Empire 8

[Bengalsrule]

What does everyone think of a E8 SUNY challenge in basketball, like the big 10/ACC challenge? We have the debate every year anyway.

I like the idea although I doubt we will ever see such a set-up in the near future. For now we will just have to track the results of the following.....
SUNYAC                         vs                    Empire 8
Potsdam                  loses to            Utica
Cortland                  defeated          Elmira
Oneonta                  vs                   Utica 11/22
Oneonta                  vs                    Hartwick 12/7
Oswego                   vs                   Ithaca 11/28
Cortland                   vs                  Ithaca  11/30
Oneonta                   vs                  Ithaca  12/11
Oneonta                   vs                 Nazarath  11/19
Buffalo State             vs                 Nazarath  12/7
Oswego                    vs                  RIT     12/7
Fredonia                   vs                 Elmira    11/30
Brockport                  vs                St John Fisher  11/23
             
Undoubtly the WENDYS Classic will have some SUNYAC/E8 mingling also but  by Dec 12th we should have a good idea of "who stands over whom". I like the SUNYACs chances better if someone was willing to take on PLATTSBURGH - SUNYAC DEFENDING CHAMP- (I think Magicman would agree!) BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I'll be at the Naz/BSC game so I will gladly report back after that 1!

[FROMAFAR]

Cyclone, always glad to hear your voice about Ducks, no one knows more about them than you. Your correct no set rotation yet..  That's what hurts RIT many years, last year especially. However in Ducks case it is necessary because they really were left with little choice but to find some freshman who can contribute.  Your also correct that Skrelja ( sorry if spelling is wrong) will need probably a whole season, BUT I would take the chance if I were Hurley, of continued big minutes, it can only help in time. He looks like he has the ability to get better and gain confidence. Thompson is more of a two. Lat year he was wide open for 3's because he had a point (Greco) on the floor with him, most times. He would be leathel when it was set shot.....   Now he has to bring it up and either create his own shot ( which he doesn't do well) or hope he gets it back in a good spot... I think Skrelja may be the guiy who could that.  Also last year there really were 3 options to hit a 3 now onlt 2... SO look for Cutri to be overplayed and he has difficulty creating. So it is going to be a project.... However Sabbatino could be huge if he is as good as we think he can be.. this can give the others some open space. I am not too confident in McNamany ( spelling again). But it is early....I did like Franklin's aggressiveness too....... Unfortunately Baruch looked pretty bad to me so this presents too little info to asses yet. They will or should be facing a Good Paterson team in the finals of the Stevens tourney.  That will be a good test... First they have to win that first game... I forget who they are playing... I may not be there, so Cyclone let me know what you see...if your there...      

[sjfcards]

What does everyone think of a E8 SUNY challenge in basketball, like the big 10/ACC challenge? We have the debate every year anyway.

I like the idea although I doubt we will ever see such a set-up in the near future. For now we will just have to track the results of the following.....
SUNYAC                         vs                    Empire 8
Potsdam                  loses to            Utica
Cortland                  defeated          Elmira
Oneonta                  vs                   Utica 11/22
Oneonta                  vs                    Hartwick 12/7
Oswego                   vs                   Ithaca 11/28
Cortland                   vs                  Ithaca  11/30
Oneonta                   vs                  Ithaca  12/11
Oneonta                   vs                 Nazarath  11/19
Buffalo State             vs                 Nazarath  12/7
Oswego                    vs                  RIT     12/7
Fredonia                   vs                 Elmira    11/30
Brockport                  vs                St John Fisher  11/23
             
Undoubtly the WENDYS Classic will have some SUNYAC/E8 mingling also but  by Dec 12th we should have a good idea of "who stands over whom". I like the SUNYACs chances better if someone was willing to take on PLATTSBURGH - SUNYAC DEFENDING CHAMP- (I think Magicman would agree!) BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I'll be at the Naz/BSC game so I will gladly report back after that 1!

Thanks Bengals!
I tend to agree with you about the E8 having the upper hand with IC and Fisher playing 4 games against the SUNYAC, but with the E8 being down a littel this year, the SUNYAC may be just fine as is.
It is great to have you on the board this year. +K

[magicman]

A little E8-Liberty League challenge going on right now as Hobart is visiting Ithaca. Bombers went up by as much as 12 in the 1st half but Statesmen came back to make it a 1 pt game at the break as Ithaca led 44-43. Back and forth start of 2nd half and Hobart moves in front 50-46 but the Bombers have come back to go up by 10, 67-57, with 10 mins. left to play. Hobart, with everybody back from last year's team was picked to win the LL this season. 

[Jonny Utah]

Hey all.  Long time football poster (IC '97) here with a quick question:

How come Ithaca doesn't play a home and home with Cortland every year in basketball? 

[magicman]

Hey all.  Long time football poster (IC '97) here with a quick question:

How come Ithaca doesn't play a home and home with Cortland every year in basketball? 

They do play each other every year but only once and they alternate home court from year to year. SUNYAC with 10 teams in the conference plays a double round robin for a total of 18 conference games. That only leaves 7 out of conference games available each year to reach your total of 25. It's nice to have a few cupcakes on the schedule to help out your regional record and for the Bombers and Red Dragons to play each other twice a year may not be a good idea in that regard.

[Bombers798891]

Bombers beat Hobart 95-87...

Five Bombers hit double figures, with Cruz-Rivas topping the list with 28. Barrera goes for 18 and 15. Rossi has 10 with 12 assists.

