Here how the NEC tournaments work this year-

They are both 8 team tournaments, with all eligible teams in. Mercyhurst is not eligible due to being in their first year of NEC members and not yet eligible for the NCAA tournament. Others not eligible for the NCAA tournament are Stonehill and Le Moyne, but will still play in the conference tournaments. So one of the 6 full D1 members will make the NCAA Tournament by my count.

Higher seeds host first round games. After the first round games, teams are reseeded 1-4 and top seeds continue to host.

Both Cougar squads are now fighting to stay out the last position. Even though each respective squad just played the top seeds very close, it’s not a game they need to repeat. The women just lost to 21-3 FDU by 4 and the men just lost to 20-6 CCSU by 6.

Upsets happen in conference tournaments all the time, but ideally both Cougar squads will end up above the 8th seed with a few late season wins and avoid the #1 seeds as long as possible. That will give them both decent shots in the conference tournament. Even being the 7 seed is fine because that puts them on the opposite side of the bracket if the top seed. Let the others spend their energy knocking of the 1 seeds and then the Cougars can swoop in lol. Any thing is possible at least. Wagner men made the NCAA as an NEC 6 seed last season.

The teams still have to play Wagner, Mercyhurst, and St Francis. They have already beaten Wagner and Mercyhurst, so a few more conference wins are realistic.

The women had an OT games with Mercyhurst and a 5 point loss to SFU. They could also get a few more wins and move up a few spots.

The fields are set for the 2025 NEC Tournaments.

Despite the struggles this season for both squads, neither earned an 8 seed in the field.

The 7 seed Cougars will face #2 LIU. The Cougars defeated split with LIU this year, with each team winning at home. Still, reason for optimism for the Cougars.

https://northeastconference.org/news/202...et_25.aspx

The Cougar women are currently in 6th. The Cougars have completed the regular season, while the rest of the field has a game remaining.the seeds will be announced after the March 6 games are final.

My prediction is the Cougars will end up as the 5th seed. LeMoyne is a half game ahead of them, but plays FDU in their final games and FDU is 25-3 and undefeated in the league. A loss would tie them with CSU.

Meanwhile, Wagner is a half game behind them is playing #2 Stonehill. And very likely to lose.

I believe a Chicago tie with Le Moyne will favor the Cougars. The Cougars split with them. Chicago won by 16, while Le Moyne won by 6.

Right now, Troy McKoy is out with an ACL injury. CJ Delancy missed at least the St Francis game with a concussion, and Jalen Forrest is out with an ankle injury.

The Cougars traveled with just 5 scholarship players, with the above mentioned injuries and additional illnesses. The only subs available were 3 walk ons.

For the Cougars to have a decent chance of getting any conference tournament wins, they will need some of these players back. Saxby Southlerland will return I believe, asI believe he was just ill versus SFU.

Either way, the team is short handed, as they have been much of the season.

Men’s bracket

Wednesday, March 5

#8 Le Moyne at #1 CCSU, 7 pm
#7 Chicago State at #2 LIU, 7 pm
#6 Wagner at #3 Saint Francis U, 7 pm
#5 Stonehill at #4 FDU, 7 pm

The reclassifying teams are on both sides of the bracket. Would be fun for that to become a factor I think. It’s really just a 6 team race.

* If a reclassifying institution wins the NEC Tournament championship, the tournament runner-up will advance to the NCAA Tournament as the NEC’s automatic qualifier as per current policy. In instances where two reclassifying members reach an NEC final, the NEC will stage an “AQ Qualifier” game between the two non-advancing semifinal teams. This will serve as a decisive game to determine the team that will secure the NEC’s spot in the NCAA Tournament

Welp, that was the season for the Cougars. The loss to LIU, who they beat a few weeks ago, ends the Cougars season.

As far as the rest of the conference, the top 4 seeds all advanced.

Women’s tournament bracket set.

https://northeastconference.org/news/202...d-set.aspx

#6 CSU plays CCSU, who they split with in the regular season.

St Francis mounted a big comeback put LIU out of the tournament.

FDU mounted a big comeback, but couldn’t quite get by CCSU.

Both games were very similar. Nearly a total flip in scoring from first to second half.

Final will be #3 SFU and #1 Central.

St Francis got their 2nd tournament bid ever by defeating heavy favorite Central Connecticut.

I like it. Means a lot to a small private college, as opposed to most regional state universities from my perspective.

The CCSU program has your typical hotshot coach, very much in the loop in higher level coaching circles, putting in his time at a lower level program to get the requisite tourney appearance before being preordained to take over a higher level program.

Saint Francis coach is a guy who played point guard at St Francis and is very much a product of their own program.

St Francis is playing in the First 4 as expected. Not much hope of them doing much in imo.

Fairleigh Dickinson women received a 15 seed. While not good, it gives them more chance than a playin game or a 16 seed, so maybe they can surprise someone.

The NEC men’s side is now complete. St Francis lost, as expected. To add insult to injury, the CBS Sports article I just read also called SFU the Panthers…

(03-18-2025 08:35 PM)Todor Wrote:  The NEC men’s side is now complete. St Francis lost, as expected. To add insult to injury, the CBS Sports article I just read also called SFU the Panthers…

St. Francis should have an animal nickname.