Empire 8

[FROMAFAR]

OH yea Fisher tonight.... if we can beat Fisher they are truly in trouble....if we lose we stay in trouble.

[E8Hoops04]

Bombers give one away to Utica, 94-89. Bombers shoot just 13-of-22 from the line. Jordan Marcus hits six three points in a four minute stretch in one of the best shooting performances I've seen, but the Bombers were just sloppy.

I'm sure the company line is that it's hard to beat a team that goes 8-of-15 from three, but Ithaca seems to be the only team that has any kind of trouble keeping Utica to a reasonable point total. Thankfully, Ithaca won't have to worry about them come conference tournament time.

Stunner that the Wick lost to Alfred of all teams. Fisher's loss, while not stunning, makes things interesting. RIT can take sole possession of 4th place with a win over them at home.

Really, anyone in the 1-5 spot is capable of missing the tournament right now.

You don't "give one away" when your opponent shoots over 57 percent from the field and doesn't miss a shot for the last 7 minutes plus of the game.

That being said, while they certainly have a long climb ahead of them, don't count Utica out of it. Depending on which team shows up, they can beat anyone in the conference. If they continue their recent hot play they could end up with 9 or 10 wins in conference. That would certainly make for some interesting tie breakers. After head to head, it goes to Best record vs. subsequent finishers in descending order beginning with the 1st place team.


It's a fun conference this year.

[Bombers798891]

Bombers give one away to Utica, 94-89. Bombers shoot just 13-of-22 from the line. Jordan Marcus hits six three points in a four minute stretch in one of the best shooting performances I've seen, but the Bombers were just sloppy.

You don't "give one away" when your opponent shoots over 57 percent from the field and doesn't miss a shot for the last 7 minutes plus of the game.

Fair point. Utica shot well. Here's where I disagree

1) The Bombers still went 13-of-22 from the line, which is awful.

2) Part of the reason teams shoot so well against the Bombers is that they don't play good defense

Seriously, it's not like teams scoring a ton of points on them is somehow a new thing. Ithaca ranks 330th in FG defense at 46%. Granted, 57% is high, but a team ranked 380th in scoring defense may want to look in the mirror when they're allowing high point totals regularly.

Why can't Ithaca's defense force a team into bad shots?

When Utica had the ball with less than a minute to go, who took their final shot? The guy who had gone 10-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three at that point. The guy shooting 46% from three point-range on the season, James Patterson.

Now it's Ithaca's final possession, down by three. The need a 3-pointer, and have three guys on the team who are hitting at 42% or better. Who winds up taking it? None of those guys, but the player shooting 22% from three point range on the season who had gone 4-of-12 from the floor to that point, Sean Rossi. Now, I think Rossi's a great player, but is he really the guy you want taking that over Marcos, Oztemel or Rivas?



When Utica needed a basket, the Bombers let them get the ball in the hands of their best shooter for a good look. When Ithaca needed it, the Pioneers forced a guy not particularly adept at shooting threes to do it.

[Bombers798891]

Hartwick handles Utica 85-79, dropping the Pioneers to 4-7 in conference play and sole possession of seventh place in the conference. There's now a three way tie at the top of the conference between Ithaca, the Wick and Stevens.

Korinchak buries a three pointer with 1 second to go (give or take a few seconds, knowing the way the clock works at RIT ) to give the Tigers the stunner over SJF 60-57. Amazingly, RIT is now 7-4 and in 4th place in the conference, as Fisher falls to 8-5.

I'd be stunned if RIT holds off Fisher, as they still have road trips to all three 1st place teams in the conference not to mention the "They can beat anyone" Pioneers. But hey, they've already topped Stevens and the Wick once.

Really tough loss for Fisher.

[Bombers798891]

Elmira breaks into the win column with a 73-67 win over Alfred

[with age came?]

Hartwick handles Utica 85-79, dropping the Pioneers to 4-7 in conference play and sole possession of seventh place in the conference. There's now a three way tie at the top of the conference between Ithaca, the Wick and Stevens.

Korinchak buries a three pointer with 1 second to go (give or take a few seconds, knowing the way the clock works at RIT ) to give the Tigers the stunner over SJF 60-57. Amazingly, RIT is now 7-4 and in 4th place in the conference, as Fisher falls to 8-5.

