Week #18 - Games of Interest

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Today marks the beginning of Week #18, the final week of the regular season in college basketball. Tournament play begins in earnest next week.

Gonzaga, for the first time in school history, is ranked the number #1 team in the nation. How long before the boo birds claim the Zags have the advantage of playing in a weak conference, ya da, ya da,

Butler fell from both polls after being routed at VCU. In the AP poll, two A-10 teams are ranked: Saint Louis at # 16 and VCU at #21. In the US/Today Coaches, Saint Louis grabs the #15 spot with VCU at #19.

The A-10 conference RPI remains at #7 and does its SOS ranking. Saint Louis is top dog at 28 and Fordham is the low man at #241. The URI RPI remains at 191. Can URI avoid the dreaded 200’s? The Rams SOS at 51 is still second best in conference.

While play continues for the major conferences, some of the smaller conferences have completed their regular season and tournament play in those leagues begins later this week. For those interested in following those games, these conferences are:

1. Big South Conference - @ Coastal Carolina U., Conway, SC, March 5-10
2. Horizon League – @ campus sites of higher seeds, March 5-12
3. Colonial - @ Richmond Coliseum, March 9-11
4. Metro Atlantic - @ MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA, March 7-11
5. MVC – @ Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO, March 7-10
6. NEC – @ campus sites of higher seeds, March 6, 9, 12
7. Ohio Valley – @ Nashville Auditorium, Nashville, TN, March 6-9
8. Patriot League -@ campus sites of higher seeds, March 6 , 9, 13
9. Southern – @ U.S. Cellular Center, Asheville, NC, March 8-11
10. Summit League – @ SF Arena, Sioux Falls, SD, March 9-12
11. Sun Belt – @ Summit Arena, Hot Springs, AR, March 8-11
12. West Coast Conference – @ Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV, March 6-11
13. Atlantic Sun Conference - @ Mercer U., Macon GA, March 6-9

Other than the MVC, and WCC, these conferences are generally one-bid leagues.

Hardly any action tonight other than Norfolk State hosting Florida A&M as NSU defends its 14-0 MEAC record.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

That "weak" conference is going to get at least three bids.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

Congrats to Zags number 1 in the nation

seanmc94 · Unread post by **seanmc94** » 11 years ago

So glad hoops decides it on the floor

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Norfolk State won its game versus Florida A&M , 69-58. Remarkable turnaround given NSU's record was 5-10 at one point, but a 15 game winning streak now puts their overall record at 20-10. Norfolk State did play a tough OOC schedule and it shows the problems facing mid and low major schools in putting together an attractive OOC schedule. Out of 15 OOC games, only 4 were played at home.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

And we had them... oh well this is the season of many close misses.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 11 years ago

Bryant will play at home on Wednesday in the Quarterfinals against Mount St Mary's at 7pm

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

Lets go Bryant !!

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

In last night action, Ohio State got a nice win as it outplayed conference top dog, Indiana, 67-58, in Bloomington. After having lost three of four earlier, the Buckeyes are now on a four game winning streak. OSU has a shot at gaining a tie for first place in what is America's toughest conference. And to get the tie the Buckeyes have to root that arch rival Michigan beats Indiana In Ann Arbor on Sunday and they beat Illinois at home that same day.

Virginia Tech was routed at Duke, 85-57, and the Hokies appear to be a cinch to finish in last place in the ACC. Not a happy time in Blacksburg.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

I've gotta say, Zeller shows me nothing. He's supposed to be a lottery pick, and he's a non factor
in so many of their big games.
He's not aggressive at all, plays passive defense, doesn't look particularly strong.
I think Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk is a much better player in every way.

sf2010 · Unread post by **sf2010** » 11 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:I've gotta say, Zeller shows me nothing. He's supposed to be a lottery pick, and he's a non factor
in so many of their big games.
He's not aggressive at all, plays passive defense, doesn't look particularly strong.
I think Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk is a much better player in every way.

I agree. I see Zeller as a Tyler Hansbrough-type in the NBA. Decent big guy off the bench who can get you some points and play tough, below-average rebounder, below-average defender, never good enough to be a starter.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Lots of A-10 action this evening. The two intriguing questions are who will be the conference champ and which schools will not make the trek to Brooklyn. Saint Louis looks to be in the driver's seat in winning the regular season, but face a tough game at Xavier. A win tonight will clinch a tie for the Billikens before their last game at home versus La Salle.

