Believe it or not, there are only six games left in the NEC regular season. With three weeks left, the race for the top seeds within the NEC will be a tight battle. Time for a little breakdown of where things stand.
First off, the current standings:
St. Francis (NY) 10-2
Robert Morris 8-4
Bryant 8-4
St. Francis (PA) 7-5
Mt. St. Mary's 7-5
LIU Brooklyn 6-6
Wagner 6-6
Sacred Heart 5-7
FDU 2-10
CCSU 1-11
Top story lines?
Well, at first glimpse a few things stick out. One, it appears the eight NEC tournament finalist are all but locked up. CCSU and FDU are both falling fast, and Sacred Heart --currently in 8th-- is a lot better than both of those teams. The Pios just beat Bryant, and own a three game lead on 9th place FDU. Safe to say FDU and CCSU won't make the NEC tournament.
Working from the top down, St Francis Brooklyn is in pretty good shape. The Terriers play their next four games at home before playing their final two on the road, but one of those is right down the block at LIU. They win four of those six and they at least grab a share of the regular season title. Bryant or RMU would have to win out in such a circumstance too. Don't see that happening. SFBK will be the NEC's number one seed, barring a major collapse.
That's about the only thing I can say with any conviction though. Look at Wagner. The Seahawks are 6-6. One game ahead of SH for the final spot in the tournament, but only two games behind RMU and Bryant for the two seed.
The battle for the final three first round home games will be the biggest story line going forward. Robert Morris is probably in the best shape. At 8-4, the Colonials play four of their final six at home, and they do not have to play MSM or SFBK. Bryant --also 8-4-- still plays three road games, including at The Mount Saturday on NEC Front Row. One big advantage for the Bulldogs? They already have a win over the Colonials in their back pocket, and still host RMU on February 21st.
At 7-5, both SFPA and MSM need to continue to pick up wins. They still have a great shot at getting the two seed, but could also slip out of the all important top four altogether. SFPA next three games, CCSU, LIU, @CCSU should all be wins, but they do end the season @SFBK, MSM, @RMU. The Mount on the other hand plays five of six at home. Look for MSM to make a run.
LIU and Wagner are both 6-6, but LIU plays their next three games on the road @RMU, @SFPA and @MSM. They also play SFBK at home. Very difficult. Wagner also has some difficult games, including @SFBK, BRY, and @RMU. The two teams match-up on February 21st at LIU, and that game will go a long way in determining who is the higher seed.
My final projected standings: 1. SFBK, 2. RMU, 3. MSM, 4. BRY, 5. SFPA, 6. LIU, 7. WAG, 8. Sacred Heart
That will probably all change after tonight's games.
First off, the current standings:
St. Francis (NY) 10-2
Robert Morris 8-4
Bryant 8-4
St. Francis (PA) 7-5
Mt. St. Mary's 7-5
LIU Brooklyn 6-6
Wagner 6-6
Sacred Heart 5-7
FDU 2-10
CCSU 1-11
Top story lines?
Well, at first glimpse a few things stick out. One, it appears the eight NEC tournament finalist are all but locked up. CCSU and FDU are both falling fast, and Sacred Heart --currently in 8th-- is a lot better than both of those teams. The Pios just beat Bryant, and own a three game lead on 9th place FDU. Safe to say FDU and CCSU won't make the NEC tournament.
Working from the top down, St Francis Brooklyn is in pretty good shape. The Terriers play their next four games at home before playing their final two on the road, but one of those is right down the block at LIU. They win four of those six and they at least grab a share of the regular season title. Bryant or RMU would have to win out in such a circumstance too. Don't see that happening. SFBK will be the NEC's number one seed, barring a major collapse.
That's about the only thing I can say with any conviction though. Look at Wagner. The Seahawks are 6-6. One game ahead of SH for the final spot in the tournament, but only two games behind RMU and Bryant for the two seed.
The battle for the final three first round home games will be the biggest story line going forward. Robert Morris is probably in the best shape. At 8-4, the Colonials play four of their final six at home, and they do not have to play MSM or SFBK. Bryant --also 8-4-- still plays three road games, including at The Mount Saturday on NEC Front Row. One big advantage for the Bulldogs? They already have a win over the Colonials in their back pocket, and still host RMU on February 21st.
At 7-5, both SFPA and MSM need to continue to pick up wins. They still have a great shot at getting the two seed, but could also slip out of the all important top four altogether. SFPA next three games, CCSU, LIU, @CCSU should all be wins, but they do end the season @SFBK, MSM, @RMU. The Mount on the other hand plays five of six at home. Look for MSM to make a run.
LIU and Wagner are both 6-6, but LIU plays their next three games on the road @RMU, @SFPA and @MSM. They also play SFBK at home. Very difficult. Wagner also has some difficult games, including @SFBK, BRY, and @RMU. The two teams match-up on February 21st at LIU, and that game will go a long way in determining who is the higher seed.
My final projected standings: 1. SFBK, 2. RMU, 3. MSM, 4. BRY, 5. SFPA, 6. LIU, 7. WAG, 8. Sacred Heart
That will probably all change after tonight's games.
