MBB: Liberty League

[Bartman]

Good luck to the remaining LL teams. I think RPI will have their hands full with SLU's Seniors and Union might have another miracle finish in Ithaca.
 


Bracket doesn't reseed so it's Union at RPI and SLU at IC.

Ooops, well these will be two very competitive games. Good luck to all.

[UfanBill]

Old old RPI guy here.... Went to internet and turned on Hobart at Union last night..... GREAT GAME...
It doesn't get any better!!! And the Tanner Tedesco name... yes, I remember trying to keep up with Jim Tedesco...

Jim Tedisco ,Union'72 all time hoops great, and Tanner Tedesco, current Union point guard, are NOT related but it sure is sweet to hear that name once again on the Garnet PA.

BTW Jim Tedisco, who's a New York State Senator, was in the bleachers rooting for the boys Saturday.   

[mhm0417]

Old old RPI guy here.... Went to internet and turned on Hobart at Union last night..... GREAT GAME...
It doesn't get any better!!! And the Tanner Tedesco name... yes, I remember trying to keep up with Jim Tedesco...

Jim Tedisco ,Union'72 all time hoops great, and Tanner Tedesco, current Union point guard, are NOT related but it sure is sweet to hear that name once again on the Garnet PA.

BTW Jim Tedisco, who's a New York State Senator, was in the bleachers rooting for the boys Saturday.   

Tedisco played ball?  That's neat - I met him one time when I worked at a local newspaper and he came up for a meet and greet.

[stlawus]

It's going to be all chalk with both home teams winning.  After all the dust settles it's still the 1 and 2 seed playing for the title.   RPI is out out the pool C picture, so will be a 1 bid league.

Very sour note for the SLU seniors to end their careers on.  The SLU defense has significantly raised their floor post covid, but the offensive identity needs to be drastically overhauled.  You cannot keep sacrificing this much on offense just to keep teams under 60.  I don't care about elite D if you can't score the ball.  Anderson and Dudzinski did all they could to lift the offense throughout the year, they just couldn't get enough consistent support so if one or both couldn't get it going the game was over regardless. This is what happens when you can't close out games that should be wins and not have any ability to shoot the ball one game to the next, you barely make the playoffs and have to play on the road. Both Hobart and SLU returned a lot from last year's championship game and neither end up playing on the last day.

It's anyone's game on Sunday as far as I'm concerned.  Ithaca can exploit RPI's packline but they'll have to be practically mistake free.

[IC798891]

Ithaca has played two very different games vs RPI. Will be interesting to see which version shows up Sunday

[stlawus]

I can see the lurking SLU fans in the "viewing topic" section at the top from time to time, so for anyone already looking forward to next year SLU has 3 commits as of now.

Tommy McMahon, 6' PG/SG, Deerfield Academy MA.

Nathan Clay, 6'1" SG, Kimball Union Academy NH.

Daniel Hoey, 6'5" G/F Scarsdale HS NY.

I'm now onto SLU lax, hopefully another great year on the turf.

[thebear]

Tedisco played ball?  That's neat - I met him one time when I worked at a local newspaper and he came up for a meet and greet.
[/quote]

Tedisco was a great basketball player, incredible shooter and very quick off the dribble, Capital District tournament back in the early 70's was a highlight of Small College basketball, great coaches too - Albany coached by Dick Sauers, RPI coached by Bill Kalbaugh, Siena coached by Bill Kirsch, and Union Coached by Gary Walters, who went on to become AD at Princeton.  I believe Hopefan was an asst at RPI in those days.

[stlawus]

Unless there is severe shooting regression in the 2nd half this LL title game might already be curtains.  Ithaca shooting 75% from the field and 80% from three.  The computers have not liked RPI all season and it now seems like that's all coming to fruition in brutal fashion.  Ithaca won't care that this shooting won't carry over to the next game, because this is the one that matters. 

[Caz Bombers]

Bombers win

thaaaaaaa Bombers win

[stlawus]

Ithaca almost chokes away a 21 point lead in under 10 minutes, but still prevails.  Logical decision would be to send them to Hamilton.  That should be a 1st round matchup but they've played this season already so that might play a factor.   Could also end up at Montclair State or NYU, or Drew for that matter I suppose. 

RPI really blew it this year.  You're not going to get a better chance than they did this season.  2 grad students in the starting lineup and some decent experience from last year's squad as well as home court advantage.  I think too many minutes from their starting lineup down the stretch might have played a role.  4 starters with 30+ minutes on average adds up.  21 wins and nothing to show for it when it's all said and done.

[IC798891]

I don't think RPI blew anything. I think Ithaca shot 9-of-12 from three in the first half, and even if you're getting wide-open looks, that's unlikely.

Sometimes teams just get hot and you can't do anything but tip your cap.

I'm curious what the atmosphere was at RPI. It was really subdued at Ithaca for the women's final, and I think the 3 p.m. Sunday start time was to blame. I feel like Sunday afternoon is the time where you're getting ready for the week, and you're sort of asking people to interrupt that. But playing 6/7/8 at night on a Saturday? That's nothing for college students. It's usually the time you're sitting around waiting for something to do.

I am guessing that having it be a Top seeds host tournament, as opposed to a #1 seed hosts everything is driving it. If you don't know where the title game is going to be, there needs to be an off day so teams can arrange travel/hotels. But I think it would be a much better atmosphere if it was held on a Saturday

[stlawus]

Yea idk about that, 21 wins, 5th year experience in the starting lineup, home court, top 5 defense.  That's blowing it in my opinion.

[Bartman]

Yes, RPI blew it, yes Ithaca shooting to start won it. I'm just surprised SLU and Hobart teams didn't play more consistently this year and get into the LL championship. All that said, good luck to Ithaca, you earned your opportunity in the tournament....just keep making those threes.

[d3d3d3]

The All-LL teams have been released:
https://libertyleagueathletics.com/news/2025/3/4/liberty-league-unveils-2024-25-mens-basketball-awards.aspx

[stlawus]

Post covid there has been an increase in parity as well as a more extreme dynamic of the rest of the league gunning for the teams that have had success.  It's hard playing with a target on your back,and teams have not been wearing the target well. Won't be shocked to see it happen to both Ithaca and RPI next year.