In an NCAA tournament matchup between the America East champions and nationally-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference champions, big-time basketball trumped upstart mid-major hoops. Behind a balanced attack of six players in double figures, No. 6 Duke (29-6) overcame 20 points from D.J. Rivera and defeated Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team (23-9), 86-62. In the Bearcats’ first-ever NCAA appearance, the jersey colors told the story: No. 15 seed Binghamton was green with inexperience while No. 2 seed Duke played like college basketball blue bloods. “The way they came out, and I emphasized it at the half, they’re going to come out with…

Keep it close: The first 10 minutes of Binghamton University’s NCAA tournament game will be the most important. Duke won’t pull a Vermont and let Binghamton come back from 25 points down. As long as the Bearcats stay within double digits of Duke, they keep the pressure on the Blue Devils to make plays. If Binghamton is in the game late, every non-Duke fan in the arena will be rooting for the underdog to pull off the upset. Share the game: Binghamton’s stars sometimes ignored open teammates in the conference tournament because they could overcome double teams better than their…

At times, the America East men’s basketball championship was not pretty. But as Bearcat junior Emanuel Mayben dribbled out the final seconds of Binghamton’s title game win, the result was beautiful to Bearcats Nation: Binghamton would finally be going dancing. Behind senior Reggie Fuller’s 19 points and 10 rebounds, No. 1 Binghamton (23-8) defeated defending champion No. 6 University of Maryland, Baltimore County 61-51 to clinch the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament bid. Fuller, who pulled down the final rebound of the game to seal the win, did it all for the Bearcats on Saturday. In the closing minutes he hit…

2005-06 W-L record: 16-13, 12-4 AE (2nd) Big-name win: vs. Boston University Leading scorer: Andre Heard The Bearcats entered the 2005-06 season coming off a No. 5 finish and semifinal appearance in the 2005 America East tournament. While expectations were high, the team performed miserably out of conference, winning just three of eight and losing the first five games. But when the calendar turned to 2006, the Bearcats exploded for a six-game win streak that culminated in a 61-60 overtime win against longtime tormentor University of Vermont. Binghamton could not find a way to beat the regular season champ University…

During the America East men’s basketball tournament, a Binghamton fan held up a sign reading “AE Tourney: Rivera’s Revenge.” That sign was a response to Friday’s conference awards ceremony banquet, in which the league’s leading scorer, D.J. Rivera, was picked to the all-conference second team. Many thought Rivera was the frontrunner for Player of the Year and would at least be a lock for the first team. Instead, Marqus Blakely was named the Player of the Year for the second season in a row. According to America East commissioner Patrick Nero, some conference coaches snubbed Rivera with their all-conference votes…

The smell of upsets was in the air on Saturday at the America East men’s basketball tournament. First, No. 2 Vermont went down. Then, No. 3 Boston University was upset by UMBC. When it was the Bearcats’ turn, they faced a Hartford squad that had reached the championship game the year before. Behind Malik Alvin’s 29 points, the No. 1 seed Bearcats (22-8, 13-3 AE) avoided an upset against No. 9 Hartford (7-26, 2-14 AE). Down 13 at the half, the Hawks had a 7-0 run to start the second period, bringing the score to 35-29. But the Bearcats countered…

Center: Boston University: Jeff Pelage is an intriguing player with potential down the road. He had 10 points and 12 rebounds against Maine, but in a postseason situation he might not see big minutes. UMBC: Justin Fry is a solid center who can score and block shots. The Retrievers play well when he plays well, but he is returning from an injury and could be rusty. Advantage: UMBC Forwards: Boston University: Scott Brittain is an underrated player who can score big when given playing time. Freshman Jake O’Brien stretches defenses with his 3-point shooting and is an excellent foul shooter.…

Boston University is in a familiar place for the America East tournament. For the third time in four years, the Terriers are the No. 3 seed, and this time they will face No. 6 University of Maryland Baltimore County in the quarterfinals. Both teams are short on depth and high on talent, but they approach the game in different ways. The Terriers are tops in the AE in field goal percentage defense while the Retrievers rank last. UMBC, the defending conference champion, has two All-Conference performers in point guard Jay Greene and forward Darryl Proctor. Boston counters them with two…

The legacy of Hank Gathers doesn’t just hang over Binghamton’s star guard D.J. Rivera. It drapes over him, inviting comparisons at every turn of his basketball career. Gathers, Rivera’s uncle, was an All-American forward out of Philadelphia who starred at Loyola Marymount University from 1986-90. Gathers led the country in scoring and rebounding during his junior year; Rivera is first in scoring and eighth in rebounding in the America East conference. Gathers wore No. 44, and his nephew wore 44 in high school to honor him. Gathers, a righty, was famous for shooting free throws with his left hand; Rivera,…

Brian Connelly’s mop-top blond hair and surfer appearance suggest that his game is California flash. Looks can be deceiving. The 6-foot-8-inch Albany senior forward’s game is decidedly New Jersey blue collar, with an emphasis on substance over style. Connelly’s two NCAA appearances speak louder than his statistics (8.1 points per game, 4.7 rebounds). The latter suggest he is a role player, but the former underscore the importance of such players on championship squads. “It’s every athlete’s dream to go to the NCAA tournament. I was able to go twice,” Connelly said. “Every time you turn on the TV everyone’s crazy…

During the Binghamton University men’s basketball team’s seven-game winning streak, junior guards D.J. Rivera and Emanuel Mayben have made an entire career’s worth of clutch plays. On Sunday, each hit a big 3-pointer at the end of regulation to add to their resumes. Rivera and Mayben’s heroics sent Binghamton (19-8, 12-3 AE) to overtime against New Hampshire (11-15, 6-8 AE), and the Bearcats hit enough free throws to complete a stunning comeback and win, 70-69. New Hampshire led 64-58 with less than two minutes remaining when Rivera hit a contested 3-pointer to pull Binghamton within three. UNH guard Tyrece Gibbs…

With Binghamton’s win over Hartford and Boston University’s loss to Stony Brook on Wednesday, the Bearcats are now assured a first- or second-place finish in the America East. But depending on their win/loss record over the next two games, these are the scenarios that could occur: 1. If the Bearcats win both of their final regular season games (against New Hampshire and UMBC), Binghamton will win the AE regular season title, a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and a guaranteed bid to the National Invitational Tournament should it falter in the AE tournament. 2. If the Bearcats go…

For the third time in the last four games, junior Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben made a clutch play to win the game for Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team. This time, he did not even shoot the ball when it mattered most. Instead, with 34 seconds remaining, Mayben found sophomore Chretien Lukusa on a back-door pass for a layup, the final basket in Binghamton’s 60-59 win over host Boston University (14-11, 9-4 AE). The win propelled Binghamton (17-8, 10-3 AE) into first place in the America East and relegated the Terriers to third place. By virtue of two head-to-head wins over Vermont,…

The America East race for the regular season title has come down to three teams and two games. The teams are the University of Vermont, Boston University and Binghamton University. Tomorrow’s game between the Terriers and the Bearcats gives Binghamton the opportunity to take first place. It will arguably be Binghamton’s most important regular-season game since it moved to Division I. Clearly the “battle of the BUs” is a huge game filled with intrigue. But for the Terriers, another game was more important. A Boston University loss to Vermont on Wednesday may have ended Boston’s hunt for the regular season…

Junior Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben couldn’t have looked more different than the 31-point, 3-point bomber he was against Vermont last week. But even though he played the part of a pass-first point guard against the Stony Brook Seawolves, the result was the same: in crunch time, he proved again to be a clutch performer. Behind Mayben’s game-winning basket with 3.8 seconds remaining in overtime, Binghamton University men’s basketball team (15-8, 8-3 AE) survived a thriller against Stony Brook (13-11, 5-6 AE), 63-61. The Bearcats looked dead in the water after Stony Brook’s Demetrius Young scored a layup to put the Seawolves…

In the coming week, Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team will have the opportunity to take over first place in the America East conference. But before the Bearcats (14-8, 7-3 AE) can take on conference powers Albany and Boston University, the Bearcats will have to avoid looking past pesky Stony Brook (13-10, 5-5 AE) tomorrow at 4 p.m. in a televised game. The Seawolves, the league’s most improved team from a year ago, sit in fifth place in the league. Last season they finished in last place at 3-13 in America East play and graduated most of their impact players. But…

At the press conference following the Binghamton University men’s basketball team’s win against Maine, Binghamton head coach Kevin Broadus was asked about the importance of tomorrow’s game at league-leading Vermont. “You all know the importance. We’re playing for first place,” Broadus said. He then walked out of the media room, careful not to say anything to motivate the Catamounts. Vermont (16-6, 7-2 AE) is already looking for revenge, having dropped its conference opener to Binghamton (13-8, 6-3 AE) in an overtime thriller at the Events Center on Jan. 8. The red-hot Catamounts, who have won seven straight games, are coming…

Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team outplayed expectations in the first half of the America East season. As the players and coaches prepare to meet each conference team for the second time, Binghamton (12-8, 5-3 AE) will start the semester with a rematch against the University of Maine (8-13, 3-5 AE) tomorrow afternoon at the Events Center. The Black Bears are in a three-way tie for sixth place, but have shown flashes of impressive play, including a win over Albany. “Maine is a good team,” said head coach Kevin Broadus. “They are up and coming and they are big and physical.…

