Hope Remains

I'm sure the current season has not gone as planned for head coach Jim Aller and the Eastern Nazarene College men's basketball team, nonetheless, going into a home game against New England College tonight the Lions remain in contention for one of the final playoff spots of The Commonwealth Coast Conference.

The Lions are 3-6 in conference, 7-13 overall, and carry along with them the tenth spot in the TCCC standings (top eight enter the tournament). The three teams above ENC are Gordon (8-12 (4-5)), Salve Regina (11-9 (5-4)), and NEC (16-5 (5-4)). The two spots below the Lions are occupied by Western New England (4-16 (3-6)) and Nichols (5-15 (2-7)).

For purposes of conference record, the ultimate factor of whether a teams enters the TCCC playoffs, the conference opponents remaining on ENC's schedule are NEC (tonight at 8 pm), Nichols, Salve Regina, and Roger Williams (14-7 (6-3). Although two game behind NEC and Salve Regina, ENC plays each of them once before season end, which means the Lions have control over one of the two games. An unfortunate loss to the Scots of Gordon gives them, not only a one game advantage in the standings, but virtually two, as they hold the tie breaker over ENC, which means the Lions would have to end the season with a better conference record to leap frog the Scots.

For having significant injuries (I think we all know what I'm talking about) on the roster, the Lions have managed to remain in the playoff picture, which shouldn't be too much of a surprise to anyone who follows them on a day to day basis. Even with a season ending injury to Chima Ezeigbo the Lions remain talented, especially in the back court, and are well coached.

The schedule lines up nicely for the Lions to clinch a spot if they catch fire and set off on a run. It's a tall task, but feasible. Every game is now being played with a playoff fervor, "win or go home."