MBB: Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference

berlychick · January 31, 2006, 10:28:40 AM

Lets hope that they do something
I would hate to see them not make the playoffs this year

not sure when the last time that happened
anyone have that answer for me?

Hawk Backer · January 31, 2006, 02:01:08 PM

A couple of important games in the AMCC tonight:

The big one is obviously Hilbert-Pitt-Bradford in Hamburg. Both teams are struggling heading into the contest. The Hawks will look to end a 3-game losing skid while the Panthers have dropped two straight and six of the last seven. Hilbert handled UPB on the road earlier this season, but the stakes are much greater tonight. While it isn't a must-win for Bradford, there isn't much margin for error in the remaining weeks if they drop this game.

Aloysius at Greensburg is another interesting matchup. The Mounties defeated the Bobcats earlier this season and are looking to vault themselves into a tie for fourth place with LaRoche. Look for Greensburg to come out firing and take control of the game early.

If you look at the standings, Altoona at Frostburg looks to be a mismatch. But if you look closer, you'll see that PSA has played a lot of the teams tough and lost by only three to the Bobcats earlier in the year. FSU, after a horrendous league start, has come on of late and are looking to get back to .500 in league.

Medaille at PS-Behrend. Laughable. Although the Lions have no one that can handle McNeil one-on-one, their team defense is just so good it will be a mismatch from the start.

Action's starting to heat up...

cantbestopped · January 31, 2006, 10:36:52 PM

Well the panthers are alive, the day couln't have worked out any better for them, they win, frostburg and mount lose, and i know some think i'm a mcneil hater, but i'm not, but why does a guy play 38 minutes in a game that they are down 41-15 at half time?(scrub time is a gun's best friend) Drew Secker came off the bench and tossed in 20 in 14 minutes and 9 shots. But congrats to UPB the season begins now. And congrats to PSA i knew it would come.

berlychick · January 31, 2006, 11:20:17 PM

Good to see that UPB won tonight...

now off to PSA on friday and the Mount on saturday

maybe the playoffs are on the horizon

I hope

upb88 · February 01, 2006, 10:19:06 AM

Look at Greensburg go. They are on a roll. Waajid was player of the week.

Did you know that Pitt-Bradford is second in the nation in free-throw shooting? They are deadly. They also have the fewest turnovers in the AMCC. Those are stats that should be huge down the stretch. But they struggle to rebound, which could be telling too. They need two wins in the next three road games, then they need some magic at home against Behrend, Lake Erie and La Roche.

This is a fun time of year. Good luck to all!

berlychick · February 01, 2006, 01:19:40 PM

I gotta agree with you UPB88..magic is needed and
boy do I love this time of year...

Basketball
Super Bowl Sunday on the horizon with the Steelers posied to make it 5..(got my fingers crossed)

I think I might have to make a trip to Bradford for one of those games...not sure I can do the Behrend game.(not a big fan of that team or coach...dont need the frustration) but maybe LaRoche....

upb88 · February 03, 2006, 10:08:22 AM

Big game in the AMCC tonight -- Lake Erie at Greensburg. I think we'll find out a lot about both teams tonight.

Go Seahawks! Sorry Berlychick... I just can't stand Bill Cowher and Jerome Bettis. One for the thumb... I'm a Bills fan, and we're looking for one for the thumb too.

I guess now you understand my animosity. Seriously, why does Bettis jump up after every three-yard gain like he just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl? I really hate the celebrations of mundane plays in the NFL.

hut1 · February 03, 2006, 10:39:09 PM

I for one will be at the Behrend/Bradford game...Can't wait
go Panthers.........

upb88 · February 03, 2006, 11:12:05 PM

UPG over LEC. Oh my.

berlychick · February 04, 2006, 01:03:08 PM

Well UPB88 to each their own..

But I love my Steelers and have since birth...born and raised in Black and Gold..

Ok now I understand..a Bills fan...my bad...

dont like Cowher and Bettis...ok I have heard that before but no one ever has an explanation as to why they dont like Cowher..enlighten me..

and if I where that old and had everyone telling me I was too fat to play and got in the endzone...baby would you see a dance...I love the celebrations..makes the game alittle more interesting

So my predictions: a good hard fought game...alot of defense and low scoring..who will win....? not going to say...just a prayer for the Steelers..

as for the game tonight going to the Mount to see the Panthers...
hope for a good game there too!
going with Matt and Big Will...man am i in good company or what

hey BTW how did Clearfield do against Bradford last nite?

upb88 · February 04, 2006, 01:21:18 PM

The Owls beat the Bisons. Bisons... I like that name. Here's a link from the Bradford paper.

http://www.bradfordera.com/site/tab2.cfm?newsid=16065474&BRD=2725&PAG=461&dept_id=562987&rfi=6

Let's go Panthers tonight. Gotta beat that trap and score some easy baskets on the Mounties.

Hawk Backer · February 04, 2006, 07:47:37 PM

And it just continues to get more cluttered in the AMCC with five teams having six wins in conference as we head down the final stretch of play.

Bradford dropped a HUGE game on the road at Aloysius in a game that could have separated them from the pack and thrown the Mounties to the bottom of the heap. Five players scored in double figures for Aloysius, who have definitely improved from last season.

