David Schneider shot the Wrens into the CAA semifinals, making 6 of 9 threes and scoring 23 points to partner Danny Sumner's 22 in a hard-fought comeback win over JMU. Then he nearly shot W&M out of the tournament, missing all 8 shots he took over the first 39:23 of the Tribe's semifinal against Northeastern.We'll forgive those first 8 misses.
After Manny Adako's layup gave the Huskies a very hard-earned 45-44 lead, Schneider stepped into a three-pointer from the right wing, and yet another awkward-looking, sideways-spinning longball from the second-team All-CAA guard found bottom. Northeastern had no fewer than 8 attempts at the basket in the game's final 30 seconds, but when none of them dropped, W&M found itself headed to the school's second CAA title game in three years.
Ugly never looked quite so good.The Wrens raced out to a 31-17 halftime lead on the strength of a balanced scoring attack and terrific defensive rebounding. As has been their modus operandi all season, W&M and prosperity did their oil and water thing in the second half. Northeastern stepped up their defensive intensity and W&M went nearly 7 minutes without a field goal. The Tribe's defense was good enough to keep the game close, but when Matt Janning's throws gave the Huskies a 43-42 lead at the 3:02 mark, it felt for all the world like the Tribe's terrific season was destined to end.
Somewhere deep in the Richmond Coliseum's aging bowels (note to editor: please change this language before publishing this. Because, ewwww.) a game group of Northeastern players are still trying to figure out how their own season is over. Seniors Matt Janning, Manny Adako, Baptiste Bataille, and Nkem Ojougboh fell short tonight, but their contributions to the resurgence of the Northeastern program will last a great deal beyond this season. It's cliche to claim disappointment that both teams couldn't win (and really, it's not true - I'm really damn glad that the Tribe's seniors will play tomorrow instead of Northeastern's), but I'd have rather beaten anyone else in the league than Bill Coen's group.
W&M followed Janning's freebies with a wild tip-in by Marcus Kitts to set up the late-game drama. (And if you're a fan of nail-biting college basketball action, how about the last two days of the CAA tournament?) In a game where 8 W&M players tallied, but none of them scored more than 8 points, it seems somehow fitting that their all-court senior leader willed his final shot into the bucket.
Regardless of what happens next, seniors David Schneider, Danny Sumner, and Steven Hess (and junior Marcus Kitts) have taken William & Mary to 2 CAA title games in 3 years. The language needs a word stronger than unprecedented to capture that. This one might be slightly less a bolt out of the blue than 2008's 'That Just Happened' thrill ride. But it's every bit as edge-of-our-seat, pump-of-our-fist exhilarating.The Tribe faces a mentally and physically tough ODU team that handled them fairly easily twice this season. The Monarchs won the league's regular season championship, and beat Big East heavy Georgetown on the road. ODU's big, they rebound well, and they play suffocating half-court defense. The hill, she is steep.
We wouldn't have it any other way.
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127 comments:
promoting whitney's comment from the previous thread, because it's true:
Things I learned from watching the Academy Awards:
In The Big Lebowski, Jeff Bridges portayed himself.
The Dude really does abide.
Jeff Bridges was recently quoted as saying he still enjoys a joint from time to time. Awesome. And not remotely surprising.
Yes, "time to time". Also known as "everyday".
Rob, Whit, & The Teej,
Are you going to make it to the RC tonight?
Looks like Marls is ready to dust off the Gulfstream...
I traded in the Gulfstream: austerity budget, TARP, ect.
However, this "commercial airline" thing seems to have a reasonable fare to RIC.
i will be in the house, marley marls.
so here's a lesson to those of us fixated on w&m's less-than-glorious hoops tradition (and i include myself squarely in this admonition). from mgl's post today at caa:lamm comes this gem:
One moment last night is the impetus behind the desire to wait it out, soak it in. David Schneider was asked about the pressure of having the opportunity to be the first W&M team to ever make the NCAA tournament. Schneider gave a very detailed and thoughtful response that somebody will use as a quote in a story.
While Schneider spoke, Tony Shaver sat to his right with what looked like a nervous tick, cocking his head and pulling at his tie and shifting in his seat. When Schneider finished, Shaver broke in with his answer.
“This team doesn’t deserve the burden of our past,” Shaver pointedly stated. “It deserves the opportunity to play this one game for a championship and should carry no other burden. (This team) has been exceptional this year at taking care of the moment.”
So should we.
i love tony shaver.
