Empire 8

[thebear]

Cortland has size in the middle in Oliver and Lewis, shooting & athleticism on the wings with Coston & Neihoff.  You can be sure that Span is working OT to find an answer at the point.  Dragons should be in contention come second semester.

They have a tough road game at Oneonta Tuesday, then close out 1st semester conference play hosting Morrisville.

I would say Geneseo is the favorite at this point, although there is a large group of contenders at this point.

Key games this week:
Tuesday Oswego @ Geneseo

Friday
Brockport @ Plattsburgh
Geneseo @ Potsdam

Saturday
Geneseo @ Plattsburgh
Brockport @ Potsdam
Fredonia @ Oneonta

[gobombers15]

Bombers roll up on Baldwin-Wallace in the semis of the Allegheny Tourney, 97-75. Sean Burton with a monster game: 29 pts, 9 assts, 8 rebs. Bostic with 8 pts and 12 rebs. Four others in double figures for Ithaca; Rogers (17), Leahy (13), Marcus (11) and Cruz (10).  Ithaca will play host Allegheny in the final following their 58-54 victory over Hilbert.

[gobombers15]

Bombers rip host Allegheny in the final of Allegheny's Tourney, 85-63. Bostic leads the way this time, posting 19 pts and 22 rebs. Burton has another solid night with 23 pts and 5 assts. Also in double figures were Cruz (13) and Leahy (13). Allegheny came out strong and the score was tied at 34 going into the locker room. Ithaca pulls away with a 26-8 run in the first six minutes of the 2nd half and never looked back. Ithaca is now 6-0.

Other E8 news:

-Elmira lost at Rochester on Friday night, 76-58. Elmira was with 8 points, 51-43, with 12 minutes to go before UR opened it up.

-Elmira took care of Skidmore today, 86-70, in the consolation game of the Rochester Tourney.

-Stevens loses to Baruch for the second straight year, 75-68. Virgil Gray held to 11 pts for the host Ducks.

[Ethelred the Unready]

Bombers rip host Allegheny in the final of Allegheny's Tourney, 85-63. Bostic leads the way this time, posting 19 pts and 22 rebs. Burton has another solid night with 23 pts and 5 assts. Also in double figures were Cruz (13) and Leahy (13). Allegheny came out strong and the score was tied at 34 going into the locker room. Ithaca pulls away with a 26-8 run in the first six minutes of the 2nd half and never looked back. Ithaca is now 6-0.

Other E8 news:

-Elmira lost at Rochester on Friday night, 76-58. Elmira was with 8 points, 51-43, with 12 minutes to go before UR opened it up.
-Elmira took care of Skidmore today, 86-70, in the consolation game of the Rochester Tourney.

-Stevens loses to Baruch for the second straight year, 75-68. Virgil Gray held to 11 pts for the host Ducks.

"re-opened" would be a little more accurate.  UR jumped out to a 12-0 lead and led by 11-15 points except for a run that dropped it to 8 with 11 minutes left.

This is the first time I have seen Elmira play.  From reading this board and, frankly, just reading their stats over the last few years, I got the impression that it wasn't much of a program.  But, I think they may have turned a corner.  They were aggressive, vocal, supportive and intense for the entire game.  May be a function of a new coach/system or maybe it's no different.  In any event I was impressed with their hustle.

[Cyclone0205]

Well, it finally happened.  I've been on here saying any team with an inside game will force them to rely on too many 3's and find a way to down the Ducks, and Baruch outrebounded 5-36.  Subsequently, Stevens shot 3-20 from 3, and Gray was off his game.


Outrebound + Stop Gray + Force to shoot 3's = Beat Stevens 10 out of 10 times.


On a side note, anyone else find it funny that Stevens got beat by a "Farid".  Tameer Farid, younger brother of Stevens standout Waleed Farid, dropped 23 yesterday and beat the Ducks for the 2nd year in a row.  Guess now Stevens joins the rest of the Empire 8 as teams that have lost at the hands of Farid.


*And yes, the younger Farid is actually the better of the two.

[FROMAFAR]

Cyclone, you posted while I was posting. I was at the game yesterday, came back down to city early. My associates ( Stevens Alumn) were dissapointed to say the least. If you were there did you notice they don't seem to have a personality, or intensity. It appeared they thought they could turn it on whenever they wanted..Your right they don't rebound well.. That's why I think Baker needs to be around the basket more. Hey he had 9 rebounds froma guard position ( although moved forward at times ). Also, Passalaqua needs to go the hole more, if he doesn't it becomes easy to stop him. Gray should not be shooting 3's. Yes he hit 4 in a game earlier, BUT that's not his strong suit. higgins is tough and not shy, but again can't consistently be a 15 point scorer. I truly believe they have flaws, as you do...They need a jolt.     

