Empire 8

[bombersquadron]

The Empire 8 comes out with its awards and 1st and 2nd teams.

2008 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Honors
Player of the Year: Sean Burton, Ithaca College
Co-Rookie of the Year: Shane Foster, Rochester Institute of Technology       
Co-Rookie of the Year: Ozell Franklin, St. John Fisher College
Coach of the Year: Jim Mullins, Ithaca College

Empire 8 Men's Basketball All-Conference

First Team:

Jeff Bostic, Ithaca Junior Forward

Sean Burton, Ithaca Junior Guard

Waleed Farid, Stevens Senior Guard

Doug Herring, Utica Junior Guard

Corey McAdam, Nazareth Sophomore Guard

Second Team

Justin Beigel, St. John Fisher Senior Forward

Joe Canori, Nazareth Senior Guard

Mark Carson, RIT Junior Center

Jan Cocozziello, Hartwick Junior Guard

Virgil Gray, Stevens Junior Guard

Honorable Mention
Chris Baltz, St. John Fisher;
Kenny Gethers, RIT;
Ryan McAdam, Nazareth

[gobombers15]

Beigel on the 2nd Team?!? Over Gethers and Ryan McAdam?? Stop that. Do the words "career achievement award" mean anything to you?

[Cyclone0205]

Here's my breakdown of the Tournament for each team.  Feel free to comment, agree/disagree, whatever:


Ithaca
The Guy: Sean Burton
My pick for Empire 8 player of the year.  It's real simple..he plays well, they have a chance to win the whole thing.  He doesn't play well...they'll be out in the semi's.

Guy Who Must Step Up big in Tourney: Jeff Bostic
Played his way right back on to First Team All Empire 8 the second half of this season.  Absolutely dominated Stevens (though there is a reason why that no one talked about which I'll get to) in the last matchup.  If he can continue to do that, they'll be a tough out.

X-Factor: Home Court Advantage
I was going to go Sean Leahy but I think you know what you are going to get with him.  More importantly however, is that Ithaca isn't traveling.  We've all documented Stevens inability to win a road game.  We know Naz is a bad road team as well.  I think being at home can work wonders for them.


Prediction:  Beats Fisher in Semi's, then depends on matchup..loses to FULL Stevens lineup, but beats depleted Stevens and/or Naz


Stevens
The Guy: Waleed Farid
Should be a 1st team all conference guy this year.  Has played very well as of late.  He does pretty much everything for this Stevens squad..scores..rebounds...defends...assists.  If he can shoot the ball well up at Ithaca and limit the turnovers, he should have a very big weekend.  Tough to guard 1 on 1.

Guy Who Must Step Up big in Tourney: Virgil Gray
Aside from Fisher, look at Gray's matchups:  Sean Burton and Corey McAdam (if form holds, thats who Gray guarded for both Ithaca games and both Naz games).  For them to win this weekend, Gray has got to play a very smart game on the defensive end.  Offensively you know he's going to get between 16 and 23 points as he has done all year in conference.  But Stevens needs him to play great defense to have a shot.

X-Factor: Joe Ayodele
No one has talked about it (probably because no one noticed/didn't think it mattered), but Stevens has been without their backup big man (and only other capable big body) for about the last month.  I hadn't seen him in the box score since Naz, and found the other day that he's been out with a hand injury since then and was seen at Utica in street clothes with a cast.  If he is playing this weekend (I am going to assume he is, because he's a senior and its conference tourney and cast should be off after a month injury), that's 12 minutes that they get back to back up Tim Williams, instead of having to play the freshman kid like they've been doing.  Remember, Ayodele's last game he went for 8 points and 5 blocks against Naz..not bad for your backup big.  Plus, he is tougher than Williams, which will help with Bostic if they meet in the final.

Prediction:  If Ayodele can play, I think they win the whole thing.  If not, I see them losing to Naz in the semi's.



Nazareth
The Guy: Corey McAdam
McAdam is either going to win or lose this tourney for Naz.  When he is on his game, he makes Ryan and Joe Canori much better players.  When he's off...he delivers an easy 8-10 turnovers to the other team consistently.  I expect a good tournament out of him this time around.

Guy Who Must Step Up big in Tourney: Joe Canori
He must score, plain and simple.  He's been at the top of the scoring charts all season, and needs to pull out two of his best performances this time around.  Looking at the last Stevens game...he goes 4-16, 2-9 from 3  (to his credit, Corey went 2-11).  That won't get it done.  Joe in particular must shoot the ball extremely well for Naz to advance.

X-Factor: Defense
I've never seen a team that can score so easily and get such big leads (Ithaca last weekend) completely forget how to play basketball when they cross halfcourt going away from their rim.  If they can somehow manage to put together their best two games of the season defensively, they have enough offense to carry them.

