Empire 8

[FisherDynasty]

Good info Bear,  From reading that id have to take them as the favorite specially since they have 9 games against quality opponents.  Fisher is going to have alot of problems this year with good big players.  Smalt is not a good defender or strong enough to handle a true center. Beigal fouls every 5 minutes so will be in foul trouble if forced to cover a good big man with moves.  Fisher has no real depth at the big spots, the younger bigs are not ready to compete at a high enough level yet.  A lot of the games fisher loses will be games where they just dont have the depth they've had in previous years . 

[thebear]

My guess is that conditioning will play a factor.  If Fisher is in shape, they may be able to out quick the Canadians and minimize the size advantage.  Potsdam plays a Canadian exhibition every year, and generally wins.  The Canadian teams have some great athletes, but often aren't as well conditioned.

One last thing.  Sometimes the Canadian teams have players that can't get across the border.  Many students from the former British colonies in the Caribbean (Jamaica, Bahamas, etc.) have relatively easy access to Canada because of shared membership in the British Commonwealth, but don't have the documents in this day & age to cross into the USA.  Sometimes these Canadian teams will show up with a third of their roster missing including most of their best athletes.

The game that will be telling IMHO will be against Geneseo, which has a strong core returning including good bigs, and Scott Morton, who can play with anyone.  The game's at Geneseo and will be a rare early season test for the Cards to see how they stack up.  Geneseo is a consensus #3 - #5 in a loaded SUNYAC this year.

[bombersquadron]

Seeing that there are a couple of Ithaca posters following this board, i am curious to find out what the expectations are this year for the bombers? Also it just seems that D-3 basketball in the state of New York is going to be outstanding this season. So much talent spread to so many teams.

Anyways, the only player lost from the end of the year roster was Stahn who was a 15 mpg player. In addition, they are the only team return two first team all-conference players from a year ago (Burton and Bostic), and have a solid nucleus of players with expirence to surround those two, lead by Leahy and Brown. Also to follow up on the discussion on the SJFC big men, in my opinion Ithaca has the bigs (Bostic, Brown, Kail and Leahy) to give trouble to any team in the Empire 8 this year.

I am wondering what the other posters think about this and the team this year?

[triplethreat]

Ithaca does have a solid returning group coming back, but I am not sure if their bigs are that great.  Besides Bostic thier other bigs have not really proven themselves.  Leahy is more of a 2 or 3.  But Brown and Kail havent proven themselves.  Yes they do have two returning 1st teamers back but with that being said they still would be my pick to finish fourth or fifth in the conference behind Fisher, Stevens, Naz, and Utica, possibly RIT.  This is just my opinion anything can happen this year, so you never know.

[Caz Bombers]

Seeing that there are a couple of Ithaca posters following this board, i am curious to find out what the expectations are this year for the bombers? Also it just seems that D-3 basketball in the state of New York is going to be outstanding this season. So much talent spread to so many teams.

Anyways, the only player lost from the end of the year roster was Stahn who was a 15 mpg player. In addition, they are the only team return two first team all-conference players from a year ago (Burton and Bostic), and have a solid nucleus of players with expirence to surround those two, lead by Leahy and Brown. Also to follow up on the discussion on the SJFC big men, in my opinion Ithaca has the bigs (Bostic, Brown, Kail and Leahy) to give trouble to any team in the Empire 8 this year.

I am wondering what the other posters think about this and the team this year?

As Dennis Green would say, Ithaca is who we thought they were...regardless of personnel they're the same team every year.  Never too good and never very bad, just Mullinocrity at its finest.  If there is any year when they can make it a cut above that, then it's this season with Bryant gone at Utica, Fisher having to re-load on the fly and nobody knowing what the heck to make of Stevens yet and the Bombers having all those starters back.

I'm hoping for the best out of IC but the track record says in the vicinity of .500 just like always.

[triplethreat]

Everyone is saying the same thing about Stevens, but they return two players who averaged more than 15 a game and should be really good.  We will see once we hit the start of conference play.  Lets not forget they went to the Sweet 16 last year just as Fisher did.

[FisherDynasty]

I think Ithaca will have a good year.  Bostic, Leahy, and burton are all good players.  I think they will get a win vs everyteam in the E8 this year, however, not sure if they will have enough to win the league.  As far as bigs go, I think Bostic is the best, however the combination of Smalt and beigal to be better then bostic and brown.  Also dont forget Dehimer and Smith at Naz they should have a good year as well. 