The battle at the tail end of conference is even more intriguing. We already know that URI, Fordham and Duquesne are not making the trip to Barclay's, but there is a big battle brewing over who becomes the fourth also ran. Three schools are in the hunt to escape that fate - Charlotte, Dayton, and GW. Tonight will give a better picture as to who that might be and the key games in answering that question are:

St. Bonaventure at Dayton
Charlotte at Duquesne
GW at La Salle

In addition to URI- St. Joe's, other games are:

Temple at Fordham
Richmond at VCU

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

sf, the difference is, Tyler Hansbrough was a GREAT college player,
and Zeller isn't.
UNC won an NCAA with Hansbrough. I could see Indiana going out early this year.
Team has no toughness, like say a Michigan State team.
You can be a great college player, who isn't great in the NBA, or a not so great college player,
who makes it in the NBA.
Different skill set required for the NBA. It doesn't mean that someone like Hansbrough wasn't a great college player.

sf2010 · Unread post by **sf2010** » 11 years ago

Yeah, Hansbrough was definitely better in college (so far, Zeller only being a sophomore), but I see them as having similar skill sets and similar deficiencies when it comes to the NBA.

Lots of great college players who don't pan out in the pros (Adam Morrison anyone?) for sure, and I think Zeller will be one of them.

Regarding IU's tournament chances, I think they have as good a shot as anyone. I think them and Michigan are the most talented teams in the country, but not by a huge margin. IMO anyone in the top 10 could win it all, and anyone in the top 10 could also get bounced in the second round. Don't seem to be any sure things this year...

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 11 years ago

Oladipo on Indiana will be a very good pro. can do a little bit of everything with great athleticism, offensive game needs polish but a lock down defender.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Bryant lost to Mount St. Mary's. Hoping for some kind of post-season play.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Oh man... really? Disappointing finish for them with some losses at home.

STC · Unread post by **STC** » 11 years ago

Bummer. Was really pulling for Bryant.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

In the battle to get to Barclay’s:

Charlotte came from behind for a critical win in OT over Duquesne, 89-87.

GW lost to LaSalle, 84-70.

Dayton beat the Bonnies, 75-63.

This race is going down to the wire and the fourth team eliminated will be determined in the results of two games on Saturday will : Dayton at GW, and St. Joe's at Charlotte. There are several other lower probabilities, but these two games should decide it.

STC · Unread post by **STC** » 11 years ago

Lets go La Salle!!! BEAT SLU(T)!!!!

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

UConn in the 2nd half looks like we did, all game, tonight.
USF is blowing them out after being in a close game.
UConn is sleep walking.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Yeah, they aren't going anywhere. They would have been an NCAA tourney team this year, but....

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

With VCU's 93-82 win over Richmond and Saint Louis' 77-66 loss in OT to Xavier, the regular season championship will be determined in the last games of the season. VCU travels to Temple and Saint Louis is at home to LaSalle. Both face tough opponents, with the Billikens having the slightly more favorable odds given they are defending their home court. Should be an exciting Saturday.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 11 years ago

SLU wins the regular season with a win over La Salle (beat VCU head to head)
VCU wins the regular season with a win over Temple and a SLU loss
La Salle wins the regular season with win over SLU and a VCU loss (beat VCU and SLU)

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

VCU at Temple will be a war !!!

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

UMass hosting Butler in what sounds like an almost full house (almost, because they NEVER sell out Mullins).

You can watch on NBC Sports Network or online via this link which requires the StreamTorrent program:
st://A1gCgpwEdVADUAaCoAHIgBYcsYu/La7/0IfHHyTjA7WHihcGNDIwVFYyimEAikEHZGVmYXVsdIqiHlNwb3J0cywgV29ybGRXaWRlIEZ1biwgR2VuZXJhbA==

You can download StreamTorrent here:
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/S ... 29131.html

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Behind from the opening tap, UMass lost to Butler, 73-62. UMass prospects for the NCAA are now practically nil with their only hope a big run in the A-10 tourney.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

They made one little run to get within a point at like 19-20, but then Butler settled down and kept growing their lead.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

Nice road win buy Butler and I am thinking we take UMASS on Saturday !!!

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Other than the VCU at Temple game on Sunday, today marks the end of the regular season in the A-10. The outcomes of that game and today's Saint Louis-La Salle game will give us the A-10 regular season champ.

