12-19-2004, 04:35 AM
<a href='http://www.buffalo.com/link.asp?section=11&url=http://www.buffalonews.com%2Feditorial%2F20041218%2F1016835%2Easp' target='_blank'>http://www.buffalo.com/link.asp?section=11...2F1016835%2Easp</a>
UB pulled out a too close win over Canisius last night. For those interested, I posted a link to a Buffalo News column about the rivalry.
Canisius's Sagarin rating is something like 314 at the moment, so pulling out a win (after blowing a 14 point second half lead) or even playing Canisius probably hurts more than helps any post-season hopes that UB may have.
Yet:
1. UB had never won in the Koessler Center, a glorified HS gym where the students are on top of the court.
2. UB and Canisius players play against each other all summer. There were 2 UB and 2 Canisius players representing WNY in the Empire State Games last summer.
3. Canisius in only about 3 miles from UB's South Campus.
4. While a not a season maker or breaker, there are plenty of local bragging rights involved. UBFan.com has a thread devoted to which school is more hated- Canisius or Niagara.
5. Canisius su**s this year, but they played Niagara close at home and gave EMU a game on the road. While they have been in decline ever since John Beilein left, they supposedly have more young talent this year than they have had the past few years and may gel as the season goes on.
A road win against a rival is still a road win against a rival. Never mind what it does to computer rankings. And that is part of the problem with computer rankings.
UB pulled out a too close win over Canisius last night. For those interested, I posted a link to a Buffalo News column about the rivalry.
Canisius's Sagarin rating is something like 314 at the moment, so pulling out a win (after blowing a 14 point second half lead) or even playing Canisius probably hurts more than helps any post-season hopes that UB may have.
Yet:
1. UB had never won in the Koessler Center, a glorified HS gym where the students are on top of the court.
2. UB and Canisius players play against each other all summer. There were 2 UB and 2 Canisius players representing WNY in the Empire State Games last summer.
3. Canisius in only about 3 miles from UB's South Campus.
4. While a not a season maker or breaker, there are plenty of local bragging rights involved. UBFan.com has a thread devoted to which school is more hated- Canisius or Niagara.
5. Canisius su**s this year, but they played Niagara close at home and gave EMU a game on the road. While they have been in decline ever since John Beilein left, they supposedly have more young talent this year than they have had the past few years and may gel as the season goes on.
A road win against a rival is still a road win against a rival. Never mind what it does to computer rankings. And that is part of the problem with computer rankings.
