The Basketball Report

Robert Stephens II, Featured Writer

Stephens informs about postseason play.

March 6, 2012 - March Madness is upon us and the tournaments and the selection committee will handle the rest. I know here we go again. The first thing we know everybody won’t be satisfied so here goes.

This is what we do know as of Tuesday afternoon the following teams are in. Belmont from the Atlantic Sun Conference, Creighton from the Missouri Valley, Davidson from the Southern, Loyola. Md. from the MAAC, St. Mary’s from the West Coast, and UNC-Asheville from the Big South, Murray State from the Ohio Valley, Virginia Commonwealth from the Colonial, Harvard from the Ivy, Detroit from the Horizon, South Dakota State from the Summit, and Western Kentucky from the Sun Belt as they improve their record to 15-18.What did you just
print.

The Sun Belt conference fell right into my wheel house
when I questioned Hoya head coach John Thompson should the regular season champion receive an automatic bid. “ When you are in a one bid conference there’s no question the regular season champ should receive the bid.” Coach Thompson said reflecting on his days with the Ivy league at Princeton.

Local product Markel Starks and the Hoyas have solidified their place in the NCAA tourney.

In the quarterfinals of that tournament the number one seed,
Middle Tennessee, the number four seed Louisiana Lafayette, and the number two seed Arkansas-Little Rock all fell ! That’s in the quarterfinals. In the semi finals number two Denver went down hence Western Kentucky is in the NCAA Tournament !

Question number one. Does Drexel who finished as the regular season champ at 27-6 receive an at large berth from the powers to be. It would appear that George Mason with a record of 24-9 has a hard sell despite the conference’s success.

Will Gonzaga at 25-6 receive an at large berth out of the West Coast conference? The bet here is yes.

My guess is that Wichita State 27-5 will make the Missouri Valley a two bid conference joining Creighton.

The Georgetown Hoyas will face Pittsburgh at 2pm. Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The Hoyas suffered a 72-60 defeat at the hands of the Panthers in their only match up this season.

The Big East also features NCAA bound Syracuse 30-1,
Marquette 25-6, Notre Dame 21-10, Cincinnati 22-9, South Florida (12-6, 19-12), Louisville 22-9. West Virginia (9-9, 19-12) along with the Hoyas should get in. Seton Hall (8-10, 19-11) Seton Hall (8-10, 19-11) and Connecticut (8-10, 19-12) on the outside looking in. U-Conn could slip in.

The ACC conference features four teams that are in UNC 27-4, Duke 26-5, Florida State 21-9, and UVA at 22-8.
I like for my teams in the major conferences to be at .500 or
better in league play. North Carolina St. (9-7, 20-11) and Miami (9-7, 18-11) fit that criteria. The feeling here is that both teams need a win in the tournament.

The winner of the Maryland-Wake Forest match up meets UNC.

The Howard Bison are all in to win the MEAC a one bid league as the Bison surprised North Carolina A&T 51-50 in the first round behind Calvin Thompson’s 15 points. Prince Okoroh chipped in with 10 points as the Bison controlled the boards out rebounding the Aggies 43-36.

Kevin Nickleberry leads the HU Bison into MEAC post season play. To make the Big Dance, they must win it.

The Bison face Norfolk State Thursday night at 8pm.
Hampton stopped Morgan State 69-65. North Carolina
Central beat Md. Eastern-Shore 60-43. Bethune-Cookman beat South Carolina State 62-53. and Florida A&M surprised Coppin State 74-72.

The North Carolina Central match up against
Bethune-Cookman should be interesting. The MEAC tournament is being held in Winson-Salem,
North Carolina.

The Big Ten features Ohio St. 25-6, Michigan St. 24-7, and
Michigan 24-7, Wisconsin 23-8, Indiana 24-7 and Purdue 20-11 who are in. The pundits again are making a case for Northwestern the BIG-10 media darling who has yet to participate in the NCAA post season extravaganza. The Wilcats are presently (8-10, 18-12). I would think
they need to win two in the upcoming BIG TEN tournament.

The Big Ten are six strong and that’s the limit for this
conference. Kansas 26-5, Missouri 27-4, Baylor 25-6, Iowa St. 20-9, Kansas State 19-12 and Texas (9-9, 19-12) should be in.

The Atlantic Ten should get two with Temple 24-6 and
St. Louis 24-6 in. Xavier (10-6, 19-11) based on past performances in the tournament should be given a strong look. I would take them.

The Colonials of George Washington lost to Dayton 67-50
in the first round. George Washington finishes their season with a record of 10-21.

Is Conference USA a one team league? Memphis 23-8
should get in regardless of their tournament performance, if they should stumble. Southern Mississippi 24-7 is a formidable out.

The PAC 12 is another league whose post season tournament could provide a mild upset or two. Washington 21-9, California 23-8 and Oregon 22-8 should be safe. Arizona (12-6, 21-10) is always dangerous, UCLA (11-7, 18-13) and Stanford (10-8, 20-10) may need wins in their post season tournament.

The Mountain West looks solid with New Mexico 24-6,
San Diego St. 24-6, and UNLV 25-7 for three bids.

The SEC, with college powers Kentucky 30-1, Florida 22-9, and Vanderbilt 21-10 are locked with Tennessee 18-13, Alabama 20-10, and Mississippi St. 21-10 is trying to knock down the NCAA door.

Bucknell and Lehigh will battle for the Patriot league’s spot.
The Eagles of American University lost to Lehigh 85-66 in the semi finals and barring a post season bid will finish at 20-11.

In the SWAC Mississippi Valley has dominated all season. If
not look for Texas Southern or Southern to pull the upset.

In high school hoops Paul VI upped their record to 32-2 on the season capturing the Virginia Independent School Championship, defeating Episcopal 62-61 in a thriller.
Patrick Holloway led Paul VI with 16 points. Kethan Savage led Episcopal 24-4 with 22 points.

In Maryland high school hoops this weekend:

On Thursday at the Comcast Center
3pm. Thomas Stone versus Centennial
5pm. Patterson (Balt.) versus Tuscarora
7pm. Eleanor Roosevelt versus North Point (def. champs)
9pm. Sherwood versus Magruder
On Friday
7pm. Largo versus Easton