Empire 8

[sjfcards]

Nice to see teh boards starting to heat up again now that the season is under way. Welcome back everyone. Looks like the Empire 8 might be a strong conference this year with a lot of teams getting quality wins in their first game. I hate that Fisher has to wait so long to get to their second game, but that is how it goes sometimes. Hopefully they can look sharp again. Winning those two games, against two sweet 16 teams from a year ago, could really set this season up for them.

[Cyclone0205]

I haven't gotten a chance to check on how some of the other e8 team rosters have shaped up (will be updated myself over the rest of the week), but is the consensus that the conference is up, even, or down from last year?

I'm just thinking about the players that have been lost (Burton, Bostic, Leahy, Carson, Gray, Passalacqua, Jan CoCo, McAdam, etc) and I'm wondering if the league is more balanced because the top teams as a whole aren't as good (think Big Ten football) or because everyone just got a lot better.

I would think Ithaca, Naz, and RIT would have smallish steps backward because of the great players they lost, but still be pretty good.  I know Fisher is going to be better.  I think Stevens is going to be about the same, if not slightly back.  I'm not sure about the rest of the conference.  Just trying to get a feel for how the conf looks in general.  I know it's early in the season to judge with most teams having only played 1 game.

I guess I'll phrase it this way.  If as a whole the conference last year was an 8, this year it is a ______.

[bomber3]

Utica knocks off another SUNYAC team, this time @ Oswego. After beating Potsdam sunday they're 2-0 now. I don't know how good those SUNY teams are but I wouldn't sleep on Utica.  Coaches pick them to finish 7th in the e8 but I just don't see it.   
Also, cortland avenges last year's terrible loss @ elmira by winning by 20+ yesterday. Supposedly a freshman and transfer combined for about 35 so they apparently have some new blood.

Alfred beats keuka and naz falls to roberts wesleyan. 

[bomber3]

I guess I'll phrase it this way.  If as a whole the conference last year was an 8, this year it is a ______.

Overall I think it will be a little down but not much. A number of teams have gotten better (Fisher, alfred, elmira) and the teams that will regress won't do so by much. I don't think the SUNYAC is strong at all this year other than about two or three teams so it may seem like the e8 is up. I'm not too sure about the Liberty League.  So to answer your question I would say 7 or 7.5.

[FROMAFAR]

Cyclone... Based on the start I am going with an 8...  same as last year.. The small drop at the top, is less than the small improvement at the botto, and the middle basically remains the same....Not necessarily the same teams.....The top this year being Fisher, and RIT ..........the bottom being Elmira and Hartwick....   The middle 3-7  almost being interchangeable..

[Go Naz]

Hello all, new to the boards this year.  Had my first chance to see Naz last night as they lost to Roberts at the Blue Cross.  Naz did not look sharp and was handled rather easily by Roberts for most of the game.  A run made Roberts lead 5 with about 9 minutes left but that was as close as Naz would get.  A few notes:

-Naz shot 4 of 26 from 3 for the game.  This should improve, a number of the shots missed were good looks. 

-Naz was hurt in the paint.  Right now the have no presence in the paint.  They lost a lot of size last year and it showed.  While their guards did a nice job rebounding the ball, they had a difficult time guarding the post players from Roberts. 

-Jason Corletta looked good.  He has improved and should become a major scoring threat this year.  Look for him to make up for some of  the poinst lost through graduation

-Naz is YOUNG.  They have 11 guys on the roster and only 5 are returning players.  Mcadam is the only senior and there are no juniors.  They young guys have a lot of talent and I think several of them, especially Tyshun Stephens have bright futures.  They will however go through the ups and downs that come with most freshmen.

Overall, I was not happy with the Naz performance but also not too concerned this early in the year.  They will not see many other teams with that kind of size in the E-8.  Mcadam gives them a chance to win every night and the young guys will come along.  I feel like they could be a slow starter this year but finish strong once their youth matures a little bit. 

[JQV]

-Naz shot 4 of 26 from 3 for the game.  This should improve, a number of the shots missed were good looks. 

Ho.Ly. Crap.

[sjfcards]

In the interest of sparking some conversation I wonder who the best and worst E8 teams in the last 5-10 years are.

[Bombers798891]

In the interest of sparking some conversation I wonder who the best and worst E8 teams in the last 5-10 years are.

Postseason choke aside, IC's 2008-2009 team was pretty amazing to watch. Fisher had a team ('04? '05?) that ran the table I believe

[JQV]

I think we did this a year or two ago but I'd add:

1999-2000 IC team with Pat Britton, Ryan Bamford, John Lyons, Aaron Spearman et al.

2001-2002 Alfred with EJ Docteur and that tough-ass guard whose name escapes me at the moment.

[Michigan452]

Just wanted to start off the season by saying that Fisher had a good early win at Carnegie Mellon.  They seemed to have played pretty well.  They seem to be really deep this year.  Moving Franklin to the bench seems to be working for now, but we will see how long that lasts.  I also think that Kornaker could make some better decisions by playing different rotations early in order to figure out who plays best with eachother.  The fact is that Fisher is going to be a powerhouse this year in the empire 8 because they have superior talent.  If coaching does not get in the way they could be very successful.