Following a disappointing home loss to Bradford in a game that also could have given the Hawks some breathing room in the race for #4, Hilbert went on the road in a tough place to play and came away with a 21-point victory at Medaille. No stats available because Medaille's SI dept. is barely breathing, but McNeil had 29 for the Mavs. Big win to stop a four-game drought for Hilbert.

Frostburg fell to Lake Erie, which came as no surprise. The Storm were bound to come out with reckless abandon after falling to UPG last night.

UPG beat LaRoche in a romp, which could be very troublesome for the rest of the league. The Bobcats are hitting their stride just at the right time and look destined to make it a three-team race down the stretch at the top.

Behrend faces Altoona and it should be finishing anytime now, but it would be shocking if anything other than a PSB win resulted.

The Race for the Playoffs (No pun intended towards Ryan)

4.) Hilbert (6-7)
5.) LaRoche (6-7)
6.) Mt. Aloysius (6-7)
7.) Frostburg State (6-8)
8.) Pitt-Bradford (6-8)

If the season ended today, this is the way the standings would look (I think). Hilbert, LaRoche and Mount are all tied. LaRoche and Hilbert split, while the Hawks beat the Mounties and the Redhawks lost. This means Hilbert, with a 2-1 "pool" record against the two gets the nod. LaRoche would get the #5 because it has a win against Hilbert. Frostburg would get the tiebreaker against Bradford due to its 90-86 overtime victory earlier this year.

The upcoming games for each school:

Hilbert plays at home against UPG and Frostburg and on the road against Behrend, Mount Aloysius and PS-Altoona. Figuring that they should have beaten FSU on the road if not for atrocious foul shooting, I will give them a split in those two games. Loss to Behrend is a given. Mount and PSA on the road to end the season should be interesting. Altoona's a good team and could give them a run for their money on Friday. But with a ton to play for and a playoff berth on the line, look for Saturday's matchup at Mt. Aloysius at the end of the season to decide a playoff berth. 2-2 with one outstanding.

LaRoche goes on the road to face Lake Erie, PS Behrend and Bradford while entertaining PSA and Mt. Aloysius. LaRoche is a funny team, because they have played well against some good competition. But you have to figure they will lose at least 2 out of 3 on the road and then most likely beat PSA and Mount at home. 3-2 finish and maybe 2-3 (Bradford)

Mt. Aloysius visits LaRoche and Lake Erie and then face Frostburg, Hilbert and Medaille at home. They most likely lose the two road games, then have one definite win against Medaille (you would think). 1-2 with 2 outstanding.

Frostburg visits Mt. Aloyisus, Medaille and Hilbert before ending the regular season at Pitt Greensburg. I think they beat Medaille on the road and lose to both Hilbert and UPG. 1-2 with one outstanding.

Bradford visits Medaille then plays host to Behrend, Lake Erie and LaRoche. Only one "should" win with Medaille... The rest are tough games. 1-2 with LaRoche.

The Iffy Games
Hilbert at Mt. Aloysius - Over the past two seasons, the Hawks have beaten the Mounties by 18, 20 and 15. Not exactly close games. Granted, anything can happen, but history is the best predictor of the future so give this game to the Hawks.

Hilbert finishes with 9-9 conference mark.

LaRoche at Bradford - LaRoche beat Bradford 64-62 earlier in the year, but Ryan Race was hobbled the entire way. I expect Bradford to come out excited at home and beat the Bobcats.

Bradford finishes with 8-10 conference mark.
LaRoche finishes with 8-10 conference mark.

Frostburg at Aloysius - The Bobcats destroyed the Mounties by 24 earlier in the year. Look for the same on Feb. 7.

Frostburg finishes with 8-10 conference mark.
Aloysius finishes with 7-11 conference mark.

Now obviously, both Frostburg and Altoona could knock off Hilbert. I'm trying to be impartial but I really think at home Hilbert will win against the Bobcats and in the final weekend with everything riding on the games and Altoona out of it they will be fired up. But I could be wrong. And that's why they play the games.

Hawk Backer · February 04, 2006, 07:52:26 PM

Eating crow as we speak. Altoona beat Behrend, 52-50. WOW. Upset of the year, and maybe the century.

upb88 · February 04, 2006, 08:00:11 PM

I've learned not to be too surprised at the AMCC. People tend to overrate, and underrate, the teams. I honestly don't think there's all that much difference top to bottom.

Great post as always Hawk. Man, your long-range predictions take some guts! By the way, just curious -- why is Medaille a tough place to play?

As for the tiebreakers, don't they look at teams' records against the top teams in the conference? I think I remember that on the AMCC web site about this time last year. Could be wrong...

berlychick · February 06, 2006, 12:33:39 AM

Went to the game in Mt Aloysuis...not the best game I ever saw the Panthers play....

2 injuries to report..

1...Copley not sure what

2...Depue a cut above the eye...looked pretty nasty but he returned to the game and did a pretty good job..

Hopefully they can rebound and take care of business next weekend and then we're heading up to the last weekend in Bradford..

Oh yeah there was a football game tonight

WAY TO GO STEELERS......sorry guys had to be done