It’s March, so that means one thing and one thing only… post-season college basketball. The Cortland men’s basketball team defeated New Paltz last Saturday, claiming the SUNYAC conference championship and earning a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. It is the Red Dragons’ first trip to the “big dance” since 2016.
How They Got Here
Following a disappointing 2-7 record to begin the season, the team’s outlook entering conference play was bleak. However, they found a way to rally together, winning 12 of their final 16 games. In year two under Coach Mo Kearney, Cortland finished the regular season with a record of 14-11, good enough for the number two seed in the conference tournament.
Following a first-round beat down of Oneonta, they met Oswego in the semifinals. The two teams had met a week earlier, and Cortland was on the wrong end of a 34-point blowout. That would not be the case this time, as a nine-point Cortland victory earned them a date with one-seeded New Paltz in the conference championship. New Paltz had gotten the better of Cortland on two separate occasions in the regular season, and many expected a similar outcome on Saturday night, but Cortland had other plans. The Red Dragons dominated for much of the game, on the way to their first conference title in eight years.
How Does The Bracket Work?
The single elimination tournament consists of 64 teams, including 43 automatic qualifiers and 21 at large bids. There are four different regions with 16 teams in each. The final team remaining from each region advances to the semifinals. The semifinals and National Championship are held in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Opponent Preview
Cortland will face New York University in the first round of the tournament. The Violets enter the game with a 24-1 record and are ranked second in the nation. Cortland will be tasked with stopping NYU’s high-scoring offense, which averages 83 points per game and is ranked second in the country in field goal percentage. With five different players averaging double-digit points, NYU can score at all levels. They are led by graduate student, Tristan How who averages 15 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Kearney is very familiar with NYU, as he spent the 2022-23 season on their staff, as an assistant coach.
Impact Players
Kendall Arcuri – Junior/Forward
Arcuri is one of the most experienced players on the team and is often at his best in big moments. He averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds in the conference tournament and was named tournament MVP—the junior averages 14 points and 6 rebounds on the season. Cortland will once again have to rely heavily on Arcuri if they plan on making a run.
Joel Davis – Sophomore/Forward
The high-flying big man has been a force down low all season. Davis averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds a game in the conference tournament and was named to the all-tournament team. He is at his best on the boards but can score with ease, and isn’t afraid to shoot, as he went 3-4 from beyond the arc in the conference championship.
Final Thoughts
Cortland will enter Friday as an underdog, but they have been resilient all year. A team that began the season 2-7, now has an opportunity to compete for a National Championship, and they are doing it with house money. After all this is March, and anything can happen…survive and advance.