Empire 8

[bamm]

I think this Ithaca team is as good as any of the Fisher teams of the last 6 or 7 years. 

[Bombers798891]

Good points Bombers and I agree.  However, a point is a point.  By no means is RIT an offensive powerhouse and they beat Ithaca.  My main point is yes Ithaca can score and when the do score a lot they will most likely win.  However, when times get tough on the road and some of the shots are not falling, the home team is a good defensive team and are hitting shots they don't usually hit on the road, the games will be tough and they can be beaten.  I don't think the Ithaca team is unbelievable by any means, I do think they are a very good team playing in a weak region right now and shouldn't lose many more games.  As in the past 2 years, once the e8 tourny starts any 4 can win it and as of right now RIT, Fisher, and Ithaca all have a shot of an at large bid.

Totally understand. Obviously, IC is human and have been beaten. As another poster pointed out, look at UNC. Basketball is unlike football in that you need to make say, 40-50 shots to score in the 90-100 point range and that is hard to do. I'm not discounting the fact that IC is capable of losing, because hey, they've done it. But Naz, Hartwick and Utica, I just can't see it. Maybe SJF, but that defense had better be airtight for 40 minutes. And clearly, RIT can hang with them.

But RIT threw everything they had, including the home court, at IC and still needed a half-court "buzzer beater" to come away with a win. I know home court matters and teams play better defense at home, but Naz and Utica lost to IC by 32 and 23 points, and home court isn't going to account for that much of a difference. Ithaca hasn't exactly struggled on the road either.  I had more of an issue with the UC, HC and Naz upset possibility than SJF and RIT

[bamm]

Ithaca hasn't exactly struggled on the road either. 

They are 13-1.  They've played 4 home games.

[FisherDynasty]

Bamm, I think they could compete with any without doubt.  However, I dont think they are as good as the 2005 or 2006 Fisher teams.  If you had to go Starter for starter at most 2 Ithaca starters woudl squeeze into the top 7 or 8 Fisher players.

Bostic over mcsweeney (not even 100% on that one)
Burton over o'brien? (not even sure about that one)

Other players
Mike Mcghee vs Leahy? close but would take Mcghee
Bennett, Sidney, Beigal over who for Ithaca Brown? not even close on all 3 accounts

Then you go to the bench:
Auman, Mueller, and Zahn? all start on this years Ithaca team without question

Anyways lets not bring up past teams and take away from Ithaca's success this year. you could argue for ever on teams from past. 

Bombers, agree with your points.

On to my own statement on the weak region lets break it down.

Ithaca - #1 best theyve been for past 3 years since bostic and burton have been there and are a credible #1.
#2 UofR - Much down from previous UofR teams and are still #2 that right there says it all
#3 RIT - ?? just lost to awful record Naz team? has 4 losses? compare to the traditional #3 team here and its a joke
#4 NYU - 9-4 way down from previous years as any of their fans can tell you
#5 Clarkson - I bet they dont finish top in the top 2 in the LL, good start but not great wins
#6 Fisher - ? youngest and least talented fisher team since 2000. I wasnt sure if they were going to break 500. in this year
#7 St. Lawrence - I think st. Lawrence is good and would get the #7 here in most years
#8 - Oneonta State - 9-4? Wouldnt be on any of the previous 5 years regional top 8.

That being said the only standout team in this years ENTIRE region is Ithaca with UofR having some potential to be considered standout.  They have really good young players with a good system and will get better as the season goes on.  Weak region or not, it is what it is, and hopefully the region can do wel in the NCAA's this year.

[FROMAFAR]

Hey PEP, a win tonight against the Ducks put you guys right in the thick of it.
Go to 3-2 and losses to IC by 13 and RIT by 4 not too shabby, for someone not given a chance early on.... The 7 point win at Hartwick impresses me. I think you guys should handle Stevens as well. They are horrible on the road and they are just very sluggish and look confused right now. Hey simple, play a zone and you win.....strike up the band PEP.......... but what do I know

[FisherDynasty]

I think Hartwick and Alfred might will get some good upsets this year on their home floors.

