EWB local bracketology: SJU leads area teams into March Madness
By Ed Stein
March Madness is around the corner. Empire Writes Back takes you around the area to let you know, who is in, who is out and who has work to do.
March Madness is about to start. There was a time when college basketball was ruled by the New York metropolitan area. Fans flocked to Madison Square Garden on Saturdays to see local teams battle it out in doubleheaders. The college basketball landscape has changed in recent decades.
New York City isn’t the college basketball mecca it once was. The days of CCNY, NYU, SJU, and Fordham dominating the sport are long gone. That doesn’t mean the college hoops is dead here. Far from it. There are quality, local teams, fighting for their dance ticket to the NCAA Championship 68-team field.
Several teams from New York and the Tri-State area could be playing well into March, from many different conferences. Granted not many outsiders wonder who the Patriot League representative will be until this time of year. The fact is that there is a team from the EWB area who very well could earn that berth.
In the city itself, sadly only one team is definitely in. Others such as Fordham, Wagner, Columbia, and LIU-Brooklyn, are the longest of longshots in their respective conference. The “City Game” could use a boost. Lets’ take a look at the area schools who have a good shot of making the Big Dance.
There is one sure team that will earn a bid. Then there are teams who are very close to securing a spot, or “bubble teams.” Last but not least, are the teams who need a conference tournament win to punch their dance ticket.