Empire 8

[tigerfan2]

Onyurika only had 12 and 9, but thats not bad for only playing 22 minutes. The guy off the bench who looks like Grizzley Adams had 15 for UR.

Although they don't have the same level of talent as the last couple of years, UR is still one of the best, if not the best team in the area. I'd really like to see a matchup of SJF and UR to see how things would go.

Neer may also be the best coach in the area. His team, regardless of talent, always plays hard and executes well. They may end up getting the #1 seed in the Chase, but right now, I would say if there isn't a UR vs. SJF Chase final, it would be a disappointment.

[fisheralum91]

Looks like the battle of Roch may tell the events of things to come!

[Caz Bombers]

611 miles later, here's just a sampling of some of the things running through GB15's head during his travels today:

-In order, what are the top ten Billy Joel songs of all-time?

-Considering all his hits, why isn't Bob Seger considered one of the better musicians in history?

-Could we send a package deal of West Virginia, cash and future considerations to Mexico for Tijuana?

-Wouldn't it be a good idea for the girl making my sub at Quizno's to learn a small bit of English? I'm not even asking for fluency here, just words like "lettuce" and "no mushrooms."

-Would I be more disappointed if my son was a toll-booth attendant or "that guy" from Real World/Road Rules that still does things like "The Gauntlet" or "Inferno" six years after his specific reality show ended?

-Was Chris Rix an even worse sideline reporter(Cotton Bowl) than Jill Arrington?

1)I'll get back to you on the Billy Joel question.  With him, it's a question of which do you rank higher? The songs you genuinely enjoy on their own merits or the unintentional comedy masterpieces like Downeaster Alexa or We Didn't Start the Fire?

2)I guess music critics feel Seger is a poor man's Springsteen, and the critics stopped liking Springsteen a long time ago.  Of course, these are the same people that are ready to build golden statues of bands like The Killers and Franz Ferdinand.  If music critics collectively were an NFL GM, they'd be Matt Millen.

3)West Virginia has hit its ceiling as a state and doesnt have the "upppppside" that would attract Mexico to make a trade. Mexico should ask for a hot prospect like Idaho or Iowa.  To move WVa, we'd probably have to go to Canada and take back Saskatchewan's bloated contract.

4)Always a problem at Quiznos, but not nearly as bad as the fact that the guy behind you in line is unfailingly just like Will Ferrell's art model guy on SNL.  He's either going to stab you or give you hepatitis in the parking lot.

5)If my son was a toll-booth attendant, chances are I am too or some similar job, so no big deal.  If my son was The Miz or my daughter was Coral/Veronica/Julie etc. I would go take a nap on the interstate.

6)Didn't see the Cotton Bowl, but the funniest bit of the Orange Bowl last night was the FSU players glowering and shielding their kicker from ABC's cameras on the sidelines, followed by Mike Tirico snarling, "apparently they don't want us to see their kicker," biting back the urge to add "like that's going to stop the poor schmuck from shanking just like he did before, just like every FSU kicker since the dawn of time."

[fisheralum91]

What was wrong with Jill Arrington anyway?
I loved them ... er I mean her.

[bamm]

Utica fans -- the next six days are pretty huge for your team. 

This weekend brings Fisher and Alfred to your place.  Win both -- make a huge statement and get an early advantage in tiebreakers.  Split -- start the playoff race in the thick of things.  Get swept -- start the season in a hole. 

Following those two is a home game against undefeated Hamilton on Tuesday.  This is an in-region game that could really help at the end of the year in terms of quality wins (maybe a 14 pointer).  If they don't win the conference tourney a victory in this one could help them sneak into the expanded tourney field.

[the bird man]

Fisher by 35 or so, against Cazenovia.

A nice tune up game for the conference schedule...glad to see the Cards look sharp comming out of the winter break.

Big one on Friday...can't wait.

[the bird man]

also...Fisher only gives up 12 points in the first half, and only 38 for the game.

Utica and Fisher beat the same team with the basically the same margin of victory. (Utica by 31 Fisher by 35). much different scores tho.
low scoring in the fisher game, high scores in the Utica game...

Should make for an interesting game on friday.

