MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[Bengalsrule]

Regarding the ECAC tournament that used to occur after the regular season ended for teams not getting an NCAA bid but having a winning record.

Interest in this tournament, which had been an annual fixture for quite some time, had died down so much in recent years (due to time and expenses I suspect) that last year there wasn't one. At least in our region.

This year I'm told that the ECAC wants to get 4 teams from 4 regions (16 total teams for you guys that have math problems) and after you play the first round games at the home of the higher seed (or team with the better record or team that wants to host, cause some teams don't) the remaining 8 teams will travel to a single location to compete in an overall championship. I'm also told the ECAC will pay for that trip. Sounds interesting and a way your team can end the year on a positive note. Great if you have a lot of seniors and want to give them a decent send off. Also great if you've got a young team and can give them a chance to build on something for next year.     

Looks like there's no shortage of "south" teams that have declared for the tourney!  I'm surprised that Cortland signed up for this!!

[Smitty Oom]

Regarding the ECAC tournament that used to occur after the regular season ended for teams not getting an NCAA bid but having a winning record.

Interest in this tournament, which had been an annual fixture for quite some time, had died down so much in recent years (due to time and expenses I suspect) that last year there wasn't one. At least in our region.

This year I'm told that the ECAC wants to get 4 teams from 4 regions (16 total teams for you guys that have math problems) and after you play the first round games at the home of the higher seed (or team with the better record or team that wants to host, cause some teams don't) the remaining 8 teams will travel to a single location to compete in an overall championship. I'm also told the ECAC will pay for that trip. Sounds interesting and a way your team can end the year on a positive note. Great if you have a lot of seniors and want to give them a decent send off. Also great if you've got a young team and can give them a chance to build on something for next year.     

Excuse my intrusion to the East Boards... but this ECAC tourney sounds like a very cool idea. What teams are members of the ECAC or is just any and all of the schools on the east side of the Mississippi? I'm more of a MIAC guy so this specific tournament does not apply to me as much but it would be cool to see something like this in the west as well.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Regarding the ECAC tournament that used to occur after the regular season ended for teams not getting an NCAA bid but having a winning record.

Interest in this tournament, which had been an annual fixture for quite some time, had died down so much in recent years (due to time and expenses I suspect) that last year there wasn't one. At least in our region.

This year I'm told that the ECAC wants to get 4 teams from 4 regions (16 total teams for you guys that have math problems) and after you play the first round games at the home of the higher seed (or team with the better record or team that wants to host, cause some teams don't) the remaining 8 teams will travel to a single location to compete in an overall championship. I'm also told the ECAC will pay for that trip. Sounds interesting and a way your team can end the year on a positive note. Great if you have a lot of seniors and want to give them a decent send off. Also great if you've got a young team and can give them a chance to build on something for next year.     

Excuse my intrusion to the East Boards... but this ECAC tourney sounds like a very cool idea. What teams are members of the ECAC or is just any and all of the schools on the east side of the Mississippi? I'm more of a MIAC guy so this specific tournament does not apply to me as much but it would be cool to see something like this in the west as well.

The ECAC was a sort of blanket conference sort of thing that's been around forever.  They do still sponsor some sports, I believe.  Anyway, a lot of teams have pulled out in recent years, because it costs money and there was never really any benefit coming back.  When not every conference got an AQ to the NCAAs, it was a good consolation, but the luster is off for most teams.  I know it's still a reward for a few teams, maybe those who've never had a lot of success, but it's dying slowly.

[magicman]

I posted this on the Liberty League board but it concerns the SUNYAC conference as well.

Two losses in the Liberty League tonight as the top 2 seeds Skidmore and St.Lawrence both lose.

St. Lawrence lost in double overtime to Union 110-108 on a last second 3 pointer.

Skidmore was upset by 4th seeded Hobart 70-65.

