Empire 8

[gobombers15]

Looks like tonight's action pretty much seals the 1st round games in the tourney, unless RIT upsets Fisher tomorrow.

RIT @ Fisher
Ithaca vs Utica

Did anyone catch the post-game interview following the Ithaca/Utica game tonight? Utica's coach kept going on about his sole goal for the remainder of the regular season was to avoid Fisher in the E8 tournament. You're gonna have to play them eventually if you're gonna go to the NCAA's, coach! You may be better off playing them on Saturday afternoon, like Ithaca did last year.

[superman57]

I was wondering why fisher doesn't play well against Naz the way I see it is that they play down to them.

[the bird man]

Fisher struggles against Naz because Naz plays as well as they possibly can, and Fisher plays like they are playing an 8-16 team...I guess it just that simple.

As long as they win it is cool...

[notjoshreed]

Gosh It looks like I missed a barn burner.  Was it as much fun as the fist game? I did hear that the officiating was quite one side towards Naz and that Naz set several illegal screens to free up Canori ( who I heard was hot)
Also heard that 700 people were turned away and that they may consider the Blue Cross Arena next year.

Anyone who was there care to comment?

[fisheralum03]

it was a fabulous game. There were many calls that went for Naz but despite that, Naz lost the game b/c they missed a lot and I mean a lot of easy layups. Fisher almost gave them the game but held on for the win. As it relates to people being turned away. They started letting more people in as the Men's game started. I actually was one of the people waiting. I was glad I waited b/c that was a great game last night.

[col]

tigerfan2, are you making fun of Bryant and saying that he isn't the best player in the league???

[fisheralum91]

Man I still hate Naz!

[the bird man]

speaking of people getting turned away from the game...The 2 schools really need to do something about the situation with the size of the two gyms.

There is just not enough room in either school's gym for the game. I think the blue cross arena is a good idea. They need to move the game to a place where they can at least get a few 100 more fans in the building. Maybe move the game to another school with a bigger gym, like RIT or U of R.

A few times I was thinking about how a great game, between such great rivals could get any better. The only thing I could think of was having a bigger crowd. I like the idea that the gym is packed full of intense fans, but they could easily fit about a 1,000 more. I know about 700 got turned away, but I also know a lot more that did not come simply because at 6:30 when they were ready to go they figured that it was far too late to get in...

[the bird man]

and Fisheralum91...I still hate Naz too...

[gobombers15]

I agree with the idea that the game should be put at a larger, neutral venue. However, that raises some logistical questions that may not be easily solved:

1) Do we play both games at a neutral venue?

2) If we only play one of the games at a neutral venue, who gets the home game and then who has to spend their home game playing at a neutral site? Does it rotate?

3) Would the game be as good without the intimacy of a small D3 gym if it were to be put in Blue Cross Arena? Maximum, 3,000 people would go to that game. There'd be a lot of empty seats which would take away from some of the atmosphere.

4) Maybe put the game in a big high school gym like Webster Schroeder's? A nice, big high school gym that probably fits as much as Fisher and Naz's gyms do, combined. Also, it is probably just the right size for it to be packed.

Basically, I don't think either school would consent to playing this game at a different venue

Predictions for today's games:

ITHACA 71 Hartwick 55

Utica 82 ELMIRA 58

NAZ 77 Alfred 68

Fisher 80 RIT 73

I likely won't be able to post until tomorrow because there's Mardi Gras parades all day today and then it's Memphis at Tulane tonight (we're gonna get worked, bad). If by some act of God Ithaca loses to Hartwick, don't think I threw myself into the Mississippi River.

[reggieball22]

A few comments from a long time reader of d3hoops and seldom poster. I think GB has it right on the money in numbers 3 and 4. The Naz-Fisher game must be played in a small venue and I dont think a neutral court is a good idea. Stepping onto the other schools turf is half the reason why this becomes such a big game. I spent one year in school at Naz before transfering to RIT and I can tell you that half the reason the game is so big is because the schools dislike each other so much any reason to set foot on the other schools campus and act like an asshole its definetly worth it. You move that game to a neutral site I am guaranteeing you lost at least 600 fans. The location of the games is what makes the rivalry so crazy....I also think there is no way either team would agree to change the game because of the income it brings in. Students arent the only ones at these games it brings out the basketball fan in everyone.....

I also would like to comment on this coaching debate of Daley and Murphy. While I think both coaches suck and have done very little with tons of talent, I think you have to look at Daley as being the worst coach in the league. He has been coaching for what 20 years and has a .500 record. He has been to 2 to NCAA championship tournaments in 20 years. He had a team a few years back with Jimmy Evans (Although I hated watching him play I believe led the league in scoring and assists at least once and maybe twice) and Lawrence Maroney who is the most gifted athlete the Empire 8 has seen in decades, along with a solid big man in Fran Ziblockli. Now while this team did win 22 games, it failed to make the big dance and lost 3 crucial Empire 8 games in a row after starting the year 14-2(beating an undefeated and nationally #2 ranked U of R in the chase).  I also believe one of those losses was to a horrible Hartwick team at home. This group of sophomores was supposed to be the second coming at Naz and they are about to finish 8-17. I dont think anybody in the Empire 8 even comes close to Daley at doing less with more.....follow up note does anyone from Naz know what happened to those 2 from Naz Evans and Maroney? I heard Evans was clowning it up against the Globetrotters and Maroney was on his 3rd kid with the hot girl that used to play basketball. Any truth to this?

[clearconceit]

we have the best player in the league and can't wait until we meet Fisher in the championship game next week.  
-peace out!

[gobombers15]

Ithaca opens the game on a 12-2 run against Hartwick. Well that was close for all of 10 seconds.

[gobombers15]

IC by 25 over Hartwick with 10 mins remaining. The scrubs are already starting to come in for the Bombers. Maybe in 2010, MadHawk.

[the bird man]

Fisher over RIT by 14, easy one for the Cards...