A Year of Firsts in 2010 NEC Tournament?

The 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament could become known as the trifecta of first's if the Quinnipiac Bobcats win this year's conferance tournament. This year the Quinnipiac Bobcats have not only achieved their first appearance in the Northeast Conference Tournament, but aso the team's first number one seed. Justin Rudd is the first Quinnipiac player to be honored with the Northeast Conference Player of the Year award.

The Quinnipiac Bobcats host Monmouth on March 4, 2010.

The 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament begins on March 4th. The semifinals will be March 7th and the finals will be played March 10th.

Some would argue that Mount St. Mary's is the hottest Northeast Conference team right now. The Mount St. Mary's team has won 10 games in a row. Mount St. Mary's won the NEC Championship in 2008. In 2009, they were defeated by Robert Morris 48-46 in the NEC tournament final.

Mount St. Mary's faces St. Francis (PA) in the 2010 NEC tournament. This is St. Francis's (PA) first appearance in the Northeast Conference Tournament since 2005.

Long Island and Fairleigh Dickinson will also be facing off during the 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament. Fairleigh Dickinson holds a conference tournament record with eighteen straight tournament appearances from 1984 to 2001.

The final two teams for the 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament are Robert Morris and Central Connecticut St. Robert Morris won it's sixth championship title in 2009. The 2010 NEC Defensive Player of The Year Mergie Nwigwe will be leading Robert Morris against Central Connecticut St. on Thursday night.

My prediction for the final two teams in the Northeast Conference tournament is Robert Morris and Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac will be taking the NEC championship nets down this season.

*Information for this article gathered from www.northeastconference.org.