Mid-Major Madness - 2014 Patriot League Tournament "So what are they going to call it? NonPower5Madness.com?"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50397/midmajor-fav.png2014-03-12T20:11:01-07:00http://www.midmajormadness.com/rss/stream/52309012014-03-12T20:11:01-07:002014-03-12T20:11:01-07:00American Going Dancin'
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/u8XtCi_jKgxA0H_XCBLV6S8mQ4g=/0x95:4000x2762/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29955753/20140312_lbm_ad7_154.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This was not a good game, folks. Not in the slightest.</p> <p>This is why we can't have nice things, Boston. Fans turned out in droves for the first-ever Patriot League final appearance for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/boston-u-terriers">Boston University Terriers</a> and they were welcomed by one of the worst offensive performances I've seen in a long, long time. The Terriers shot 16-for-52 from the field, including a woeful 1-for-17 from three, while the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/american-u-eagles">American Eagles</a> went along their merry way, scoring a 55-36 win and a return trip to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>.</p>
<p>To be clear, I am not taking any credit away from American. The Eagles played extremely well on both ends of the floor and earned the Patriot League crown going away. But BU barely put up a representative effort and fans of both the team and the conference were left wanting just a little bit more. Not much, just a little.</p>
<p>Instead, we got a 1-for-10 performance from <span>D.J. Irving</span>, a 2-for-8 showing from <span>John Papale</span>, and a combined 1-for-10 night from <span>Travis Robinson</span> and Cedric Hankerson. All of that, and we still haven't talked about Mo Watson Jr. turning the ball over seven times.</p>
<p>BU did not rise to meet the opportunity they were given, missing out on the open looks they were able to generate. But let's be clear once again: the main reason so many looks were either a) bad or b) contested were a direct result of an amazing defensive performance by American.</p>
<p>It actually felt at one point like BU was going to make a push. With 13:58 left to play and a seven point lead, <span>Tony Wroblicky</span> picked up his third foul. Here was the other team's best interior player now saddled with foul trouble and the lead within a few possessions. Naturally, he has to go to the bench and the Terriers could make a run!</p>
<p>That wasn't the case, though. No, Wroblicky stayed on the floor, coach Mike Brennan hid him in the back of a suffocating zone defense, and he didn't pick up another foul the rest of the game. Meanwhile, BU managed just 12 more points while American scored 24.</p>
<p>Wroblicky and <span>Darius Gardner</span> were fantastic all game and the numbers back that up. The two combined for 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while seeming to have an answer every time BU tried to make a push, deflating the Agganis Arena with either a big bucket, a drawn foul or a well-placed pass.</p>
<p>Harping on the unpredictability of the Patriot League seemed like it had finally run its course as No. 1 and No. 2 reached the final game, but if anyone saw BU scored 36 points or American winning by 19 points they must know something nobody else did. Don't ever change, Patriot League.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/12/5503076/american-wins-patriot-league-with-55-36-handling-of-boston-universityJimmy Kelley2014-03-08T17:12:16-08:002014-03-08T17:12:16-08:00American Advances as Holy Cross Goes Cold
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1wP1E5GVWZooK5QO-fFSqRQYDBI=/1100x565:2665x1608/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29723535/20121229_ajl_sr9_242.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Holy Cross looked to be in control against American, even on the road. But then someone lowered the lid on the basket for the visiting team.</p> <p>Holy Cross went into halftime with the lead over American University. The Crusaders were 20 minutes away from a trip to Boston to play for the Patriot League title.</p>
<p>The only problem was that they left their shot in the visiting locker room at American.</p>
<p>The Eagles took advantage of cold shooting by Holy Cross to earn a 57-46 win and a change to play for the conference title.</p>
<p>With 16 minutes remaining in the game, Anthony Thompson hit a 3-pointer for the Crusaders, and then everyone forgot how to shoot. Holy Cross held a 10-point lead at the time, and then... nothing.</p>
<p>For nearly seven minutes.</p>
<p>And then nothing again.</p>
<p>For seven more minutes.</p>
<p>Yes, that is right; Holy Cross scored one basket over a 14-minute stretch in the second half. You can't win that way. You can't even hang close that way.</p>
<p>They didn't score. They didn't even go to the line to shoot free throws. There was just nothing.</p>
<p>It wasn't as if Mike Brennan's Eagles did much better. Even with the run, American barely got to 44 percent shooting in the game.</p>
<p>So, no. Neither team had a great performance, and neither team maybe earned a chance to be in the finals against Boston University.</p>
<p>But American will be there, and they need to be very wary given the way that the Terriers took care of business Saturday, and what happened the last time that the Eagles faced off against BU.</p>
