MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[magicman]

Cortland leads Oswego 39-35 at the break.

Red Dragons led by Kevin McMahon with 11 points. Jesse Winter has 9 and Brian Manning has 8.

Oswego's top scorers are Hayden Ward with 9 and D II transfer Daniel Ross also with 9 points. Chris Gilke has 8.

[jdex]

Cortland 75, Oswego 69  final

No rattling this veteran RDragons outfit which fell behind 63-59 with 5:08 left on H. Ward inside move. CSt pulls off a 66-64 reversal on J. Smith hoop at 3:23, a bucket matched by S. Michele at 2:43 for 66-66 knot. Corts seizes the lead for good on Smith connection and his last of 17 points. K. MaMahon builds the edge to 70-66 on an inside bucket at 1:43. A McMahon putback makes it 72-67. C. Gilkes layup brings Lakers within 72-69 at 0:48. Corts then run down the clock and set up Winter for the clinching trey as shot and game clocks wind down. A rushed OSt bid misfires, Corts rebound and get the 'W' in well played scrap.

The steady Winter with 18 pts(6x16fg, 3x7 3s), 5 rebs, 5 assts, 3 stls in 37'. Smith with 17 pts(7x18fg, 3x8 3s) in 34'; McMahon 17 pts(8x12fg), 9 rebs; H. Hefele 11 pts(4x6fg). Corts 30x60fg, 9x20 3s, 6x8ft, 31 rebs, 6 Tovers.

Oswego's D. Ross 17 pts(7x9fg), 4 rebs in 38'; H. Ward 15 pts(7x15fg), 13 rebs; Gilkes 17 pts(8x15fg); K. Covley 11 pts(3x6fg, 3x5 3s). Lakers 27x55fg, 6x19 3s, 9x13ft, 30 rebs, 7 Tovers

[magicman]

Cortland 's Jesse Winter nails a dagger 3 pointer with 17 seconds on the clock to give  the Red Dragons a 2 possession 75-69 lead. Oswego misfires on their end and this one is history. I told Dave McHugh it was going to be 75-72 Cortland and needed oswego to knock down a 3 on their shot to make me look like Nostradamus.  The final was pretty darn close. I'll take it.

[magicman]

Plattsburgh 72 Fredonia 47

Plattsburgh took out last night's frustration on the Blue Devils as they once again came out of the locker room and broke on top 13-2 after 3:22 seconds had gone by. And again it was John Perez and Chris Manning who led the charge early. The Blue Devils would get to within 5 but the Cards went back up by double digits at 24-12 and the lead grew to 32-16 with 1:33 left. Fredonia however, ended the period on a 7-1 spurt to make it 33-23 at the break. Fredonia scored the first bucket of the 2nd half to narrow the lead to single digits but Manning and Perez with help from Jordan Moody and Shamoy McIntosh exploded for 18 quick points and the Cardinals had opened up a 23 point lead at 51-28 with 11 minutes to play. The lead would grow to 28 and was never less than 23 from that point on. Coach Curle emptied his bench and 15 players got at least 3 minutes of playing time.

Plattsburgh had balanced scoring as 3 players had double figures but 11 guys broke into the scoring column. Kalik Parker came off the bench to lead the Cardnals with 13 points (5x7 fg, 2x4 3's, 1x2 ft). John Perez had another double-double with 12 points (5x8 fg,2x4 ft) and 10 rebounds. He added 3 assists and 2 steals as well. Point guard Chris Manning also had 12 points (5x8 fg, 2x2 ft) and 3 steals.  Back up point guard Mike Mitchell had 8 points (1x2 fg, 6x8 ft) with 2 steals in 11 minutes on the floor. Jordan Moody had 7 points and 4 rebounds, Ezra Hodson had 5 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals while Shamoy McIntosh added 5 points, 3 steals and 2 assists. Cards were 26x58 from the field, 5x16 from long range and 15x27 from the line. Rebounds were almost even with Plattsburgh grabbing 41 and the Blue Devils had 42. Turnovers were 16 for Plattsburgh and 24 by Fredonia.

Fredonia was led by Dalton Kashmere with 9 points and 6 rebounds. Devin Case and Robert Lyles had 8 points each. Case had 6 boards while Lyles had 5. Tyrone Clark had 7 points and 5 rebounds. Fredonia as a team only had a total of 6 assists. Blue Devils were only 14 for 56 from the field and  even worse only 3 for 26 (ouch) from downtown. They shot well from the line hitting 16 of 19.

