MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[with age comes?]

Magic- I thought I was the only one up this late???!!!  Or are you (gasp) the dreaded early riser??? Gutsy pick Bears over Lakers, I like it!!!

[Jacketfan2011]

I wonder if the SUNY's don't consider themselves a hockey conference.  Seems that is the way the powers at Plattsburgh look at it and Morrisvilles gym is absoulte crap but they have a great hockey facility.  And while the gym at Oswego isn't terrilbe, you have to take a charter plane to get there if you are a student.  Great planning to put the athletic facilities a half-hour walk away from most dorms and then stop running busses before the end of games.  Nothing like a 10PM walk in Oswego.  In January.  However, the new hockey arena is right in the middle of campus.  How hard would it have been to make it multi-use?

[scooterman]

Magic- I like your predictions but isnt Geneseo the hottest team in the conference? I didnt look back to see if that was your statement but I am going with Geneseo over Cortland in tight one!! Tough game to call because both teams run their stuff well in halfcourt sets.

Another battle in Lakerville but I like Oswego's chances. Potsdam too many peaks and valleys.

[zola]

Magic -

As disappointed as I am that Plattsburg is hosting the league championship in a gym considerably smaller than Central Square High School, I am sure everyone agrees that they deserve to host the games. Sadly, these will be the first finals I've missed in many years given that I'm unwilling to make the 4.5 hour drive without a guarantee of tickets and 'Burgs refusal to take telephone orders. So it goes.

However, your statement that this is one of the strongest SUNY conferences in recent memory tickles my funny bone. Top to bottom, I didn't see much in the league either this year or last and believe that will be born out in the tournament. No one in the SUNYAC has the combination of size, skill, and mental toughness to make a serious run. 

[thebear]

How quickly one forgets.  Bears were 23-3 heading into Utica Aud in 04-05, and played in front of < 500 folks with a 3,000 seat gym sitting EMPTY.  We took care of business, beating Cards & Lakers.  Then, after hosting Salem St in a thriller, again at 26-3 we got to go to Amherst's dinky, crappy, poorly lit, no concession, no parking, gym, in a snow storm to play an undefeated team.

SUNYAC needs to consider venue.  If Plattsburgh can't accomodate the final four, and provide tix to general public and longtime SUNYAC supporters of nearly 50 years, we know the 2 (Tuttle - 2,000),3(Laker - 3,000),4(Corey - 3,000),5 (Kuhl- 3,000),6 (Welsh - 3,000),7(Dewar - 3,500),& 8(Steele Hall - 3,000 with portable floor) teams all have some of the best venues in D-III.  I've been in every one of these facilities, and they are in many cases better than a lot of Patriot/NEC/America East D-I facilities.

The NCAA, so concerned with the almighty buck, has to start considering quality of venue for tournament games.  They certainly did in the 70's & 80's, we got some real nasty trips, (Oneonta, Stony Brook, Salem State, Decorah Iowa (guess they didn't mind flights as much, [Worcester when ranked #1 & on a 60 game streak]) especially funny because SLU was often in the tourney as well, and meanwhile one of (at that time) the best gyms in D-III with a rabid fan base sat empty.  Sorry if that means the 'burgh gets screwed, but the players deserve better than a gym not fit for most HS teams.

[gordonmann]

I think conference tournaments are the domain of the individual conferences, not the NCAA.  You can't fault their cheapness for the SUNYAC's hosting decisions.

And while I haven't seen the SUNYAC tournament since they moved to campus venues, I think leaving the Aud was a good idea.  Even as a neutral site it was a long drive for the North Country and West NY schools.  The venue was clearly built for hockey and the dank, cold atmosphere didn't do much for enthusiasm.

Yes, having schools host the semis has its problems, depending on the host (i.e. too far away, too small).  On the distance issue, I think the conference tournament winner should get some hosting perks.  To the victors go some spoils.  On the size issue, there's a cost associated with using a neutral venue.  I doubt the marginal gate lost at a smaller venue would cover the costs associated with renting a larger one off campus.

[Cards7580]

I was at the SUNYAC finals last year in Brockport, and if that place was half full I would be surprised. Other than B'ports student section there wasn't much of a "host" crowd there and the Plattsburgh fans numbered less than 100 from my vantage point.

Doesn't each team get a ticket allotment for the SUNYAC conference games ?

[Cards7580]

"...On the size issue, there's a cost associated with using a neutral venue.  I doubt the marginal gate lost at a smaller venue would cover the costs associated with renting a larger one off campus...."

Insurance alone per group has to be assured into the $1,000,000 range.  Even to have the Plattsburgh team practice at my high school gym, they had to show written proof that they could cover the High school district's costs if someone to be injured and sue (everyone in site).  On campus events (SUNYAC conference finals ) would already be covered and not an additional expense.

[Cards7580]

Having heard the same complaints over the past 32 or more years about Memorial Hall, I doubt that winning a third SUNYAC championship in a row is going to get a 3000 seat stadium built or the existing one fixed in order to be safe and justify a move to play there again. Unless all the millionaire Plattsburgh alumni who like basketball get together and get that project started. Even if the move was made to the field house AFTER a safe floor was installed I am pretty sure the same complaints would be heard because Plattsburgh can't do anything right. 

We've got two nationally competitive soccer teams,  two national championship caliber hockey teams, a nationally ranked men's basketball team, a nationally ranked softball team, and the baseball team isn't a push over.  It's not the field or arena that makes these teams successful.  I'm sure it helps, but I would prefer to play at a place with a coach that I like, in an arena that is more than 1/2 full each game and a good medical staff.

But you are right, this team does DESERVE to play in a better gym, but I haven't heard them complain much for the past two years. The TOP seed deserves something for doing what was necessary to secure the spot.  I think 16-0 in the conference is very deserving, even for "poor" old Plattsburgh. 

[jdex]

  At the half: Cortland 32, Geneseo 30

[Razor]

On a side note, I'm really trying hard to tough it out and listen to the Seo/Cortland game online but the 2 guys doing the telecast are FREAKING TERRIBLE!!  I mean this is worse than a root canal!  Anyway, good game thus far and hopefully the knights can pull it out!

[jdex]

Half: Brockport 30, Oneonta 27

[Razor]

Geneseo goes on run-up 42-34 15min. to go in 2nd half!

[with age comes?]

Props to Anthony Williams (of poor ole Plattsburgh) on his nomination as one of the 10 finalists for the Jostens (basically player of the year).  Very deserving and very cool!!

[jdex]

    Plattsburgh 72, Fredonia 62