MBB: Liberty League

[magicman]

Congratulations to the Liberty League for 3 wins in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

The East Region had 6 teams in the Dance. Hobart, Ithaca, RPI, Brockport, Penn State- Harrisburg, and St. John Fisher.

Our region went 5-1 with only Fisher losing. Hopefully we can get a few teams into the Sweet 16 but they all have tough matchups today.

[footballfan911]

Anyone with thoughts/predictions on the 1st round matchups ?

Predictions?? Thompson will outscore D-I transfer, Danny Ainge's son. Thompson is getting to the rim almost at will, as stated previously. We need Sebastian to step up and play like a First Team Liberty League player. He looks way out of whack!!

Facts on Thompson. Kid doesn't back down. Alderete came on strong in 2nd half and Sinon slammed the door in OT.

[jmcozenlaw]

Anyone with thoughts/predictions on the 1st round matchups ?

Predictions?? Thompson will outscore D-I transfer, Danny Ainge's son. Thompson is getting to the rim almost at will, as stated previously. We need Sebastian to step up and play like a First Team Liberty League player. He looks way out of whack!!

Facts on Thompson. Kid doesn't back down. Alderete came on strong in 2nd half and Sinon slammed the door in OT.

You're correct, Thompson backs down from nobody................that's why he is Caz's favorite player .I saw Landry (sitting in the stands behind the Babson bench) shaking his head a few times during the first half when Thompson was killing it. I don't think that it's a reach to say that Swarthmore will have a few things up their sleeves for him!!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

In fairness, Crewe Ainge isn't really a scorer, but Ithaca prevailed when it mattered.

[jmcozenlaw]

In fairness, Crewe Ainge isn't really a scorer, but Ithaca prevailed when it mattered.

........................BUT, something did get him a D-I scholarship to a school who will be playing tonight for their conference championship and an AQ to the dance.

Don't tell me his last name was the sole reason

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

In fairness, Crewe Ainge isn't really a scorer, but Ithaca prevailed when it mattered.

........................BUT, something did get him a D-I scholarship to a school who will be playing tonight for their conference championship and an AQ to the dance.

Don't tell me his last name was the sole reason

He's a very good PG, just not looking to score primarily.

[footballfan911]

Ainge is a very solid PG. Enjoyed watching him play. Jaworski is very talented along with Coolahan. Very enjoyable game to watch no matter who you were rooting for. Great local Philly story on Coolahan and Thompson playing together all the way back to kindergarten. Came full circle for those two. Great night for  the Liberty League no matter what today brings. Pulling for RPI, Hobart and Ithaca 

[jmcozenlaw]

In fairness, Crewe Ainge isn't really a scorer, but Ithaca prevailed when it mattered.

........................BUT, something did get him a D-I scholarship to a school who will be playing tonight for their conference championship and an AQ to the dance.

Don't tell me his last name was the sole reason

He's a very good PG, just not looking to score primarily.

Agree Ryan!

[Oline89]

What a finish for the Statesmen!  Sweet 16!!

[stlawus]

Way to go Statesmen!   Very impressive showing in a hostile environment.    RPI and Ithaca put up valiant efforts, nothing to be ashamed of. 

[Caz Bombers]

great efforts by IC on the road against #1 Swat and by RPI at Tufts. Major congrats to Hobart on the Sweet 16!

I wonder if Hobart will get the opportunity to host Christopher Newport. I think CNU should host their women's sectional (putting the men on the road) and Amherst should forfeit any rights to host next weekend since they closed the doors to fans yesterday and today...but that's just me talking.

[Pat Coleman]

The host sites for the men's Sweet 16 have been released: https://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2020/bracket and game times: https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2019-20/ncaa-tournament?date=2020-03-13 and https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2019-20/ncaa-tournament?date=2020-03-14

[Bartman]

Attended the game last night. Could't pass it up after seeing the team beat a very athletic Jim Calhoun St.Joe squad. The Springfield crowd was very loud and the Statesmen looked a bit overwhelmed at the start, but then settled down and played their team game in a hostile environment. Hobart fans almost matched the volume of the Pride fans. A few inappropriate maternal references by just a few Pride fans while Hobart left the court at halftime motivated the Statesmen who came back strong midway through the second half( archived on Springfield Athletics for D3 basketball fans). No. 22, Jake Ross for Springfield is an incredible D3 talent and almost scored half of the Pride points, but Hobart team defense stepped up big in the second half and with 7 seconds left Dan Messina( grandson of Rochester NBA player Al Messina and son of ex Hobart star) calmly took an inbounds pass, streaked down the court and scored the winning basket. The seniors were disappointed to not win the LL tournament, but the drama of getting off the bubble for an NCAA berth and beating a Hall of Fame coach friday and a great  Springfield College team at the birthplace of basketball is a  "once in a lifetime" feat. Rookie coach Thompson gave appropriate credit to his great coaching staff Smiley and Pysnack and the interviews on Springfield College You Tube demonstrate maturity beyond his 29 years . If I were Christopher Newport I would not want to play Hobart right now.
    RPI and Ithaca may have ended great seasons last night with valiant efforts, but the LL is still very much alive with a very resilient Hobart Statesmen team.

[footballfan911]

Congrats to Hobart. The Bombers gave a great effort in a hostile environment. Went toe to toe. There were definitely some tight butt cheeks in that gym. The head coach was clearly concerned as he was up and berating the officials on almost every trip down the floor. Great careers for Alderete, Thompson and Mitchell come to an end. One thing that has become concerning is crowd behavior after the final horn. It is one thing to berate and heckle the players during the game. That is part of college basketball and adds to the games. It is quite another for students to get in the faces of the opposing team when they are walking to the locker room mere seconds after their season and careers come to an end. Homophobic comments. Comments questioning their manhood, etc. Is that what we have come to as a society?  Be loud, go crazy during the game, and then have respect for all of the combatants after the final whistle. I have seen much too much of this the last couple of years and Saturday night was over the line. We need to be better than this.

Congrats also to RPI. Great season.

Future is bright for the Liberty League.

[UfanBill]

Thanks for your game report Bartman. Congratulations to the Statesmen. I'm hoping they can continue their run. Also, nice job to RPI and Ithaca. The Liberty League once again makes it's mark in D3 sports.

Now I'm looking looking forward to a very competitive LL baseball season which starts soon.