One of the many questions surrounding the Binghamton University men’s basketball team after a whirlwind offseason was: Who will be Binghamton’s leader? In the early season, it was head coach Kevin Broadus. When Pipe Dream visited a preseason practice, the only voices heard in the gym were those of Broadus and his staff. He spent most of practice barking orders at his team, seeking more effort during drills and sprints. I looked next to the Events Center, to the men’s soccer team practice, and thought about the contrast in styles. Head coach Paul Marco’s players always demand responsibility for each…

On Saturday, the Binghamton University men’s basketball team earned its first win over a Big East team. Tonight, the Bearcats (4-2) will put their three-game win streak on the line against a perennial NCAA tournament team, the Bucknell Bison (1-6). College basketball fans may remember Bucknell for its 64-63 victory over Kansas in the 2005 NCAA tournament. However, all of the players on that Bison team have since graduated, and then-head coach Pat Flannery retired after last season. Though first-year coach Dave Paulsen is 1-6 so far, the Bison have played a tough early schedule that included Maryland and Wake…

In his first game back from suspension over a shoplifting incident, junior guard Malik Alvin lifted the Binghamton University men’s basketball team with his shooting, defense and clutch plays. Behind Alvin’s 14 points, the Bearcats (2-2) defeated Utah Valley University (4-1), 73-66, on Saturday at the Events Center. With Binghamton clinging to a two-point lead with 1:26 remaining in the game, Alvin drained a 3-pointer to put Binghamton up five. On the next defensive possession, he blocked a Wolverine 3-pointer and regained possession of the ball. Alvin also hit four free throws in the last 30 seconds to help the…

Bearcat fans got a sneak preview of the Binghamton University men’s basketball season when the Bearcats trounced Buffalo State last week. Friday night at the Events Center, BU toppled the Division III Bengals, 102-64, in an exhibition game. Junior transfer D.J. Rivera led Binghamton with 21 points, and thrilled the crowd with some impressive dunks and hustle plays. Senior center Jaan Montgomery was a force in his time on the floor, scoring 11 points and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes. In one sequence in the first half, Montgomery blocked two Bengal shot attempts on defense, and then ran the…

Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team went 6-11-1 and missed the playoffs in 2002, coach Paul Marco’s first season. In every season since then, a span of a conference record six-straight years, the Bearcats have reached the America East title game. On Wednesday, No. 3 Binghamton (12-5-3) defeated No. 2 Albany (12-4-3) 1-0 in double overtime to advance to the finals and set the record for consecutive title game appearances. In the latest instance of the Bearcats’ playoff magic under Marco, senior Cameron Keith scored the game winner in sudden death overtime. In the 101st minute, just moments after the second…

At practice on Tuesday, Binghamton University’s men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus unleashed a harsh verbal tirade on his players over a perceived lack of effort in suicide sprints. He looked over at his pastor, who was watching him run practice, and smiled. “Sorry, Father,” Broadus said, “but this is my church.” The Church of Kevin Broadus could not look more different than the Bearcats of two years ago. Headed into the 2008-09 season, Binghamton, picked fifth in the America East preseason coaches poll, has nine new players on its 16-player roster, and seven of them are transfers. There’s junior Emanuel…

When he was selecting a second captain to pair with senior Reggie Fuller, Binghamton University’s men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus had some obvious options. He could choose a senior who had been in the program for four years, such as Jaan Montgomery or Dwayne Jackson, or a big name transfer who would lead the Bearcats on the court, such as Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben or D.J. Rivera. Instead, Broadus named walk-on Dave Fine, an unheralded junior guard who transferred from Jacksonville University, a captain for the upcoming season. The decision caught Fine off guard and also surprised Binghamton fans, who knew…

After an impressive quarterfinals game, the Bearcats head to the semifinals. Having dismantled No. 6 New Hampshire on Saturday, the No. 3-seeded Binghamton University men’s soccer team travels to No. 2 Albany for the America East semifinals tomorrow at 1 p.m. Binghamton is 4-0-1 against Albany in the last five games of the series, including a 3-0 road victory this season. The Bearcats are hoping that their recent dominance over the Great Danes will hold in the postseason. “We beat them, 3-0, earlier in the season, but it’s a totally different game in a semifinal,” said Darren McAllister. “They’ll come…

Bearcats fans were treated to an unexpected show on Saturday as the Binghamton University men’s soccer team played one of its highest-scoring games of the year. No. 3 seed Binghamton University (11-5-3) defeated No. 6 New Hampshire (7-7-4), 3-1, in the America East quarterfinals and will travel to No. 2 Albany tomorrow for the semifinals. All four of the game’s goals came in a wild 16-minute stretch in the first half. Those 16 minutes were all about junior Cameron Keith, Binghamton’s leading scorer, who scored one and assisted two Bearcats goals. Six minutes into the game, Keith shot a rocket…

It is playoff time for the No. 3 seed Binghamton University men’s soccer team (10-5-3, 5-3-0 AE) as No. 6 seed New Hampshire (7-6-4, 2-4-2 AE) visits the Bearcats Sports Complex for the America East Quarterfinal on Saturday. The game will be a rematch of a sloppy regular season game in which Binghamton defeated the Wildcats, 2-0, in pouring rain. Senior Cameron Keith scored both goals for the Bearcats. Throughout most of the night, the weather conditions caused the ball to skip and skid around the turf, which may reduce the value of that game’s scouting report. Still, the Bearcats…

University of New Hampshire’s men’s soccer team will visit the Bearcats Sports Complex tomorrow for the America East Tournament quarterfinals. The question is: Who will show up on the other side of the field? Will it be the experienced Binghamton team that defeated University of Wisconsin-Madison, took University of Maryland to the wire and dominated No. 2 seed Albany? Or will it be the team that dropped 1-0 games to conference bottom feeders UMBC and Maine? Look at it any way you want. At best, the Bearcats lacked a mental edge in key moments. At worst, they’re inconsistent. “That’s definitely…

A No. 2 seed and first round bye in the America East tournament were there for the taking on Sunday, but Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team missed the opportunity with its third straight road loss. In their regular season finale, the Bearcats (10-5-3, 5-3-0 AE) dropped a 1-0 game to eighth-place Maine (5-9-2, 2-5-1 AE), a team that has won only three conference games in the last three years. Despite the loss, Binghamton hung on to the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 New Hampshire in a quarterfinal match on Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex. In the…

As time expired, the scoreboard read 1-0, but that did not indicate the dominance on the field on Wednesday. Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team (10-4-3, 5-2-0 AE) defeated last place Stony Brook (2-12-4, 0-4-3 AE) in the last regular season home game. Binghamton controlled the first half, taking a whopping 13 shots. Seawolves goalie Dawid Ditrich, a 6-foot-7-inch Polish player, withstood the barrage with several stunning saves to keep his team alive. Cameron Keith, Binghamton’s leading scorer, had three outstanding opportunities to score in the first 15 minutes of the match. Ditrich made two spectacular one-on-one saves and Keith missed…

In a critical loss against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County this season, the Binghamton University men’s soccer team hit two goal posts. Last weekend, the goal post was friendlier to the Bearcats. In pouring rain, the Bearcats (9-4-3, 4-2-0 AE) strengthened their playoff position with a 2-0 victory over the University of New Hampshire (6-5-4, 1-4-2 AE) on Saturday. Junior Cameron Keith, who took part in a pre-game Senior Day ceremony, scored a goal in the first half when a teammate’s shot was deflected by a Wildcat defender. Keith, who was on the left side of the goal, shot…

Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team will host Stony Brook (3-10-4, 0-3-3 AE) tomorrow at the Bearcats Sports Complex for the final regular season home game. The Sea Wolves sit at last place in the America East, averaging an anemic 0.53 goals per game. Their defense is not much better, allowing 1.65 goals per game. Still, Stony Brook has played Binghamton hard in the last several years, most notably in the 2005 AE championship game, a 1-1 double overtime tie that the Seawolves won on penalty kicks. Stony Brook showed a glimpse of its potential early this season when it lost…

Bearcats fans who showed up early to Saturday’s men’s soccer game against New Hampshire got a surprise during the pre-game ceremonies. Cameron Keith, the 2007 America East Striker of the Year and Binghamton University’s leading scorer, has been officially listed as a junior the entire season. But Keith, who has a year of NCAA eligibility remaining, took part in Saturday’s Senior Day festivities. He plans to graduate this spring and return to his native Scotland rather than play a third and final year at Binghamton. A variety of factors influenced his decision to leave, including homesickness. “I wasn’t looking to…

The men’s soccer team has faced a considerable setback in its quest to win a third consecutive America East regular season championship. Binghamton University (8-4-3, 3-2-0 AE) lost at UMBC (6-6-2, 1-3-1 AE) 1-0 on Wednesday when Chris Williams headed a ball past Bearcats goalie Jason Stenta for the game’s only goal. In the 65th minute, John Paul Waraska crossed a ball to senior LJ Pijnenburg on the far post. Pijnenburg headed the ball to Williams on the near post, who scored the decisive goal. The Bearcats were the aggressors for much of the match, taking 14 shots to UMBC’s…

