MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[jdex]

Brockport takes down homestanding Buffalo St. behind mighty bench play featuring  A. Hall's 12 pts(4x4 3s); Z. McTigh 12 pts(5x7fg in 12'; and A. Marchand 10 pts(4x9fg, 2x3 3s) in 19'. Port 40-33 at half and builds 13 point gap at 7:49. Buffs back to five at 3:10, three at 1:45 before McTigh hoop, and three at 1:10 on N. Simmons layup prior to Bport's J. Johnson bucket at 0:33 and ft at 0:22 to wrap it up. Johnson 15 pts, 10 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls; B. Williams 5 assts, 5 stls. Port 25x55fg, 8x16 3s, 16x27ft. BS 20x47fg, 2x10 3s, 26x38ft, 25 trnvrs. A. Samedi 15 pts(6x8fg), 8 rebs; TO Jackson 14 pts(10x16ft), 11 rebs, 8 trnvrs; J. Simmons 12 pts; J. Mitchell 10 pts(4x7fg) in 15'

Plattsburgh keyed by S. Thomas 27 pts, E. Daniyan 10 rebs

[magicman]

Some observations at the halfway point of conference play:

The biggest story is the 1st place Brockport Golden Eagles. The biggest part of the biggest story is how small these guys are. Eight different players have started a game during the course of the season and not 1 of them is taller than 6 feet. They have been out-rebounded in every game they've played except one, their 1st game against Geneseo, (they had 32 boards to Geneseo's 31). The second time they played the Blue Knights, in the Wendy's Classic, Brockport lost the battle of the boards 48-26 and won the game 83-69. In over 60 % of their games they got outboarded by double digits but still went 6-4 in those 10 games (5-1 in SUNYAC games). For the season they've grabbed 465 rebounds to their opponents 632. That's a 29.0 average for Port and 39.5 average for their opponents. They've been outshot from the field (46.7% to 41.1%) and even though they're getting killed on the boards, and getting outshot they have 172 more field goal attempts and 28 more made baskets than the opposition. They are also behind their opponents at the foul line. Brockport has a slightly better free throw percentage 67.3% to 66.2%, but gets to the line less times than the competition, 20 attempts to 24 and makes 13.5 free throws per game to the opposition's 16.3. So how do these guys keep winning? Three reasons. 1. They commit 12.5 turnovers per game, and their defense creates 22.0 TO's per game. 2. They outscore you from 3 pt. land. Eagles shoot 34% to 29% and make 8.2 treys a game to 3.9 for their opponents. 3. They have over twice as many steals as the opposition. 12.6 steals per game to 6.1. So getting 10 more turnovers and 6 more steals results in an average of 10 extra possessions per game, along with 4 more made 3 pointers. I guess that's how you get off more shots than the other team despite the rebounding problems. I still think it's smoke and mirrors  But you gotta love a team that plays the game with this kind of effort. Statistics used for Brockport include Tuesday night's game against Buffalo St.

Home court has been a huge factor in the league this year (as usual) Here's the schedule showing how the teams have fared at home, on the road, and where they play their remaining games.

                        Games  Played         Games Left To Play
     Team            Home       Away        Home      Away

1.   Brockport       5-0           3-1             4           5
2.   Cortland        5-1            1-2             3          6            
3.   Plattsburgh    1-1           4-3             7          2
3.   Oneonta        3-2            2-2             4          5
3.   Fredonia        4-1            1-3             4          5
6.   New Paltz      2-2            2-3             5          4
6.   Buffalo St      3-1             1-4             5          4
6.   Oswego         3-4            1-1             2          7
9.   Geneseo        2-2            1-4             5          4
10. Potsdam         1-2            0-6            6          3  

