MIDWEEK MUSING
By: Tim McCaffrey
This was supposed to have been a brief reaction to Wednesday’s official Regional Rankings, but a bizarre situation in
Philadelphia warrants attention.
Tomorrow, Chris Granozio will have a detailed analysis of the entire incident during the controversial game at Chestnut Hill against
Dominican during the first round of the CACC Tournament, but allow me to touch the treetops! These are the bullet points:
- Early in the first half, Chestnut Hill’s live stats incorrectly gave a basket to the Griffins that deserved to be credited to
Dominican.
- Later, during play, the scoreboard changed (Dominican lost two points) while one of its players was attempting a shot.
- Another basket, this time by a Chestnut Hill player, was not credited to the live stats.
- Dominican coaches noted the error and not once, but twice, asked the officials to make sure the table had the right score.
- Both times, the CHC table staff assured the referee crew that the score was correct. Once in the first half and again right
before the start of the second half.
- The game was played to a 65-61 final score.
- About an hour after the conclusion of the game, the final score was corrected to 65-63, reflecting the missing Chargers
basket.
- The CACC held a meeting and determined the result should stand. Chestnut Hill advances to the next round, while
Dominican has lost by the now amended final.
I’ll let my colleague sort through all that tomorrow, but what I want to shed light on is how the CACC has failed to release a
statement. Why hide what happened? After numerous attempts to reach Commissioner Dan Mara proved fruitless, the
Musings eventually get this response from Doug DeBiase, the CACC Associate Commissioner of Strategic Communication:
“The game/outcome is official per NCAA rules, as once the officials leave the court, whatever the scorebook says is the final
score.”
The score was then changed back to 65-61 and that will be the final score going forward.
But where is the accountability? Here at D2EastHoops, we cover the entire region and are only interested in reporting the facts,
but Where is the clarity? Where is the explanation?
I would have replayed the game, but then again I’m bold and think outside the box. When Dominican has the ball in the last
30 seconds and the game is actually tied but the scoreboard says the Chargers are down two, how is that fair, exactly?
What did Dominican do wrong?
Men’s OFFICIAL Regional Rankings:
1) Bentley
2) St. Anselm
3) Southern N.H.
4) New Haven
5) Pace
6) St. Thomas Aquinas
7) Dominican
8) Daemen (CACC Tourney Winner)
Bentley can still host, but probably needs a New Haven win over St. A’s Saturday in Manchester. The Hawks likely host with
a triumph over the Chargers. SNHU is going to be slotted #3 or #4. UNH could climb as high as the 2-line with a win at
Stoutenburgh. Pace is locked into five, while STAC will play in the ECC Semifinal Saturday versus the University of the
District of Columbia. Dominican will be in the NCAA field if the Spartans win the ECC, as it appears the math would not add
up for Daemen. However, the Wildcats could advance with the AQ and snatch the 7-line. Then the committee would have to
debate Dominican and St. Thomas Aquinas.
That decision could be one of the trickiest the committee has had in years, and it would be very interesting if STAC loses to
find out which side the committee would be on. Both sides have cases. Dominican’s would be much stronger if STAC loses
before the finals or loses to a team NOT named Daemen.
This committee has been excellent.
Women’s OFFICIAL Regional Rankings:
1) Assumption
2) Jefferson
3) Southern New Hampshire
4) Le Moyne
5) Bentley
6) Holy Family
7) St. Thomas Aquinas
8) Southern Connecticut State
It is nearly impossible to figure out what the committee is doing. The Musings has attempted to reach Karen Haag and we
have not heard back. With that lack of accountability, there might be a future for her as CACC Commissioner.
There is virtually no way to predict what will happen with this bracket. Teams are often misplaced and shuffled without logic
or reason. I wonder how much time people on this committee put in. They do have other jobs, but this region deserves
people who actually care about getting it right.
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This was written by Tim McCaffrey, to write to him, try t.p.mccaffrey@gmail.com, he returns every e-mail!