Metropolitan Poll Vol. 14: This is @#$King March

Photo: Newsday

Bracket junkies....AWAKEN! As of today, the regular season is over for every conference in the country, and we've got some Metro teams that are already done with their season, as well as some that are still in the hunt to punch their ticket to the big dance. Here's this weeks poll, along with an update as to where all of our postseason teams stand.

The Metropolitan Poll Week 14

Wagner Upset in the NEC Tournament

This game was honestly a little heartbreaking. After the turn around Wagner had this season, I wanted nothing more than to watch them grab an auto-bid via the NEC tournament. Unfortunately, Saturday's semifinal against Mount St. Mary's did not go their way. It's not like they went out without a fight, too. Down four points at half, Freshman DeLonnie Smith helped keep the Seahawks in a tight fight against the Mountaineers, coming down to who could sink those crucial last-minute free throws. Luckily for Wagner, they have a decent future ahead of them in the NEC. DeLonnie Smith won conference Rookie of the Year, and I think he'll keep them a contender for a few more years.

For a more detailed recap of the NEC Semifinals, check out coverage from our very own Jake Zimmer.

Hofstra Rolls into the CAA Semifinals

Save some for your teammates, Jalen Ray! Ray put on an astounding performance in the CAA Quarterfinals on Sunday, dropping 22 of his game total 34 points in the second half against Delaware. While Ray was Sunday's premier scorer, Caleb Burgess and Isaac Kante had no problem racking up some great statistical performances of his own. Burgess was two assists short of a triple-double, while Isaac Kante racked up 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Defensively, the Pride needs a bit of work. If they're going to clinch the auto bid, they can't keep relying on their fast-paced offense to carry them through a potential Power Conference matchup.

Johnnies Prepare to Burst the Bubble

In terms of a tournament resume, St. John's might have the strangest in the country. A win against Nova, a loss to DePaul, a 6-game win streak shut down by Butler. Overall, I think St. John's is a team that really deserves a serious look by the selection committee. To enter the Big East Tournament in this year's EXTREMELY competitive Big East as a four seed is huge for St. John's. They're a gritty team, and although that can bite them in the butt on some occasions, especially against a hot shooting team, I think they have all the workings of a major upset team should they make the big dance. They're a strong lock for the NIT, but if I'm Coach Anderson, I'm shooting for the moon.