To quote the moronic people of Philadelphia: "Why can't us?"
I land at RIC at 3:58 and would love to grab a beer or 12 with the futile faithful.
It would be a lot cooler if you drove down in the Fratmobile, listening to 8-tracks, smoking Winstons, and drinking from the keg in the trunk.
I'm so nervous about tonight. I'm feeling the pressure.
And, even though I think we're going to win (how can ODU beat us three times in the same season?), I'm still wondering if we have a chance at an at-large bid, if the game is close and we lose.
I really do believe the Tribe have a legit at-large resume, but none of the so-called experts seem to agree. The late Iona and (especially) Towson loses tarnished those extremely impressive early season wins.
easy on the road cokes guys...
and congrats on your victory...if on tv, i'm certain to watch until about 830 or so, maybe even 9.
it's on one of the espns at 7, danny.
the tribe will suffer for being, well, william & mary. no mid-major (and not many major-majors) in the country has better out of conference wins. but the teej is right, the losses to iona, towson, jmu, and uncw are killers.
hopefully it's on The Ocho after the dodgeball finals...will be a good lead-in for ya.
Rob - It is on "THE" ESPN at 7. No 2 or U or 360 attached.
Me thinks an at-large berth is unrealistic, even if Maryland wins the ACC tourney. There needs to be a gaudy win-loss tally for small conference at-large squads. A loss tonight would mean 22-10 overall and 12-7 in the conference. That's not gonna cut it.
I'm gonna miss hearing announcers say Larry Sanders' name.
I put some cash on the Tribe moneyline. so they are guaranteed to lose now.
technically, a loss would make them 14-7 in conference, tr, but the rest of your point is spot on.
NYC papers showing Tribe as 9.5 pt. underdogs. Sounds about right. The old "we're just not nearly as athletic as them" mantra continues.
Just hopped on the commuter train out to JFK airport. (tough times require that I give up taking the Marls chopper to the airport) To say that the daytime ridership of the LIRR is motley would be a disservice to the Mots.
What will be the effect of Marls' efforts on the spread? And what will be the magnitude of said effect? I say the Tribe is increasingly screwed with every G:TB'er and FOG:TB at the game, and the degree of screwitude increases logarithmically and exponentially.
an article on tiger, with quotes from his momma, in the latest golf digest...
maybe we will see him in Augusta
Better question: Where will Marls sleep tonight? The Pit in Unit M? Zable Stadium 50 yard line? Up all night in the smoking lounge at Swem (even though I gotta believe you can't smoke their anymore)?
I don't think I can do more damage than MS's bet.
Not sure, but I think attendence by G:TBers has yielded favorable results this year.
several gtbers and fotgbers are bailing, z-man. that portends good things based on the zoltan theory of exothermal tribal attraction.
Marls won't sleep a wink. But he'll spend the night in the Phi Mu P.Q.
tho to marls' point, the tribe's 3-0 with me in the building in 09-10. if we could get shlara and kq to richmond we'd be a mortal lock.
You've learned nothing from being a Red Sox fan, have you? Never say anything is a mortal lock when you root for a perennial loser.
Sorry to let you down Geoffery. Having a job, and not being Klam, results in my decision not to sleep in a motor vehicle and grab a hotel room.
Rob,
Looks like I am meeting DLC for beers pregame if you have time.
the likelihood of the scenario i presented is nil, z-man. which is why i felt comfortable with my choice of words.
marls - where are you meeting him? i'm meeting billy karn and his wife somewhere pregame.
Fair enough. But good things happen once you succumb to the negativity. See, e.g., Red Sawks, Celtics, Pats.
we've been calling ourselves futile superfans for going on 4 years, z. that's not succumbing to the negativity?
Marlin, I find this information shocking. Congrats on this "job" of yours.
Based on how my rooting interests have panned out over the last decade, I predict the Tribe loses a game in which they trail by a double digit margin from the 10 minute mark of the first half on.
There's a tone of hopefulness here that kills the negativity. At-large bids? Mortal locks? I love Tony Shaver? We need more negativity. Only when the fanbase hits rock-bottom can a truly miserable ballclub deliver the goods. Or so I think.
Z-Man, shut up. You're ruining my day.
So clearly the Bills fanbase has not hit rockbottom.
Rob,
Not sure of the meeting place yet. How is the sportsbar at the Marriott by the colliseum?
that's a decent spot. there's a british pub a few blocks away that's got more character. no idea what it's called.