[AUPepBand]

I think Hartwick and Alfred might will get some good upsets this year on their home floors.

Which do you mean, Dynasty?..."might" or "will"? Alfred played E8 leaders RIT (56-52 loss) and Ithaca (75-64 loss, after tied at 61-61 late) tough at home already. Saxons beat Hartwick 89-82 at Oneonta but slipped at Utica (69-65 loss). AU beat Elmira, 90-65 at McLane.

Remaining E8 home games for Alfred are Stevens (tonight), Fisher (Jan. 23), Naz (Feb. 10), Hartwick (Feb. 20) and Utica (Feb. 21). At this point of the season, Pep thinks only a win over Fisher could be classified an "upset" as the Saxons have been competitive this season.

[AUPepBand]

Sunday, February 22 
6:00 am RIT  at Ithaca

Copied and pasted this from the Empire 8 Website Men's Basketball Conference Schedule....

Should RIT and Ithaca continue to roll, is their re-match truly scheduled for a South Hill sunrise at Ben Light?

[FisherDynasty]

I think they will get an upset. I say upset based on past seasons and traditional predictions as alfred being down past few years.  Alfred is very competitive this year and it is very hard to play at Alfred.  Hartwick is also good. I guess i meant by upsets most people don't think hartwick and alfred will win games even tho they might actually be the better team this year, if that makes sense.

[gobombers15]

Predictions for tonight:

Stevens (67) at Alfred (71)
Utica (71) at Elmira (59)
Ithaca (89) at Hartwick (80)

Brockport (68) at RIT (75)
Fisher (54) vs Rochester (60)
Nazareth (72) vs Geneseo (76)

[FisherDynasty]

Predictions for tonight: Based on Gobombers

Stevens (67) at Alfred (71)  - Agreed
Utica (71) at Elmira (59)   - Elmira by 4
Ithaca (89) at Hartwick (80) - Hartwick by 1 (My bold prediction of the year)

Brockport (68) at RIT (75) - Agreed
Fisher (54) vs Rochester (60) - Rochester by little more ill say 12
Nazareth (72) vs Geneseo (76) - Geneseo by 12 as well Naz will faulter back to back as usual coming off good game.

[gobombers15]

In typical Chase fashion, #4 St. John Fisher upsets #1 Rochester, 71-66. Ozell Franklin with 22 pts for Fisher. Back and forth affair in the 2nd half. Fisher leads by two with 1 min left when UR's Marcus Roberson misses two FT's. Fisher seals the game at the line.

[AUPepBand]

Just back from McLane Center where Stevens played the Saxons tough and won, 75-67. Ducks opened the game with a 10-0 run, using a half court trapping zone defense to stifle AU. Saxons hit a half court buzzer beater to pull within 39-38 at the break, then opened second half with a trey to take its only lead of the game, 41-39.

Res Life student staff in full force at the game, bringing some signs of life to Alfred, which has been a ghost town since mid-December.

Saxons drop to 2-4 in E8, Stevens goes to 1-3.

[theoriginalupstate]

First time here on the B-Ball boards, nice to see everyone!!

Looks like its going to be a Naz-SJF chase final (Naz up by 5 with 30 seconds left as I type)...

IC only scoring 56 vs Wick in a 56-49 win...

[gobombers15]

First time here on the B-Ball boards, nice to see everyone!!

Looks like its going to be a Naz-SJF chase final (Naz up by 5 with 30 seconds left as I type)...

IC only scoring 56 vs Wick in a 56-49 win...

Yes, Ithaca wins, 56-49. I had someone sending me texts from the game. Hartwick played four corners for 75% of the game. Unbelievable. They waited until about 12 seconds to run their play on offense. Any offensive rebounds would be pulled out and they'd repeat the same offense. Seems like they tried to fried to frustrate Ithaca into submission.

Bombers led by Jeff Bostic who had 16 pts, 11 rebs and 4 blks. Burton with 12 pts and 7 assts. Cruz and Marcus with 9 pts each. Bombers hold Cocozziello to just 7 pts. Amazingly, Ithaca never trails in this tight one. Nice to see IC take a close, slow game like this one.