Updated Tournament Information

[haggyland]

Men's Basketball Playoff Picture Comes Into Focus

Updated: February 23, 10:30 p.m.

 

With their 76-64 victory over Vermont on Monday night, the Albany Great Danes (17-10, 12-3 America East) clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming 2006 America East Men's Basketball Championship, at least a share of the regular-season conference crown and a guaranteed postseason berth - the program's first. The Great Danes' guaranteed postseason berth comes via the NIT, which has altered its format to offer all conference tournament top seeds a spot in the 40-team tournament in the event that they fail to win their league tourney.

 

Binghamton (14-12, 11-4) downed UMBC on Monday night and the Bearcats have also secured the No. 2 seed for the nine-team league tournament. Hartford (13-13, 9-6) currently sits in third-place, followed by Boston U. (11-15, 8-7), New Hampshire (11-16, 8-8) and Vermont (11-15, 7-8). Maine (11-15, 6-9) and UMBC (9-17, 5-10) are seventh and eighth respectively, while Stony Brook (4-22, 2-13) is locked into the ninth spot.

 

If Boston U. defeats Hartford AND Vermont defeats Binghamton on Sunday, then the Terriers are the No. 3 seed and the Hartford is No. 4, by virtue of Boston U.'s 2-0 record over Hartford. Vermont is No. 5 and New Hampshire No. 6

 

If Boston U. defeats Hartford AND Binghamton defeats Vermont, then Boston U. is No. 3, Hartford is No. 4, New Hampshire is No. 5 and Vermont is No. 6.

 

If Hartford defeats Boston U. AND Binghamton defeats Vermont, then Hartford is No. 3, UNH is No. 4, Boston U. is No. 5 and Vermont is No. 6.

 

If Hartford defeats Boston U. AND Vermont defeats Binghamton, then Hartford is No. 3, Boston U. is No. 4, Vermont is No. 5 and UNH is No. 6.

 

The Black Bears can finish No. 7 or 8. If Maine defeats Stony Brook OR Albany defeats UMBC, the No. 7 seed goes to Maine and No. 8 is UMBC.

 

If Stony Brook defeats Maine AND UMBC defeats Albany, UMBC is No. 7 and Maine is No. 8.

 

Binghamton still has a shot to share the regular-season with Albany if the Bearcats beat Vermont AND Albany loses at UMBC.

 

No. 1 Albany will play its quarterfinal game on Saturday March 4 at 6 p.m., while No. 2 Binghamton's quarterfinal contest will come earlier in the day at 12 noon. The No. 9 Seawolves will play the No. 8 seed at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 3 with the winner of that game playing No. 1 Albany in the quarterfinals.

 

Binghamton University's Events Center will play host to the 2006 America East Men's Basketball Championship for the second-consecutive year on March 3-5. The first round, quarterfinals and semfinals will be played on March 3, 4 and 5, respectively, with the title game being played on March 11 at the highest remaining seed. The University of Vermont captured its third-straight league title at the 2005 Choice Hotels International America East Men's Basketball Championship.

[haggyland]

For better team match-ups (Not playing hot teams, or teams UAlbany lost to twice), I will be rooting for Hartford and Vermont to win their games, making the 4 and 5 seeds B.U. and Vermont.

Thoughts??

[Dane Pound]

I agree that would probably be the best scenario. I also think if this team plays like they're on a mission like they did against VCU and Vermont it doesn't matter who they play.