'the persuader for The Committee..'

      Down to it- #'s1, #3 ( your PantherExpress), and #7 in the same building. Throw in the Bantams with their highest-in-the-nation s-o-s, at .605, and even the densest on the committee will take note of the outcomes. Sure the NESCAC title is at stake (first things first), but in the NCAA picture, the winner, especially if 'The Boys' can sweep is pretty much guaranteed two home weekends in The Big Dance. It's my take that even with a close loss to Amherst that The Boys will be in front of the Panther faithful next weekend. I see that as the tougher game because of Amherst's balance and personnel, and that even with a 'W' they're not getting home games due to their pattycake home schedule (and an s-o-s of .473). Getting to the title game alone locks up a one-seed for TheBigDance.
  
          My projected other 'one's' are Williams, Va.Wesleyan, presuming they negotiate the difficult ODAC tourney, and UW-Stevens Point (defending champs and playing well right now). The two's would be (in order) Whitworth weak s-o-s), Concordia, then maybe St.Thomas (@ #7), with a logjam between Amherst (weaker s-o-s but a very good team), WPI(ncaa likes them more, but having scouted both them & TheLJN, think their 'O' is too sketchy, they don't have the depth @ G. or the athletes to win that match-up) and Randolph-Macon (who's probably got to get to ODAC title game) or Wooster (shaky last few). Will discuss with Pat Coleman once I'm done here.

           Normally, the Committee wouldn't have two teams from the same conference anchor two brackets, but getting by Amherst and beating TheEphMen on their own floor would be the persuader that the committee needs to conclude that since nobody laid a glove on either of us (when Amherst beat them it was in OT, on the road, and without Whittington), both deserve a shot for a trip to Salem before there is the final rematch. Records and s-o-s dictate at this level, and the air is thin up here, so The Boys have got a lot to be proud of and still much to accomplish. Leakage from Pepin is that TheBigFella (Locke)will be ready for tomorrow's tip. And this time we've got a healthy 'Horse' (Ryan Sharry) to look to  as we've done all year. Add in our now two-seasoned guard duo (Jake and Nolan T.), the consistent 'D' and board work of Ryan Wholey, the explosiveness of Jamal, and the consistent terrific play that Joey Kizel (possible rookie of the year) has added as the third guard, and you can appreciate the position of strength and balance that JeffB. runs the controls from. And the additional bench pieces are solid and all coming on- Jensen (another frosh), Luis Alvarez, Peter Lynch, and Winslow Hicks. A nice neighborhood to be in. Go Pantehrs. From downtown where I used to hoist 'em up from, as opposed to the local pubs where I hoist 'em up now. Be well. #44.