After Saturday’s victory over Vermont, Cameron Keith strutted around the field draped in a Scottish flag. Perhaps he should have worn the British flag instead. English-born defender Mark Wood found Keith for a header midway through the second half to lead Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team (8-3-3, 3-1-0 AE) over the University of Vermont (6-3-5, 2-1-1 AE) 1-0. The televised match was the first sellout in Bearcats Sports Complex history, with a record 2,534 fans in the stands. In the 62nd minute, Wood kicked a cross into the middle of the restricted box, where Keith headed the ball past UVM…

In an evenly-played match that looked destined for overtime, the difference came down to experience. Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team (7-3-3, 2-1-0 AE) defeated first-place University of Hartford (7-3-3, 3-1-0 AE), 1-0, on a mistake by Hartford’s freshman goalkeeper, Luke Citriniti. Citriniti, who entered the game with a .22 goals against average, made the starting lineup midway through the season when the junior starter Nenad Cudic sustained an injury. In the 52nd minute, Binghamton junior Kyle Kucharski hit a long cross toward the upper shelf of the goal. Citriniti initially appeared to control the ball, but dropped it in front…

With great rivalries, each team’s performance to date gets thrown out the window when the teams finally meet. That was the case on Saturday when Boston University’s men’s soccer team, which sported a losing record, downed America East rival Binghamton University. The Bearcats (6-3-3, 1-1-0 AE) split a pair of conference games last week, losing 2-0 to the Boston University Terriers (5-5-2, 2-1 AE) after blanking Albany (8-3-0, 2-1-0 AE) 3-0. Against Boston, Binghamton’s biggest rival since joining the America East, the Bearcats were out-shot 21-5 but played solid defense for most of the game. At the 67-minute mark, Boston…

Binghamton University’s men’s basketball head coach Kevin Broadus received his first commitment from the high school class of 2009. Taylor Johnston from West Hill Collegiate Institute in Ontario verbally committed to the Binghamton men’s basketball team two weeks ago. Johnston, a 6-foot-6-inch, 200-pound wing guard also received interest from Nevada, Denver, Radford, Cornell, NJIT and Boston University. Cornell offered him a financial aid package. Johnston said he chose Binghamton because of coach Broadus, assistant coach Mark Macon, the campus and the academics. “Coach Broadus came to see me play in Toronto and liked me,” Johnston said. “I came and saw…

Call it the curse of the goalkeeper. Jason Stenta turned in one of his career-best performances against one of the nation’s top teams, but one botched play by Maryland turned into a goal that nullified his evening’s accomplishments. Behind Matt Kassel’s late goal, No. 4 Maryland Terrapins (7-2-0) downed Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team (5-2-3) 1-0 on Tuesday. After making a career-high 10 saves, Stenta had his team in a scoreless tie and poised to enter overtime. Kassel’s goal came in the 78th minute off a loose ball that was headed by several players in Binghamton’s defensive box. When the…

Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team has eight experienced seniors on its roster. But at the Bearcats’ first home game, it was a pair of freshmen, striker Andy Tiedt and back Ryan Walter, that had the crowd buzzing. Tiedt, who set the New York state goal-scoring record with 62 goals as a high school senior, scored a fantastic header to open up the game’s scoring. “There were a couple of good goals [in high school], there was one in the state finals that was really good, but I don’t think there was anything like this, in front of 1,800 people,” Tiedt…

Senior Ryan Tomko had never scored a goal at the Bearcats Sports Complex. On Friday night he made up for that by scoring perhaps the most spectacular goal yet at the year-old facility. Tomko’s goal propelled the Binghamton University men’s soccer team (4-1-2) to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Bucknell Bison (3-2-2) in the Bearcats’ home opener. Late in the second half, Binghamton clung to a one-goal lead as Bucknell played with increasing confidence. But Tomko, who had scored only one goal in his four years as a Bearcat, wound up from 25 yards out and delivered a rocket…

Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team has the best goals-against-average in the America East Conference. Tonight, the Bearcats will test that defense against one of the best goal-scorers in the country. When Bucknell (3-1-2) visits Binghamton (3-1-2) for the Bearcats’ 2008 home opener, Binghamton will have to contend with junior Chris Hennings, who has scored seven goals in six games. What’s more, Binghamton’s defense will have to contain Hennings without one of its best players, senior Liam Carson, who is out with an ankle injury. “We’re going to have to find a way to make the guys around [Hennings] not get…

The world knows something we don’t know. While Americans continue to ignore futbol, the world’s game, a soccer obsession is growing in the Southern Tier of New York. It is natural that in a country of short attention spans, soccer has not fully caught on. Unlike the American sports of baseball and football, soccer has very little downtime. Fans must stay glued to the action at all times, lest they miss the crucial moment when a team scores a goal. Much of soccer’s 90 minutes are filled with back and forth, free-flowing action. Minutes pass by without significant changes in…

With eight seniors on his roster and the 2007 America East Striker of the Year, Binghamton University’s men’s soccer coach Paul Marco could have recruited players for the distant future. Instead, he recruited Andy Tiedt, one of the best goal-scorers in New York state history. On Sunday, the Bearcats (3-1-2) rode Tiedt’s first collegiate goal to victory over the Big 10’s University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers (4-1-1) 1-0 after tying Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-2-2) 0-0 on Friday. The win over the previously unbeaten Badgers marks the second time in the last two years that BU has defeated a major-conference squad. In 2007, the…

Though their home opener is only a week away, the Bearcats will be experienced travelers by the time they debut in the Bearcats Sports Complex. That’s because the Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team (2-1-1) is traveling to the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tournament this weekend to face Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1-2-1) tonight and Wisconsin-Madison (3-0-1) Sunday afternoon. On Thursday the Bearcats traveled to Syracuse International Airport and flew to Detroit en route to Milwaukee. They will try to ward off exhaustion and try to avoid looking ahead to the home opener. Head coach Paul Marco said he met with his team captains earlier this week…

When Binghamton University routed Colgate 2-0 last season, the Red Raiders’ starting keeper David Cappucio watched from the sideline as his backup let in two goals. Last Friday, Cappucio had his revenge. Cappucio made a fantastic save to turn back a BU penalty kick and preserve a 1-1 tie against Binghamton’s men’s soccer team. The Bearcats then recovered to down Central Arkansas 2-0 on Sunday to finish the Colgate Tournament. In the 55th minute against Colgate (2-0-2), junior striker Cameron Keith was brought down in the restricted area and Binghamton captain Barry Neville took the ensuing penalty kick. But before…

Call it a learning experience. The Binghamton University men’s soccer team won’t start the season undefeated, but at the West Virginia Tournament, it learned what separates a win from a loss: competitive edge. On Sunday the Bearcats (1-1) rebounded from a disappointing 2-1 loss to Duquesne to down the Lafayette Leopards, who days earlier had upset No. 15 West Virginia. On Friday Binghamton fell behind early against Duquesne, who scored a goal in the 23rd minute and controlled the tempo. When the Bearcats tried to bounce back in the second half, the Dukes’ Stefan Lundberg added an insurance goal in…

Last year the Bearcats were unstoppable early on, tearing through the schedule en route to a 5-0 start. The Binghamton University men’s soccer team will try to replicate the feat in 2008, starting with a pair of games at the West Virginia Tournament this weekend. The Bearcats will face Duquesne of the Atlantic 10 in the season opener today at 5 p.m. They then face Lafayette on Sunday at noon. In 2007, Duquesne, a 5-13-3 team, downed the Bearcats 3-1 in the second game of a tournament in Virginia. The loss dragged Binghamton’s RPI rating down for the rest of…

Controversy swirled around the Binghamton University men’s basketball team this summer, and not only because of former center Miladin Kovacevic. Head coach Kevin Broadus’s second recruiting class has people talking — and not just people around the America East Conference. ESPN.com writer Andy Katz wrote about Binghamton’s recruits in a July article in which rival AE coaches said they would not take chances on recruits like Broadus has. In a later ESPN article, writer Andy Glockner questioned Binghamton’s “open-door policy” in a section entitled, “What is Binghamton doing?” For Broadus, however, there is merely excitement at having his talented recruits…

Vermont who? The America East preseason poll is out and the Vermont Catamounts, who defeated the regular season champion Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team in the America East finals, are the favorite. Just don’t tell that to the Bearcats. Having lost only two starters from a 14-6 year, the ‘Cats are confident and experienced. Though Vermont returns most of its key players and a talented Boston University team returns its leading scorers, Binghamton has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the America East. The Bearcats have reached five straight AE championship games, tying a conference record.…

When Binghamton University’s men’s lacrosse team traveled to last-place Hartford on Saturday, it didn’t expect to be in a dogfight late in the game. But the Bearcats (4-7, 2-3 America East) regrouped at halftime, came out on fire in the second half and were able to down the Hawks 10-5, ensuring an America East playoff berth and dooming Hartford (0-13, 0-5) to a winless season. The Bearcats entered the locker room at the half up only 5-4. Nothing was clicking, and a playoff berth was on the line. Head coach Ed Stephenson stressed the fundamentals to his team, rather than…

It has been a season rife with frustration for the Binghamton University men’s lacrosse team. But with three weak teams at the bottom of the America East the Bearcats (3-7, 1-3 AE) still have control of their playoff destiny with one game remaining in the regular season. If Binghamton wins Saturday at Hartford (0-12, 0-4), the Bearcats will return to the four-team AE Championship Tournament for the fifth consecutive year. Hartford, winless on the season, still has an opportunity to make it to the playoffs. Accordingly, the Bearcats aren’t taking the Hawks lightly. “We’re not confident based on the fact…