<p><span>Jesse Reed</span> led American with 18 points, but shot just 6-for-16 from the floor. <span>Tony Wroblicky</span> added nine points and seven assists in the win.</p>
<p>For Holy Cross, it was all Dave Dudzinsky. The senior scored 22 points and added nine rebounds. Malcolm Miller had 10 points, 10 boards and two blocks in the loss.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/8/5486308/2014-patriot-league-semifinals-holy-cross-crusaders-american-eagles-recapBenjamin Miraski2014-03-08T15:10:45-08:002014-03-08T15:10:45-08:00Mo Watson Jr.: Passing Genius Leads BU into Finals
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fSPWftpDl24JG6UH4KFnpslMgp4=/1404x68:3999x1798/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29718757/20131117_pjc_sv3_052.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Maurice Watson Jr. decided to put on a show during the Patriot League semifinals. But it wasn't scoring on display; it was his ability to run and control an offense.</p> <p>Perhaps Maurice Watson Jr. had something to prove during Saturday's semifinal against Army. After all, he was maybe the player that most deserved the Player of the Year award in the Patriot League.</p>
<p>Consider Boston University's win as proof tendered.</p>
<p>The Terriers sophomore point guard had an NCAA-high, single-game mark of 17 assists as BU cruised 91-70 over the Black Knights. After being excluded from the America East conference tournament last season, the Terriers are now in the finals of a better league with a real shot of another <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> berth.</p>
<p>Watson added 10 points and two steals in the win, but it was his assists that were important, helping to spark a run in the second half that put the Terriers out of reach of Army.</p>
<p>Over five minutes, Boston University pushed the tempo and moved from a five-point advantage to a 14-point lead. Army had gone cold from the floor, and got out of sorts with their deliberate offense.</p>
<p>That is no way to beat Boston University, especially when the Terriers shot a ridiculous 58.7 percent from the floor, including almost 40 percent from behind the arc.</p>
<p><span>D.J. Irving</span>, the man who used to lead this offense at point guard, scored 20 points, and <span>Dom Morris</span> added 16.</p>
<p>Army did its best behind 22 points from first-team, all-conference Kyle Wilson, but the loss of tempo control in the second half proved to be the difference. <span>Dylan Cox</span> added 12 points and <span>Kevin Ferguson</span> played a decent game in the middle for the Black Knights, with seven points and eight rebounds.</p>
<p>The Terriers will host the championship game Wednesday night, against the winner of American and Holy Cross. Boston University split its two games against the Eagles, and swept Holy Cross during the regular season.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/8/5485958/2014-patriot-league-semifinals-maurice-watson-boston-university-army-recapBenjamin Miraski2014-03-05T18:34:29-08:002014-03-05T18:34:29-08:00Patriot League QF: ALL KYLE WILSON EVERYTHING
<figure>
<img alt="Kyle Wilson brought Army all the way back in the final two minutes to beat Bucknell." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XLoJxM-dl3eKuy9u7GnyXBB1vp8=/0x168:4000x2835/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29573909/20140208_mta_bw1_087.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kyle Wilson brought Army all the way back in the final two minutes to beat Bucknell. | Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I won't call this the "most unpredictable conference in the country" any more, I promise.</p> <table border="0" align="center"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Team</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>First Half</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Second Half</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Final</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/bucknell-bison" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucknell Bison</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">32</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">71</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/army-black-knights" class="sbn-auto-link">Army Black Knights</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">72</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>The 4/5 game is always the best, isn't it? Two teams who are typically separated by the least amount in terms of talent battle for the right to attempt an upset against the top-seeded team. Army and Bucknell gave us a classic interpretation of that battle on Wednesday night with the Black Knights eventually emerging victorious thanks to a furious offensive output over the final two minutes.</p>
<p>Trailing 70-63 with 2:25 to play, Kyle Wilson decided it was high time someone took control of this game. Wilson scored to bring Army with five with 2:05 to play. An (iffy) offensive foul by Ryan Frazier gave Army the ball back and Wilson scored again, cutting the lead to three and giving Army a one-possession shot at this game.</p>
<p>Bucknell took the ball back looking to keep the Black Knights at arm's length, as they had for much of the game, but <span>Tanner Omlid</span> turned over <span>Chris Hass</span> and took the ball straight to rim where he missed and <span>Tanner Plomb</span> grabbed the board. Plomb kicked the ball out to Wilson who set his feet behind the arc, fired, and waited as the ball hit the front of the rim, bounced high in the air, and settled inside the basket for a tie game, 70-70, with 1:03 to play.</p>