We're getting there. Remember when Rodney Harrison destroyed Trent Green's knee? Charlie Armey said something like "this effing team is cursed." Then the Rams won the Super Bowl. That's where you need to get to turn your karma around.
point of clarification, marls. when i say 'that's a decent spot' in reference to the marriott, i mean, 'that's pretty close to the coliseum, and it serves alcohol'.
mark, you should be sure to follow the coverage of alabama's visit to the white house today.
Roethlisrapist hired these guys to defend him:
http://www.gsllaw.com/CM/Custom/FirmOverview.asp
Scroll down for an awesome photo of them yukking it up in court while Ray Lewis looks like a deer in the headlights.
make sure you guys wear something that will be easily identifiable...perhaps something other than khakis and a button-down?
face or chest paint would be a plus.
Rob,
Let me know where you are going and we can meet up with you.
bennie boy is a unit. had no opinion of him prior to a dining experience a couple years ago in charleston, sc. he and 5-6 other guys were seated right next to my wife and i. we were able to almost entirely listen in on 60-90 minutes of toolishness. his ego was enormous. he didn't seem to know the other guys very well which we thought odd. this was during an off week in december, i think 3 years ago. they had played golf that day at the ocean course. anyway, he wore his super bowl ring on his f'ing index finger. he made sure he was seated so that everyone that came in would be sure to see him - and they did - every other chick in the place came up, during dinner, to get his autograph. and he loved every second of it. he thought we were eavesdropping, which we were - he busted us by saying "like the guy next to us completely listening to everything...." i nonchalantly grabbed my wife's hand, a univ of miami ohio grad, and looked into her eyes in an effort to play it off - it seemed to work. i'm extremely smooth like that. anyway, my wife's fam is good friends w/his miami coach, and she's a "townie" from oxford, so she chatted him up as we were leaving. he was decent then but it was too late - his level of toolishness was/is way too substantial to ever recover from. that's my "brush w/fame" episode - Ben Roethlisberger. thanks for listening.
my college basketball betting is atrocious to quite atrocious except for the ncaa tourney. therefore, there is no way that the Tribe win tonight. just can't happe.
per uncw beat reporter brian mull, odu is the only caa team the tribe hasn't beaten this season. that's bulletin board material right there, friends. feel the righteous anger welling.
From SI.com write Andy Glockner:
William & Mary (22-9, 12-6, RPI: 61, SOS: 117) took out Northeastern on Sunday to make the CAA finals. Sadly, a couple of unnecessary losses down the stretch probably makes the game auto-bid-or-bust for the Tribe, despite three very impressive nonleague wins.
GW: at Wake, at Maryland, Richmond (also beat CAA No. 2 Northeastern twice).
BL: UNC Wilmington, at James Madison, routed at Iona, (also swept by ODU).
Soooooo, Allen Iverson seems to have a few things going on, eh?
how bad does your gambling habit have to be when atlantic city doesn't allow you in?
marston saw a.i. last tuesday or wed night, at the palm in atlanta - he came in w/3 of his peeps at 10:30 pm and ordered a big bottle of bubbly...maybe his daughter got better that day.
From the crowd at the bar, it appears like it is going to be 3 to 1 ODU fans.
Unfortunately, there may be an Alpha Phi Omega event tonight in the 'Burg that distracts folks.
steph karn's law firm has seriously impressive offices. i'm waiting for wilford brimley to show up with those pictures i don't want anyone to see.
Steph is big time. I wouldn't mess with her...
tribetribe, y'all.
In honor of the Wrens I am watching the game with Tribe Called Quest on...I'm actually dead serious...Ebirt Og.
I love NJ. Nowhere else would people get buttock augmentation surgery with bathtub caulk.
http://tinyurl.com/ylmq3ce
Jimmy Dykes luvs the Tribe.
ESPN announcers just described the Wrens' offense as "pretty to see" with the caveat "when it's working."
Nice to see Schneider hit a three early.
After a shaky first couple of minutes, Tribe is energized. But so is ODU.
This might be a fun game.
Tiny, you in the money seats?
I hate the c-sucking version of Mike Patrick.
HOWEVAH, if he wants to luv on the Wrens, well, get after it pal.
Love Hess. Love Kitts.
Also loved the annual Hess christmas gift/truck.
Come on fellas...right here, down 6, hang in...
Hess Christmas Truck. Strong to quite strong, Teej.
mccurdy! shoot the fucking ball.
Whitewash!!!!!
The only way ODU loses this game is if they stop pounding it inside.
