Per a request I talked to people in the know this afternoon, and if CCSU wins Sunday, there's pretty much no chance they would host the quarters. CCSU is among (though now I bet the committee wishes it could start over) the lowest seeds in the dance.
That, however, didn't come from the NCAA itself, so yell at my sources, not me, if I'm wrong. However, I'd put it at 2 percent that CCSU would get a home game.
However, I'd put Central being there at 50 percent, which isn't bad at all.
Button up for a good cause
Saturday's basketball games will mark the annual CCSU Button-Up Connecticut Coat Drive. Anyone who donates a winter coat will receive a free general admission ticket to both the games. The women start at noon and the men go at about 2 p.m.
So be generous, bring a coat so that someone less fortunate can be warm while we watch another exciting basketball season.
So be generous, bring a coat so that someone less fortunate can be warm while we watch another exciting basketball season.
Clearing a couple things up
Now I'll admit I knew nothing about the men's soccer tourney before this all started, but having done some checking...
UMass is the higher seed, that's why they're hosting. UMass was the higher seed in their pod. If you think of it like the basketball, it would go: BC, Tulsa, (the national seeds) Harvard, UMass (the hosts in the first round) then BU and CCSU. It had nothing to do with Central not having a good enough field.
Using the same logic I think CCSU goes to UIC or SMU, but let's worry about that next week.
UMass is the higher seed, that's why they're hosting. UMass was the higher seed in their pod. If you think of it like the basketball, it would go: BC, Tulsa, (the national seeds) Harvard, UMass (the hosts in the first round) then BU and CCSU. It had nothing to do with Central not having a good enough field.
Using the same logic I think CCSU goes to UIC or SMU, but let's worry about that next week.
PS, a men's thought
I won't lie, between being at the women's game and watching the soccer game on a video feed, then hustling to write two stories, I didn't get to follow much of the men's game tonight except for scoring updates and an occasional check of GameTracker.
I did pick up two things. First off, there seems to be more offensive diversity, which is a good sign. Secondly, it was 20-7 I believe early, and the Blue Devils rallied and fought to stay in it all night. Say what you will about this year's team, but they refuse to let anyone blow them out.
At some point, that trait will have to start leading to wins in order for it to matter. But for now, it's a glimmer of hope. Remember what I said from Day 1: Don't judge this team until January.
I did pick up two things. First off, there seems to be more offensive diversity, which is a good sign. Secondly, it was 20-7 I believe early, and the Blue Devils rallied and fought to stay in it all night. Say what you will about this year's team, but they refuse to let anyone blow them out.
At some point, that trait will have to start leading to wins in order for it to matter. But for now, it's a glimmer of hope. Remember what I said from Day 1: Don't judge this team until January.
Are you kidding?
That was the theme of the day in Devilland. At one point tonight, coach Green said to me, "CCSU is playing for a spot in the final 8. Did you ever think you'd hear those words?"
Honestly, I did not. Though it couldn't have happened to a better bunch of people. And to see the support they're getting from the community and at the school is pretty neat. By the way, the bracket has opened up like the sky during a summer thunderstorm. There's no reason now that this team can't make the national semifinals. Especially if it's going to score 3 goals a game.
Great first half from the women tonight, not much after that. I'll post more on both of these games tomorrow, just wanted to touch base with you all tonight. I will say that, while they were late-arriving, the turnout to see coach Piper's first game was impressive.
The second half defense was not.
By the way, I know I've been a little behind in the hoops coverage, but I do promise that will pick up. At the rate this soccer season is going, however, that might not be until the middle of December.
Quite frankly, soccer season was supposed to be over a couple of weeks ago. And even more honestly, I have no problem with the fact that it's not. We'll be all over the two key NEC games that the hoopsters have coming up, but right now, Blog Central is Soccer Central.
Honestly, I did not. Though it couldn't have happened to a better bunch of people. And to see the support they're getting from the community and at the school is pretty neat. By the way, the bracket has opened up like the sky during a summer thunderstorm. There's no reason now that this team can't make the national semifinals. Especially if it's going to score 3 goals a game.
Great first half from the women tonight, not much after that. I'll post more on both of these games tomorrow, just wanted to touch base with you all tonight. I will say that, while they were late-arriving, the turnout to see coach Piper's first game was impressive.
The second half defense was not.
By the way, I know I've been a little behind in the hoops coverage, but I do promise that will pick up. At the rate this soccer season is going, however, that might not be until the middle of December.
