I wrote on this board a few weeks back how good I thought both Medaille and SUNY IT were ... even though they play in lesser conferences. Fact is both the AMCC and NEAC have a few teams at the top of their leagues who could, and would, be very competitive and compete for championships in any league in the state. They proved it last night. Medaille is a true system team who is smart, well-coached and disciplined in their approach. SUNYIT is super athletic with two great players in Brown and Goleimbowski. They took down the winners of the Empire 8 and SUNYAC so please don't discount these "lesser" leagues and programs in the future. I read people bashing them for a weak conference and discounting them all the time on these boards. Fact is many schools from the LL, Empire 8 and SUNYAC won't schedule schools like Medaille, SUNYIT, Pitt Brad, Wells and Penn State Behrend because they know how difficult it is to play them. Hats off to the little guy for taking down the big dogs. That is what March Madness is all about!!

I wrote on this board a few weeks back how good I thought both Medaille and SUNY IT were ... even though they play in lesser conferences. Fact is both the AMCC and NEAC have a few teams at the top of their leagues who could, and would, be very competitive and compete for championships in any league in the state. They proved it last night. Medaille is a true system team who is smart, well-coached and disciplined in their approach. SUNYIT is super athletic with two great players in Brown and Goleimbowski. They took down the winners of the Empire 8 and SUNYAC so please don't discount these "lesser" leagues and programs in the future. I read people bashing them for a weak conference and discounting them all the time on these boards. Fact is many schools from the LL, Empire 8 and SUNYAC won't schedule schools like Medaille, SUNYIT, Pitt Brad, Wells and Penn State Behrend because they know how difficult it is to play them. Hats off to the little guy for taking down the big dogs. That is what March Madness is all about!!

While I am not at all claiming Medaille would win the Empire 8, I can tell you they are definitely good enough to accomplish that. To say they would be #6 is way underestimating them. I don't believe they would be 19-1 right now playing an E8 schedule, but I have seen them play several times and know their personnel pretty well and they would absolutely be in the top 2-3 of the league. Coaches who understand the nature of DIII hoops realize how good this Medaille team is. I also know for a fact they handled Fisher pretty well in a pre-season scrimmage and match up well with them. So if Fisher is the measuring stick for the top of the E8, I think Medaille should be considered in that same category.

With age and Magicman, great stuff and thanks.

I guess the point I was trying to make is while I realize this is the LL board, and most people think of Eastern Region basketball being LL, SUNYAC and Empire 8 along with the U of R ... there are a couple other teams in the region who I feel can play with any of the teams from those more "respected" conferences.

Put Medaille and SUNYIT in any conference in the state and I believe they would be in the top 2 or 3 and definitely have a shot at winning a title. The fact they play in lesser leagues hurts their reputation and skews their SOS. But schools from the "upper" leagues will not even schedule them for fear of taking a loss (and if they do get a shot it will normally be on the road).

Don't sell these teams short and they should be in the discussion when talking about the best teams in the Eastern Region. While I agree neither will get Pool C consideration should they loose in their conference tournament (although if Medaille wins out until the post-season they will have a very good ranking by the NCAA regional committee) they both have the ability to win a game or two in the NCAA's if they get the right match-up.

I've been away for some time, but I want to chime into the regional ranking and possible Pool C consideration from the East Region. U of R and Fisher are always getting the publicity. Ithaca last year and Brockport and Plattsburgh in the past too have represented the East well. But I want folks to begin to take notice of schools from the "lesser" leagues in NYS that can play with all the big boys this year. More specifically Wells and SUNY IT from the NEAC and Medaille from the AMCC.

All are East Region members and should be in the discussion for top teams in the region. SUNYIT went to the NCAA's last year and nearly reached the Sweet 16. They return nearly everyone from that team and have one of the top players in the region in Dave Golembiowski. Wells is super athletic with a number of big-time players. They have beaten SUNY IT and will be a good bet to play them again in  the NEAC finals for the league's AQ.

Medaille has very quietly slipped into the Top 25 national ranking, yet get no notice on these boards. Their conference is not real strong, but they do have wins over then 9th ranked John Carroll on the road and an always tough Penn State Behrend. This is another team coming off an NCAA papearance last year nad are loaded with veteran players who understand their roles. If you are not convinced, just ask the St. John Fisher players who scrimmaged them in the early season. I have heard the MAvs had their way with the Cardinals. Keep an eye on all three of these teams heading into Feb.