Down just two goals to No. 12 Maryland-Baltimore County, the Binghamton University men’s lacrosse team was poised to take control of the game. But despite winning momentum heading into the fourth period, the Bearcats (2-5, 0-2 America East) turned the ball over in crucial moments and tired as the Retrievers (7-3, 2-0 AE) pulled away for a 10-5 victory Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Down 6-1 early in the third period, the Bearcats ended the frame on a 3-0 run, which was capped off by an Andy Cook goal off a difficult feed from junior Duncan Streetan. But seemingly…

After a tough week of road games against ranked opponents, Binghamton University’s men’s lacrosse team will finally get a home game. But unfortunately for the Bearcats (2-4, 0-1 America East), the opponent will still be one of the top teams in the country: No. 12 Maryland-Baltimore County (6-3, 1-0). The Retrievers are one of the hottest teams in Division I, with a five-game win streak that includes victories over powers Maryland, Ohio State and Towson. UMBC, following the lead of its basketball team, has become the conference’s team to beat. It is the only AE team with a winning record…

The Binghamton University’s men’s lacrosse team (2-4, 0-1 America East) faced three nationally competitive teams over the break and was unable to score enough goals to stay close with any of them. The Bearcats faced No. 1 Syracuse first in front of more than 5,000 fans at the Carrier Dome on March 22. The Orange took a 6-0 lead before Binghamton could even get on the board with its first goal, scored by sophomore Andy Cook just before halftime. In a running theme for the 0-3 week, the Bearcats took only 20 shots to SU’s 45. “I think it’s more…

At the start of the fourth period against Sacred Heart, the Binghamton University men’s lacrosse team had a win in hand. But the next thing the Bearcats knew, they were fighting to hang on to a paper-thin lead. After withstanding a 5-0 Pioneer run, Binghamton (2-1) downed Sacred Heart 9-8 on Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Binghamton led 9-3 at the beginning of the fourth period. Pioneer attackman Timmy Katz, the nation’s leading scorer, tallied a goal and two assists during the five-goal run. With 36 seconds remaining in the game, Sacred Heart (3-1) came within one goal of…

The No. 1 goalie in the country is about to meet his match: the No. 1 goal scorer in the country. When Sacred Heart (3-0) visits Binghamton’s men’s lacrosse team (1-1) at the Bearcats Sports Complex at 2 p.m. Saturday, Bearcat keeper Larry Kline, who is allowing just 2 goals per game, will try to stop Pioneer attackman Timmy Katz, who scores 3.67 per. Binghamton is the stingiest defense in the country, measured by goals against average and save percentage, but has the second worst offense in Division I, with just 3.5 gpg. Sacred Heart, meanwhile, is third in the…

A week after letting in only three goals against No. 15 Drexel, Binghamton University men’s lacrosse goalie Larry Kline could have been due for a letdown against the Marist Red Foxes. But the senior and his defense, which let in 9.62 goals per game last year, turned in another fantastic performance on Saturday at Marist, allowing just one goal in a 5-1 victory against the Red Foxes (0-2). Jake Boyce scored two goals in the fourth quarter to lead Binghamton (1-1), but everyone was buzzing about Kline, who made 12 saves, including five in the last period. “He’s doing an…

Anyone who was at the 2006 America East tournament in Binghamton remembers Matt Moore, the Vermont fan with the huge afro wig. Pipe Dream reminisced with Moore, a junior at UVM and Catamount fan extraordinaire, in anticipation of the 2008 tournament. PD: In Binghamton, you’re remembered for your afro at the tournament two years ago. Where did the afro come from? MM: It came from a store called Old Gold in Burlington. It is the one-stop-shop for party wigs, pimp suits and other retro stuff in Vermont. I bought it just before I went down to Binghamton. PD: Is there…

Who says the America East is no fun? America Least, a blog that pokes fun at the America East and its teams, has caused quite a stir in its inaugural season. Pipe Dream sat down with America Least creator Drake Tungsten, who used a voice transformer and wore a KFC bucket on his head to retain his anonymity. You can read his blog at AmericaLeast.blogspot.com. PD: What is America Least? AL: America Least is truth and justice, with little truth and no justice, if I had to put it my way. I think it serves as a place where you…

Centers: Hartford: 6-foot-6-inch Citadel transfer Warren McLendon is the Hawks’ best post player, with averages of 12.1 points and five rebounds. McLendon, a physical presence on both ends of the floor, tends to find himself in foul trouble, which could spell trouble for Hartford, a team thin at the center spot. New Hampshire: Freshman Dane Diliegro is a strong, physical presence on the glass and on defense, but lacks a soft touch near the basket and has only scored in double figures once. Fellow frosh James Valladares has seen increased playing time late in the season. Advantage: Hartford Forwards: Hartford:…

All season long, the feeling around the America East was that the true prize for the middle-of-the-pack teams was the No. 2 seed. When the Hartford Hawks (16-15, 10-6 AE) upset No. 1 UMBC in the regular season finale, second-year head coach Dan Leibovitz’s overachieving squad clinched the “prize” after being picked to finish sixth. Their reward? A date with No. 7 New Hampshire (9-19, 6-10 AE), the league’s most unpredictable and potentially dangerous team. “We can’t say that because we’re seeded two and they’re seven, that we’ll win,” Leibovitz said. “The teams in this tournament are just so even…

Binghamton University’s men’s lacrosse team had the ball with one minute left in the match. Head coach Ed Stephenson called a timeout, drew up a play and Binghamton took the field trailing the nationally-ranked, Drexel Dragons, 3-2. But Drexel’s defense, which had played physically all match, harassed Bearcats attackman Chris Mulheron into rushing his pass, intended for marksman midfielder Steve Carlson to score the tying goal. Mulheron’s pass was intercepted and the Dragons (3-1) ran out the clock, ending Binghamton’s first match of the season and its first ever at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Drexel moved up from No. 15…

Even though Binghamton University’s men’s lacrosse team travels to No. 5 Cornell for a road game today, the Bearcats are hoping their home field will have them prepared. You read correctly. For the first time in program history, the Bearcats have a true home field: the Bearcat Sports Complex. In years past, while almost every Division I lacrosse team trained on turf in the winter, the Bearcats were forced into a small gym until just before the season opener. Now, Binghamton has been able to train for weeks on shiny new turf. The Bearcats are hoping their early practices will…

For years, head coach Ed Stephenson’s men’s lacrosse team has hung with the best teams in the country. But, despite two top 10 wins and a recent national ranking, the Bearcats have not been able to get over the hump and reach the NCAA tournament. But with most contributors from 2007 returning, and a blue chip recruiting class, Binghamton is now hoping to win a championship in the increasingly tough America East conference. In the past three years, the Bearcats have had nine freshmen named to the America East All-Rookie Team — more than any other team. This year, Stephenson…

Considering that three of Maine’s top players were out due to injuries, how much stock can we put in Binghamton University’s 80-55 rout of the Black Bears on Sunday? Truthfully, not much. Maine is hurting badly right now, as one of only two America East teams to lose to Stony Brook. But one thing is clear after Sunday’s game: Dwayne Jackson is ready to make his mark in the postseason. Jackson shot 11-15 from the field including 3-3 from behind the arc to lead the Bearcats with a career high 26 points. Everyone, including Kevin Broadus, knows Jackson can score,…

Looking across the gym at Binghamton University men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus, I could imagine what he was probably thinking. “Just wait until I’m through with him.” That’s because between Broadus and I, on the Broome Community College basketball court, his future point guard had just fouled out with 3:30 remaining in a close game. On Dec. 15, Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben, a highly touted Binghamton recruit, visited BCC with Hudson Valley Community College, his current team. Hudson Valley, which is currently ranked No. 1 nationally among Division III junior colleges, went on to finish BCC off for a 97-87 victory.…

Don’t let the 73-68 score of Binghamton University’s loss to Cornell fool you. Despite the score and an early 9-0 run, the game was never in much doubt for the Big Red. Cornell countered every Binghamton run in the second half. Having made the trip to Ithaca, I have a sense of why the Bearcats couldn’t get settled: After scoring eight points in the first three minutes, Lazar Trifunovic was absolutely suffocated by Cornell’s defense. The Red used a 1-3-1 zone to force Trifunovic away from the basket and towards the corners, where they double-teamed him when he received an…

The good news? The America East sent an at-large team to the NCAA soccer cup. The horrible, disdainful, bang-your-head-against-the-wall news? That team was Boston University, not Binghamton University. Yes, you read correctly. To understand the magnitude of the egregious snub by the NCAA selection committee, take a look at a side-by-side comparison of the two teams. Overall record Binghamton: 14-6, 5-3 AE Boston: 9-6-4, 3-2-3 AE America East regular season Binghamton: Champions, No. 1 seed Boston: No. 3 seed America East playoffs Binghamton: Runner-up, championship game appearance Boston: Loss in the quarterfinals to No. 6 seed UNH. No wins Key…

Binghamton University’s men’s soccer had a dominant offense and home field advantage. Vermont had the conference’s best defense and a six-game shutout streak. Something had to give. On Saturday, No. 2 Vermont downed No. 1 Binghamton 1-0 in the America East Championship match, redeeming last year’s title game loss and propelling the Catamounts to the AE’s automatic NCAA tournament berth. Twenty minutes into the rematch of the 2006 championship, Vermont junior Jordan Crasilneck hit a pass from Tyler Hasman past Bearcats keeper Jason Stenta for the game’s only goal. Stenta made seven saves, but the only shot that got by…

