Empire 8

[sjfcards]

Fisher overcame a hard fighting Keuka team and pulled away for a 24 point win tonight. It was not the smoothest performance for Fisher, but it was more than enough against on overmatched team.

I was really suprised by a few scores here. Utica beating IC blew my mind. I did not see that coming. That one could be big for Utica down the stretch. I think it may come down to them and Stevens for the last spot in the tourny, so any game you can steal from the top teams is a big win.

Also, RIT was able to beat NAZ by 17 tonight in the Wendy's Classic? That was suprising as well. Maybe RIT has it in them to make a run at the E8 tourny as well. Tough to win a game over a conference foe, and have it not count for much. Gives them confidence going forward tho.

[magicman]

Friday Consolation games and  Semifinals:


Consolation games
Brockport  vs Geneseo   1:30 PM
Nazareth  vs Keuka        3:30                         


Rochester  vs Roberts Wesleyan  6:15   
RIT vs St. John Fisher  8:15 PM

I'm thinking the Friday winners will be Brockport, Naz, Rochester, and Fisher.

On Saturday
Brockport over Naz
Geneseo over Keuka
Roberts Wesleyan over RIT
Fisher over Rochester

Anybody else with their thoughts?

[FROMAFAR]

I think RIT actually showed the best way to play NAZ. McAdams took 2 fouls shots I believe.........let him shoot, he's not  a great shooter... Not fouling him is good for saving at least 8-10 points a game. Also, NAZ shot horribly from 3..  Korinichak was in fould trouble, and that may have actually helped us... We need to cut our rotation down a bit, to get a flow...... Terry is playing more minutes which I think is good.  SJF CARDS.. that Utica win over IC doesn't effect just Utica and Stevens for the 4 spot... It affects 2 through 4. It now opens up the 2-4 spots with IC-STEVENS-RIT-UTICA-NAZ....5 teams for 3 spots.... IF RIT CAN SUSTAIN this sudden success ( one game)... I think all 5 of those teams can beat each other on any given night and all can lose to any team in this league............. Like I said a long time ago, this is an "ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT" situation this year... 

[bomber3]

I think RIT actually showed the best way to play NAZ. McAdams took 2 fouls shots I believe.........let him shoot, he's not  a great shooter... Not fouling him is good for saving at least 8-10 points a game. Also, NAZ shot horribly from 3..  Korinichak was in fould trouble, and that may have actually helped us... We need to cut our rotation down a bit, to get a flow...... Terry is playing more minutes which I think is good.  SJF CARDS.. that Utica win over IC doesn't effect just Utica and Stevens for the 4 spot... It affects 2 through 4. It now opens up the 2-4 spots with IC-STEVENS-RIT-UTICA-NAZ....5 teams for 3 spots.... IF RIT CAN SUSTAIN this sudden success ( one game)... I think all 5 of those teams can beat each other on any given night and all can lose to any team in this league............. Like I said a long time ago, this is an "ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT" situation this year... 

Yes mcadam isn't a great outside shooter but has to shoot some or else people will play him like Korinchak -- IC would literally pick him up at the foul line and give him anything outside of 15 feet all day long.  He shoots 35% for his career
so that keeps people somewhat honest.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100113/SPORTS09/1130365/1007/SPORTS/Nazareth-s-McAdam-much-like-Fairport-coach-Fitch-

There's a decent article about McAdam.  I didn't know he already has the 11th most assists in D3 history (705 to date).  Also he said in the article he wants to coach "in the big time".  He picked the right school to go to connection -wise at least with Jeff Van Gundy an alum.

[sjfcards]

I think RIT actually showed the best way to play NAZ. McAdams took 2 fouls shots I believe.........let him shoot, he's not  a great shooter... Not fouling him is good for saving at least 8-10 points a game. Also, NAZ shot horribly from 3..  Korinichak was in fould trouble, and that may have actually helped us... We need to cut our rotation down a bit, to get a flow...... Terry is playing more minutes which I think is good.  SJF CARDS.. that Utica win over IC doesn't effect just Utica and Stevens for the 4 spot... It affects 2 through 4. It now opens up the 2-4 spots with IC-STEVENS-RIT-UTICA-NAZ....5 teams for 3 spots.... IF RIT CAN SUSTAIN this sudden success ( one game)... I think all 5 of those teams can beat each other on any given night and all can lose to any team in this league............. Like I said a long time ago, this is an "ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT" situation this year... 

A great point. I think what will be interesting with the final pairings is all the teams that probably feel, at this point in time, that they have a good shot at making the tourny, and winning a game in it. Don't forget Hartwick, who already has a couple wins in the league and played Fisher tough. This may be the homer in me, but I think Fisher, at this point, has established itself as the team to beat, but imagine a Fisher/IC matchup in the first round of the tourny. Some reward for winning the legue. I think Fromafar is right on. The UC game changes a lot of thoughts on the league.

