Most people out there will never know that there even was a Patriot League Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008. For those who enjoy college basketball and for those who love the 'purity' of 'college athletics', this is a shame. Because a bunch of smart kids who just happen to play basketball put on an amazing display of competitiveness last night. The first round of the Patriot League Champtionship was outstanding, and I'm not letting you go forward in life without hearing about it. Check out the following scores of ALL four games:
- #1 American 62 - #8 Holy Cross 60 - This was supposed to be the "gimmie" match-up. You gotta give Holy Cross a lot of credit here, they didn't want to let go of last year's League Championship that easily. The great thing about a league like this is that there really isn't a huge recruiting edge, so top-to-bottom, there isn't much of a difference. Pure competition at it's finest.
- #7 Bucknell 87 - #2 Navy 86 (3 ot) - Read that again...Bucknell 87 - Navy 86 in THREE overtimes!!! Bucknell won on a last second 40-foot bank shot! You have to be kidding me! I don't even care if my projected Patriot League Champion was upset in the first round. Yes, this ruined my Patriot League bracket, but it epitomized why Conference Tournaments are so much fun and so very exciting. It's one and done. Many seasons and college careers come to an end during Conference Tournaments, some on 40-foot bank shots in triple overtime. Outstanding.
- #3 Colgate 76 - #6 Lafayette 74 - Again, two teams that were pretty much the same and very evenly matched going into the tournament (Colgate 16-13, 7-7 & Lafayette 15-14, 6-8). Another two-point game in the Patriot.
- #5 Army 64 - #4 Lehigh 61 (ot) - This was the "blowout" game in the first round of the Patriot League. The three point Army win was the biggest point differential of any of the first round games. The most one-sided win of the day and it went to overtime! Three points, one possession, and the biggest win by any team on this day.
All four games were decided by three points or fewer. Two games went to overtime. One game went to triple overtime. My pick to win the league is out. The #2 & #4 seeds are gone. A 40-foot bank shot as time expired was involved. What a great day of basketball. Thank you Patriot League. The semifinals should be outstanding.
what a conference!
ReplyDeleteso you're tournament champion is out in the first round. even though i lost half of my first round games, i'm still in prime position to beat you in this tournament. and i will beat you when colgate wins it all.
this sounds a lot more exciting than the big east battle we saw last night between st. john's, who can't score points, and notre dame, who can't play defense. i guess it was a good matchup in that way, but we still managed to win by 13, even with harangody getting an elbow to the chin and five stitches. too bad navy is out of the patriot league tournament. as much as i am rooting for my husband's picks, i thought it would be nice for the navy football team to beat notre dame and the basketball team to go to the big dance both in the same year. that would be navy's equivalent to florida winning national championships in football and basketball last year.
ReplyDeletemy thanks to you for covering the patriot league d-man.
ReplyDeleteliz and i were at the holy cross game at bender arena to cheer on alma mater.
the cross played with a lot of heart and by all accounts, moved the ball much better on offense than american did. they just couldn't shut down au's three point shot. that said, it came down to a stupid foul and then the buzzer. real heartbreaker but excellent basketball nonetheless.
if anyone out there wants to read more about the patriot league, you should check out John Feinstein's, 'The Last Amateurs'.
and by the way, when the crusaders are the underdogs, there's never a gimmee game!
ReplyDeletemy prediction for the championship: bucknell over american.
who would have known that a last second post about the patriot league would have become my most popular update? thanks folks.
ReplyDeletephil...what exactly are your picks for this league? are you picks simply the 'control' bracket?
chaz...thanks for the on-site reporting and the undying holy cross love.
come to think of it...all three of you saw live college basketball last night and i didn't. maybe i should sneak in to the second half of the robert morris vs. monmouth game tonight. i would then be more qualified for this blog.