<p><span>Cameron Ayers</span> got a look at a three, but the Patriot League Player of the Year was off. <span>Brian Fitzpatrick</span> was fouled on the rebound and made one-of-two, forcing Army to make a play on the other end. Have you figured out what happened yet?</p>
<p>Army went straight to Wilson who made good with a floater in the lane with 13 seconds to play. Bucknell couldn't get a good shot off and the Bison saw their six-game winning streak end in the most heartbreaking of ways. Wilson was responsible for the final nine Army points - 19 total - as it closed the game on a 9-1 run.</p>
<p>Army will face Boston University on Saturday for a place in the Patriot League Championship.</p>
<table border="0" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Team</b></td>
<td><b>First Half</b></td>
<td><b>Second Half</b></td>
<td><b>Final</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/boston-u-terriers" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston U. Terriers</a></td>
<td>42</td>
<td>49</td>
<td>91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/lafayette-leopards" class="sbn-auto-link">Lafayette Leopards</a></td>
<td>27</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>54</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>Maurice Watson Jr. and Co. put this game away real early, demonstrating an incredibly efficient offense and a stingy defense. The Terriers connected on 66.1 percent of their shots and made six of their first eight attempts from three to open up an early lead. Watson finished with 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against just two turnovers. Killer performance.</p>
<table border="0" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Team</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<b>First</b> <b>Half</b>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<b>Second</b> <b>Half</b>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Final</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/holy-cross-crusaders" class="sbn-auto-link">Holy Cross Crusaders</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/lehigh-mountain-hawks" class="sbn-auto-link">Lehigh Mountain Hawks</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">48</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: left;">Closer than many of the others, the Crusaders continued their hot run of play thanks to 19 points and eight rebounds from Malcolm Miller. Mackey McKnight goes out swinging, however, with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Mountain Hawks.</p>
<table border="0" align="center"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Team</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<b>First</b> <b>Half</b>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<b>Second</b> <b>Half</b>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Final</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/american-u-eagles" class="sbn-auto-link">American U. Eagles</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/colgate-red-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Colgate Raiders</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">35</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">50</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: left;">The other half of the Monday Winners Club goes down honorably as American turned in a vintage AU performance. The Eagles assisted on 17 of their 21 made field goals and got double-digit scoring from their big three of <span>John Schoof</span> (16), <span>Tony Wroblicky</span> (14), and <span>Darius Gardner</span> (12). <span>Murphy Burnatowski</span> finished his season with another solid outing, leading the Raiders with 15 points and six rebounds.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/5/5475918/patriot-league-quarterfinals-army-storms-back-on-bucknell-top-seedsJimmy Kelley2014-03-05T16:15:02-08:002014-03-05T16:15:02-08:00Live Stream: #2 American Hosts #7 Colgate
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gFK3pYfZtLWgiLDmcv0Gg0Zeqo4=/0x1016:2952x2984/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29567153/20131120_ajl_ab8_182.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>American is looking to continue their dominance over Colgate, while the Raiders are looking to keep dancing and make it two in a row at Bender Arena.</p> <p>American grabbed the number two seed in the Patriot League Tournament and will look to defend their home court at Bender Arena against seventh seeded Colgate. The Raiders took down #10 Army in the opening round 57-51 on Monday.</p>
<p>Colgate was 0-for-14 at Bender Arena when they beat the Eagles 63-60 a month ago in the nation's capital. That game also snapped an eight game losing streak against American.</p>
<p>American is 4-0 against Colgate all-time in the Patriot League Tournament, so they certainly have history on their side. American has also won their quarterfinal games 11 out of 12 times in the Patriot League with last year's loss to Army being the only exception.</p>
<p>Tip-off is at 7:30 PM and we'll have it for you live here on Mid-Major Madness thanks to the Patriot League Network presented by Campus Insiders. The winner of tonight's game will take on Holy Cross or Lehigh in the conference semifinals.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/5/5475506/live-stream-2-american-looks-to-fly-versus-7-colgateParks Smith2014-03-05T15:50:14-08:002014-03-05T15:50:14-08:00Live Stream: No. 8 Lafayette vs. No.1 Boston U.
