Empire 8

[TheNextLevel]

Not to brag, but...

Hartwick continues to improve...beat Naz on the road last night.   Blazak is back from his hamstring injury (missed the whole 1st semester) and freshman Jared Sudderly is a legit player.  I think they will make the E-8 Playoffs this year.

[Bombers798891]

Not to brag, but...

Hartwick continues to improve...beat Naz on the road last night.   Blazak is back from his hamstring injury (missed the whole 1st semester) and freshman Jared Sudderly is a legit player.  I think they will make the E-8 Playoffs this year.

The Wick is certainly legit. In fact, they strike me as Ithaca lite.

Much like the Bombers, the Wick seems heavily dependent on the 3-point shot. They don't shoot an ungodly amount like IC does, but they've got three guys shooting over 42% and one guy at 54%. As a team, they are 40% from beyond the arc. They have an inside threat, but strike me as a jump shot shooting team. They don't play at IC's frenetic pace, but the similarities are there. Would love a rematch in the e8 tourney

[FROMAFAR]

magic you were right on about the Ducks and Wick.  Bomber #$% as difficult as this is to say, you too are right... ::)Wick is a lot like IC on both ends... They throw up the 3's, and don't play too much D. I watched the Wick game last night and what surprised me was Stevens who I thought was the best defensive team in the league....played lazy on the defensive.. if someone was there let me know... I watched on computer and not a great picture.... 78 pts is a lot for Stevens and looked like Wicks bigs don't rebound well... Stevens crushed them on the boards.... But their bigs can shoot, and played away from hole for the most part on "O".

Back to Magic... RIT has a 3 big games coming up..... What's your thoughts?

Right now I am thinking IC and Wick are in the tourney ... Fisher, Stevens, have an edge on RIT,  and NAZ but not a big one... Stevens beat Naz, and RIT beat Stevens...... Who has the edge? I know Stevens has a lot of home games at the end of season, but not historically a home advantage the last couple of years... any thoughts... Bomber $%^ feel free to chime in, or anyone for that matter.

[Bombers798891]

magic you were right on about the Ducks and Wick.  Bomber #$% as difficult as this is to say, you too are right... ::)Wick is a lot like IC on both ends... They throw up the 3's, and don't play too much D. I watched the Wick game last night and what surprised me was Stevens who I thought was the best defensive team in the league....played lazy on the defensive.. if someone was there let me know... I watched on computer and not a great picture.... 78 pts is a lot for Stevens and looked like Wicks bigs don't rebound well... Stevens crushed them on the boards.... But their bigs can shoot, and played away from hole for the most part on "O".

Back to Magic... RIT has a 3 big games coming up..... What's your thoughts?

Right now I am thinking IC and Wick are in the tourney ... Fisher, Stevens, have an edge on RIT,  and NAZ but not a big one... Stevens beat Naz, and RIT beat Stevens...... Who has the edge? I know Stevens has a lot of home games at the end of season, but not historically a home advantage the last couple of years... any thoughts... Bomber $%^ feel free to chime in, or anyone for that matter.

RIT is really the wild-card in all this. One thing that makes them different than other contenders is that they haven't played Ithaca (or Alfred) Alfred probably won't provide an issue, but it's tough to gauge those fringe teams when they haven't played one of the top teams yet. It's also worth noting they are the only E8 team to not have a game against Elmira remaining. Not to rip on Elmira, but it's simply a fact: It's hard to look at that game as anything but a win for the other E8 teams.

I have a tougher time getting on board with them considering the other schools have already dealt with IC once AND get a second crack at Elmira. I think it's Stevens, RIT and Naz for that last spot. I like the Ducks due to the favorable schedule

[d3lifer]

Was at the Stevens-Wick game last night, the first half was much more frenetic than the second; 45-43 Stevens at half. Neither team had any ball pressure and teams both struggled to defensive rebound particularly Wick providing Stevens with some key second chance points.

Hartwick did a good job of executing offensively in the half court and Stevens did a much better job in the second half attacking the zone looks Hartwick gave off the dribble as they did not shoot the ball as well from deep in the 2nd half.

I have not seen enough conference match ups to know where Stevens fits in with the rest of the playoff picture but seem to be a handful of team still trying to establish themselves...

Hats off to Hartwick through this part of their conference schedule...but still a bunch of games left and this is unfamiliar territory for the Wick program since the Empire 8 conference has been around. I am pulling for the hawks to be in the race to the finish line, they seem to play really well together.

[FROMAFAR]

I'm pretty up close with RIT from a fan's prospective. They gave their fans some hope at the end of last year, and I know I over-rated that for this year. Back to their lazy play. Actually I agree IC, Wick and Fisher look like they will make it. Ducks Tigers and NAZ for the last spot.... NAZ has to really turn it around, I think, to get in before Ducks as they lost to them, and RIT has an edge, FOR THE MOMENT... small moment, on Ducks because they beat them. BUT NAZ beat Tigers, so ???So I guess that says we still don't know... which is a good thing.. makes every game important....