Only 2 teams have a winning record on the road. Brockport and Plattsburgh.
Plattsburgh Cardinals were the road warriors in the 1st half but will now have an edge with 7 of their last 9 at home. Cortland and Oswego are the only places they will visit. Cards failure to put away the Golden Eagles in double OT last Friday when given 2 chances to do so will probably come back to haunt them big time. That and the overtime loss to the Bengals could very well have cost them any chance to host the SUNYAC tournament. Falling 3 games off the lead isn't impossible to make up, but they will need help. And Brockport as good as they've been on the road will be tough to catch. Plus they get 2 of those remaining road games against the 9th and 10th place teams. Cortland could be hard pressed to hang onto 2nd place with 6 of their final 9 games on the road. And 3 of those games are at Port, Oneonta, and Fredonia. The other Red Dragons, Oneonta, have won the 2 road games they should have and lost 2 road games to the top pair, that could have went either way. The bigger problem was losing the games at home to Plattsburgh (where they gave up a 9 pt lead with 3:44 to go) and the loss to New Paltz last Friday. They could go 4-1 in the last 5 road games but need to take down the top pair at home. Oswego has the worst remaining schedule, hosting only 2 more games, against Plattsburgh and Potsdam. I think they'll struggle to climb any higher than 6th place by the end of the year. Fredonia and Buff St. have both shown an inability to win on the road, so it's hard to figure the 2nd half will be much better. I think the best they do is get 2 road wins apiece. New Paltz is hard to guage. One minute they're almost beating the #4 ranked team in the country, or taking down Oneonta on the road, and the next time you check, they're getting beat by double digits at home against Fredonia or dropping a double digit game on the road at Oswego. They could go 2-2 on the road in their final 4 trips but the good news is they face 3 of the top 4 teams at home where they'll need to do some damage to get back into the race. Geneseo and Potsdam will battle to see who avoids the cellar, but also to see which one might catch Oswego. The Blue Knights certainly have the upper hand with a 2 game lead over the Bears. Geneseo does have a chance to claim the 8th and final playoff spot because of Oswego's brutal schedule, but they need to take care of business this Friday, when they host the Lakers, who have revenge on their mind after dropping a 1 point decision to Geneseo back in December. Potsdam with 6 home games remaining can certainly play the spoiler if someones comes into Jerry Welch Gym  thinking they can sleepwalk through an easy victory. Just ask Cortland.

Just some thoughts to give you guys something to mull over. How about some chatter back.    

[bomber3]

That's unreal about Brockport.  Very unconventional and I wonder if they are playing this style out of necessity or choice?  Do they simply not have any big men to play and adapted the style to fit their roster?  I haven't seen Brockport play the last few years and aren't familiar with the program. 

[Bengalsrule]

That's unreal about Brockport.  Very unconventional and I wonder if they are playing this style out of necessity or choice?   

Brockport in 1 word......."HAVOC".

  Having watched them do in my beloved BENGALS, last nite, I find that's the best way to describe their play. They started 5 guys 6 feet or shorter and hit 6 three pointers ...in the first half.

1 - They are the poster children for how to play helpside defense.

2 - They double anything approaching the lane

3 - Any big men-with the ball within 15 feet of the basket get double teamed.

4 - They substitute in WAVES. No less than 2 subs every 3-4 minutes.

5 - Offensively they are an "E.O.S.T." -  Equal Opportunity Shooting Team. Everyone has the green lite to fire away.

My hat is off to them because, FOR NOW, thier system works and they believe in it.
Its gonna be interesting how teams adapt to their style when they see Brockport a 2nd time! This Friday, the 2nd half of the SUNYAC schedule begins and Brockport heads to Cortland (which is responsible for their 1 loss to date in SUNYAC).

Personally I am  looking forward to our 2/16 visit to Brockport!!

P.s. Magicman.. Thanks for the "Go BENGALS" yesterday. Sorry we did not come through!!

