For Iowa: The NIT was a valuable experience

NEW YORK – They came into the game expecting a hard-fought contest – and one they could pull out. They were on a roll. After playing a less than spectacular first half they still were in a two-possession game. They got the deficit to 29-28 early in the second half.

Then the opposition went on a run never looking back.

For Iowa the 74-54 defeat in the NIT final was bitter. Because they had been playing well adding to it was the fact Baylor ran away and turned an expected close contest into a rout.

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Baylor defense dominant in NIT championship

NEW YORK - The NIT final gave us two teams with offenses capable of lighting up the scoreboard. In the final analysis, Baylor’s 74-54victory over Iowa at Madison Square Garden was predicated on defense.

The main points of emphasis:

1.Tempo free breakdown:

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Baylor advances to NIT title game

NEW YORK - Before getting to New York, Baylor captured three NIT games on their home floor. Following the 76-70 semifinal win over BYU, Coach Scott Drew was asked about playing at a neutral site. “Back in 2009 we faced Penn State in the (NIT) finals,” drew said. “They brought about 18 busloads of fans so it didn’t appear too neutral to us,” he added with a laugh.

Now, Baylor has the following, momentum and eyes on pursuing the prize. They will battle Iowa, 71-60 winners over Maryland in the other semifinal, for the championship.

Three things we observed from the Baylor-BYU matchup:

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Atlantic 10 Tournament: Notes, quotes and thoughts

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Ladies first. The first championship game of the tournament was Saturday evening following the men’s semifinals at the Barclays Center. Saint Joseph’s edged Fordham 47-46 in a thriller.  About 4,400 attended, the largest for an A-10 women’s title game, but the enthusiasm and excitement generated by the respective followers made the crowd seem three times as large.

Sophomore guard Natasha Cloud paced Saint Joseph’s with 15 points, 6 rebounds earning the tournament MOP. Marah Strickland, Fordham’s graduate student forward, in her last year of eligibility, led all scorers with 16 points adding 7 rebounds.

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Barclays to MSG: A long (and enjoyable) day’s journey

Two main venues, two great tournaments, just miles apart. A day filled with some very good basketball and interesting stories. Why not ? It is March Madness….

11:30 AM – Riding the subway to Brooklyn. The  preceding train ride from New Jersey to Penn Station was spent talking with a Cincinnati fan. The train has fans wearing gear from Pitt, Syracuse (most prominent) and of course, Cincinnati. The Bearcats, our new found basketball friend admits, have a tough assignment facing Georgetown at noon. Overall he is satisfied with the way things are going with Cincinatti but would like to see a little more inside play on offense. For now the Big East can wait. It’s onto the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Atlantic 10. It is difficult typing on a moving train.

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Seton Hall edges South Florida in Big East opener

NEW YORK – Seton Hall epitomized the “survive and advance” concept in the Big East Tournament opening round. The Pirates came from eight down with under three minutes to play to force overtime and go on to defeat South Florida 46-42. Tuesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden opened the tournament, being contested this week with a strong scent of nostalgia present.

South Florida came into the contest averaging a very deliberate 60 possessions in Big East play. For the evening, including overtime, the Bulls used just 54 possessions. At the half USF led 20-17 in a 22-possession first twenty minutes. Neither team went to the line during those first twenty minutes. In addition only nine fouls were called the entire half.

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JR Inman is an author with a message

WALDWICK, N.J. – A few weeks ago a Sunday afternoon officiating assignment called for games at nearby St. Joe’s of Oradell, N.J. A quick stop at Hoop Heaven to go over scheduling was in order. Inside the facility there was a book signing/presentation taking place as an eighth grade game was being contested place on one of the courts.

J.R. Inman, formerly of Rutgers, was the author appearing this afternoon. Inman played for the Scarlet Knights from ’06 through ’09. He was a talented forward often primed for a breakout before facing bouts of inconsistency, notably during his senior year.  The title of his book, released the past November, is When the air comes out of the ball. It deals with handling life after basketball. It’s not just for elite athletes, but anyone involved in the game.

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FDU women end season by edging Wagner 59-54

TEANECK, N.J. – The game was to be the season finale for the Wagner women. Entering this game with a 2-15 record in the Northeast Conference, they were eliminated from the conference playoffs, while FDU was hoping to secure the number eight seed. In the end FDU triumphed 59-54 at Stratis Arena on Monday.

Points of emphasis:

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Fordham women earn 21st victory

BRONX, N.Y. – The Fordham women earned their 21^st victory with a 62-50 defeat of St. Bonaventure at Rose Hill on Wednesday. The observations and notes on a game with two decidedly different halves:

• What a difference a year makes. Losing three starters, including the likes of Jessica Jenkins and Megan Van Tatenhove, had a pronounced effect on the Bonnies’ outlook this season. What wasn’t planned was the loss of Chelsea Bowker, who was counted on to supply perimeter scoring. Bowker was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA due to injury. For the present though it has been a struggle. A look at the efficiency numbers from last year’s Atlantic 10 undefeated team that went to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and the current season:

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Strong second half carries Pitt over St. John’s

NEW YORK – The clock is ticking. St. John’s hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid were dealt another setback, as the Red Storm fell to Pitt 63-47 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon.

Some key points from Sunday’s contest:

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