Other key games to follow are those where the outcomes will reveal the fourth team left out of the A-10 tourney. They are:

Dayton at GW
St. Joe's at Charlotte

In addition to URI-UMass,

Fordham at St. Bonaventure
Duquesne at Richmond

Also for those so interested, Canisius meets Iona in a MAAC quarterfinal game in Springfield at 4:30 PM. On ESPN 3

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Big Saint Louis win over LaSalle insures the Billikens a share of the A-10 regular season championship. They can win it outright if VCU loses to Temple tomorrow.

The fourth team to not make it to Barclay's is getting muddled with the Dayton loss at GW. That means the St. Joe's-Charlotte game will determine the fourth team out, but wait a minute, Fordham is now leading at St. Bona which means the Bonnies could be out if they lose and Charlotte wins. Getting confusing.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 11 years ago

St Bonnie's losses to Fordham at home, meaning URI now officially finishes 15th.

More importantly St Bonnie's is now in 13th place and can only make the A10 tourney if Charlotte loses to St Joe's

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Ugh... 15th.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

The prospect of Jim Baron taking a team to the NCAA tournament a year after being fired from URI because he never made the Dance, has been eliminated as Canisius lost to Iona in the MAAC quarterfinals today, 89-85. Billy Baron had a great game. Played 39 minutes, scored 24 points on FG's of 8-16, 4-7 on treys, and FT's 4-5. He also had four assists, one steal and zero turnovers. I know it was an impossible dream, but if Billy had been on this URI team, my guess is the Rams would have gone 15-16.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

The" Master of Collapse"
ended his season on a 3-5 run.
TYPICAL!!!!
Yes, another competent scorer on this years team, with so many close losses, would have made a huge
difference.
Not as much as Holton would have made, but a difference.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

And now it's all downhill for him at Canisius. Look out below, Griffs fans!

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

Yeah, this was his peak in Buffalo. Sorry Golden Griffs fans.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Well, Billy will be a senior next year, and clearly the star of the team.

Then what will 'ol Jimbo do?

They might be pretty good next year with Billy and the other transfers all being seniors. Then it's all over for them.

Some things never change. Spring ahead [tonight], fall back.

Baron collapse in February. All a given.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

St. Bonaventure at 7-8 was at home playing Fordham and expecting an easy win to bring their record to 8-8 and a trip to Brooklyn. Surprise, SBU is beaten by the Bronx team. Charlotte then beats St. Joe's, so the Bonnies now with a 7-9 record joins Duquesne, Fordham and URI in not making the trip to Barclay's.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 11 years ago

Through 3/9

First Round Bye:
1. Saint Louis 13-3 - clinched 1 seed
2. Virginia Commonwealth 12-3 (@Temple) clinched 2 seed
3. La Salle 11-5^
4. Butler 11-5

Opening Round Games:
5. Temple 10-5 (vs VCU)
6. Massachusetts 9-7&
7. Xavier 9-7
8. Richmond 8-8##
9. Charlotte 8-8#
10. Saint Joseph's 8-8
11. George Washington 7-9**
12. Dayton 7-9*

Going Home Early:
13. St. Bonaventure 7-9
14. Fordham 3-13%
15. Rhode Island 3-13
16. Duquesne 1-15

^beat Butler head to head
&beat Xavier head to head
## based on 1-1 against VCU (all teams 1-1 against each other)
# based on head to head victory over St. Joe's (both teams 0-1 against VCU and goes to 2 team tie breaker
** based on 2-0 against other 7-9 teams
* based on 1-1 against other 7-9 teams (St. Bonnie's 0-2)
%beat URI head to head

NOTE: I'm not an expert this is how I interpret the tie breaking procedures, if you think I'm wrong just suggest it

the only thing left are who is the 3, 4, 5 seeds

If Temple loses La Salle is the 3 seed, Butler the 4 seed and Temple is the 5 seed
If Temple wins Temple is the 3 seed, La Salle is the 4 seed and Butler is the 5 seed based on Temple is 1-0 against SLU, La Salle is 0-1 and Butler is 0-2

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 11 years ago

Wait a Jim Baron led team lost an important game? I am shocked!!

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

You think Billy Baron was worth 7 more wins ??? Dont think so

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

How many close losses did we have due to our guards not being able to close, or due to the defense locking down on Xavier? I don't think it's out of the question that this season, with the close games we played, Billy could have been the difference in changing a third of our losses to wins.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

If Billy and Holton had been here, this would have been a .500 team. Maybe slightly better.

With Billy only, I'd give them 5 more wins. Either way, not an NCAA or NIT team.

