Empire 8

[FROMAFAR]

All East Region team looks right on the money to me........ Coach of the year could have gone many ways, but Mullins is certainly not a bad pick....while speaking about coaches, this is the time of year we usually start to hear about coaches leaving, "one way or the other".... anybody have a feel for coaching changes on the Horizon??

[AUPepBand]

Kornaker and the Alfred coach are the 2 best in the E8.

Kornaker has at least won some games and had some tourney appearances. What has Wellman done?
He has coached in the E8 for one season, leading Alfred to an 8-17 overall record and 3-13 record in the conference. That was good for 8th place, edging out Elmira by one game. They also were three wins away from 7th place Stevens in league play.

I guess I'm just wondering what credentials he's got to make him one of the two best coaches in the E8.

Without opportunity to recruit, Wellman inherited the same group that finished 2-23 (1-15 E8) in 2007-08 and, without a "big man" and lack of depth, improved to 7-18 (3-13 E8), winning AT FISHER, nearly upsetting Ithaca at the Bulb, and, overall, shed the label of an "Easy W."

Pep had opportunity to chat with a team member (who saw limited playing time this season) during the AU Habitat Collegiate Challenge Florida Trip. The team member spoke highly of Wellman's game-time (all business) coaching and his off-court approachability and down-to-earth personality. Further, he spoke highly of Wellman's knowledge of the game and his sophisticated offensive scheme. Pep witnessed the rookie coach's outstanding game management. Should his recruiting match his other strengths, and Pep has every reason to believe they will, AU should be among the E8's cream.

And, after a successful gig at the Saxons' Senior Day Game, AU Pep Band could become a regular feature of Saxon Basketball at McLane Center in the near future.

On Saxon Warriors!

[e8bballfan]

It's been quite some time since I've posted so let me catch up...

First off- it's unfortunate that IC couldn't put it together and make a run in the NCAA's. They were given an amazing opportunity by the NCAA when given the first round bye, and chance to host. They could've made a run but instead both E-8 teams were out after their first games. Kudos to the Ithaca seniors for a fine career, too bad they could never take care of business in the postseason (0-2 in E-8 tourney).

Second - that group of E-8 seniors is quite impressive. Seniors next year will be good (first names come to mind are C. McAdam, M. Newman, S. Young) but nowhere near as good, or as deep.

Third - Concerning the All-Region team, I would put both or either the McAdam bros over one, or both of the Morton, Sam Simmons duo. I'm not high on Morton, and I'm guessing Simmons was mentioned due to his teams postseason success...Just my two cents there. I certainly do agree with Carson, Burton & Chmielowic for sure though.

Fourth - Coaching changes...a few weeks ago it was announced that Coach Daley at Naz is retiring but it was overlooked by the first week of the NCAA tourney. Haven't heard any news about a new hiring but I'm sure something would be happening soon. We'll see..

Good luck to everyone in their NCAA pools!!

[with age came?]

e8bballfan -  Can not speak for Morton but I can tell that Simmons was the real deal.  He WAS the team at RPI.  He had almost no other true option, he was double and sometimes even triple teamed but he still willed his team to some really good wins.  SLU is a very good team and they (RPI) beat them twice riding Simmons like a horse. He played defense and usually close to 40 minutes a game unless he got into foul trouble (which is my one knock against him). He is definitely a deserving first teamer.

[FROMAFAR]

Hey PEP, Wellman did a great job.... now lets see that recruiting job....... next year is wide open and basically anyone has a shot......I give Fisher an edge, since they played young this year and did well early on... BUT really wide open...  As we get closer next year I will give my pre-season observations based on basically nothing........Also, awhile back I made a statment that Dudek, the girls point guard from Stevens was the best D-# point5 guard I have ever seen. ( I deal in supurlatives too much) but if anyone is interested take a look at the Stevens WEB...Gives a nice lookat just how good she was... she made ALL EAST FIRST TEAM..... among other accolades............. but what do I know...........    

[magicman]

Congratulations to RIT's Mark Carson and Ithaca's Sean Burton who were named to the D3Hoops  All America Team. Carson made the 3rd team, while Burton made the 4th team. Rochester U's Mike Chmielowiec was named to the 2nd team. 
Here's the complete list:


2008-09 Men's All-America Team
Coach of the Year: Glenn Robinson, Franklin and Marshall
Player of the Year: Jimmy Bartolotta, G, MIT
Rookie of the Year: Justin Hallowell, G, Wooster

First Team

Pos.  Name  Yr. School Hometown 
G
Jimmy Bartolotta
MIT
Sr.
Littleton, Colo.

