Top 25 talk

[Greek Tragedy]

Such haters!

Play a round robin conference schedule and I may not dislike as much! lol   

[Knightstalker]

DC, although NYU did not make the NCAA tournament their season is not complete.  The Violets are the top seed in the ECAC Metro tournament.

[David Collinge]

Pat, would the top 25 voters take performance in the ECAC tournament into account in the final poll, or will NYU still be considered 19-6 three weeks from now?  Since my little weekly compendium of scores is intended to give readers a quick look at how the top 25 teams did with an eye to the next poll, if the ECAC games are not factors in the next poll, my preference would be to leave them out.

[Pat Coleman]

David,

I send them the scores but I'm not sure too many voters take them into account.

Usually a good team in the ECAC tournament has maybe one more decent team as an opponent in the eight-team field.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm surprised NYU even accepted a bid.  Up in New England the NESCAC and the MASCAC stay out entirely and Husson, Gordon, and Babson all turned them down.

[smedindy]

Why even hold the tourney if semi-decent teams turn down invites?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's barely a tournament.  Schools have to pay their own expenses to go to it.  The ECAC had a purpose back when some of the smaller conferences had little or no shot at an NCAA invite.  It was the consolation prize for the small schools.  However, with everybody now having a chance to get in (save for maybe St. Joe's of Maine) it's just a pointless exhibition.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Although, looking at the full bracket, it seems like the ECAC Metro tournament is pretty legit.  You've got some strong NJAC teams in there with NYU.

I wonder how NYU managed to get in the NCAA's East Region, when the ECAC clearly has them in the appropriate Metro Division?

Could even the ECAC be smarter than the NCAA?

[Gregory Sager]

I've trapped mice that were smarter than the NCAA.

[Knightstalker]

NYU used to be in the Atlantic region and got moved to the east several years ago.  I believe it was done to partner the two NY UAA teams in the same region.

The ECAC metro tournament is usually a pretty good tournament.  The second round games tomorrow night should be good games.  NYU v RU Newark and NJCU v Richard Stockton.  All four teams have appeared in their respective regional rankings at least once I believe.

The ECAC Metro always has at least two strong NJAC teams every year and the NJAC coaches and players seem to take it seriously.

I hope RUN beats NYU so NJCU can host if they beat Stockton, otherwise I have to take that PATH train ride across the river to NYU and be forced to eat hot dogs from Grays Papaya on 4th St.

I still find it funny that NYU is within a three to four mile radius of at least 9 or 10 other D3 Atlantic Region teams and they are in the Eastern Region.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

The other reason for a team to play in the ECAC is the extra week of organized practice and games. For a young team that was close to the NCAA's that extra time could prove very valuable. Many coaches would jump at the opportunity to get that extra few days of practice and game to help prepare for next year. It also provides another team the shot to finish the season on a high note, granted its not the same as winning the NCAA but it provides some closure for teams I think.

[David Collinge]

Top 25 Tournament Glance      

#   1   UW-Stevens Point (26-2) received a bye; def. St. John's (21-7) 93-76; hosts #8 Washington U. (22-4) Fri.
#   2   Wooster (27-3) def. Transylvania 92-66; def. #23 Centre 73-56; plays #25 John Carroll (21-9) Fri. at St. John Fisher
#   3   Mississippi College (27-2) def. #15 Occidental 68-51; def. Maryville (TN) 76-56; plays at #4 Virginia Wesleyan (25-4) Fri.
#   4   Virginia Wesleyan (25-4) def. Averett 63-60; def. Hampden-Sydney 61-51; hosts #3 Miss. College (27-2) Fri.
#   5   St. Thomas (24-4) received a bye; lost to Carroll 86-80; season complete
#   6   Amherst (26-2) received a bye; def. Widener 87-70; hosts Stevens (23-6) Fri.
#   7   Augustana (22-6) lost to Carroll in NCAA 1st round; season complete
#   8   Washington U. (22-4) def. Fontbonne 77-58; def. #11 Whitworth 63-61; plays at #1 UW-Stevens Point (26-2) Fri.
#   9   UW-Oshkosh (21-6) season complete
#   10   Hope (25-4) def. #12 Chicago 76-54 at Aurora; def. Calvin 80-64 at Aurora; plays Carroll (18-8) Fri. at UW-Stevens Point
#   11   Whitworth (24-4) def. DePauw 62-59 (OT) at Washington U.; lost at #8 Wash. U. 63-61; season complete
#   12   Chicago (20-6) lost to #10 Hope 76-54 at Aurora; season complete
#   13   Elmhurst (21-6) season complete
#   14   Aurora (25-3) lost to Calvin 69-68; season complete
#   15   Occidental (19-6) lost at #3 Mississippi College 68-51; season complete
#   16   UW-La Crosse (19-8) season complete
#   17   Wittenberg (22-5) season complete
#   18   Worcester Polytech (22-4) lost to Stevens 68-57 at Ramapo; season complete
#   19   Guilford (23-4) def. Manhattanville 101-81 at Johns Hopkins; won at Johns Hopkins 80-73; plays Lincoln (20-8) Fri. at Virginia Wesleyan
#   20   Trinity (CT) (21-5) lost to Brandeis 77-70 (OT) at Rhode Island Coll.; season complete
#   21   Rhode Island College (26-3) def. Coast Guard 64-60; def. Brandeis 70-67; plays Keene St. (25-5) Fri. at Amherst
#   22   Salem St. (24-3) received a bye; lost to Keene St. 76-75; season complete
#   23   Centre (24-5) def. Capital 69-55 at Wooster; lost at #2 Wooster 73-56; season complete
#   24   NYU (22-6) def. St. Joseph's (NY) 87-68; def. Rutgers-Newark 82-72; def. Richard Stockton 58-55 (ECAC Metro tournament); season complete
#   25   John Carroll (21-9) def. Westminster (PA) 87-83; won at Lake Erie 79-77; plays #2 Wooster (27-3) Fri. at St. John Fisher

[MR. PAC]

Does Alvernia have any shot next year at being considered in the top 25?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Everyone has a shot at being considered in the Top 25.

Ok... maybe not everyone!

[Pat Coleman]

Does Alvernia have any shot next year at being considered in the top 25?

Sure.

If you can tell me who they're playing next year, I can give you a better answer.