[Bombers798891]

Bombers set a school record with 18 three-pointers in a 108-69 romp over Alfred.

Jordan Marcus hits eight and finishes with 31. Phil Barera goes for 19 and 14. Maravich throws in 14. Rossi has 10 assists.

Stopera guns his was to 27, hitting 7 three-pointers, but Alfred simply couldn't keep up.

Elsewhere, Nazareth has to rally to beat Keuka 72-65. Fisher pulls away from RIT at the 11 minute mark in the second half and wins 77-57.

Nazareth is such an odd team. They looked so good early, but they're struggling right now.

I still think it's a four horse race in the E8. As streaky as Ithaca can be, I think they've got too much firepower, and Stevens closing with IC, Elmira and RIT at home will be tough

[sjfcards]

I agree bombers. IC is just too talented to not make the E8 tournament. I could see a few teams fighting for the last 2 spots tho. I think Stevens will get in, but I can see some very realistic scenarios where they do not get in as well. Utica, Stevens, Hartwick, and Naz are all there for 2 spots.

I think it will be fun tonight wth Fisher and U of R for the Wendy's tournament. I am interested to see how Fisher can stay with a tough team like U of R. They have been cruising along lately but U of R will probably be the best team they play this regular season.

Homer pick...Fisher by 7-10!!!!

[Bombers798891]

Bombers down 83-74 with 2:27 remaining. Rossi hits a layup, Otztemel buries a three pointer. Barera hits a layup. Stevens bricks two free throws. Rossi hits a layup. Marcus nails a jumper with five seconds to go. Game.

Bombers stun Stevens 85-83. Oztemel has 14 and 10. Rossi has 16 and 11 assists. Marcus has 22 points and Will Gaskins gives 13 and a ton of energy off the bench. He's played really well the last two games and gives the Bombers a lot of athleticism and quick hands.

I hate to pin the loss on any one player, but Simon Smith goes 4-14 from the line, including the final two misses. He's now just 41-85 from the stripe this season. It's something teams may be able to exploit if they have a guy who can give them fouls off the bench.

Ithaca got lucky, no doubt. Teams won't go 9-20 from the line all season. Props go out to Ithaca's much maligned defense as they hold Stevens to just five points over the last 5:13.

Bombers really kept their season afloat. A loss to Stevens would have put them only one game ahead of Hartwick and would have put a lot of pressure of a very young team. Tough win by a team that doesn't often have to win them tough.

[sjfcards]

I was not at the Fisher/U of R game tonight, but from the online broadcast it just seemed like Fisher could not knock down open looks. It was frustrating as a fan, because I felt like Fisher was better than U of R, they just did not get the ball in the bucket enough. Open looks, but a lot of missed layups and bad rebounding.

Maybe not. Again, I was not there, so I don't know what it looked like. I just know this, from my time at Fisher, I would lose to any team in the E8 100 times before I can deal with a loss to U of R. I can not STAND losing to them. Unfortunately, you get used to it, with them being so good.

Fisher was able to make it close at the end, but again, missing big free throws and missing chances to close it out, and Fisher just did not have it in em tonight.

[BKPioneer]

I usually don't post negative stuff, but I have to get this off my chest. I'm a UC fan through and through. The performance of the teams under Connolly is flat out embarrassing.  I never agreed with that hire to begin with and he just proves why, that should have been Jeff Gorski's job hands down. No one likes playing for this guy and it shows in the teams effort on the court. He needs to leave or UC will again be the doormat of the E8. And for you guys thinking that UC will challenge for one of those four conference spots, we have no chance with this guys at reigns. He couldn't coach Kentucky to the E8 tourney. Thanks for letting me vent.

[sjfcards]

I was wondering on the Football board earlier if it was "okay" to call for a coaches job in Division III. I agree that you can see a drop in the performance (talent and effort) on the UC sideline, but I am not sure if it is that this new guy is so bad, or if Goodemout was so good?

[Bombers798891]

Just over halfway through the year and into the heart of conference play, let's get some debate going. Who do we like for player/rookie/coach of the year in conference at least this far

POY: Corey McAdam

POY has a lot of good candidates: Blazek, McAdam, Marcus seem to top the list. I'd personally go with McAdam because the scoring and assist numbers are a bit better than Blazek, and Marcus is really just a scorer--a good one, but still. McAdam makes Naz's whole team go. No-one on SJF or Stevens seems to be having a standout statistical season individually.