Plattsburgh improves to 8-3 in conference play (12-6 overall) and has 2 more games on the road before they see the friendly confines of Memorial Hall again. They are off until next Friday Feb. 1st when they travel to Oneonta  for an 8 PM contest, followed by a 4 PM game with New Paltz on Saturday.

Fredonia drops to 2-9 in the YAC and 6-11 overall. It won't get any easier for the Blue Devils as up next are visits from Cortland and Oswego next weekend.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Cortland 's Jesse Winter nails a dagger 3 pointer with 17 seconds on the clock to give  the Red Dragons a 2 possession 75-69 lead. Oswego misfires on their end and this one is history. I told Dave McHugh it was going to be 75-72 Cortland and needed oswego to knock down a 3 on their shot to make me look like Nostradamus.  The final was pretty darn close. I'll take it.

The score was on my mind from about half-way through the second half on. I first didn't think either team would get close as they both hit a standstill midway through the half, but they rallied. And yes, I also thought that not only did Oswego have to hit a three to make it interesting late, but also make you seem like a genious.

Overall, pretty impressed. Both teams shot over .500 and there were 13 TOTAL turnovers in a game that certainly had some interesting calls from the officials. It started with the lead official's whistle being broken, and a tech on Cortland for what I figure had to be taunting or talking back to the ref after a basket, and had more conversations between refs and coaches than I have seen ever... or at least in a very long time.

I can't say either team was better than the other... it just came down to an extra three, essentially. I talked briefly to both coaches afterward and thought they both were satisfied with the game and know where their teams sit. I will talk to Coach Leone more tomorrow for a taped segments for Monday's Hoopsville, but I agreed with his thinking that Cortland can hang with a lot of teams that are better than maybe this region can offer and that Oswego is missing that one guy that can add another dimension to the team.

Right now, I wouldn't be surprised if either of these teams could get to Salem in the round of 8... IF they aren't matched with Rochester before hand. Of course they could get matched up with Wooster or others, but if they came into the Mid-Atlantic it could be an interesting run. Of course there is a LOT of basketball still to be played.

[magicman]

The top 6 teams in the conference did create some separation from the bottom 4 making the playoff picture a little clearer.

Geneseo (10-2), I think it's safe to say, has clinched a playoff spot. With their 10 wins, even though it's not a mathematical certainty yet, it's certainly certain enough for me. The biggest question is...can they hold off the contenders just below them and grab the top seed. Personally I think they'll get overtaken but I've been wrong before in my assessment of the Blue Knights, so it won't suprise me if they do get the top seed. I just think they'll lose at least 2 more games and depending on what their closest pursuers do may be enough to bump them down a notch or two. 

Cortland (8-2) is basically tied with the Blue Knights as Geneseo has to play the same 6 teams that Cortland does. Cortland has to play 2 more games to catch up but those games are at home against Oneonta and New Paltz, both games I think the Red Dragons will win. So I think Cortland has also clinched a playoff spot. They have 4 left on the road and 4 at home. They play two probable playoff teams at home and two on the road so their schedule is fairly balanced from here on out. 

Plattsburgh (8-3) sits alone in 3rd place and has a 2 and a half game lead on Oswego. Cardinals need to win their last 2 road games next weekend against Oneonta and New Paltz, they then finish with 5 straight home games against the 4 contenders closest to them plus Potsdam. They will have the most favorable schedule if they enter that stretch with only 3 losses. I won't say they've clinched a playoff spot yet (I'm not gonna jinx my Cardinals ), but i like their chances.

Oswego (6-4) is clinging to the 4th spot but Brockport is breathing down their neck. Port has played 12 games, Lakers only played 10. Lakers do own the tiebreaker over the Golden Eagles with their season sweep but Oswego has the least favorable schedule and must play 5 of their remaining 8 games on the road. Things could get dicey.

Brockport (7-5) is a half game ahead of Buffalo State but they are tied in the loss column. Golden Eagles with a game in hand but must play 5 of their last 6 on the road and 3 of those road games are against teams that are ahead of them plus the big head to head against the Bengals in Buffalo on the final weekend of the season. They may slip to the 6th spot, which is where I placed them at the beginning of the season.