[magicman]

That's unreal about Brockport.  Very unconventional and I wonder if they are playing this style out of necessity or choice?  Do they simply not have any big men to play and adapted the style to fit their roster?  I haven't seen Brockport play the last few years and aren't familiar with the program. 

bomber 3,
They have 2 guys that are 6'5" both seniors. One of them averages 13.6 minutes a game and has 4.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg. He's their best "big option". The other 6'5" guy has played only 1 minute all year. They have 2 guys 6'3" one is a junior, other a frosh. together they have played a total of 13 minutes all year. And finally they have 2 guys that are 6'2". One is getting the 9th most playing time with 13 minutes a game and averages 3.7ppg and 1.4rpg. The other guy is 11th on the team in minutes played, 7.0 per game and has scored 7 points all year. So I think, in answer to your question, that it's a  little bit of both. They're very athletic and quick, which gives them their best chance to win, and they don't have a sufficient number of big men to field a traditional lineup.  

[magicman]

That's unreal about Brockport.  Very unconventional and I wonder if they are playing this style out of necessity or choice?   

Brockport in 1 word......."HAVOC".

  Having watched them do in my beloved BENGALS, last nite, I find that's the best way to describe their play. They started 5 guys 6 feet or shorter and hit 6 three pointers ...in the first half.

1 - They are the poster children for how to play helpside defense.

2 - They double anything approaching the lane

3 - Any big men-with the ball within 15 feet of the basket get double teamed.

4 - They substitute in WAVES. No less than 2 subs every 3-4 minutes.

5 - Offensively they are an "E.O.S.T." -  Equal Opportunity Shooting Team. Everyone has the green lite to fire away.

My hat is off to them because, FOR NOW, thier system works and they believe in it.
Its gonna be interesting how teams adapt to their style when they see Brockport a 2nd time! This Friday, the 2nd half of the SUNYAC schedule begins and Brockport heads to Cortland (which is responsible for their 1 loss to date in SUNYAC).

Personally I am  looking forward to our 2/16 visit to Brockport!!

P.s. Magicman.. Thanks for the "Go BENGALS" yesterday. Sorry we did not come through!!

Bengalsrule,
Good description of Brockport. They don't make the trip up to the North Country until February 19th and 20th, so you'll see them again before we get a 2nd crack at them. We let one get away last Friday but they got a break at the end of regulation. Plattsburgh's Ruiz hits 2 free throws with 4 seconds left to give Plattsburgh a 3 pt lead and of course the Cardinal's Coach Curle wants to foul so Port doesn't get off a game tying 3 pointer. Zenkel has the ball for Brockport and we foul him at mid-court but refs don't blow the whistle and he buries the trey, sending it to OT.
Your Bengals played them tough last night and made a nice comback to get within 3 on several occasions late in the game. I was listening to the audio feed on my computer but I only have dial-up and the feed was breaking up on me. Looks like the backbreaker was after N. Simmons scored to cut it to 71-68 with 1:10 left, Port used all of the 35 second clock and J. Johnson scored for Brockport with the shot clock winding down to make it a 5 pt lead with 33 seconds left. Good luck this weekend against Fredonia and Geneseo. Hey whatever happened to Freddy State? Haven't heard from him in quite a while.

[bomber3]

That's unreal about Brockport.  Very unconventional and I wonder if they are playing this style out of necessity or choice?  Do they simply not have any big men to play and adapted the style to fit their roster?  I haven't seen Brockport play the last few years and aren't familiar with the program. 

bomber 3,
They have 2 guys that are 6'5" both seniors. One of them averages 13.6 minutes a game and has 4.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg. He's their best "big option". The other 6'5" guy has played only 1 minute all year. They have 2 guys 6'3" one is a junior, other a frosh. together they have played a total of 13 minutes all year. And finally they have 2 guys that are 6'2". One is getting the 9th most playing time with 13 minutes a game and averages 3.7ppg and 1.4rpg. The other guy is 11th on the team in minutes played, 7.0 per game and has scored 7 points all year. So I think, in answer to your question, that it's a  little bit of both. They're very athletic and quick, which gives them their best chance to win, and they don't have a sufficient number of big men to field a traditional lineup.  

