LIU Blackbirds ~ Defending NEC Champs Set to Defend Title

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

2011-2012

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE

QUARTERFINAL ROUND

#8 - Sacred Heart Pioneers

vs.

#1 - LIU-BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS

From,

THE WELLNESS CENTER

Ashland Place, Brooklyn

LIU-BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS:  There's No Place Like Home.  All Blackbird Games Come Through FLATBUSH.  The Defense of their NEC Title Starts Now!

Let the NEC Tournament Begin!

Defense of Long Island University's 2010-2011 NEC Championship begins tonight.  Julian Boyd, named Northeast Conference Player of the Year, will lead the #1 seeded Blackbirds against the #8 seeded Sacred Heart Pioneers.  They are led by this year's top NEC scorer; Shane Gibson; who finished the regular season with a twenty-two point per game average.



In winning their second consecutive regular season title, all challenges to the Blackbirds' Northeast Conference crown must come through Downtown Brooklyn where LIU is undefeated inside their Ashland Place gym this season, playing to a 12-0 record.  They've now won twenty-four in a row at the Wellness Center over the last two seasons.  The Boys were 22-8 overall this year, and finished 16-2 in-Conference.  Sacred Heart was a 5-10 road team this season and finished with an 8-10 Northeast Conference record, and 14-17 overall.



The Blackbirds took both regular season games from Sacred Heart this year.  On January 5th, LIU defeated the Pioneers 87-81 in Connecticut.  Then on February 16th at the WRAC, Sacred Heart gave LIU all they could handle, before Flatbush pulled away 103-91 in overtime.

Post - Defending NEC Champs Still on Top - Jan. 5th

Post - LIU Blackbirds - Survive Sacred Heart. Quinnipiac Next - Feb. 16th

After clinching the regular season title in their second to last game against Fairleigh Dickinson, the Blackbirds played a rather lackluster game and lost 106-78 to (#6) Monmouth in the season finale. Sacred Heart enters tonight's game after closing out their season with a win against St. Francis (PA).

2011-2012 NEC Bracket:

#1 - LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds   vs.

#8 - Sacred Heart Pioneers

#2 - Wagner Seahawks   vs.

#7 - CCSU Blue Devils

#3 - Robert Morris Colonials   vs.

#6 - Monmouth Hawks

#4 - St. Francis Terriers   vs.

#5 - Quinnipiac Bobcats

 

Coach Hurley's Wagner Seahawks, at 24-5, finished with the best overall record this season, but played 15-3 in the Conference.  Many think the Seahawks can and will, dethrone LIU as Conference Champs.  Overlooked are LIU's two victories over Wagner this season.  The Blackbirds narrowly defeated Wagner early in the regular season (Dec. 1), 78-73 at home.  They proceeded to beat them a second time in Staten Island, 73-66, on January 22nd.  Additionally, the Blackbirds own home court advantage, and it's a good thing too.  They were an 8-8 road team this year.  Wagner finished with a 12-3 road record.  I think you know where I'm going with that.



I do not foresee any upsets in the first round.  But I do think CCSU is under-rated.  However they still won't outplay their 3-11 road record tonight against the Seahawks in Staten Island.



I think Robert Morris versus Monmouth will be the closet contest of the quarterfinals.



And I think St. Francis (Brooklyn) will take care of Quinnipiac rather handily.



Good luck to all.   Let's Go Blackbirds!

Mike.BTB