Skidmore's loss creates  another East Region team that is hanging by a thread, hoping for an NCAA at large bid. With a 19-7 overall record it might be tough to get in. Losing in the semifinal game hurts. Two years ago Plattsburgh State won the regular season SUNYAC crown and lost in the Championship game of the conference tournament, ended up 19-8 and they didn't get an at large bid. A few years earlier when Hamilton was a member of the Liberty League they finished tied with SLU with a 12-2 league record and were 18-7 overall. They lost in the first round of the LL tournament and were bypassed by the committee.

The 3rd set of Regional Rankings came out today and Rochester is still the top ranked team in the East even with a loss in their last game. They lost the automatic bid from their conference to Washington U, so the Yellowjackets will be the first team at the table from the East Region.  St. John Fisher is ranked 2nd in the region and even if they lose I don't think SLU, with their loss tonight, will jump over the Cardinals. If Fisher loses they may be the 2nd team at the table. The best Oswego  or Brockport can be if they don't win the SUNYAC would be 20-7, assuming they win a semifinal game and lose in the championship game. That may be good enough to move them past Skidmore and in Brockport's case if they get to 20-7, move them over the Saints. They own a win over St. Lawrence and could have a stronger SOS than the Saints by selection time with 2 playoff games against the single game SLU had. SLU has a win over Oswego so if the Lakers lo
se, the Saints will probably stay in front of Oswego. 
There are 21 at large bids this year and 8 regions looking to get them. Some regions will get 4 or perhaps 5 bids, like the New England region as an example. The NESCAC conference could get 4 teams into the NCAA tournament and 5 isn't out of the question. The Midwest region also has a number of teams that will get at large bids. The East Region will be fortunate to get three bids. We may only get two.       

[All-Time]

Well it all comes down to this weekend.
Great finish to the season.
Really thought that Magicman's Cardinals were going to get in.

But the best 4 teams are in Oswego to win the SHIP.

My picks for tonight.

The Oneonta Red Dragons finally get over the Hump and beat Brockport. The Big 3 will certainly be the difference.
Frank Kelly came back to win a SUNYAC Championship and play for Coach Cameron and the Red Dragons will not disappoint.
It's tough to beat a team 3 times. Look for McElroy, Coleman and Kelly to have big nights as Oneonta beats Brockport in a THRILLA.

Oswego over Buffalo State. I really thought Buffalo State was going to blow the game against Cortland because of their foul shooting down the stretch. The Lakers with Brian Sortino and company live for this time of year. Look for it to be a low scoring game with Oswego taking this one to set up the Championship game tomorrow against the Red Dragons.

Enjoy the Games

[magicman]

SUNYAC Semifinals


Oneonta State   vs  Brockport State        5:30 PM

The 3rd time's a charm rule is in play for both games tonight and that's going to come into play. I'm just not sure if it will be this game. As much as I'd like Coach Cameron and his Big 3 to win all the marbles this year, I think they are up against it facing the Golden Eagles. I expect another close game but the oddsmakers have made Brockport a 3 point favorite on the neutral court. I think that's about right. Brockport's fullcourt pressure will be the deciding factor. The Golden Eagles win this one 87-83.


Buffalo State  at  Oswego State        7:30 PM

The two previous games between the Lakers and the Bengals have both resulted in Oswego victories. By a grand total of 2 points. Lakers won 71-70 a home and 69-68 in the Queen City. It can't get any closer than that. Will the Bengals get their hearts broken for a 3rd time against Oswego? The oddsmakers seem to think they will as they have installed the Lakers as a 3 point home favorite. I'd feel better about picking the Bengals if I knew the status of starter Nico McLean who was absent in the first round game on Tuesday against Cortland. Normally I'd have that information but a certain, usually reliable source, has failed to keep me informed. I'm still picking the Bengals to pull off the mild upset here as I think it's their turn to win a close one and their time to shine. Bengals 75 Oswego 72.       

