Empire 8

[sjfcards]

Hartwick moves to 7-0 though not exactly impressive in beating crosstown rival Oneonta 57-51 -- a 1-6 Oneonta squad that led 38-28 at half. Wick went ahead 52-51 with 2:42 to play. Oneonta scored its final basket at 9:08 for 49-42 lead. Hawks J. Suderley 17 pts, C. Ryder 13 pts. Wick 20x49fg, 5x14 3s, 12x20ft. OSt holds 38-34 reb edge

How is the atmosphere at a Hartwick/SUNY Oneonta game? Is it comparable to Fisher Naz or some of the other big rivalries ?

[magicman]

Hartwick moves to 7-0 though not exactly impressive in beating crosstown rival Oneonta 57-51 -- a 1-6 Oneonta squad that led 38-28 at half. Wick went ahead 52-51 with 2:42 to play. Oneonta scored its final basket at 9:08 for 49-42 lead. Hawks J. Suderley 17 pts, C. Ryder 13 pts. Wick 20x49fg, 5x14 3s, 12x20ft. OSt holds 38-34 reb edge

How is the atmosphere at a Hartwick/SUNY Oneonta game? Is it comparable to Fisher Naz or some of the other big rivalries ?

You're asking that question from a guy who's sitting on a beach down in Florida. And may never have attended a Hartwick-Oneonta game.(Well, maybe 10 or 12 years ago) But he'll tell you all you want to know about the Cortland-Ithaca rivalry.

Box score says there was 275 people in attendance so I don't think it was a Cameron Crazy atmosphere.

[jdex]

Ya got that right on all counts!!!

[d3fan33]

While it is no Cameron Indoor, having been in the gym more half a dozen times for the Hartwick/Oneonta game I can say two things the first is that the game no matter the talent on either team is almost always a possession or two game in either direction and second is that 275 in that gym is pretty good in terms of environment. Having also been to games at both Fisher and Naz this game would compare.

Additionally, this Hartwick team is pretty talented and they have revived a program there that up until 1996 had as much tradition in basketball as anyone else in the league. Any league is going to have some ebb and flow with regard to who makes a run at the top for the most part, but at the division III level it might be surprising to people that having the support of the administration outside of the athletic department really makes a difference. You need to be able to attract a couple of players and if you can manage to steal some games here or there and get lucky with a couple of recruits it can change pretty quickly; and that goes for the winning or losing. Hartwick has made some significant physical improvements and bought into the idea that basketball is a sport they can be successful in. But at every level all of basketball it doesn't take much to find yourself fighting again to get back to the top, if as a coach you miss on the abilities of some recruits or have injuries it creates issues.

The league might be down but the three guys Hartwick has right now in Blazek, Sudderly, and Ryder are as good as many of the best the league has seen in recent years and more importantly really good as a group. This Hartwick team is also deep and they don't quit have been down in a few games this year late and made runs to close out a win. It isn't like they have played a UAA schedule recently but to run off 9-0 to start isn't so bad including a win against a Union team that is probably better than people think.

[magicman]

Nice win by Ithaca College last night over an undefeated 6-0  New Jersey City on a neutral court. The Gothic Knights were an NCAA tournament team last year and are expected to once again challenge for the NJAC crown. Ithaca beat the Knights 78-73 and will now face host Juniata in the championship game of their Doc Green tournament at 4 PM this afternoon.

[magicman]

Welcome aboard d3fan33. I see that was your 1st post. Hope you return often to keep us informed about your Hawks. They are off to a good start and while you are correct about their schedule not being the strongest, they've played some teams that were certainly capable of an upset. Good wins over Brooklyn (who handled St. John Fisher), Union, and a Wells team that was certainly no pushover ( NCAA team last year and battled Oswego St. down to the wire). All 4 of Wells' losses have been to quality teams. The Elms team they beat  last night isn't a pushover either as they own a win over a good Springfield team. Hartwick's trio of Blazek, Ryder, and Sudderly are taking up right where they left off last year. The Hawks returned just about everyone from last year's E8 championship team, including all 5 starters, and 9 of the top ten in their rotation. Certainly no one in the conference returned more veterans than the Hawks. The E8 title is their's for the taking but as we've seen in past years no favorite is truly safe in the E8. There's a good chance the Hawks will extend their unbeaten streak to 13-0 before a big showdown with Ithaca on January 13th at the Binder Center. Not sure if they will climb into the Top 25 by then but should certainly keep receiving more and more points as that unbeaten streak grows.
Personally, I think they will win the conference, but should they get upset in the E8 tourney their resume could still net them an invitation to the dance with a pool C bid. Good luck with your Hawks and let me be the first to give you some karma points.     

[sjfcards]

Fisher looked sluggish today but made the plays down the stretch to beat Worcester State by 5. Not a real inspiring win, but a win none the less. Fisher improves to 5-3.

[d3fan33]

Magic - thanks for the karma. Well the league always is competitive no matter how things look up to league play. It always benefits the league come postseason time if they fair well outside the conference. As we have seen in recent years with teams from the E8 getting a Pool C bid.

A great win for Ithaca against New Jersey City, saw that team play last year in the NCAA Tournament and there transition play is strong. Congrats to Fisher on a win against Worcester State.

Looking forward to conference tipping off everyone knows each other so well it should be a good year.

[sjfcards]

Magic - thanks for the karma. Well the league always is competitive no matter how things look up to league play. It always benefits the league come postseason time if they fair well outside the conference. As we have seen in recent years with teams from the E8 getting a Pool C bid.

A great win for Ithaca against New Jersey City, saw that team play last year in the NCAA Tournament and there transition play is strong. Congrats to Fisher on a win against Worcester State.

