If you've been following so far I have told you who I think will make it to the championship game on Monday night. We're now down to two teams; Northeastern and none other than James Madison. The biggest statistic of the night if you ask me? 41 years. Huh? It has been a combined 41 years since either school made a trip to the NCAA tournament. For Northeastern, a 1991 routing by UNC, 101-66 was their last shot at glory. JMU's came three years later in '94 where they were eliminated by Florida, 64-62. These are the two longest running droughts within the teams playing in this weekends tourney minus W&M, who has never been dancing. I don't think they'd be any good either, too many Friday nights in the library. I doubt they can cut a rug. Now me on the other hand...oh that's for another day.
Unless JMU is able to drag kids out of their dorm, guide them to a free bus ride filled with snacks and entertainment while possibly promising them free alcohol at the game, these two squads will most likely play in front of a very small crowd. This will be unlike many other CAA tourney final games. In the past years the tournament has drawn over 45,000 total fans throughout the weekend. That will not be the case this weekend for many reasons, but by now you should know. (Broad Street Bullies aren't sleepin til' Brooklyn this year, not Marshall street)
This smaller crowd could benefit either of these teams. Northeastern's facility, Matthews Arena hold a bit fewer than the Convo at around 6,000, but the place is always empty. I've been told by friends that NU students were unaware of a basketball team on campus. Maybe apathy is a subject studied there too. NU is a hockey school through and through though. If I had to guess I would say the Richmond Coliseum will host around 6,500 or so Monday night, with the potential of JMU to greatly impact that figure.
I'm going to keep this analysis short...for the time being, with the promise of much more info if my predictions pan out. Here it goes. JMU can win this game. Ok, see you guys this weekend!
Fine, I will do more...jeesh! I would like you to go back to February 20, a Wednesday night, Dukes/Huskies only meeting. JMU is coming off a buzzer beater win in Delaware just three days prior (biggest win of the season thus far). NU is coming off a two game losing streak. What gives?
The Dukes start running dry shooting wise towards the end of the first half, but find themselves down just six, 32-26. The second half is very competitive to be general. This game saw 10 lead changes and seven ties. The Dukes held a six point lead in the second half, but the Huskies fought back. In the process though, JMU committed two fouls that were over 90 feet away from the hoop...DAGGERS as Steve Buckhantz, play-by-play for the Wizards would say. This ultimately set up for a 15 foot David Walker jumper to put the Huskies up 66-64 with three seconds left. Wait...who? David Walker? Not, Jonathan Lee, Quincy Ford, Joel Smith, or even Reggie Spencer! A huge break for Northeastern in a frantic play that could've gone so many other ways. With 94 feet to go, the ball was hurled down court to A.J. Davis who put up a Christian Laettener style three point attempt. It looked good to me on tv, however it fell short but Andre Nation grabbed it out of mid air and put it in the basket, but it was not in time. The Dukes were that close to forcing overtime with the best team in the conference.
Unless JMU is able to drag kids out of their dorm, guide them to a free bus ride filled with snacks and entertainment while possibly promising them free alcohol at the game, these two squads will most likely play in front of a very small crowd. This will be unlike many other CAA tourney final games. In the past years the tournament has drawn over 45,000 total fans throughout the weekend. That will not be the case this weekend for many reasons, but by now you should know. (Broad Street Bullies aren't sleepin til' Brooklyn this year, not Marshall street)
This smaller crowd could benefit either of these teams. Northeastern's facility, Matthews Arena hold a bit fewer than the Convo at around 6,000, but the place is always empty. I've been told by friends that NU students were unaware of a basketball team on campus. Maybe apathy is a subject studied there too. NU is a hockey school through and through though. If I had to guess I would say the Richmond Coliseum will host around 6,500 or so Monday night, with the potential of JMU to greatly impact that figure.
I'm going to keep this analysis short...for the time being, with the promise of much more info if my predictions pan out. Here it goes. JMU can win this game. Ok, see you guys this weekend!
Fine, I will do more...jeesh! I would like you to go back to February 20, a Wednesday night, Dukes/Huskies only meeting. JMU is coming off a buzzer beater win in Delaware just three days prior (biggest win of the season thus far). NU is coming off a two game losing streak. What gives?
The Dukes start running dry shooting wise towards the end of the first half, but find themselves down just six, 32-26. The second half is very competitive to be general. This game saw 10 lead changes and seven ties. The Dukes held a six point lead in the second half, but the Huskies fought back. In the process though, JMU committed two fouls that were over 90 feet away from the hoop...DAGGERS as Steve Buckhantz, play-by-play for the Wizards would say. This ultimately set up for a 15 foot David Walker jumper to put the Huskies up 66-64 with three seconds left. Wait...who? David Walker? Not, Jonathan Lee, Quincy Ford, Joel Smith, or even Reggie Spencer! A huge break for Northeastern in a frantic play that could've gone so many other ways. With 94 feet to go, the ball was hurled down court to A.J. Davis who put up a Christian Laettener style three point attempt. It looked good to me on tv, however it fell short but Andre Nation grabbed it out of mid air and put it in the basket, but it was not in time. The Dukes were that close to forcing overtime with the best team in the conference.
Now, three weeks later, I predict they will meet again, and I think the Dukes will remember what could've been of that night in Boston. There is no doubt that this game will be close. I expect both teams to have runs and dry spells, but with a ticket to the dance on the line, I think JMU will come out on top, sending this team back to the tournament for the first in 19 years.
Prediction
FINAL: James Madison 64 vs Northeastern 60
Tournament starts this afternoon at 3:30 with George Mason and Drexel in a 4/5 matchup.
Prediction
FINAL: James Madison 64 vs Northeastern 60
Tournament starts this afternoon at 3:30 with George Mason and Drexel in a 4/5 matchup.
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