[sjfcards]

Just wanted to start off the season by saying that Fisher had a good early win at Carnegie Mellon.  They seemed to have played pretty well.  They seem to be really deep this year.  Moving Franklin to the bench seems to be working for now, but we will see how long that lasts.  I also think that Kornaker could make some better decisions by playing different rotations early in order to figure out who plays best with eachother.  The fact is that Fisher is going to be a powerhouse this year in the empire 8 because they have superior talent.  If coaching does not get in the way they could be very successful.

Tough to say that Coaching might get in the way for Fisher. I think most would agree that Kornaker is one of the better coaches in the conference. To be honest, I am of the oppinion that Kornaker is one of the better coaches in the East Region. He gets recruits from a large area, seems to compete against the U of R's and Brockports for area talent, and has an almost rediculous record in his time as head coach. Lets not forget the undefeated season, and a few trips deep into the tourny.

I think the key for Fisher this year will be getting contributions from young talent, and seeing of the Big man can really play. I think Fisher will be a tough out this year in the E8, but I doubt coaching will be the issue.

[UCpride]

Just watched some footage of Utica playing Oswego and though I was worried of how they would rebound after losing 4 or 5 seniors, they actually look better than they did last yr. Remember UC struggled last yr. against Oswego and would have lost if it wasnt for a last second runner by then Sophmore PG James Patterson. Though im sure they will miss Doug Herrings amazing athleticism I think they'll do just fine. Senior Pat Goodman had 27 and 14 rebounds and Junior James Patterson almost had a double double also with 12 points and 9 assist not to mention 7 rebounds. Also where did the Abrams kid come from, he added 15 points and could have easily had 20 to 25 if he got a few more touches. A friend of mine thats still at the school told me he was gonna be big this yr. but I didnt believe it. Well only time will tell whats in store for my Pioneers. I cant wait till they pla NAZ in a couple weeks, McAdam and Patterson are by far the best PGs in the league. LETS GO UC 2-0

[e8bballfan]

Hello all, new to the boards this year.  Had my first chance to see Naz last night as they lost to Roberts at the Blue Cross.  Naz did not look sharp and was handled rather easily by Roberts for most of the game.  A run made Roberts lead 5 with about 9 minutes left but that was as close as Naz would get.  A few notes:

-Naz shot 4 of 26 from 3 for the game.  This should improve, a number of the shots missed were good looks. 

-Naz was hurt in the paint.  Right now the have no presence in the paint.  They lost a lot of size last year and it showed.  While their guards did a nice job rebounding the ball, they had a difficult time guarding the post players from Roberts. 

-Jason Corletta looked good.  He has improved and should become a major scoring threat this year.  Look for him to make up for some of  the poinst lost through graduation

-Naz is YOUNG.  They have 11 guys on the roster and only 5 are returning players.  Mcadam is the only senior and there are no juniors.  They young guys have a lot of talent and I think several of them, especially Tyshun Stephens have bright futures.  They will however go through the ups and downs that come with most freshmen.

Overall, I was not happy with the Naz performance but also not too concerned this early in the year.  They will not see many other teams with that kind of size in the E-8.  Mcadam gives them a chance to win every night and the young guys will come along.  I feel like they could be a slow starter this year but finish strong once their youth matures a little bit. 

RWC is also a tough opener because they have been practicing for a month more than NCAA teams and have had 5 games prior to the Naz game. They are in the flow, coach has rotations going, everyone is used to each other's games and such...that is also quite an advantage.

[bomber3]

Just watched some footage of Utica playing Oswego and though I was worried of how they would rebound after losing 4 or 5 seniors, they actually look better than they did last yr. Remember UC struggled last yr. against Oswego and would have lost if it wasnt for a last second runner by then Sophmore PG James Patterson. Though im sure they will miss Doug Herrings amazing athleticism I think they'll do just fine. Senior Pat Goodman had 27 and 14 rebounds and Junior James Patterson almost had a double double also with 12 points and 9 assist not to mention 7 rebounds. Also where did the Abrams kid come from, he added 15 points and could have easily had 20 to 25 if he got a few more touches. A friend of mine thats still at the school told me he was gonna be big this yr. but I didnt believe it. Well only time will tell whats in store for my Pioneers. I cant wait till they pla NAZ in a couple weeks, McAdam and Patterson are by far the best PGs in the league. LETS GO UC 2-0

I wouldn't go putting Patterson in the same league as McAdam just yet.  McAdam is by far the best point in the league then everyone else comes after.  I think Newman from Fisher is right up there with Patterson and even possibly freshman Sean Rossi from Ithaca.  He should put up huge numbers in the Bombers offense and had 16 and 12 in game one. Patterson should be an all-conference player this year but don't think him and McAdam are alone up at the top

And in regard to the worst teams of the past decade you have to look @ 2007-2008 Alfred judging by record.  They were 2-21 (1-15 in conference) for am overall win percentage of 8%.  The average margin of victory was 16 points and here is the nail in the coffin...the coach left to take the women's position after the year.  That should be saying something.  The did bounce back pretty solidly under new leadership the following year however with most of the same lineup.