All water under the bridge now.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

Erasing a 5 point halftime deficit, Temple comes back to beat VCU, 84-76 in a game just concluded. The loss by VCU makes Saint Louis champs of the A-10 regular season.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 11 years ago

VCU lead by 16 at one point in the first half

here are the final standing if I have the tie breakers right:
First Round Bye:
1. Saint Louis 13-3
2. Virginia Commonwealth 12-4
3. Temple 11-5^^
4. La Salle 11-5^

Opening Round Games:
5. Butler 11-5
6. Massachusetts 9-7&
7. Xavier 9-7
8. Richmond 8-8##
9. Charlotte 8-8#
10. Saint Joseph's 8-8
11. George Washington 7-9**
12. Dayton 7-9*

Going Home Early:
13. St. Bonaventure 7-9
14. Fordham 3-13%
15. Rhode Island 3-13
16. Duquesne 1-15

^^based on 1-0 against SLU(all 1-1 against each other)
^based on 0-1 against SLU (Butler is 0-2)
&beat Xavier head to head
## based on 1-1 against VCU (all teams 1-1 against each other)
# based on head to head victory over St. Joe's (both teams 0-1 against VCU and goes to 2 team tie breaker)
** based on 2-0 against other 7-9 teams
* based on 1-1 against other 7-9 teams (St. Bonnie's 0-2)
%beat URI head to head

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 11 years ago

The amazing thing is that a team finishing 7-9 did not make the tournament!!

And it took Fordham winning their first A-10 road game in 4 years to make it happen. Fordham won this game on rebounding and second chance points which is how URI lost to them at Rose Hill.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 11 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:If Billy and Holton had been here, this would have been a .500 team. Maybe slightly better.
With Billy only, I'd give them 5 more wins. Either way, not an NCAA or NIT team.
All water under the bridge now.

Rambone...... In the prediction contest you said URI would go 15-14 7-9 in the A10 1-1 in the A10 Post Season Tourney URI would beat UMASS, 75-73. I remember at the end of last season you saying how talented our players were and how Hurley would get so much more out of them with his physical conditioning, etc.
Now you say Baron and Holton staying would have meant only 5 more wins? So we would have 13 total wins? Your originally predicted 15 wins without them??

I would have loved to have seen what Hurley would have achieved with Baron and Holton - of course we will never know. But these two guys were clearly the best two players on last year's team. Billy would have been the PG (sorry guys but it would not have been Powell), Holton at forward..... Pair them up with Munford, let Hare roam the middle to block shots while Holton cleared the boards, throw in TJ, Malesevic, Aaman, etc but not Brooks, and Hurley would have this team easily in Atlantic City. Baron and Holton were worth FAR more than 5 games. This has been a long, difficult, painful season to watch. Imagine Baron and Holton this year and then again next year? Hurley got decimated when those two guys were gone. I went to every game last year and this year including the snow game - trust me, Baron and Holton were major parts of last year's team - no way this year was going to reach the optimistic highs that so many thought possible in hte Prediction Contest. I was low at 4 games - but the 3 weeks of this season has been brutal to watch.
Bring on the new recruits and transfers asap - can't come soon enough.

Here are some results:
Jonathan Holton
- Led his Palm Beach state team to a 29-2 record and 16th National Rank in D1. (CCRI plays D2)
- Led the Nation in Rebounding at 13.9rpg
- Averaged 17.4ppg
- Shot 47%fg
- Shot 40% on 3 pointers hitting 41-103 attempts
- Will play for Rick Pitino Jr at Florida International next year

Billy Baron
- 5th in MAAC in scoring at 17ppg
- 2nd in MAAC in assists at 5apg
- 5th in MAAC in FT at 84%
- 7th in MAAC in 3 point percentage at 39% hitting 61-157 attempts
- Will likely make one of the 3 MAAC All Leage Teams

Dominique McKoy
-Ranked 7th Nationally in D1 Junior College Rebounding at 11.5rpg
-Murray St. North Texas Oral Roberts South Alabama Tennessee St. Tulsa Utah State all showing interest

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Ramster, I said we would have won 5 more games if we had just Billy.

If we had both Billy and Holton, our win total would have at least doubled, to 16.

It's really sad, when you see what these guys have done since they left Kingston. What I mean is, look what they've done with real coaching. Baron would have wasted their talents.

If they had been here, Hurley would have gotten so much more out of them.

With the numbers they have put up this year, this team with them would have been night and day better.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 11 years ago

How long before all the BCS shills on ESPN start questioning if The Zags really "deserve" a no.1 seeding. Remember the BS when SJU got it years ago?