WBB: Middle Atlantic Conference board archive

[BJ - DSU SID]

As usual things are never easy in the Freedom Conference.

After looking over the results/standings/upcoming games last night, I think I have figured that King's and DeSales each clinched playoff spots last night, despite King's losing.

DSU and King's both sit at 8-4 and at worse can finish 8-6.  Delaware Valley and Drew can at best finish 8-6.  If all four teams were tied at 8-6 that scenario would call for you to throw those four team's games between each other into the tiebreaker machine and King's would be 4-2, Delaware Valley is 3-3, DeSales is 3-3 and Drew would be 2-4.  Thus King's, DeSales and Delaware Valley would get in.  The same holds true if you have a three-way tie with DeSales/King's and Delaware Valley and Drew.  In all instances that I thought of DeSales and King's earn bids.  Of course all this tie-breaking stuff can be avoided if King's and DeSales each win at least one more game.  Obviously much easier said than done looking at this past week's results.

Drew and Delaware Valley are in a dog fight for the last spot.  There are several scenarios that exist with both teams having multiple ways of getting into the playoffs.  I'll wait till Tuesday's games and let the dust clear before seeing who needs what to happen between these two.

Now the seeding portion of this has about 600 different scenarios, so I'll save myself some brain cells and talk about that after Tuesday's outcomes.  If anyone wants to throw out individual school scenarios feel free and I'll try to confirm them granted I have time to do so.

Matrix update is below:
http://athletics.desales.edu/Pdfs/wbball/2007/2/6/HoopsMatrixW.pdf?path=wbball

FYI - None of this has been confirmed with the conference office, so its possible I am incorrect.  So if someone sees I might be mistaken feel free to pose the question.

[saratoga]

TC: Gwynedd-Mercy ALWAYS gives Scranton a battle. They may be from a pretty weak conference...but, they have provided more than enough in terms of competition through the years. I remember them quite well from last seasons NCAA playoffs...another physical team looming on the horizon.

[TC HOOPS]

Saratoga - Who ever has to go to Scranton and play in the NCAA playoffs will have to play at their best there. They have a great fan base along with a great team so to get by them it would be an upset. We got stuck going there to play them in the 2nd round 2 of the past 3 years and both games came down to the final minute, with of course Scranton winning both. This year we are 21-2 and are not even mentioned in the D-3 polls, I just don't get it. Well hopefuly we will be able to sneak up on a few teams. Have fun in the MAC playoffs, it should be fun. Hopefully we we see you in the NCAA.

[roy_a]

TC Hoops-- I was at both of those games and your team certainly handled themselves well. Kathy Snell nearly beat us by herself. I was also atthe game about 8-10 yrs ago when you played us tough as well.

As for the Ncaa playoffs??  Messiah loosing..I wonder if we win out will we get the #1 seed?

I had predicted lastweek 2 things that I will probably be wrong on.

1-I picked DVC to be the 4 seed in the Freedom, however, I did so without factoring in Drew upsetting Kings. Now it looks as though Drew has the easier road.

2.--I picked Kings to win out'till the final and then get an atlarge bid with a 20-7 record. I'd say that is in jeopardy now...

[ronk]

Kate,
    sorry, my bar for great is considerably higher; I don't place Scranton near that level,either. With DVC basically using only 5 players, I'll grant that they played closer to their potential than the royals in the 2 games, which should satisfy their coach.

[saratoga]

The more I look at the games yet to be played for those teams in the hunt, the more I see Drew winning their 2 & DVC splitting. Should that happen...Drew is in at # 4 and they will present a very formidable opponent for the LadyRoyals.

[saratoga]

Drew is now 1 game closer to being in position to clinch the 4th. & final playoff spot as they knock off their neighbors across Madison Ave. this evening. On Thurs. either Desales falls 1 game behind Kings or DVC all but falls out of the playoff picture.

[kate]

A very sincere Happy Valentine's Day to everyone at the post - hope everyone stays healthy as this season plays out -as always, GO AGGIES!!!

[kate]

Great & much needed win tonight for the Aggies over DeSales - one game at a time, ladies - you're on a roll!

[roy_a]

I spent 3 hours stuck on 81S while on my way to the Scranton-Lyco game. Just got home and see DelVal beat Desales tonite. Welcome to the Freedom conference playoffs. Well, I'm presumming DVC will beat Lyco. Therefore, see ya Wed night for a rematch.......

[roy_a]

DSU SID


If Scranton beats Desales on Sat and DVC and Drew both win, who is the 3rd place team and who is the 4th place team as all 3 will have 8-6 conference records???

[saratoga]

Welcome back Roy...the Interstate is still that bad??? My guess...& that's all it is at this point is that should DVC, Desales & Drew all end up 8-6, Drew would be out as their record vs. DVC is 0-2 & vs. Scranton, Kings, Desales & DVC it is a combined 2-6. The combined for Desales vs. those same teams would be 4-4 & the combined for DVC is then 3-5. It would then appear to be Scranton, Kings, Desales & DVC. But, who knows...I never guessed DelVal. would win AT Desales tonight either. I really thought the 4 seniors at Drew would pull this off & make it to the playoffs this season...still a chance, just not a real big one.

[ronk]

  DVC gets 3rd(3-1 vs Desales & Drew), Desales gets 4th(2-2) and Drew 5th(1-3).

[BJ - DSU SID]

Ronk - you seem to have answered your own question.

http://athletics.desales.edu/Pdfs/wbball/2007/2/6/HoopsMatrixW.pdf?path=wbball

There is the updated matrix.

Here is what we know.
- Scranton is the #1 seed and will host the playoffs for as long as they stay alive.
- King's and DeSales have each clinched playoff spots.

Now what we don't know.
#2 Seed
- DeSales can clinch the #2 spot with a win on Saturday (vs. Scranton) and a King's loss on Saturday (vs. FDU-Florham).  They do so because of the win over Scranton as the tiebreaker.
- King's clinches the #2 spot with a win or a DeSales loss on Saturday.

#3 seed
- DeSales clinches no worse than the #3 seed with a win on Saturday.
- if DeSales, Delaware Valley and Drew all finish with 8-6 records (meaning a DeSales loss, DVC win and Drew win on Saturday), then you throw them all in the tiebreaker machine in a three way head-to-head.  DVC is 3-1 (2-0 vs. Drew, 1-1 vs. DSU), DeSales is 2-2 (1-1 vs. each) and Drew is 1-3 (0-2 vs. DVC and 1-1 vs. DSU).  Thus Delaware Valley would be the #3 seed and DeSales the #4 seed.

#4 seed
- Delaware Valley clinches a playoff spot and at least the #4 seed with a win on Saturday vs. Lycoming.
- Drew can still earn the #4 spot but needs a win @ Wilkes and a Delaware Valley loss on Saturday.

That I think is it.  I certainly may have missed a scenario, so feel free to let me know if you see a mistake or a missing scenario.

Playoffs are just around the corner...This is the greatest time of the year to be a sports fan...March Madness followed by the Masters.  Enjoy!!!

[salesman]

Congrats, Kate...You do have a contender team...I learned about your heartbreaking loss to the almighty Scranton and I sympathize wholeheartedly...Hopefully, DSU pulls out a win against them tomorrow  ..Good luck with Lycoming