She can't play at all in graduate school unless she is at the same school she received her undergrad degree from and is still within the 10 semesters as Upstate pointed out. The deal with Paulus playing football in grad school is a Division I rule where he could play another sport as long as it is within 5 years of his initial enrollment. But at DIII you cannot play in grad school if you have a degree from another institution.

I hear now it is almost assured that Nazareth will be moving to the LL to take Hamilton's spot. Not sure if LL is looking to add any more. That would leave both conferences with 8 schools.

I would think if one school does indeed leave the Empire 8 for the LL it would not look to expand, just stay with the original 8 schools. However, if 3 leave as speculated on this site the Empire 8 would have to look to expand. Instead of moving downstate toward the Skyline - where Bard, Purchase and MSM are geographically logical but their competition level in all sports is nowhere near Empire 8 standards - I would think they would look to central NY schools like Keuka and Cazenovia. Both of them traditionally play a lot of Empire 8 schools in all sports and they make sense from a money standpoint. They are both more competitive than the Skyline schools and currently reside in the ever-changing NEAC. Just a thought.

From talking to some people I know I have heard Kevin Brodrick's name from Oswego mentioned. Former Naz player who has done a great job at Oswego. Does it make sense?? Seems like a lateral move, but allure of alma mater might be enough to make the move.

What about long-time assistant Toby Brown? Has he burned bridges or maybe he does not want the head job. Kevin Downey has helped out there the past couple years but he is young and inexperienced.

D'Youville played very well and had the game if not for a couple turnovers down the stretch. Spartans led by 6 at the break and it was back and forth most of the second half. Lead changed hands 4 times in the last few minutes. With Fisher up 3, DYC had the ball and missed two 3's in the closing seconds which would have sent the game to OT.

I don't see Fisher play too often, but they had some physically strong guards. Their inside game was non-existant. D'Youville is small but very athletic on the wings. I believe Fisher will do fine in the league once they settle into their roles. I did see Baltz's name in the program but he did not play in the game. D'Youville will beat a lot of people in their league ... which is poor overall. I believe they could also compete with the middle and lower teams in the Empire 8 this season.

I saw D'Youville Saturday and they really struggled against a decent Lancaster Bible squad. The Spartans jumped out 23-10 by pressing and trapping ... then they fell apart. Had trouble scoring, missed a ton of jump shots and turned it over like it was their job. Maybe I have overestimated this team. They did not look too good at all and they are small. No sign of Butler (last year's starting center) and Kowalski was on the bench in street clothes again. A couple of the frosh looked promising and started, but overall they lacked a lot. Maybe middle of the pack in the NEAC judging by this performance.

What do you know about this Paulino kid from FLCC?? What happened to him and did he drop out? How in the world is he going to cut it academically at Wells?? That is a pretty elitist school. Looking at their team pix on the web site ... I can't imagine it reflects the profile of the entire student body!

Is Askew back with Berks? I saw him play a couple years ago in Buffalo and I thought he was pretty good.

Wells has a loaded roster that looks good on paper for a first-year program. They are huge up front (6-10, 6-6., 6-6). They are a surprise team in this league.

Harrisburg also has a new coach. If they don't have Lewis and Hitz they will be in trouble. Neither is listed on their web site roster.

Interesting to see Smith from Keuka transferred to Caz. That hurts one NEAC program while strengthening another. He should help make up for the loss of Latendress.

SUNY IT will be a factor, but to say they should win it hands down just because they came from the SUNYAC is a stretch. Remember, they were pounded in the SUNYAC. It is not like Brockport or Geneseo joining this league.

I will be at the DYC game tomorrow and report back. I guess they won their exhibition game over a Canadian school by nearly 40. I don't have any details on it however.

I've been off the board for some time, but it sounds like Wells might be a player in this league. I did not know what to expect from a first-year program ... but apparently the coach has been working hard recruiting some big-time players. A guard from Chicago and a guy who had a chance to play in the Big 12?? I might have to adjust my predictions if that is true.

Well I would have DYC up a little higher and I actually think they have the talent to win the league. Charles Walker had a great summer from what I saw and Coach Miller has added some athletic kids around him. Their point guard play will be improved, but they lack a true low post threat. That is why I am hesitant to put them at the top of my list. A lot will depend on the rehab of Kowalski and how he comes back from a knee injury that had him playing at around 50% last season.