Empire 8

[slickyquick]

I'm going to go back on the argument about Bostic and McSweeney. Both are good players and both will compete for position on the All-Empire 8 team. I think right now McSweeney is a better player because of experience and playing with a better team. Bostic is still raw and remember there were a lot of games early last year that he didn't even play in. Game wise, he is still a freshmen or a very young sophomore.

I think if Bostic concentrates solely on basketball he could be a dominating force in the Empire 8...but he doesn't concentrate on basketball. He plays both sports which I admire him quite a bit for it. Could McSweeney put up the same numbers if he was a tight end for the Fisher football team?

Two years down the road the give the edge to Bostic but right now I'll throw my chips McSweeney's way. That kills me to say that because I've never liked Fisher but they always have good players.

[dmcclintock]

You lose credibility each time you talk and say garbage like that. If you think Mike McGee is even in the same league as Bellis as a basketball player, I suggest you take off maroon and gold-tinted glasses and learn a bit about basketball. I can guarantee you eight coaches in the conference disagree with your statement about Bellis not being able to start on Fisher. What a joke.

I think Bostic is a better player than McSweeney right now and, after one round through the E8, that's being shown. Also, in two years when Bostic is a senior, everyone will be laughing that this is even a conversation. You "know" Bostic? What do you know about him? What the box score tells you?

The kid is a sophomore who didn't even participate in a preseason practice because he was playing football and he's STILL putting up better numbers than McSweeney. How many guys do you think could do that? Sure, everyone on Fisher played better than Ithaca yesterday, but does that mean they're all better players? Of course not. It means they played better yesterday. It was a game for about two minutes. I don't know how many conclusions you can make from a game like that and I think it's a joke that you make such blanket statements like "it's not even a comparison between McSweeney and Bostic" after a game like that.

Remember how you talked about McSweeney "dominating" Bacon in their first matchup and then Bacon handed it to him about four days later? I suggest you temper your statements a little if you want anyone to think you know what you're talking about.

Time for me to throw my two cents...whether I think mcsweeney dominates anyone in the E8 is irrelevant...However I do think he is the best big man in the league....I have seen Bacon and Bostic play...Bacon more so since he has been in the league longer...I like Bacons game but I would pick Mcsweeney over him anyday...I have not done any reserach on bostic but I did see Fisher games last year and I do not really remember him playing...he was a freshman however and bellis was their stud...I would easily take mcsweeney over bostic just because he is more experienced and a better player...Comparing stats against Fisher is not a valid argument...No one from Fisher ever has knock you out numbers because usually Fisher is blowing teams out and their starters do not play entire games...case in point, the last to E8 POY's average only 14pts = Sydney and like 12 = SOB so from your argument Jan Coco would be better since his stats were higher...If there was more parity in the league (IE Fisher having more than 1-2 losses per year in the E8) then we can compare stats around the board...but because Fisher and now Utica are the two frontrunners of the league you can really only compare what your players did against the best competition...I am not interested in any stats against teams like Hartwick and Elmira...because those are usually gimme games...Also, Ithaca got blown out at Fisher...B4 anymore arguments against Bostic being better lets wait and see the game at Ithaca...Lastly, taking Bellis over Mike Mcgee, I am not sure if this is clear cut...Do I think Bellis would have started over Mike at Fisher, no because Mike was the better fit at the position...There is no way you can argue that Bellis is a better shooter than Mike...You could make an argument that Bellis is the better player overall, but since FIsher already had the other attributes and MIke (no debate) was a better shooter I think all the other E8 coaches, given the exact fisher team, would have bellis coming off the bench...anyways...sorry for the rant,

Lastly...predictions the rest of the way, Fisher will not lose another E8 game...Utica will have one loss and that will be to Fisher at home and will host the tourney...Normally I would say RIT would be a shoe in the tournament but who knows after another crucial loss...The 3-6 spots I would have to say that Alfred and Naz will be left out of the tourney...(another dissapointing year for them)----and I am sorry but Jan Coco is nowhere near the best player in the league...he is a little above average player playing on a terrible team...anyone who is good is going to put up numbers because who else do they have...

[bamm]

I wish I had seen Jeff Bostic play so I could feel qualified to weigh in on this discussion, it would allow me to avoid talking about the depressing result on Saturday at Clark Gym.  RIT found a way to blow a twelve point second half lead.  To cap a wonderful day of basketball off for me, Syracuse topped them by giving away a game they once led by 14 (in the second half) against Louisville. 

With conference play at the midpoint, the Tigers will need to turn it on.  They are currently a game back of a tourney spot, but because of the weird E8 tiebreakers the loss to Hartwick is especially damaging.  They'll need to defeat Ithaca, Hartwick, and Naz this time around.  Are they capable of doing this?  Clearly.  Will they?  Given their inconsistency, it's not prudent to make any predictions about this team at this point.

