Predicted NEC Standings

Bryant, Central Connecticut, LIU Brooklyn, NEC, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart 1 Minute

There’s a dirty little secret in the NEC. The 12-team league means that not everyone plays two games against every opponent each season. The unbalanced schedule makes it extra important to look at the path teams will take through the league when predicting the final standings.

That’s why Ryan and I went game-by-game and predicted the entire NEC. Here’s what we came up with:

John:

  1. LIU-Brooklyn (14-4)
  2. Wagner (13-5)
  3. Robert Morris (13-5)
  4. Quinnipiac (12-6)
  5. Monmouth (11-7)
  6. St. Francis (NY) (11-7)
  7. Sacred Heart (9-9)
  8. Mount St. Mary’s (7-11)
  9. Bryant (6-12)
  10. St. Francis (PA) (5-13)
  11. Central Connecticut (4-14)
  12. Fairleigh Dickinson (3-15)

Ryan:

  1. Robert Morris (14-4)
  2. LIU-Brooklyn (13.5)
  3. Wagner (13-5)
  4. Quinnipiac (12-6)
  5. Sacred Heart (10-8)
  6. St. Francis (NY) (10-8)
  7. Monmouth (9-9)
  8. Mount St. Mary’s (8-10)
  9. Central Connecticut (6-12)
  10. Fairleigh Dickinson (5-13)
  11. Bryant (5-13)
  12. St. Francis (PA) (3-15)
And some notes:
  • Unlike last season, when LIU coasted during the final week, the title will come down to how well the Blackbirds finish since they’re likely to start the season 0-2.
  • Robert Morris is a beneficiary of the unbalanced schedule, as the Colonials only have to play LIU and Wagner once. If they can somehow manage to win both games, they’ll be in excellent shape to win the NEC regular season title.
  • Quinnipiac got the gift of playing a depleted LIU squad, but the Bobcats also just don’t have many tough games to start. Expect QU to be leading the NEC at the midway point and competitive until the final weeks of the season.
  • It wouldn’t surprise John if Sacred Heart was 3-6 at the midway point of the NEC season. Dave Bike will need to get things turned around quickly, but it will happen and SHU will be in safely.
  • Bryant is the opposite of Quinnipiac. The early schedule is tough, but near the end the Bulldogs could be the team “no one wants to play”.
  • John has a tough time looking at CCSU and seeing them 11th. It’s too low, but he didn’t know what to do. The 8-10 range (where Ryan has them) is more likely.
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