Game 28 / 17 - American

[Lehigh65]

LU Game Notes

https://static.lehighsports.com/customp ... 1510069857


How KenPom Sees It

LU (18-9 / 11-5) Ranked 159th
@
AU (14-13 / 8-8) Ranked 193rd
AU wins by 1 (77-76)

Elsewhere around the PL on Wednesday (home team underlines)
Bucky by 7 over Navy
CU by 9 over HC
AWP by 4 over LOM
BU by 1 over LC


The All-important Final Two Games

For 12-4 Bucky
@ Navy (6-10)
AWP (7-9)

For 11-5 Colgate
HC (6-10)
@ LC (7-9)

For 11-5 Lehigh
@ AU (8-8)
@ LOM (6-10)


With two games to be played – both on the road – LU could still capture the League title with two wins accompanied by two Bucky losses and no more than one Colgate “W.” Sound far-fetched? Perhaps it is. But then again, it’s the PL where little remains certain. I remind you that Bucky has already dropped games to 10th ranked HC and 7th ranked BU. Colgate, on the other hand, is going for sweeps of two teams (HC and LC) who each look to improve their positioning to avoid the need to play on March 5th when Seeds 7 thru 10 kick-off the Tournament. I don’t expect walkovers in any of the remaining contests facing Bucky and Colgate. OK, granted it’s a stretch for us to nail down the Title but #2 remains a distinct possibility. That is, post one more win than does Colgate. Any way you look at it, we’re set to start action at home on March 7th in the Quarter-finals against the #8 seed if we win it all, the # 7 seed if we end up in 2nd place, or the #6 seed if we end up in 3rd at the conclusion of Regular Season play.



First Up: AU
AU is hard to figure and that’s putting it mildly. They’re a team that has twice strung together 3 losses in a row this season but one that has also piled up 4 wins in a row setting down BU, Bucky, LOM and HC. They welcome us to DC coming off a W up at West Point on Sunday. At 8-8, they sit in 4th place, barely a game up on AWP and LC, and play -no doubt - with their mind set on hosting a quarterfinal round playoff game. In short, they present quite a challenge to us. Their star player, no doubt, is Sa’eed Nelson, a junior who average 21.0 ppg in PL play. He trails only Kostecka, out of Loyola in scoring. Behind Nelson there’s Beckton and Iorio to be concerned about. They come into the game averaging 12.9 and 12.0 ppg, respectively. In Game 1 up at Lehigh, the three tallied 59 points. But it wasn’t enough as LU responded with 5 players in double figures for 65 of our 83 points in the victory. Here’s a look at how AU, led by Nelson, set down Army in their last game.

http://www.aueagles.com/sports/m-baskbl ... 0224olebfd

[van]

why no Andree?

[LU808]

9:05 in the 1st...ball security is terrible!

[phillychuck]

Undisclosed injury according to the American TV guys.

[CHIP72]

I’m at the game (my 3rd LU men’s basketball game this season, but first since the Mount St. Mary’s game in early December), and Lehigh has had a very balanced scoring attack; about 4-5 guys have 5-7 points. The Mountain Hawks lead at halftime 36-22. Kyle Lefroy made a great, great pass to Nic Lynch under the basket as part of a conventional 3 point play in the last minute of the half.

[van]

great D all game long, no real lapses, and Foley still has not taken a jump shot, LOL

[CHIP72]

Good win for the Mountain Hawks despite a bit of a lull in the middle of the 2nd half that allowed American to cut a 23 point deficit (55-32) to 9 points (59-50). Lehigh had a few too many turnovers, but otherwise had a very solid effort both offensively and defensively. All five starters scored in double figures, and Leufroy (18 points, 6 assists), Karnik (17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks), and Wilson (17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals) all played particularly well. The Mountain Hawks also held Sam Iorio, a Lehigh Valley (Parkland HS) native who came into the game averaging 14 points per game, second-highest on AU's team, scoreless for the game.

[jimk72]

Saw the game via Stadium. No problems on the feed. Workman like effort and we did rebound well in general. But again too many turnovers and gave up too many 2nd chance points in the paint during second half. Turned a blow out back into a game. If American made their free throws (11-19) this could have gotten scary.

Regarding Pat, he took a bad header to the court at the end of Holy Cross Sunday. Looked bloodied and woozy. Hopefully not a concussion, but would not be surprised if he misses Loyola as well. I love Pat and his game and we need him, but J. Wilson can play the position. Box doesn't have his minutes up yet but he started and played most of the game. 6 rebounds, 17 points including 2-2 from three, with inspired defense in my opinion. Hopefully Pat is feeling better soon.

And oh by the way.......Bucky laid an egg in Annapolis 64-53, probably blowing the top seed. You can't make this stuff up! I don't think this means anything to us regarding tournament. We have #3 locked and need lots of help to move up. But if Colgate wins at our neighbors Saturday and the current NET rankings hold, I believe The Raiders get home court all the way through. Now if Bucky and Colgate BOTH lose Saturday.......

Regarding the rest of the league and the potential seeding...... don't even try. They will need IBM Watson after this Saturday.

[Bison_137]

But if Colgate wins at our neighbors Saturday and the current NET rankings hold, I believe The Raiders get home court all the way through. Now if Bucky and Colgate BOTH lose Saturday.......

Yes, Colgate would get the top seed - but it wouldn't go to NET, which is basically the last tiebreaker.

[ngineer]

Amazing season for the League and it drives you nuts when you look at the close loss to Holy Cross, at home. Team has made it hard on themselves all year. Fingers crossed that 'gate and bucky go down, but resigned to #3.