The idea hit me as I was planning out the day. Lunch plans with a pooh-bah needed to be confirmed, and in doing so I wrote what I thought was an innocuous email line: “can we just skip Saturday and start playing the CAA tournament now, in a double elimination format?”

Double elimination. Brilliant.

Want to protect against your best team stumbling? Make ‘em lose twice. You get what you deserve. (Somebody please forward this idea to the Ohio Valley.)

OK, so the idea isn’t that great. But admit it–for a second you thought it was pretty good, too.

***

Tiebreaker season is upon us, but let’s hold off until tonight’s games end. We’ll figure it all out tomorrow. Until then, enjoy this from Patrick Stevens.

However I will note that in the battle for the top four, The Pugs appear to have most of the tiebreakers in their favor, then probably Drexel, then Mason, then VCU. Keep in mind that’s relying on how I remember the past eight weeks. We’ll actually do the math tomorrow morning. Promise.

***

Even though he doesn’t carry a clipboard, Tom Pecora coached, at least defensively, a whale of a game last night. (Side note: yes, some people are unintentionally funny.)

The Pride took Northeastern out of its offensive sets consistently in the second half by denying the elbow pass that gets the Huskies rolling in their flex.

I don’t know if NU crowded itself, or Hofstra forced difficult passes by playing the passing lanes and bearing down on the intended targets, but the result was a ton of awkward shots, leading to a 7-28 (25%) field goal clip after a 50% first half.

NU also missed all six threes and didn’t make a field goal in the final three minutes.

And as we roll forward, I think Hofstra answered the degree of difficulty question of its winning streak. They just took out the conference’s #1 team on its home court.

***

Don’t let this slip by you, either: Georgia State had Old Dominion scared last night. The Panthers had ODU down 49-46 before a massive 18-2 run by the Monarchs ended it.

Also keep this in mind: ODU hit 7-13 threes. That’s an uh-oh stat.

***

We’re big CAA homers here, but I’ve got to admit. Tonight’s slate isn’t exactly breathtaking. Honestly that’s a good thing, because that gives us time to think about Saturday, and then soak it in. Lots of gut-punching games on Saturday. But for posterity:

The Dub at Drexel. It’s 7pm on TCN.  Here’s some early Mull, and he’s promised some later Mull. His link to himself about the CAA season is a worthy read as well.

UNCW doesn’t guard anybody, and here’s a piece of analysis that nobody else can give you: playing defense is key to limiting your opponent’s scoring.

Drexel big.

JMU at VCU. In his final home game, TJ Gwynn has a chance to break the VCU record for alltime wins by a player. That’s not as surprising as you’d think, considering it seems like Gwynn has been playing for VCU since Bush was in office. The first Bush. For you old schoolers, Gwynn’s like the McCray brothers at Louisville. They were juniors for about six years.

VCU big.

Mason at Delaware. The Mason Bench can give it to you straight, because I cannot figure out the Patriots. Shoot, determining Larranaga’s starters is approaching lotto-like odds. I do know this: Cam Long is barely a second team All CAA player, if that.

Mason kinda big.

Towson at The Pugs. Or, Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies. Pitchers and catchers reporting, baby.

Pugs kinda big.