NCAA postseason looks good for Cards
By Paul Williams
Last Updated:3:12 PM EST 3/3/10 Section: Sports
assistant sports editor
derek melnyk
After a successful regular season, St. John Fisher's basketball team has high hopes for the Empire 8 Championship and the NCAA Tournament.
The Cardinals have a strong case for the NCAA selection committee. With an excellent record of 21-4, Fisher has proved it deserves to be in the Tournament.
"Right now we're number one in the East Region," head coach Rob Kornaker said. "That's where we need to stay."
The equation by which teams are selected is exhausting to say the least. The number of teams selected is based on a percentage of the total number of Division III teams.
Out of 398 eligible institutions, only 61 teams will qualify for the tournament. Those 61 teams are divided into three pools:
Conference champions: 40 teams automatically qualify.
Non-conference qualifiers: Two teams.
At-large bids: 19 teams.
If Fisher wins the E8 Championship, it will be one of the 40 teams to automatically qualify. But, if they lose, they will have to fight for one of the 19 at-large spots.
The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 1 in the East Region. They have a 20-4 in-region record, which is tied with second place Medaille College.
The only other E8 team ranked in the top six is Stevens Technical Institute, which ranks fourth in the East.
Fisher has the 111th ranked strength of schedule at .529 which is ahead of East Region competitors Medaille College (.479), Oneonta State (.523), Stevens (.519) and Plattsburgh State (.524).
The only top six East Region team with a higher strength of schedule is New York University (.552).
The at-large bids are awarded on a national basis, with the best remaining 19 teams receiving bids.
Theoretically, all 19 at-large bids could be awarded to teams from one region.
The top three overall seeds in the tournament will receive first-round byes. The remaining teams will begin their tournament games on March 4 or 5, with the higher seeded teams hosting the opening round.
"If we win the E8 Tournament, I think we'll have a game at home," Kornaker said.
The Cardinals are in control of their own destiny and can save themselves from days of nervousness and suspense approaching Feb. 28 and March 1, when the tournament field will be announced.
Kornaker and the Cardinals have worked hard all season and see themselves in a safe spot.
"Even if we stumble, we're leaving ourselves in a pretty good spot for the postseason," Kornaker said.
dcm00494@sjfc.edu
derek melnyk
After a successful regular season, St. John Fisher's basketball team has high hopes for the Empire 8 Championship and the NCAA Tournament.
The Cardinals have a strong case for the NCAA selection committee. With an excellent record of 21-4, Fisher has proved it deserves to be in the Tournament.
"Right now we're number one in the East Region," head coach Rob Kornaker said. "That's where we need to stay."
The equation by which teams are selected is exhausting to say the least. The number of teams selected is based on a percentage of the total number of Division III teams.
Out of 398 eligible institutions, only 61 teams will qualify for the tournament. Those 61 teams are divided into three pools:
Conference champions: 40 teams automatically qualify.
Non-conference qualifiers: Two teams.
At-large bids: 19 teams.
If Fisher wins the E8 Championship, it will be one of the 40 teams to automatically qualify. But, if they lose, they will have to fight for one of the 19 at-large spots.
The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 1 in the East Region. They have a 20-4 in-region record, which is tied with second place Medaille College.
The only other E8 team ranked in the top six is Stevens Technical Institute, which ranks fourth in the East.
Fisher has the 111th ranked strength of schedule at .529 which is ahead of East Region competitors Medaille College (.479), Oneonta State (.523), Stevens (.519) and Plattsburgh State (.524).
The only top six East Region team with a higher strength of schedule is New York University (.552).
The at-large bids are awarded on a national basis, with the best remaining 19 teams receiving bids.
Theoretically, all 19 at-large bids could be awarded to teams from one region.
The top three overall seeds in the tournament will receive first-round byes. The remaining teams will begin their tournament games on March 4 or 5, with the higher seeded teams hosting the opening round.
"If we win the E8 Tournament, I think we'll have a game at home," Kornaker said.
The Cardinals are in control of their own destiny and can save themselves from days of nervousness and suspense approaching Feb. 28 and March 1, when the tournament field will be announced.
Kornaker and the Cardinals have worked hard all season and see themselves in a safe spot.
"Even if we stumble, we're leaving ourselves in a pretty good spot for the postseason," Kornaker said.
dcm00494@sjfc.edu
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