Under the Radar Game of the Day: Boston University at UMass-Lowell, 7:00 PM Eastern, americaeast.tv
– For today’s other highlighted games, scroll down to the bottom of this post.
– We will be recording our weekly Under the Radar video podcast tonight, so keep an eye out for that.
Today’s UTR Game of the Day heads north from Boston to Lowell, Massachusetts, home of the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks, one of five teams that will not be allowed into the NCAA or NIT tournaments this year because of the NCAA’s completely arbitrary and inequitable rule of requiring teams to spend four years transitioning up to D1 before they can be postseason eligible. (For the reason why the rule needs to be changed, read this). The River Hawks are in the same position as the Grand Canyon Antelopes, Incarnate Word Cardinals, Abilene Christian Wildcats and Northern Kentucky Norse this season — with the best possible result to their season being a berth in the CIT (which is a tournament we do love by the way, it just isn’t the “Big Dance” that every player at these schools should be given a chance to dream about playing in). This year’s Lowell team enters play tonight at 4-4, fresh off of the program’s biggest win in its history, a 68-66 victory at Boston College this past weekend (even if BC was dealing with players affected by a food poisoning incident, it was still a win over an ACC school). The River Hawks were led by Isaac White in that game, who scored 20 points, and Jahad White who, while being held to only 7 points, did pick up 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. If both players can put up similar numbers tonight, another victory could certainly be in the cards.
The River Hawks’ opponent tonight is another team from the city of Boston, the Patriot League’s Boston University Terriers. BU is 3-5 on the season, with their best win having been a home victory over Albany, the early favorite to win the America East this season. The Terriers will need a strong effort from the likes of Cheddi Mosely tonight if they want to pick up the road victory. Mosely dropped 26 points on Binghamton in a win earlier this year, but was held to only 2 points last time out against Harvard. Nick Havener led the way in the Harvard loss with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and will be looked upon down low tonight as well. If Mosely, Havener and their teammates can come together for a solid game, the Terriers will certainly give the River Hawks a run for their money.
The only frustrating part about tonight’s game, which should be close and entertaining, is that one of the teams has no chance at the NCAA Tournament this year or next, due to nothing that they or their school did wrong. Maybe it is time for the River Hawks to join Grand Canyon. We have the #LopesWaiver campaign going. Is it time to add in #LowellWaiver too?
Other Highlighted Games
– Iowa at Iowa State: One of the top non-conference rivalries in the country. Both teams have yet to truly prove themselves on the court, but the Cyclones enter undefeated and if they beat their rivals, they will continue to move up the rankings.
– Washington State at Idaho: Washington State has only 1 loss, but all their wins have been against weaker competition at home. The competition level may still be weaker tonight, but at least they are on the road.
Buy/Other Games:
Canisius at Penn State
Troy at Seton Hall
Nicholls State at San Diego State
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