MBB: Liberty League

radiomike · February 15, 2006, 03:04:43 PM

Quote from: UCAAHoops21 on February 15, 2006, 12:35:17 PM
If my math is right, which is questionable at times, is it possible that SLU, RPI, Union, & Hobart all end up at 9-5? Anyone know the tie-breaking process?

The scenario would play out only if SLU dropped both games, Union and Hobart sweep, and RPI splits. Under this scenario, Hamilton is #1, Hobart # 2, Union # 3, and RPI #4. SLU would be out. Hamilton as the # 1 seed is the only thing for certain, and the rest are up for grabs between the teams, depending on who wins Friday Night. It likely will have to wait until Saturday afternoon.

dewcrew88 · February 15, 2006, 05:14:35 PM

Quote from: UCAAHoops21 on February 15, 2006, 12:35:17 PM
Had a chacne to see rpi early in the season and last weekend and just by looking at their results they are clearly the most improved team. Have to wonder what happened there?
If my math is right, which is questionable at times, is it possible that SLU, RPI, Union, & Hobart all end up at 9-5? Anyone know the tie-breaking process?

How about this:
Player of the Year: Tom Schneider RPI
Rookie of the Year: Bella Vonnack SLU
Tourney Champs: Hamilton
Coach of the Year: Mike Griffin

I watched (and covered for the local newspaper) Bela (one L not 2) when he played last year for the Canajoharie Cougars , and the few times I saw him play he was dominant, and some of it has carried over to the college ranks at SLU. He definitely deserves to be ROY.

rjcarter8 · February 16, 2006, 03:48:21 PM

It's a big weekend for a few teams in the LL. Hamilton is secure, but the next four teams are all vying for playoff spots. St. Lawrence is probably next most secure, but as a previous poster stated, SLU could be out if they drop both of their games this weekend.

Here's how the games are set:

Friday
Union (14-9, 7-5 LL) at Vassar (11-11, 3-9 LL)
Hobart (11-11, 7-5 LL) at Clarkson (5-18, 2-10 LL)
Skidmore (4-18, 1-11 LL) at RPI (10-12, 8-4 LL)
Hamilton (19-3, 11-1 LL) at St. Lawrence (11-11, 9-3 LL)

I'd pick Union over Vassar, Hobart over Clarkson, RPI over Skidmore and Hamilton over St. Lawrence. Pretty much the teams with the better records, but when it comes down to crunch time, those are the teams I'd say will win.

Saturday
Skidmore at Vassar
Hobart at St. Lawrence
Union at RPI
Hamilton at Clarkson

Vassar over Skidmore, Hobart over St. Lawrence, Union over RPI, and Hamilton over Clarkson.

That would mean -- according to radiomike -- that Hamilton would be the #1 seed, Hobart #2, Union #3 and RPI #4 in the LL tourney.

What are everybody else's thoughts on how this weekend will play out?

blockparty · February 16, 2006, 05:56:52 PM

Union / Vassar is no easy pick... Vassar has a decent guard in Brazell, a former ROY in Avitabile, and a big post playter in Kieffer. It could be a trap game for Union.

I don't see them winning in Troy either. It's Senior Day for RPI and they lost a tough one to Union a few weeks back. I think Union splits or even loses both.

Also, do you think Hamilton will be resting their guys this weekend?

shooters · February 16, 2006, 07:48:15 PM

Hamilton will not be resting anyone trust me on that. They need to secure at least an NCAA bid and to do that they need an insurance plan and that plan is getting to 21-22 wins (if they lost in LL tourney). I can't see SLU, once the conference leader being bumped out of the playoffs. It should be really interesting.

rjcarter8 · February 17, 2006, 04:30:59 PM

blockparty,
I understand what you're saying, but I think Union has too much senior leadership for Vassar. Of course, if it's a cold shooting night for the Dutchmen it could be a different story. But those guys have been to the postseason the last three years and I think they will be hyped up this weekend because they know they're playing for another postseason chance. I think they have the second best overall record in the league, but they still may need to advance to the LL tourney to get an ECAC bid.

As for the RPI/Union game, that is much tougher to predict. It's in Troy and it's Senior Night, so that gives RPI a bit of an advantage, but I still think Union's seniors have too much to lose.

