Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

The Bombers hold on and win 81-76 against RIT. Up by three with less than 15 seconds to go, Rivas pulls down a Barera miss, then rebounds his own miss and puts it in to clinch it.

Bombers showing some grit and gutting out two straight tough road games to go to 8-2 in conference and 15-4 overall. RIT takes a big loss and falls to 5-4 in the E8.

[Bombers798891]

Leaders from the RIT/Ithaca game:

RIT: Terry-- 31 pts; Heisig-- 21 pts, 8 reb

IC: Barera-- 21 pts, 12 reb; Cruz-Rivas-- 17 pts, 13 reb, 5 stls; Rossi-- 13 pts, 10 asst

Barera hits his first career 3-point basket

[sjfcards]

The conference season should be good down the stretch with Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens, Hartwick, and RIT in the mix. Fisher has Stevens, Ithaca, and Hartwick at home, and ROT is like a home game so I like there chances of hosting a game in the tournament. 

Well, remember, the #1 seed hosts all the games in the conference tournament, so you'd have to have SJF finish first--a distinct possibility, unless they lose to Ithaca.

Either way, the conference champ looks like the only team in the NCAA's (Unless Ithaca goes, say, 21 or 22-5 and loses in the conference tourney...but how likely is that?  )

Does the #1 seed host all three games? I thought the first round was played at the higher seed?

Since only 4 teams make the playoffs, there's only 2 games. 1 plays 4, and 2 plays 3. The 2 winners of those games play for the championship.

I was thinking the two first round games and the championship. 2+1=3. I thought the higher seed hosted each game, but maybe not.

[magicman]

The conference season should be good down the stretch with Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens, Hartwick, and RIT in the mix. Fisher has Stevens, Ithaca, and Hartwick at home, and ROT is like a home game so I like there chances of hosting a game in the tournament. 

Well, remember, the #1 seed hosts all the games in the conference tournament, so you'd have to have SJF finish first--a distinct possibility, unless they lose to Ithaca.

Either way, the conference champ looks like the only team in the NCAA's (Unless Ithaca goes, say, 21 or 22-5 and loses in the conference tourney...but how likely is that?  )

Does the #1 seed host all three games? I thought the first round was played at the higher seed?

Since only 4 teams make the playoffs, there's only 2 games. 1 plays 4, and 2 plays 3. The 2 winners of those games play for the championship.

I was thinking the two first round games and the championship. 2+1=3. I thought the higher seed hosted each game, but maybe not.

sjfcards,
When you said first round games that usually means more than the semis and finals, which is all you have with 4 teams. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Anyway, regarding the E8. All 4 teams play the 2 semi-finals and the final at the regular season champion. Last year, for instance, Fisher was the regular season champs. Naz played Ithaca and Stevens played Fisher. Both games were at Fisher on Feb 26th. The 2 winners, Fisher and Naz played the next night at Fisher. Naz won and got the automatic bid. Fisher got a Pool C bid.

The year before the playoffs were held at Ithaca, who won the regular season championship. Naz beat Ithaca, and RIT beat Utica in the semis at Ithaca on Feb. 28th. The next night at Ithaca, RIT beat Naz in the final. RIT got the automatic bid and Ithaca got a Pool C bid.

[sjfcards]

Thanks magicman. I hope the other 3 teams like Pittsford.  

I wonder if there has ever been any thought about hosting the tournament at a neutral site like they do in DI. I know SUNYAC had a few conference tournaments in Utica at the Aud.

[Bombers798891]

Thanks magicman. I hope the other 3 teams like Pittsford.  

I wonder if there has ever been any thought about hosting the tournament at a neutral site like they do in DI. I know SUNYAC had a few conference tournaments in Utica at the Aud.

I like the home court idea. For one, it's a reward to the team who wins it. And, it usually means better attendance, since one fan base doesn't have to travel

[magicman]

Thanks magicman. I hope the other 3 teams like Pittsford.  

I wonder if there has ever been any thought about hosting the tournament at a neutral site like they do in DI. I know SUNYAC had a few conference tournaments in Utica at the Aud.

I like the home court idea. For one, it's a reward to the team who wins it. And, it usually means better attendance, since one fan base doesn't have to travel

I agree with Bombers, the home court reward is best. When the SUNYACs were at the Utica Auditorium, a good many times the place was empty as there were very few years when SUNYIT was in the tournamnet or went very far in the tournament. If you don't get the home town fans it's tough to fill the place. And winning the regular season should be worth more than just a top seed. Even in the NCAA's (especially DIII) the teams with the better records usually host a pod or a regional if they advance.

[sjfcards]

Fisher was able to keep pace with IC at the top of the conference with a 22 point win against AU last night. This weekend is huge for Fisher. Hartwick and Stevens on back to back nights, both at home. If Fisher can take two from the weekend they will have a big time inside track on a spot in the E8 tournament.

I don't know what to make of Fisher, which is odd this late in the season. Since starting 1-5 they are 11-2, but sometimes they look like they just can not score. I think they are closer to the 11-2 team than the 1-5 team, especially with Noreen, but I am not comfortable with any game on the schedule.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

First Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/02/ncaas-mens-regional-rankings/

[Bombers798891]

Fisher was able to keep pace with IC at the top of the conference with a 22 point win against AU last night. This weekend is huge for Fisher. Hartwick and Stevens on back to back nights, both at home. If Fisher can take two from the weekend they will have a big time inside track on a spot in the E8 tournament.