The new era has begun. New Binghamton University men’s basketball head coach Kevin Broadus won his home opener in style on Wednesday night, downing the Quinnipiac Bobcats 88-75 behind terrific offensive performances from the starting five. The changes on the sidelines were obvious, as Broadus’ on-court demeanor and substitution patterns were markedly different than those of the previous regime. By the numbers, the 2007-2008 Bearcats look an awful lot like the 2006-2007 Bearcats. Both squads scored a lot of points and let up a ton as well. But there are underlying differences in the offensive and defensive philosophies of Al…

For the Binghamton University men’s soccer team, the America East championship is in sight. There’s just one problem — Vermont, Binghamton’s biggest rival, stands in the way. And for the two teams that met in last year’s America East final, there’s bad blood. On Saturday at 7 p.m., the Bearcats, in a rematch of the 2006 title game, will host the Catamounts with the 2007 AE crown on the line. “Vermont will cause us some problems in that they’re hard, they’re competitive [and] they’re pissed off at us for various reasons,” said Bearcat coach Paul Marco. “They’re bringing their ‘A’…

Milos Klimovic: Klimovic is a JUCO transfer forward who originally committed to Conference USA’s Houston and was recruited by Big East schools. The latest Bearcat import from Eastern Europe, he is a big-time 3-point shooter who can hit from NBA distance. Klimovic is a gunner who will likely have the green light to shoot from anywhere in the half-court. He could start from day one. NBA Comparison: Peja Stojakovic Stat: 23 Klimovic was one Bearcat who came up big in Monday night’s opener against St. Bonaventure, scoring a team-high 23 points, while shooting 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. If the…

College basketball can be a volatile environment. Last season, only Binghamton University’s Al Walker was fired from the America East, but this season other coaches may not be so lucky. Here’s a look at which coaches might be getting the ax this season: Mike Lonergan, University of Vermont: 10; Will Brown, University at Albany: 10 Both coaches have been phenomenally successful lately. They each parlayed their 2006-2007 seasons into contract extensions by interviewing for other coaching jobs. As both UVM and UA are expected to contend for the next few years, both coaches will likely have more job offers calling.…

Ready for the Bingo offense? Designed by former Princeton coach Pete Carril, the Princeton offense powered the Tigers to several NCAA appearances and upsets over high-profile basketball teams. The offense was designed to let nerdy, non-scholarship Ivy Leaguers beat the big boys with their brainy style of play. Georgetown coach John Thompson III coached at Princeton before GU, and he brought a variant of the offense with him. Because his Hoyas were so tall, strong and athletic, Thompson modified the offense to allow his athletes some freedom. Known as the “Princeton on Steroids,” Thompson’s modified offense propelled Georgetown to the…

Team: Vermont Names you know: Mike Trimboli, Kyle Cieplicki Names you should know: Marqus Blakely, Colin McIntosh Has: Big-game experience Needs: Depth Non-conference game to watch: At Florida, Nov. 30 Team: Albany Names you know: Brian Lillis, Brent Wilson Names you should know: Brett Gifford, Jerel Hastings Has: Depth, size Needs: Go-to scorer Non-conference game to watch: At Duke, Dec. 17 Team: UMBC Names you know: Jay Greene, Brian Hodges Names you should know: Ray Barbosa, Darryl Proctor, Cavell Johnson Has: Scorers Needs: Defenders Non-conference game to watch: At Ohio State, Dec. 29 Team: Hartford Names you know: Joe Zeglinski,…

Penalty kicks are the ultimate equalizer. They can send a talented team home for a long offseason after a tough-fought 110 minutes. They can also turn a freshman keeper into a local hero. Just ask Jason Stenta. Last year the wide-eyed freshman keeper made a leaping save in the playoffs to help Binghamton University down rival Boston University. This year, Stenta is a hardened veteran who is more confident heading into a potential PK situation. “Going into PKs, we’re confident scoring them, and I’m confident going out there trying to make a save,” said Stenta. “Hopefully I can stop one,…

The America East handed out its men’s soccer awards yesterday, but Pipe Dream had a couple of its own selections: Striker of the Year: Cameron Keith, sophomore, Binghamton University Simply put, Keith was unreal when he stepped on the pitch in his debut season. Despite playing in only 14 games because of injury, the Scottish-born striker scored 10 goals and added two assists. He saved his best performances for the biggest stages: at home against AE rival Boston he scored twice, and against Cornell he scored his first of two hat tricks. To put his statistics in perspective, consider this:…

After winning all of its 2007 home games, the Binghamton men’s soccer team has a new challenge: win an America East game on the road. The Bearcats (12-4-0, 4-2-0 AE) have lost both AE road games so far, but can win the regular season championship with two road wins. But for Binghamton, the two remaining games will be no walk in the park: the Bearcats must defeat 2006 runner-up Vermont and perennial contender Stony Brook. On Wednesday, Binghamton heads to Vermont for a 2 p.m. rematch of the 2006 AE title game. The Catamounts (5-9-2, 2-2-2 AE) were picked to…

Tiki Mayben was supposed to be a household name at this point in his collegiate career. But last Monday, Emmanuel “Tiki” Mayben, formerly a nationally coveted Syracuse point guard recruit, gave an oral commitment to Kevin Broadus’ Binghamton Bearcats for the 2008-2009 basketball season. Should he suit up for the Bearcats, Mayben will have two years of eligibility remaining. Mayben’s passage to Binghamton — if it happens — will be the culmination of a long, rocky journey that has been seemingly derailed at every twist and turn. Mayben’s story has become more legendary than his considerable talent. His is the…

Behind a Scottish striker and playing in a brand new stadium, Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team is in the driver’s seat for America East playoff positioning. Buoyed by another stellar performance by sophomore Cameron Keith and a large crowd at the Bearcats Sports Complex, the Bearcats (12-4-0, 4-2-0 AE) swept their regular-season home slate by downing Albany (2-10-3, 1-3-2 AE) in a 3-0 shutout. With the win, Binghamton sits in first place in the AE. Keith, a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, scored the first goal of the game when teammate Kyle Kucharski beat Albany defender Milos Jankovic to the ball.…

The Bearcats have forgotten how to win outside the cozy confines of Vestal. The Binghamton University men’s soccer team (12-5-0, 4-3-0 AE) dropped another America East road contest against Vermont (5-9-2, 3-2-2 AE) Wednesday, bringing its road record in the America East to 0-3. Vermont, aided by a strong first-half wind, scored on its first two shots and held off Binghamton for the remaining 78 minutes to down the Bearcats 2-0. Just three minutes into the match, Tyler Hasman cleared a ball which sailed over Binghamton’s defenders’ heads deep into Bearcat territory. Jordan Crasilneck took a shot that hit the…

The NCAA released its first RPI rankings of the 2007 men’s college soccer season on Monday. Binghamton is ranked No. 27 in the computer formula, which uses team record and strength of schedule to help the NCAA committee determine who gets invited to the NCAA soccer championship tournament Forty-eight teams make the cut. There are 22 conferences and each one has an automatic bid, meaning the winner of the conference championship gets an automatic invitation to the tournament. That leaves 26 at-large berths, which are determined by the selection committee. Remember, Binghamton sits at No. 27. However, many of the…

There’s no place like home, especially when home is a multimillion-dollar stadium filled with soccer fans. On Saturday evening, Binghamton’s men’s soccer team (10-3-0, 2-1-0 AE) will count on its home field advantage in a league contest against Maine (3-9-1, 1-2-1 AE). Just how pronounced is Binghamton’s home field advantage? In the new Bearcats Sports Complex, the team is a perfect 4-0. At the BSC, Binghamton has scored eight goals and allowed only one. Away, the Bearcats are 6-3, having scored nine and allowing seven. And in a streak dating back to 2005, Binghamton has not lost in its last…

The fans that watched Binghamton’s men’s soccer team (10-3-0) battle Colgate (6-4-2) on Tuesday got a serious case of déjà vu. BU senior Matt Narode scored two nearly identical first-half goals to down the visiting Raiders 2-0 at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Just minutes into the game, junior Darren McAllister took a hard shot from outside the box. Colgate keeper Matt Barton left the goal to make the save and barreled over junior Ryan Tomko in the process. But Barton couldn’t hold onto the ball and Matt Narode scored on the deflection. “I thought it was a 50-50 ball, but…

After a bad loss at Hartford on Saturday, the Binghamton University men’s soccer team (9-3-0, 2-1 America East) is looking to get back on track tonight in a midweek match against Colgate (6-3-2). However, this out-of-conference match is no tune-up: both teams sit atop their respective conference standings and upstate New York bragging rights are on the line. The Bearcats are seeking to avenge a 2006 loss to the Raiders in Hamilton. Despite outshooting Colgate 16-11, Binghamton could not produce a goal and lost 1-0 after letting in a second half shot. However, this time around Binghamton will have its…

