MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[John McGraw]

Mims played a heck of a game against former C-NS teammate Ranieri at Cortland in their only regular season meeting this year. Mims is a solid athlete with a great wingspan and jumping ability. Hard to believe Mims, Belluci and Ranieri all come from that same program. I wonder how good they were when all three of those guys were seniors?

As for thoughts on the Geneseo-Cortland game last night. Geneseo came in with their game plan and they executed it to perfection. Much like the game plan of Oswego, it focused on a very deliberate offense and tough defense. Though in Cortland's defense, it's hard to keep it close when your opponent's shooting 72% in the first half. Geneseo found that out the hard way on Tuesday against 'Port when BRK shot 77% in the 2nd half in a blow out win. Cortland defense wasn't as good as usual. They let Geneseo get a lot of open looks created by dribble penetration. Their big guys played well too but weren't overwhelming. Taggert spent most of the game in foul trouble. He picked up a ticky tack foul for his fourth midway through the 2nd and sat just about the rest of the night.

Cortland offense looked sluggish. 44% in the first half from the floor but not on very good shot selection. The Knights played good perimeter defense and didn't allow Jutton and Maggiacomo very good looks. Headley also had a very pedestrian night with only four points. When Headley's scoring and grabbing offensive boards, the team is doing well. Lots of credit for Geneseo goes to Joe Kling. He does look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo, but he plays a solid game. He forced a lot of the action at Cortland with dribble penetration and just out working the Dragons. Kitson pretty much disappeared and had a quiet night. Morton played a solid game but needs to stop whining to the refs. Every call against him was contested.

If anything for Cortland it was a wake up call. They can't just show up and mow teams over. That's a given but its always nice to have the point reinforced. I think it hurts their Pool C chances if they don't win the SUNYAC. On paper, its a loss to a sub .500 team at home late in the season. If anything, I'm sure the Dragons would like another shot at Geneseo on Tuesday, but they may very well see Buffalo State. On a side note, the officiating last night was just downright brutal. I don't like to rag on the refs a lot, but some of the calls and non-calls last night were absolutely ridiculous. At one point, Jutton loses the ball and it bounces off his face out of bounds and the sideline official says Cortland ball. He quickly changed it once he realized what he did. One can hope that only the best officials in the conference are at the Aud next weekend.

[cstate19]

thats what ive been asking for the last two years? mims rainieri and ben couldnt get their team to glens falls?

[thebear]

Scores in so far

Now 10-6 SUNYIT defeats Buff State (now 7-9) 91-83 dropping Bengals to an 8 seed, and an all-expenses paid trip to Pete's Palace on Tuesday.  As predicted lots of scoring, little defense played.

SUNYIT axiously awaiting result of Oswego @ Brockport, as 'port loss and Potsdam win on Sunday could move Wildcats to a 4 seed, and send the Eagles to Utica as the visitors.

In an upset of epic proportions, 2-12 Oneonta beats Plattsburgh, knocking the Cards to a 6 seed. Plattsburgh has a Jekyll & Hyde Weekend, winning by 53 last night vs a 2-13 team, then losing tonite 74-63 to the now 3-12 Dragons!!

Sean Coffey on Senior Day lights up for 25 including 6x11 beyond the arc, and Jaysen Murphy & Josh Wysocki each add 14.

Plattsburgh ace Kris Gibbs-Smith has 16 in the loss on 5x13 shooting with 5 turnovers.

11-4 Oswego leads 10-5 Brockport 60-43 @ Tuttle North with 7:14 to go in the second half.  Oswego win locks the two seed, Brockport is a 3 or 5
depending on Potsdam game tomorrow.

SUNYIT owns tie breaker over Brockport in the event of a two-way tie, as they split, both lost twice to Cortland, but SUNYIT has a win over Oswego vs. two losses for Eagles.

If Potsdam wins, they are the three, SUNYIT is the four, and Brockport is the five.

If Potsdam doesn't win (shudder) - don't want to think about it.  Won't be thinkin negative tonite.

[thebear]

Final Score

Oswego St (12-4) defeats host Brockport St. (10-6) 73-53.  Ahmad Mims has a huge game with 27pts 12rebs, to lay claim to POY consideration.
Brockport star Ben Bellucci, on senior night held to 15 pts, three rebounds.