One dark horse, semi-homer pick: Phil Barera. 16-8 right now. If his scoring numbers go up just a little bit, it'd be interesting. Yeah, I know, I was the same guy who didn't think Carson deserved it over Burton last year, but (A) There's no guy like Burton this season and (B) 71% from the floor is kind of mind boggling. (Carson for example, was at 61% last season). I think he's a big time dark-horse, but again, you never know.

ROY: Sean Rossi

I can't imagine this one being terribly close. 11 points a game isn't a lot, but 8.38 assists is astounding and no-one else is even close. The team hasn't really missed a beat offensively despite graduating almost 2/3 of their scoring from last year.

COY: Kornaker

At least for now, Fisher's clearly the top team in the conference. No surprises there.

Thoughts?

[magicman]

Updated Pool C rankings of the East Region from the Pool C board on the Multi-Regional Topics page.
Includes all games through 1-17-10.
Reg #       wp       owp      oowp    RPI     Nat.  Pool        Region  OVR  Conf.     Team
E   001   0.800   0.609   0.534   0.6380   011   C   005     8-2    12-2   UAA      Rochester
E   002   0.846   0.584   0.531   0.6364   012   A   C      11-2    12-2   SUNYAC   Oneonta State
E   003   0.786   0.531   0.561   0.6023   031   A   C      11-3    12-3   E8       St. John Fisher
E   004   0.714   0.546   0.576   0.5955   038   C   020    10-4    11-5   E8       Nazareth
E   005   0.625   0.625   0.503   0.5946   040   C   021     5-3     8-4   SUNYAC   Brockport State
E   006   0.692   0.565   0.555   0.5942   041   C   022     9-4    10-4   UAA      New York University
E   007   0.750   0.551   0.520   0.5927   043   C   024     9-3    12-4   E8       Ithaca
E   008   0.636   0.620   0.484   0.5904   045   C   025     7-4     8-5   SUNYAC   Plattsburgh State

[sjfcards]

Just over halfway through the year and into the heart of conference play, let's get some debate going. Who do we like for player/rookie/coach of the year in conference at least this far

POY: Corey McAdam

POY has a lot of good candidates: Blazek, McAdam, Marcus seem to top the list. I'd personally go with McAdam because the scoring and assist numbers are a bit better than Blazek, and Marcus is really just a scorer--a good one, but still. McAdam makes Naz's whole team go. No-one on SJF or Stevens seems to be having a standout statistical season individually.

One dark horse, semi-homer pick: Phil Barera. 16-8 right now. If his scoring numbers go up just a little bit, it'd be interesting. Yeah, I know, I was the same guy who didn't think Carson deserved it over Burton last year, but (A) There's no guy like Burton this season and (B) 71% from the floor is kind of mind boggling. (Carson for example, was at 61% last season). I think he's a big time dark-horse, but again, you never know.

ROY: Sean Rossi

I can't imagine this one being terribly close. 11 points a game isn't a lot, but 8.38 assists is astounding and no-one else is even close. The team hasn't really missed a beat offensively despite graduating almost 2/3 of their scoring from last year.

COY: Kornaker

At least for now, Fisher's clearly the top team in the conference. No surprises there.

Thoughts?

I think that looks pretty good. This year seems a little more cut and dry than past years. I think the only rookie that can compete with Rossi for ROY is Norsen from Fisher. He seems to be growing into the position and can be dominant at times. He also has the head to head win on Rossi, but Rossi did outscore him in that game. It is a reach to say he is in the running with Rossi, but you have to reach to find another candidate.

Player of the year is a tough one to call. McAdam is THE guy for Naz, but if Naz loses some games, and does not make the tourny, what then. No one for Fisher is the clear go to guy, because they share the ball fairly well, so that takes out basically takes everyone out of it. You might be able to make a case for Jordan Marcus with all his scoring. If he continues to score in bunches, and IC can finish first or second in the league he would have a strong case.

Coach of the year seems like a run away to me at this point. If Fisher takes a nose dive like last year, and some team comes from behind to win the league, than that would change things of course. However, at this point, Kornaker is pulling away from the pack.

I am excited for Fisher to get back into E8 play. With two games against Elmira, one against AU, and a bunch of the tough road games behind them, they are looking good. But after last years fall from 14-2, to a 17-10 finish, it is a cautious optimisim for me at this point. 

[magicman]

If Fisher had beaten Rochester on Saturday I believe they would have moved very close to, if not into, the Top 25 poll this week. With so many teams ranked above them suffering 1 or 2 losses last week, a 3 win week for Fisher and a 13-2 record would have moved them into contention. After the Top Ten teams the voters are unsure where to place any of the next 25 or 30 schools. Unfortunately, a 12-3 record and 2-1 week is no better than most of the teams they were trying to climb over. If they can go 3-0 this week they're back in the running again.