Postup, if getting the board riled up is your mission, consider it accomplished.  Well done.

[gobombers15]

Time for me to throw my two cents...whether I think mcsweeney dominates anyone in the E8 is irrelevant...However I do think he is the best big man in the league....I have seen Bacon and Bostic play...Bacon more so since he has been in the league longer...I like Bacons game but I would pick Mcsweeney over him anyday...I have not done any reserach on bostic but I did see Fisher games last year and I do not really remember him playing...he was a freshman however and bellis was their stud...I would easily take mcsweeney over bostic just because he is more experienced and a better player...Comparing stats against Fisher is not a valid argument...No one from Fisher ever has knock you out numbers because usually Fisher is blowing teams out and their starters do not play entire games...case in point, the last to E8 POY's average only 14pts = Sydney and like 12 = SOB so from your argument Jan Coco would be better since his stats were higher...If there was more parity in the league (IE Fisher having more than 1-2 losses per year in the E8) then we can compare stats around the board...but because Fisher and now Utica are the two frontrunners of the league you can really only compare what your players did against the best competition...I am not interested in any stats against teams like Hartwick and Elmira...because those are usually gimme games...Also, Ithaca got blown out at Fisher...B4 anymore arguments against Bostic being better lets wait and see the game at Ithaca...Lastly, taking Bellis over Mike Mcgee, I am not sure if this is clear cut...Do I think Bellis would have started over Mike at Fisher, no because Mike was the better fit at the position...There is no way you can argue that Bellis is a better shooter than Mike...You could make an argument that Bellis is the better player overall, but since FIsher already had the other attributes and MIke (no debate) was a better shooter I think all the other E8 coaches, given the exact fisher team, would have bellis coming off the bench...anyways...sorry for the rant,

1) Try something: Paragraphs.

2) See first bold-faced comment above. Can Fisher fans please, please stop talking about their teams of the past two years. Honestly, it's over. They were great years, you got your props when it happened, but it's time to move on. God, I picture some of you guys in twenty years sitting around a bar talking about the "glory days" of Fisher basketball and how they were "robbed" by not being able to host a Regional in either year. Let it go. I know it's hard, but, hate to break it to you guys, nobody except your own fans want to hear about it anymore.

Secondly, Fisher is NOT blowing teams out in the conference this season. No more so than other teams are blowing out some conference opponents. Fisher is nowhere near as balanced as they were in year's past. To compare this Fisher team to the teams of the past two years is comparing (dented) apples to oranges.

Third, when all is said and done, I think most conference followers WILL feel that Cocozziello is better than both SOB and, absolutely 100% better than Jeff Sidney (before we get on our knees for Jeff, keep in mind the guy couldn't even start his sophomore, junior and first half of his senior year because he was inconsistent...not because it was a tribute to Fisher's depth). I'll pause a moment to let some of you Fisher fans get back into your desk chairs that you just fell out of....now, I'll give you a few more seconds to say a few hail mary's for reading what you all view as blasphemy. Ok, we're good.

You take a guy like Coco, who has probably seen every defensive look imaginable, then you look at his numbers and his shooting percentages and it's sick how well he has done so far in his career. If he keeps this pace up, I'd assume (w/out looking) that he has a real shot, albeit an outside one, at 2,000 points. You Fisher guys can poo-poo his accomplishments all you want because he's on a bad team, but I promise you that nobody who has been at Fisher in the last 5-10 years could put up those type of numbers on that team.

3) I refuse to even entertain a Mike McGee vs Jim Bellis conversation. It must have been nice to never, ever have to create your own shot, which is a luxury that Bellis did not have. Is McGee a better shooter than Bellis? Sure, but Matt Carroll is also a better shooter than Carmelo Anthony, does that make him a better player?

I'll put it this way: I will laugh in your face each and every time you try to make the argument that a stand-still shooter who couldn't create his own shot or guard his own shadow on the defensive end is better than a player who pretty much carried a team on his back for two years like Bellis did. Bellis is one of the best athletes this league has seen in awhile. It makes me ill to even think he's being compared to a guy like Mike McGee. What a joke.

4) You Fisher guys make decent arguments about McSweeney. I'm not solely pointing at stats here. Bostic has made several clutch shots for them this season and kept them in games they probably should not have been in. How do you measure that? He was the ECAC MVP last year and has probably been the most improved player in the league over the last 52 weeks. You guys are entitled to your own opinions but to make it sound like it "isn't even close" is preposterous.