Oswego clinches the two seed and will host Geneseo on Tuesday.

Brockport currently tied with SUNYIT at 10-6.  SUNYIT owns two team tie-breaker over Brockport.

Potsdam 10-5 plays at Oneonta 3-12 tomorrow at three.  Potsdam win gives them the three seed.  Oneonta clearly dangerous after today's thrashing of Plattsburgh

Three seed will host Plattsburgh

Four five will be remainder of Potsdam, Brockport, SUNYIT cluster.

Typical SUNYAC - regular season supposed to be over tonite, and need to wait until SUNDAY for a decision.

[owen]

Going to see Potsdam at Oneonta with my two sons this afternoon. It's about 3 1/2 hours from us (we're near NYC) but haven't seen Potsdam play since I graduated in 1982... so it's about time.

Big thank you to all who post regularly and keep those of us mired in downstate office-life clued in as to what is going on at our old schools. The local papers here often don't carry division 3 scores, much less stories.

PS - re attendance at games - As I remember, even in 80-81, 81-82, when Potsdam was a D-III power, Maxcy was basically empty for games the first semester. You'd go and have maybe 100 people and a couple thousand empty spaces. Actually, it was kind of relaxing! It didn't get crowded and crazy until February, and even then it was mainly kids on campus that went. VERY few locals.  That's just the North Country. It's always going to be Clarkson hockey that gets the love no matter how badly they perform.

[thebear]

Owen - safe travels.

You bring back fond memories of times past, used to take my two (now grown) the three hours through the mountains from Glens Falls to Potsdam (in the winter) for games.  They always got a kick out of "Uncle Jerry".

GO BEARS  - Potsdam has a home game if they win, so I'm sure Dobbs' will have them up for the game.

Be interested in your thoughts after the game.

(I'm stuck here, a 5 hour ride through the mountains with lake effect warnings in the Tug Hill, has wifey nervious).

[manofgor24]

I believe when belucci, raneiri, and mims were seniors, they lost to Watertown in the sectionals.  Good team, but Gorman and co. were too much.

[thebear]

SUNYAC and Potsdam websites have a final

Oneonta 71 Potsdam 69.



Will wait for the SUNY commish to post seeds, as there's a messy (unbalanced schedule) three way tie at 3-4-5.

[John McGraw]

Class AA (or whatever it was then) is always the hardest to get to Glens Falls, because teams have lots of talent. And when you get to the regional level after Section III, you may run into even better teams from the Albany area. Teams need to get the right seeding in the tournament and everything has to fall your favor. Many teams don't even get to Glens Falls. The biggest example I can think of is from my junior year. Elton Brand was the New York State Player of the Year his senior year at Peekskill. His team was upset I believe in the regional playoffs. He was at the Civic Center, but just to receive his award. I think Ranieri, Mims and Belluci (for two years anyways) have had stellar college careers. Hopefully one of the three will be finishing off their college ball in the NCAA tournament.

[thebear]

Potsdam website showing that Potsdam playing at SUNYIT on Tuesday in a first round game.

Oneonta game was very even throughout.  Teams were tied at the half 31-31.  Potsdam led 63-61 with two minutes left.  Oneonta's Sean Coffey took a three.  Referee called a foul on Potsdam co-capt Ernst Ducena.  Ducena, who's very steady, was called for a technical.  Coffey makes 5x5 from the FT line, giving Oneonta a 66-63 lead.  Remainder of the game was a FT shooting contest.  Potsdam ace Edane Barton had 13 points 14 rebounds despite only playing 26 minutes due to foul trouble.  Coffey had game high 16 points with 10x11 FT shooting.  Potsdam's three freshman regulars combined for 3x20 FG's.

One call makes the difference between a three seed and a home game, and a 5 seed and a road game.  Who says ref's can't make a difference.

[John McGraw]

From the SUNYAC website....