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ezymquPo-oqgyOhVWv7aklZM0e8=/0x1111:2667x2889/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29567323/20121222_jla_ah7_035.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Lafayette won on Monday night and was rewarded with a trip to Boston University to face the top-seeded Terriers in the quarterfinals</p> <p>Thanks to the Patriot League Network powered by Campus Insiders, we are pleased to bring you this live stream of Wednesday night's quarterfinal between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/lafayette-leopards">Lafayette Leopards</a> and the Boston University Terriers.</p>
<p>Hello, Seth Hinrichs. Now we see what Lafayette can do when you are healthy.</p>
<p>The Leopards struggled to a 6-12 mark in the Patriot League, but had a mini-run at the end of the season that helped to propel them into the Patriot League Tournament. They finished off Loyola on Monday night and as a reward, have a chance to take on the top-seeded Boston University.</p>
<p>Boston University comes into Wednesday night's game as winners of eight of their last 10 games, but just scraped by Army and Holy Cross in the final two contests. Can the Terriers get a little bit of a boost from some time away from the court?</p>
<p>We will find out who reaches the semifinals at 7 p.m. Eastern.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/5/5475504/live-stream-lafayette-boston-university-video-patriot-league-quarterfinalsBenjamin Miraski2014-03-05T15:45:02-08:002014-03-05T15:45:02-08:00Live Stream: #6 Lehigh Visits #3 Holy Cross
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U2bckEuzfXQOqnnBbk84tvpOXZg=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29566807/20130102_kkt_ad7_033.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Lehigh heads to Holy Cross looking for their first win over the Crusaders ever in the Patriot League Tournament.</p> <p>The sixth seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/lehigh-mountain-hawks">Lehigh Mountain Hawks</a> will visit the third seeded Holy Cross in the Patriot League Quarterfinals tonight. Holy Cross is looking for their first Patriot League Tournament win since 2010 after dropping their last four games in the tournament.</p>
<p>This is the first match up between these two teams in the Patriot League Tournament since 2006 and Holy Cross is 5-0 against the Mountain Hawks in the tournament.</p>
<p>The Crusaders swept the season series with Lehigh this year winning 61-42 at home and 72-67 in Pennsylvania. It was the first time Holy Cross swept the Mountain Hawks since the 2009 season. The Crusaders hold the all-time series advantage at 37-17.</p>
<p>Tip-off is set for 7 PM this evening and you can watch here on Mid-Major Madness for free thanks to the Patriot League Network presented by Campus Insiders. The winner of tonight's game will play winner between Colgate and American in the semifinals.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/5/5475472/live-stream-lehigh-visit-holy-cross-in-patriot-league-quarterfinalsParks Smith2014-03-05T15:45:01-08:002014-03-05T15:45:01-08:00Live Stream: No. 5 Army vs. No. 4 Bucknell
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OQfjnMOtaAyH-yAb1uMgQKgp2Sk=/0x1112:2666x2889/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29566793/20130321_ter_bm2_187.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Army and Bucknell face off in the critical 4-5 battle that could depend on what became Bucknell's home-court advantage</p> <p>Thanks to the Patriot League Network powered by Campus Insiders, we are pleased to bring you this live stream of Wednesday's quarterfinal matchup between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/army-black-knights">Army Black Knights</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/bucknell-bison">Bucknell Bison</a>.</p>
<p>Army and Bucknell split their two games during the regular season with each team taking the home court win. As the standings shook out over the final weeks, Army had a small slide which dropped it below the Bison and gave Bucknell the home court advantage for the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>No one wants to be in Sojka Pavilion; the force is strong there with the Bison. Anyone going in there, especially during the Patriot League Tournament has learned that the hard way.</p>
<p>Add in that Bucknell will have the Patriot League player of the year taking the floor in <span>Cameron Ayers</span>, and you have added a second bad mark against any visiting team.</p>
<p>Can the floor at Sojka prove magic again? Find out here at 7 p.m. Eastern.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2014/3/5/5475466/live-stream-no-5-army-takes-on-no-4-bucknell-video-quarterfinal-patriot-leagueBenjamin Miraski