In the third installment of Just The Facts we look at the history of teams that have suffered the type of hard-luck regular season the Flying Dutchmen just endured. The Dutchmen were 2-8 in games decided by six points or less or in overtime, which made them just the eighth team in CAA history to go 2-8 or worse in such games (minimum 10 games). They are just the second team to endure such a season, following in the footsteps of last year’s Towson squad, since the CAA began expanding in 2000-01.
As for how those teams fared in the tournament—bad news, kiddies: Thus far, teams that specialize in close but not quite have combined to win a grand total of one CAA Tournament game. And that was an outbracket, 8 vs. 9 game win by American in 1999.
In addition, the losses haven’t been close: The average margin of defeat in a season-ending defeat for the Dutchmen’s predecessors was 15.3 points. Is that ironic? Only Towson managed to lose by six or less.
All of which means the Dutchmen will make HUGE HISTORY this weekend! Right? Anyway, here’s a look at the previous seven teams to go 2-8 in games decided by six points or less or in overtime:
1985-86 JAMES MADISON: 2-9 in games decided by six points or less, 5-22/3-11 CAA overall, lost in quarterfinals as seventh seed
1986-87 WILLIAM & MARY: 1-10 in games decided by six points or less, 5-21/2-12 CAA overall, lost in quarterfinals as eighth seed
1987-88 EAST CAROLINA: 2-10 in games decided by six points or less, 8-19/3-11 CAA overall, lost in quarterfinals as eighth seed
1989-90 NAVY: 1-9 in games decided by six points or less, 5-22/4-10 CAA overall, lost in quarterfinals as sixth seed
1989-90 UNC WILMINGTON: 2-8 in games decided by six points or less, 8-19/3-11 CAA overall, lost in quarterfinals as seventh seed
1998-99 AMERICAN: 2-8 in games decided by six points or less, 6-20/2-14 CAA overall, beat William & Mary in outbracket game before losing in quarterfinals as ninth seed
2010-11 TOWSON: 2-12 in games decided by six points or less, 4-25/0-18 CAA overall, lost in first round as 12th seed
Email Jerry at defiantlydutch@yahoo.com or follow Defiantly Dutch at http://twitter.com/defiantlydutch.
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