Quite frankly, soccer season was supposed to be over a couple of weeks ago. And even more honestly, I have no problem with the fact that it's not. We'll be all over the two key NEC games that the hoopsters have coming up, but right now, Blog Central is Soccer Central.
Belief without evidence
It's a pretty cool thing. To have the faith in yourself and your teammates that things will work out, no matter how bleak they may seem at the time, is a special trait.
Shaun Green has it, and it's rubbing off on his team.
By now, anyone reading this blog or anything in the paper under my name knows the story. Green was sitting in the rain after CCSU's latest gut-wrenching loss, the season seemingly over. A year in which Green had worked himself to the bone getting the biggest recruiting class in school history, acquiring corporate sponsors and doing everything he could think of to raise the program's stature had gone up in smoke.
"At one point we were 2-8-2 and I was thinking to myself, how can this be," Green said. "How can so many people put in so much work and not get any rewards for it?"
Still, Green never let his team stop working as hard as he and his staff were. The program kept plugging. Now, eight incredible games later, the Blue Devils are a win away from the Sweet 16.
"There's a thing in life called belief without evidence," Green said. "Religion is founded upon it. People believe in God but they haven't seen him. I believe in God, but I haven't met God. I believe in UFOs. There's 260 million planets in a galaxy and 260 million galaxies. There's got to be something out there, however I've never seen a UFO. My point is this: These guys believed in this team when the evidence didn't point to it."
While the science and math might be off, all the statistics, starting with the team records, indicated that Central had the worst team in the league. But the Blue Devils were undaunted.
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that you're finished," Green told his team.
It didn't. Seven wins and a tie later, CCSU is the conference champion and the first men's team in school history to win a NCAA game. Now it's up to Tulsa to try and tell the Devils they're finished.
The Blue Devils don't believe that will happen. But no matter what the result is on Wednesday night, this team has been given the rewards it so badly searched for in October.
"It's validation," Green said. "In anything you do in life you always look for some form of validation so that whatever you do has some worth to it. What we did by beating Harvard was validate all our work."
They've also given us all evidence that belief is all you need sometimes.
Shaun Green has it, and it's rubbing off on his team.
By now, anyone reading this blog or anything in the paper under my name knows the story. Green was sitting in the rain after CCSU's latest gut-wrenching loss, the season seemingly over. A year in which Green had worked himself to the bone getting the biggest recruiting class in school history, acquiring corporate sponsors and doing everything he could think of to raise the program's stature had gone up in smoke.
"At one point we were 2-8-2 and I was thinking to myself, how can this be," Green said. "How can so many people put in so much work and not get any rewards for it?"
Still, Green never let his team stop working as hard as he and his staff were. The program kept plugging. Now, eight incredible games later, the Blue Devils are a win away from the Sweet 16.
"There's a thing in life called belief without evidence," Green said. "Religion is founded upon it. People believe in God but they haven't seen him. I believe in God, but I haven't met God. I believe in UFOs. There's 260 million planets in a galaxy and 260 million galaxies. There's got to be something out there, however I've never seen a UFO. My point is this: These guys believed in this team when the evidence didn't point to it."
While the science and math might be off, all the statistics, starting with the team records, indicated that Central had the worst team in the league. But the Blue Devils were undaunted.
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that you're finished," Green told his team.
It didn't. Seven wins and a tie later, CCSU is the conference champion and the first men's team in school history to win a NCAA game. Now it's up to Tulsa to try and tell the Devils they're finished.
The Blue Devils don't believe that will happen. But no matter what the result is on Wednesday night, this team has been given the rewards it so badly searched for in October.
"It's validation," Green said. "In anything you do in life you always look for some form of validation so that whatever you do has some worth to it. What we did by beating Harvard was validate all our work."
They've also given us all evidence that belief is all you need sometimes.
Weekend up North
What a weekend. Got the chance to spend Friday in my old stomping grounds of Boston, but you guys don't care about that, even though NU is quickly getting back in the thick of things in Hockey East!
The game today was fantastic. I never thought Central would have the chance to score three times, nor did I think the Devils could do it to be honest. Both of Harvard's goals were pretty, and you have to be really impressed with the way both teams battled. Harvard kept tying the game and seeming to take control, while Central kept battling back to take the lead again.
Yes, CCSU caught a huge break in the final seconds when the ball hit the crossbar, but luck is often the residue of hard work and preparation... at least that's what a tee shirt I used to have told me. Put it this way: Central put itself in the position to get lucky in the final seconds.
This blog will be quick as I have to go write my story now, but I wanted to give credit to the TONS of fans who made the trip. And to the guy who sent me that comment today... there were bleachers full of Central fans at Harvard today... I've been to state championship high school games, college games, all kinds of soccer... and the only crowd I've ever seen bigger than today was the last time the Revs were in New Britain.
