The Union Dutchmen earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern College Athletic Association's Upstate New York Tournament and will host Utica College on Wednesday, March 3, 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Fieldhouse.
The 18-7 Dutchmen, who have enjoyed winning seasons each of the last six years (for the first time in over 30 years), are playing their 13th ECAC tournament since the event made its debut in 1973. Union, which won the tournament's initial title, last captured a championship in 1975. The Dutchmen last advanced to the title game in 2003, losing to Ithaca, 77-76, when their final shot rolled around the rim and fell off at the buzzer.
Meanwhile, the 23-3 Dutchwomen host Mt. St. Mary in the opening round of the NCAA tourney.
“The ECAC bid and the accompanying number one seed is certainly a great compliment to what the kids have accomplished over the course of the whole season,” said head coach Bob Montana. “The fact that they have won 18 games against a very challenging schedule, the toughest strength of schedule index of the teams being considered for the ECAC's, is the reason that we were rewarded with the top seed.”
Montana, who has guided his Dutchmen to an eight-year record of 119-94, has seen his Dutchmen qualify for five postseason invitations, including an NCAA berth in 2001-02. Forwards Imbrie Packard and Ryan Freundlich will be making their third consecutive trip to postseason.
“The fact that we have received our fifth post-season bid in the last six years is a testament to the talent, commitment, and discipline of the players in this program. Our seniors, Imbrie Packard and Ryan Freundlich, have shown excellent leadership all season, and I know their focus was to play in March once again.”
Sophomore guard John Cagianello leads a trio of Dutchmen who are averaging in double digits. The Garnet's top three-point shooter with 66, Cagianello averaged 18.2 points during the regular season. Classmate, forward Brian Scordato, was next at 12.2 and junior forward Devon Bruce added 11.0 points a game. Bruce led the Dutchmen in the rebounding department with his 7.4 average and was followed by Scordato (6.2) and Freundlich (4.2). Sophomore point guard Chris Murphy paced the team in assists with 109 while Bruce and Packard had 17 and 15 blocked shots, respectively.
This is the second meeting of the year between the Pioneers and the Dutchmen. Union captured a 74-55 decision in Memorial Fieldhouse back on December 3.
“Utica is a much different team from the team we played in December,” said Montana. “Since January they have been playing very good basketball. They have a couple additions to their team since our last contest. Tim Troy, a 6'6″ 250 post player, has been a key addition to their starting lineup. Over the weekend he had 21 rebounds and 11 points against RIT and 13 rebounds with 12 points against St. John Fisher in the championship of the Empire Eight Tourney. He has provided good post play and leadership. Jemarr Bryant, who also joined the team in January, provides them a good shooter from the perimeter (40% from three-point range), and at 6'2″ 185 pounds, is another strong wing player.”
Troy is an interesting story all by himself. He started the year as a 28-year old coach who still had eligibility remaining from his college days. After opening the season with just one win in six games with Troy as an assistant coach, the Pioneers are 15-6 with him in uniform. He enters the game with an 8.9 rebounding average and a scoring average of 9.2 He also has 18 blocked shots.
“Utica is an athletic team that defends very well (opponents shooting only 40.1% from field), Montana continued. “The Pioneers run a very good half court offense, and they are an excellent rebounding team. We will need to stop their key inside scorers, keeping in mind they shoot 38.3 from three-point range. They have out-rebounded their opponents by exactly 10 a game so we cannot allow them to get extra offense off the offensive board.”
A victory by the Dutchmen would bring the tournament's semi-final and final rounds to Schenectady on Friday and Saturday.