[John McGraw]

Hartwick takes a beating from Cortland, 79-62...game a little more out of hand than the score indicates as the Hawks made it respectable pressing until the final whistle against Cortland bench players. Cortland led 35-27 at the half then started the second on a 13-0 or so run and it took Hartwick six minutes to put the ball in the cylinder.

Hartwick looks better than they have in years past and definitely much better than the last time I saw them. They have a lot of young talent and I was greatly impressed by Anthony Brown, a 6'6 frosh from Milwaukee, WI. The little point guard Jan Coccozziello played well too and had 16 points but disappeared at points when his team needed him. Those two basically led Hartwick and no one else jumped out at me. Hawks run about 11-12 deep and play tenacious defense. But, at  key points when they needed a stop, someone missed an assignment and Cortland got an easy basket. The Dragons easily penetrated the 2-3 zone as well. Honestly, I can't see Hartwick's zone helping them against three-pointer and fast break happy St. John Fisher.

'Wick will be better than previous years, but won't compete atop the Empire 8. If everyone stays, the Hawks are a few years away.

[clearconceit]

Utica is going to send a message Friday.  The tide is turning.  Utica is going to rock Fisher.
As for Hartwick's game versus Cortland - I will have to take your word for it but the article D-3 hoops said the first half was very tight.  Who cares anyway, this our year.  Utica is going to rock them this weekend.  I cannot wait for the game.

[fisheralum91]

"Utica is gong to rock Fisher"
Um, I'm glad you are looking forward to the game but let's get realistic, if anything the game will be tight and the winner gets what?
A game up in the division?
Whoopee. 

[gobombers15]

Nice to wake up and see Hartwick has begun its crash course with reality. Clear, Fisher plays defense too well for Utica to "rock them." They may nip the Cards(and subsequently get pummeled at Fisher like they do every year), but it will not be a blowout. Before I leave Mississippi for the swamplands, here are my predictions for this weekend's games.

Friday

Naz 78  Elmira 71
Alfred 80  Hartwick 64
RIT 62  Ithaca 65 (OT)
Fisher 58  Utica 56

Saturday

Naz 72  Ithaca 82
RIT 70  Elmira 57
Fisher 76  Hartwick 49
Alfred  70  Utica 76

Just my guesses. Everyone, have a safe weekend and I'll be back on Monday. Good luck to everyone's teams.

[fisheralum91]

GB15-
Ooooooooooooo I like the Alfred upset special!
I'm in Utica and last I checked the Observer Dispatch hasn't even given UC any cred.!
Enjoy the swamp!

[UCgrad45]

The Clarkson game may have been a wake up call for Utica. If we play against Fisher the way we did the other night, we will get destroyed.

Utica has more time off before being allowed back on campus, and as a result we always look awful in our first game back from break.

This year however, we relied on our talent and D to win. In the first half we looked awful on both ends, in the second, the intense D lead to our success on offense.

Should be a big game. The home court "advantage" is a bit diminished because the students aren't back from break yet. However, I'm willing to bet their will be a lot of rowdy former players there.

[UCgrad45]

Off topic, what is the deal with the Karma rating?

[UCgrad45]

Here's the projected starting lineups for tonight's RIT/UR matchup.  I'd list the ppg, but at this point it's pretty meaningless considering the Tigers play about 15 guys a game before Christmas.  ( RIT has 10 guys averaging between 5.2 and 2.5 ppg, and only three guys averaging more than that, including leading scorer Barret Zeinfeld, who doesn't start).

UR			RIT
Jeff Juron	6'1"	So	Tyler Springer	5'11"	Sr
Joe Canty	6'4"	Sr	Drew Martin	6'4"	Sr
Mike Goia	6'4"	Sr	Rob Hampton	6'2"	Jr
Uche Ndubizu	6'6"	So	Fran Snyder	6'4"	Sr
Jon Onyiriuka	6'7"	So	Tim Bacon	6'6"	Jr

Anyone from RIT know anything about Tim Bacon? I could have sworn that was the same Tim Bacon I went to Boys State with in 1998, meaning that he should have graduated two years ago. Maybe I am mistaken, but if it is him, we played on the same team at Boys State.