[FROMAFAR]

Hey cycloen, I read my post and it states you have flaws I meant I believe Stevens has Flaws AS YOU BELIEVE TOO....As the kids say my bad

[Caz Bombers]

I wonder how close Ithaca will get to the Top 25 in the next d3hoops.com poll.  Will the 6-0 mark impress voters a lot or will the fact that they're from what has been a run-of-the-mill if not outright subpar region in the playoffs work against them.

People say UR is down this year - but are the routs of Baldwin-Wallace and Allegheny impressive on a national level?  The Great Lakes region and those OAC and NCAC conferences produce some great teams from time to time.

I'm not campaigning for votes here, just trying to get inside the thought process.

[FROMAFAR]

Caz, they should either get in or come very close, soon. I'm not sure of the criteria, but they are winning convincingly and they really don't have any noticeable flaws. The conference doesn't look like it will present any problems, although they could trip once, but I doubt it... I don't like coronating anyone this early but if they don't end up in the top 25 come Tourney time, I will be shocked...

[with age came?]

Noticed that the d-3 home page did report their victory way down at the end of the article.  But any press on this site is good press.  I would be shocked the way numerous teams are losing in the top 25 if they do not crack it or at least get very close.  I agree that based on early results they are VERY DESERVING!!

[AUPepBand]

Just returned from McLane Center where the RIT Tigers clawed their way to a 56-52 win over the Alfred Saxons in a rare E8 fall semester meeting.

Alfred is at a distinct height disadvantage what with Smithgall sitting with a broken foot and Carl Embury, at about 6-4, the tallest remaining Saxon on the floor. Nevertheless, Coach Dale Wellman has this team at 3-3 and could surprise some folks.

On Saxon Warriors!

[FROMAFAR]

Here we go again.... RIT shoots 48% from the field, Carson is 10-13 that's why. 23% from 3 pt. land, ouch, 21 turnovers, ouch. Kornicker 1 asist 5 turn overs, ouch. Alfred only shoots 4 foul shots, and they lose by 4.... I believe it's a combimnnation, Alfred is not an easy out, and my boys are not that good!!!!!

Ithaca got some votes... E-8 has to really out-do themselves to get respect... Next week they will be in, watch.    

[FisherDynasty]

I dont think the wins vs Baldwin Wallace and Alleghany will be overally impressive on a national level, however, are better than winning the in reginon games against upstate NY schools.  Alleghany is not a very strong program and would be below par in any of the big 3 upstate conferences.  Baldwin is a good program but lost there all american player that was a horse and some other players.  That being said Ithaca is 6-0 and winning amounts that top 25 teams win by.  They should crack the top 25 very soon in my opinion and i think will be getting votes and in the top 25 throughout the course of the season until the ncaa.  I would think unless they start losing to make me think otherwise they could be anyway from the 13-25 at their peak.

[Cyclone0205]

FROMAFAR -


I would say that has been Stevens problem not this year, but for at least the past 3.  Even the NCAA tournament team was always a turn it on/turn it off sort of team.  That's why they had games where they beat you defensively 50-46, and the next night won 95-92.  They just thought they had enough talent to turn it on and win whichever way they needed to.  And they went to the Sweet 16, so I guess they did.


Last years team was more intense, but still played to the level of the competition (or what they perceived was the level of competition) WAY too much.  But still, they had a ton of talent so they won games.


This year the talent isn't quite there, and so you'll see this up/down intensity cost them in games.


As for Passalacqua, if he's shot more than 10 shots inside the 3 point arc since he got to Stevens, I'd be stunned.  (exaggeration, but you get the point.)

[FROMAFAR]

You know cyclone the games I have seen, about 6 two years ago, a dozen last year, and 3 this year... you sound about right. I thought the sweet 16 team got more intense as the year went on. They began to believe in themselves. I think Higgins and Greco who were freshman brought a toughness, Stevens lacked. Last year I truly believe Waleed slowed the team down. He was great rebounder, for his size, but the ball went to him every possession and then slowed down. I thought this year they would be more up tempo, which appears they are trying, BUT Baker should not be at the point. They have no choice now, losing Greco.... ( my Stevens connection seem to think he may be back.. ) Baker would be much more valuable around the hoop, and they need that energy and saunter Greco brings... They have nothing off the bench except maybe Smith. 
And OH yea Passalaqua is a "horse player" mark up and shoot. He does that well, but nothing else. This team is not deep, and no intensity, or leadership on the floor.  I loved watching this team the last two years but there is just something missing.  The Ithaca boys are fun to watch, and althhough a few of thier wins are against easy competition, you can't hold that against them, when thy win easily...All the top 25 teams play some easy games...  I say they will be in the top 25 by January and never look back. BUT what do I know.