Empire 8

[dewcrew88]

Congrats to Fisher. To put it simply,they were the class of the league all season long. There was never a question.

Congrats to Utica, as well. No shame in being second best to one of the top teams in the region. The Pioneers will likely be one of the top two seeds in the ECAC's. It'd be nice if an E8 team could win it.

On behalf of all the Utica posters on this board, thanks for the congratulations. Just like in D1, somebody's gotta be the team that's on the outside looking in. All we hd to do was beat Fisher, and we had three opportunites this season and could not get it done. i hope our record and qowi can get  us an at-large bid into the NCAA's, but if not, the ecac's are nothing to sniff at.

[fisheralum91]

Budcrew,
Congrats on a good season-and yes the ecac's are nothing to sneeze at!
Clear- You did have 3 shots to beat Fisher and didn't get it done.  Smack talk aside- UC's only real chance to beat Fisher was the 1st game.
Good luck UC in the ecac's and congrats on a really good season. 

Now on to Fisher-Great E8 title, now to make it a great season-string at least 2 more wins together to make the title worthwhile!

[fisheralum03]

The difference in the game last night was the start (i.e. the first 5 minutes.) Fisher started with a 12-1 run and ended at 16-4 when Mike Mcgee (seriously, I have not seen anyone with a better shot. He makes it look so effortless) hit a 3 and was fouled. Fisher came out like a rocket with 2 three's from Nick Bennett, 2 from Mike McGee and one from Justin Beigel. (I did not know he could shoot three's) Hey everything was going in for Fisher. I give Utica credit for not quitting. That game could have been over by the half. It was 35-25 but could have easily been 45-25 or worse. The closest Utica got was 7. If you broke the 2nd half into 4 min segments, Utica would get it to 8 but Fisher would respond, Utica got it to 7 but then Fisher gets it to 14 and the game was over. Congrats to Fisher on a 4th count 'em 4th straight E8 title. Good luck in the NCAA tournament.

[clearconceit]

Definitely a downer.  But 3 strikes and you're out.  I think we belong in the tournament but I am not holding my breath on that one.  the ECAC's are an honor but honestly with the team we have and the experience I am not sure some of the guy will be pumped up to play.
I have always felt that the ECAC is like the NIT; great for an up and coming program but not such a thrill for a program that is geared up for the NCAA tournament.

Make no mistake about it, the Utica program is beyond the rising phase.  And hopefully the players feel taht way too!

Fingers are crossed.

[superman57]

Clear and all of utica, I have to say I think we are all hoping that Utica gets an at-large bid.  but with the recent upsets, Unfortunatly the E8 equals out to the MAAC once again

[gobombers15]

Hey now, don't go knocking the MAAC. If Iona makes it, they could pull an upset. Don't forget what Manhattan did a few years ago.

[UCgrad45]

Utica has a slim chance at getting an at large bid. The NYU last night helped a little. If the East Region gets another at large bid after Cortland, Utica would be first in line to get it. All of the predictions that I have seen have Utica being one of the first 3 teams just outside of the tournament. It sucks getting so close and likely getting locked out.

If you break it down, 50% of our losses are to one team, who is number 1 in the region. Only lost to four teams all year, and one of them we beat the second time around. Finished the season winning 6 out of 7. 21-6 with a 20-6 regional record, and likely being ranked third in the region. But because SUNY Tech, who we beat twice, knocked out Cortland, we suffer. Cortland wins that Conference tournament, and Utica is pretty much a lock.

Utica could get the 1 seed in the ECAC if they dont get in the NCAA. If that happens, they wouldnt be able to host because the Heart Run and Walk is on campus this week.

Congratulations to Fisher, they are the best team in the region and they earned this bid.

[UCgrad45]

Unfortunately facts would suggest otherwise.

Feb 7, 2006

@ Oswego

Oswego 63 Utica 49

Had Utica won that game, they would have still been in strong contention for a pool C bid.  With Oswego's record, that was a 13, possibly 15 point win, and Utica knew it.

Oswego's two losses since then were to the 5 & 6 seeds in the SUNYAC.

I like Utica, they have good players and a great coach, but they would be 10-6 or so playing in the SUNYAC.

One bad night for Utica is not good enough to base that judgment on. Especially since Utica fouled nearly every possesion for the last 5 minutes, making what would have been a 7 or 8 point game look worse than it was.

SUNY tech beat Cortland, Utica beat suny twice. Suny also split with Oswego.

Had Cortland been in the E8, they likely would have lost twice to Fisher and Split with Utica and had to play Utica again in the tournament. They may have had a very hard time with a RIT or Ithaca as well.

[jbl2006]

Good points, i only got see Utica agaisnt Oswego, And Cortland swept Ithaca this season, but both games were tight until the end.

[reggieball22]

Oh i'm sorry about my grammer, by the way is "dissing" a word? I think not Merriam.

Yes. straight from Websters Free online dictionary.....

dis  (ds)
tr.v. dissed, diss·ing, diss·es Informal
To show disrespect to, often by insult or criticism: "[The network] is often dissed for going after older, less demographically desirable viewers" Michael McWilliams.

[Javaman]

Here is the staffs predictions of the East Bracket:

1. St. John Fisher
2. Cortland State
3. Baldwin-Wallace
4. Trinity (Conn.)
5. Hamilton
6. Norwich
7. Plattsburgh State
8. Endicott

I'm shocked they have Cortland #2 and why is Hamilton #5? It's interesting that there are northeastern teams in there as well. Tough Bracket, in my opnion. Who will get to "host" sweet 16? Cortland, IF they advance?

[superman57]

They could give it to Fisher, because Amherst was a lot smaller than fisher

[Javaman]

Superman, that would be awesome!

[superman57]

The only thing I could see there is B-W calling foul because they own a win over fisher

[bamm]

Superman --  it is absolutely not "a lot smaller" than Fisher.  While it is small, for it to be "a lot smaller" than Fisher would mean the bench players would have to sit outside.