While they lost both games two weekends ago, they rebounded by winning both last weekend, and Union has been known to close out seasons strong after having a mid-season swoon.

rjcarter8 · February 18, 2006, 09:09:12 AM

Well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad. The big surprise was Hamilton going down against SLU, though Hobart only beating Clarkson by four was mildly surprising as well.

RPI and Union both won going away, which will make today's matchup very interesting.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

radiomike · February 18, 2006, 12:53:05 PM

rjcarter8 · February 18, 2006, 06:46:08 PM

Saturday's scores as of 6:30 p.m.

Union 78, RPI 71
St. Lawrence 72, Hobart 69
Vassar 78, Skidmore 55
Hamilton 65, Clarkson 59

I guess I was 3 of 4 right again today, and it was St. Lawrence that tripped me up both days.

According to radiomike's table, Hamilton will be No. 1, SLU No. 2, Union No. 3 and RPI No. 4.

The top two seeds had opposite weekends, with St. Lawrence posting two nice victories (including one over Hamilton), while the Continentals dropped the game against SLU, and squeaked past Clarkson.

The two teams that played the best this weekend -- St. Lawrence and Union -- will now meet in the LL semifinals, and could be the best matchup of the conference tourney.

Early prediction here is for Hamilton to lose in the championship game against the SLU/Union winner. That semifinal is too close for me to call right now.

Thoughts?

samster · February 18, 2006, 07:23:25 PM

Quote from: thumbsup on February 10, 2006, 01:55:30 PM
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.

Hamilton likes the 10 to 11 man rotation. Full court pressure and plenty energy. Problem is -- they've been hit with the injury bug. For the LL tournament and beyond, they must excel with an 8 to 9 man rotation which includes plenty of bench talent. Coach Anderson is to be commended.

blockparty · February 18, 2006, 08:03:20 PM

Player of the year is wide open now. Cagianello ended on a big note, dropping 28 on RPI. Schneider put up decent numbers, 13 and 7.

I think Schneider is expected to put up 20 and 20 every night and when he doesn't it's shocking. It almost sucks to have those expectations.

What do you guys think?

bed · February 18, 2006, 10:08:30 PM

As I've said on here before: Cagianello for MVP.

He has had a great season. He is the kind of player that can take over a game. He scares teams and can explode at any moment. He can score a ton of points in a short span b/c of his range and shooting ability. Schneider is good, Cagianello is better.

I think Hamilton will only get beaten by Union. Hamilton's got home court and the field house is a hard place to play in big games, b/c the crowd will come out and support the team. Opposing teams don't like playing there.

But I think Union has the player of the year (Cagianello) and the better coach in Montana to beat Hamilton. Hamilton SHOULD win the game based on the talent on their roster, but that's why they play the games.

ucaafan · February 18, 2006, 10:14:17 PM

Agreed that Cagianello is POY. Went head to head with Schneider in a game each team thought they had to win. Cagianello stepped it up. Compliments by the way to the fans and administration at RPI. They reminded me what good sportmanship is all about.

thumbsup · February 19, 2006, 06:19:53 PM

Bed: hamilton plays R.P.I in the first round, not Union. Union will have to beat St. Lawrence which I would not pick as of this point. I think Hamilton's biggest threat is St. Lawrence not Union. Just a thought.

unionalum · February 19, 2006, 07:53:29 PM

This is really a nearly identical situation to last season... Union won both games on the final weekend to make the playoffs. Last season they had to play #1 seed Hobart in their building, and then Hamilton in the finals.

This year as the #3 seed, face SLU, then likely Hamilton.

Union has too much firepower for SLU... they are playing great basketball right now, and Cagianello and Scordato can really get it going at anytime. They have the senior rock solid point guard in Murphy who doesn't really get the credit he deserves. Put it this way, he was voted Team MVP last season, with all the same players as this one, plus Bruce.

Hamilton obviously has a tremendous advanatge being the best team and playing at home, but as we know this doesn't always get you to the Dance. I dont see Union's seniors getting rattled by the crowd either, it would be a great game that I just might have to make the trip from Boston too.