Empire 8

[with age came?]

Hey Fish- Like your well thought out and nicely worded comment but your facts a a little thin....

[magicman]

Just to be a contrarian (and provide some more fodder) - are you guys all so sure that the LL is not in the same league as the e-8 or the SUNYAC?  Hobart beat SJF @ Fisher.  Clarkson a non-playoff team which had horrible losses (see Elmira) as I think they were perhaps looking ahead to their match up with d1 Cornell - beat U of R and Cortland while losing to Oswego who had the benefit of having a little "insider" knowledge as Stockwell (Oswego Coach came from Clarkson and had coached every single player that played in that game). RPI and Skidmore had some barnburning losses to Middlebury & MIT ranked 6 & 13 respectively and Skidmore beat NYU @ NYU. Top to bottom in many respects the LL may have been more competitive than either league.  7 of the 8 teams had playoff hopes on the last weekend of the season - things were not decided so early like they were in the e-8. And in the SUNYAC only 2 teams get eliminated so there is not the kind of pressure that you have where only 4 teams get in such as the e-8 or LL. RPI & Clarkson did not make their playoffs and both had quality wins. SLU was young team that needed to mature (they lost 8 of first 12 but are 15-11 now) and now could be a force if they get by Hobart @ home tomorrow.  All I am saying is that other than Vassar every LL team spent time beating up on each other.  There was nobody running for the bus early (except Vassar). Just don't see the choice to be so clear but to coin fromafar's phrase "what do I know?"

with age,
I can't disagree with anything you said. I think the only reason the Liberty league is considered a little down this year (at least as far as I'm concerned) is the lack of any team getting a regional ranking at any point during the season. As I mentioned a while ago on the Liberty League board the LL is a 1 bid league this year and more often than not there is usually 2 teams dancing from that conference. I think next year will be a different story though.

[magicman]

Hey Fish- Like your well thought out and nicely worded comment but your facts a a little thin....

You gotta forgive him, he still hasn't learned how to use the quote feature yet.

[with age came?]

We have agreement - down at the top but up from 2-7 (again in my opinion).  And I think the regional rankings are affected by the tremendous balance of the league.  I have not done the research but I seriously doubt (in fact I would not bet my kids but I would bet my wife- hehe) that a non-playoff team did not sweep Plattsburg or SJF like RPI did with SLU.

[magicman]

We have agreement - down at the top but up from 2-7 (again in my opinion).  And I think the regional rankings are affected by the tremendous balance of the league.  I have not done the research but I seriously doubt (in fact I would not bet my kids but I would bet my wife- hehe) that a non-playoff team did not sweep Plattsburg or SJF like RPI did with SLU.

Well it doesn't take much research to know that a non-playoff team didn't sweep St John Fisher with their 15-1 conference record.

[magicman]

Pretty sure I can speak for all the fans of the Plattsburgh St. Cardinals that we'll be rooting for the St John Fisher Cardinals this evening when they take on Nazareth. Should Fisher win their championship and Plattsburgh lose to Oneonta St in their championship game, then Plattsburgh would be the 1st team in the East Region to be up for consideration for a Pool C bid. Oneonta fans will be rooting for Fisher for those very same reasons as they will be 1st up if they lose to Plattsburgh.  GO Cards!!!  

[FROMAFAR]

I agree with with Fisherman, the reffing in this tourney was horrible. The fact that Fisher and Naz are the two teams in should surprise no one....Games played at Fisher are historically slanted..Hey I have no ax, so I a speaking as a neutral observer,,,
This is not to say Naz and Fisher would not hav won on  aneutral court, but at least the doubt would be gone. Good teams don't let the ref's decide their fate, we all know that BUT key calls here and there can make it tough.....

In Naz game.. the Cruz call should have been a no call, and I say would have been, at another venue.
In the Fisher game the whole game was turned around in the first 4 minutes with some phantom calls on Stevens. Changed the flow and ability to defend.......

That being said, it's all part of the game, it's been that way forever, so you can't fight it...... IF the ref's don't give Fisher their usual coddling today, Naz can win this thing...... I look for those other guys to come up big... Stevens, Corletta and Scaffidi, as well as Lothridge........ Hey I have to put my two cents in, I still want to know if RIT is playing again... ECAC?   

[magicman]

I just received word from Plattsburgh St. that the SUNYAC Championship game between Oneonta St and Plattsburgh St will be a live webcast by PSTV this afternoon at 4:00 PM. Here's the link:

http://primelink1.net/

[sjfcards]

As a fisher fan I saw some bad callss botj ways yesterday, but even I thought Stevens got the worse of it. Fisher was the better team, but a few key calls would have mde this interesting.

[FISHERMAN]

I know I am going to get killed for this and accused of making excuses but the refs completely blew that game. The call that handed the game to Naz was a joke. If anything it was a moving pick. Then the no call on Fisher's last ditch attempt was shameful.

[mrhoopfan]

Naz by one to win conference tourney........wow!!!!

[sjfcards]

Let's not forget the 2 point gift that Naz got from the refs in the first half. a shot hits the middle of the shot clock and goes in and not one ref sees it? Fisher should have put the game away, but those two point sure were big.

[Bombers798891]

I know I am going to get killed for this and accused of making excuses but the refs completely blew that game. The call that handed the game to Naz was a joke. If anything it was a moving pick. Then the no call on Fisher's last ditch attempt was shameful.

Yeah you blow a 12 pt lead at home with 9 minutes to go. Blame the refs. Totally their fault, Ugh, it was bad enough with IC fans last night. Why can't teams ever lose without blaming the refs?

[Bombers798891]

Maybe next time you don't go 9-17 from the free throw line instead

[sjfcards]

Your right bombers. fisher had total control and let Naz have take it back. but a couple calls by the refs probably decided the game. Just like the calls last night that got naz into tonights game. It is tough to swallow if your on the short end.      On the shot clock/backboard call only three people in the building missed it. That is tough to live with. A team works all year to win the conference, and a blown call decides it.