Drexel loss to Towson means one domino falls for Johns Hopkins

Door to NCAA tournament appears to open a little wider for No. 13 Blue Jays

Towson’s 11-8 upset of No. 15 Drexel in one semifinal of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament Wednesday evening means the Tigers will meet No. 9 Penn State in the title game on Friday and get a chance to seize the automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament. The outcome may also have opened the door a little wider for No. 13 Johns Hopkins.

The Blue Jays (8-5) are rated 17th in RPI in the latest rankings produced by the NCAA. The Dragons (11-4) are two spots ahead of Johns Hopkins but could slide down when the RPI list is updated this weekend for the NCAA selection committee.

That is a positive sign for the Blue Jays, but those same hopes would dim if Towson (9-7) knocked off the Nittany Lions (12-3) because that would bump Penn State down to one of the eight at-large bids that Johns Hopkins desperately needs.

In the end, the Blue Jays still need some help from other teams to qualify for their 42nd consecutive NCAA tournament. But at least there is another reason for optimism for the folks who call Homewood Field home.