In the first midweek game of the 2007 season, Binghamton’s men’s soccer (8-2-0, 1-0-0 AE) will host UMBC (5-3-2, 1-0-0 AE) on Wednesday night. Though UMBC was picked to finish seventh in the America East preseason poll, the Retrievers have exceeded expectations thus far. UMBC downed Stony Brook 4-0 in its first AE contest. Andrew Gillis has scored three goals and one assist in the past two games. Goalie Steven King has a .68 goals-against-average, second in the AE to Binghamton keeper Jason Stenta. Both Binghamton and UMBC are physical, defensive teams. The Bearcats and Retrievers have each scored 13…

How could Cameron Keith possibly top his three-goal outburst against Cornell? By following it up with an equalizer and overtime game winner against Binghamton University’s biggest rival, the sophomore from Scotland again played the hero at the new Bearcat Sports Complex. Behind Keith’s two goals, Binghamton’s men’s soccer team (8-2, 1-0 AE) overcame a 1-0 deficit to down the visiting Boston University Terriers (5-5, 0-1 AE) 2-1 in front of 1,782 fans. With 16 seconds remaining in sudden-death overtime, Keith found the back of the net after a scrum in front of the goal. Terrier goalkeeper Hrafn Davidsson couldn’t handle…

The $4.2 million stage was set. The bright lights were turned on. And as a record audience of 1,862 attended opening night, a star was born. Newcomer Cameron Keith, a sophomore forward from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, scored the first hat-trick in Binghamton’s D-I history, propelling the Binghamton men’s soccer team (7-2) to a 3-0 shutout of regional foe Cornell (5-3). Keith scored his final two goals in a span of two minutes to complete the hat trick with less than 10 minutes remaining in Saturday’s home opener for the Bearcats. After Keith scored his third goal, the crowd showered the striker…

While most of Binghamton University went home for a relaxing long weekend, the men’s soccer team was busy learning — learning the tough lesson that winning streaks are meant to be broken. After dropping a 1-0 heartbreaker to Richmond (3-3-0) on Friday, the Bearcats (5-2-0) fell to Duquesne (1-3-1) by a score of 3-1 the next day. With seconds remaining in the first sudden death overtime period Friday, Binghamton fouled Richmond near the goal. The resulting free kick resulted in a header from Spider sophomore Jake Russel, which slipped past BU goalie Jason Stenta for the win. The teams were…

If Yusuf Yusuf, Binghamton’s lone goal-scorer this weekend, seems familiar to BU soccer fans, that’s because he plays like graduated midfielder Ibrahim Yusuf — his brother. “They’re both left-footed, athletic and offensive-minded,” said head coach Paul Marco. “I think (Yusuf) will have a bright career for us.” “Plays like him, talks like him,” added captain Barry Neville. Ibrahim disagrees. “Funny enough, he’s very humble. He’s far from me when it comes to talking trash on the field,” Ibrahim said. But who is the better soccer player? “It’s debatable,” Ibrahim said. “He’s starting off a lot better than I did, but…

Two hundred ninety four days. That’s how long it had been since Binghamton’s men’s soccer team ended its 2006 season in an NCAA loss to Harvard. The layoff didn’t appear to affect the defending AE champion Bearcats (2-0-0), who rolled through the Radford Highlander Classic this weekend en route to a No. 5 spot in the Northeast regional NSCAA rankings. By defeating host Radford (1-1-0) and No. 30 Winthrop (1-1-0) by 1-0 scores, the team also earned votes in the College Soccer News National Poll. Headed into the weekend, Binghamton had questions about its offense because of last graduated players.…

It’s early in the college soccer season, but the Binghamton men’s soccer team (2-0-0) already has a winning streak to protect. The Bearcats will head to the Pittsburgh Invitational Tournament to face Robert Morris (3-0-0) at 5 p.m. today and will host Pittsburgh (0-2-1) on Sunday. The Colonials and Panthers squared off this past Tuesday, giving Binghamton coach Paul Marco the rare opportunity to watch his next two opponents play each other. Robert Morris defeated Pittsburgh 3-1 as senior Jacek Przednowek scored twice. Przednowek and freshman Neil Shaffer have both scored three goals and have one assist on the season.…

Five things to know about Binghamton men’s basketball: 1. Kevin Broadus Broadus, the Bearcats’ new head coach, has proved himself as a winner in his assistant coaching jobs. Broadus came to Binghamton from Georgetown, which reached the Final Four days before his Binghamton hiring was announced. Prior to his stint with the Hoyas, Broadus was an assistant at George Washington. True to his reputation as an ace recruiter, he helped land NBA forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu at GW and McDonald’s All Americans Dejuan Summers and Vernon Macklin at Georgetown. 2. New recruits One of Broadus’ first tasks this spring was to…

Ever since the departure of Towson, Delaware, Drexel and Hofstra following the 2001 season, America East men’s lacrosse has been fighting for respect. After waiting for six years and adding three SUNY schools, the AE will send two teams to the 2007 NCAA tournament. The conference, a historically strong lacrosse league, hasn’t had two NCAA teams since the Seawolves, Bearcats and Great Danes replaced the Tigers, Blue Hens, Dragons and Pride in ’01. AE champion Albany received a No. 5 seed and a first-round home game against Loyola (7-5). The surprisingly good news for the conference didn’t end there. No.…

Westervelt and Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe and Westervelt. Binghamton saw just too much of UMBC’s two attackmen on Thursday at the America East lacrosse semifinals in Albany. Senior Drew Westervelt and freshman Cayle Ratcliffe combined to score nine goals and two assists, and No. 2 seed UMBC (10-4, 5-1 AE) toppled No. 3 Binghamton (4-9, 3-3 AE) 11-7 en route to the AE championship game. The Bearcats went on a three-goal run in the fourth period to bring the score to 7-6. However, UMBC senior attack Andy Gallagher scored two to put the finishing touch on the game, as well as Binghamton’s…

Once again, the youth movement on the men’s lacrosse team was noticed around the America East. At the conference awards banquet on Wednesday evening, freshman midfielder Steve Carlson and senior defender Tom Wilmot were named first-team all-conference. Carlson, the only freshman on the all-conference teams, was named the AE Rookie of the Year. Carlson made an immediate impact on the offense as the long-range shooting threat that Binghamton desperately needed in the 2006 season. “Carlson’s a freaking sniper,” said sophomore attack Jake Boyce. “He’s changed a lot in how we run the midfield. He the reason we came back against…

With a men’s lacrosse team dominated by young talent in the freshman and sophomore classes, Senior Day didn’t figure to be a senior-led affair. But in their last career home game, the seniors proved that their leadership should not go overlooked. Defender Tom Wilmot led the charge against the No. 6 Danes, causing several turnovers with stick checks and body checks. Wilmot also showed rare agility and speed for a big man, single-handedly taking two long clears to the offensive end. Midfielder Jeff Santucci had scored only four goals all season, but on Saturday he scored two decisive goals, including…

Binghamton’s men’s lacrosse team waited for the storm to arrive. Up four goals in the second period and facing the nation’s No. 6 team, the Bearcats knew Albany would eventually battle back. And after withstanding several Great Dane scoring sprees, Binghamton pulled the upset, topping Albany 9-8 on Senior Day. With the Bearcats (4-8, 3-2 AE) up 8-7 goal with a minute and a half left, Albany freshman defender Brendan Gleason committed a costly slashing penalty. In the ensuing man-down possession, the Danes tried to pressure Binghamton into a turnover, forcing Albany goalie Dan McKeon to leave the goal and…

What’s the No. 1 reason students should skip Spring Fling for Saturday’s lacrosse game? “We really have been playing good lacrosse. If people want to see a great lacrosse game between good teams, this game is for them.” — Ed Stephenson, head coach. “Albany’s the No. 6 team in the country, our big school rival. It’s a chance to get away from the festivities for a few hours to show some school spirit and help us knock them down.” — Chris Mulheron, sophomore attack. “Tom Wilmot can hit as hard, or harder, than any Division I football player. Albany is…

Tomorrow the men’s lacrosse team will try to honor its seniors in the most dramatic way possible: an upset bid over rival Albany. No. 6 Albany (12-1, 4-0 AE) is the highest ranked team to visit BU in any sport. Binghamton (3-8, 2-2 AE), a team that has only recently begun to hit its stride, will seek to end its rival’s undefeated season. Albany is reeling after a loss to Syracuse and a near-upset by Dartmouth. The Bearcats have their work cut out for them. Their first priority is containing senior attack Frank Resetarits, who is third in the nation…

As the 2006 men’s soccer season began, Paul Marco’s team had seen better days. The Bearcats had lost some of their best players ever to graduation in the spring. Gone were the big three of Danilo, Graham Munro and Darius Ravangard. It didn’t matter. They lost several games in the beginning of the season, entering America East play with a lowly 2-5-3 record. It didn’t matter. They lost their captain Kyle Antos and starting goalie Ryan Bertoni to injuries. They looked down for the count against Boston in the AE semifinals, down a goal with 13 minutes left. In penalty…

It was a lacrosse game for the ages, but don’t try telling that to the Bearcats. With seconds remaining in double overtime, UMBC star Drew Westervelt caught a pass from a fast break, held the ball momentarily and flipped a shot past Binghamton goalie Jeff Walker. The time on the scoreboard read .01 seconds. Westervelt’s sudden-death goal put host No. 15 UMBC (7-4, 2-1 AE) up 11-10, helping the Retrievers withstand a late charge from Binghamton (3-7, 2-1 AE) in front of 1,031 fans on Saturday night at UMBC stadium. Down six goals at the start of the fourth period,…

