Empire 8

[FisherDynasty]

Unless Ithaca completely falls apart they are definately going to get an at large this year.  I see them losing 4-5 games at most this year during the regular season.  possibly split with fisher and/or naz, and maybe 1 to 2 other losses.  I think the overall region is much much much weaker this year at the top therefore some mediocre teams will get at larges as there will be minimal standout teams.  That being said depending on if who ithaca pairs with and who they have to play will determine how far they go in the ncaa touney.  If they get hot I think they could make it to an elite 8 or so, however, i would like to see how they continue to do in the conference before we talk how far they can go in the tourny. 

Fisher ended up knocking off Stevens by 8 today with a balanced scoring attack.  Mike wopperer there lone big man is playing better and better each game and had a double double.  Fisher at 7-1, although, im not conviced they are up there with Ithaca yet looks to be one of the strongest in the region as well.  Id have to put them in the 2 spot of the region based on record, strength of schedule, and scoring margins alone as of right now. 

[sjfcards]

I think I would put Fisher at # 2 in the region as well, but I am really biased, and I really have not checked in on any of the other teams in the region. I think they are definitely proving to be the 2nd best team in the conference this year. I am just hoping they can avoid enough losses to be in the hunt at the end of the season for a top seed, and possibly an at large bid (fingers crossed...I know it is early, and they are a young team).

I don't know if anyone can touch Ithaca in the region this year. We will see what the rest of the way holds for them. I think they will lose a few games in the conference (2), but I think they can make a small run in the tourny if/when they get in.

[gobombers15]

RIT pushes their conference record to 3-0. I think most were expecting Utica, Naz and Stevens to be joining Ithaca in the E8 Tourney. Could it be that the other three teams will be RIT, Fisher and Hartwick? Don't forget Hartwick beat Oneonta by 11 on the road, and Oneonta beat RIT and took IC to OT.

[FisherDynasty]

I think im going to have to agree with you Gobombers.  Hartwick seems to be much improved.  they always start the season good with their weak non-conf games but was a big win over Naz at Naz.  Hartwick is tough to play at home and only lost to fisher by 8 at Fisher.  They might be able to split with them as well. 

Sjfcards,  although it is too early to tell but if Fisher gets thru the conference withonly 3-4 losses and only takes one loss in the Chase they will have a good shot at an at arge bid.  However, Fisher has been playing a lot at home lately and not sure how good they will be away in conference as the team is so young.  I think they will get a loss to RIT (at RIT), Naz (at Naz), Ithaca (twice maybe only once), and at Hartwick.  I think they lose to Ithaca twice in reg season I can see them pulling off the upset over ithaca in the e8 tourny.

[sjfcards]

I think im going to have to agree with you Gobombers.  Hartwick seems to be much improved.  they always start the season good with their weak non-conf games but was a big win over Naz at Naz.  Hartwick is tough to play at home and only lost to fisher by 8 at Fisher.  They might be able to split with them as well. 

Sjfcards,  although it is too early to tell but if Fisher gets thru the conference withonly 3-4 losses and only takes one loss in the Chase they will have a good shot at an at arge bid.  However, Fisher has been playing a lot at home lately and not sure how good they will be away in conference as the team is so young.  I think they will get a loss to RIT (at RIT), Naz (at Naz), Ithaca (twice maybe only once), and at Hartwick.  I think they lose to Ithaca twice in reg season I can see them pulling off the upset over ithaca in the e8 tourny.

Yeah I think I agree with you. I can see 5-7 losses overall with some traditionally tough games (RIT and NAZ) and IC being so good this year. However, I think this last week, with Fisher playing those 4 games in 6 days was a huge stretch for Fisher. Even though they were all at home, beating a ranked team, an OK Muskingem team, and starting 2-0 in the conference is really big. Beating St. Mary's is a big confidence booster, and it is always important to get off to a good start in the conference. Getting off to a 7-1 start is about as good as it could get for Fisher after last years start.

[magicman]

Ithaca, down 1 at the half 41-40, outscores Alfred by 12 in the 2nd to come away with a 75-64 win and to remain 1 of only 9 undefeated schools left in Divsion III. Should move up a couple spots in this weeks rankings. 

[bombersquadron]

Ithaca does rally to beat Alfred 75-64.  The write up on the Bombers website says they were down as many as 9 in the first half. They get a double-double from Leahy with 11-11, Burton leads all with 18 points. Bostic starts despite the nasty fall Friday night at Elmira that left him with seven staples in his head, he goes for 8-8. The box scores shows Alfred gets great performances from all starters who score all but one point for the Saxons. Ithaca out rebounded Alfred 48 -35 and hit 10 more FT then the Saxons as well. Like everyone is saying they should move up a few more spots and inch closer to the top 10.

[magicman]

Oneonta travels to Utica and comes away with a 77-71 win. Red Dragons improve to 8-3. UC drops to 3-4. It doesn't get any easier for the Pioneers as they travel to Ithaca on Tuesday to take on the Bombers.

Oneonta also has a date with an unbeaten team as they travel to NYU for a Tuesday regional matchup.

[BKPioneer]

It's over for the Utica. Saw the game today and they just don't look like they are playing un-inspired basketball. They look like they are just going through the motions, this can be attributed to coaching. Unless they can get it together it's going to be a longggg season.

[sjfcards]

I don't see what else would have changed with Utica to make them drop so far so quickly. Now, I have not seen them play at all this year, and I am going solely on what I see in their results and on their boards. We all said that Goodemote (?) could coach, but oh my. Do people think it is a problem with the new Coach, or is it just a problem of the players not buying into his new system yet? Whatever the problem is, they need to right the ship ASAP to save the season.