The game today was fantastic. I never thought Central would have the chance to score three times, nor did I think the Devils could do it to be honest. Both of Harvard's goals were pretty, and you have to be really impressed with the way both teams battled. Harvard kept tying the game and seeming to take control, while Central kept battling back to take the lead again.
Yes, CCSU caught a huge break in the final seconds when the ball hit the crossbar, but luck is often the residue of hard work and preparation... at least that's what a tee shirt I used to have told me. Put it this way: Central put itself in the position to get lucky in the final seconds.
This blog will be quick as I have to go write my story now, but I wanted to give credit to the TONS of fans who made the trip. And to the guy who sent me that comment today... there were bleachers full of Central fans at Harvard today... I've been to state championship high school games, college games, all kinds of soccer... and the only crowd I've ever seen bigger than today was the last time the Revs were in New Britain.
What I'm thankful for
As Thanksgiving draws to a close (it did for you normal folks hours ago, I'm just getting to bed in a minute), I thought I'd go through the list of a few things I'm thankful for in the professional sense. Obviously I'm most thankful for my family, friends, and our troops, police and firemen that keep us safe every day, but I'm talking for now about CCSU sports. Some of these will be a little bit "inside," but you'll appreciate most of them.
I'm thankful for getting to work with coaches who are as better people than they are coaches. What Mick D'Arcy did last year at Quinnipiac says all you need to know about him, and he's the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Same goes for Shaun Green, Howie Dickenman, Charlie Hickey, Jeff McInerney... the list goes on and on.
I'm thankful for the perfect storm that is my beat: a DI college with accessible people.
I'm thankful for Tom, Jason, Derrick and the CCSU SID staff that goes above and beyond the call of duty all the time in an effort to help me, and by extension, you the fans. They work harder than any of you know.
I'm thankful for a coaching lesson I got last week, and for the little moments like it that make my job so unique.
I'm thankful I've converted a Knicks fan into a Celtics fan.
I'm thankful that the "competition" is so often a teammate.
I'm thankful for the tent on the soccer field and the people who hauled it to Berlin so I wouldn't end up sick.
I'm thankful that Beryl Piper will be given a chance to grow the women's program and that she was given a chance. It was a risky hire, but she deserved to have someone take a chance on her.
I'm thankful that Piper and McInerney both want to recruit in-state when possible. It's good for the state and the teams.
I'm thankful it's basketball season.
I'm thankful I've seen a large portion of Tristan Blackwood's career at Central, and for the final chapter he's about to write.
I'm thankful to have learned Javier Mojica's story, never mind that I got to tell it. And I'm most thankful that things worked out for him the way they did considering where he started from.
I'm thankful for all the great games I've been able to see at "work." From four overtimes vs. La Salle to the women's soccer team holding off LIU to the baseball team giving everything it has the last two years.
Most of all, I'm thankful for you the readers. You make what we do possible.
I'm thankful for getting to work with coaches who are as better people than they are coaches. What Mick D'Arcy did last year at Quinnipiac says all you need to know about him, and he's the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Same goes for Shaun Green, Howie Dickenman, Charlie Hickey, Jeff McInerney... the list goes on and on.
I'm thankful for the perfect storm that is my beat: a DI college with accessible people.
I'm thankful for Tom, Jason, Derrick and the CCSU SID staff that goes above and beyond the call of duty all the time in an effort to help me, and by extension, you the fans. They work harder than any of you know.
I'm thankful for a coaching lesson I got last week, and for the little moments like it that make my job so unique.
I'm thankful I've converted a Knicks fan into a Celtics fan.
I'm thankful that the "competition" is so often a teammate.
I'm thankful for the tent on the soccer field and the people who hauled it to Berlin so I wouldn't end up sick.
I'm thankful that Beryl Piper will be given a chance to grow the women's program and that she was given a chance. It was a risky hire, but she deserved to have someone take a chance on her.
I'm thankful that Piper and McInerney both want to recruit in-state when possible. It's good for the state and the teams.
I'm thankful it's basketball season.
I'm thankful I've seen a large portion of Tristan Blackwood's career at Central, and for the final chapter he's about to write.
I'm thankful to have learned Javier Mojica's story, never mind that I got to tell it. And I'm most thankful that things worked out for him the way they did considering where he started from.
I'm thankful for all the great games I've been able to see at "work." From four overtimes vs. La Salle to the women's soccer team holding off LIU to the baseball team giving everything it has the last two years.
