Empire 8

[superman57]

After all of the discussion of student sections after this weekend I'm just wondering who everybody feels has the best

[Jukebox Hero]

GB15...I have preliminary plans to be at the Bulb this weekend. Looking forward to it.

[superman57]

gotta love the fan who voted for hartwick.

[bamm]

BAMM, where were you sitting at the Fisher RIT game. on a side note two big games comming up for Fisher home against Alfred and at the Bulb in Ithica, I hopefully will be at the Ithica games, but these are big games for all three teams, if Fisher is able to win both it makes them that much closer to possibly getting the number 1 seed

I sat few rows up above the Fisher bench.

[hawks1323]

Booyah Folks!

Active weekend in the Empire 8 this past weekend!

The Scores:

Friday night:

RIT 55, Fisher 76
Ithaca 67, Hartwick 58
Nazareth 89, Alfred 74
Elmira 46, Utica 86

Saturday

Nazareth 62, Fisher 60
RIT 79, Alfred 76 OT
Elmira 54, Hartwick 65
Ithaca 57, Utica 70

Before I continue, I would like to drop another Booyah (for old times sake)

Empire 8 winning percentages going into this past Friday night:

Fisher -->11-2 (.846)
Utica --> 10-2 (.833)
Alfred -->7-6 (.538)
RIT --> 7-6 (.538)
Ithaca --> 6-6 (.500)
Hartwick --> 6-8 (.428)
Nazareth --> 4-9 (307)
Elmira --> 3-11 (.214)

Empire 8 winning percentages going into after this past Friday night:


  Utica  12-2 (.857)
  Fisher  12-3 (.800)
  RIT      8-7   (.533)
  Ithaca  7-7   (.500)
  Alfred  7-8  (.467)
  Hartwick  7-9 (.438)
  Nazareth  6-9 (.400)
  Elmira      3-13 (.188)



The Empire 8 team of the weekend is no doubt Nazareth, for their wins against Alfred and the mighty Fisher Cardinals. It is important to point out that Nazareth has the second youngest starting 5 in the conference and they sport the second lowest overall winning percentage. It is safe to say that not many Empire 8 fans picked Nazareth to pull off the two upsets this weekend. Nazareth's wins this weekend is a clear indication that 1) Fisher is beatable 2) the lower tier teams in the conference (Alfred, Elmira, Nazareth, Hartwick) can be successful and compete in the conference. This next week is a pivotal week for the Golden Flyers.




As for Hartwick, big win this weekend in their effort to save the season and their run for elite hood in the Empire 8 (top four). First off, the Hawks gave an ok (not great) effort on Friday night against Ithaca. While Ithaca won, I am now convinced that their win was aided by the Zebras largely one sided officiating. Given the flow and events of the game a 9 point Ithaca win in my book is unconvincing. I am sorry to deliver such bad news! As for the next meeting next month, I would give the Hawks a 5 point line over Ithaca at the Bulb. The game against Elmira, gave hope back to the Hawks that they can win the Empire 8 conference. Now onto Rochester this coming weekend for games against RIT and Naz, which are obviously pivotal and winnable games! Meanwhile Ithaca will have their hands full with Alfred and Fisher.

The Empire 8 season is a long way from over! Anything can happen! After all it is College Basketball BABY!!!!!

Ciao for now!

Mad Hawk / Uncle Booyah

[tigerfan2]

Empire 8 standings:

Utica: 4-1    (.800)
Ithaca: 4-1  (.800)
Naz: 3-1  (.750)
SJF: 3-1  (.750)
RIT: 2-2 (.500)
Alfred: 1-3 (.250)
Hartwick: 1-4 (.200)
Elmira: 0-5 (.000)

Other than SJF and Utica, these are the only standings that matter. Given the overall records, they are the only 2 with a shot at an at-large selection if they don't win the conference.

I'm sure that the fact that Ithaca is the better team had nothing to do with IC beating Hartwick on the road, it was all because of the refs. In fact, the refs probably figured that since Hartwick was playing in their home gym, they should get together and give IC all the calls, just to try and even things out.

[gobombers15]

MadHawk, do you take yourself seriously? If you do, you're the only one that does. Ithaca's 9-point win on the road was unconvincing? How? Ithaca led by mid-double digits the entire 2nd half. It was 59-41 with 2 1/2 minutes to play when the reserves came in! Way to go Hartwick starters for putting on a 17-8 run during garbage time. What happened to your boy Cocozziello that game?

As for Hartwick being a "5-point favorite at the Bulb," I think not. In fact, at no point in that game will Hartwick ever lead by five points. I'd be very surprised if Ithaca doesn't win by 20.

Jukebox, get some Sammy's Pizza or Shortstop Subs before or after the game. You can thank me later.

I think the most surprising thing about Naz's sweep this weekend was how other guys stepped up. Before, if you contained Canori you'd have a great shot at winning. McAdam is a nice second option but after that, it significantly dropped off. However, this weeken, Kyle Nelson had a game against Alfred and the role players were fantastic against Fisher. If those guys can keep playing well, Naz will be dangerous because not every E8 team has a lockdown defender like Nick Bennett so Canori will get his on most nights.

[fisheralum91]

It really pains me that the team from the E* to break the home win streak was-
NAZ!
Maaaaaaaaaan that sucks!
Watch them plummet out of the top 25 now!

[fisheralum03]

Fisher loses to Naz and only drops to 22 in the most recent rankings. I thought they would be dumped right out of the top 25. granted I don't take care what the rankings are now but it is still fun to see where teams are ranked

[fisheralum91]

I really am shocked that they stayed in the top 25.
Cool.
Now they just have to keep their noses clean !!!

[bamm]

There are four intriguing games tonight involving E8 squads.  In Rochester, the traveling partners will play their first conferences games against each other when Naz travels to RIT and Alfred goes to Fisher.  The Naz/RIT game means a lot to the conference standings.  A Flyer victory gives them a stranglehold on the last conference tourney spot.  A Tiger win and both Tech and Alfred are happy.  You've got to like Fisher in a blowout in the other game.

In non-conference action, Utica is at home against an improving Hobart squad.  They should win, but '05/'06 Hobart appears a lot more competitive than other recent versions. 

Ithaca travels down route 13 to face arch-nemesis Cortland, who is leading the SUNYAC right now.  This will be a very tough matchup for the Bombers. 

Naz - 65
RIT - 72

Alfred - 59
Fisher - 73

Hobart - 68
Utica - 78

Ithaca - 65
Cortland - 68

[UCgrad45]

I like your picks. It should be interesting to see how Naz and Fisher react to their game over the weekend.

[Caz Bombers]

Here's hoping Cortland's badly struggling offense keeps misfiring for one more night.  A road win over one of the best teams in the region would do wonders for IC's confidence as we approach the halfway point of the conference schedule...even better when it's Cortland, of course.

A win would be a good thing to have for the ECAC resume also.  That said, I still think we fall short.  Those damn Dragons just have our number.

[clearconceit]

Utica 77  Hobart 50

No contest. 

The run continues. 
We have the best cahcne to get an at large bid at this point amongst the teams in the ;eague because of our overall record.
SJF too many L's right now

[bamm]

Utica 77 Hobart 50

No contest.

The run continues.
We have the best cahcne to get an at large bid at this point amongst the teams in the ;eague because of our overall record.
SJF too many L's right now

First off, I guarantee the Pioneers don't win by 27.  Second, you're wrong about the "at-large" bid.  The only thing that matters is the NCAA Regional Rankings.  SJF will be ahead of Utica, count on it.  They only have one regional loss (to Naz) and they beat the Pioneers.