[Bengalsrule]

Heading up rt 481 to Laker Hall.  Joined my BENGALS earlier today up there for shoot around and to see what locker room they were assigned. Got locker room 7B which was the same one Buff State had 6 years ago during thier last trip to the SUNYAC semifinals (at Oswego in 2011!)

All Star, you will appreciate this! As we approached the gym for the 2 pm shoot around, Oneonta was leaving the gym ( from their 1 pm shootaround). I slapped it down with McElroy( who is the younger brother of a former BENGAL - All Sunyac women's player, Stacy McElroy) and told him "see you tomorrow "!  He smiled and said "bet". I'm sure hoping that the Magicman is right again tonight ! After 2, 1 loss victories to Oswego, I want this 1 more than anything!

These boys, especially the seniors, deserve to go out on top.  Love these boys!!

Time for a quick prayer.

Go BENGALS!!!

[magicman]

I'm not happy that there is no video stream coming from Oswego on the Oneonta -Brockport game. They are showing a link on the Oneonta website but when you click on it it says the livestream is offline now. I bet it won't be offline for the Oswego game. SUNYAC should make sure the host site has a live stream for both semifinal games and not just the host's game.

[magicman]

Someone at Oswego must have heard me complaining because shortly after I posted that there was no video, I came back and checked and they had it up and running. Thank you.

I hope Brockport fans trying to get a video stream went to the Oswego or Oneonta website because you can't access the video stream from Brockport's website. There is a link on their website but you can't click on it and have the live stream or live stats come up. A gremlin somewhere in their website I guess.

[magicman]

Oneonta leads Brockport 38-36 at the half.

The Golden Eagles had the better of play for a large part of the first half and after a back and forth first 6 minutes, Brockport opened up a 6 point 19-13 lead. They stretched their advantage to 31-22 with 8:28 to play but the Red Dragons came roaring back to end the half on a 16-5 run to go in front at the break.

Lawrence Coleman was the main man in the opening period for Oneonta as he tallied 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Dwayne Freeman had 7 points, while Frankie Kelly and Ian Schultz had 6 each.

Devonn Gavin leads the Golden Eagles with 12 points. Marcus Blythers has 7 points and 6 boards. Clifton Lyerly also has 7 points

[magicman]

Oneonta opens up a 10 point lead on the Golden Eagles forcing them to take a time out. The score is 59-49 with 8:25 left in the game. Brockport needs to put something together soon or this one will be over.

[magicman]

Oswego leads Buffalo State 35-32 at the half.

9 lead changes and 4 ties in a tightly contested first half. I expect more of the same coming right up.

Brian Sortino (who else) leads Oswego with 14 points. Ian Schupp and Jamir Ferebee with 9 each.

Lovell Smith with 13 points to lead the Bengals.  Jordan Glover has 8 and Dom Grayer has 7.

[magicman]

40 minutes can't decide this one so they go to overtime as Oswego and Buffalo State are tied at 76. Brian Sortino with the ball and 29 seconds left, so he holds it for the last shot, which surprised exactly no one in the gym. He drove to the basket and laid it up but good defense by the Bengals forced him to try and bank it in high off the glass and it wouldn't go down. Ball went out of bounds off the Bengals with one tenth of a second on the clock. On the in bounds play nothing happened ad this will be settled in an extra session...maybe.

[magicman]

Oswego State breaks the Bengals' heart a 3rd time even worse than the first two as they win again by a single point in overtime 84-83. The Bengals had the last shot with 8 seconds left and opted for a 3 point attempt instead of a drive to the hoop. It was off the mark and the Lakers got the rebound as time expired. Not sure I would have wanted that to be my final shot. My choice was go to Lovell Smith inside on a drive and hope he gets fouled if the shot doesn't go in.

Great game to watch and a shame someone had to lose.   

[Bengalsrule]

Congrats to you the Oswego Lakers!  1 point better again and 1 of the best shooting exhibitions by a player that I have seen in Brian Sortino!  This 1 is gonna hurt for awhile! Hoping the best for the Yac!

Go BENGALS !