Poppadoc--
LET'S GET THESE GAMES OUT OF THE WAY, FIRST!!! I DON'T WANT EMMANUEL IN THE BOARDROOM ON SUNDAY WAITING FOR A POOL C PICK THAT MAY NOT COME, JUST BECAUSE THEY GOT UPSET BY FORGETTING TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!!!
1.) Historically, Emmanuel likes to get their game out of the way first in the semifinals so that Coach Yosinoff can scout the second game afterwards without worrying about getting the team ready. Obviously, if the opponent in the first game was Simmons, then the big crowd would have been guaranteed, and Emmanuel doesn't need any motivation to play Simmons after what happened last time, but all it means is that the crowd that does show up early will really have to be vocal and work the Saints to get them fired up.
All that will be forgotten if Suffolk manages to take an early double digit lead in Friday's game-- then the crowd will really be into it.
2.) Should the Saints win GNAC-- a few potential opponents.
A.) If both Brandeis and Emmanuel win on Saturday, then it is possible that both could play each other in the first round on Wednesday. If that is the case, then I don't mind where the game is-- I would love for it to be on Brandeis's home court, though, but either facility is fine with me. If that match takes place, the winner could probably go to Bates for a second round match on Saturday-- If Bates plays a first round game, it would probably be against the North Atlantic champion-- which looks likely to be from the state of Maine. (Maine Maritime or Maine-Farmington are the favorites to win that title.)
Of course, if Brandeis loses on Saturday, then I will have to sweat it out on Sunday to find out if Brandeis gets selected to the tournament.
Other potential first round opponents: Endicott or Colby-Sawyer (Comm. Coast champion), Babson or Clark if either the Beavers or the Cougars win NEWMAC, Salem State or Fitchburg State (MASCAC). Of course, S. Maine could probably host one of these opponents in the first round and Bowdoin another, with both meeting up against each other in the second round if they win.
If Salve Regina wins Comm. Coast, the Seahawks could be shipped out this time.
It is still too early to discuss drawing a bracket, though, because the automatic qualifiers won't be settled until Sunday afternoon at the latest. I believe that 36 or 37 of the 39 AQ's will be decided on Saturday, with a few decided on Sunday.