MBB: Liberty League

[Dawg Pound]

First, the fan at the Skidmore game was simply cheering behind the opposing team's bench.  As Hamilton continued to outclass an embarassingly bad Skidmore team, the coach became angry with the fan and asked the ref to eject him.  The ref promptly did just that and the fan got kicked out.  As the fan was leaving, he was understandly upset and may have said some vulgar things.  He came back and got kicked out within a minute of his return.

As for the events directly after the Union game:  Union's Coach allowed Union to blow a 10 point lead to lose by double digits.  After the game, our fans went onto the court to stay and applaud our seniors for senior night.  One of our fans told Coach Bob to say hi to his wife for him.  Coach Bob obviously took his frustration of a loss out on the fan and approached him screaming "I wish I could be fat, dumb and unathletic and dress up like a clown for games."  (Obviously, Coach Bob wish he could have avoided the responsibility of a loss and become a fan instead.)  Anyways, there were no racial comments made and Coach Bob was restrained.  There was a few pushes and that was about all that happened.  There were no racist comments made.

When one of the other Liberty League teams has enough of a following to have a real home court advantage, you can cheer on your team.  Until then, stay content being a second-tier Liberty League team.

[unionalum]

I thought this message board was for people with an actual interest in the Liberty League.
Hamilton does have the best crowd in the league, but as far as them being the only first tier team, I'd have to take exception.

Union has been to the NCAA's 2 of the past 4 years.  Hamitlon doesn't appear to be the overwelming dominant force you make them out to be.

As for the fan's actions, your bias is getting the best of you, if you think thats all that was said or happened.

[shooters]

I would agree w/ unionalum that the last part of that posting was a little uncalled for. The fact that Union was up by 8 proves they are not a second tier team, they have played Hamilton tough twice now, but are in jeopardy of not making the playoffs. Good support by Hamilton fans but please make sure it doesn't cross the line, and although i chuckled at the line used "say hi to your wife" only because i believe he just got divorced, that doesn't make it right to say. Reminds me of Bob Knight when they chanted "who's your daddy" and he went nuts!! Lets all support all LL teams.

[woot]

yeh, there was a racial comment made by the fans. starvin marvin from south park was used to refer to a player on union.

[gobombers15]

I get the distinct impression we may be seeing a Fisher/Hamilton Sweet 16 game. Are all the Hamilton players back and playing?

[shooters]

Thats looking a bit ahead but yes all Hamilton players are playing and playing well. I hope they can run the rest of the table and the conference tourney. I just hope if somehow they don 't get through the LL tournament they can still get an at large bid.

[unionalum]

Who do you guys consider the biggest threat to go into Hamilton and with the tourney, other than Hamilton?

[shooters]

I once thought the threat would be Union, and i'm not so sure that still isn't the biggest one. I would say Hobart just because you never know but it looks like they won't even be in the tournament.  I can't say i see SLU or RPI doing anything. I think the best chance will come from the 4 seed whoever that will be. (Union or Hobart)

[UCAAHoops21]

The LL tourney should be exciting and Hamilton has to be the odds on favorite to win it.  As far as teams with a chance, it is still hard to say.  Union could certainly pull it off if they were to grab a four seed and have a week to prepare.  I have to say though, RPI has a lot of seniors and if they continue to rebound well-i think they lead the league and Schiender continues to dominate they could be the dark horse.  Likewise, Union has that senior leadership and experience like RPI and they ran the table last year...if they shoot well they could do it again...I have to say that I think Hobart has had too many things to make you wonder this year--coaching change, beating Union twice, splitting with Hamilton, but losing to Skidmore and having to almost "win out" to be there and SLU has a young team that I think is the favorite next year and the year after.  However, if things stay this way, the tourney will be at Hamilton, and that is a great advantage for them for a number of reasons, including those stated in recent posts.
I think when all is said and done we have
Hamilton (1) vs. Union (4)  &  SLU (2) vs. RPI (3)

[bed]

Watch out for Union.

Hamilton will have a huge advantage being at home in their gym, but I think Union as a few guys on their roster (1 in particular) who can really take over a game.  If those guys get hot and start hitting their shots, Hamilton could be heavily tested and beaten.

As I have stated earlier, I just don't like Coach Anderson's substitution patterns with his Hamilton team.  You can't sub guys in and out in big games and bring in 3 or 4 guys every few minutes when something goes wrong.  You go with your bread and butter and the guys that got you there (i.e. your best players).

Union and Coach Montana will follow that maxim.  They will play their guys and if they lose, they lose.  Hamilton gets real cute with their substitution patterns at times and against a veteran team like Union and a coach as seasoned as Montana that could spell:  1) Disaster, 2) Frustration, and 3) UPSET  by the Dutchmen.

[unionalum]

Yes i'm bias...  Union can beat and lose to any team.  Although a lot of people would probably say that is true for most of the teams in the conference it is especially true for them.  Union is very similar to West Virginia... they play 5 guys who can all shoot from the permitere, their offense is heavily based on motion and player's reading the court.
 
You catch them in a bad shootin night and they will have trouble grinding out an ugly victory.  However, if it is one of those nights were they shoot 15-32 from the 3pt line.. then they are tough to beat.  Like West Virginia, they dont value rebounding numbers as highly as maybe RPI does. 

I would argue they have 2 guys who can take over a game... and one of them did just that last year against Hamilton in the championship game.  Hamilton showed me somethin that i had never seen from them last year when they battled back from over 20 down... when they take that attitude to the court, they are tough to beat.

If they were to match up in the first round, i would make the winner of that game the fav for the finals

[thumbsup]

first things first.  Union can't upset anyone if they aren't in the tournament.  They would be dangerous I agree, but the subbing patterns have worked twice already this year.  The subbing does have upside, new fresh players can guard and close out on shooters, Union does not like to put the ball on the ground.  Wearing down teams is what Hamilton likes to do, and their style is very different from anyone alse, so they are hard to play on top of being talented.  If the dutchman get the Conts., I don't like their chances, not deep enough.

[radiomike]

Watch out for Union.

Union has to take care of business, just as Hobart does for the next two weeks. Union faces St. Lawrence tonight, as Hobart will next week. If both teams split their weekends, losing to St. Lawrence and RPI, Hobart is the # 4 team. Even if Hobart & Union end up tied, Hobart will get the # 4 spot, due to the head to head. Union is the dark horse looking in at the moment. Interestingly, Hobart gives Hamilton their only conference loss, and loses by three in the rematch. Union lost both games, by ten and by three. Any team is vulnerable this year, and while some look at Hamilton being favored, Any of the top 5 can win the league championship this year. It likely will be Hobart and Hamilton going at it for the rubber game in round one of the LL Tourney.

[blockparty]

Enough of this Hamilton / Union talk.  What about RPI?  They beat Hobart tonight 75-69 in front of a raucous crowd in Troy.  Schneider had his 1000th point, and a whole lot more.  27 and 21 to be exact, clearly proving he is the only possible selection for Player of the Year.  If he keeps up this level of play, anything short of a unanimous vote for Tom Schneider is highway robbery.

Oh ok, Cagianello padded his stats against joke nonconference teams.  But Liberty League play is what matters, and Schneider has RPI looking like Liberty League champions.

[unionalum]

Schneider does look like POY, but don't hate on Cagianello.... season on the line last night he poured in 34, for his 6th 30 pts game of the season over second place St. Lawerence.