Most of all, I'm thankful for you the readers. You make what we do possible.
Styles make fights
And there won't be a better clash of styles than on Saturday in Cambridge. Central's big tough defense against a team in Harvard that scored more than 40 goals this season. The Crimson's top two players combined to score more goals than CCSU did this year.
Still, I kind of have a hunch that Central has a chance. The defense is solid, and their will is something to behold. I keep saying it, but it bares repeating. This team was dead. It has no business being here. After the way its heart was ripped out on top of a bad start?
But don't tell the Blue Devils that. They're here, and they truly think they can win. It says here that they do, in PK's. What the heck? I hear Tulsa's lovely in the winter.
I'm taking a day off on Friday and heading up to Boston early to see some old college friends, but I'll be with the Devils in Cambridge on Saturday. I'll catch up with you all when I get home Sat. night.
Still, I kind of have a hunch that Central has a chance. The defense is solid, and their will is something to behold. I keep saying it, but it bares repeating. This team was dead. It has no business being here. After the way its heart was ripped out on top of a bad start?
But don't tell the Blue Devils that. They're here, and they truly think they can win. It says here that they do, in PK's. What the heck? I hear Tulsa's lovely in the winter.
I'm taking a day off on Friday and heading up to Boston early to see some old college friends, but I'll be with the Devils in Cambridge on Saturday. I'll catch up with you all when I get home Sat. night.
Nice win
The Blue Devil men get the first 'w' of the win, and show off some big qualities.
First off, they weren't shaken by another big deficit (including a ridiculous shot to end the half), nor by letting a lead get away late. Joe seems back on track, and Tristan might be bolstered by a big shot at the end of a game. The fact that Central is consistently able to get him chances at the end is another good sign.
A rebounder or two must emerge, but we'll worry about that tomorrow. Tonight is just a night for the Blue Devils to enjoy a win and their fans to rejoice.
First off, they weren't shaken by another big deficit (including a ridiculous shot to end the half), nor by letting a lead get away late. Joe seems back on track, and Tristan might be bolstered by a big shot at the end of a game. The fact that Central is consistently able to get him chances at the end is another good sign.
A rebounder or two must emerge, but we'll worry about that tomorrow. Tonight is just a night for the Blue Devils to enjoy a win and their fans to rejoice.
If your'e planning a trip
And you should, soccer is kind of a fun game to be in the crowd for because you don't really have to focus every second like basketball or football for fear of missing something... you can see a play developing over a few seconds and get ready, and talk to your friends during midfield play if you're not a hardcore fan.
But anyway, the game has been moved to Noon on Saturday.
But anyway, the game has been moved to Noon on Saturday.
fun at Chili's
It was a great night, the kind that reminds you of the real reason you cover sports. A bunch of young guys hanging around, eating together and waiting for their moment on national television.
We'll have more of a preview later in the week, but for now I'll just say that this one is interesting. A fantastic offense against a defense that couldn't be hotter. It's Red Wings vs. Devils all over again.
For the record, the New Jersey Devils, the defensive team, swept the Red Wings, the offensive juggernaut, in the 1995 Stanley Cup finals. Maybe that's a good sign for this group of Devils.
My favorite moment of the night was this:
After CCSU's bracket came up, a team in blue was shown scoring a bunch of highlight-type goals. The place went nuts before one player yelled, "wait, that's not us!" That was followed by a chorus of boos.
It's little things like that that make my job so much fun. I haven't listed as many little anecdotes on here as I originally planned to, mainly because I'm never sure if the other people are okay with me sharing them. So just to the on the safe side, I save most of them. It's kind of too bad, because I have an absolute CLASSIC from the other night's basketball game.
We'll have more of a preview later in the week, but for now I'll just say that this one is interesting. A fantastic offense against a defense that couldn't be hotter. It's Red Wings vs. Devils all over again.
For the record, the New Jersey Devils, the defensive team, swept the Red Wings, the offensive juggernaut, in the 1995 Stanley Cup finals. Maybe that's a good sign for this group of Devils.
My favorite moment of the night was this:
After CCSU's bracket came up, a team in blue was shown scoring a bunch of highlight-type goals. The place went nuts before one player yelled, "wait, that's not us!" That was followed by a chorus of boos.
It's little things like that that make my job so much fun. I haven't listed as many little anecdotes on here as I originally planned to, mainly because I'm never sure if the other people are okay with me sharing them. So just to the on the safe side, I save most of them. It's kind of too bad, because I have an absolute CLASSIC from the other night's basketball game.
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