G
Kent Raymond
Wheaton (Ill.)
Sr.
Palatine, Ind.

G
Aaron Thompson
Washington U.
Jr.
Elida, Ohio

F
Jesse Reimink
Hope
Sr.
Hudsonville, Mich.

C
Jeff Skemp
UW-Platteville
Sr.
Hazel Green, Wis.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second Team

Pos.  Name  Yr. School Hometown 
G
Sean Wallis
Washington U.
Jr.
Northbrook, Ill.

G
Myles McKay
UW-Whitewater
Sr.
Menomonee Falls, Wis.

F
Mike Chmielowiec
Rochester
Sr.
Batavia, N.Y.

F
Zach Johnson
Carleton
Sr.
Apple Valley, Minn.

C
Brent Ruch
Elmhurst
Sr.
Farmer City, Ill.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Third Team

Pos.  Name  Yr. School Hometown 
G
Steve Djurickovic
Carthage
So.
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

G
Tim Madson
Bethel
Sr.
Redwood Falls, Minn.

F
D.J. Marsh
UW-Oshkosh
Jr.
Bayside, Wis.

F
Tyler Kathan
Keene State
Sr.
Ludlow, Vt.

C
Mark Carson
Rochester Tech
Sr.
Voorheesville, N.Y.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fourth Team

Pos.  Name  Yr. School Hometown 
G
Sean Burton
Ithaca
Sr.
Yorkville, N.Y.

G
Rashawn Johnson
Wesley
Sr.
Selbyville, Del.

F
Richard Jean-Baptiste
Brooklyn
Jr.
Queens, N.Y.

F
Brian Baskauskas
Amherst
Sr.
Palo Alto, Calif.

C
Tyler Sanborn
Guilford
Jr.
Mount Airy, N.C.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honorable Mention

Pos.  Name  Yr. School Hometown 
G
Ben Rudin
Middlebury
Sr.
Scarsdale, N.Y.

G
Ryan Kroeger
Lawrence
Sr.
Glendale, Wis.

F
Nate Stahl
Capital
Sr.
St. Henry, Ohio

F
Brian Fogerty
Fontbonne
Sr.
Winfield, Mo.

C
Jose Guitian
Lasell
Sr.
Miami, Fla.

[FROMAFAR]

Gobombers if your still around,,, I know I said I wouldn't debate the Dudek issue, and I'm not because I have been told I speak in superlatives too often, so while she may not be the best I have ever seen in D3 look at these stats.......1200 career points, 800 career points, 600 assists.. ( actually 669 which is 6th all time).  2nd team All American..........  Not bad..... Hey I only saw her play about a half dozen times, but great ( there I go again) court sense.........

HEY HAVE ALL GREAT SUMMER TO ALL MY BUDDIES OUT THERE....... THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE MORE WELL VERSED IN THIS FIELD, BUT IT MAKES THE TIME GO BY FOR ME.... CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT SEASON, THE FUR SHOULD REALLY FLY......BUT WHAT DO I KNOW???

[e8bballfan]

Naz hasn't named a new head coach yet? Isn't it getting late in the recruiting game??

[buck1053]

Naz hasn't named a new head coach yet? Isn't it getting late in the recruiting game??

Any word on potential candidates?

[WNYHoops]

From talking to some people I know I have heard Kevin Brodrick's name from Oswego mentioned. Former Naz player who has done a great job at Oswego. Does it make sense?? Seems like a lateral move, but allure of alma mater might be enough to make the move.

What about long-time assistant Toby Brown? Has he burned bridges or maybe he does not want the head job. Kevin Downey has helped out there the past couple years but he is young and inexperienced.

[magicman]

From talking to some people I know I have heard Kevin Brodrick's name from Oswego mentioned. Former Naz player who has done a great job at Oswego. Does it make sense?? Seems like a lateral move, but allure of alma mater might be enough to make the move.

What about long-time assistant Toby Brown? Has he burned bridges or maybe he does not want the head job. Kevin Downey has helped out there the past couple years but he is young and inexperienced.

I have also heard that Broderick is going to Nazareth and that Oswego was taking applications.

[magicman]

Nazareth will make it official in the next few days that Kevin Broderick is the new head coach of the men's basketball team.

[e8bballfan]

http://nazathletics.com/news/2009/4/10/MBB_0410090831.aspx

Link to the story

[theoriginalupstate]

Rochester D&C is reporting that JP Chase is pulling their name off of their annual tournament.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090416/SPORTS/90416023

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks. Sad news. Added it to What We're Reading.