Onto the Stevens issue, if you havnt notice they are the only team in the E8 ranked in the top 25 (at #24).  On paper they should be preseason #1 to win the league, however, i dont think it will pan out like that.  Should be a very interesting yeah.  I think Fisher, Stevens, Naz, Utica, and Ithaca all have a legitimit shot at winning the league this year.  I for the first time in a while  Fisher will not win the league.  I think they will have the best record going into the E8 tourny, but will get beat due to inconsistenty on the offensive end.  I think they will struggle at times finding a go to guy on the offensive end.

[Cadillac]

Fisher exhibition notes:

- McKeever was the key in the second half.  Nice passes and timely buckets.  He played the final 18 minutes in the second half while all the other guards subbed in.  He needs starter minutes.

- Baltz was off - way off - and when he's off, Fisher's going to struggle offensively.

- Ozell Franklin was in a shirt and tie.  He'll need to get to class if he ever wants to wear a uniform again.

- Isaiah handles tall guys better than the wide loads... he just needs to FINISH.

- Waterloo didn't have much.

[gobombers15]

Had to catch up on a lot. A few quick-hits:

1) FisherDynasty, Jeff Sidney is not, nor was he ever, better than Ray Bryant. Far be it for me to be defending anything Utica, but I can't believe you could even make such a statement with a straight face. Sidney had a very good freshman year and a fantastic senior year, but let's not forget about the sophomore and junior years. The guy lost his starting job and his confidence. If you can't be one of the five best players on your own team for two years, you're not better than one of the best players the E8 has seen over its existence. Sorry.

2) Why all the venom towards Tom Brown? The guy averaged 7ppg and 5rpg as a freshman and those numbers were even better during the conference season. I've seen much worse from freshman in this league. He played 22 mins/game last year and I think that's going to jump to about 30 mins/game with the departure of Stahn. I think the extra year of experience and the additional playing time should put him around 10 pts/game and 7 rebs/game. That's pretty good for a big in this league, not to mention Ithaca's FOURTH offensive option (at best).

Almost across-the-board, Tom Brown had better numbers than Isaiah Smalt. Look it up if you want. Then again, FisherDynasty, you are the guy who refused to admit Bostic was a decent player until about two weeks before the all-conference selections came out.

3) The predicted first, second, third teams are absurd. I don't think I've seen one person pick Sean Burton on a pre-season first team yet. Guys, he earned 1st team as a sophomore and you think the coaches are going to knock him down a peg before he even plays his next game. Please. Ithaca is going to have two guys on the first team (Burton, Bostic).

Not sure what the pre-season teams are, but here's my prediction for how it will inevitably shake out (subject to change shortly before the conference season begins):

POY: Corey McAdam (in a boat race--guy could average 17, 7, 7)

FIRST TEAM
Sean Burton (IC)
Doug Herring (UC)
Corey McAdam (Naz)
Waleed Farid (Stev)
Jeff Bostic (IC)

SECOND TEAM
Anthony Passalacqua (Stev)
Joe Canori (Naz)
Jan Cocozziello (Wick)
Kenny Gethers (RIT)
Justin Beigel (SJF)
Tyler Smith (Naz)

IN THE RUNNING
Zeinfeld (RIT)
Leahy (IC)
Baltz (SJF)
Newman (SJF)
Ryan McAdam (Naz)
Munch (UC)

[FisherDynasty]

Im entitled to my opinion. Jeff lost his starting spot because Fisher actually has really good players on the bench that would be stars on other teams.  Sorry that ray bryant never impressed me.  He was just a mismatch for most teams other then fisher in the E8 so did very well.  He never did anything against Fisher so i only judge from what i see.  I also watched him in a few other games and yes he did get a lot of grind plays but game was not smooth at all.  anyways.

I never said bostic wasnt a good player just not as good as mcsweeny.  I think i gave Ithaca players there dues and burton saying he could make the 1st team again.  Just think Herrig will have a better year this year as he will have to do much more for utica to win.  Your first team has 4 pg's? what the hell kind of team is that, that will NEVER happen. I think any of them have a shot at making it just isnt realistic. 

[UCgrad45]

UC had a scrimmage today. In a 60 minute game, UC outscored RPI 142-90.

Many good transfers and freshmen. Last years returners worked very hard in the offseason and look like different players physically. Deep at every position.

[FisherDynasty]

Whats your  outlook on Utica this year as far as the E8 league play after seeing Utica's scrimmage? any other any other candidates for 1st 2nd team besides herrig?

[UCgrad45]

Whats your  outlook on Utica this year as far as the E8 league play after seeing Utica's scrimmage? any other any other candidates for 1st 2nd team besides herrig?

Tough to say after just one outing.

