The East Coast Conference will be in the awkward position next month of having its men's postseason basketball tournament hosted by a member that wants out. Even though the Towson State administration is going ahead with plans to enter the North Atlantic Conference, the ECC tournament still will be held at the Towson Center March 2, 3 and 5.
The Tigers, currently 9-0 in the league, will be seeking their second straight ECC title. They need just one more conference victory in three tries to wrap up the regular-season title and a first-round bye in the tournament.
The application process for joining the North Atlantic will not be completed until next month, and then Towson State would have to be accepted by the conference's eight other members. Many details have to be worked out, and Tigers athletic director Bill Hunter isn't sure if Towson State can be accepted in time for the 1991-92 school year.
"I think the biggest problem is going to be getting us in for next year," Hunter said. "Several schools have schedule openings for just that eventuality, and a lot of contracts for next year are not even signed yet."
Hunter said it is possible Towson State would not be accepted by the North Atlantic until 1992-93. In that event, the Tigers might remain in the ECC for another year. That conference will not have an automatic bid to the 1992 NCAA basketball tournament, one reason Towson State is exploring other options.
If the Tigers are not in position to represent a conference in the 1992 tournament, several players who are currently juniors could postpone their senior seasons. Before Saturday's 84-76 win over Central Connecticut, Terrance Jacobs said he and Devin Boyd, Towson State's top two scorers, have discussed the situation and would consider that option.