MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[FranElia]

Small correction to the Cortland linescore at New Paltz - Dustin Marshall with 19 points and Paul Oliver with 16 points. A Marshall three-pointer was inadvertently given to Oliver (52 instead of 51). Marshall hit 5-of-6 three-pointers. Box score is now correct online.

[magicman]

Here's how it looks heading into the weekend:
Conference Standings through 2-2-10:


Brockport State       10-2
 
Cortland State         8-4

Oneonta State        7-5

Plattsburgh State    6-5

New Paltz State      6-6
 
Buffalo State           5-6
 
Fredonia State        5-6

Geneseo State        5-7

Oswego State         4-8  

Potsdam State        2-9

Brockport regains 2 game lead, looking more and more like SUNYAC championship will go through Brockport. Golden Eagles hit the road this weekend with games at red hot New Paltz and then 3rd place Oneonta. While a sweep of these 2 won't lock up the regular season crown, I think it's safe to say that if it happens, no one's going to catch them.

Oneonta needs to win to stay ahead of Plattsburgh since the Cardinals own the tiebreaker over these Red Dragons by virtue of a season sweep. And any chance of catching Brockport begins with a win Friday over Geneseo followed by the weekend's biggest matchup as they host Brockport. A loss to the Golden Eagles would not only end Oneonta's hopes of the regular season crown but could send them into 5th place if Plattsburgh and New Paltz both win their pair.    

Cortland's failure to put away the Hawks tonight could come back to haunt them as they lose a big opportunity to go up by 2 games on the rest of the pack and solidify their hold on 2nd. With only a single game this weekend, at home against free falling Oswego, who has slipped into 9th place, Cortland should come out of the weekend still alone in 2nd.

It's now or never for Plattsburgh as Fredonia St and Buffalo St make the trip North to take on the Cardinals. Can't see Plattsburgh catching Brockport but 2nd place is definitely within their grasp. Cards have revenge in mind as they dropped the ball facing both these teams on the road back in early January. Clearly the question is which Plattsburgh team will show up. The one that beat Oneonta decisively last Friday by 22 pts or the one that decided to mail it in on Sat against New Paltz.

Can New Paltz continue their 2nd half surge? After getting blown out by last place Potsdam the Hawks have come back with 2 solid wins against the (3rd place at the time) Cardinals and now 2nd place Cortland. And next up is 1st place Port. Can they hit the trifecta? The rest of the league is sure hoping so.

Buffalo State's road woes continue as they fall to 1-5 away from home with the loss at Geneseo tonight. Making the lonnng trip North to Plattsburgh and Potsdam ususally is not what the doctor ordered to turn that around. Plattsburgh still smarting from New Paltz home loss and Coach Curle should have his team ready to play. And Potsdam is certainly no gimme with recent wins over Cortland and New Paltz.

Fredonia----See above about Buffalo St. Same record, same road problems.

Geneseo has overtaken the Lakers for the 8th and final playoff spot, but holding onto it may be another matter. Two tough games on the road this weekend against Oneonta and New Platz. Blue Knights need at least a split if Lakers manage to upset Cortland.

Potsdam is playing some of their best ball of the season having split their last 4 home games, but the Bears really need to step up this weekend. With Geneseo and Oswego both on the road, it's the perfect opportunity for Potsdam to catch them both. With 9 losses already Potsdam can't fall further behind in the loss column to that pair.
     

[magicman]

Looks like foul shots really cost Cortland the game tonight against New Platz. Not just the 3 for 13 that the Red Dragons shot from the line, or the fact that they missed foul shots with 15 seconds and 12 seconds to play but both those misses were the front end of 1&1's as neither team was in the double bonus in either half. In the 2nd half New Paltz never had a foul called against them until the 10:14 mark. Down 1 with 25 ticks remaining the Hawks had to foul twice just to get Cortland on the line. Corts miss front end, but get the rebound, get fouled again, and miss again, setting the stage for Agyemang's heroics. Looks like the refs let em play tonight, but not getting 2 shot fouls that late in the game hurt as much as the misses. However the way Cortland was throwing up bricks from the line they might have went 3x15 and still lost.

[scooterman]

When does the East Poll come out? I see the West Poll was in their discussions today?

