Ken Pomeroy gave Binghamton just a 4% chance of beating Vermont tonight at home, but the Bearcats pulled off the stunning (appropriate use) upset 57-53. The win broke Vermont’s 10-game winning streak and coupled with Stony Brook’s road win at Hartford gave the Seawolves the inside track for the top seed in the America East tournament and an automatic bid to the NIT.
Of course the first one of those things is much more valuable than the second. SBU still has to get one more win on Sunday against Maine, but if Stony Brook can get through that one and the quarterfinals and semifinals of the America East tourney in Hartford they’d then host the finals. Home court advantage is huge. It might’ve been the difference between the Seawolves making their first ever NCAA tournament last season and Boston University surviving.
Home court has already proved to be important in America East play. All three of Vermont’s conference losses have come on the road as have both of Stony Brook’s. The Catamounts won by 19 the last time SBU and Vermont played, but back on January 2 the Seawolves pulled out a six-point victory.
You know how big the impact is of being about to play your championship on your home court is? Something like 30% according to Ken Pomeroy. Your typical 50/50 game becomes 65/35 or so. That’s a huge change. It’s going to help Stony Brook possibly reach its first NCAA tournament.
Binghamton provided a gift tonight. The Seawolves have to take advantage of it and take care of business moving forward.
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