My new favorite conference is the NEC – and not because one of the 87 Fox Sports channels in my cable package broadcasts several NEC games a week.\u00a0 Okay, maybe that’s it.\u00a0 But, either way, I have become a closet LIU fan and just a fan of this league, in general.\u00a0 And, since that same FSN channel had the NEC double-header yesterday, I got to watch a pretty fantastic semifinal double-header setting up a very interesting final on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
#3 Robert Morris 71 – #2 Wagner 64<\/em> #1 Long Island 78 – #5 Quinnipiac 75 NEC Standings<\/em> NEC PENTHOUSE\u00a0– Mac, Primm, Rikey (53*) My new favorite conference is the NEC – and not because one of the 87 Fox Sports channels in my cable package broadcasts several NEC games a week.\u00a0 Okay, maybe that’s it.\u00a0 But, either way, I have become a closet … Continue reading
\nDanny Hurley probably took more proverbial “lumps” as a college coach in Sunday’s semifinal loss on their home floor than any other time in, this, his second season at the collegiate level.\u00a0 Staring at the end of a terrific season in Staten Island, Hurley’s team, completely imploded in the final minutes, coach included.\u00a0 Robert Morris, the benefactor of this implosion, played well enough to win anyway, but the Wagner meltdown of bad fouls, technical fouls, and poor turnovers just cemented RMC’s trip to the finals.\u00a0 Hurley’s team will be back, though, as he is really building something in the forgotten borough.\u00a0 On the other side, this Robert Morris team earned it – playing as well as anyone in the low-majors since the beginning of February – and will be really tough in the finals.\u00a0 6 people had RMC in the finals (Lil Lohse, Mac, Primm, Rikey, RDoc, Waters); only RDoc and Waters have them winning it.\u00a0 7 people lost their NEC champion in this one (Alexi, Dave, Gross, Lohse, Lynch, RSmith, Scoot).<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Now, I can say this as a long-time (almost two years, now) fan of the LIU Blackbirds.\u00a0 I think they got a lot of “home-cookin'” in this one and were actually outplayed on their home floor by a young, feisty QU team that will be featured often in the years to come on that FSN channel of mine.\u00a0 That being said, LIU did make the plays down the stretch that leads to winning basketball, particularly, LIU’s Big Three stepped up when their numbers were called, as they have their whole careers so far – and there is only more to come.\u00a0 Sophomore PG Jason Brickman (awesome name for a guard) is as steady a floor general as you’ll find at this level, and his job is made even easier by a pair of stalwart junior forwards (Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasawere), who are probably playing at a level too low for their abilities.\u00a0 This LIU team might be my Long Beach State of next 2012-13.\u00a0 But, for now, they have to focus on reaching another NCAA tournament, and it won’t be easy, as Robert Morris is coming to town on Wednesday night.\u00a0 Most people did have the Blackbirds reaching the finals (Dave, Gross, and Lohse were the only three that did not).\u00a0 Teddy (who did have LIU also, due to reseeding) and Dave missed out on the QU upset pick.\u00a0 Half the field (Bry, Doogan, Gersh, J, Lil Lohse, Mac, Primm, Rikey, Stri, Teddy) has LIU cutting down the nets.<\/p>\n
\nThe LIU and RMC wins kept three people perfect in the NEC – Mac, Primm, and Rikey.\u00a0 They all have LIU winning it, but more on that in Wednesday’s preview.<\/p>\n
\nNEC CELLAR – Gross (12)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"