My goodness boys and girls, what a lot of hoops today! Both sets of Aggies still in action won....

So for a little more detail, Albany/Vermont was dead even with about 1+ to go, at 50-50, but the Catamounts held Albany to 3 FTs after that (the last with 1 second left). The Great Danes were a horrific 2/15 from 3. The Catamounts actually shot worse overall (than the Great Danes), and had 5 less FGs, but got 9 more at the line. Albany turned it over only 9 times, but Vermont only *5* times. Wowser.
Can't believe it's been 12 years since they knocked off 'cuse in 2005.

In Sun Belt action.....
Yes, the Texas *State* Bobcats get their 20th (12 losses), crunching UT-A, and so the #4 will meet the #6 seed Troy in the finals. In yet another example of how holding down TOs pays off, the Bobcats committed only 6. And this win was not novel for them, as they had also beaten the Mavericks in their first meeting back in January (this being the rubber match). I don't think UT-A gets in now.
Troy indeed continues their strong surge, this time taking down Ga. St. with a huge second-half comeback. Down by 9 at the half, they 'win' the second one by 20.

The only addition I'll make to the Penn/Princeton game is that it was played on the Quakers' home court - the Palestra. Yale awaits tomorrow, as they edge the Crimson. Oni for the Eli is a dude who can play.

Texas *Southern* also gets in, over Alcorn St., barely, to get to 23-11. BUT......because Alcorn was ineligible, the Tigers had qualified yesterday when they beat Grambling.

In one of the more entertaining games of the day, the Golden Flashes did indeed whip the Zips, 70-65 (their fourth win in 4 nights), in a game that was close and back-and-forth all night. Kent St. just seemed to "want it more". Jaylin Walker, even with murray bartow not on the opposing bench, went off for a career-high 30. Jimmy Hall also was key with 9/12 and 19 points. Oh, and only 6 TOs - quite remarkable in such an intense game. The Flashes seemed to answer every time their geographic neighbors would make a run. Can't believe it's been 2008 since they were in, and all the way back in '02 when they made the Elite Eight. Akron in or out? You've gotta think "out", because they're 0-2 vs. top 50, and 0-2 vs. top 100, and very especially because the way they've struggled the last month or so. They could be a factor in the NIT - or not.

In the other nominee for best game of the day/night.....the Fighting Hawks survived Weber St. in OT for their very first trip to the tourney. I think there was one brief 10-pt. lead for somebody (Weber St., I believe), but mostly it was very close the whole way. The Hawks were down 6 with 48 seconds left in regulation, but through a remarkable effort, with a blocked shot at the buzzer, tied it up. Then, in OT, the margin was closer than the 4-pt. end result until only 22 seconds remained. And fitting in with the common theme, only 7 TOs for the Hawks, vs. 14 for Weber St., including overtime. Again, extraordinary considering the kind of game it was. The Wildcats hit 31/39 FTs, and so N.D. was in serious foul trouble (2 fouled out), so their bench helped them pull it out. *Six* guys in double figures. And I hate to say this, but I thought the game was very poorly officiated throughout. Just a significant number of obviously wrong calls - proven so by replays. If we ever move out of the SoCon again, I recommend we not go to the Big Sky.

In another OT game, the Privateers get to the Dance for the first time since '96, believe it or not. [You all may not know the struggles that program has gone through since Katrina, if you want to go find out about it. Fairly amazing they've recovered quickly after beginning the transition to DIII, but changing their mind.] I personally didn't think it was a quality basketball game, despite it being close. Sloppy, lots of TOs, etc. That gets N.O. to 20-11, and stops the Islanders at 20-11 (until a lesser tournament picks them up.) Good to see the Privateers back in the swing of it.

The Las Cruces Aggies rallied from 13 down *in the second half*, using a brutal 21-2 run, to win by 10 over CSU-Bakersfield. The Aggies only had *2* field goals in the first 17 minutes of the game. After going 0/4 from distance in the first half, these Aggies went 6/12 from out there in the second. And remember, the Roadrunners had been doing plenty of running, having been in that 4-OT game the night before. Also remember (and I'm sure you do, wise readers), that last year in the same game, the Roadrunners hit a 3-pt. basket at the end to down St., so it was table-turning time.