Mayhugh, how awesome were the trucks with the moving parts (ngs)?
This is all swint's fault.
That is a great defensive/offensive possession.
The political assassin!
Do you think Shaver gave a Normal Dale speech in the locker room before the game?
Wow. Siena is getting their asses handed to them on the deuce.
Seriously, Eartha Kitts would've made that.
Rob, marls, reports?
Tribe...throw them the idol, and they just might throw you the whip...
what, you're not watching?
Adjust your hi-chair and let the adults talk...
Is there a mis-print in the media guide? this is the second broadcaster that said Geo Washington is an alum
we're watching a women's bball injury time out? seriously ESPN???
non-w&m alums are dumb
We'll have to hit around 50% of our 3s in the 2nd half to win. This isn't surprising and it's pretty much what we would've thought coming in.
Lots of stuff went wrong for us in the 1st half and I think we're fortunate to still be in the game. If ODU hits 3s and FTs again in the 2nd half we're going to be in some trouble.
George Washington went to George Washington University. His roommate was George Washington Carver. Everybody knows that.
That roommate one night had a chocolate bar...GW Carv stumbled by...and history was made.
George Washington Reese.
Debacle
Tribe is allergic to ESPN. This sucks.
Greg's doing ads for Muscle Milk?
This sucks more than the joyner/Miguel fight.
The Z-woman had me cut up some chicken in preparation for dinner, and the sticker said sell by March 13 but I think it was spoiled because my finders now smells like I diddled Medusa. But the Tribe smells worse right now.
In case you're concerned for my digestive health, we threw the chicken out and ordered delivery.
Marty has done stats for the Bullets/Wizards for as long as I can remember
Feeling a whole lot better about not making the trip to Richmond. Thanks for that, Tribe.
We need to start getting rebounds
Shlara, unless we can recruit a 7-footer with moves in the next 10 minutes, I don't think we're rebounding much of anything.
I bet TJ switched over to the Deuce.
If you don't stop bailing out the ODU players when they go spazzy-mcgee, they won't stop calling it. Idiots.
I love that our guys are not afraid, and aren't backing down
lee is getting away with crimes against humanity
ODU shoots like this in the tournament and they have a very good chance to advance.
They won't.
I like the ESPN logic for our at large bid
Sumner wants us to WIN
Sumner keeps sucking me back in.
Schneider keeps sucking.
The hess truck was the one present I looked forward to most. I think I still have a green oil tanker on my dresser.
Sumner is the only thing keeping W&M in this game. The three is not falling. They have to flick the switch here.
The commentators are aware that 3 is only one more than 2, right?
WTF is wrong with these refs???
Siena is in huge trouble...
McCurdy...make the free throws Ollie.
I think I'm going to throw up...I can't stand the stress
Sumner was open for like the 5th time this half
Hey, anyone know if W&M has ever been to the ncaa tourney?
George Washington ran the point for the Tribe the last time they were in the NCAA tournament.
The Z-woman said "What's the MPAA tournament" and I said "You're kidding, right? The basketball tournament. March Madness." and she said "Oh, you mean the thing with the brackets."
Fuuuuuuuuck.
Gentlemen, we have overtime in the MAAC final...let's pretend Richmond never happened.
I'm so sad for our team.
Sumner - big time.
Schneider just lost his shot in the last two games. If he shoots well, we've got a chance.
We needed the breaks to win this one and didn't get them. That Sumner in and out 3 with about 5 left would've cut it to 4. ODU comes down and rolls one in off the rim.
Best year in major athletics for the Tribe, but we just can't get over the hump. Legit chances to win the football national championship and go to the tournament. Will it ever happen? Probably not.
can't be but so sad. another great run, showed a bunch of guts, lost to a better team. nit, baby.
Sorry folks. I was rooting for you. Truthfully, I was rooting for a first round tourney trip for me, but still. It was a real nice run. And ODU's campus is dirty.
Effing Knicks.
I'm driving by ODU's campus right now. And Mark's right.
And there's an old guy giving the bird.
The 4:30 wake up call would be much cooler if the tribe had won. Ooof.
Not sure which is worse: 1) the blasting Christian pop music that the cab driver was playing, or 2) the nose hair curling, rancid flatulence created by my vaporizing the last of too many legend brown ales.
I think the driver has a different answer than I do.
The miguel/joyner fight comment got me good. I just hung out with mav over the weekend. he is pretty much the same. not sure if he is still a biter or not
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