MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

John McGraw · February 13, 2006, 08:03:14 PM

I think it will be live in Syracuse too. I saw an ad for it the other day on Time Warner Sports during another college game. I remember last year TWS did a Potsdam-SLU men's game from Welsh Gym. Plus, Potsdam vs. Geneseo ice hockey was on just a few short weeks ago.

bearseh · February 14, 2006, 05:03:25 PM

No more predictions from this poster, at least not until I get some of those chickens thebear has been using.

Looking for BuffState to finally step up last Friday and they play the worst first half of ball imaginable. Talk about thinking long, thinking wrong. They started 3 big guards v. Potsdam in attempt to take advantage of the Bear's 5'7'' guard Scott Mitchell. The first two times they posted Mitchell up, he stole the ball and ignited fast breaks. Adding insult to injury, he canned two open threes in the first 5 minutes with a big guard playing off him to protect against the dribble. By the time Buff went to its usual lineup the Bears were up 10 and rolling. All that kept this thing from looking worse were 20 Bears second half turnovers.

Then, they wacked my "Plattsburg wins out" call by beating the Cards at home on Saturday. I dont even want to discusss Brockport at SUNYIT. Tuesday night the Wildcats were in shambles, Murphy grousing about everything. He even complained that too much time was allowed to remove an injured player from the floor (splinted and transported to the ER). But, he to, must use chickens in his coaching magic to conjure a win 3 days later.

Good to hear C'State drew a decent crowd Saturday . Every Dragons game is a clinic in disciplined, half court, team ball played by a veteran squad. Reminds me of Brockport 03-04. Experienced team , rolled through the regular season. They did, however, lose to Potsdam by 8 in the championship game. Bears shot 51% from the field, 53% from the arc, 73% from the line, and were +4 on the boards. That's the kind of effort it's going to take for anyone to handle the C'Spanners in this year's tourney.

Any takers?

John McGraw · February 14, 2006, 09:48:06 PM

Potsdam putting the proverbial smackdown on Oswego live on Time Warner Sports. Potsdam leads by 18 late.

thebear · February 14, 2006, 11:04:41 PM

Just back from the Potsdam - Oswego game. Bears asserted themselves at home against SUNYAC's #2 team, winning 82-68 in a game that was not as close as the final margin.

Potsdam All-American candidate Edane Barton exploded for 20 second half points en route to a career high 29 point outburst, his fifth straight 20 point effort. In addition Barton added 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and blocked a shot. He shot only 12x21, but examination of game film (televised regionally on Time-Warner Central NY) will most likely show that most of the misses were obvious fouls not called because the refs wanted to get the game over with.

Barton has had 3 double doubles in Potsdam's 5 game win streak, and is making a strong case for SUNYAC POY honors to go with his pair of Tournament MVP trophies.

Potsdam freshman center Brandon Siskavich had a breakout game, scoring 18 points on 9x11 shooting against Oswego's Mat Burridge, who is a virtual lock for an All-SUNYAC selection. Oh yes - Siskavich only played 19 minutes due to first half foul trouble. Siskavich is a fine shooter in the lane and low post, and is developing into a real asset for Potsdam.

Oswego got 15 from Ahmad Mims, but he was completely overshadowed by Barton. Burridge had 14, and slasher wing Todd Franze added 12.

Potsdam outrebounded Oswego 42-30. Neither team shot the three well, Potsdam 5x14, Oswego 4x21. With about 4 minutes left, Oswego was 0-15 from the arc, then hit four of six in late action to trim a 24 point Potsdam lead with about 9 minutes left to the final margin of 14.

Props to Potsdam guard Ernst Ducena. He completely shackled Oswego PG Nick Perioli, holding him to 5 points, 2 assists in 38 minutes of action. Ducena's length really hampered Perioli's game, and he got few open looks from outside, going 2x8 overall and 0-5 beyond the arc, it also affected his ability to run the Oswego offense. Ducena struggled with his 3 pt shot, but still added 7 key points.

Potsdam also got a solid relief effort from backup post Tim Reinhardt who added 6 points and a steal, as well as a solid defensive effort on Burridge.