And finally....the Davis Aggies also won - barely - over our Anteaters for *their* first NCAA bid at 22-12. It was also a sloppy, gritty game, with both teams having at least 16 TOs. Davis led more than not, but Irvine came back to lead by 5 late, before Davis made key plays, while Irvine didn't. IMO, Irvine made several bad shot choices late, which was the difference. So....that's one little feather we don't get in our cap.

---------------------------
And since we've been following Middle here, I'll just note that not only do they make it in, but they reach 30-4 by taking down the Thundering Herd. That's impressive, even tho C-USA is very weak this year.

Thanks for the updates. It really is shocking to see how bad the C-USA is this year. Ranked #23 in conference RPI. The SoCon is 15th.

(03-12-2017 05:40 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Thanks for the updates. It really is shocking to see how bad the C-USA is this year. Ranked #23 in conference RPI. The SoCon is 15th.

Wow that is wierd...

(03-12-2017 05:40 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Thanks for the updates. It really is shocking to see how bad the C-USA is this year. Ranked #23 in conference RPI. The SoCon is 15th.

Still MTSU is a legit team I could see going on a deep run.

(03-12-2017 05:40 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Thanks for the updates. It really is shocking to see how bad the C-USA is this year. Ranked #23 in conference RPI. The SoCon is 15th.

You're welcome. I actually spent more time on them than I anticipated, and wondered if anyone cared. I know many didn't take the time to digest it all, and wouldn't expect all to do so.



And I guess to complete the task, even tho it's now moot:

The 6th-seeded Troy Trojans completed their unlikely journey to the tourney, knocking off Texas Southern for their first trip in 14 years. Yet one more time, turnovers were the key: Southern - 17; Troy - 5. That despite the Trojans going a frightful 1/17 from 3. One would guess that one could not win such a game, but they did - in part by going 16/19 from the line.

And Princeton had a semi-comfortable win over the Eli, completing their run through the regular season and inaugural Ivy tournament undefeated. Which also means they've won their last 19 games - 1 short of the school record. I'm not saying they can beat the Irish, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. They may be physically overwhelmed, but their wiles could tilt things somewhat their way.

And I guess that about does it, folks...... Happy picking!

(03-13-2017 10:44 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(03-12-2017 05:40 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  Thanks for the updates. It really is shocking to see how bad the C-USA is this year. Ranked #23 in conference RPI. The SoCon is 15th.

You're welcome. I actually spent more time on them than I anticipated, and wondered if anyone cared. I know many didn't take the time to digest it all, and wouldn't expect all to do so.

Please add my "thank you." It's unfortunate that some of the better mid-major teams were paired against each other in the first round instead of having a chance to upset a P5 team:

• St. Mary's / VCU
• Creighton / Rhode Island
• Dayton / Wichita State
  

(03-13-2017 03:56 PM)Flippmb Wrote:  Please add my "thank you." It's unfortunate that some of the better mid-major teams were paired against each other in the first round instead of having a chance to upset a P5 team:

• St. Mary's / VCU
• Creighton / Rhode Island
• Dayton / Wichita State
  

I know. I noticed the exact same thing. I just can't believe it's purely accidental. Wichita St. got screwed maybe worse than anybody. Which is not to say they'll necessarily beat the Flyers - just that they shouldn't have to play a team that good in the first round.
And really, that goes for St. Mary's/VCU, too.

Do they update the poll after all the tournaments?

(03-14-2017 11:52 PM)Buc Island Wrote:  Do they update the poll after all the tournaments?

I kinda think not, but am far from sure. I'll try to post something here if they do.

Heck, I'll post this now, just because of how bizarre it unfolded.....

Oakland was down at the half to Clemson 43-24. That's too big of a hole to climb out of, right? Well, not to them. They wore out the Tigers in the second half 50-26, to win the game by 5.
Attendance in Littlejohn: only 2785.

