tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014040350302121545.post8909394098003643400..comments2023-10-21T04:01:19.097-07:00Comments on Keepin' Track of the MAAC: Saints Call on Experience to Capture TitleSteve Amediohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06557652851061527816noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014040350302121545.post-52018669105345303402010-03-09T14:08:17.445-08:002010-03-09T14:08:17.445-08:00Mulldog --
The selection committee is not allowed ...Mulldog --<br />The selection committee is not allowed to consider last year's results. It's purely this year only. Siena's RPI was in the 20's last year, if memory serves.<br />Honestly, this year's results aren't as good as last year's. The non-league competition wasn't as good, there was no "good" win (like UNI last season), and the loss to No. 135, or so, Niagara, didn't help.<br />Very strong guess that it's a 12/13 seed for Siena. But, that's not bad. Gives them a better chance at a 2nd-round win. No chance for a 2nd round win with a 10 seed.<br />As for the fouls ... Needham's foul prevented a breakaway basket ... rules clearly state that in that instance, the call is "intentional."<br />Otherwise, in late-game situations, the rules indicate that teams may foul at their discretion, as long as the foul isn't "flagrant" or aren't made from behind on what would have otherwise been a clear basket.<br />I believe there is no such thing as an "intentional" foul; instead, it's called "flagrant," the meaning being it's either overboard (just hammering an opponent), or clearly prevents, from behind, an uncontested basket.Steve Amediohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06557652851061527816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014040350302121545.post-11486391163098407082010-03-09T10:12:08.527-08:002010-03-09T10:12:08.527-08:00What was their RPI last season? The only thing the...What was their RPI last season? The only thing they did last year that was remotely better than this year was hang tough with Kansas...that and Niagara had a high RPI...but they also lost an additional MAAC game against Rider last year. I'm not an RPI guy, nor do I really try to figure out the moronic nature of the committee...Lunardi is insanely accurate so if he says 13, then I'll have to defer..I do think if he feels the committee does not take a tournament win by a mid-major the year before (and in this case two straight, with fairly competitive second round matches no less) that he is wrong. It might be against the rules, but it will be in the back of their minds. If you say I'll definitely be wrong then I guess we'll wait and see.<br /><br />It's standard officiating procedure, but if you truly feel it's a good call then answer me this: Why is the foul on Needham intentional but Siena fouling Fairfield at the end of the game to use up non-bonus fouls not intentional??? That is by far more intentional and often less "for the ball" than Needham..who did nothing malicious and while he just grabbed the guy, really went for the ball no less than guys often do on standard personal fouls. He does it in the middle of the game and it's a dumb intentional foul...but Siena does it at the end of the game and it's "smart". Not fair. Show some consistency.Mulldoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14648188394193148405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014040350302121545.post-43972548228295268692010-03-09T10:00:47.274-08:002010-03-09T10:00:47.274-08:00I thought the foul call on Needham was a good one....I thought the foul call on Needham was a good one. Needham was clearly behind the play and grabbed Moore to prevent a breakaway.<br />Siena has an RPI around 36, meaning it will get a 12 or a 13 seed. They had a better RPI heading into selection Sunday last year, and better "losses" a year ago (Pitt/Kansas/Tenn) than this year, which helped the RPI. The best team Siena beat all year is No. 72 Northeaster. My guess is they're looking at a No. 13.<br /><br />You'll definitely be wrong if you think Siena is getting a No. 10 seed.Steve Amediohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06557652851061527816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014040350302121545.post-74543490306631736962010-03-09T08:58:05.858-08:002010-03-09T08:58:05.858-08:00Kudos to Fairfield for coming out loose and giving...Kudos to Fairfield for coming out loose and giving Siena a near-knockout punch. Can't say I saw it coming and all they really had to do was take care of the ball to beat Siena.<br /><br />Another really bad call on giving Needham an intentional foul when he made a wise play to stop a fast-break.<br /><br />Needham remains too good for this league.<br /><br />Still think Siena will get a higher seed than Lunardi is guessing, though maybe with a near-loss there they will be as far back as projected. They basically had an identical season to last...and why were they seeded so highly last season? Because they won a game the year before. Yeah, the committee isn't supposed to consider that, but especially with these mid-major teams, that is always in the back of their minds. Possibly they'll look and see that they lost player of the year in Hasbrouck, but they returned everyone else and their numbers were every bit as good...personally I think the lowest they will be seeded is 12...and they might even surprise with something like a 10...but I could be wrongMulldoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14648188394193148405noreply@blogger.com