Empire 8

[gobombers15]

The supporting cast played very well for RIT vs IC which is what they needed to win that game.  It makes me wonder how much better this team would have been if Foster was on the court for them.  He would have been a number 2 or number 3 scoring option and added more depth for the Tigers.

There's another name (besides Rayvon Higdon of Naz) that I haven't heard yet this year. Did he leave school? Where is he?

[Nosyor]

The supporting cast played very well for RIT vs IC which is what they needed to win that game.  It makes me wonder how much better this team would have been if Foster was on the court for them.  He would have been a number 2 or number 3 scoring option and added more depth for the Tigers.

There's another name (besides Rayvon Higdon of Naz) that I haven't heard yet this year. Did he leave school? Where is he?

He found out a week before school started that RIT wasn't renewing his Financial Aid.  There were some factors leading to it (none within Shane's control) that led to the result.  I know coach McVean tried everything within his power to get Shane back on campus this year, it just didn't work out.  It is too bad b/c he is a really good kid.  Sometimes we lose sight of the business end of college when we focus so much of our attention on the sports aspect.

[gobombers15]

The supporting cast played very well for RIT vs IC which is what they needed to win that game.  It makes me wonder how much better this team would have been if Foster was on the court for them.  He would have been a number 2 or number 3 scoring option and added more depth for the Tigers.

There's another name (besides Rayvon Higdon of Naz) that I haven't heard yet this year. Did he leave school? Where is he?

He found out a week before school started that RIT wasn't renewing his Financial Aid.  There were some factors leading to it (none within Shane's control) that led to the result.  I know coach McVean tried everything within his power to get Shane back on campus this year, it just didn't work out.  It is too bad b/c he is a really good kid.  Sometimes we lose sight of the business end of college when we focus so much of our attention on the sports aspect.

I agree. I'm actually surprised that it doesn't happen more often. The E8 schools are far from inexpensive. I loved my experience at Ithaca, but I won't be crying if my children end up deciding that they'd prefer a state school for their undergraduate education.

[Nosyor]

Chase Tournament Seedings
1 U of R
2 RIT
3 Genesseo
4 St. John Fisher
5 Roberts
6 Brockport
7 Nazareth
8 Keuka

I don't disagree with any of the rankings but what I do disagree with is where the first place games take place.  RIT has to play at Naz on Wed and Genesseo plays at Brockport.  I understand the venues are picked before the seedings and it just doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of an advantage do Genesseo and RIT get with a higher seed if they are forced to play on the road for the first game?
It can't be administrative issues because there aren't any problems scrambling at the end of the year to set up the ECAC tournament (meaning there is a quick turnaround for home games). 

Don't get wrong I love the Chase, I just don't like the home court situation.

[gobombers15]

Chase Tournament Seedings
1 U of R
2 RIT
3 Genesseo
4 St. John Fisher
5 Roberts
6 Brockport
7 Nazareth
8 Keuka

I don't disagree with any of the rankings but what I do disagree with is where the first place games take place.  RIT has to play at Naz on Wed and Genesseo plays at Brockport.  I understand the venues are picked before the seedings and it just doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of an advantage do Genesseo and RIT get with a higher seed if they are forced to play on the road for the first game?
It can't be administrative issues because there aren't any problems scrambling at the end of the year to set up the ECAC tournament (meaning there is a quick turnaround for home games). 

Don't get wrong I love the Chase, I just don't like the home court situation.

C'mon now, RIT usually benefits from that exact situation more times than any other school. Wasn't there an instance a few years back (2004-05?) where a lower-seeded (worse) RIT hosted higher-seed Rochester at RIT and won, followed by hosting higher-seeded Fisher and losing?

[Nosyor]

Chase Tournament Seedings
1 U of R
2 RIT
3 Genesseo
4 St. John Fisher
5 Roberts
6 Brockport
7 Nazareth
8 Keuka

I don't disagree with any of the rankings but what I do disagree with is where the first place games take place.  RIT has to play at Naz on Wed and Genesseo plays at Brockport.  I understand the venues are picked before the seedings and it just doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of an advantage do Genesseo and RIT get with a higher seed if they are forced to play on the road for the first game?
It can't be administrative issues because there aren't any problems scrambling at the end of the year to set up the ECAC tournament (meaning there is a quick turnaround for home games). 

Don't get wrong I love the Chase, I just don't like the home court situation.