Similarly - except the other way around......
CSU-Bakersfield was up on Cal (with Cuonzo Martin at the helm) at the half 44-19. Yeow. But then they let them *almost* back in it before closing them out by 7. It wasn't that close 'til the end. To be fair, Cal has injuries.
Attendance in Berkeley: under 2,000.

Oh...while I'm at it......in the CIT......

The Fighting Camels win in Buies Creek over Houston Baptist (by 19), which I would consider a mild upset considering who all HBU had beaten the last couple of months. The Camels shoot 50% from 3.

And the Samford Bulldogs draw 614 (no, I'm not leaving out a digit) as they down Canisius in a tight game all the way.

(03-15-2017 03:37 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  And the Samford Bulldogs draw 614 (no, I'm not leaving out a digit) as they down Canisius in a tight game all the way.

Their first post season game in 17 seasons. https://buffalonews.com/2017/03/15/seaso...s-samford/

And their first post season win EVER! http://www.samfordsports.com/news/2017/3...ath=mbball

What if they had a tournament and nobody came?

Considering the quality of players and play that Scott Padgett has put on the floor that has got to be discouraging. Samford has had a problem in recent years of bringing in all conference type players and losing them after a year or so (e.g. Matt Rose last year). The lack of interest in this postseason makes that more understandable.

If anybody out there's bored, and wide awake, the UT-A vs. BYU game (at halftime now) so far has been very entertaining. Wide open and fun to watch, with both teams playing and shooting well.

edit:

And by the way.........

Belmont hit 14 3s, and shot 45% from out there, to down the Dawgs. Attendance in Athens: 2904

And speaking of such, Big Dog Isaiah Johnson scored 21 as the Zips knocked off Houston 78-75, in an absolute nip-and-tuck game the whole way. In case you all haven't seen him play, he's like a larger version of UNCG's White, with equally great hands.
Attendance in Houston: 1928.

Iowa did away with South Dakota pretty easily.
Attendance nearly 13,000 in Iowa City.

And the Redbirds kept about a 10-15 pt. lead on the Anteaters the whole way in Normal. Attendance a nice 5124.

Ga. Southern got just crushed by a fairly weak Utah Valley St. team in Statesboro, losing by 25 (and getting outrebounded by 19), while blistering the nets at an 11% pace from distance. In front of a non-SRO crowd of 603.

In games of possible mild regional interest.....

Upstate drew 662 and hit 17% from 3 in getting clobbered by Furple, 79-57.

UNC-A, not invited to the NIT, visited Martin, along with 504 fans, only to lose by 14 in what I'm guessing might have been an uninspired performance. Martin, on the other hand, let loose by hitting 13/22 from deep (59%) to break open a close game the last 5 minutes. That makes Martin 22-12, while Asheville finishes 23-10.

Byrd's Boys play at Ga. Tech tomorrow (Sun.) at noon on ESPN, if anybody wants to flip over there during the Michigan/'ville game timeouts, etc., as that will be the only CBS group game going on at the time.

To follow up just a bit....

The Rambling Wreck won that one by 14. They led by as much as 23 (at least) in front of a good (and actually enthusiastic) crowd (for the NIT) of 7176.

Oakland lost to the Spiders in Richmond, in a game that was close the entire way, with Oakland leading much of the second half. Another decent crowd of 6527 on hand. (Not all that far from a full house.)

[And although not mid-major oriented, but speaking of a full house.....the Iowa/TCU game sold out in Iowa City - where they love their hoops. (The Horned Frogs won in OT.)]

The Redbirds, after downing the Anteaters in the first round, got nipped with 2 FTs at the end by a good UCF team, precluding them facing off against the Illinois team *without* "State" in the name. The Redbirds had led by at least as much as 18 in the first half. 7,984 on hand in Redbird Arena.

In what could have been an interesting match-up, 5,390 witnessed UT-A just destroy the Akron Zips in Arlington, by 16 in a game that wasn't remotely that close. The Zips only shot 34%, while the Mavericks got it going at a 53% clip. And UT-A is still undefeated at home for the year, and will now advance to tangle with CSU-Bakersfield, who's knocked of C of C and CSU (the other ones - from Colorado) as an 8 seed. Well, actually the Roadrunners did more than "knock off" CSU - they punished them by 18 in a game that was 26 points well into the second half. They hit long 3s at 58%, vs. only 23% for the Rams. 4,203 in Fort Collins.

