You've got to love coaches!!

[valpofan56]

what i'm currently curious about is why one school dropped out and we added a pair.

Because Duquesne didn't want to play IU-K they wanted to play a more difficult team.

Interesting--and then some of their fans used that very excuse, having to play a tougher opponent, in UDC, as to why the Dukes lost to Valpo.

So Akron only played Duquesne and Valpo and did not play either IUK or UDC?

That means Valpo & Duquesne played 3 games while Akron, IUK and UDC only played 2 games each?

Correct.

[zvillehaze]

Akron's fourth game in the 2K classic was a home game against Hiram on 11-12.

Also, Lehigh did not drop out ... they played in the other "subregional".

[valpopal]

Akron's fourth game in the 2K classic was a home game against Hiram on 11-12.

Also, Lehigh did not drop out ... they played in the other "subregional".

What I was told is that Lehigh dropped out of our subregional to select the other subregional instead, which was closer to their home. That was what I meant when I said they "chose to play elsewhere."

[historyman]

According to their athletics website Lehigh played William & Mary 82-57, Liberty 90-80 and Eastern Kentucky 76-51 at Lynchburg, VA and won all three games. They lost to St.John's 78-73 in Queens, NY for their other 2K Sports Classic game. On 11/12/11 Lehigh played Iowa State in Ames, IA and lost 86-77.

http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/mbball/schedules/default.aspx

[lowposter]

Lehigh would have been an outstanding opponent for VU.  Great school in a great conference (Patriot).

lowposter

[valporun]

According to their athletics website Lehigh played William & Mary 82-57, Liberty 90-80 and Eastern Kentucky 76-51 at Lynchburg, VA and won all three games. They lost to St.John's 78-73 in Queens, NY for their other 2K Sports Classic game. On 11/12/11 Lehigh played Iowa State in Ames, IA and lost 86-77.

http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/mbball/schedules/default.aspx

Did Lehigh think they were in the Big East? Seriously, the subregional we had was certainly not cupcake. They would have faired well at the Valpo subregional, maybe even challenged for the title. I guess they just didn't want a difficult route to a subregional title?

[StlVUFan]

According to their athletics website Lehigh played William & Mary 82-57, Liberty 90-80 and Eastern Kentucky 76-51 at Lynchburg, VA and won all three games. They lost to St.John's 78-73 in Queens, NY for their other 2K Sports Classic game. On 11/12/11 Lehigh played Iowa State in Ames, IA and lost 86-77.


http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/mbball/schedules/default.aspx

Did Lehigh think they were in the Big East? Seriously, the subregional we had was certainly not cupcake. They would have faired well at the Valpo subregional, maybe even challenged for the title. I guess they just didn't want a difficult route to a subregional title?

To be fair, the very notion of a "sub" regional is beyond insulting.  These teams are glorified sparring partners for the big boys who aren't supposed to win.  It's hard to take seriously something that is euphemistically called a tournament or a classic but where the "winners" are predetermined.

I wouldn't be too hard on them.  I mean, teams need to rise above that and take these games seriously and so forth, but it's not like the system is encouraging them to do so.

The whole thing is a joke, if you ask me.

[valpopal]

According to their athletics website Lehigh played William & Mary 82-57, Liberty 90-80 and Eastern Kentucky 76-51 at Lynchburg, VA and won all three games. They lost to St.John's 78-73 in Queens, NY for their other 2K Sports Classic game. On 11/12/11 Lehigh played Iowa State in Ames, IA and lost 86-77.

http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/mbball/schedules/default.aspx

Did Lehigh think they were in the Big East? Seriously, the subregional we had was certainly not cupcake. They would have faired well at the Valpo subregional, maybe even challenged for the title. I guess they just didn't want a difficult route to a subregional title?

My understanding is that their decision was based solely upon geography and demographics. They felt the university and their fans would be better served by playing in Virginia and New York City.