On Thursday, the Burlington Free Press announced that the University of Vermont men’s basketball freshman phenomenon Joe Trapani is transferring out of the school. Trapani cited “personal reasons” in his decision, but whatever his reason, the outcome is clear: The America East will be wide open next year. Vermont was near dominant in 2006-07, due largely to its front line, where 6-11 Chris Holm and 6-8 Martin Klimes allowed the 6-7 Trapani to play small forward. Trapani contributed immediately, scoring 20 points in his first game and averaging 15.8 points through his first 16. For all the praise we give…

The men’s lacrosse team travels to No. 15 UMBC on Saturday for its third conference game. The Retrievers are coming off an upset win over crosstown rival No. 12 Towson and a dominating 15-8 performance at Hartford. A pair of attack men pace the Retrievers in scoring. Senior Drew Westervelt, a second-team all-conference pick in 2006, has both created and finished offensive opportunities. He has tallied 18 goals and 19 assists in ten games. “They play their top six guys for most of the game,” said head coach Ed Stephenson. After their starting attack men and midfielders, UMBC is thin…

While many Binghamton University students spent spring break working on their tans at the beach, the men’s lacrosse team spent the break working on playoff positioning. The work paid off in two America East conference victories and two close losses to nationally ranked teams. Binghamton (3-6, 2-0 AE) dominated Hartford (1-10, 0-3 AE) in its second home game on March 31. The disoriented Hawks took just 14 shots to Binghamton’s 52 en route to a 16-4 loss. “Hartford has had four head coaches in the last few years,” said BU coach Ed Stephenson. “In the past they have been very…

Finally, some relief for the Bearcats. The Binghamton men’s lacrosse team (1-3) continues its short home-stand tomorrow by hosting Sacred Heart (1-2), one of the few unranked teams on its schedule. Last year’s matchup was a thrilling affair for the Bearcats, who capped a four-game winning streak with a win against the Pioneers. Binghamton trailed by one heading into the fourth quarter, but scored three goals in the period to come away with a 10-8 victory. That four-game win streak was part of a strong start that helped propel Binghamton in 2006, a season that saw BU soar to a…

After signing off the air, the “Voice of Binghamton Radio” is exhausted and emotionally drained. Roger Neel has been dancing in his chair for the last 2 1/2; through a Bearcat lead, a Hartford run and a Mike Gordon game-winning 3-pointer, he’s called the shots of every twist and turn for viewers listening at home. Finally, Neel gets a moment to reflect. In the world of sports broadcasting, excitement can sometimes be tough to come by. It’s difficult to make a 30-point blowout sound exhilarating, but Neel excels at infusing his own energy into such broadcasts. Yet there’s no substituting…

Play-in game No. 8 Hartford 55, No. 9 Stony Brook 49 Hartford is too good of a team to lose to Stony Brook, which is really to say that Dan Leibovitz is too good a coach to let his team lose. Hartford lacks star power on offense, but its defense can be as good as any team’s in the America East, as demonstrated by the second half of the game against Binghamton last week. Stony Brook, on the other hand, is a team of under-performing offensive stars. I’ll take good coaching and defense any day. Quarterfinals No. 1 Vermont 74,…

Consistency’s the word. If the Binghamton’s men’s lacrosse team had been a little more consistent in 2006, it could have made a run to the NCAA tournament. Instead, the Bearcats finished with a disappointing 7-8 record, considering how strongly they started the season. Early in the 2006 season, Binghamton upset No. 8 Towson and No. 17 Hobart, reaching as high as No. 16 in the national rankings before losing composure in key games and sputtering in the second half of the schedule. The Bearcats’ schedule this year is one of the toughest in the nation, so in some respects replicating…

For all its “firsts” of last year, including a top-20 national ranking, there’s one thing the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team does not want to duplicate. The Bearcats began their 2006 season with a 13-goal thrashing at the hands of then No. 6 Cornell in Ithaca. This year, Binghamton heads north tomorrow to face a Big Red squad that is just as powerful. Cornell, ranked No. 7 nationally in preseason polls, is predicted to finish first in the Ivy League. Cornell is rife with talent, returning a 2006 All-American at every position, including goalie/attack David Mitchell, midfielder Max Seibald, defender Mitch…

If you watched Saturday’s Binghamton-Albany game on TV, you might not have noticed the strong contingent of fans forced into the corner of Albany’s arena. But busloads of Binghamton faithful, including yours truly, were there in full force, trying to give the Bearcats support in the most hostile environment they faced all season. If you also happened to hear chants of “safety school” during that broadcast, it was because we waited for Albany to shoot free throws and the arena to quiet down to chant that one — not that we needed to: at times we outdid the 4,000 Albany…

Since thinking about this year’s squad makes me feel like banging my head against my desk, I started daydreaming about how great Binghamton would be if its best players could have finished college at the same time. The Bearcats have only played Division I basketball for six years, but there have been some very talented players during Al Walker’s tenure. After consulting some Pipe Dream writers who saw more of the older players when they were in uniform, I came up with the roster for the Binghamton University All-Star squad, right down to the players’ best individual seasons. Mike Gordon,…

On Monday, the BU Zoo organized its first-ever road trip, heading to Hamilton, N.Y., to watch the Bearcats take on the Colgate Red Raiders. Pipe Dream’s Randy Benjenk was there with them; the following is his running diary of the night’s events. Dear Diary, 4:30 p.m. — My companions and I have boarded the bus. We’re about to embark on a journey of historic proportions. Our destination? Hamilton, N.Y. We’re on the BU Zoo’s first-ever bus to an away game, headed to the Binghamton-Colgate match. It’s a far cry from the chartered coach bus of the upper-crust locals, but our…

Binghamton’s men’s basketball team has played three games, and you know what that means. In this View From the Zoo, I’ll take a look at the early season. A 2-1 start is promising for the Bearcats, but Niagara and Mt. Saint Mary’s are teams that they were expected to beat. Both teams had some of their best players suspended for the games, but I’ll take a 2-1 start over last year’s 0-5, regardless of the circumstances. Remember when Steve Proctor broke his hand and was expected to come back in six to eight weeks? Well by my count, it’s been…

The men’s soccer team may have lost its first round NCAA tournament game just this past Saturday, but it has already begun its practices and preparations for next year. The goal for 2007 will be more of the same: win, win and win some more. Head coach Paul Marco isn’t content with resting on this season’s accomplishments. He intends to be crowned both America East regular season and tournament champions again next year, and to advance further in the NCAA tournament. “I came to Binghamton because I thought it was an opportunity to be on the national scene year-in and…

It wasn’t a sign of the apocalypse, but for most fans it certainly felt that way. After Binghamton’s loss to Division II St. Rose, the Zoo has a right to be discouraged about the season’s prospects. To put it in perspective, though, consider this: Iona College, a team that advanced to the NCAA tournament last year, lost to Division III Rhode Island College on Friday and is still expected to be a contender for the MAAC title this season. Last season, the storied Princeton Tigers lost to D-III Carnegie Mellon and still finished second in the Ivy. And of course,…

If you’re like me, a nut for college basketball, you don’t take cheering lightly; it’s serious work. If you’re looking for some inspiration to be the best fan you can be, I’m offering advanced BU Zoo techniques in the final installment. Dress appropriately. There’s nothing fearsome about a guy in a white polo shirt and a backward Yankees hat. Seriously, leave the polo and the frat sweatshirt at home. Get yourself a BU Zoo shirt or Binghamton jersey, or better yet, don’t. Paint your body green and white. At the very least, paint your face once in a while. The…

Home field advantage, n. — Edge the home team is expected to have as a result of familiarity with the arena and effect of travel on the visiting team. For the Binghamton men’s soccer team, home field advantage is defined by more than an “edge.” When the No. 2 seed Vermont Catamounts come to the West Gym Field on Saturday, they will face a No. 1 Bearcat team that has gone undefeated in its last 12 home games. “It’s a tremendous advantage. The home field team has won the last six championships,” said head coach Paul Marco. “I think, though,…

According to my editor, as a reporter I’m not supposed to cheer for Binghamton or argue calls if I’m sitting at the press table. Apparently, it’s “unprofessional.” So you’ll find me in the BU Zoo instead. Rather than restating the facts that you can find on Binghamton’s athletics Web site, each week I’ll be giving a fan’s opinion on men’s basketball — the stuff you can only find in the minds of the green and white face-painted faithful. Who expected Jaan Montgomery to register 11 points, six boards and three blocks on Tuesday? I think head coach Al Walker might…

Just like the Binghamton men’s basketball team will be doing on the court, the BU Zoo will use tonight’s game against Division II Mansfield as a practice for the rest of the season. In today’s installment of the BU Zoo guidelines, we offer intermediate techniques for fans that have been to some games before, but haven’t taken the next step. Know your own. Get to know your team. Read Pipe Dream’s basketball preview before the season starts, and you’ll find out all you need to know about our players —who’s the superstar, who’s the raw talent, who’s going to make…

News flash for freshmen: fall’s almost over. That means two things at Binghamton University: a menacingly cold, terribly bitter, depressingly dark, gloomy winter — and basketball season. I choose basketball. Before you come down to the games, make sure you don’t get left out in the cold when it comes to cheering on the Bearcats. In a three-part series, ranging from beginning to advanced techniques, we’re unveiling a guide to becoming a member of the BU Zoo, Binghamton’s student section at basketball games. Today’s installment is a beginner’s course in the Zoo. Go to the games. The first game is…