C'mon now, RIT usually benefits from that exact situation more times than any other school. Wasn't there an instance a few years back (2004-05?) where a lower-seeded (worse) RIT hosted higher-seed Rochester at RIT and won, followed by hosting higher-seeded Fisher and losing?

Haha. Well I'm not going to complain when it works out in my favor!  Seriously though, how is the hosting determined? 

[e8bballfan]

Chase Tournament Seedings
1 U of R
2 RIT
3 Genesseo
4 St. John Fisher
5 Roberts
6 Brockport
7 Nazareth
8 Keuka

I don't disagree with any of the rankings but what I do disagree with is where the first place games take place.  RIT has to play at Naz on Wed and Genesseo plays at Brockport.  I understand the venues are picked before the seedings and it just doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of an advantage do Genesseo and RIT get with a higher seed if they are forced to play on the road for the first game?
It can't be administrative issues because there aren't any problems scrambling at the end of the year to set up the ECAC tournament (meaning there is a quick turnaround for home games). 

Don't get wrong I love the Chase, I just don't like the home court situation.

C'mon now, RIT usually benefits from that exact situation more times than any other school. Wasn't there an instance a few years back (2004-05?) where a lower-seeded (worse) RIT hosted higher-seed Rochester at RIT and won, followed by hosting higher-seeded Fisher and losing?

Haha. Well I'm not going to complain when it works out in my favor!  Seriously though, how is the hosting determined? 

I believe each year the host sites rotate.

[Bombers798891]

Hey Bombers 798891 - Interesting analysis of the last 3 minutes.  You somehow forgot to mention the 2 defensive and 1 offense rebounds Carson got it that time frame.

I was at the game - Burton is a fabulous player, who brings a completely different set of skills to the game than Carson does - I guess that is the point.

By the way, you are absolutely correct that the RIT team are not a bunch of stiffs.  But I am curious - which Ithaca starters would you replace with RIT starters if you had the chance?

1. I didn't forget them, as much as the RIT stat book didn't track them. I know Carson is a beast on the boards and would have put them in there if they'd been tracked. Also, did Burton snare any rebounds in that time? Because he had 10 in the game.

2. The point was I guess more that, in the last three minutes of crunch time, Burton was the best player on the court for either side.

3. I don't know much about RIT's other players, so maybe no-one. But I fail to see how that makes Burton any less talented. Was Joe Montana overrated because he got to throw to Jerry Rice and John Taylor and hand off to Roger Craig? Yes it helps assist numbers when the guys hit the shots, but the fact is, Ithaca's offense would stall without Burton. There's no way they'd have the firepower to hang 90-100 on teams and they've allowed a lot of points this season.

4. As I said earlier, it's tough to compare a point guard to a center, and both players are fabulous. I just think Burton had a better game, although it was close.

It looks like the RIT/IC game could determine the conference title.

Tonight, Burton goes for 20-10 in only 26 minutes as IC embarrasses Potsdam 116-94. It wasn't even that close. IC empties the bench up 34 with 7 minutes to go. Probably the 4th time this season they've come short of the school record for points due to the starters being able to relax. Two big road conference games loom before it's a whole bunch of home cooking.

[sjfcards]

Chase Tournament Seedings
1 U of R
2 RIT
3 Genesseo
4 St. John Fisher
5 Roberts
6 Brockport
7 Nazareth
8 Keuka

I don't disagree with any of the rankings but what I do disagree with is where the first place games take place.  RIT has to play at Naz on Wed and Genesseo plays at Brockport.  I understand the venues are picked before the seedings and it just doesn't make sense to me.  What kind of an advantage do Genesseo and RIT get with a higher seed if they are forced to play on the road for the first game?
It can't be administrative issues because there aren't any problems scrambling at the end of the year to set up the ECAC tournament (meaning there is a quick turnaround for home games). 

Don't get wrong I love the Chase, I just don't like the home court situation.

C'mon now, RIT usually benefits from that exact situation more times than any other school. Wasn't there an instance a few years back (2004-05?) where a lower-seeded (worse) RIT hosted higher-seed Rochester at RIT and won, followed by hosting higher-seeded Fisher and losing?

Haha. Well I'm not going to complain when it works out in my favor!  Seriously though, how is the hosting determined? 

I believe each year the host sites rotate.