[bamm]

Gobombers, you are a veteran of this board.  I can't believe you haven't learned the rules yet:

1)  Fisher's players are the best in the league.  In fact, the Empire 8 All-Stars should play Fisher every season for the title.
2)  Fisher only loses when their players have an "off-night" (Utica, Rochester) or are railroaded by the NCAA (Potsdam, Amherst).  Not because they weren't the better team.
3)  Players on other teams are cute, like a little puppy humping your leg, but please, the Fisher players are demi-gods.
4)  Mike McGee never missed a shot in his career. 

[sjfcards]

Gobombers, you are a veteran of this board.  I can't believe you haven't learned the rules yet:

1)  Fisher's players are the best in the league.  In fact, the Empire 8 All-Stars should play Fisher every season for the title.
2)  Fisher only loses when their players have an "off-night" (Utica, Rochester) or are railroaded by the NCAA (Potsdam, Amherst).  Not because they weren't the better team.
3)  Players on other teams are cute, like a little puppy humping your leg, but please, the Fisher players are demi-gods.
4)  Mike McGee never missed a shot in his career. 

Sounds a lot like the Ithaca talk on the football board...but you guys are probably right Fisher sucks this year, and has no good players...just kidding boys, take it easy

I tend to agree with gobombers and and bamm about the players discussion. I think Coco is probably the best player in the league...better than Jeff Sydney, probably...better than first team all american SOB...well I don't know what all american team Coco made but maybe some one can let me know?

[FisherDynasty]

Go bombers, I actually agree with a lot you have to say.  I know it seems like all we talk about is fisher fisher fisher.  However, I think i have a descent view on the league, with a little bias, but hey who doesn't.  All that I ask is just put things in context specially about players with what team they are on.  Im not going to argue about it anymore, but if you new mike, he could do a lot more than just shoot, if you try to guard him one on one, he will score on anyone, either by shooting, two dribble jumper, or taking it to the basket.  What you guys fail to realize is, he had a role and played the role on the team to make it better.  The do disagree with the coco thing as well, I think coco is a very good tough player who can put up tons of points.  However, Sidney when he was playing his game was also unstopable, and sean controlled games, idk tough to argue, the players played on very different teams and play different.

[dmcclintock]

Third, when all is said and done, I think most conference followers WILL feel that Cocozziello is better than both SOB and, absolutely 100% better than Jeff Sidney (before we get on our knees for Jeff, keep in mind the guy couldn't even start his sophomore, junior and first half of his senior year because he was inconsistent...not because it was a tribute to Fisher's depth). I'll pause a moment to let some of you Fisher fans get back into your desk chairs that you just fell out of....now, I'll give you a few more seconds to say a few hail mary's for reading what you all view as blasphemy. Ok, we're good.

You take a guy like Coco, who has probably seen every defensive look imaginable, then you look at his numbers and his shooting percentages and it's sick how well he has done so far in his career. If he keeps this pace up, I'd assume (w/out looking) that he has a real shot, albeit an outside one, at 2,000 points. You Fisher guys can poo-poo his accomplishments all you want because he's on a bad team, but I promise you that nobody who has been at Fisher in the last 5-10 years could put up those type of numbers on that team.

Obviously the Fisher issue is a sensitive subject, all i was trying to do was convey the point that a measure of a players can be solely on stats...I have seen coco play and nothing he ever did screamed to me to be this unstoppable force...also, if he is so unstoppable his team shouldnt have what 1 win in the E8...sorry but the most important column I look at is the W one, and it is just my opinion that if someone is so good like you are hyping up coco to be than his team should have a little more w's...sorry I just can't look past it...and by the way, you can no longer call out anyone for being all over a players since your recents rants about coco

[zola]

Always check out the board; rarely post here.

Just want to thank Gobombers and bamm for the most lucid, entertaining posts of the season.

Every year we deal with the Great Jerry Welsh Conspiracy Theory on the SUNYAC board - and God forbid, now that Murphy worked a short stint at SUNYIT - his rep has crawled over form the Liberty.

Keep up the good fight against the puptenters of yesteryear.

[postup101]

The reality is that this board is divided into two societies:

"In Cast" --> (People who associate with Fisher, Utica, Ithaca, RIT, Naz, Alfred)

"Out Cast" --> (People who associate with Hartwick, Elmira)

Whatever I post, no matter what I say, is met with instantaneous rejection, disrespect, and a condescending tone. I don't appreciate this vicious, borderline hazing, and disrespectful treatment

I respect everyone on this board and what they have to say. However,  I am not getting this same respect in return. I may not agree with everything that is said here, but I am HIGHLY respectful. Most of you may not agree with I have to say, but at least respect my opinion. If you oppose my post, please gladly offer your detailed justification.

I DEMAND to be treated the SAME WAY whether Hartwick is in first place or last place. Please NO "Team" Profiling. All of you respect each other, please respect me the same way.

