Lehigh and Bucknell continue roll toward Armagedon

[ngineer]

Lehigh took care of a 'pesky' Colgate team tonight at Stabler, 67-58; while down the road 'a piece' Bucknell beat Lafayette 69-49. Lehigh had four players in double figures and a couple more with 8. Lehigh now faces Lafayette at home Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Should be a good sized crowd. Bison will travel out to UNI.

[colgate13]

"Pesky"? You're too kind!

[kardplayer]

ESPN doesn't see it that way - from Bubble Watch...

"Congrats to the ranked Bison for getting past last significant PL hurdle."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bubblewatch?id=13

[ngineer]

ESPN doesn't see it that way - from Bubble Watch...

"Congrats to the ranked Bison for getting past last significant PL hurdle."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bubblewatch?id=13

First, I don't put much credence into the major sports outlets opinions. They never really research the 'lesser' leagues, just like Sport Illustrated's waste of space on the I-AA, D-II and D-III in their football preview. They really don't spend the time or effort but parody or borrow from someone else. The fact that they consider Lafayette their last major hurdle when Bucknell won by only 5 points the last time they played Lehigh, and beat the Mountain Hawks by only 2 at Bucknell last year, with the same team shouldn't be ignored. Assuming Lehigh wins on Sunday, and they cannot overlook Lafayette despite their record, because IT's STILL LAFAYETTE, Wednesday night's game at Sojka Pavillion should be great, should be televised since it's sold out, and will come down to the last minute if each team executes to its ability. Bison must be favored, and if they win, I doubt the margin is double digits. In college basketball, that last minute can go forever with fouling and foul shooting, depending on strategy needed at the time. Any college game under 10 point margin is close enough that the other is capable of winning with just couple plays being the difference.

[Pard4Life]

Bucknell is not losing the PL tournament final to Lehigh on their home floor.. period.

[ngineer]

Bucknell is not losing the PL tournament final to Lehigh on their home floor.. period.

Well, maybe, just maybe, the final will be held at Stabler Arena!? I agree it's a very long shot, but ... How do they determine tie breaker if teams finished tied in regular standings?

[Pard4Life]

Well, maybe, just maybe, the final will be held at Stabler Arena!? I agree it's a very long shot, but ... How do they determine tie breaker if teams finished tied in regular standings?

Bucknell is 12-0 in PL play, Lehigh is 9-3? (correct me if I'm wrong). So no, Lehigh is mathmatically eliminated. Tie breaker is determined through RPI rankings... which, um, Lehigh loses.

[kardplayer]

Bucknell is 12-0 in PL play, Lehigh is 9-3? (correct me if I'm wrong). So no, Lehigh is mathmatically eliminated. Tie breaker is determined through RPI rankings... which, um, Lehigh loses.

You're wrong on the first one - Lehigh has 1 loss in conference.

Are you sure RPI is the tiebreaker? If so, Lehigh has to beat Holy Cross or Bucknell plus Lafayette if they want to be the 2 seed, as Cross is about 20 spots higher...

[ngineer]

Lehigh is 10-1 in the League with three to play. Winning two of the next three would place them at 12-2. HC already has three losses (two to BU and one to LU). I think LU's chances of hosting the playoffs are decent.. Granted a finals between BU and LU would be at Bucknell if they both end in a regualar season tie if RPI is the basis.

[Pard4Life]

Lehigh is 10-1 in the League with three to play. Winning two of the next three would place them at 12-2. HC already has three losses (two to BU and one to LU). I think LU's chances of hosting the playoffs are decent.. Granted a finals between BU and LU would be at Bucknell if they both end in a regualar season tie if RPI is the basis.

Yeah pretty certain the tiebreaker is the RPI, based upon Feinstien's book and logic. The obvious tiebreaker is record vs. league opponents but Lehigh and Bucknell with both one loss to each other does nothing, so RPI it is.

