MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[magicman]

The SUNYAC Player of the Week for Feb 14-20 was Justin Mitchell from Buffalo St.
Here's the write up from the SUNYAC website:

Justin Mitchell (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon ) sophomore forward averaged a double-double (20.7 points and 10.7 rebounds) and shot an astounding 79-percent from the field, helping the Bengals to three wins in the week, pushing the teams winning streak to eight. Mitchell had 21 points and 13 rebounds, including the game-winning layup with four seconds left, in an 81-80 overtime win against Plattsburgh on Friday.  On Tuesday, he finished with 20 points on 7-of-8 from the field and 6-7 from the line and grabbed 11 boards en route to a 96-83 victory over Brockport. He finished the week with 21 points and eight rebounds against Potsdam. The Bengals are the second seed in the SUNYAC tournament.

[with age came?]

The following link is for an article that was posted on the SUNYAC website. It was a story that appeared in the Buffalo News on February 21st. It is a story about Jake Simmons who was last year's SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and current SUNYAC scoring leader. Take the time to read it.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article347508.ece

I second that suggestion!!! The story may bring a tear to your eye.

Thank you Magicman for putting the link to this story up.  This is the reason why I love d-3 basketball and the guys who play it for the love of the game. I see that Pat has already noticed it too! What a remarkable young man!

[Bengalsrule]

                                                    Simmons named ECAC Player of the Week

Posted today on the SUNYAC website.....

Buffalo State's Jake Simmons (Rochester/School for the Arts) has been named the Men's Upstate Basketball Player of the Week by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for the week ending November 28th.

(3rd paragraph)
...Simmons leads the SUNYAC through 3 games, averaging 26.7 points-per-contest, and has also hit a leaque best 18 3 pointers. He is also 2nd in the conference, averaging 3.0 steals-per-game

  Less than 4 years ago Jake spent nearly 1 month in the hospital, partially paralized, following a nearly tragic accident. Everyone knows someone who has their rags to riches story, but folks close to the BENGALS program know that there is no 1 in recent BENGAL memory who has endured more than Jake has over the past 5 years.

  Kudo's to this hard working young man!

I'm glad everyone is finding out about Jake. Guys like him make D3 fans, not only at Buff State, but across the nation proud. Heck you dont even need to be a hoops fan..just a HUMAN fan. You can't help but feel good for the kid.

He makes those of us at Buff State feel like winners no matter what happens tommorrow at Oswego.

Thanks again Magicman and Pat for the post(s)!

P.s. But do want to beat the Cards tommorrow night Magicman!

[magicman]

Anyone heard if the weather may cause a cancellation in tonight's games at Oswego?

[thebear]

For discussion purposes, here's my whack at All-SUNYAC

MVP - Burridge - Oswego
ROY - Green - Brockport
COY - Stockwell - Oswego

1st Team
Hahn - Oneonta
Green - Brockport
Mitchell - Buff State
Simmons,J - Buff State
Winter - Cortland

2nd Team
Daniyan - Plattsburgh
Pierce - Potsdam
Ruiz - Plattsburgh
Williams, G - Brockport
Michele - Oswego (PG of a 17-1 SUNYAC team has got to be here.)

HM
Ward - Oswego
Monahan - Oswego
Talbot - Oneonta
Wichard - New Paltz
Taylor - New Paltz

HM Bubble
Thomas - Plattsburgh
Cartwright - Buff State

No ticky no washee if you didn't make the playoffs.

[thebear]

Hey Magic & Bengalsrule

Over on the Multi-Region Board, KnightSlappy has given his latest top 100 with Pool A & C projections.

He suggests that Stevens at #42 is the "bubble" team nationally.  Buff State, depending on where you look at it is in the 60's or 70's (Remember there's a lot of BAD conferences that get AQ's).  'burgh is lower still.

I think the winner of tonight's game will have to win the SUNYAC tournament to guarantee a bid, as an in -region loss will further drop them down the pecking order.

That's why they play the games.

[magicman]

Hey Magic & Bengalsrule

Over on the Multi-Region Board, KnightSlappy has given his latest top 100 with Pool A & C projections.

He suggests that Stevens at #42 is the "bubble" team nationally.  Buff State, depending on where you look at it is in the 60's or 70's (Remember there's a lot of BAD conferences that get AQ's).  'burgh is lower still.

I think the winner of tonight's game will have to win the SUNYAC tournament to guarantee a bid, as an in -region loss will further drop them down the pecking order.

That's why they play the games.

