Spartans To Host First Round SSC Women’s Matchup While Men Travel To Barry

ORLANDO, Fla. - The pairings are set for the 2009 BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida Sunshine State Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. Play will begin with the top seeds hosting quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 4. The University of Tampa women will entertain Lynn while the UT men will be at Barry. Both games are slated for 7 p.m.

The semifinals and finals will be conducted Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 at the Arena at the Don Taft University Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University.

On the women's side, Rollins (23-4, 12-4 SSC) earned the top seed by virtue of a tiebreaker over regular- season co-champion Tampa (22-5, 12-4). In Wednesday's quarterfinals, Rollins will host No. 8 Barry (15-12, 6-10). No. 2 Tampa will entertain No. 7 Lynn (16-11, 7-9).

Since the Tars and Spartans split their regular-season games, the teams' performance was measured against the squad occupying the next highest position in the rankings. Ultimately, Rollins gained the advantage by going a combined 4-0 against Florida Tech and Lynn, while Tampa finished 3-1 against those teams.

Eckerd (16-11, 9-7) claimed the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 Florida Tech (18-9, 7-9) in a quarterfinal showdown. No. 4 Nova Southeastern (13-14, 9-7) will welcome No. 5 Florida Southern (18-9, 8-8).

Despite finishing with the same SSC record, Eckerd claimed the higher seed over Nova Southeastern by sweeping the teams' regular-season meetings. Florida Tech likewise gained the advantage over Lynn by winning both of the teams' regular-season contests.

In men's quarterfinal action, regular-season champion Florida Southern (24-6, 13-3 SSC) earned the top seed and will host No. 8 Florida Tech (13-14, 5-11). No. 2 Rollins (18-9, 10-6) will entertain No. 7 Saint Leo (15-15, 7-9), while No. 3 Nova Southeastern (15-10, 9-7) plays host to No. Lynn (16-11, 7-9). No. 4 Barry (13-14, 8-8) will welcome N o. 5 Tampa (15-11, 8-8) in the other quarterfinal showdown.

Tampa and Barry both posted 8-8 conference marks and split their regular-season games. Looking at the teams' records against opponents occupying the highest position in the standings, Barry ultimately gained the tiebreaker advantage by going 1-1 against Nova Southeastern. Tampa dropped both of its contests to the Sharks.

Using the same process, the deadlock between Lynn and Saint Leo tipped in favor of Lynn because the Fighting Knights split their regular-season games against top-seed Florida Southern. The Lions lost both of their matchups against the Moccasins.

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
QUARTERFINALS - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 (Campus Sites)
No. 8 Barry at No. 1 Rollins, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Lynn at No. 2 Tampa, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Florida Tech at No. 3 Eckerd, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Florida Southern at No. 4 Nova Southeastern, 5:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS - SATURDAY, MARCH 7 (Hosted by Nova Southeastern)
Winner 3/6 vs. Winner 2/7, Noon
Winner 4/5 vs. Winner 1/8, 2:30 p.m.
* If host school competes in semifinals, it will play in the second game of the day, and start times will be switched if necessary.

FINAL - SUNDAY, MARCH 8 (Hosted by Nova Southeastern)
Semifinal Winners, 1 p.m.

MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
QUARTERFINALS - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 (Campus Sites)
No. 8 Florida Tech at No. 1 Florida Southern, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Saint Leo at No. 2 Rollins, 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 Lynn at No. 3 Nova Southeastern, 7:30 p.m.
No. 5 Tampa at No. 4 Barry, 7 p.m.

SEMIFINALS - SATURDAY, MARCH 7 (Hosted by Nova Southeastern)
Winner 3/6 vs. Winner 2/7, 5 p.m.
Winner 4/5 vs. Winner 1/8, 7:30 p.m.
* If host school competes in semifinals, it will play in the second game of the day, and start times will b e switched if necessary.

FINAL - SUNDAY, MARCH 8 (Hosted by Nova Southeastern)
Semifinal Winners, 3:30 p.m.