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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Let the Madness begin.
Navy’s game at 7 tonight against Bucknell in the Patriot League quarterfinals marks the first contest in what could be an historic two weeks for Baltimore area college basketball. Navy, along with Morgan State, UMBC and Loyola, all have a legitimate chance of winning their conference tournaments and automatically qualifying for the 65-team NCAA Tournament. No Baltimore program has made the tournament since Navy in 1998 and there hasn’t been two local schools qualify since Loyola and Navy accomplished the feat in 1994.
Navy coach Billy Lange said he is trying to make sure his team just has fun tonight after the Midshipmen finished the regular season 16-13 and in second place in the Patriot League. The success follows seven straight losing seasons and after Navy was predicted to finish seventh in the Patriot League in the preseason.
“Anything we have done in the past record-wise doesn’t matter now because any one of the eight teams in our league has a chance of winning this tournament,” Lange said. “Still, whatever happens Wednesday or the rest of the season, I feel like our program is better for the long term for the pressure this team handled to get to this point.”
UMBC has a little more time as it prepares for the America East Tournament with hopes of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the school’s 40-year history. The Retrievers (21-8) are the top seed in their tournament and have secured at least a berth in the National Invitational Tournament. They will play the winner of Stony Brook and Maine at noon Saturday at Binghamton’s Events Center in Vestal, N.Y.
UMBC lost 58-57 Sunday at Hartford in the regular season finale, but aren’t dwelling on the defeat. The week between games will be especially beneficial to senior guard Brian Hodges (15 ppg), who missed five games with a sprained ankle.
“I’ve been through three straight losing seasons here before this, so this season has been even more special for me,” Hodges said.
Loyola (18-13) is also trying to bounce back from a loss after Marist handed the Greyhounds an 82-64 setback Sunday. That defeat sent Loyola from first to fourth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. That league’s tournament runs from Friday through Monday at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Loyola will face fifth-seeded Fairfield (14-15) at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
Among the remaining area programs, Towson (12-17) is the ninth seed in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association and will play Hofstra at noon Friday at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va. Morgan State (19-9) has clinched the top seed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Tournament, but still must close out the regular season Thursday at Coppin State (12-19).
“It’s weird,” Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos said. “You have to win each game but you have to plan for the weekend. Half of you wants to win the game and move on, but 25 percent has to say, ‘How do you win all three?’”
rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
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