MBB: Liberty League

Bartman · February 07, 2018, 09:11:48 AM

Great win by Vassar. Can Vassar make it to the playoffs? Which Skidmore team will show up when hosting Hobart on Friday?

Bartman · February 07, 2018, 04:48:49 PM

Congrats to the Statesmen for #1 in first week East Regional Ranking....just keep winning!

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 07, 2018, 05:42:09 PM

Men's first regional rankings this season: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2018/02/men-regional-rankings-first

ITH radio · February 07, 2018, 06:08:38 PM

Takes a little pressure off of having to run the table, but I'd like to see the Statesmen keep their foot on the pedal all the way into the NCAA tourney. Don't think they've ever advanced past the 2nd round. Maybe this is the year, but have to TCB vs. Union once (and probably twice in the LL tourney) to have a shot.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 08, 2018, 12:23:06 PM

Quote from: ITH radio on February 07, 2018, 06:08:38 PM
Takes a little pressure off of having to run the table, but I'd like to see the Statesmen keep their foot on the pedal all the way into the NCAA tourney. Don't think they've ever advanced past the 2nd round. Maybe this is the year, but have to TCB vs. Union once (and probably twice in the LL tourney) to have a shot.

I wouldn't say it takes the pressure off at all... we see very wild swings between Week 1 and Week 2 regional rankings once vRRO and other factors are taken into account that weren't in Week 1's work. Hobart may not be #1 next week (hypothetical). There is also positioning oneself for hosting one or two weekends of games. Top two ranked in each region usually get that opportunity (outside of other factors that could change that).

Bartman · February 09, 2018, 06:17:12 PM

Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on February 08, 2018, 12:23:06 PM
Quote from: ITH radio on February 07, 2018, 06:08:38 PM
Takes a little pressure off of having to run the table, but I'd like to see the Statesmen keep their foot on the pedal all the way into the NCAA tourney. Don't think they've ever advanced past the 2nd round. Maybe this is the year, but have to TCB vs. Union once (and probably twice in the LL tourney) to have a shot.

I wouldn't say it takes the pressure off at all... we see very wild swings between Week 1 and Week 2 regional rankings once vRRO and other factors are taken into account that weren't in Week 1's work. Hobart may not be #1 next week (hypothetical). There is also positioning oneself for hosting one or two weekends of games. Top two ranked in each region usually get that opportunity (outside of other factors that could change that).

I think Hobart needs to win out to Host in the NCAA, anything less than that will give an excuse to leave them on the road as LL is not a top conference , although maybe a loss to Union and winning the LL Tourney could still give them a host shot.

ITH radio · February 10, 2018, 07:06:01 AM

If you can't beat em, pull the fire alarm....

One of the more random stories I can remember from any Hobart game over the past 25 some years....

http://www.hwsathletics.com/news/2018/2/9/hobart-basketball-25-hobart-tops-skidmore-for-13th-win-in-a-row.aspx

Bartman · February 10, 2018, 03:13:07 PM

Quote from: ITH radio on February 10, 2018, 07:06:01 AM
If you can't beat em, pull the fire alarm....

One of the more random stories I can remember from any Hobart game over the past 25 some years....

http://www.hwsathletics.com/news/2018/2/9/hobart-basketball-25-hobart-tops-skidmore-for-13th-win-in-a-row.aspx

I was wondering why the live stats were frozen for quite awhile. Didn't really help Skidmore

Caz Bombers · February 11, 2018, 11:14:39 AM

we could be headed for a complex tiebreaker situation for the #6 seed. Skidmore and RPI are tied, split with each other and have the exact same results vs. all teams in the league.

They each finish with the North Country trip next weekend; if both sweep, get swept, or split with wins against the same opponent, we've got a situation. If they do a reverse split, then the advantage goes to the one that beats Clarkson. I can't find the tiebreaker information on the LL website like the Empire 8 has.

Technically it's a 3-way tie for 5th with Vassar, but the Brewers went 4-0 vs. Skidmore and RPI, so they would currently have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, they finish on the road against Hobart and Ithaca; an 0-2 weekend could very well finish Vassar.

Libertatem Foederis · February 11, 2018, 03:34:43 PM

The Last Spot for the Tournament : Skidmore - Vassar - RPI

3 way tie for 5th . The interesting thing if Im seeing this correctly Vassar has swept Skidmore & RPI this season, so as I see it all they have to do is mirror (2-0 , 1-1 , 0-2) one of the other 2 teams and they leap them for that spot.

