MBB: Little East

7express · February 28, 2015, 04:05:45 PM

I was in transit, but looks like Keene won 75-57. Congrats to AllStar and the Keene state Owls who really clamped down on the defensive end of the court here in Willimantic. And congrats to RIC on a fine first season under first year boss Michael Byrnes. Obviously not the result they wanted, but looks like coach Byrnes is continuing what coach Walsh started and the Anchormen will continue to be a threat year after year after year.

ECSUalum · February 28, 2015, 04:22:39 PM

KSC only loses Tom Doyle for next year, but the rest of the team are back and are really young, Ozzella, will be a jr, Wright a So, with Stitchell and Howard Seniors, so Keene should be in the thick of things again next year. RIC loses Smith, Burton and Allene, so it may be a bit of rebuilding for the Anchormen. ECSU brings everybody on the team back except Brandon Yarborough. UMass Dartmouth loses Laga, Genkos, Rodriques and Castillo, but Resendez and Abraham return.

AllStar · February 28, 2015, 11:49:08 PM

Congratulations to Keene State for winning the Little East Tournament with a 75-57 win over Rhode Island College. I didn't even think they'd beat Eastern...let alone win two games in Willimantic by 18.

I'd expect Eastern Connecticut to get into the NCAA Tournament as well.

Let's hope the Little East can be represented well in the tournament.

magicman · March 01, 2015, 05:17:36 AM

Hey AllStar, there you go. Nice job by your Owls to beat the top seeds and get that automatic bid. Wish my Cardinals were joining you as winners today. The Owls win today may help us though, because they should make the next set of Regional Ranking that come out late Sunday. That will give Plattsburgh another win over a regionally ranked opponent. We're still alive for a Pool C bid and have our fingers crossed.

Good luck in the NCAA's if Plattsburgh does get in we could meet Keene again. We played Eastern Connecticut last year.

AllStar · March 01, 2015, 02:51:20 PM

Quote from: magicman on March 01, 2015, 05:17:36 AM
Hey AllStar, there you go. Nice job by your Owls to beat the top seeds and get that automatic bid. Wish my Cardinals were joining you as winners today. The Owls win today may help us though, because they should make the next set of Regional Ranking that come out late Sunday. That will give Plattsburgh another win over a regionally ranked opponent. We're still alive for a Pool C bid and have our fingers crossed.

Good luck in the NCAA's if Plattsburgh does get in we could meet Keene again. We played Eastern Connecticut last year.

Thank you! I hope it does help and your Cardinals can still get in.

7express · March 01, 2015, 08:43:34 PM

Here's my post I just posted on the Pool C board, I still think Eastern is in pretty good shape:

Here's my best tally on the 19 pool C's, not necessarily in the order they'll be selected however:

Locks (you have a better chance at winning the lottery then these teams have at missing the tournament):
Amherst
Hopkins
Ohio Wesleyan
Virginia Wesleyan
Marietta
Wash U
Stevens Point

Probably in (not quite locks in my eyes but all of these teams should be in the field by the 17th round):
Wooster
William Paterson
St. Olaf
Eastern Connecticut
Illinois Wesleyan
Bates
Trinity (CT)

Should get in:
Elmhurst

That should leave me with 15 teams that are either locks (red), probably in (orange) and should be in (blue).

Squarely on the bubble (these teams will be sweating it out for the next 16 hours or so):
catholic
Plattsburgh
WPI
Franklin & Marshall
---------------------
John Carroll
Bowdoin
Springfield
Centre
Bethel
NYU
North Central (IL)
Buena Vista
Whitman
That line is my cut off point. I think the 4 teams above the line get in (the last 4 teams in the field).

Likely not in the field (though I have seen stranger things happen on selection Monday):
Baruch
Brooklyn
Hobart
PS-Behrend
St. Mary's (MD)
Southern Vermont
Hardin-Simmons
Hope
MHB
Rhodes

As people have said here order will definitely matter in the East (between Plattsburgh & NYU), MA (between F&M & Catholic) and in the West (between Bethel/Whitman/Buena Vista), and maybe to a lesser extent the Northeast (only if there are any spots left between WPI/Springfield/Bowdoin).
Plattsburgh was #2 last week and even with a loss I doubt NYU can jump them (was 5 last week), and if Plattsburgh gets selected it's likely very late in the process so even though NYU will have comparable numbers to lets say a Catholic, WPI, F&M, Buena Vista there won't be many, if any, rounds left for NYU
In the MA I think F&M will jump Catholic, but I have both teams in the field anyways.
In the West, if Bethel is able to get to the table I'd say they are definitely in, the problem with them is I don't think they are getting there. They were #7 and are 3 wins against St. Olaf AND trip to the conference finals (while BV & Whitman both lost in the semifinals) enough to have Bethel jump 2 teams AND 3 or 4 spots?? I don't think so. I think they pass Whitworth but BV ends up blocking them.