[Old Duck]

magic you were right on about the Ducks and Wick.  Bomber #$% as difficult as this is to say, you too are right... ::)Wick is a lot like IC on both ends... They throw up the 3's, and don't play too much D. I watched the Wick game last night and what surprised me was Stevens who I thought was the best defensive team in the league....played lazy on the defensive.. if someone was there let me know... I watched on computer and not a great picture.... 78 pts is a lot for Stevens and looked like Wicks bigs don't rebound well... Stevens crushed them on the boards.... But their bigs can shoot, and played away from hole for the most part on "O".

Stevens played very soft on defense in the first half and the HC bigs took advantage. Traveling the same day from NJ to NY may explain the some lack of intensity but the main problem was that they were giving to many clear looks at the basket when did their switching on defense.  They had the same problem with Ithaca but were able to adjust after the initial onslaught. Close game to the end with HC executing better then Stevens the last 5 minutes of the game. Stevens made more of an attempt then usual to get the ball inside at the end of the game but HC clogged up the lane well and Stevens had problems scoring inside and from the perimeter.

As far as the playoffs Stevens may have some advantage with their odd home and away conference schedule.  Right now they are 3 and 3 on the road and 2 and 0 at home. The 3 loses are by 4 (HC), 5 (IC) and 3 (RIT) points. The remaining conference schedule is 2 away and 6 at home, with the last 5 conference games at home.  But the home court at Stevens does not seem to be as friendly as some of the home courts in the Great White North.

[Bombers798891]

Does Naz stay alive tonight? Sadly, I think no. Ithaca, refocused after the Wick loss, pulls it out, 91-84 and hands Naz a 5th conference loss, severely damaging their tournament hopes.

(Bomber3 never shows up when I pick IC to win. But I bet if I had said Naz was going to win he'd be all over me  )

[Bombers798891]

Bombers win a shootout with Nazareth, 88-86. Ithaca trails by eight in the second half, but the offense kicks in and Bombers pick up a huge win.

Phil Barera is once again the offensive hero for the Bombers, as he puts up 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting and 3-of-3 from the line. He adds nine rebounds. Christian Jordan goes 4-of-6 from three, although Ithaca as a team struggles from deep. Six Bombers reach double figures. Rossi with a mere nine assists.

Thysun Stephens leads all scorers with 26 points and Scaffidi chips in with 18 and 11.

I'll keep saying it till it comes true: Barera is the top player in the conference. Tonight's performance means he is shooting 68.1% from the floor and 80.5% from the line. This continues to be crucial, as the Bombers start losing their outside touch, shooting under 35% from three point range for the fourth straight game.

Bombers improve to 7-2 in conference, 14-4 overall

[Bombers798891]

Elsewhere, Stevens effectively ends Utica's hopes of a bid with a 67-57 win, giving Utica six conference losses.

Fisher tops Elmira 67-55 and RIT beats Alfred 80-66. So no upsets tonight, but there's beginning to be some separation, as Naz now sits two games behind RIT for the 5th spot in the conference.

RIT hanging around a game behind Stevens for the last spot. A win over Ithaca helps a ton.

[sjfcards]

The conference season should be good down the stretch with Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens, Hartwick, and RIT in the mix. Fisher has Stevens, Ithaca, and Hartwick at home, and ROT is like a home game so I like there chances of hosting a game in the tournament. 

[Bombers798891]

The conference season should be good down the stretch with Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens, Hartwick, and RIT in the mix. Fisher has Stevens, Ithaca, and Hartwick at home, and ROT is like a home game so I like there chances of hosting a game in the tournament. 

Well, remember, the #1 seed hosts all the games in the conference tournament, so you'd have to have SJF finish first--a distinct possibility, unless they lose to Ithaca.

Either way, the conference champ looks like the only team in the NCAA's (Unless Ithaca goes, say, 21 or 22-5 and loses in the conference tourney...but how likely is that?  )

[sjfcards]

The conference season should be good down the stretch with Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens, Hartwick, and RIT in the mix. Fisher has Stevens, Ithaca, and Hartwick at home, and ROT is like a home game so I like there chances of hosting a game in the tournament. 

Well, remember, the #1 seed hosts all the games in the conference tournament, so you'd have to have SJF finish first--a distinct possibility, unless they lose to Ithaca.

Either way, the conference champ looks like the only team in the NCAA's (Unless Ithaca goes, say, 21 or 22-5 and loses in the conference tourney...but how likely is that?  )

Does the #1 seed host all three games? I thought the first round was played at the higher seed?

[magicman]

The conference season should be good down the stretch with Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens, Hartwick, and RIT in the mix. Fisher has Stevens, Ithaca, and Hartwick at home, and ROT is like a home game so I like there chances of hosting a game in the tournament. 

Well, remember, the #1 seed hosts all the games in the conference tournament, so you'd have to have SJF finish first--a distinct possibility, unless they lose to Ithaca.

Either way, the conference champ looks like the only team in the NCAA's (Unless Ithaca goes, say, 21 or 22-5 and loses in the conference tourney...but how likely is that?  )

Does the #1 seed host all three games? I thought the first round was played at the higher seed?

Since only 4 teams make the playoffs, there's only 2 games. 1 plays 4, and 2 plays 3. The 2 winners of those games play for the championship.

[Bombers798891]

Bombers with a 41-38 halftime lead at RIT

Terry leads all scorers with 15 points

For Ithaca, Barera has 12 points and five rebounds, Cruz has seven and eight. Rossi has seven with six assists