I am actually hoping Lehigh gets the second seed so I can speed the day watching some quality PL basketball action. Just checked the schedule, and I am kind of annoyed that the quarters are on Friday, and the semis are on Sunday. I'm sure some posters feel that way too. Wasn't it Saturday-Sunday in the past? It's much more convenient that way for fans and players. Playing back2back should not be that big of a problem here. Ivies do it weekly.

Also noted times are all subject to change, including the PL title game. Since Bucknell is a national darlnig now, we might have our traditonal Friday 430 slot moved to primetime. I should be rooting for Lehigh to be the top seed so I can get to the title game easily... but that's asking a bit too much of myself.

[igo4uni]

Can't way to see Bucknell in Cedar Falls, IA!!

Go Panthers!!

[ngineer]

Lehigh/Bucknell game on Wednesday night may be on TV. It will also be on yahoosports through the video streaming, accessible through www.lehighsports.com.

[Pard4Life]

Sportscenter speaking of Bucknell's NCAA at large hopes after loss...

"If somebody in the PL like a Lehigh pulls off an upset for the automatic bid, do the... :lmao: " ... sorry I was laughing, didn't finish listening to the report...

Can't wait for tomorrow's game though. Lehigh wins by 15 after another very close 30min. We run out of gas... again... as usual.

[LeopardFan04]

As for the tiebreaker, I'm not sure that they go straight to the RPI if teams are tied, and split head to head...I know in the past that they worked their way through the standings and compared how each of the teams did. For example, let's say Lehigh and Holy Cross finish tied for second, and have split their two games. First their performance against the first seed (Bucknell) is compared...if they both are 0-2 for instance, it moves to the next team down in the standings that isn't involved in the tie...in this example whoever is the 4 seed...if they can't break the tie this way, then I think they go to the RPI...I know they've done this for sure in other sports, can't find anything concrete about hoops though...

[kardplayer]

As for the tiebreaker, I'm not sure that they go straight to the RPI if teams are tied, and split head to head...I know in the past that they worked their way through the standings and compared how each of the teams did. For example, let's say Lehigh and Holy Cross finish tied for second, and have split their two games. First their performance against the first seed (Bucknell) is compared...if they both are 0-2 for instance, it moves to the next team down in the standings that isn't involved in the tie...in this example whoever is the 4 seed...if they can't break the tie this way, then I think they go to the RPI...I know they've done this for sure in other sports, can't find anything concrete about hoops though...

I'm sure you have the first two tiebreakers right:
1st is head-to-head
2nd is record against the teams in the league starting from the top and working down, until a difference happens.
3rd is the one I'm not sure about, but it may be RPI.

If there is a tie for 2nd in the PL, it would mean that Lehigh goes 0-2 this week and HC goes 2-0. That would give them both 3 losses. They'd have split head-to-head (the first tiebreaker) and they'd have the same exact record against every other team in the league (0-2 vs. Bucknell, 2-0 vs. all the rest).

It would then come down to that third tiebreaker.

If Lehigh beats Bucknell and HC, they'd most likely be in the same boat vs. Bucknell. In either way, they'd lose the tiebreaker due to low RPI...

[Pard4Life]

As for the tiebreaker, I'm not sure that they go straight to the RPI if teams are tied, and split head to head...I know in the past that they worked their way through the standings and compared how each of the teams did. For example, let's say Lehigh and Holy Cross finish tied for second, and have split their two games. First their performance against the first seed (Bucknell) is compared...if they both are 0-2 for instance, it moves to the next team down in the standings that isn't involved in the tie...in this example whoever is the 4 seed...if they can't break the tie this way, then I think they go to the RPI...I know they've done this for sure in other sports, can't find anything concrete about hoops though...

Definetely the first tiebreaker is not RPI. But I thought the issue was earlier that if Bucknell and Lehigh are both 13-1 in the PL, then the first tiebreaker is RPI. If Lehigh is tied for 2nd with another PL team, then they'd do what kardplayer noted.