Empire 8

[FisherDynasty]

I agree Bombboy.  Although idk if i would call it a stunner, they already beat Ithaca at the Bulb.  A few tabs back i predicted Fisher over Ithaca then losing to Naz in the finals.

Also, I dont think any of the games this wkend are going to be with ease.

[reelentless]

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.

Jeff Gorski is an assistant coach at Union College, good guy!  Assisted Goode for 3 years so knows the system.  Rumored to want the job? 

[UCgrad45]

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.

Jeff Gorski is an assistant coach at Union College, good guy!  Assisted Goode for 3 years so knows the system.  Rumored to want the job? 

I knew he was out there, but I havn't talked to him in about a year. Wasn't sure what his current situation outside of coaching is.

Collier went to the same HS as Jeff. UC went with my former teammate Parnell as lax coach over some big name coaches. Wouldn't be surprised to see it be someone who played in the program.

[UCgrad45]

Maybe they can try to get Tom Murphy to come back to the area.

[reelentless]

I knew he was out there, but I havn't talked to him in about a year. Wasn't sure what his current situation outside of coaching is.

Collier went to the same HS as Jeff. UC went with my former teammate Parnell as lax coach over some big name coaches. Wouldn't be surprised to see it be someone who played in the program.

The team seems to have a lot of respect for Brian, but if both he and Jeff are interested and available Brian would be at a disadvantage; he'd be coaching his former teammates and hasn't had much recruiting experience.   Jeff coaching with Brian assisting has a nice ring to it?  Hopefully we'll have an answer quickly,  would like to see this team hang together.

With parity lurking at every E-8 game this year it's hard not to predict a tight, anyone can win it tournament.  That said, assuming they play reasonably well at BOTH ends, I don't see anyone hanging with Burton, Bostic, Leahy and rest of the Ithaca team.  Too much fire power.  If they show up and play decently, they'll cruise.   Big if.

[UCgrad45]

I knew he was out there, but I havn't talked to him in about a year. Wasn't sure what his current situation outside of coaching is.

Collier went to the same HS as Jeff. UC went with my former teammate Parnell as lax coach over some big name coaches. Wouldn't be surprised to see it be someone who played in the program.

The team seems to have a lot of respect for Brian, but if both he and Jeff are interested and available Brian would be at a disadvantage; he'd be coaching his former teammates and hasn't had much recruiting experience.   Jeff coaching with Brian assisting has a nice ring to it?  Hopefully we'll have an answer quickly,  would like to see this team hang together.

With parity lurking at every E-8 game this year it's hard not to predict a tight, anyone can win it tournament.  That said, assuming they play reasonably well at BOTH ends, I don't see anyone hanging with Burton, Bostic, Leahy and rest of the Ithaca team.  Too much fire power.  If they show up and play decently, they'll cruise.   Big if.

Even though UC just spanked them, come this time of year, Fisher is dangerous. If they win the first game, I don't see them losing the second. Different team than years past, but until someone knocks them off, they are the team to beat.

[trueindian]

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.

Jeff Gorski is an assistant coach at Union College, good guy!  Assisted Goode for 3 years so knows the system.  Rumored to want the job? 

Gregg Hepler, St. John Fisher assistant is also a great guy who has been aroung Empire 8 basketball for a few years.  He basically helped Ithaca get to where they are now.  He is a tireless recruiter that well-respected Rob Kornaker wanted to help him on his staff.  Gregg has a lot of respect  around the league and a passion for wanting to make a program the best it can be.  He definitely deserves a look as well.

[FisherDynasty]

agreed, hepler is a great guy and will be a great coach when he gets a position.

[e8hoopsfan]

Could not agree more about Hepler!!  What it takes to make a d3 basketball program successful - Hepler has it.  Not only an unbelievable recruiter, and desire to win, the players respect him.  Whether it's starting a program from the bottom up or knowing the current system, I am pretty sure Hepler can get it done.  There is a reason he is at fisher.  Who wouldn't want to be a part of one the best E8 basketball programs and under the most respected coach in Kornacker?  I am surprised he is not a head coach yet...

[jasper]

He should be very soon. Word around the grapevine the players like Hepler more than Kornacker.....He will be a successful head coach maybe in the empire 8!

[gobombers15]

I'm officially pumped for this evening. I have spent the last hour listening to the Rocky soundtrack and You-Tubeing various things including Syracuse's "One Shining Moment" montage (and, of course, Roy Williams's post-game interview with Bonnie Bernstein which is always must-see TV...you can't convince me that he hadn't already made up his mind to go to UNC before that game), the Drury and Afinogenov goals from Game 5 last year vs the Rangers, and Hulk Hogan's entrance music. I feel like I've had about six energy drinks.

Anyways, here's an actual convo with my girlfriend this morning. We'll just refer to her as Mrs. GB15:

Mrs. GB15: Hey, want to go to dinner at Emeril's tonight?
GB15: Absolutely not. Don't you know what this weekend is?
Mrs. GB15: (looking perplexed) Um, no.
GB15: Empire 8 Tournament weekend.
Mrs. GB15: Does that mean you're going to be watching basketball on your laptop and posting on that stupid board from 5-10 tonight and 2-5 tomorrow??
GB15: Yeah, probably. And don't forget, the Sabres play tonight so I need the living room TV to watch that, too. Would you actually mind if I used your laptop? Yours has the LCD screen and mine doesn't.
Mrs. GB15: (muffled swear words, exits room)

Now, she isn't that angry. Still, she shouldn't have expected much from me this weekend. I'll be back later with predictions.

[gobombers15]

PREDICTIONS

Naz over Stevens, 79-75.

ITHACA over Fisher, 81-76.

[superman57]

PREDICTIONS

Naz over Stevens, 79-75.

ITHACA over Fisher, 81-76.

Predictions

Naz vs. Stevens- who gives a s#it
Fisher over Ithaca 131-3

[bombersquadron]

Naz leads at the half but will they be able to hold on? They had some 10 point leads but Stevens would cut right into them.

Naz's press seemed to rattle Stevens and they couldn't solve the 1-3-1 either.

Stevens X-Factor Adolyeye has been everything but that in the first half. 3 awful post moves which resulted in their coach telling him to pass the ball.

Very sloppy game from both teams end of the first half was just ugly basketball.

GO BOMBERS!

[bombersquadron]

Naz holds on to win by the score of 81-70.

Story of the second half Naz shot well, hit a lot of threes. Stevens couldn't make a lay-up, missed a lot of lay-ups.

Gotta get back to my seat!

The fans are starting to fill up the Bulb.