Prediction:  Loses to Stevens if Ayodele is back, otherwise loses to Ithaca in championship game.




St. John Fisher
The Guy: Justin Beigl
Tough kid.  Will need to play extremely well for the Fish this weekend, and stay out of foul trouble.

Guy Who Must Step Up big in Tourney: Chris Baltz
Pretty much the same as Beigl in terms of what he must do.  In particular I think Baltz needs to step into a leadership role this weekend and take control, especially in the first game where you known the home crowd is going to be riled up.

X-Factor: Coaching
The one big advantage I give Fish is that they have the best coach in the tournament.  Korn is going to play a big role in upsetting Ithaca in the semi's if it happens.  I expect him to put on a very good defensive scheme against Burton and try to make someone else beat him.  Should be a great game.

Prediction:  Loses to Ithaca in semi's in a very close game.

[e8bballfan]

Beigel on the 2nd Team?!? Over Gethers and Ryan McAdam?? Stop that. Do the words "career achievement award" mean anything to you?

This is where I'm a little stunned. Beigel was put on 2nd team only because he was a senior. His in conference numbers are good (13.2 ppg, 6.7 boards) but fellow senior Kenny Gethers (14.3 / 6.4) averages a point more a game, and less than 1/3 rebounds per. I guess people think Beigel is more important to his team than Gethers. and maybe the fact that Gethers has only been around 2 yrs had something to do with this.

Now, look at McAdams numbers. 16 ppg, 8.8 rebounds which rank 6th and 3rd in the conference, respectively. An honorable mention player doesn't average those numbers, or put up 25 and 11 against the ithaca college this past weekend.

"Career Achievement Award" - yeah, pretty ridiculous and pathetic. I am sure that Justin Beigel didn't wake up this morning expecting to get that news from Kornaker.

Congratulations to all the other players on first and second teams, as well as the ROY's and Sean Burton for POY.

[FROMAFAR]

Cyclone pretty good analysis. You have one issue wrong though. In the 2nd. Ithaca vs. Stevens game, Burton was guarded by Greco, who by the way, held him to one field goal the entire game, while HE was on him. When he came out, Baker guarded Burton, and he is a little too slow for Burton, however certainly physically capable and helps off the boards.. Yes the first game Grey had him, and for some parts of the second game. One of Greco's strong points is speed and court sense. He seems to be a few seconds ahead of the game.  I really agree about Ayodele, he needs minutes behind Williams. Stevens Keys are Greco and the Center spot.... The other 3 are going to get their points and YES Fareed needs to limit turnovers as does Corey McAdam for NAZ, that kills these teams. I really don't see anything that can help Fisher in this scenerio. NAZ needs to eliminate turnovers PERIOD. Ithaca, well their home, enough said. Hey I am not an expert on any of these 4 teams, and my reviews are based on a few looks at each team on the internet...( I hook up to my big screen, comes in great).... But I will be there this weekend. Good luck to all... HEY MR. REFEREE, DON"T DECIDE THE GAMES, LET THE PLAYERS DO THAT>    

[jasper]

Beigel on the 2nd Team?!? Over Gethers and Ryan McAdam?? Stop that. Do the words "career achievement award" mean anything to you?

This is where I'm a little stunned. Beigel was put on 2nd team only because he was a senior. His in conference numbers are good (13.2 ppg, 6.7 boards) but fellow senior Kenny Gethers (14.3 / 6.4) averages a point more a game, and less than 1/3 rebounds per. I guess people think Beigel is more important to his team than Gethers. and maybe the fact that Gethers has only been around 2 yrs had something to do with this.

Now, look at McAdams numbers. 16 ppg, 8.8 rebounds which rank 6th and 3rd in the conference, respectively. An honorable mention player doesn't average those numbers, or put up 25 and 11 against the ithaca college this past weekend.

"Career Achievement Award" - yeah, pretty ridiculous and pathetic. I am sure that Justin Beigel didn't wake up this morning expecting to get that news from Kornaker.

Congratulations to all the other players on first and second teams, as well as the ROY's and Sean Burton for POY.

I am not stunned at all at Biegel getting second team. He was second team last year and has been Fisher's best most consistant player all year. He was obviously more valuable to Fisher than Gethers was to RIT since Fisher did finish 4th and really could of finished higher than that with a 1 or 2 more wins. What surprised me was Ozell Franklin getting rookie of the year??? I just didn't think he was that great. Very streaky and really did nothing to impress me all year. I don't think they should of split the award.

[JQV]

Great analysis.  +k to all.

