off three straight victories. Thank goodness for the consistency of Vassar's crappiness.

Totally bizarre    Union loses by 50 at Hobart, then comes back to win at Hamilton easily the next afternoon...   Magicman, help!!!!!!

I know, right. They also had a 40-point loss to Skidmore at Union, then only lost by a handful at Skidmore this week. Completely unable to figure them out this year.

Look for them to split next weekend, probably dropping the Skidmore game, but winning at Union in front of hundreds of rowdy Engineer fans who made the short ride down Route 7.

Where were the rowdy Engineer fans for their home game against Union when they lost by 14?