Physically I have never seen a Utica team look so fast and strong so early in a season. Deep as well. However they are a young team. The talent is definately there.

Doug dropped 27 in limited time. The backup pg dropped 20. Maxwell, a transfer from Sienna is nasty and may be considered. Another transfer, Justin Smith reminds me of Willie Lucas with a better handle and more speed. I think Munch was perfect from the field, including behind the arc, and from the charity stripe.

The returners from last years team look to be VERY much improved. The team should be solid at all positions. Transition, scoring, rebounding, and D will all be strengths IMO.

Should be an interesting season. The team looks good and should get better with experience.

[gobombers15]

Predicted pre-season order of finish when it comes out in the coming days/weeks, as well as the records I'm predicting for each team in the conference:

1) Stevens (15-3)
2) Fisher (14-4)
3) Ithaca (12-6)
4) Utica (11-7)
T-5) Nazareth (9-9)
T-5) RIT (9-9)
7) Hartwick (6-12)
8 ) Alfred (4-14)
9) Elmira (1-17)

I think Utica is the real wild-card in those standings. I could see them finishing anywhere from 3rd-6th (I don't see them topping Fisher or Stevens). It really depends on how much the young bigs have developed from last year, if Herring can be the player he was in the first half of the conference season rather than the second half, and how good the transfers are. With all due respect to UCgrad and the Fisher prognosticators, right now we're hearing an over-hyped version of both squads.

I really think that much like the SEC, but on a far smaller scale, the top of the league is really going to cannabalize itself this year. There are a lot of even teams this season and a lot of tough gyms to play in. I really don't foresee the regular season champ losing less than 3 or 4 games in conference.

[Cyclone0205]

Alright, I was checking the boards seeing if anyone had put up the Stevens projections but I guess not.  I've caught a few games over the past 2 years so hopefully I can give some insight to them since I know many of you haven't seen them.  To be honest last year I only saw their game against Tufts and then the three NCAA tournament games, and the year before I saw NYU, someone in conference, and one out of conference.

Overview:
This team snuck up on a lot of people last year with a new coach.  They remind me a lot of the Villanova team from a few years ago that started 4 guards and a mobile 5 man.  A lot of drive and kick stuff.  Kind of ignored the post last year, though I expect that to change.  At the Tufts game the four guards (Morris, Passalacqua, Gray, Farid) combined for 84 points alone.  The rest of the team...8.  I would think that, despite the new conference, they should be able to maintain this success

Key Losses:
Michael Collins
Floyd Morris

Both were senior starters.  Neither one was much of an offensive threat, though I saw games from both that showed they could be dangerous on certain nights.  Example, Morris gave Andrew Olson from Amherst fits offensively in that NCAA Tournament game.  Collins was one of the premier shot blockers in all of division 3, finished top 30 in block shots every year he played.  He made up for a lot of mistakes.  As for Morris, from what I've seen on their site, this is the first time since 2003 that someone will be starting at the point guard position other than him.  4 year starter, handled the ball a good 70% of the game and was the only person who touched it when teams went to full court press.  Again, limited offensively.  Pretty smart player, rarely turned the ball over.  Collins and Morris graduated as the all time school leaders in block shots and assists respectively.

Key Returnees (projected starters):
Waleed Farid - PF
Virgil Gray - SF
George Greco - PG
Anthony Passalacqua - SG
Tim Williams - C

Most people don't realize that Stevens best player didn't play last season.  Tim Williams (6'7", 245) led the team in virtually all stats 2 years ago, but didn't play last season (couldn't get an explanation on why).  He averaged 14 and 7 that season, and was 8th in the nation in field goal percentage (65.1%)  He will be one of the best, if not the best, big in the Empire 8 this year, and I think the offense may change now that they have a legit scoring threat down low.  Farid, Gray, and Passalacqua were all double digit scorers a season ago.  Farid is a strong player that does a lot of things very well.  Because of their style, he's usually guarded by a slow 4 or undersized 3 which created problems for most teams last year.  Gray just gets to the basket.  Very explosive.  Passalcqua is a dead eye shooter who will make just about any wide open three.  Greco should take over for Morris, as he was the backup last year.  Pesky defender and a better offensive threat.  All five starters will average double digit points for them this year.

Bench contributers:
Matt Higgins
Joseph Ayodele
Nate Williams
Damien Palantino

Higgins is like a 3 or 4.  Really tough kid.  Only 6'4" but grabbed a ton of rebounds in their tournament run.  Ayodele and Williams off the bench will provide size (both 6'6").  Palintino was injured last year, not sure if he played or not.  Very good shooter and shoots it from deep.  Don't know much about their freshman.