Looking forward to conference tipping off everyone knows each other so well it should be a good year.

Let's hope so. I don't know if it is just because Fisher has not been as good, but the last few seasons in the E8 have not seemed all that great to me. Even the year Fisher and Naz played in the finals was sort of an EH year for me.

I think the evidence is in the lower number of posts and posters on the E8 board we are currently on.

[magicman]

I think the evidence is in the lower number of posts and posters on the E8 board we are currently on.

You're correct on that statement. Not many Fisher fans on here other than you and occasionally Fisher91 (I think that's his handle). The RIT poster isn't around because RIT isn't around. The Ithaca guys have pretty much disappeared as well. I guess they're waiting for something to cheer about. And there's never been many posters from the other E8 schools. Still don't think the Bombers are as bad as their record indicates and they'll put some W's on the board. Beating New Jersey City the other night was huge. I follow all three leagues in NYS extensively as well as those in other parts of the country. I don't have an allegience to any particular E8 team (the Plattsburgh State Cardinals are my home team), I just like good D3 basketball. I've been a voter on the weekly Top 25 Poster's Poll for the past few years and I'm a participant in the National Pick 'Em League as well, so you really get to know what's happening all over the D3 world, not just locally. After the regular season ends, a group of us from all over the country, participate in the NCAA Fantasy League, where we draft players from all the playoff teams, to form our own teams. You have to know your schools if you want to be competetive in that league, so all season long it's watching as many games, either live or on sreaming video, as time allows. It's fun and helps pass the time during our often brutal  north country winters.   

[Ethelred the Unready]

Magic - thanks for the karma. Well the league always is competitive no matter how things look up to league play. It always benefits the league come postseason time if they fair well outside the conference. As we have seen in recent years with teams from the E8 getting a Pool C bid.

A great win for Ithaca against New Jersey City, saw that team play last year in the NCAA Tournament and there transition play is strong. Congrats to Fisher on a win against Worcester State.

Looking forward to conference tipping off everyone knows each other so well it should be a good year.

Let's hope so. I don't know if it is just because Fisher has not been as good, but the last few seasons in the E8 have not seemed all that great to me. Even the year Fisher and Naz played in the finals was sort of an EH year for me.

I think the evidence is in the lower number of posts and posters on the E8 board we are currently on.

I check the board a couple of times a day, even though I don't have any particular interest in the E8.  Other than they are the "local" league and UofR plays them on a regular basis.  Plus every so often a kid I know shows up on a roster.

[sjfcards]

Magic - thanks for the karma. Well the league always is competitive no matter how things look up to league play. It always benefits the league come postseason time if they fair well outside the conference. As we have seen in recent years with teams from the E8 getting a Pool C bid.

A great win for Ithaca against New Jersey City, saw that team play last year in the NCAA Tournament and there transition play is strong. Congrats to Fisher on a win against Worcester State.

Looking forward to conference tipping off everyone knows each other so well it should be a good year.

Let's hope so. I don't know if it is just because Fisher has not been as good, but the last few seasons in the E8 have not seemed all that great to me. Even the year Fisher and Naz played in the finals was sort of an EH year for me.

I think the evidence is in the lower number of posts and posters on the E8 board we are currently on.

I check the board a couple of times a day, even though I don't have any particular interest in the E8.  Other than they are the "local" league and UofR plays them on a regular basis.  Plus every so often a kid I know shows up on a roster.

Right, and I think that is more the norm now. I used to get on after a game and there would be a page or two to catch up on. I have to be honest, posting is one of the reasons I follow D3 sports. I like the conversation around the game as much as the game itself.

[Bombers798891]

The problem is there's so little give and take. I mean, I could talk about Ithaca's issues (Although really, they could easily have 3 more wins) but since none of you guys have probably seen them (nothing wrong with that, since I haven't seen any of your teams either) there's little you can add (and vice versa)

I used to post on the women's board, but for like, three weeks, literally, there was no-one else posting. So what's the point? I don't think we've reached that critical (lack of) mass yet, but we're getting there.

I was surprised however. Sean Rossi had 17 assists in a game, is averaging 8.3 per game, and FROMAFAR didn't chime in about how they're too easy to matter and probably inflated. It's a shame

[sjfcards]

I was surprised however. Sean Rossi had 17 assists in a game, is averaging 8.3 per game, and FROMAFAR didn't chime in about how they're too easy to matter and probably inflated. It's a shame

Ahh, the good old days...

[magicman]

Nazareth loses a tough one on the road at New Jersey City, 63-60. The Golden Flyers held a 51-44 advantage with 5:20 left to play but a 10-2 run by the Gothic Knights gave them a 54-53 edge with 2:48 to play. 2 free throws and a driving layup gave a 3 pt. lead back to Naz with  1:46 remaining but a basket and 1 by the Knights tied it up again at 57. Knights regain the lead for good on another drive to the hoop and after Naz misses a 3 point attempt with 26 seconds left they are forced to foul. New Jersey makes them both for a 4 pt lead and Naz's Jason Corletta hits a triple with 16 ticks remaining  to make it 61-60. Naz fouls immediately and New Jersey makes them both. Naz comes down and Brad Ford, under pressure, gets off a decent attempt that rims out at the buzzer.  New Jersey was 9x9 from the line in the final 4:53 of the game. Jason Corletta led the Flyers with 17. Tyshun Stephens had 13 and Brad Ford had 10. New Jersey City is now 9-1 with their sole loss coming at the hands of Ithaca.

Naz loses their 3rd in a row and falls to 5-4. Their next game is January 4th when they travel to Cortland to take on the Red Dragons at 7 PM.