Potsdam will clinch at least a four seed with a win Friday night at conference cellar dweller Oneonta. Oswego and Brockport meet Saturday night in the conference regular season finale. The winner will be the two seed. If Oswego loses, they are the three seed, and Potsdam the four based on a three way tie-breaker. If Brockport loses, Potsdam moves to a three seed and the Eagles and SUNYIT (if they win over Fredonia and Buff St.) will have to apply tie-breakers to figure out the 4-5 scenario. (I should have that figured out by tomorrow).

Bears' season is shaping up like '03-04 where a late stretch run led to an upset SUNYAC title, followed by a first-round NCAA tourney victory on the road. Bears are taking their season one game at a time, which is the right way to do it.

Will post Brockport/SUNYIT tiebreaker scenario tomorrow.

retired12 · February 14, 2006, 11:14:46 PM

Watch out Cortland. Potsdam is really starting to mature at the right time. They are going to be a tough out for anyone in the conference tourney.........Also any thoughts on POY? Could there be a possible Barton & Belluci split?

bearnation · February 15, 2006, 07:54:22 AM

Last night I went to Cortland/ New Paltz game. I live in the Hudson Valley(Potsdam Alum). I wanted to see if Cortland was really that good 21-2. Cortland was up 16 at half because New Paltz went cold from the field last 4:00 minutes. Cortland also shot over 50% for the first half. Should have been closer. Second half was different, New Paltz out scored Cortland to win half only losing by 12. If New Paltz had a big man to stop Taggart and a premier game it would've been an exciting finish. New Paltz hit very few 3"s. New Paltz had the game down to 6 at one point but could not get closer. Bonus: Skrelja fouled out with 11:30 left because of a T. He got mad at the foul call and ran at the ref. Foul 4 and 5. Bear thanks for the run down on Potsdam/Oswego game. Looks like the SUNYAC tournament will be interesting. Their was a post about how Cortland doesn't have a go to person. I have to agree. They are a solid team will no superstars.

The team that beats Cortland will have to have a solid post player and not allow offensive rebounds. I believe that they will not win the SUNYAC tournament for the above reason. My prediction a Potsdam/Brockport final in Utica with Potsdam once again going to the tournament because Edane Barton will be the next Potsdam All-American.

bearseh · February 15, 2006, 11:39:19 AM

Clearly only 2 candidates for POY: B'ports Ben Bellucci and Potsdam's Edane Barton.

Here's a current league stat comparison:

Barton Bellucci

Scoring 2nd 1st
Rebounding 1st 13th
Off Reb 2nd 6th
Def Reb 1st Not in top 15
FG % .512 .512
FT % .71 .81
3 % Not in top 15 (40%) 3rd (51.6%)
Assists 3.1 / gm 4.0 / gm
Steals 3rd Not in top 15

bearseh · February 15, 2006, 12:20:35 PM

Gotta' learn how to type...

Barton Bellucci

Minutes Played 28/gm 32/gm
Assist/TO Ratio 11 10

Plenty of ammo to make a case for either of these outstanding players.

The bottom line...there are 8 or 9 SUNYAC teams that are worth a drive to see when matched against each other; but Barton is the only indvidual player in the league who will get me to drive to Potsdam and back on a Tuesday night (5 hours drive time) to see the game live when it's televised locally. You really need to see Barton to believe him. In any given game he's likely to play any or every position on the floor from the point to the post - at 6'3" and maybe 185 lbs. No one can match up with him 1 on 1. He has explosive quickness, huge ups, and amazing strength for his size. And, as I've said before, even his turnovers are headscratchingly special. Top this off with a huge GPA, a consistenlt positive sportsman's attitiude on and off the court and you've got the student athlete of the year, most versitle player of the year, POY.

Serious props to several other team MVPs:

Lakers Nick Perioli. Individual stats have not been eye-catching except 37 min / game. Huge. Lakers can't play without him n the floor.

Cortland's Frank Raineri. Every set runs through him and he defines the character of the Dragons.

cstate19 · February 15, 2006, 01:52:26 PM

On the POY debate........I don't see any Dragon away games.....from what I saw Cortland had a home and home with Brockport but only played Potsdam once(unless I missed something).........So i only saw Ben once and never saw Barton....except for the 30 seconds I watched last night flipping through channels...so here are the two's numbers against Cortland

Ben @ Cortland 4-13... 13 points...3 asst....4 boards....5 fouls....4 turnovers
@ Brockport 8-20...20points...3 asst....10 boards....1 foul.....8 turnovers

Barton @ Potsdam 6-15 ....16 points...2 asst....13 boards....2 fouls....6 turnovers..

