Empire 8

sjfcards · December 21, 2008, 12:37:45 PM

I haven't seen them play this year (yet), but from what I hear, they seem to be building back to where the fans and school have come to expect them to be. I also hear that they are a year or two away this year. I think they are a E8 tourny team this year as well. They have some young talent, but I still think they need some sort of statement. Fingers crossed.

NaztyNate · December 21, 2008, 04:50:05 PM

I am still a strong believer that Ithaca, Utica, Stevens and Naz/RIT are your E8 tourney teams. I dont see where Fisher fits into this equation. Do you guys honestly think they are better than any of those last 3 teams? Naz had a tough start but im still convinced with the Mcadam brothers they will be ahead of Fisher for that 4th spot.

sjfcards · December 21, 2008, 08:26:30 PM

I feel like Fisher is better than RIT. They were better than them, standings wise, last year. And, they seem to be improved this year compared to last.
Fisher always plays Utica tough, and I am confident they will at least split with them this year.
Naz is off to a 1-4 start, so who knows what is happening there. Especially with their history of underachieving with their talent.
And Stevens, a team that split with Fisher last year (when they were supposed to win the league), has lost a lot from last year.

All in all, I think Fisher will have a good chance to get into the tournament. I think all of the teams in the league, except Ithaca, have glaring weakness or five, and the 2-6 spots in the league are wide open. I think a two seed for Fisher is a little out of their reach, but I would not be suprised if they got a 3, and I am starting to expect a 4.

with age came? · December 24, 2008, 01:36:56 AM

I do not want to sound like the "infamous" Hawk of yesteryear but do not count Hartwick out of the equation. Coco apparently has company this year so I think that they may also contend for a playoff slot. New coaches at Alfred and Elmira will eliminate them from pushover status too. The e-8 other than Ithaca could be as competitive as it has been in many years.

buck1053 · December 24, 2008, 11:32:15 AM

Quote from: with age came? on December 24, 2008, 01:36:56 AM
New coaches at Alfred and Elmira will eliminate them from pushover status too. The e-8 other than Ithaca could be as competitive as it has been in many years.

Not sure about Elmira, they seemed to be making progress before Connolly jumped ship for Utica and have a coach (Torgalski) with a lot of good experience under his belt (not to mention playing for Neer), but don't think Alfred will be too much of a factor. Wellman has jumped around a bunch, and while he was at Williams, he was rumored to be heading out of coaching before landing the AU job. And the players didn't get better from last season, especially losing Ellis Walsh. Sure Smithgall is back, but not enough to make a difference.

FisherDynasty · December 25, 2008, 11:00:47 PM

I agree with you sjfcards. The e8 is very competitive this year but the quality of teams is down overall. Fisher being very young and down from prior years, I think will still get in the e8 tourny due to the fact that all of the other teams excluding ithaca are average. Utica is tough and is a wild card dont know much about them. RIT i think fisher can play with, naz is naz, going to be a barn burner with fisher either way no matter whos better, stevens is down a little bit so shoudl be a good game, and all the other teams are pretty good. Fact of the matter is Fisher is usually good at home, have a good system and finds ways to win. They typically don;t blow as many games to worse teams as other teams in the e8 do. That being said i think they will find a way even though on paper maybe shouldnt be included. Gobombers is right, that loss to Desales, who I didnt think was that great, isnt as bad now that they are #25. They were a very well coached and disciplined team that can take anyone out of their game but I think Fisher was the better team that was just too young. I thin kby end of season they will turn into a solid team and make a run to possibly the championship e8 game losing to ithaca. But its way too early to tell as conf. games have not started yet.

BKPioneer · December 29, 2008, 12:58:58 PM

what's up fellas i'm a new poster to the board. i've been a ghost reader for years, so i figured it's time i posted something.

1. as much as i hate to say it i'll state the obvious, ithaca is the class of the E8. when either Burton or Bostic plays well and the role players play their roles i can't see anyone beating them.

2. going into this season i thought utica was going to be a very good team and that they even had a chance at making the ncaa tourney. now i'm not so confident. i'm not fond of the new guy, just from what i've seen as i'm around the program a lot. and it doesn't look like the kids are buying what he's selling. Herring is having his worst season of his career (hopefully he turns it around). if Goode was still around this team defnitely had a shot at making the ncaa's.

sjfcards · December 29, 2008, 07:23:46 PM

It feels like it has been 6 months since Fisher last played a game. I am hoping for a good one tonight, with Fisher pulling it out in the end. We will see how it goes. I think Fisher has an opportunity to really make a statement that they are on the way back after being down last year. I think Kornaker will make something happen, and they will get a win tonight. The big problem for Fisher will be their size, since Fisher doesn't have a true big man.

sjfcards · December 29, 2008, 10:15:17 PM

Good win for Fisher tonight, as they pull away for a 97-80 win over St. Mary's College. I said that Fisher could make a statement, and I think they did tonight.
I still think they are looking for a 3 seed, maybe a 2, but I think a win like tonight can set a young team up for a good season.

