A big, big day ahead for the Broncs

BUFFALO - After Saturday's convincing 79-59 win over Canisius in the quarterfinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Rider men's basketball team will play in Sunday's semifinal round for the first time since joining the league prior to the 1997-98 season.

That first year in the MAAC was also Don Harnum's first year as the Broncs' head coach. Rider was the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament in Albany, NY, but lost 71-58 to seventh-seeded Manhattan. It turned out to be the first of seven straight losses in the MAAC Tournament quarterfinal round for the Broncs, who wound up going to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) with an 18-9 record in 1998. Rider dropped an 82-68 decision at Penn State in the NIT to finish 18-10.

Fast forward to 2005 and the Broncs are again the No. 2 seed and are again 18-10. But that's where the similarities stop after Rider snapped that 0-for-7 streak in MAAC quarterfinal games. And not only did the Broncs survive, they did so with an inspiring second-half performance that is making even the most pessimistic Rider fan think, "Could this be the year?"

There are still obstacles in the way, of course. No. 3 seed Fairfield and the nation's leading shot blocker, Deng Gai, await the Broncs in the semifinal round Sunday. Rider lost a close one at home to the Stags, 72-69, on Jan. 15. However, the Broncs avenged that loss with a 74-66 win at Bridgeport, CT, on Feb. 6.

The key to the game for Rider is outside shooting. If Jerry Johnson, who scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half in Saturday's win, and company can stay away from Gain inside and hit shots from the perimeter, the Broncs have an excellent shot to win this game assuming they also play their typically solid defense and take care of the ball.

If Rider starts hitting three-pointers early and Gai drifts out of the lane to challenge the shooters, the Broncs can look inside to 7-footer Steve Castleberry, who stepped up with 13 points and three blocks in Saturday's victory.

All in all, this is a big day in the recent history of Rider basketball. With a win, Monday will become a monumental day.