That gets us through Sunday. More later..........

Monday, CIT....

Liberty led most of the way in downing Samford by 8 in Lynchburg with 1,388 on hand. Both teams shot poorly from deep, but Samford turned it over 16 times to the Flames 7. D3 had 19 and Wyatt Walker 12 (and 11). The balanced Flames had 5 in double figures, which is hard to do scoring only 66 points.

UT-Martin, after beating the strong Big South UNC-A outfit, couldn't handle the (ostensibly) weaker Fighting Camels, and go down hard in Buies Creek, by 16, in front of 2,031.

[And pardon me - some of the NIT games I reported last night as being on Sunday were actually Monday, too. I think it was a problem from ESPN's site due to the time change, but can't prove it. Oh well, doesn't matter.]

Wednesday night, Cal State-Fullerton got the measure of UT-A, 80-76, in a game that wasn't that close 'til right at the end (they were up 20 at one point in the second half). CSU shot 53% from deep. With that, the Roadrunners get to 25-9, have won 14 of their last 16, and become the first 8 seed to advance to the NIT final four in MSG, where they'll tangle with the Rambling Wreck next week in the semis. (TCU and UCF will battle their alphabets in the other half.)
The Mavericks finish 27-9.
6,336 in Arlington, which is close to a full house.


And although they never made it into the poll, the beach boys of CCU have reached the finals of the CBI tournament, in which they'll play Wyoming 2-of-3 to determine the winner. Yes, for real. 2-of-3.

That gets us through Friday, not counting Texas St.'s win over the Vandals, which, honestly, is hardly worth mentioning (although they did draw 3,086 in San Marcos).

(03-15-2017 03:08 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(03-14-2017 11:52 PM)Buc Island Wrote:  Do they update the poll after all the tournaments?

I kinda think not, but am far from sure. I'll try to post something here if they do.

No, apparently they don't - or at least they didn't have a new poll out this week.

So Texas State's little run ended with a loss to St. Peter's in front of 2,907, in San Marcos again. Woeful shooting, and especially 3-ball shooting by both teams. St. Peter's: 32%/16%. Texas St.: 29%/10%. Maybe they're both just ready for a late Spring break.
I didn't mention St. Peter's much this year, as they never got even 1 vote, I don't think, and finished 4 full games behind Monmouth in the MAAC. But they did beat them once, and lost the other one in OT. They also beat Lipscomb early, and played Notre Dame and Maryland decently close.

In another CIT quarterfinal, Furple downed the overachieving(?) Fighting Camels in Buies Creek, with 1,920 on hand, by 15, leading the whole way. Acox, being much man that he is, hit 11 of 12 FGs for 24, and had 10 boards. Sibley netted 20. Paladins now 23-11.
The Camels' 5'9" Chris Clemons, he of the 51-pt. barrage to down UNC-A and knock them out of a chance at the dance, went for a mere 29 in this one.

Then yesterday, in the other CIT quarters......

Uppity Liberty finally gets taken down by UMBC by 12 in a game that was close 'til near the end. A robust 869 showed up to watch in Baltimore. The Flames end 21-14. The Retrievers get to 21-12.

On the other side of *that* bracket, Texas A&M-CC downed long-ago vote-getter Fort Wayne handily in front of 1,151 at the beach. The Islanders get to a very respectable 23-11 (including 16-1 at home) by punishing the Mastodons inside, scoring 26 of their 29 FGs inside the arc, and outrebounding them by 10 - and getting 15 steals. That also gives them 14 wins in their last 16 games, the only losses being to N.O., in OT (after also having lost to them in OT New Year's Eve), in the finals of the Southland tournament (which allowed N.O. to dance for the first time in a long time (as I mentioned earlier), and Houston Baptist.

So........in the CIT semis.......CC vs. UMBC and Furple vs. St. Peter's.

We finished #5 in the final mid-major poll. Somehow ahead of Saint Marys.
http://www.collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25.php