Tonight could be a big boost to the teams confidence...I hope.

NaztyNate · December 30, 2008, 12:20:59 PM

ok seriously what is going on at Nazareth??? 2 losses in the Staten Island tournament to a 2-7 team and an 0-8 host team?? There has to be something happening there behind the scenes because a team with the Mcadam brothers and the big kid (Dimer?) there is no way this team should have only 1 win. I saw them at the RIT game and although they didnt win I thought they played well and had some pieces to at least content for a playoff spot. Now it looks to me like getting to 7 wins will be an achievement. Mike Daley has to at least consider letting go because this is getting rediculous this team is too talented.

sjfcards · December 30, 2008, 06:36:42 PM

I was a little shocked myself to see the start that Naz has gotten off to. They have a history of underachieving, but come on. I think you may be right, something could be going on behind the scenes. I can't believe that Canori was that good of a player, that players with all league talent would nose dive like this once he left.

e8bballfan · December 30, 2008, 09:01:57 PM

First off, HUGE wins for fisher!! Upset over St Marys and then win over Muskingum in the final of their tourney. Talk about a team making a statement...Baltz pissed he quit now??

Second, meanwhile down the road Naz is STRUGGGLING! Talk about underachieving! sjfcards - I don't think it's the loss of Canori that's hurting them as teams are putting up some serious points on them and their 3 top scorers (Mcadam bros & big, Dehimmer) are putting up points as well. Gotta d up I guess....

The season is still early and lots of teams can turn it around with conference play picking up this weekend...

IC vs Elmira & Alfred
Fisher vs. Hartwick & Stevens
Naz vs Stevens & Fisher
RIT vs Utica & Elmira

Happy New Years to everyone as well!

gobombers15 · December 30, 2008, 10:06:16 PM

Naz hasn't played good defense in years. The problem is, now, they don't have enough firepower to outscore the other team. They don't miss Canori, per se, but they do miss the 18-20 pts he'd give you each night, as well as his ability to stretch the defense which gave Corey MacAdam more space to operate. They're only 0-1 in conference, so they're far from dead. But they quickly need to turn things around.

Nice tourney win for Fisher. It looks like they may be positioning themselves to be one of Ithaca's top challengers. Utica hasn't improved as much as I thought they might have, but the season is still young and they were much better towards the end of last season. RIT has had some nice early success, too. Now, if only they can keep from being swept by Hartwick, the team that's kept them out of the E8 Tourney two years running.

It's shaping up to be an exciting conference season.

magicman · December 31, 2008, 12:10:48 AM

Quote from: thebear on December 20, 2008, 02:09:35 PM
They appear to be huge, multiple 6-7 & above's.

They got hammered (blown out in the 2nd half) by Baruch in the city in their last game, after winning their first 7.

I would guess Fisher should be competitive, Kornaker is an excellent coach, and he will have his troops prepared.

They played Nazareth in their opener, so Rob has game film and first hand knowledge right across the street.

As usual the east gets no respect, undefeated Ithaca ranked below these guys, who lost to a CUNY team by 20.

Be a nice win for Fisher, the E8, & the region if Fisher were to beat them.

Once again "the bear" comes through with his excellent insight as Fisher makes it look easy against #20 St. Mary's

FisherDynasty · December 31, 2008, 09:16:22 AM

to go along with previous posters that was an excellent weekend for Fisher. Shot the lights out against St. Mary's and pulled out a gutzy win against a solid Muskingham team. They looked really really good this weekened, total opposite from the 1st semester. The addition of Anthony Hall is huge in giving them more depth and a little more confidence on the wings. Freshman Jordan Gettings has earned a starting spot and playing extremely well. Fisher does not have a true big man but that is not needed in d3 until the ncaa tourney. Mike Wopperer there only big man is playing good defense on the defending teams big and 6'5 brandon Witte is athletic as hell so can cover bigs as well. Witte went baseline and almost dunked over a kid for Muskingham, was something you dont see much at the D3 level. That being said I think Fisher is a e8 tourny team now and might split with Ithaca this year with the win being at Fisher. They will need to shoot like they did against St. Mary's to win the conference, however, I don't see that happening as they are still very young with only 2 jr's and no sr's. I think they will be inconsistent losing a few games they shouldnt and winning a few games they shouldnt possibly upsetting Ithaca one of those games.