[fisheralum91]

Madhawk-
I need more input on wick this season.
Oh- i meant post up.
Stellar season btw

[superman57]

The reality is that this board is divided into two societies:

"In Cast" --> (People who associate with Fisher, Utica, Ithaca, RIT, Naz, Alfred)

"Out Cast" --> (People who associate with Hartwick, Elmira)

Whatever I post, no matter what I say, is met with instantaneous rejection, disrespect, and a condescending tone. I don't appreciate this vicious, borderline hazing, and disrespectful treatment

I respect everyone on this board and what they have to say. However,  I am not getting this same respect in return. I may not agree with everything that is said here, but I am HIGHLY respectful. Most of you may not agree with I have to say, but at least respect my opinion. If you oppose my post, please gladly offer your detailed justification.

I DEMAND to be treated the SAME WAY whether Hartwick is in first place or last place. Please NO "Team" Profiling. All of you respect each other, please respect me the same way.

First off no one from elmira is stupid enough to post on here because they would be laughed out of the place...second of all you get respect by saying accuarte things if you say stupid Sh!t like saying Hartwick has a 40% chance of beating Utica and 45%  chance of beating fisher at Fisher than you will be told that you are on crack


second of all.. is Coco a good player yes absolutly is he better than Sidney yes...is he better than SOB no...but that is nothing against Coco, SOB was an incredible player and really helped fisher...Coco is a great player on a horrible team...would he still be as good if he were on Ithaca or Utica or RIT...who knows... but in all of sports you have to look at winning records when comparing players....I mean in the major leagues we all look down on players who havent won a championship

This is an off year for fisher...they are a very young team relying on an ok star player... McSweeny is ok...nothing other than that...he chokes in big games....

My whole thing with the regionals is that no team should be given the advantage of having a home crowd...because homecrowd is basketball can make a huge difference....did fisher choke in 05 against Potsdamn  good lord did they ever....would it have been different if it had been anywhere else...probably not Potsdam had done their homework and knew how to stop whatever fisher tried to give em...


my predictions are that fisher will beat Utica at home...and then we are gonna hope that Coco can score 81 points tuesday night and beat utica so fisher can host....because if fisher is not hosting I think Utica gets the AQ

[AUPepBand]

The reality is that this board is divided into two societies:

"In Cast" --> (People who associate with Fisher, Utica, Ithaca, RIT, Naz, Alfred)

"Out Cast" --> (People who associate with Hartwick, Elmira)

Since when is Alfred "In Cast"? AUPepBand certainly doesn't ridicule post-up, MadHawk or whoever wants to post from Hartwick or Elmira or Utica or Naz or anywhere from the E8, for that matter. Pep gave you a sincere honest assessment a week or so ago with what Pep thought was wise counsel ... to post with some realism to add credibility to your words. To that, Pep will add that one must lighten up and be able to take a jab or a flying elbow....and maintain one's poise on the boards.

Pep is probably the most ludicrous poster ever to hit the D3 boards and has dished out more random facts and historic ramblings in which absolutely no one is interested, has been jabbed and elbowed and taken it all with a chuckle. And yet little do these fellow posters understand the intricacies of Pep's communication techniques that one day everyone on these boards will be Alfred fans and will stop and ask themselves, "How did this happen?" "Why did my loyalty to my alma mater fade... why do I love the purple and the gold so much?" "Why do I wish I'd always been a Saxon?"

Perhaps, post-up, posting puppy, promising poster, Pep's prolific posting provides productive patterns for prospective posting pupils to produce pleasing, positive posts positively.

[superman57]

The reality is that this board is divided into two societies:

"In Cast" --> (People who associate with Fisher, Utica, Ithaca, RIT, Naz, Alfred)

"Out Cast" --> (People who associate with Hartwick, Elmira)

Since when is Alfred "In Cast"? AUPepBand certainly doesn't ridicule post-up, MadHawk or whoever wants to post from Hartwick or Elmira or Utica or Naz or anywhere from the E8, for that matter. Pep gave you a sincere honest assessment a week or so ago with what Pep thought was wise counsel ... to post with some realism to add credibility to your words. To that, Pep will add that one must lighten up and be able to take a jab or a flying elbow....and maintain one's poise on the boards.

Pep is probably the most ludicrous poster ever to hit the D3 boards and has dished out more random facts and historic ramblings in which absolutely no one is interested, has been jabbed and elbowed and taken it all with a chuckle. And yet little do these fellow posters understand the intricacies of Pep's communication techniques that one day everyone on these boards will be Alfred fans and will stop and ask themselves, "How did this happen?" "Why did my loyalty to my alma mater fade... why do I love the purple and the gold so much?" "Why do I wish I'd always been a Saxon?"

Perhaps, post-up, posting puppy, promising poster, Pep's prolific posting provides productive patterns for prospective posting pupils to produce pleasing, positive posts positively.

HILARIOUS PEP...

[fisheralum91]

very well done!