Yeah I saw it right after KnightSlappy put it up. Doesn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I said over 3 weeks ago that the only way we get 2 bids is if Oswego loses in the tournament. You hope that something changes and you might be wrong but the writing was on the wall. In Buffalo State's case they made a nice run to win 9 in a row but I think it's too little too late. Cards got no hope for a Pool C. It's win or go home and get ready for the ECAC's.
Hopefully those Plattsburgh Seniors would like to keep their record of never losing a SUNYAC tournament game alive for just 2 more games. GO CARDS!!!!

[magicman]

Big night for Hoops fans in New York State. Lets see if I can pick some winners.

SUNYAC Conference

Plattsburgh  vs Buffalo State at Oswego
As mentioned before these 2 teams are about as even as can be.  Last 4 games have been decided by a total of 10 points with 2 of them going to overtime. Flip a coin to pick the winner. I did and it came up Cards, 78-75.

Brockport  @ Oswego
Brockport has a history of handling the Lakers in the semifinals winning 3 of 4 games against them when they've advanced to this point. 2 years ago an 8th seeded Brockport, on their way to the SUNYAC title, beat the higher seeded Lakers in the semis. I think tonight they do it again as they avenge 2 regular season losses. Golden Eagles soar, 72-68

Liberty League

Skidmore vs RPI at Hobart
These 2 teams also played 2 nail biters during the regular season. Red Hawks won at home by 2, Thoroughbreds won in Saratoga by 4. I've always loved  going to the races at Saratoga so I'm picking the Thoroughbreds to take this one 79-75.

Hamilton @ Hobart
Last hurrah in the Liberty League for the Continentals. They'd love nothing more than to leave the league with the Tournamnet Championship. Hobart won't let them do that. Statesmen will have to win a 3rd straight game over Hamilton and the previous 2 were both close contests. Hobart won each game by 3 points. I think they win this one 74-66
     

[magicman]

Heck I might as well try and pick the Empire 8 as well.

Hartwick @ Stevens
Hawks won a close won at home over the Ducks but didn't play well in New Jersey. I think they play better tonight but Stevens will come away with the win.  73-67.

St. John Fisher @ Ithaca
Bombers trying to win their 1st E8 tournament have handled the Cardinals twice this year. I think this is the year they win that elusive crown. Ithaca takes this one 89-80.

[magicman]

Halftime scores

Buffalo State 40 Plattsburgh 34

RPI 38 Skidmore 34

[magicman]

Buffalo State holds off Plattsburgh 88-79 and moves on to the championship game.

[magicman]

Buffalo State got a balanced scoring effort tonight as all 5 starters hit double figures. The Bengals managed to overcome a 7 point deficit  halfway through the period and went on to lead by 6, 40-34 at the half. They came out of the break and hit a couple of early 3 pointers and extended their lead to double digits. The Cardinals came back and closed to within 2 on several occasions but the Bengals would never relinquish the lead. Jake Simmons and Chris Cartwright were the leading scorers for Buffalo State with 20 points each. Justin Mitchell, Norman Simmons and Glenroy Carr were also double digit scorers.  Plattsburgh's Chris Ruiz led all scorers with 35 points in his final SUNYAC contest. Steve Thomas and Errol Daniyan also had double figures for the Cardinals in their final league game as well. Live stats were pulled so I don't have a lot of details other than what I could remember. Lot of points were scored in the final few minutes as the Cardinals were trailing by 7-10 points and sent Buffalo to the line a number of times. Ruiz hit a couple of 3's to make it a 2 possession game and even though the outcome didn't look good for Plattsburgh,  they kept it interesting. Definitely rooting for the Lakers to lose so The YAC can get 2 teams to the dance.   

[magicman]

Brockport Leading Oswego at the half 34-30. Brockport owned the largest lead of the half at 24-15 but the Lakers came back to tie it up on a Chad Burridge bomb 27-27. Port goes back up by 5 on a Gerald Williams triple and Francisco Lantigua layup but another bomb from Burridge makes it 32-30. Williams hits a short jumper with 4 seconds left to make it a 4 point game at the break. Burridge with 9 and Hayden Ward with 7 lead the Lakers. Stephen Sisson with 3x3 from longe range has 9 points and Kyheem Green with 8 lead the Golden Eagles.

[magicman]

Bear,
I could live with most of those picks. Definitely Chad Burridge for MVP and Coach Stockwell for COY. I wouldn't give the Rookie of the Year to a junior though. I like my rookies to be freshmen. I'd probably go with Kevin McMahon who averaged more points(207, 10.4 ppg) and had more rebounds(123, 6.2 rpg) than any other freshman. Jon Ivy for Brockport and the Efese kid from the Bears were right behind. I'd have to put Chris Ruiz on the 1st team, and drop Winter to the 2nd team though.  

[magicman]

Final in Oswego. Brockport State takes down the regular season champion Lakers 74-70. SUNYAC conference just became a 2 bid league.