I'd be stunned if RIT holds off Fisher, as they still have road trips to all three 1st place teams in the conference not to mention the "They can beat anyone" Pioneers. But hey, they've already topped Stevens and the Wick once.

Really tough loss for Fisher.

Bombers that quip about the clock at RIT may be the funniest thing I have read on the boards this year!!

[Pat Coleman]

Ended up being St. Mary's.

[buck1053]

I think the E8 is just really tightly bunched in the middle this year. With the exception of Utica (with one game standing in the way) Elmira and Alfred, anyone seems capable of beating anyone.

Utica beats Ithaca....
Alfred beats Hartwick....

Elmira's turn....

You were right. Elmira 73, Alfred 66.

Seriously, though, Pep, didn't Alfred used to have good teams? Is it the curse of Murphy still looming over the program? I'm interested in your take on the situation there.

[FROMAFAR]

WOW a lot of good stuff today..FIRST FROAFAR is thrilled about the win over Fisher. (sorry PEP using your gig) Best part is Korinchak hits the winner, I have knocked this kid a bit and glad to see he comes up big in a big spot.... Big Turn around from first time we met.   As far as the clock at RIT I couldn't agree more...... I think the clock guy is the same guy that records assists at IC.........he demands a high price.    Seriuosly you are so right about the clock, I have absolutely no defense.  Rossi taking the last shot is all on the coach.  I didn't see the play and while sometimes plays break down and they have to take whats given, and Rossi having the ball as a point guard, he may have had to take the shot.. I do not know.  BUT that being said IC has to deny the good shooters...Fisher is in trouble, I don't see a go to guy and they look like the DEER in the HEADLIGHTS right now. They are not used to this.
Rit has to beat Stevens and Wick, beating both puts them in a great spot.. , they get the tie breaker on either one with a win.We cannot trip to the lower teams.

 

[Hilltopper43]

Video(s) of RIT's Buzzer Beater over St.John Fisher from Tuesday Night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmgJe8TTHr4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RywfObY4hGQ

http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=2200355

[FROMAFAR]

Hilltopper thanks for video, I actually saw the shot.... Great for RIT and great for Kid, and I don't mind celebrating but that "in your face -arm punching the air and fists tightened while yelling in the direction of some fans"" I don't know...I guess the reaction is not planned so I can let it go...  That shot can actually be the reason SJF does not make the tourney. It can also propell the Tigers a bit... We'll see this weekend.

[Old Duck]

FROMAFAR, I thought that the "area referee vote" was a good line. Overall the officiating is good. You expect that the home team will usually get some of the close calls going their way. For me it is more that Stevens seems to be playing on a neutral or away court when they are playing in Hoboken. As for you coaching philosophy I agree with you 100%.

[Pat Coleman]

Hilltopper thanks for video, I actually saw the shot.... Great for RIT and great for Kid, and I don't mind celebrating but that "in your face -arm punching the air and fists tightened while yelling in the direction of some fans"" I don't know...I guess the reaction is not planned so I can let it go...  That shot can actually be the reason SJF does not make the tourney. It can also propell the Tigers a bit... We'll see this weekend.

Those who visited the front page of D3hoops.com yesterday saw it there as well.

[with age came?]

Sweet shot!!!!   If it was played at Fisher though the refs probably would have waived it off and given the guy who set the pick  a "he took the charge before the shot foul".   

[Old Duck]

Thanks magicman. I hope the other 3 teams like Pittsford.  

I wonder if there has ever been any thought about hosting the tournament at a neutral site like they do in DI. I know SUNYAC had a few conference tournaments in Utica at the Aud.

I like the home court idea. For one, it's a reward to the team who wins it. And, it usually means better attendance, since one fan base doesn't have to travel

The ECWC Championships are scheduled for the Ben Light Gymnasium on Feb. 26, the same day as the  E8 final. I would think that this is an all day and into the night event. What happens if Ithaca gets the #1 seed? Would the date of the final be changed, would the tournament be held at a lower seeded (#2?) gym or would they play the first round at Ithaca and the final somewhere else?