Empire 8

[sjfcards]

I brought this up on the football board, but I think it is interesting here as well. It looks like the MAC and the NJAC are doing a conference challenge in 2012. What does everyone think of a E8 SUNY challenge in basketball, like the big 10/ACC challenge? We have the debate every year anyway.

[sjfcards]

EDIT: that MAC/NJAC challenge is in football not Basketball.

[FROMAFAR]

SJF CARDS.... RIT will once again  be a mystery for awhile.  They will be young up front... except for Harder who is 6"6", but he plays small... shoots and not a great rebounder. Kornacker is a 4 year guy BUT not the proto-type point... plays strong ( too strong at times...see foul trouble) and is a little slow to guard most of the scoring and penetrating points. This team looks like the typical McVean.....let me rotate 12 guys until I find the right mix. Then we have to make a late run to get into the playoffs.  I really want to see him establish that rotation before the E-8 games.  It looks like 4 tiers to me.....I see it as Fisher-IC, ///   RIT, /// Wick- Naz///
Alfred-Utica-Stevens-Elmira..............The only thing that can advance the bottom 4 will be what their freshaman can bring, because what each one has coming back is not enough. 

By the way.... I see Gettings losing P/T compared to last year. He is another one of those power points. A little too slow for me. I saw him come out of games last year when the opposing point was having their way... BUT

[magicman]

FROMAFAR,

I'm a little confused by what you said about Brendan Harder.

SJF CARDS.... RIT will once again  be a mystery for awhile.  They will be young up front... except for Harder who is 6"6", but he plays small... shoots and not a great rebounder.

Harder was the 4th leading rebounder in the E8 last year as a Sophomore with 6.8 rpg. Also 2nd leading scorer on RIT and 12th overall in the E8(12.6 ppg). In addition he managed to be among the league leaders (top 15) in field goal %(51.9), free throw %(69.8), steals, blocks, and offensive rebounds. I watched him play several times last season and he was the Tiger's MVP in my opinion. You might be mistaking him for the now graduated Scott Young who was another 6'6" forward that didn't mix it up to much inside but hung around the top of the key and hoisted up his share of 3 pointers. Young was a decent shooter but Harder was the heart of the team. I'll be surprised if Harder doesn't improve this year.

[Kornacker is a 4 year guy BUT not the proto-type point... plays strong ( too strong at times...see foul trouble) and is a little slow to guard most of the scoring and penetrating points.

Pretty sure you mean Korinchak here, not Kornacker. The Cardinals coach is a little too old to be suiting  up for the Tigers.(But probably not to old to do a decent job)  

[sjfcards]

So does anyone know anything about Mary Washington and/or Christopher Newport?

[FROMAFAR]

Magic, you could be right about me thinking about Young, BUT I was thinking Offensive boards.. if that makes sense. Our bigs, Harder and Young bouth liked to shoot and stayed away from the basket. Maybe I am picking straws and by no means selling Harder short. He is just not that CARSON type (who is).  I just feel that the two most important parts are REBOUNDING AT BOTH ENDS- and of course a point guard with Swagger toughness and a leader......... OH we need Harder to do wha he did last year and then some.... but I would like to see a little more offensive rebounding.  Thanks Magic.... appreciate your help.......    

[FROMAFAR]

50-50 shot at getting to the Stevens- Baruch game tonight.........Of course I will let you guys know what my humble opinion of the two teams is....especially Stevens.

[AUPepBand]

Alfred's Saxons, in the shadow of the football team hosting SUNY-Maritime in the NCAAs this Saturday, open their cage season tonight with a game at Penn State-Dubois.

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

How does AU look Pep? I know the focus has to he football at AU this week, but is there anything to get excited about from the hoops team.

[sjfcards]

How does AU look Pep? I know the focus has to he football at AU this week, but is there anything to get excited about from the hoops team.

[FISHERMAN]

Anybody have any inside information on how the SJF freshman are performing in practice?

I'm excited to watch them as I know their recruiting class was considered an impressive haul.

[sjfcards]

Anybody have any inside information on how the SJF freshman are performing in practice?

I'm excited to watch them as I know their recruiting class was considered an impressive haul.

