MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[magicman]

While I was looking at rosters of teams that were scheduled to play this week in my Pick Em League I came across this little tidbit that I thought was funny. The top ranked team in the country at the moment is Virginia Wesleyan. They won't be #1 after the next poll comes out in early January as they suffered back to back losses this past week but they will end this year as the #1 team. Their most recent loss was to Wesley on 12-20 by a 72-70 score. On 12-8 York (Pa.) defeated Wesley 77-69. And on 11-17 the Oneonta Red Dragons with their 1-7 overall record defeated York (Pa.) 92-77. So the YAC's last place team, took down the team, that took down the team, that took down #1. I wonder if our conference will somehow benefit from that roundabout!

[magicman]

One game on tap for Saturday Dec. 22nd. At least we're all still here to see how this one turns out since an asteroid didn't come crashing down upon us and wipe out the earth.

Buffalo State 7-2 vs Coe College (Iowa) 5-3 at Miami Florida 3:00 PM   Adidas Holiday Slam

The Bengals and the Kohawks both opened the tournament yesterday with a win. I think the Bengals played a tougher opponent in Eastern Connecticut than Coe did in defeating Lebanon Valley(only 3-7 overall). Coe has played several quality teams as they opened the season with a tough 1 point loss at  #17 Illinois Wesleyan from the CCIW conference, 52-51. They also own a win over Carthage, another CCIW team 70-63. The oddsmakers have made the Kohawks a 3 point favorite over the Bengals. I think Buffalo State will match up well with Coe. The Kohawks will start 3 guards and 2 forwards with their leading scorers averaging 14.1 ppg and 13.9 ppg. David Mataloni is a 6'2" sr guard and not only leads the team in scoring but is their main 3 point shooter with 13x29 from behind the arc. 6'7" sr Seth Light is their premier big man as he averages 9.1 rebounds per game to go along with his 13.9 ppg. No one else averages double figures with the other 3 starters hitting for 9, 8, and 5 ppg. They have averaged around 5.4  three pointers per game, but yesterday against Lebanon Valley they went off for 73% from downtown as they sunk 14x19. Hopefully they won't repeat that effort today against the Bengals.

Despite the odds I'm picking the Bengals to win this game. I think they will again win the turnover battle and if Anyar Majak comes close to his monster effort of yesterday the Bengals could win by double digits. Coe won't want to get into a track meet with Buff State, but it seems like that's what it always turns out to be, a 40 minute sprint. Bengals take this one 81-74.

I would very much appreciate a phone call from a certain Bengalsrule, with stat sheet in hand, at the conclusion of this game. I'm still waiting for a promised phone call with last night's stats that never happened. The only problem with playing in this Miami tournament is... isolationism. No live stats, no video, no audio, and apparently NO BOX SCORES. So come on Champ, I'm always there for you when you're calling for the SUNYAC scores on game nights, it's time for some payback. I'll be at my store waiting for your call.     

[magicman]

Buffalo State 83  Coe College 67

Thought this one would go the Bengals way and my prediction of 81-74 wasn't too far off. No details yet and if its like yesterday's game the box score won't show up until tomorrow.

A couple of nice wins on the Bengals resume. The games won't count on their regional record but will help with strength of schedule.

[magicman]

Bengalsrule just called me and I thought I was going to get some stats. Next thing I know he's telling me he'll call me later. He's at a Miami Heat game and the Heat are getting ready to take the floor.  All I got out of him was that Jake Simmons led the Bengals with 31 points and Rod Epps had 16.

[Bengalsrule]

Bengalsrule just called me and I thought I was going to get some stats. Next thing I know he's telling me he'll call me later. He's at a Miami Heat game and the Heat are getting ready to take the floor.  All I got out of him was that Jake Simmons led the Bengals with 31 points and Rod Epps had 16.

......and Kojo Mensah had 9 points. I should add that the stats were in 1 word...HORRIBLE. I get it from a reliable source ( 1 of the BENGAL coaches) that the half time stats (and ditto for the final game stats) were always way off with regards to fouls....turnovers, assists etc. i.e Halftime stats of BSC and ECU had the BENGALS winning 44-43 when the opposite was true and the score was correct on the school school board!!!! End of the game stats followed.

The stat that really mattered was that the BENGALS beat Eastern Conn by 4 and Coe by 16. The Eastern Conn team was truely a class act and that game wasn't decided until the final min.  Majak was the truth with 22 of his 31 in the first half...off the bench. Jake Simmons followed suit with 16 of his 19 in the 2nd half! had the BENGALS done better on the free throw line  (4-20) this game could have been over earlier.

   The game vs. Coe College was a different animal altogether. Coe shot the 3 pt lights out the night before, went 14- 19 on Friday night. But on Sat. my beloved BENGALS won the  3 pt battle on this night. . Sat. Coe also took 19  3 pt attempts but made only 5. The BENGALS shot 14 of 29 from beyond the arc,  and 8 of 12 in the 2nd half. Coupled with out-rebounding Coe by 8, scoring more bench points (57- 37) and points in the paint (44-32), this game was over earlier than most expected. 

   Fortunatly 1 of the BENGAL coaches had an extra ticket for the HEAT game so I was fortunate enough to join my beloved BENGALS at the AA Arena. ( I would have much rather been at a KNICKS game  )

  With the tourney having 6 teams and everyone playing only 2 games each it's hard to say who should be crowned Adidis Slam Champ. HOWEVER only Messiah and BUffalo State went 2-0 for the weekend. Medaille and Eastern Conn went 0-2, Lebanon Valley and Coe finished at 1-1. Using the famous KGLOVER tiebreaker system I feel comfortable saying that the BENGALS won the tourney. Before Magicman balks let me say why. The KGLOVER tie breaker is 1 - head to head  2 - record vs. Common opponent and if both of those don't result in a clear winner then the 3rd tie-breaker is Point differential vs. common opponents. Buff State beat E. Conn by 4 and Messiah beat  E. Conn by 1 ( in OT). Therefore .....the BENGALS won the 2012 Adidas Slam tourney!