Thanks - I'd be interested in seeing them play but they don't usually schedule many E8 teams except maybe Fisher.  Reminds me of when Kean played Ithaca several years ago in Ithaca.  They played 15 guys - no joke.  Subbed in waves - about 3 or 4 at a time - and pressed the entire game.  They were a pretty athletic team and made use of it.  Ithaca hit a game tying buzzer beater 3 to send it to overtime.  With IC up one Kean got fouled with something like 0.2 seconds on the clock and nailed both FTs to win by one.  But I digress....

[jdex]

Magic, nice night of research judging by the post time ......6:30 AM. My gawd!!!!! Enjoyed the factual figurin'. No arguments here. Now tis time for all to answer the bell on the court, and see how THOSE numbers stack up.

Remember another crew that didn't get "short" shrifted?? Rupp's Runts from days of yore. Yes, yes, we date ourselves! We remember for no other reason than a member of that famed troupe was New Yorker Pat Riley of Schenectady

Aside to Bengalsrule, Friday's Cortland/Brockport match at the Port

[magicman]

jdex,
Rupp's Runt's 1965-66, I remember them well. That's the team that lost to Texas Western in the championship game. It was my 1st year in college, I was a runt myself,(5'7") playing JV basketball, and spent every free moment in the gym. Kareem was Lew Alcindor and as a freshman at UCLA that year he couldn't play on the varsity so UCLA's chance at a threepeat was gone. Rupp's Runts were considered small by D1 standards, but they tower over this Brockport team. The Runts had 2 guys 6'5"(center and guard), 2 guys 6'4"(Riley and the other forward), and 6'0" guard Louie Dampier. Thanks for the memories!

[jdex]

And closer to home -- at least then, were Roy's Runts of Syracuse in the early to mid-70s. The almost home-grown (Windsor) Lee brothers, home grown M. Wadach, along with D. Duval, Bug Williams, etc. Of course, there was a bit of size there, too, such as R. Hackett, B. Doom, etc. Boeheim on board as an aide. Reached '75 Final Four

Aside II: QB Riley's Schenectady Linton HS coach was Cortland product Dick "Conky" Lalla, who considered Riley perhaps a better footballer. And, in fact, he was a Dallas draftee. Apparently took the right other road

[jdex]

Roy's Runts of Roy Danforth ......

[FranElia]

Aside II: QB Riley's Schenectady Linton HS coach was Cortland product Dick "Conky" Lalla, who considered Riley perhaps a better footballer. And, in fact, he was a Dallas draftee. Apparently took the right other road

Actually, jdex, Pat Riley's Linton High coach was Walt Przybylo, who, yes, is a Cortland grad (and in the C-Club Hall of Fame here):
http://www.cortlandreddragons.com/hof.aspx?hof=151

I know this mainly because I, too, am a Linton grad (albeit about 20 or so years after Riley). I've been very fortunate to meet Riley on two occasions (once in high school and once in 2000 at a Schenectady City School District Hall of Fame dinner).

In his acceptance speech at the Hall of Fame dinner, he talked about Przybylo by saying ""He knocked the cigarette out of my mouth and changed my life" and "He was an incredible human being. He was absolutely the kind of man who could inspire people to go above and beyond. He could get you to run through a wall. He was an incredible man -- his family was my second family."

Fran

[jdex]

Yea, Fran, knew that. Guess we should have been more specific in tying the Riley connections to the two Cortlanders -- Linton football to Cortland High product (and All-East Colgate qb) Lalla, and Linton hoops to Cortland State's Przybylo. Lalla recalled Riley as quite the 'hood' of the day (now there's a '50s/60s blast from the past) -- a biker with a smoke in hand.  And now ...... for F. Elia's induction (the kid did good!)

[jdex]

Quick half at Brockport where Cortland leads 36-29

Plattsburgh all over Oneonta 40-24 at the break

[Bengalsrule]

Any update on Buff State and Fredonia? I was too sick to go the game and the damn audio on my computer aint working!!!