[magicman]

The NCAA released the first set of Regional Rankings today. Here is the East Region:

East Region
1. St. John Fisher 15-4 16-4
2. Stevens 15-4 15-4
3. New York University 12-5 13-5
4. Medaille 18-1 19-1
5. Rochester 9-5 13-5
6. Nazareth 12-6 13-7

Complete rankings for all regions can be found here:

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2010/02/03/mens-regional-rankings-feb-3rd/

[scooterman]

Right now I agree that the SUNYAC doesn't really have a legitimate contender for the top 6 in the East Poll BUT I think a couple wins this weekend could put the Eagles in that mix around 4 or 5 position. I know Medialle has only one loss but isn't conference rather thin. What about 3 teams from the E8? Give me their overall against the SUNYAC--I really haven't kept track. Thanks and Magic--Keep me abreast --

[owen]

SUNYAC is 5 wins and 8 losses against the E-8 this year.  But more to the point, Brockport lost both of their games to E8 teams by double digits. Downed by Nazareth in the Wendy's tournament (by 12) and lost to St. John Fisher earlier in the season (by 17). I think it would be hard to make a case for them being ranked in the region but who knows?  Maybe it's just me, but it feels like the 'YAC as a whole is on a bit of a downward slope relative to the E8 the last few years. 

[Ethelred the Unready]

Buff St at Potsdam on Time Warner 26 tonight in CNY.  Women at 6 followed by the men at 8

[thebear]

Also on TWC in WNY & NYC

Digital 87 in Buffalo area

Digital 198 in the City

Potential Audience of 2.5MM customers

[owen]

Shoot! wish I lived a little closer to Buffalo! (or anywhere else that carried it)

[jdex]

Cortland rips Oswego 76-63, pulling away midway into second half. Ahead 49-46, RDragons extend to 62-46 at 9:28 and later by 18 in avenging earlier setback at Oswego. Corts 31x62fg, 12x26 3s, 2x7ft. D. Marshall 16 pts(5x11fg, 4x8 3s), 6 rebs, 7 assts in 30'; B. Manning 14 pts(6x10fg, 2x5 3s), 4 assts; J. Smith 11 pts(4x6fg, 3x4 3s); B. Nagle 9 rebs; J. Winter 6 assts; P. Oliver 7 rebs as CSt holds 43-26 board edge. Lakers 20x55fg, 9x19 3s, 14x16ft. C. Burridge 18 pts(6x14fg, 4x5 3s); S. Francois 12 pts(5x5fg); C. Monaghan 12 pts(5x13fg). CSt in 42-37 lead at half

[jdex]

Plattsburgh conquers guest Fredonia 60-48

Oneonta dumps Geneseo 71-57 at OSt where RDragons in 33-22 lead at intermission. Down to four at 6:55, then slow pull away. T. Talbot 15 pts(5x9fg), 4 assts; B. Hooks 13 pts; B. Beckford 11 pts, 9 rebs; M. Grimes 10 pts(4x7fg); S. Gillette 10 pts. OSt 20x28ft. Gens B. Simpson 17 pts, 9 rebs; J. Drazen 12 pts; A. Miller 10 pts

[jdex]

Plattsburgh grabs 28-21 lead at half. S. Thomas finishes with 16 pts(8x8ft); Daniyan 13 pts(4x8fg), 8 rebs; C. Ruiz 11 pts; D. Tangney 10 pts(3x4fg, 2x3 3s). Fredonia gets 15 pts(6x10fg) from S. Valenta; J. Kane 6 rebs, 4 assts

[jdex]

New Paltz brings Brockport back to the pack with 83-74 victory in NP

[jdex]

New Paltz takes down Brockport by holding off late Eagles surge. Port comes from 21 back to within four at 3:23 before J. Anderson answers for NP. Hawks push lead to 10. Lead 36-27 at halftime and by 21 at 14:42. Hosts shoot 30x46 from the field, 8x12 3s, 15x27ft. Take 46 rebs to Port 25, though Eagles get 25 Hawk turnovers. H. Wichard tops NP with 18 pts(7x8fg, 3x3 3s), 10 rebs; S. Taylor 17 pts, 10 rebs, 5 assts, 2 stls; N. Taldi 13 pts(4x6fg, 2x3 3s); M. Devine 13 pts(4x6fg) in 22'; J. Anderson 14 pts(6x8fg), 11 rebs. Port 26x69fg, 8x25 3s, 14x20ft, 8 trnvrs. J. Johnson 18 pts, 5 rebs, 4 stls; D. Klein 14 pts(4x7 3s); B. Williams 13 pts(5x16fg), 6 rebs; G. Williams 13 pts(5x14fg)