In our NEC tournament preview, I noted that the conference had the second highest rate of close games in the regular season – 30% of them ended within 4 points or were decided in overtime. We enjoyed more of the same in the NEC quarterfinals, as the league office couldn’t have asked for better drama, both on television and on NEC Front Row when Sacred Heart made a run at history. Continue reading “Thoughts From the Crazy NEC Tourney Quarterfinals”
Tag: Greg Senat
Wagner 69, Bryant 66: Pyrrhic Victory For Seahawks?
There was no college basketball 2,300 years ago (as far as you know), but there were talented coaches, eh, commanders like Pyrrhus of Epicus, who figured taking down this new upstart power in Italy called Rome would be difficult, but certainly not impossible.
In the end, he did push the Romans back with victory in a couple of battles, but they were bloody, costly fights that left his army somewhat demoralized both physically and mentally. Pyrrhus then cemented his legacy with one of the most repeated quotes of all-time: “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.”
Continue reading “Wagner 69, Bryant 66: Pyrrhic Victory For Seahawks?”
Mount St. Mary’s 58, Wagner 57: Small Margins In NEC
He was guarding Michael Carey because he might be the top option for Wagner to give the ball to with the game on the line, but Chris Wray was smart enough to know that with the clock rapidly approaching zero, the chances of him getting the ball in time were virtually nil.
So Wray left Carey completely, sped to the other side of the court, and arrived like your neighborhood superhero, just in time to save the day, swatting Corey Henson’s shot away at the buzzer, giving Mount St. Mary’s a 57-56 victory Saturday afternoon at Knott Arena.
“We had said we were going to switch, but I saw on the clock what the time was and I felt that by the time he shot it, there wouldn’t be any time left. It was a perfect time to contest it,” Wray said.
Two days earlier, Wray had donned his cape as well, beating LIU Brooklyn by going the length of the court and scoring just before the horn sounded. (He had done the same in what, seemingly forever, was The Mount’s only victory, albeit an impressive one over George Mason.)
Continue reading “Mount St. Mary’s 58, Wagner 57: Small Margins In NEC”
Picking Out the NEC’s Most Underrated Players
One of my favorite posts to write during the season is the Big Apple Buckets awards. The awards could be for the preseason, midseason, end of season; I don’t really care. I simply enjoy highlighting the excellent players of the NEC! While I usually rank the top 10 to 15 players of the conference, I also take pleasure in mining through rosters to find the truly underrated, invaluable gems, using both advanced statistics and my eyes. Continue reading “Picking Out the NEC’s Most Underrated Players”
Three Thoughts: Central Conn. 53, Wagner 50 (Plus Story Behind Brandon Peel’s Winner)
It was inevitable that Howie Dickenman would bring up Tate George and Scott Burrell after Faronte Drakeford and Brandon Peel pulled off the play of the NEC season Saturday night with a play eerily reminiscent of UConn’s winner in the 1990 Sweet 16 against Clemson to lead CCSU to a 53-50 win over Wagner at Detrick Gym.
Heck, even the time on the clock was the same (1.0 seconds), although Drakeford left Peel with a little more work to do than George had, as Peel turned and hit only his second career three-pointer from a good 25 feet out after Drakeford fired the ball down the court. Dickenman, of course, was an assistant under Jim Calhoun on that UConn squad where he would stay until taking over at CCSU in 1996.
Bashir Mason Optimistic Youthful Wagner Will Compete In NEC Play
One win versus a Division I opponent in 10 tries. Six of those losses ending in lopsided fashion. A once vaunted defense that finds itself near the bottom of college basketball having allowed 106.9 points per 100 possessions. An offense that has struggled to find its way with a team loaded with underclassmen expected to absorb a sizable chunk of possessions. Continue reading “Bashir Mason Optimistic Youthful Wagner Will Compete In NEC Play”
Wagner’s Not Done Yet: Returning Possession Minutes and the NEC
The news has come fast and furious for Wagner. With yesterday’s announcement that Mario Moody is transferring, the Seahawks are down to just four players from last season’s rotation. Bashir Mason has just 23% of his team’s possession minutes returning. Continue reading “Wagner’s Not Done Yet: Returning Possession Minutes and the NEC”
Wagner 83, Central Connecticut 59
A month ago something changed for the Wagner Seahawks. After a dominating performance against Central Connecticut in the quarterfinals of the NEC tournament Wagner hopes that change will take the team to its ultimate goal, the NCAA tournament. Continue reading “Wagner 83, Central Connecticut 59”