Buffalo State (6-5) is breathing a little easier now that they have a 2 game lead on New Paltz. With 7 games remaining they can control their own destiny as far as the playoffs go. They will face 3 teams they should beat even though they are all on the road. Do that and they'll have 9 wins and they're in. The tough games (and lets face it, they're all tough games) against the current playoff position teams will all come at home, except for the final game of the season at Geneseo. That game could very well decide the #1 seed in the tournament.

New Paltz (4-7) with 5 straight losses is now directly behind the 8 ball. With 7 games left the Hawks will need to win 5 of those and frankly I don't see it happening. I see 3 wins, maybe 4, but they will need to come up with some new tricks if they want to make the playoffs.

The remaining 3 teams have no chance to make the playoffs. With the reduction of playoff bound teams from 8 down to 6, and an 18 game schedule the days of a 6-12 team qualifying for the playoffs are over. I don't think any of the bottom 3 teams will get more than 6 wins but that really doesn't matter this year because I think the top 6 will all have at least 9 wins.

So I think the 6 teams are set and now it's just a matter of their final seeding. The next 3 weeks will be fun. I just hope they're more fun for me than they are for Bengalsrule, jdex or dcahill.   

[magicman]

Cortland 's Jesse Winter nails a dagger 3 pointer with 17 seconds on the clock to give  the Red Dragons a 2 possession 75-69 lead. Oswego misfires on their end and this one is history. I told Dave McHugh it was going to be 75-72 Cortland and needed oswego to knock down a 3 on their shot to make me look like Nostradamus.  The final was pretty darn close. I'll take it.

The score was on my mind from about half-way through the second half on. I first didn't think either team would get close as they both hit a standstill midway through the half, but they rallied. And yes, I also thought that not only did Oswego have to hit a three to make it interesting late, but also make you seem like a genious.

Overall, pretty impressed. Both teams shot over .500 and there were 13 TOTAL turnovers in a game that certainly had some interesting calls from the officials. It started with the lead official's whistle being broken, and a tech on Cortland for what I figure had to be taunting or talking back to the ref after a basket, and had more conversations between refs and coaches than I have seen ever... or at least in a very long time.

I can't say either team was better than the other... it just came down to an extra three, essentially. I talked briefly to both coaches afterward and thought they both were satisfied with the game and know where their teams sit. I will talk to Coach Leone more tomorrow for a taped segments for Monday's Hoopsville, but I agreed with his thinking that Cortland can hang with a lot of teams that are better than maybe this region can offer and that Oswego is missing that one guy that can add another dimension to the team.

Right now, I wouldn't be surprised if either of these teams could get to Salem in the round of 8... IF they aren't matched with Rochester before hand. Of course they could get matched up with Wooster or others, but if they came into the Mid-Atlantic it could be an interesting run. Of course there is a LOT of basketball still to be played.

One measley little three pointer away from perfection and I only seem like a genius.   Oh the humanity!! And it's not a genius I'm trying for it's a magicman Boy, you're a tough audience. I'd of thought my prognostication would earn me a shout out during that interview with Coach Leone. Not during the interview mind you but at some point when you reminisce to your listeners about your visit to Oswego.  Next year you'll have to come to Plattsburgh and do an interview with Coach Curle.  He owes you one anyway from a couple of years ago when there was a slight mixup. The Cardinals will return every single player on their 16 man roster and should be one of the better teams in the SUNYAC and East Region. It will be a good year to do one with him. I'll show you North Country hospitality, save you a hotel bill, and even make you my famous surf and turf. And I'm serious about that. What more could a Maine boy ask for?

Tell Coach Leone that one missing guy was called Chad Burridge.   Unfortuately there wasn't another Burridge n the cupboard. Chad and his brother Matt, before him, gave the Lakers 8 good years. I introduced myself to Coach Leone last year when he came to Plattsburgh and welcomed him to the SUNYAC. Probably doesn't remember.

By the way, is the Hoopsville Classic all filled up for next year on the Men's side? 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have to keep you grounded magicman

I will see if I can work in a reference on Hoopsville - but you have to prove to me you are listening Monday night

And I think the Hoopsville Classic is full... and if we do have spots we are looking a little west as the teams we have are slightly too much Eastern Time zone... but we will let you know... and we are looking to fill the future years.

[magicman]

I have to keep you grounded magicman

I will see if I can work in a reference on Hoopsville - but you have to prove to me you are listening Monday night

And I think the Hoopsville Classic is full... and if we do have spots we are looking a little west as the teams we have are slightly too much Eastern Time zone... but we will let you know... and we are looking to fill the future years.

