All nine teams are still alive for the eight playoff berths, and York and Villa Julie are the only teams to clinch their positions in the standings, heading into Saturday's final day of the 2007-08 Capital Athletic Conference men's basketball regular season.

York (18-6, 13-2), which had already clinched the regular-season title, extended its win streak to nine games with a 115-69 win at Gallaudet (6-19, 4-12) Wednesday.  The Spartans will play the eighth-place team Tuesday in the second half of a playoff doubleheader (approx. 8 p.m.).

Another team that punched its ticket for the playoffs Wednesday was Villa Julie (7-17, 5-7), which knocked off Hood by a 78-73 margin Wednesday to clinch seventh place.  Salisbury (6-18, 4-11) could catch VJ for seventh place, but the Mustangs would have the advantage in the tiebreaker because of a win over Wesley (14-10, 9-6). 

The rest of the seedings and standings will be decided by Saturday's schedule, which includes St. Mary's (13-11, 8-7) at Wesley, York at Marymount (13-11, 8-7), Mary Washington (15-8, 10-5) at Villa Julie and Salisbury at Hood (14-10, 8-7). 

Mary Washington can clinch second place with a win over Villa Julie or a St. Mary's triumph over Wesley.  If VJ beats UMW and Wesley tops SMC, Wesley would finish second and Mary Washington would be third because Wesley has a win over York this season.  UMW is guaranteed a home game as either the second or third seed in Tuesday's quarterfinal round.  The Eagles will play in the second half of a twinbill, beginning at approximately 8 p.m.

Wesley has the most on the line Saturday as the Wolves could finish anywhere from second to fifth in the regular-season standings.  Wesley would clinch at least third place, and possibly second (pending the result of the UMW vs. VJ game), with a win over St. Mary's.  If the Seahawks upend the Wolves, it would create at least a two-way tie between the two teams, and possibly a three-way tie for third place if Hood finishes with a win over Salisbury.

In a three-way tie between Hood, SMC and Wesley, the Blazers would gain the third seed because of head-to-head competition among the three tied teams, followed by the Seahawks and Wolverines.

Marymount, which ends the campaign hosting top-seeded York, is also still in the fray and could finish either fifth or sixth place.  The Saints could finish in a three-way tie for fourth place with Hood and St. Mary's.  In that scenario, Hood would edge Marymount for the fourth seed because of a regular-season win over York.  St. Mary's would gain the #6 seed in a three-way tie with Hood and Marymount because both the Blazers and Saints swept the regular-season games vs. SMC.

Marymount could also finish in a two-way for fifth place with either St. Mary's or Hood.  If tied with SMC, Marymount would be the No. 5 seed because of a regular-season sweep against the Seahawks.  If the Saints tied with Hood, the Blazers would have the advantage because of a regular-season win over top-seeded York.

Gallaudet, which is tied with Salisbury in the wins column, has the bye Saturday and needs Salisbury to lose to Hood to have a chance at a playoff berth.  If Salisbury beats Hood, the Sea Gulls tie VJ for seventh place and gain the eighth seed in the tournament (because VJ has a win over Wesley).  If Hood wins, SU and GU tie for eighth place. 

In that scenario, SU will gain the eighth seed if there is a three-way tie for third place (Hood, SMC and Wesley) - Hood would finish above Wesley in the standings, and SU beat Hood in the first meeting of the season.  However, GU gains the eighth spot in the playoffs if Wesley beats SMC to finish among the top three in the final standings because the Bison have a win over the Wolves.
 

2008 CAC Men's Basketball Playoffs

Tuesday, Feb. 26 - Quarterfinal Round
Game 1: #8 seed at #1 York, 8 p.m.
Game 2: #5 seed at #4 seed, TBA
Game 3: #6 seed at #3 seed, TBA
Game 4: #7 Villa Julie at #2 seed, TBA

Thursday, Feb. 28 -- Semifinal Round
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, TBA
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, TBA

Saturday, Mar. 1 -- Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, TBA