Empire 8

[Cyclone0205]

Anyone get a chance to see Stevens/Ithaca this weekend?  I know Ithaca is banged up but even hurt I didn't think Ithaca was 20 points worse than Stevens.  Looks like the big difference for the Ducks this year is the Sabbatino (sp?) kid inside, complimenting the Thompson/Jones backcourt.  How's he compare to Smith from last year, who was a 1,000 pt/ 1,000 rebound guy for Stevens? 

[Bombers798891]

Anyone get a chance to see Stevens/Ithaca this weekend?  I know Ithaca is banged up but even hurt I didn't think Ithaca was 20 points worse than Stevens.  Looks like the big difference for the Ducks this year is the Sabbatino (sp?) kid inside, complimenting the Thompson/Jones backcourt.  How's he compare to Smith from last year, who was a 1,000 pt/ 1,000 rebound guy for Stevens?

The team is missing nearly 40% of its scoring and one of its best defenders. Travis Warech was probably playing the best basketball in the conference when he was hurt. In his last 8 games prior to the injury, he was averaging 19.8 PPG and playing great defense. Oztemel is probably the best three-point shooter in school history, and his absence really hurts the Bombers' outside.

Injuries are a part of the game, but this was a Top-25 caliber team that has seen their season essentially sabotaged if they don't at least get Warech back.

[Cyclone0205]

Anyone get a chance to see Stevens/Ithaca this weekend?  I know Ithaca is banged up but even hurt I didn't think Ithaca was 20 points worse than Stevens.  Looks like the big difference for the Ducks this year is the Sabbatino (sp?) kid inside, complimenting the Thompson/Jones backcourt.  How's he compare to Smith from last year, who was a 1,000 pt/ 1,000 rebound guy for Stevens?

The team is missing nearly 40% of its scoring and one of its best defenders. Travis Warech was probably playing the best basketball in the conference when he was hurt. In his last 8 games prior to the injury, he was averaging 19.8 PPG and playing great defense. Oztemel is probably the best three-point shooter in school history, and his absence really hurts the Bombers' outside.

Injuries are a part of the game, but this was a Top-25 caliber team that has seen their season essentially sabotaged if they don't at least get Warech back.

Bombers - Thanks for the info.  Haven't really seen too much of the E8, didn't realize how much they were missing.  Did both play in the first game against Stevens this season?

That being said, and I know anything can happen and the Ducks have been known to fold in the post-season, but if Ithaca isn't healthy is the E8 basically the Ducks and then everyone else?  Any other contenders?

[Bombers798891]

Anyone get a chance to see Stevens/Ithaca this weekend?  I know Ithaca is banged up but even hurt I didn't think Ithaca was 20 points worse than Stevens.  Looks like the big difference for the Ducks this year is the Sabbatino (sp?) kid inside, complimenting the Thompson/Jones backcourt.  How's he compare to Smith from last year, who was a 1,000 pt/ 1,000 rebound guy for Stevens?

The team is missing nearly 40% of its scoring and one of its best defenders. Travis Warech was probably playing the best basketball in the conference when he was hurt. In his last 8 games prior to the injury, he was averaging 19.8 PPG and playing great defense. Oztemel is probably the best three-point shooter in school history, and his absence really hurts the Bombers' outside.

Injuries are a part of the game, but this was a Top-25 caliber team that has seen their season essentially sabotaged if they don't at least get Warech back.

Bombers - Thanks for the info.  Haven't really seen too much of the E8, didn't realize how much they were missing.  Did both play in the first game against Stevens this season?

That being said, and I know anything can happen and the Ducks have been known to fold in the post-season, but if Ithaca isn't healthy is the E8 basically the Ducks and then everyone else?  Any other contenders?

Oztemel + Warech had 26 and 16 combined in Ithaca's win over Stevens, playing 54 minutes. With them out, you're seeing more playing time going to players who probably aren't at that level yet.

