MBB: Centennial Conference

[D.B. Cooper]

Ursinus plays like a team of destiny. Shattuck at 50% no problem, everybody else plays out of their skin. Shema currently playing at a level I hadn't imagined he would. On the other hand Coast Guard just keeps winning on the road against teams nobody expects them to beat.

E8 pick

Coast Guard: Cinderella has no right to be in the game, Ursinus at home on a roll & don't seem to need Shattuck. It makes no sense so I'll pick the longshot anyway. I'll make a safer pick "Bears Win!"

[Leo]

3/15 Pick'em:

Ursinus

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Ursinus  vs  Coast Guard - Home crowd is factor

I looked at the box score from the UC-GC game and it said the attendence was 2000.  Boy it seemed like more.  For the five years I have been going to games, nothing has ever come close to the amount of people that were there tonight.  The stands were completely full and every wing of the gym had people crammed into it. Absolutely great atmosphere.  It was truly amazing. Also, for the second straight game, one of the biggest reasons for a Bears win was the inside play of Shema. Go Bears!

Nothing against the home crowd factor, but I am not sure this will be a big deal. Remember, Coast Guard has played two of the three games in this tournament on the road (the third being last night's "neutral" game). And those games have had very hostile crowds, Trinity (CT) (see this) and Mass-Dartmouth. And then, don't forget they had to play at WPI in the NEWMAC championships the week before the NCAA Tournament. In fact, in the 13 game winning streak that CGA is on right now, 8 of those games were on the road - including the last five.

Here is what I wrote on the "Daily Dose" this morning:
As for tonight’s game, I would have to give the advantage to Ursinus… but I bet many have given the edge to Trinty (CT), Mass-Dartmouth, and Rochester in the last two weeks. But, Ursinus has better players inside who can shoot from many points on the floor. They have great guards in Cousart Page and even McGarvey. And don’t forget Hilton who was score-less in the first half and then got at least 12 points in the second half on big shot after big shot.

That all being said, Coast Guard has already beaten their fair share of big men with some incrediable efforts from Prebeck, C. Johnson, and Blum. And don’t forget Hudson who is small, but can out jump nearly everyone on the floor. Several times last night he just seemed to keep rising and rising when going for rebounds our out-shooting taller defenders.

I am really looking forward to tonight’s game. The NEWMAC looks to have their first final four team since 1987 (Clark)… and the Centennial could have their first participant at Championship Weekend since 2000 (Franklin & Marshall).

[r.w. mcnickels]

NCAA Elite Eight pick:

Ursinus

I'm probably safer going with Suetonius and saying "Bears."

Coast Guard is playing like a team on a mission, winning several games away from home in hostile environments.  CGA's aggressive defense and disciplined offense will make for a true Elite Eight barnburner, but the incredible run ends there.  With the emergence of Shema and the sharpshooting of Noonan and Hilton (not to mention the 2,000+ that will pack Helfferich Hall), Ursinus will navigate the waters better than Coast Guard tonight.

[diplomaniac1]

NCAA Elite Eight Pick-Em:

Ursinus.

Good luck. Regards to all.

Eric

[diplomaniac1]

Bearsfan1 -

Not to argue. But I seem to remember a packed house at Ursinus the last time F&M and Ursinus played for the Conference Championship (circa 2004). There had to be 2,000 at that game as well as there were fans standing in the corners near the player benches.

I think it was Luciano's senior year. The Bears also had another big man whose name I don't remember. It may have even been an overtime game. It was a tense, loud, hot, humid (and great atmosphere) even though your Bears beat my Dips that day!

Eric

[Reserved Seat]

Ursinus

[old ends]

At the half
Coast guard 38 
Ursinus 37

[r.w. mcnickels]

CGA's Grant Johnson appears to be unconscious, hitting 7-of-10 beyond the arc for 21 first-half points.   Noonan with 13 and Shema with 11 for Ursinus.

Sounds like Coast Guard brought a good contingent of fans to Collegeville.

[old ends]

this game is giving me a a nervouss condition...

[old ends]

overtime-this is driving me to drink again----------

[old ends]

Ursinus wins

Ursinus 82
Coast Guard 76

Now on to salem against Amherst

[mailsy]

Congrats to Ursinus.  A Philly area team going to the final four.  Way to go Bears make the Philly area proud in Salem!!!  Beat Amherst!!

[old ends]

Results of 3/15/08 pick-ems

Overall

Leo                  8  - 1
Old Ends          8 - 1
r.w.mcnickels   7  -2
Bearsfan1        7 - 2
Suetonius        5 - 4
Diplomanic1     5 - 4
Reserved Seat 5 - 4

Correction made  thanks rw

What a game............

Will keep pick-ems going right to the end since Ursinus is keeping the Centennial in it. This is great for the Conference and all teams that they faced in the conference..

Good luck to the Ursinus team at Salem.

[old ends]

Final 4 pick-ems

Washington U   vs  Hope
Ursinus              vs Amherst

Good luck to all the teams that have gotten to this point.

Must be in by tip off