So to recap my 19 Pool C teams:

1) Amherst
2) Hopkins
3) Ohio Wesleyan
4) Virginia Wesleyan
5) Marietta
6) Wash U
7) Stevens Point
8) Wooster
9) William Paterson
10) St. Olaf
11) Eastern Connecticut
12) Illinois Wesleyan
13) Bates
14) Trinity
15) Elmhurst
16) Catholic
17) Plattsburgh
18) WPI
19) Franklin & Marshall

Last 4 in: Catholic, Plattsburgh, WPI, F&M
First 4 out: Buena Vista, NYU, Bethel, John Carroll

AllStar · March 01, 2015, 09:09:08 PM

Quote from: 7express on March 01, 2015, 08:43:34 PM
Here's my post I just posted on the Pool C board, I still think Eastern is in pretty good shape:

Here's my best tally on the 19 pool C's, not necessarily in the order they'll be selected however:

Locks (you have a better chance at winning the lottery then these teams have at missing the tournament):
Amherst
Hopkins
Ohio Wesleyan
Virginia Wesleyan
Marietta
Wash U
Stevens Point

Probably in (not quite locks in my eyes but all of these teams should be in the field by the 17th round):
Wooster
William Paterson
St. Olaf
Eastern Connecticut
Illinois Wesleyan
Bates
Trinity (CT)

Should get in:
Elmhurst

That should leave me with 15 teams that are either locks (red), probably in (orange) and should be in (blue).

Squarely on the bubble (these teams will be sweating it out for the next 16 hours or so):
catholic
Plattsburgh
WPI
Franklin & Marshall
---------------------
John Carroll
Bowdoin
Springfield
Centre
Bethel
NYU
North Central (IL)
Buena Vista
Whitman
That line is my cut off point. I think the 4 teams above the line get in (the last 4 teams in the field).

Likely not in the field (though I have seen stranger things happen on selection Monday):
Baruch
Brooklyn
Hobart
PS-Behrend
St. Mary's (MD)
Southern Vermont
Hardin-Simmons
Hope
MHB
Rhodes

As people have said here order will definitely matter in the East (between Plattsburgh & NYU), MA (between F&M & Catholic) and in the West (between Bethel/Whitman/Buena Vista), and maybe to a lesser extent the Northeast (only if there are any spots left between WPI/Springfield/Bowdoin).
Plattsburgh was #2 last week and even with a loss I doubt NYU can jump them (was 5 last week), and if Plattsburgh gets selected it's likely very late in the process so even though NYU will have comparable numbers to lets say a Catholic, WPI, F&M, Buena Vista there won't be many, if any, rounds left for NYU
In the MA I think F&M will jump Catholic, but I have both teams in the field anyways.
In the West, if Bethel is able to get to the table I'd say they are definitely in, the problem with them is I don't think they are getting there. They were #7 and are 3 wins against St. Olaf AND trip to the conference finals (while BV & Whitman both lost in the semifinals) enough to have Bethel jump 2 teams AND 3 or 4 spots?? I don't think so. I think they pass Whitworth but BV ends up blocking them.

So to recap my 19 Pool C teams:

1) Amherst
2) Hopkins
3) Ohio Wesleyan
4) Virginia Wesleyan
5) Marietta
6) Wash U
7) Stevens Point
8) Wooster
9) William Paterson
10) St. Olaf
11) Eastern Connecticut
12) Illinois Wesleyan
13) Bates
14) Trinity
15) Elmhurst
16) Catholic
17) Plattsburgh
18) WPI
19) Franklin & Marshall

Last 4 in: Catholic, Plattsburgh, WPI, F&M
First 4 out: Buena Vista, NYU, Bethel, John Carroll

Always enjoy your analysis!

ECSUalum · March 02, 2015, 02:46:44 PM

Eastern Connecticut gets matched with Salisbury State U March 6th at Trinity College Hartford:
http://www.suseagulls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/201503023hxb4e

Keene St will play Johns Hopkins, and will have to travel to Baltimore MD!!!
http://keeneowls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/MBKB_NCAA

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 02, 2015, 03:16:25 PM

It's just Salisbury U now - hasn't been "state" in quite a while.

AllStar · March 02, 2015, 04:53:06 PM

Quote from: ECSUalum on March 02, 2015, 02:46:44 PM
Eastern Connecticut gets matched with Salisbury State U March 6th at Trinity College Hartford:
http://www.suseagulls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/201503023hxb4e

Keene St will play Johns Hopkins, and will have to travel to Baltimore MD!!!
http://keeneowls.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/MBKB_NCAA

Good luck to the Warriors in the NCAA Tournament!

WPI89 · March 02, 2015, 05:06:18 PM

Good luck Keene and Eastern! Loved your analysis 7X!

ECSUalum · March 03, 2015, 08:42:51 AM

WPI/Allstar,

Thanks for the kind wishes for Eastern! Best of Luck to Keene and WPI as well!! WPI, hope your feeling better!! Can't be sick for D-III March Madness

amh63 · March 03, 2015, 12:48:39 PM

ECSU.....will you make the trip to Hartford? Parking maybe a problem. Good luck to your Warriors...both Teams.

falcons2010 · March 03, 2015, 01:01:45 PM

Good luck to East Conn and Keene State..

Connecticut gets 4 schools into the tournament. Not bad for a small state.

7express · March 03, 2015, 03:09:45 PM

I broke my wrist yesterday, so unfortunately wont have much detailed analysis for the games this week. With that said Salisbury is a damn tough team that Eastern will have their hands full with (especially if Preston's still out). Likewise Keene has their hands full with Johns Hopkins and even worse playing a road game. I'd give Eastern better odds of advancing to the sectionals then I do with Keene advancing there.

Good luck the Warriors, Owls, Jeffs, Engineers and Falcons this weekend!