There are two makeup games on the docket tonight, as Mount will host Bryant, and Wagner will travel to FDU. Tomorrow LIU heads to Sacred Heart, and then Thursday there are the accustomary five games, before each team plays their final game on Saturday.
With those three makeup games being played tonight/tomorrow, it's a little difficult to do an weekend review/preview, so CTC will skip this, but will get to the standings/seeding in a bit.
Feed the Beast:
 |
| No words left to describe this dude other then NEC POY. (p/c Justin Berl) |
Karvel Anderson won his second player of the week award this past weekend. He went bonkers, scoring 57 points (26, 31) in the two past games, and helped RMU come back from 16 and 12 points in each game.
Here at CTC, we believe Karvel wrapped up the NEC POY a week or two ago, but after this past weekend, we're not the only ones thinking that.
Congrats Karvel, now go dominate the NEC tournament.
Some NEC Braketology updates:
ESPN has Robert Morris as a 16 seed in the play in game, as does CBS Sports. ESPN has the Colonials taking on High Point, with the winner playing Syracuse, CBS against Weber State (The fighting Damian Lillard's) with the winner playing Florida. NBC Sports also has RMU as a 16 in the play in against High Point.
While there may be some upsets in other conferences, it's pretty clear that RMU is the only team in the NEC that will be able to get off the 16 line. Wagner doesn't have enough bulk to their resume, and Bryant lost a few games this past week including a tough one to FDU.
If any other team outside of RMU wins the NEC Tournament, it's back to the play in game for the NEC, and if the Colonials are so fortunate to win it this year, they to may be there, but I, nor anyone else would care. Let's just get there.
Hot at the right time:
Last year, Mount St. Mary's won their last seven games entering the NEC tournament, then upset Bryant and Robert Morris (both on the road) to make it to the NEC tournament title game. They probably could have taken that game if Julian Norfleet didn't twist his ankle and miss the title game.
So who is the team catching fire that could cause the Colonials the biggest problem in the postseason?
The Wagner Seahawks.
Wagner has won five in a row, and plays three more winnable games, the last two at home. The last game of the season is against RMU, and who knows how much Coach Toole will play his stars, who need to be fresh for the conference tournament.
The preseason favorites are starting to play really well, and have a great shot at getting the two seed over Bryant. With two more possible home games in the NEC tournament, maybe three if RMU is upset before the title game, Wagner is certainly dangerous entering March.
Down, but not out:
When Central Connecticut blew a 15 point halftime lead against Mount St. Mary's on their home floor, they left the door open for three time defending champ LIU. The Blackbirds have struggled throughout the year, but can still make the NEC tournament, despite their recent struggles (they've lost six of their last seven).
If LIU can rebound, and win Tuesday night at Sacred Heart (who is 1-12 in the NEC) they will set up a HUGE game Thursday, when the Blackbirds host CCSU.
This is important, because the winner of that game could very well be who RMU plays in the first round of the NEC tournament.
Both are much more dangerous the your typical eight seed.
CCSU still has the advantage, as they play at Sacred Heart their final game, and likely only have to win one of the final two games, while LIU must win over CCSU, beat Sacred Heart Tuesday, and then upset Bryant Saturday (if CCSU wins their game Saturday). Got all that?
Middle Bunch/Possible road:
 |
| The NEC tournament is right around the corner. (NEC Sports) |
With all the adversity that RMU has faced this year, they will likely get CCSU (who is way better then an 8 seed with Vinales), a rematch with Jalen Cannon and St Francis (we just saw how tough they are) and then Wagner in the finals, who is hot, and very tall, thus a bad matchup for RMU. Of course they have to win each game to get the next opponent, but in my opinion, that's the hardest road to an NEC title.
The easiest road, (given no absolutely crazy upsets) in my opinion, FDU first round, St Francis PA second round, and Bryant in the title game. They matchup well with all of them. Again though, slip up once, and the season is over.
Down to Business:
College basketball is a funny sport, especially as a mid-major. It can magical, and cruel.
Colin Dunlap wrote this piece on Robert Morris being, just maybe, the best story in college basketball this season. He may be right.
We all know about the "crazy 8" by now (if you don't, check out Dunlap's article), and the adversity this team has faced. It's an incredible accomplishment for Toole, Anderson, Myers Pate, and every other member of the program.
13-1 in the league, a conference regular season title with two games to spare.
Impressive, no doubt.
Guess what? Throw it out the door now. Forget about it.
Can we remember it in a few weeks? Sure.
 |
| It's going on four years since RMU's last NCAA berth. (AP) |
But not now.
Karvel Anderson didn't come here to win back-to-back regular season championships.
Senior Ant Myers Pate didn't spend hours upon hours in the gym the last four years to get to his second straight NIT.
Andy Toole didn't take over Robert Morris to win games in February.
This team had one goal at the beginning of the season, and unless they win on March 11th, it won't be accomplished.
March 5th, the opening round of the NEC tournament, you can throw the records out the window. It's time to get down to business, because this team 100 percent deserves to dance, but they've got to earn it.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
No comments:
Post a Comment