Never before has a tie felt so much like a win. The Binghamton men’s soccer team (8-6-4, 6-1-1 AE) won the 2006 America East regular season title by virtue of a 0-0 tie against second-place Vermont (8-5-4, 5-1-2 AE) on Saturday. It is the first regular season title for the Bearcats, who won the 2003 conference tournament. “I think for this team to get from where we were to where we are now, it’s a very different journey than in 2003, when we were consistently winning,” said senior midfielder Bryan Arnault. “To turn it around like we have is just…

Junior midfielder Matt Narode remembers the first time he felt a little bit of doubt creep in. The Binghamton men’s soccer team had just returned from an unsuccessful trip to Florida, sporting a 1-4-2 record after seven games. Last year at that time, the team was 5-1-1 and ranked No. 20 in the country. Funny how winning erases all doubt. Binghamton’s best-ever six wins in America East play have put the Bearcats in first place, with a chance to win the regular season title with a victory over Vermont this Saturday at West Gym Field, where they have gone undefeated…

I’m an admissions tour guide. On every tour, a parent inevitably asks me, “What’s the worst part about Binghamton University?” “We don’t have a football team,” is my typical answer. That, however, is a lie. It’s a safe answer, of course, but after talking to Athletic Director Joel Thirer, I’ve begun to understand the staggering costs associated with creating and running a football team. One might expect the revenue created from football to make up for those costs, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Costs, benefits? “New Hampshire may come close to making money,” Thirer said. “Albany loses…

Former All-American back Graham Munro reported to Baltimore Blast training camp last week, but after Saturday, Binghamton soccer fans might not miss him for too long. In one of the most anticipated games of the fall season, another Scottish defender picked up where Munro left off, propelling Binghamton (7-6-1, 5-1-0 AE) to a 1-0 win over defending America East champion Stony Brook (5-11-0, 2-4-0 AE) on a windy day at West Gym Field. With 10 minutes remaining in regulation, junior forward Matt Narode earned three consecutive corner kicks in an aggressive push to break the scoreless tie. The third try…

Last Saturday I watched New Hampshire wide receiver David Ball break Jerry Rice’s NCAA touchdown record on ESPN. All day. It wasn’t the first time Ball made SportsCenter this season. On Sept. 9, his team made the highlight reel after upsetting Big Ten team Northwestern on the road. To the rest of the country, the win was noteworthy because Ball’s team competes at the 1-AA level. To the Binghamton community, the win was noteworthy because UNH is a school in the America East conference. If New Hampshire can make headlines with its football team, why can’t Binghamton do the same…

Binghamton may not have a football team, but there’s no doubt as to what athletic event will provide the most excitement on homecoming weekend. Tomorrow the Binghamton men’s soccer team (6-6-3, 4-1-0 AE) will host Stony Brook (5-10-0, 2-3-0 AE) in a rematch of the 2005 America East championship game. Last year Binghamton’s season ended in penalty kicks after battling the Seawolves to a 1-1 tie in the conference finals. This time around, the Bearcats have the home field advantage — and a chip on their shoulders. The match promises to be a passionate and exciting one. The only question…

When I was in high school my brother, Jeff, attended the University of Delaware. When his Blue Hens made it to the 1-AA football national championship against Colgate, he took a road trip to Chattanooga, Tenn., to witness his team spank the Red Raiders by a tune of 40 to 0. Jeff, holding a sign reading, “All I want for Hanukah is a National Championship,” was seen on ESPN and the front page of the Delaware News Journal the next day. I thought college sports would be that exciting for me. Little did I know that a flagship state school…

The men’s lacrosse team may not be in season for a few more months, but there are already reasons to be excited for the spring. Last Saturday, the team participated in the annual Lacrosse for Leukemia fundraising tournament. In the tournament, which is not officially scored, the Bearcats battled perennial power Johns Hopkins to a close margin, and outplayed former America East foe Quinnipiac. A successful outing against Hopkins is inspiring, especially considering Binghamton’s newly released schedule. The Bearcats will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the country, as eight of the 13 games are against opponents…

When the Binghamton men’s soccer team began the season with a 1-4-2 record, with key players sidelined by injuries, few would have believed that the Bearcats would be near the top of the standings in the America East halfway through conference play. But they are. After blanking Hartford (3-4-4, 1-2-0 AE) 1-0 on Wednesday at the West Gym Field, Binghamton (5-6-3, 3-1-0 AE) moved to second place in the conference and now has a clear path to the six-team America East tournament. Having endured a rainy first half, the Bearcats made their move in the heart of the downpour —…

The Yankees made it to the playoffs having to play without Robinson Cano, Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield for half a season. The Bearcats can only hope they are as lucky. Tomorrow, the Binghamton Men’s soccer team (3-5-3, 1-0-0 AE), playing without arguably its three best players, will continue its America East schedule by hosting New Hampshire (5-3-2, 0-1-0 AE) at 4 p.m. Not suiting up for the Bearcats will be former starting goalie Ryan Bertoni, who suffered a broken nose after moving to midfield early in the season, captain Kyle Antos, who has a lower extremity injury and is…

Last week, men’s soccer head coach Paul Marco said his upperclassmen needed to step up in order to beat Hartwick. They did that, but Marco probably didn’t expect the star of the game to be a redshirt freshman. Freshman goalkeeper Jason Stenta made six saves and posted his second consecutive shutout, propelling Binghamton (2-4-3) to a 1-0 victory over the visiting Hartwick Hawks (3-4-1) on Saturday at West Gym Field. Stenta was tested a number of times over the course of the game, several times by Hartwick forward John Paul Boyle. With three minutes remaining in regulation, Boyle received a…

Two skilled teams — one overachieving and one underachieving. Factor in home field advantage, balanced with a red hot opponent and each team getting swings of control. Those sound like the ingredients for an exciting game of soccer, but as the Binghamton men’s soccer team (1-4-3) battled Lehigh (4-1-1) to a 0-0 draw, there was one crucial ingredient missing: scoring. “I thought at times we rushed ourselves a little bit, not being in the rhythm when it was time to finish the ball,” said head coach Paul Marco. “We created many opportunities in the first half and we didn’t have…

Sometimes mistakes can turn a win into a loss. It can feel even worse when those mistakes are the difference between defeating a regional rival and adding another draw to an unimpressive record. The Binghamton women’s soccer team (0-3-2) was out-hustled in the midfield by Syracuse (0-3-1) for most of a double-overtime game on Wednesday at West Gym Field, but was able to score with two minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game. The Bearcats blew several opportunities to score and turn the draw into the season’s first win. Facing a one-goal deficit in the middle of the second…

Today’s men’s lacrosse game between Binghamton and Drexel will provide more than a non-conference rivalry. It’s Senior Day for the Bearcats’ first Division I recruiting class. All seven seniors will wear their home jerseys for the last time, after years of victory, defeat, learning and, most importantly, building. “Words can’t describe a group that has been with us for four years and started the program,” said head coach Ed Stephenson. In their four years, the seniors helped create what has become one of Binghamton’s most successful teams. Their achievements include earning a perfect America East record in 2004 — the…

With another chance to knock off a ranked opponent at home last Saturday, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team once again suffered a late-game meltdown, falling to No. 14 UMBC 11-5. The Retrievers (7-4, 3-0 AE) took sole possession of first place in the America East from the Bearcats (6-5, 2-1 AE), who fell to third. With the teams tied at four at the half, UMBC went on a seven-goal romp in the second half to leave Binghamton in the dust. The one-two punch of attackmen Drew Westervelt and Brendan Mundorf proved to be too much for the Bearcats, who did…

The Binghamton men’s lacrosse team answered any questions about its erratic offense in its first conference test at Hartford last Saturday, scoring a school-record 16 goals. The Bearcats will look to build on that momentum at Vermont tomorrow at 1 p.m., but this time the key will be defense. Vermont (7-3, 0-1 AE) has averaged almost 13 goals in its wins, scoring double digits in each victory, but averaged only six goals in its three losses. The Catamounts lead the America East in assists per game (7.5) and points per game, a staggering 18.3 to Binghamton’s 10.9. They are led…

In a season where anything seemed possible, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team received a serious reality check this past weekend. In a four-team round-robin tournament at Princeton, the Bearcats were the only team that failed to come away with a victory, losing big to Bellarmine and to the host school. Bellarmine (3-4) upset Binghamton (4-3), by a score of 9-4, by shutting down the Bearcats’ offensive flow. Despite outshooting the Knights 25-23, Binghamton’s offense seemed frustrated, at best. The Knights made several important defensive stops throughout the game, which the 16th-ranked Bearcats had trouble matching. After falling behind 5-1, the…

March has come in like a lion for the men’s lacrosse team, which roared through its last four games while climbing to a 16th ranking in the latest Top 20 poll. Binghamton (4-1) has received national recognition as a result of its tough schedule, which continues this weekend. The Bearcats will travel to Princeton to face Bellarmine today at 5 p.m., before playing No. 7 Princeton Sunday afternoon. Head coach Ed Stephenson hopes the tough slate of games will give his team another chance of advancing to NCAA tournament this year, if an at-large bid is necessary. “That’s the whole…