All 3 teams are on the road. With Vassar having the toughest schedule (Ithaca & Hobart) . RPI & Skidmore are in the north country . Clarkson is playing well in my eyes and could have a great chance to play spoiler for someone.

LF

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 11, 2018, 03:46:46 PM

Quote from: Bartman on February 09, 2018, 06:17:12 PM
Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on February 08, 2018, 12:23:06 PM
Quote from: ITH radio on February 07, 2018, 06:08:38 PM
Takes a little pressure off of having to run the table, but I'd like to see the Statesmen keep their foot on the pedal all the way into the NCAA tourney. Don't think they've ever advanced past the 2nd round. Maybe this is the year, but have to TCB vs. Union once (and probably twice in the LL tourney) to have a shot.

I wouldn't say it takes the pressure off at all... we see very wild swings between Week 1 and Week 2 regional rankings once vRRO and other factors are taken into account that weren't in Week 1's work. Hobart may not be #1 next week (hypothetical). There is also positioning oneself for hosting one or two weekends of games. Top two ranked in each region usually get that opportunity (outside of other factors that could change that).
I think Hobart needs to win out to Host in the NCAA, anything less than that will give an excuse to leave them on the road as LL is not a top conference , although maybe a loss to Union and winning the LL Tourney could still give them a host shot.

The last few years the men's basketball committee has tried hard to give the top two regional ranked teams hosting opportunities no matter what conference they come from.

It doesn't always work for a lot of reasons:
- Dual women's hosts (this year, women have priority the opening weekend)
- Geography challenges
- Extra hosts in unforeseen places (see Texas or Georgia)

They also do have who they consider the Top 16 teams in the country (by NCAA criteria standards) and there are always extenuating circumstances. We will know Hobart's position a bit better this week when we get the Week 2 Regional Rankings.

If they finish ranked in the top two spots, they are in terrific shape to host...

Bartman · February 11, 2018, 09:22:25 PM

Hobart , Plattsburgh State and Cortland were all victorious this weekend...Rochester continues to drop with a loss to Carnegie Mellon...Hobart should stay on top of the regional rankings this week....hopefully they will stay focused this weekend at home prior to LL Tourney against Vassar and Union.....students and town will be out supporting the winning streak this weekend

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 11, 2018, 10:41:24 PM

Using this as an opportunity to remind people, the RACs and national committee start from scratch every week. Just because a team is 1, 2, 3, 4 whatever doesn't mean they start there and then a conversation is had about if they should stay or move up or down. It all starts from scratch.

I suspect Hobart will stay in first as well, but remember also that other data like Results versus Regionally Ranked Opponents (vRRO) is now taken into account and that brings with it a ton of new information. I suspect Rochester will drop, but their SOS always helps them.

I haven't dived deep into the information to really know how the rankings may work out this week.

Bartman · February 13, 2018, 01:16:03 AM

Hobart moves up to #21 in latest poll.

AUPepBand · February 13, 2018, 08:55:13 PM

Alfred came from behind to edge regionally ranked Nazareth, 89-87 tonight at Galanis Arena. Trailing 81-72 with 2:12 remaining, the Saxons went on a 17-6 run as the Golden Flyers shot only 6-of-12 from the free throw line and failed to score a field goal. The Saxons went 7-of-8 at the line down the stretch and had a key steal on the inbounds pass with 9 seconds remaining after Nick Schmidt had hit four straight free throws to pull AU to within 87-86.

Following a Naz timeout, AU ran an inbounds play that left Schmidt alone in the corner, who nailed the trey to give AU the 89-87 lead with 7 seconds remaining. Naz rushed down the court and threw up an errant shot, AU garnered the rebound and the miracle win was celebrated with fans rushing the court.

The Saxons (16-6, 10-4 E8) have games remaining at Utica (14-9, 9-5 E8) Friday, Feb. 16 and at Hartwick (8-15, 5-9 E8) Saturday, Feb. 17.

The loss snapped a 7-game win streak by Naz (18-7, 13-3) and may have cost the Golden Flyers the #1 seed and home court in the E8 tourney, depending on what Stevens (18-5, 12-2 E8) does against Elmira and Utica.