Ben went for 30 against potsdam while Barton had 10 and was in foul trouble......

Like my boy says.....its easy to score 30 against NP...so numbers arent the best indicator.....i can remember the brockport game in which i went home thinking ben had 6-10 points....it was a very quiet 13..as far as who scares me more it is barton first aginst cortland (earlier post noted team needs to keep dragons off offensive boards) then mims....and maybe even rother before Ben because of his history.....should be a good SUNYAC tourney.......

and for bearseh......a busfull of rowdy cortland students may or may not be traveling to Utica....create a better environment for our boys

bearseh · February 15, 2006, 02:31:40 PM

cstate19:

Fill up the bus. The Utica Aud needs noise. Last year the Aud "crowd" for the chanpionship was one of the smallest that Potsdam played in front of all year, and you've got to be able to handle playing in front of a large crowd to win in the NCAAs.

I like the on campus atmosphere in the Empire 8 tourney - hot, noisy, venues. Sure, somebody gets a home court advantage. So it goes. Would love to see SUNYAC rotate the tourney among the schools. Just some great facilities - Buff State, Oswego, Cortland, Oneonta, Potsdam, SUNYIT...and more. Would rather be crammed in than choose from a couple thousand empty seats.

Two years ago in the tourney Penn State-Behrend packed 900 people into 800 seats and the atmosphere was electric. Last year the Potsdam crowd raised the roof in the second round game v. Salem State.

The Aud will never provide the level of excitement that the conference tourney deserves.

Maxcy Maniac · February 15, 2006, 03:52:11 PM

Pictures from Potsdam's games vs. Buff state, Fredonia (senior night), and Oswego
www2.potsdam.edu/schild96

cstate19 · February 15, 2006, 05:01:13 PM

bearseh:

i completely agree.......my friends and i have debated this for the last couple of games this season........the only good point if opposition was traveling isssues (say a lower seed wins on friday they have to travel to the higher seed on saturday).....i debated that point by having the entire tournament at the top seeds place.......why not??? they have earned it....

thebear · February 15, 2006, 05:17:58 PM

I think a former SUNYAC head coach with two national titles, Five trips to the final four, and nine elite 8's (Who could that be. . . hint - Potsdam's Gym is named for him) has been telling Damore (SUNYAC Commish) that since the first time the games were in the aud.

Apparently the problem is the SUNYAC staff is too small to cover two venues on tournament weekend, and gender equity rules insist that the women's regular season champ must have the same hosting opportunity as the men's so unless the same school wins both regular season titles, the women's tournament would have to be at a different site. Having a "neutral" facility and a combined championship meets the gender equity rules. Those rules are specific and on every athletic administrator's mind.

I remember when Potsdam, Albany, and Buff State had SUNYAC playoff wars in the 80's Sites were rotated East to West in alternating years.

in '84-85, Potsdam finished second in the country to North Park (lost by a pt.) but LOST the SUNYAC semi to Buff State at Albany. Potsdam, (27-3) at the time, then had to go on the road in the NCAA regionals, where they beat Buffalo State. In those days, the gyms were packed over an hour before tipoff, 3,000 + screaming fans, miles of toilet papers and thousand's of computer punch confetti. THAT was playoff atmosphere.

thebear · February 15, 2006, 05:36:08 PM

POY Update

Actually Barton is shooting 48% from three in SUNYAC games, just doesn't have enough made 3FG's to meet the standard.

In a scary thought, he is the FOURTH option of the starters for shooting the trey.

Freshman Damon Brown (23x42 .548)
PG Scott Mitchell (25x49 .510)
Senior Wing Ernst Ducena (39x85 .459 - lifetime 45% 3 pt shooter)

Bears are shooting .455 from the arc in conference games. Ranked #3 nationally in 3pt FG%.

cstate19 · February 15, 2006, 05:44:37 PM

I dont by the small staff stuff.........what happens in every other SUNYAC sport (i believe)

baseball....soccer...track.....list goes on and on.........get it changed....this isnt the ACC or Big East.....whats the difference between 1 through 4 seeds.......you get 1 home game each!!! in a conference where the top 4 teams all have a shot, why not give the teams that work the hardest during the regular season alittle advantage.....get it changed....