Dave you needn't worry, at my age believe me, I'm grounded. And I'll be tuned in even though I have to stay late at my store to watch the show. Which I do on numerous occasions. (No high speed internet at my house...it's too rural and no company to provide service). I'll send you an email that night to prove it.

I figured that the Hoopsville Classic was filled but thought I'd check just in case.   

[dcahill44]

Hard time believing that both these teams are Elite 8 caliber Oswego is very young After Michele, Ward, Gilkes, Mirabito. I wouldve tooken Cortland in this Game just my thoughts. Oswego and Cortland are both very good but dont think Oswego has the experience and i dont think Hayden, Michele and Gilkes can Carry them to the Elite 8. Although I think Cortland is Very Good... with their ability to make 3s and Great size and Experience. I think they will get to the sweet 16 maybe along with Oswego but lose in that round of the bracket. Depending on who they are matched up with. 

[Bengalsrule]

   Put this in the category of "I might have missed this" but..... Did you know that the SUNYAC had 2 members on the D3Hoops "team of the week" this past week?  Jake Simmons (Buffalo State) and Jeremy Smith (Cortland)!! New team will be out tommorrow but I didn't know until yesterday (when Coach Ansari told me)! Not to mention some ECAC honors also!! I'm betting that that's a first (2 on D3hoops team, from 'Yac,  same week). I'll await the "sage 1's" response from the North Country, to confirm yea/nay on that.

Speaking of Plattsburgh (i.e. North country)... who do I run into while stopping at the McDonalds rest stop on the thruway, near Syracuse late last (Sat.) night?  The Cardinals basketball team. They had the hold McDonalds to themselves. Had a chance to talk with Coach Curle ( my fave coach in Yac' who's last name isn't Ansari) about some non-basketball stuff and what summers look like in Plattsburgh. I may venture up there this summer while at a conference in Lake Placid (while sneaking up to Montreal). I've always wanted to visit this famous store in Plattsburgh called the "MusicShop". I hear it is the only "1 stop, all your music needs right here" place in the North country...maybe the state!! I'd check with the "magic 1" before going there to make sure I'm not getting bad info!!

  Oh and yea..2 games = 2 wins this weekend. It's been awhile since that has happened at home for my BENGALS. If they can duplicate the same feat this coming weekend...then I'll get excited!!!

[Bengalsrule]

SUNYAC records???

  (While wondering where my Buffalo Bills went wrong this year )  I'm reading where Scott Finch - Geneseo 89-94 holds the "regular season career record for most points in a career" at 1459. These records only date back to 1985. And from what I've read it is just regular season SUNYAC games.  The #2 all-time scorer is (was) Andre Peterson- Potsdam 1998-2002 @ 1072 . If so, then I'm "keeping hope alive" for Jake Simmons who stands at 1186 points with 7 games left (which would move him into 2nd place all-time now). That is 1 of the better kept secrets in 'Yac history but the numbers don't lie.

  Career Stats for Jake are as follows...2011-12 (18) games 366 points, 2010-11 (18) games 328 pts and 2009-10 (18) games 292 points. He currently has 200 points in 11 games. 273 more points and he ties that mark.. 274 and he breaks it, (unless my math is wrong ).

  Yea magic,  I know that 273 is a long shot,  but for this kid to be currently the 2nd leading all time scorer in the modern 'Yac @ 1186, is 1 helluva an accomplishment. Especially for a kid who 5-6 years ago was in foster care... homeless...on public asistance...became the legal guardian for his younger siblings...  all before his 21st birthday. Someone who many, in Rochester, had written off 6 years ago when he lived in a boarded up building while caring for himself and his siblings!

  Maybe it's just me (because I'm the sentimental type ) but somewhere in the future someone should be writing a book about this kid!! We, SUNYAC fans will (IMHO) never see another like Jake! NEVER!!


Jake would never blow his own horn. Most in Buff State are like that. I however want to shout it from the rooftops!

I'm walking up the stairs to the roof right now .

"Congrats Jake and keep doing what you are doing!!"

Go BENGALS!!

[magicman]

p

   Put this in the category of "I might have missed this" but..... Did you know that the SUNYAC had 2 members on the D3Hoops "team of the week" this past week?  Jake Simmons (Buffalo State) and Jeremy Smith (Cortland)!! New team will be out tommorrow but I didn't know until yesterday (when Coach Ansari told me)! Not to mention some ECAC honors also!! I'm betting that that's a first (2 on D3hoops team, from 'Yac,  same week). I'll await the "sage 1's" response from the North Country, to confirm yea/nay on that.

