Empire 8

[FisherDynasty]

What, Smalt broke his hand out 4-6 weeks? I give it 6 weeks minimum, I bet he'll be out a good 8 weeks with rehab and what not. Seiberg quitting is huge too, wow the loss of those 2, in my opinion drop fisher down to a bubble team for the E8 tourny.  Its going to be hard to beat out Naz, utica, stevens and Ithaca. but hey maybe im overeacting, the E8 is a guard oriented conference so maybe going small will work out okay, we'll see.

Anyone know who the starters are for Naz, is Higdon coming off the bench? I had a chance to see him play over the summer and did look much improved, hes a solid guy to have coming off the bench.

The teams hartwick played are not good programs and they did this similarly last year.  But not taking anything from them I hope they have a descent year.

[Caz Bombers]

The Naz starters the 1st two games have been the McAdamses, Canori, Tyler Smith and Leon Hill.  Higdon is indeed averaging 18 ppg off the bench.  Keep that up and the 6th Man of the Year Award won't just be a boat race, it'll be a....what's a good analogy here?  A space shuttle race?

[FisherDynasty]

Leon hill? haha

whats up with dehimer or bizzelli or however u spell it.  Interest when you have all 5 starts back with the addition of ryan mcadam and and still have another guy who didnt get much run get into the starting line up.  Dehimer has to be hurt or not playing.


Anyone see Bport lost, st. lawrence, ithaca.  Thats three top tier teams int here respective leagues.  yes bport and ithaca didnt have players however will hurt for an at large later on.

[sjfcards]

What, Smalt broke his hand out 4-6 weeks? I give it 6 weeks minimum, I bet he'll be out a good 8 weeks with rehab and what not. Seiberg quitting is huge too, wow the loss of those 2, in my opinion drop fisher down to a bubble team for the E8 tourny.  Its going to be hard to beat out Naz, utica, stevens and Ithaca. but hey maybe im overeacting, the E8 is a guard oriented conference so maybe going small will work out okay, we'll see.

Anyone know who the starters are for Naz, is Higdon coming off the bench? I had a chance to see him play over the summer and did look much improved, hes a solid guy to have coming off the bench.

The teams hartwick played are not good programs and they did this similarly last year.  But not taking anything from them I hope they have a descent year.

well that is disapointing news...

[Cyclone0205]

Went to catch the Stevens/Middlebury game last night.  73-63 win to move to 2-0 and took home the championship of their own tournament.

They are a bit difficult to get a read on after two games but I can tell you the things I liked and didn't like.

Good:
I am 90-100% positive that this is the most athletic team in the empire 8.  The kid Gray and this transfer from Arizona, Michael Baker, flat out jump out of the gym and can really run.

Straight man to man team (personal preference)

The big kid Williams has started out the season with back to back double-doubles.  Teams that don't have a legitimate big download are going to have trouble stopping him.  He's too big and too skilled.

Virgil Gray...22 points the first night, 23 the second.

I like that they came back in the game last night.  Down 12 with like 15 minutes to go, came back to win by 10.  Shows a little bit of fight in them.


Bad:
Turn the ball over WAAAYYY too much.

Don't shoot the 3 very well (with the exception of Passalacqua)

Took a lot of stupid fouls.

After Baker, bench seemed a little weak.  Starters play a lot of minutes.  I think he only played 9 guys last night.


I'll try to get another game before then, but I'll be at the Stevens/Fisher game for sure.

[FisherDynasty]

Thanks for the Info, cyclone.

I think Stevens is going get the first one on Fisher this year. Playing at Stevens, the loss of Smalt, and Fisher tends to struggle against athletic teams earlier in the season rather than later. 

[AUPepBand]

AU off to an 0-2 start at a tourney at Gordon College, MA:

Saxons drop two in Tip Off Tournament at Gordon College

Men¹s Basketball (0-2, 0-0 Empire 8) The men's basketball team lost its
2007-08 season opener Friday evening, falling 74-52 to Westfield State in
the first round of the Gordon College Tournament.
            Freshman forward Sean D'Auria (Highland Mills, NY/Cornwall
Central) paced the Saxons with 11 points and five rebounds.
Sophomore forward James Simermeyer (East Norwich, NY/Long Island Lutheran)
tallied 12 points and three boards, while junior guard Carl Embury (Perry,
NY/Perry) added six points, five rebounds and two steals.

         On Saturday, AU dropped a tough 102-101 overtime decision to Mt.
St. Vincent in the consolation round of the Gordon College Tournament.
            Alfred connected on 51 percent of its shots in the contest with
senior guard Garlen Patt (Nelson, PA/Elkland) and freshman forward Ellis
Walsh (Penfield, NY/Penfield) each scoring 20 points.
            Mt. St. Vincent led by two (39-37) at the halftime break. Both
teams were over 50 percent shooting from the floor in the first half with
Alfred holding a slight edge (53-51).
            In the second half the Saxons found themselves trailing by 10
points with only 1:40 to play. AU surged back and a Jon Maroney (Lockport,
NY/Lockport) lay-up with 16 seconds left sent the game into overtime.
            Overtime played out much like the second half, with the Dolphins
outshooting the Saxons 70 percent to 50. AU trailed 102-96 with seven
seconds remaining but brought the score to within one on a last second three
pointer from junior guard Carl Embury (Perry, NY/Perry).
            Other Saxons scoring in double figures were D¹Auria with 14,
Simermeyer with 10, Maroney with 16, and Embury with 13.

Last Week: L, 74-52 vs. Westfield State (11/16), L, 102-101 (OT) vs. Mt. St.
Vincent (11/17)
This Week: at Hilbert (11/20, 7 p.m.)

[Caz Bombers]

The E8 tonight:

Elmira at Cortland
Alfred at Hilbert
FDU Florham at Stevens
Hobart at SJF
RIT at York NY
UR at Nazareth

All winnable (even UR-Naz) except for Elmira, who would lose to their own women's team.  I don't expect Naz to win but it wouldn't shock me, I'm going to believe this is the year Naz makes "the leap" until proven otherwise.  Fisher should definitely win by about 10-15.

[FisherDynasty]

Predictions for Tonight based on Caz Bombers listing:

The E8 tonight:

Elmira at Cortland +15
Alfred at Hilbert   +7
FDU Florham at Stevens  +20
Hobart at SJF + 6
RIT at York NY + 3
UR at Nazareth + 9

Through reviewing my predictions tonight, I foresee a 2-4 record for the E8 tonight.  Agree with you Caz, all games are winnable except for elmira.  And I also think this is the year nazareth makes the leap, however, same with UofR, they are finally matured as well and will be much improved.  Coaching alone will win that game for UofR unless Nazareth is on fire.

[Tags]

The Smalt news would hurt...

if he were any good.

[Tags]

Ithaca beat Albany College of Pharmacy 100-50 today, an achievement on par with successfully tying their shoelaces in the locker room.

+k

[sjfcards]

any updates on the Fisher/Hobart game?

I bought a new computer just to be able to watch games online, and now it does not work...

[triplethreat]

Last I heard it was 48-32 Hobart at the half! Baltz the only one doing anything.

[sjfcards]

well that sucks...

[triplethreat]

Hobart up 6 with just under 10 left