’17 NEWMAC Men’s Basketball Tournament: Reaction From the Springfield College Men’s OT Quarterfinal Victory and Anticipation for the Semis Tilt Against Babson

At 9:30 pm on Wednesday night, things looked pretty dire for next day’s issue of the Springfield Student. Our head sports editor, Shawn McFarland himself was bracing for the worst, bracing to layout pages with both Springfield College basketball teams sulking in the agony of defeat. But then this happened:

https://scstudentmedia.com/2017/02/23/pride-rally-to-beat-wheaton-in-newmac-quarter-finals-85-82-in-overtime/

The Pride win, Shawn ends up snapping that headline photo (which he proclaims is the best picture he’s ever taken), his night’s made, everyone’s happy. At least, everyone but the Wheaton Lyons:

http://athletics.wheatoncollege.edu/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170222z0hkh0

Don’t really understand the highlight video at the bottom. There isn’t any footage of the fourth quarter or overtime ??? Anyways, the No. 1 Babson Beavers are waiting in Wellesley to take on the Pride in the NEWMAC semis tomorrow at 5 pm. Babson has not lost at home all season, and they look like they mean business:

https://twitter.com/BabsonAthletics

The full breakdown of the 2017 NEWMAC men’s basketball tournament can be found here:

http://newmacsports.com/championships/mbkb/index

Is it me, or is it sort of shady that they labeled each Feb. 26 scenario “NEWMAC Tournament Championship/Finals” except the Springfield College box? Probably nothing….

Regardless, a Springfield win would be a monumental upset. The Beavers are the No. 1 ranked team in Division III, they’re playing at home, where they haven’t lost all year. It’s also been a while since the Springfield men have beaten Babson at basketball.

But there is hope! The Pride has proven to overcome adversity this season (in both the game against Amherst and the game against Wheaton) despite having a youthful squad. After stealing one from the Lyons they’ll be coming at Babson at full steam – a Babson team that may be vulnerable to some complacency. The Beavers are entering this one as back-to-back NEWMAC champions with their ticket to the NCAA dance already punched. We’ll see tomorrow if they’re really ready to defend their home court.