I have no idea how they determine iost sites, except that the host sites are determined ahead of time. I have often thought that the way it works is a problem. It has not really been a huge problem in the recent past. However, imagine what would happen if a team like Fisher or RIT was a higher seed, and had to travel to a place like Geneseo or even worse NAZ. Now, imagine that Fisher or RIT lose that game (a very likely scenario with RIT and Fisher playing a game that is always a tough one), then it comes down to the end of the season and RIT or Fisher lose the E8 Tourny, and miss an at large bid by a game (say a team with the same record like Geneseo gets in because they won an extra game in the Chase Tourny).

It seems like no big deal at the time, but it could be the difference for an at large bid, or an ECAC invitation. I know that seeing the different gyms is part of the Chase aura, but it has always kind of erked me.   

[bamm]

Really nice front page feature on Carson in the D&C today:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090114/SPORTS09/901140337/1007/SPORTS

[FROMAFAR]

Bamm, I read it, real nice.... Kornaker said a lot of nice things as well.  This has been fun so far........  Naz will be yough tonight. While I don't think they will stop Carson, they don't stop anyone, I am worried IF they are hot, like they were against Stevens. We may need 90 to win tonight.... Also, did anyone catche the Utica Stevens game last night. Another sloppy game. I really don't think either will make the E 8 tourney. Utica looks like they are not comfortable. They did spread out the scoring and got the ball down low which hurt the Ducks. Also, they did what everyone will do against Stevens is play zone. This neutralizes Grey which takes the Ducks completley out. Yea Passalaqua will hit some 3's if they get over late, but give him his 15-18 points. If you keep Grey under 20, there is no one else who can hurt you especially against the zone. Sad, but Stevens doesn't seem to be a factor. Interesting match up with Alfred Friday, this could give PEP a big smile, as a win for AU could definitely put them in a spot to make the tourney...But what do I know    GO TIGERS!!!! 

[Bombers798891]

Bamm, I read it, real nice.... Kornaker said a lot of nice things as well.  This has been fun so far........  Naz will be yough tonight. While I don't think they will stop Carson, they don't stop anyone, I am worried IF they are hot, like they were against Stevens. We may need 90 to win tonight.... Also, did anyone catche the Utica Stevens game last night. Another sloppy game. I really don't think either will make the E 8 tourney. Utica looks like they are not comfortable. They did spread out the scoring and got the ball down low which hurt the Ducks. Also, they did what everyone will do against Stevens is play zone. This neutralizes Grey which takes the Ducks completley out. Yea Passalaqua will hit some 3's if they get over late, but give him his 15-18 points. If you keep Grey under 20, there is no one else who can hurt you especially against the zone. Sad, but Stevens doesn't seem to be a factor. Interesting match up with Alfred Friday, this could give PEP a big smile, as a win for AU could definitely put them in a spot to make the tourney...But what do I know    GO TIGERS!!!! 

Dude, don't worry. They're not going to stop RIT. They are way too streaky on offense and they refuse to play defense

As for Utica, maybe it was just IC, but the Pioneers look REALLY slow, step one wise, off the ball. I don't see them making it, unless they sneak in at 4

[sjfcards]

From the live stats it looks like Fisher beat Roberts tonight. It was tight for a while from what I can tell, but Fisher pulled away to win by 17 (I think). Glad to see that they started the Chase with a quality win, but it only gets tougher from here. Hopefully they can get hot, and sneak up on U of R this weekend. Should be an interesting week and weekend with the Chase in full swing.

I see that Ithaca ran past Potsdam, running up 116 in the process. Do teams just not play D gainst them? I have never seen a team at the college level fill it up the way that they do every game this year.

[bamm]

Do teams just not play D gainst them? I have never seen a team at the college level fill it up the way that they do every game this year.

First, Ithaca is very good and can light it up.    And Potsdam just lost their sixth straight game.  They are playing terribly. 

Naz is epically bad on defense. 

[gobombers15]

Do teams just not play D gainst them? I have never seen a team at the college level fill it up the way that they do every game this year.

First, Ithaca is very good and can light it up.    And Potsdam just lost their sixth straight game.  They are playing terribly. 

Naz is epically bad on defense. 

And Ithaca's point totals at home are 118, 87, 122, and 116. That's 110.8 pts/game. Dare I say that Ithaca "shoots the lights out" at The Bulb? I'll be here all week, tip your waitresses.