Speaking of Plattsburgh (i.e. North country)... who do I run into while stopping at the McDonalds rest stop on the thruway, near Syracuse late last (Sat.) night?  The Cardinals basketball team. They had the hold McDonalds to themselves. Had a chance to talk with Coach Curle ( my fave coach in Yac' who's last name isn't Ansari) about some non-basketball stuff and what summers look like in Plattsburgh. I may venture up there this summer while at a conference in Lake Placid (while sneaking up to Montreal). I've always wanted to visit this famous store in Plattsburgh called the "MusicShop". I hear it is the only "1 stop, all your music needs right here" place in the North country...maybe the state!! I'd check with the "magic 1" before going there to make sure I'm not getting bad info!!

  Oh and yea..2 games = 2 wins this weekend. It's been awhile since that has happened at home for my BENGALS. If they can duplicate the same feat this coming weekend...then I'll get excited!!!

Do you really think something as important as 2 players from the YAC making D3hoops Team of the Week in the same week is going to get by me? Wow, how little faith you have. You need to spend more time reading this board and less time traveling the roads. The readers here knew what you just posted, 5 days ago. Probably when you were in Albany for your day job, I was posting about the D3hoops Team of the Week. See page 301 5th post through the 10th post. 


Hard to believe you ran into the Cardinals in Syracuse as they were making their way home from the weekend trip to Buff State and Fredonia. I probably just missed you as I was on the phone with Coach Curle as they were nearing Syracuse.

Jake Simmons now has 1920 points and it would appear that he will crack the 2000 point barrier by the time his career is over at Buffalo State. Hard to say where Jake ranks in total points scored since the SUNYAC records are so hard to follow. I did some research and Scott Fitch totaled 2634 points for his career. It wouldn't surprise me if Jake ends up in 2nd place. I don't know how many players from the YAC have scored 2000 points for their career. I'm sure it can't be more than a couple but Jake and Fitch might be the only two that have accompliched this feat. Plattsburgh State's prolific scorer of a few years ago, Anthony Williams, probably would be on this list, but only played 3 years at Plattsburgh State and totaled 1734 points. Oswego great, Chad Burridge, could be in third place behind Fitch and Jake, with his 1865 total points, but that's just a guess on my part. It seems strange that our records wouldn't include a "total career points scored" category, but when the conference website can't even spell the names of some of the players correctly, I guess that shouldn't surprise me.

And someone should write a book about Jake's story. I nominate you!!    

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Hard time believing that both these teams are Elite 8 caliber Oswego is very young After Michele, Ward, Gilkes, Mirabito. I wouldve tooken Cortland in this Game just my thoughts. Oswego and Cortland are both very good but dont think Oswego has the experience and i dont think Hayden, Michele and Gilkes can Carry them to the Elite 8. Although I think Cortland is Very Good... with their ability to make 3s and Great size and Experience. I think they will get to the sweet 16 maybe along with Oswego but lose in that round of the bracket. Depending on who they are matched up with.

You have to remember one major thing in Division III... the bracket. It isn't like the committee can even out all of the top teams across the bracket and have them all make their way to Salem, there are going to be some easier parts of the bracket and considering the East isn't that strong and in close proximity to the Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic, they could get a run that allows them less challenges before Salem. The only major concern would be Rochester, but knowing the committee, if two teams from the SUNYAC get in, Rochester won't have to face both on their trip unless it is in Salem for the second.

Oswego does have Ross back and I started to see what difference he can make. Cortland is pretty solid, but they have to play as a team a little more often to get the job done.

What I am basically saying is that depending on the bracket the committee comes up with, I could see an Elite 8 appearance... but obviously, it depends on the bracket.

[Pat Coleman]

   Put this in the category of "I might have missed this" but..... Did you know that the SUNYAC had 2 members on the D3Hoops "team of the week" this past week?  Jake Simmons (Buffalo State) and Jeremy Smith (Cortland)!! New team will be out tommorrow but I didn't know until yesterday (when Coach Ansari told me)! Not to mention some ECAC honors also!! I'm betting that that's a first (2 on D3hoops team, from 'Yac,  same week).

We've been doing the TOW for 16 years, but it's definitely possible. There are some SUNYAC schools who simply won't report in to us, even though we've been doing this since 1997. Guess we're not established enough yet.