This makes a situation like Tom Sweeney's foul issues even more glaring because it leaves you with few options if he has to go to the bench or become more passive due to foul problems.

[dcahill44]

Nazareth vs St John Fisher Battle Of the Beaks I'm going with Naz 61-59

[sjfcards]

Nazareth vs St John Fisher Battle Of the Beaks I'm going with Naz 61-59

Fisher has struggled with Naz over the last few years. Tonight will be a real test to see where they stand. A third loss to Naz would really sting.

[sjfcards]

Anyone know why the Fisher Men's and Women's game times are switched this weekend? I am going to be in Rochester this weekend and was going to try and catch a game, but won't be able to now.

[Bombers798891]

Congratulations to Sean Rossi, who, barring some sort of freak injury, will set the all-time D-III assists record some time early in the E8 semifinals. A fantastic point guard whose ability to score is overlooked by his pass-first mentality.A well-deserved honor

[sjfcards]

Congratulations to Sean Rossi, who, barring some sort of freak injury, will set the all-time D-III assists record some time early in the E8 semifinals. A fantastic point guard whose ability to score is overlooked by his pass-first mentality.A well-deserved honor

You can not argue with that kind of production. That is a great accomplishment. Congrats!

[Ethelred the Unready]

Congratulations to Sean Rossi, who, barring some sort of freak injury, will set the all-time D-III assists record some time early in the E8 semifinals. A fantastic point guard whose ability to score is overlooked by his pass-first mentality.A well-deserved honor

You can not argue with that kind of production. That is a great accomplishment. Congrats!

Ditto

[thebear]

Congrats to Sean Rossi for a great career. 

As an "asterisk", in the College Division days (before 1975) Mike Deane recorded 1024 assists in four seasons (219 at Hobart in 1969-70, and 805 in three seasons at Potsdam (1971-74).  This was against teams with scholarship rosters (Siena, Hartwick), and players such as Randy Smith and Marvin Webster.

Back in those days, before the three point line, the only time an assist was credited on a perimeter jump shot was a feed on the fast break to an open spot shooter in the corner.  Not like today when an assist is credited when the PG penetrates and kicks to an open shooter at the arc.

Magicman is familiar with Mike's passing ability, which translated to the next level, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, was in Utah rookie Camp with Moses Malone, and also played semi-pro and CBA for a number of years after college.

Recently inducted into the NYS basketball coaches Hall of Fame.

[Pat Coleman]

Congrats to Sean Rossi for a great career. 

As an "asterisk", in the College Division days (before 1975) Mike Deane recorded 1024 assists in four seasons (219 at Hobart in 1969-70, and 805 in three seasons at Potsdam (1971-74).  This was against teams with scholarship rosters (Siena, Hartwick), and players such as Randy Smith and Marvin Webster.

Even more asterisky ... if that's a word ... the assist wasn't an official stat until 1983-84, other than a couple years in the '50s.

[dcahill44]

Board members if you would like to tune in tonight im going to be on Hoopsville around 830.

[thebear]

Congrats to Sean Rossi for a great career. 

As an "asterisk", in the College Division days (before 1975) Mike Deane recorded 1024 assists in four seasons (219 at Hobart in 1969-70, and 805 in three seasons at Potsdam (1971-74).  This was against teams with scholarship rosters (Siena, Hartwick), and players such as Randy Smith and Marvin Webster.

Even more asterisky ... if that's a word ... the assist wasn't an official stat until 1983-84, other than a couple years in the '50s.

Regardless, I have stats going back to 1971, and assists are included each and every year, so they must have been important to someone (coaches?).  I also have offensive efficiency ratings (aka basketball sabrmetrics) back in the 1960's which were also important to coaches.

I also lived through the Ernie D era, and his game, including the NBA was all based on assists.

Trust me, Deane was Ernie D's equal, just ask Magic.

[magicman]

Congrats to Sean Rossi for a great career. 

