Siena thisclose to the NCAA tournament
Siena point guard Ronald Moore
The Siena men's basketball team is playing for a spot in the NCAA tournament tonight in the MAAC final at the TU Center. The Saints, who won the regular season MAAC title, take on Niagara, which was the regular season runner up.
If you want to see some genuinely happy people, watch the game tonight on ESPN2 (it starts at 9 pm). For "mid-major" schools such as Siena, winning the conference tournament and going to the NCAA tournament is like winning the Super Bowl.
Siena's had a great season and it's the favorite tonight. Here are a few subplots for tonight's game:
+ Kenny Hasbrouck, one of Siena's best players, hurt his calf last night and there's some doubt about how hard he'll be able to go tonight, if at all. Hasbrouck is one of Siena's captains and, as the NYT described him in a recent story, he and his family are "a linchpin of the Siena basketball community."
+ Siena's point guard, Ronald Moore, was on fire last night against Fairfield -- he had 10 assists by half-time.
+ Niagara was one of only two MAAC teams to beat Siena this year. The Purple Eagles won 100-85 on their home court in late February.
+ Niagara may be a little tired tonight. The Purple Eagles won in double overtime late last night over Rider.
photo: MAAC Sports
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Comments
Will these guys at least be playing basketball on roller skates or bikes?
... said Jackers on Mar 9, 2009 at 2:08 PM | link
@Jackers: Those are actually the little-known rules for quadruple overtime. We can only hope.
... said Greg on Mar 9, 2009 at 2:10 PM | link