  Apologies to my "Magic" friend for not getting him the stats earlier. But they, the stats, were so suspect (and the Seminole Hard Rock casino was soooo close ) I figured that I'd just wait till the dust settled ( and the plane landed) to give him the entire scoop!

[magicman]

Appreciate the updates from Bengalsrule. I realize the magicman is always gonna be second fiddle to the Miami Heat. (and a casino)

However....I'm still waiting to hear how the final 11 points were scored in the Eastern game

I mean, on Friday when you called, that was the first thing you were excited about. Something about scoring 8 of the final 11 points. No play by play in the box score, so I'm waiting on you, still!!!

[dcahill44]

So far the Sunyac has impressed me with 5 very good/ dangerous teams including Buffalo state, Cortland, Plattsburgh, Oswego, and Geneseo. Saw Cortland, Buffalo State and Oswego play in person and look real solid. I think in the Sunyac Conference Title we will see Buffalo State vs Cortland. Cortland has a lot of Experience with their first six guys either Juniors or Seniors and are 2nd in my Regional Rankings (Behind Rochester). Buffalo State has 2 Very explosive Scoring Guards including Jake Simmons and Roderick Epps. Oswego State has ofcourse Hayden Ward who will probably be a 1st team all region Selection and Sean Michele a good experienced Senior Point Guard and a lot of Young Talented Freshman. I think Cortland has the Potential to make a Run in the NCAA tournament (Sweet 16).

[Bengalsrule]

So far the Sunyac has impressed me with 5 very good/ dangerous teams including Buffalo state, Cortland, Plattsburgh, Oswego, and Geneseo. Saw Cortland, Buffalo State and Oswego play in person and look real solid. I think in the Sunyac Conference Title we will see Buffalo State vs Cortland. Cortland has a lot of Experience with their first six guys either Juniors or Seniors and are 2nd in my Regional Rankings (Behind Rochester). Buffalo State has 2 Very explosive Scoring Guards including Jake Simmons and Roderick Epps. Oswego State has ofcourse Hayden Ward who will probably be a 1st team all region Selection and Sean Michele a good experienced Senior Point Guard and a lot of Young Talented Freshman. I think Cortland has the Potential to make a Run in the NCAA tournament (Sweet 16).

Dcahill...Will you be at the Cortland/BUFFALO STATE game 1/11??

[magicman]

2 games on tap today for the SUNYAC:

Cortland State vs Ursinus at Daytona Beach, Florida 4:00 PM

Red Dragons back in action after a 2 week layoff. Hope they don't have a deja vu moment and play like they did last year after their holiday break. That game was the worst performance the Red Dragons had for the entire season as they hosted Nazareth and got killed 87-56 after an 18 day Christmas vacation. Their opponent this year is no pushover either. Ursinus comes into the game with a misleading 5-5 record, as the Bears have played a very competitive schedule. One of their 5 losses came against #2 Middlebury 78-73 and that was a one possession game with 11 seconds to play. Another loss was to #8 Franklin & Marshall 68-63, also a one possession game with 12 seconds remaining. They dropped a 1 point decision to an NCAA sweet sixteen team last year, Staten Island, 61-60. Point spread favors the Red Dragons by 9 points but I think it will be a little closer than that. The Bears are a big team and will start  6'10" forward Jon Ward and 6'8"  forward Kevin Janowski. They also have a pair of 6'3" guards and another 6' guard. 4 players average double digits with Ward and 2 of the guards all hitting 14 ppg. I'll go with Cortland to win this game 76-72 but the Red Dragons better bring their best because they'll need it against the Bears.     

[magicman]

2nd YAC game today:

Pitt-Bradford at Brockport State   7:00 PM

The Golden Eagles host their holiday tournament. Wells will face off against SUNY-Canton in the opening game. Brockport shouldn't have much trouble advancing to the championship game of their tournament as they face off against the Panthers from Pitt-Bradford. The Panthers sport a 5-3 record but could only defeat winless Houghton 71-70. St John Fisher beat them 106-57. Oddsmakers favor Brockport by 13 but I think they win by a bigger margin. I'll take the Eagles to win this one 86-62. 

[magicman]

Cortland jumped out to a 15-0 lead against Ursinus before the Bears came back a bit to make it 18-8. Another 10-2 spurt by the Red Dragons has given them a 28-10 lead with 10:40 left to play in the first half. Wanted to watch the game as they have a live video feed but the Land of Magic Classic organizers want $7.95 to see the game. I'll watch something else for free.

[jdex]

Cortland 50, Ursinus 27 at the half. J. Winter 18 pts for RDragons who shoot 19x34fg, 9x21 3s

[magicman]

Red Dragons brought their game today as they shoot 19x34 in the 1st half. Already have nine 3 pointers (9x21) thanks to 4 by Jesse Winter. Ursinus is struggling to hit their shots starting out 5x22 before hitting 6 of their last 9 to end up 11x31 for the period.

[jdex]

No Cortland letup ........73-40 with just over 9 minutes left. J. Winter with 28 pts(10x14fg, 6x9 3s). H. Hefele 15 pts, K. McMahon 10 pts. Corts 28x53 from the field ......

[magicman]

Cortland 85 Ursinus 53 final score