Miles Grier, the much hyped freshman, has some serious athleticism...7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and a whole lot of air time. The only downside is he went 1-for-8 from the floor and 0-for-3 from the line. But that could be first game jitters. Fellow freshman Christian Jordan had a better game, scoring 15

Andrei Oztemel seems fine, as he scored 19 points on 4-of-11 shooting from three-point range.

Overall, 95 points is an amazing total considering their leading returning scorer couldn't play. The Bombers are essentially the same kind of team they were last season, but much more athletic. The return of Marcus will give them another body good for 30 minutes and will be able to spell the freshman--and Rossi, who played 40 minutes

[magicman]

Ithaca opens their season as they defeat visiting Hobart. The final was 95-87. Chris Cruz-Rivas leads 5 Bombers in double figures with 28 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds. Phil Barera also had a double-double with 18 pts and 15 boards. Sean Rossi with another double-double as he handed out 12 assists while scoring 10 pts. Andre Oztemel added 18 pts and Christian Jordan dropped in 15.

Hobart was led by Matt Pebole with 23 pts and Stefan Thompson with 22. Freshman forward Richie Bonney had a double-double of 10 pts and 16 rebounds, while Tim Llewellyn chipped in with 12 pts.

Both teams made 32 field goals and 18 free throws but the Bombers hit 12 3 pointers to only 5 for the Statesmen. Nice win to open the season for Ithaca. Certainly faced much stiffer competition than most schools do for an opening game.

Ithaca will travel to Erie Pa. this weekend to take on Grove City in the 1st round of the Behrend Tip Off Tournament on Friday at 6 PM.

[bomber3]

Yes, very good win for IC.  Hobart will be a very good team this year and Stefan Thomson is legit.  I guess my source wasn't that credible about Oztemel. I'll have to take his info with a grain of salt from now on I guess...

Very solid game from Cruz who missed a lot of the preseason.  Barera with his typical game -- my predicting is he hits 25 rebounds in a game once this year.  Him and Carson from RIT are the two best rebounders in the past decade of the E8.  He should average 12+ a game.

Marcus wasn't able to replicate his 45? point performance on opening night last year but look for him to come out fired up this weekend.

I never got my predictions but its only the top 2 that matter:

1. Ithaca
2. Fisher

Bombers win the regular season title, win the E8 tournament, and win a game in the NCAA tournament.  Mark it down.

[Bombers798891]

Yes, very good win for IC.  Hobart will be a very good team this year and Stefan Thomson is legit.  I guess my source wasn't that credible about Oztemel. I'll have to take his info with a grain of salt from now on I guess...

Very solid game from Cruz who missed a lot of the preseason.  Barera with his typical game -- my predicting is he hits 25 rebounds in a game once this year.  Him and Carson from RIT are the two best rebounders in the past decade of the E8.  He should average 12+ a game.

Marcus wasn't able to replicate his 45? point performance on opening night last year but look for him to come out fired up this weekend.

I never got my predictions but its only the top 2 that matter:

1. Ithaca
2. Fisher

Bombers win the regular season title, win the E8 tournament, and win a game in the NCAA tournament.  Mark it down.

I'm going to hold you to that, my friend

[Bengalsrule]

             

Thanks Bengals!
I tend to agree with you about the E8 having the upper hand with IC and Fisher playing 4 games against the SUNYAC, but with the E8 being down a littel this year, the SUNYAC may be just fine as is.
It is great to have you on the board this year. +K

Thanks sjfcards!

[bomber3]

Bombers --

The conference tournament is really a crapshoot because by then its the third time you've played somebody and anything can happen.  So that is tougher to predict and I'm the least confident about that.  But the other two I'm confident of.  I think they will win an NCAA game this season and will be a game or so better than Fisher in the conference, with both having 2-4 losses. 

This all hinges on whether they've improved their defense though and although they won yesterday, they still gave up a lot of points.  If they don't improve that then they'll have about 18-19 wins, will lose in the conference tournament, and won't make NCAAs. Go Bombers! 

[fisheralum91]

Bomber3
I have a feeling you will win one or the other- Not both.
Fisher and IC will battle down to the bitter end this season!

[Jonny Utah]

Hey all.  Long time football poster (IC '97) here with a quick question:

How come Ithaca doesn't play a home and home with Cortland every year in basketball? 

They do play each other every year but only once and they alternate home court from year to year. SUNYAC with 10 teams in the conference plays a double round robin for a total of 18 conference games. That only leaves 7 out of conference games available each year to reach your total of 25. It's nice to have a few cupcakes on the schedule to help out your regional record and for the Bombers and Red Dragons to play each other twice a year may not be a good idea in that regard.

Thanks, so 25 is the max amount of games they can play I take it? 

[magicman]

Hey all.  Long time football poster (IC '97) here with a quick question:

How come Ithaca doesn't play a home and home with Cortland every year in basketball?  

They do play each other every year but only once and they alternate home court from year to year. SUNYAC with 10 teams in the conference plays a double round robin for a total of 18 conference games. That only leaves 7 out of conference games available each year to reach your total of 25. It's nice to have a few cupcakes on the schedule to help out your regional record and for the Bombers and Red Dragons to play each other twice a year may not be a good idea in that regard.

Thanks, so 25 is the max amount of games they can play I take it?  

25 for the regular season. Add in 2 or 3 for your conference tournament and up to 6 for the NCAA tournament and you're into the 30's.