Men's Tournament
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 21 (On Campuses)
#8 Buffalo State (7-9) at #1 Cortland (14-2) at 8 p.m.
#7 Geneseo (7-9) at #2 Oswego (12-4) at 8 p.m.
#6 Plattsburgh (8-8) at #3 Brockport (10-6) at 7 p.m.
#5 Potsdam (10-6) at #4 SUNYIT (10-6) at 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Friday, Feb. 24 (Utica Memorial Auditorium)
Winner of #6/#3 vs. Winner of #7/#2 – 1:00 p.m.
Winner of #5/#4 vs. Winner of #8/#1 – 3:00 p.m.

Finals – Saturday, Feb. 25 (Utica Memorial Auditorium)
Semifinal Winners – 1:00 p.m.
(winner receives automatic NCAA bid)

No mention of the tiebreaker that was used to determine the seedings in the Brockport-Potsdam-SUNYIT three way mess.

[thebear]

Regarding C-NS & Glens Falls.  I lived there for 25 years, have many friends involved with the tournament.

Problem is three D-III studs may not be enough when going up against Albany area, LI and Hudson Valley teams.  Mt. Vernon often has 2 or 3 D-I prospects, usually including a high D-I recruit. LI schools often have at least 1 ACC recruit.  Downstate schools often have players that can't get into college (or JUCO at best) but are great players.

Advantage is there are great games played, particularly at the A and AA levels.

While living there, I got to see Sam Perkins, Chris Mullin, Christian Laettner Dorsey Levens all play in the tournament.

[thebear]

As I understand it the tiebreaker was win % among the three teams.

Brockport beat Potsdam at Brockport in their only meeting
Potsdam and SUNYIT split - each winning at the other's place.
Brockport and SUNYIT split

so

Brockport 2-1
SUNYIT 2-2
Potsdam 1-3.

Not a great system when a road loss that you don't get to avenge at home drops you from a 3 to a 5 seed.

Alternative is to play double round robin, which with number of sub-par teams this year would probably still result in ties, but limits non-conference play.  When SUNYAC played 20 game schedule, even good teams would have 5 or 6 conference losses, which crippled chances for at large bids.

Just win Baby!

[bearnation]

Back in the 90's I worked in Peeksill and I believe when Peekskill won the class B state title in 1996 Elton Brand was on that team. I may be wrong because as one gets older the memory gets bad.  I believe he was either a junior or senior when they won.  Peekskill has one of the better programs in the Hudson Valley.  Much like Lourdes in girls hoops. 
While on the subject of high school hoops.  I have relatives in Chateaugay which is why I chose to go to Potsdam plus fell in love with Maxcy Hall.   Any true jock would fall in love with Maxcy Hall.  Looking to see where they are playing their sectional games, Section X is playing just about all their sectional games at SUNY Potsdam.  Down here in the Hudson Valley Section IX plays the semis and finals of all classes at SUNY New Platz. Most games are next weekend which would cause a conflict.  Maybe this is why games are played at AUD in Utica?  Do other sections play tournament games at SUNY schools?

[John McGraw]

Hmm, that's a pretty good list of players.  I missed Elton Brand by a year. He was a senior in 96-97. The 1995-96 team won the Federation title. Peekskill beat St. Dom's in a classic. The same St. Dom's team (still now coached by Rob Pavinelli) went back to Fed's in 96-97 and broke my heart, beating Westhill in the Class B Fed Title game. Westhill went back to the Falls in 97-98, but lost to a scrappy Westhampton Beach team in the NYPHSAA title game.

Just two or three years later, Brand (I can't remember how long Brand was at Duke),  was in the NBA. The only name player I can remember seeing was from Long Island Lutheran during the Federation Championships in 96-97. A 6'6" senior on his way to St. John's. He wasn't running into the crowd or sponsoring rap albums. The listing in the program (which I still have) is Ronald Artest, Grade 12.

Reading the program, I come across a familiar name, but not one I knew at the time. Christ the King is usually one of the best women's teams in the state. And on the 1996-97 CTK team, 11th grader Sue Bird. Jeez, that makes me the same age as her.

Indiana had their come one, come all state tournament, and other places jam pack areans for basketball. But I'll take the Final Four at the Glens Falls Civic Center any day. It's a little small, and slightly chilly because it serves as a hockey rink, but there's no other atmosphere like it.