[gobombers15]

Beigel on the 2nd Team?!? Over Gethers and Ryan McAdam?? Stop that. Do the words "career achievement award" mean anything to you?

This is where I'm a little stunned. Beigel was put on 2nd team only because he was a senior. His in conference numbers are good (13.2 ppg, 6.7 boards) but fellow senior Kenny Gethers (14.3 / 6.4) averages a point more a game, and less than 1/3 rebounds per. I guess people think Beigel is more important to his team than Gethers. and maybe the fact that Gethers has only been around 2 yrs had something to do with this.

Now, look at McAdams numbers. 16 ppg, 8.8 rebounds which rank 6th and 3rd in the conference, respectively. An honorable mention player doesn't average those numbers, or put up 25 and 11 against the ithaca college this past weekend.

"Career Achievement Award" - yeah, pretty ridiculous and pathetic. I am sure that Justin Beigel didn't wake up this morning expecting to get that news from Kornaker.

Congratulations to all the other players on first and second teams, as well as the ROY's and Sean Burton for POY.

I am not stunned at all at Biegel getting second team. He was second team last year and has been Fisher's best most consistant player all year. He was obviously more valuable to Fisher than Gethers was to RIT since Fisher did finish 4th and really could of finished higher than that with a 1 or 2 more wins. What surprised me was Ozell Franklin getting rookie of the year??? I just didn't think he was that great. Very streaky and really did nothing to impress me all year. I don't think they should of split the award.

There's at least an argument (one that I don't agree with, however) that Beigel may have deserved it more than Gethers. Of course, the numbers don't bare this out. However, I see no argument that Beigel had a better season than Ryan McAdam.

[jasper]

R McAdam also did miss like 6 games due to injury that probably had some factor on why he wasn't on the second team. It's unfortunate but most likely was a factor.

[jasper]

PS And why would you agree with me....Your a fisher hater just like the rest of frickin Ithaca.....it gets a little old

[UCgrad45]

wow ucalum71------now i feel young!!!!!!

Hell, I was 45....

[e8bballfan]

R McAdam also did miss like 6 games due to injury that probably had some factor on why he wasn't on the second team. It's unfortunate but most likely was a factor.

Yeah he missed 3 conference games (Stevens Tech, Ithaca and Fisher) and the chase tourney.

[UCgrad45]

I think now was a good time to step down. He's not leaving the cupboard bare for the next coach. Herring has one more year left and they have a wealth of younger players who seemed to come on at the end of the season. He left the program in good shape for whoever follows.

I wonder if Utica stays within the program or tries to nab an up-and-coming assistant in the area. Will Nevada Smith, assistant at IC, make like Sherry Dobbs and take a head coaching position elsewhere? I couldn't blame him as it looks like Mullins plans on staying at IC for the foreseeable future.

I know Nevada. We coached at the same college prior to him going to IC. He is a real good guy.

I am going to stop by the AD's office and recommend that they give it to Brian Collier. He knows the game, knows the system, has respect from the players, and comes from both a winning UC team and a very good HS program.

I fear that a lot of the alumni support that UC has enjoyed over the last 5 years would dwindle if someone that wasn't a Goodie product took the helm.

Tom Troy would be another good option, but he already has a career going for him. Jeff Gorski would be another one, but I am not sure what he is up to these days.

I wonder what Steve Crawford is doing? Cichon and Bryant are still playing.

[sjfcards]

I pretty much agree cyclone. The only thing I may change is the guys who must step up for Fisher to Isiah Smalt. When Smalt scores12-15 points, and is strong defensively, he takes some pressure of Beigle to do all the scoring. He also makes teams concentrate on him, and that can free up the outside shooters. I think he is really an x factor for Fisher.

A lot will depend on how the roll players for all teams play. I think we can pretty much expect the top guys in the conference to step up and play well. Those other players, like Mckeever, Leahy, and the like can make a big difference for their teams.

I am really looking forward to the weekend, it should be a lot of entertaining basketball. I will be there, and I will be pulling hard for the team in red tomorrow at 8.

[bombboy8]

Well this weekend should be quite interesting.  The action kicks off with naz vs stevens and personally I believe Nazareth behind sharpshooting Canori will step up and knock Stevens off.  Stevens has beat naz twice this year but both games Naz outplayed Stevens but just couldn't close it out in the end.  This time around Nazareth will be ready to playa full game and advance to the finals. 
The second game features Fisher vs Ithaca which should be exciting.  all the pressure is on Ithaca and Sean burton.  Playing at home they are expected to win both games with ease.  This pressure may get to them and they may choke.  I take fisher in a stunner, and they move on to play Nazareth in the finals.  Anybody agree?