I don't know what to make of Fisher, which is odd this late in the season. Since starting 1-5 they are 11-2, but sometimes they look like they just can not score. I think they are closer to the 11-2 team than the 1-5 team, especially with Noreen, but I am not comfortable with any game on the schedule.

15 turnovers a game and 32% from three make it really tough to get the score up there consistently against quality defensive teams. You get fewer possessions and you don't get many 3-point possessions, and there you go. That being said, six of the E8's 9 teams are between 67 and 71 PPG, so it's not a major cause for concern IMO, unless you're trying to hang with Ithaca

(I know, Fisher only lost by 6...but that was a little deceiving, as it was 17 with 3:14 left before Ithaca made it interesting in a way only the Bombers seem capable of doing)

I think the E8 is just really tightly bunched in the middle this year. With the exception of Utica (with one game standing in the way) Elmira and Alfred, anyone seems capable of beating anyone.

[sjfcards]

Fisher was able to keep pace with IC at the top of the conference with a 22 point win against AU last night. This weekend is huge for Fisher. Hartwick and Stevens on back to back nights, both at home. If Fisher can take two from the weekend they will have a big time inside track on a spot in the E8 tournament.

I don't know what to make of Fisher, which is odd this late in the season. Since starting 1-5 they are 11-2, but sometimes they look like they just can not score. I think they are closer to the 11-2 team than the 1-5 team, especially with Noreen, but I am not comfortable with any game on the schedule.

15 turnovers a game and 32% from three make it really tough to get the score up there consistently against quality defensive teams. You get fewer possessions and you don't get many 3-point possessions, and there you go. That being said, six of the E8's 9 teams are between 67 and 71 PPG, so it's not a major cause for concern IMO, unless you're trying to hang with Ithaca

(I know, Fisher only lost by 6...but that was a little deceiving, as it was 17 with 3:14 left before Ithaca made it interesting in a way only the Bombers seem capable of doing)

I think the E8 is just really tightly bunched in the middle this year. With the exception of Utica (with one game standing in the way) Elmira and Alfred, anyone seems capable of beating anyone.

I guess that begs the question; Was the league better/more entertaining/ appealing when there was one team way up and everyone else chasing them? I have trouble getting excited about a bunch of average teams fighting to see who gets to lose in the NCAA, but it does lead to more meaningful games and more teams with a shot. I don't know which is better.

[thebear]

Even when my beloved Bears were in the final four mix (5 times in the late 70's 80's), there were always tough games.  No picnic at Albany, Hartwick, Plattsburgh, Buff State even back in the day.

Something to be said for parity

[FROMAFAR]

Out of the loop for awhile, I know you guys missed me , Well as far as I am concerned the Tigers next 3 games basically tells it all for us. Cards, Hawks and Ducks. If we win all 3 we should be locked in If we lose all 3 we will be locked out , We beat both Hartwick and Stevens already so a win against either helps in tie breaker situation. A Fisher win helps as well obviously as we would have a split with them, so that negates that part of the tie breaker. IF IN FACT A TIE BREAKER IS NEEDED> The loss to Utica reall hurt us.  I just don't see us in the picture UNLESS we awaken like last year, BUT not too late like last year. So we'll take it one at a time.   It seems we are better late in the year because we use so many players. The roster looks like about 19 or 20 players. IC and Stevens seem to pound there starters with minuites and look tired at the end of the year. Any thoughts on that theory....

[Ethelred the Unready]

Out of the loop for awhile, I know you guys missed me , Well as far as I am concerned the Tigers next 3 games basically tells it all for us. Cards, Hawks and Ducks. If we win all 3 we should be locked in If we lose all 3 we will be locked out , We beat both Hartwick and Stevens already so a win against either helps in tie breaker situation. A Fisher win helps as well obviously as we would have a split with them, so that negates that part of the tie breaker. IF IN FACT A TIE BREAKER IS NEEDED> The loss to Utica reall hurt us.  I just don't see us in the picture UNLESS we awaken like last year, BUT not too late like last year. So we'll take it one at a time.   It seems we are better late in the year because we use so many players. The roster looks like about 19 or 20 players. IC and Stevens seem to pound there starters with minuites and look tired at the end of the year. Any thoughts on that theory....

I watched the RIT/Naz game on Time Warner SPorts this week.  Let me correct that.....for much of the game the basketball was unwatchable and I surfed a little.  OK a lot.  I think I saw 8 people in the stands and there was no sense that this game meant anything to either team.  That being said, the last 4-5 minutes was very entertaining.  And as far as people in the stands, the first time my wife and I went there for a game we asked no fewer than 5 students where the gym was.  And none of them knew.

[Bombers798891]

The Wick tops Fisher 68-64, rallying from a 16-point first half deficit.

All of a sudden, Hartwick looks like they could sneak in and steal this thing...

Seems like the conference will be decided that final weekend, as Ithaca closes at the Wick and Stevens. The Bombers-Hawks game figures to be another barn-burner.