Ithaca is still going strong I see. It is nice to see that they are somewhat human anyway.

[FisherDynasty]

Ithaca is definately human.  they have not made the NCAA tournment with the same cast the past 3 years. They are finally mature enough to make it this year, and should do well in it, especially with the rest of the region seeming extremely weak compared to normal.

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca is definately human.  they have not made the NCAA tournment with the same cast the past 3 years. They are finally mature enough to make it this year, and should do well in it, especially with the rest of the region seeming extremely weak compared to normal.

It's mostly the same cast. However, you're neglecting a big part of it: Chris Cruz. It's only his 2nd year and the coaches love him. He's averaging 14.8 PPG after only going for 4.4 last season. He's really been that missing piece that's turned Ithaca into a dominant offensive force. When all five guys in your starting lineup score in double figures, you're deep.

Also something to be aware of: The Bombers have only played one game at home all season. In a staggeringly odd schedule, only 10 of IC's 25 games this season are at home. Ithaca has 9 OOC games and only two of them at home. For the remaining 15 games however, the Bombers get nine of them at home.

It's pretty amazing that this team is 10-0 playing virtually on the road. However, with Burton, Bostic, Leahy and Rodgers graduating, Ithaca's going to lose a lot of talent. This is the year for them. They've pretty much already staked a claim to the best team in school history. The question is: How far can they go?

[FROMAFAR]

Hey gang, I've been away for the Holidays and have a lot of catching up to do..  The E-8 is going to be a mystery to me all year. yes IC should and will get the # 1 seed. But Naz and Utica really have me baffled. Yea I know Naz never played D, but they didn't play D last year and were able to win somewhat, as well as the E-8 tourney. Utica doesn't surprise me that much. They were underachievers all last year until the last two weeks of the season. With the same group back, this is not unusual. Yea maybe a new system has them reeling a little, but I'm not so sure that's just a convenient excuse for poor performance. ( my read on Ducks since I do see them as much as I see RIT) Stevens does not surprise me either. They are lost without a center and a point guard. Teams have figured out that they cannot score against a zone. Grey is a slasher and tough to penetrate against a good zone.  Passalaqua refuseses to penetrate Thus only 8 foul shots in 11 games. Baker trying to play the point but looks confused and no outside threat. Sanchez ( backup) has twice as many turnovers as assists, and no outside threat...They are in trouble. That Naz win was not a big surprise. Fisher is definitely a team to watch... Although they played poorly against Stevens, still won.. Hartwick will be a factor all year, they are playing hard and Coco does have help this year. I think Alfred is better than we all think, ( hows that PEP), but I really mean that. They too come to play. Elmira is weak and have not shown much. They could pull off a win against Utica or Stevens if they scout these guys well. As for RIT, you guys know me the less said the better. I will only say I am happy thus far.  My new E-8 finish.

IC
Fisher
RIT
Hartwick
Naz
Utica
Stevens
Alfred
Elmira

But what do I know





   


       

[fisheralum91]

Hey guys-- been a long time since ive been on the bball board- but wanted to mention that UC is under new leadership.
Chris Connoly took over for UC and yes the team looks a little disjointed this year.

That being said- happy new year all and go alma mater.

[sjfcards]

Hey gang, I've been away for the Holidays and have a lot of catching up to do..  The E-8 is going to be a mystery to me all year. yes IC should and will get the # 1 seed. But Naz and Utica really have me baffled. Yea I know Naz never played D, but they didn't play D last year and were able to win somewhat, as well as the E-8 tourney. Utica doesn't surprise me that much. They were underachievers all last year until the last two weeks of the season. With the same group back, this is not unusual. Yea maybe a new system has them reeling a little, but I'm not so sure that's just a convenient excuse for poor performance. ( my read on Ducks since I do see them as much as I see RIT) Stevens does not surprise me either. They are lost without a center and a point guard. Teams have figured out that they cannot score against a zone. Grey is a slasher and tough to penetrate against a good zone.  Passalaqua refuseses to penetrate Thus only 8 foul shots in 11 games. Baker trying to play the point but looks confused and no outside threat. Sanchez ( backup) has twice as many turnovers as assists, and no outside threat...They are in trouble. That Naz win was not a big surprise. Fisher is definitely a team to watch... Although they played poorly against Stevens, still won.. Hartwick will be a factor all year, they are playing hard and Coco does have help this year. I think Alfred is better than we all think, ( hows that PEP), but I really mean that. They too come to play. Elmira is weak and have not shown much. They could pull off a win against Utica or Stevens if they scout these guys well. As for RIT, you guys know me the less said the better. I will only say I am happy thus far.  My new E-8 finish.

IC
Fisher
RIT
Hartwick
Naz
Utica
Stevens
Alfred
Elmira

But what do I know





   


       

That looks good to me. I can hardly believe that so much has changed with the conference predictions in just a few short weeks, but it sure has. Early in the year, we all (or most of us) figured it was IC, Stevens, Naz, and then Fisher, Utica, and RIT pushing for the last spot in the tourny. Now Utica, Stevens, and Naz all seem lost without a chance, and Fisher and RIT look great for a spot in the tourny. And who saw Hartwick coming. I know they played well in the early going, but they do that almost every year. It is crazy to me that they seem to have the inside track on the 4th or even the 3rd seed. A crazy few weeks!!!