As an "asterisk", in the College Division days (before 1975) Mike Deane recorded 1024 assists in four seasons (219 at Hobart in 1969-70, and 805 in three seasons at Potsdam (1971-74).  This was against teams with scholarship rosters (Siena, Hartwick), and players such as Randy Smith and Marvin Webster.

Back in those days, before the three point line, the only time an assist was credited on a perimeter jump shot was a feed on the fast break to an open spot shooter in the corner.  Not like today when an assist is credited when the PG penetrates and kicks to an open shooter at the arc.

Magicman is familiar with Mike's passing ability, which translated to the next level, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, was in Utah rookie Camp with Moses Malone, and also played semi-pro and CBA for a number of years after college.

Recently inducted into the NYS basketball coaches Hall of Fame.

Sean Rossi certainly deserves to be applauded for his record setting assist total, but to us old timers the standard for assists will always be Mike Deane. And I'm not trying to belittle Sean's accomplishment because what he has done is truly memorable and doesn't come along very often. He has had an outstanding career at Ithaca and will go down in history as one of the Bomber greats. It's too bad that the Bombers sufffered some key injuries which may keep them out of the NCAA tournament this year if they lose the E8 tournament. They certainly had the potential when healthy to compete with the top clubs in the region.

As the bear mentioned Deane's assist total for 3 years at Potsdam State was 805 and in checking with NCAA records for the year he played at Hobart he was credited with 226 for that season as the Hobart statistician wrote:  "Deane made the assist category anything but optional with a season total of 226 for a 10.8/game average. His high game was 19 assists versus Hamilton on 2/21/70."

Deane's total career assist total would be 1031 for his 4 year career. I believe he played in a total of 101 games and many of them were against scholarship schools as bear mentioned.

Now the most amazing thing about recording over a thousand assists in a 4 year career is the fact that he was the leading scorer on his team for those years as well. With the exception of his freshman year at Hobart, when he scored 239 points in 21 games, and was the 2nd leading scorer on the team, he was the top scorer his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, amassing another 1447 points with Potsdam to average 18.0 ppg for the Bears along with his 10.06 assists per game. That's not a misprint.... Mike AVERAGED a double-double for his ENTIRE career. If there had been a 3 point shot back then I'm sure his career total of 1686 points probably would have approached 2000, and his assist total would easily have been 100 to 150 more than it was. He shot 46% from the field for his career and 78% from the free throw line. Mike was only listed at 6'0" and I believe if he had been just a bit taller he would have had a decent career in the NBA. He wasn't the fastest guy on the court but he rarely committed a turnover either as his ball handling skills were 2nd to none.

Having seen Mike play for most of his collegiate career and then another 15 years of semipro ball at Plattsburgh's annual PBA Tournament made one truly appreciate the art of the pass. And not just any pass. I'm talking the thread the needle passes, the behind the back, no look passes, the bounce passes between the defenders legs to a wide open post player, and the passes to the guy on the other side of the court that only Deane could see was wide open. I seen lots of great passers in all levels of basketball. I've never seen one that was any better than Mike Deane. When you left a game that he played in you always felt you got your money's worth, because you always had at least a handful of those head shaking moments of how'd he do that, no one can do that...but Deane could and did and had the crowd right in his hip pocket.

His record as a coach at the Division 1 level is also exemplary as he has a 506-365 collegiate coaching record and among coaches still active in college basketball, Deane ranks in the top 30 for career victories at four-year institutions with a mark of 437-332.  He is one of only 28 coaches in NCAA history to guide three different schools to the NCAA Tournament. The 1988-89 Siena Saints received a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament and knocked off No. 3 Stanford 80-78. At the time it was the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history  He was selected as a December, 2012 inductee into the Siena Athletic Hall of Fame. Today Mike is an assistant coach at James Madison University where he is helping out one of his old Siena players, Coach Matt Brady. The Dukes are currently in 4th place in the Colonial Athletic Conference.