I don't know anything about how the players are looking in practice thus far, but on paper they look impressive. I am excited to see what this Michael Moyer and Zach Messinger will bring to the team. They look great and I have posted some videos of them on here. I am excited about this season.

[magicman]

E8 draws first blood in the E8 vs SUNYAC matchups as Utica College travels to Potsdam and comes away with a 62-59 win.
Will Abrams and James Patterson led the Pioneers with 16 points each. Kevin Johnson also hit double figures with 10.    


Stevens has 5 players hit double figures but still drops a close one to Baruch 79-75. Simon Smith leads the Ducks with 20 pts. and 15 rebounds.

[FROMAFAR]

I was at the Stevens game last. Although only one game I see some interesting things that COULD give us an idea of what to expect about the DUCKS. Again only one game and against only one team, so of course this could all be wrong, but here's what I see. First.. Baruch does not look as good as they did the last few years. They miss Kunkel big time as seen by the rebounding.. Stevens out boarded them 40-29.  That could also be because of that being a strength for Stevens. Smith was a giant off the boards, and worked very hard all night. He also ended up with 20 PTs., I believe. He shot well from the foul line which could be huge for him and the team. He gets there a lot, and has shot less than 50% in his first two years. Stevens played almost everyone, and it appeared Hurley is looking to give the freshman an opportunity to prove they should get playing time. I was impressed with Sabbatino, who is about 6'5" or 6'6" and looks confident and has some court IQ. I look for him to averaging well over 20 min. a game by mid year. I was also very impressed with a freshman guard named Skrelja, now don't think I'm nuts, I am just making an observation. He looks like he is about 6'2" he has the look of a very young and not matured Corey McAdam.  However he had a little bit of that saunter that like in a point guard. He played over 20 min. and McAdamess 4 assists and 4 turnovers. Giveth and taketh, but not afraid to make the entry pass and wrap around passes. I like him... He could take over the point and Thompson could then play the 2 at times like he did with Greco last year, and hit some 3's. One big problem last night was Cutri and Thompson could not hit their 3's. I think 1-8 between them. Looked like Baruch was denying that option and made it tough. So all that being said, More info needed on this team BUT may be better than I thought because they do have some Freshman that appear to be able to play, But    

[Cyclone0205]

FROMAFAR, i toldja those Ducks would be dangerous!

Haha, just kidding, very accurate assessment of the game last night.  I was able to make it there also and saw the same potential that you did.  I really do think that this team just needs some time to grow together.  You saw last night that Hurley doesn't have a rotation set yet, but guys like Sabbatino, Skrel, and McManamy could give the Ducks a solid 8 man rotation.  Jones, though out of control at times, looks to be more aggressive this year.  Smith is going to be a walking double-double all season long.  

2 HUGE problems I saw with the Ducks, both of which I think will end up hindering this team all season, and are essentially the same thing on opposite sides of the floor.  First, Jones is their only above-average perimeter defender, which means they are going to rely on a lot of help defense.  Against teams, like Baruch, that shoot the ball well the Ducks are going to have issues defending the three.  Second, offensively Stevens doesn't have a anyone (Jones included) that can take their man to the basket individually.  Balanced scoring was great to see and they really play a team game, but there were multiple occasions when the shot clock hit single digits and they were setting up double screens to try and get Cutri a look.  I've always said to be balanced is better, but every team needs a guy who can make "the play" and I don't think Stevens has it.  Smith would be the natural guy but, even with a better shooting performance last night, I still think teams will foul him and make him earn it.  Stevens is going to need someone on the perimeter to prove they can get to the basket in crunch time.

Must agree with you after watching last night that the loss of Greco will hurt, not necessarily because Thompson can't adequately play the point, but because they don't have depth at the position.  I think, as you mentioned, Skrelja could grow into it, but I think he's a couple years away as opposed to a few games.  He seemed very timid bringing the ball up court against pressure, though he was a little better in the half court.

Overall left the game with a feeling that, if the freshman mature quickly, there is no reason the Ducks can't make be in the mix for the 4/5 seed and a shot at an E8 tournament bid.  Definitely won't win the conference, but I think the team will surprise a few people, particularly with the improved play of Smith and addition of Sabbatino.