Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

damn.   

I'm sure you're expecting me to pile on, but what's the point? The results, as usual, speak for themselves. They'll have a chance to redeem themselves in the NCAA's, but it's hard to be optimistic at this point. They just don't seem to have what it takes to play well when it matters. I feel for Barera and Rivas, as they've been here for all four years of it. They deserve better, but it just doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Maybe they'll prove me wrong in the NCAA's, but I think another one-and-done is likely

[Bombers798891]

East Region Results:

1. Oswego- Loss, 70-74
2. Ithaca-    Loss, 78-88
3. Rochester- TBD
4. Stevens- Loss, 73-76
5. Hobart- Loss, 62-60
6. Buffalo State- Win 87-79

Ye gods.

[magicman]

The East region Pool C bids have just been determined. Oswego will get the first one and if there is a 2nd one bestowed upon our region it will go to the Bombers. Ithaca may be on the bubble though.

[sjfcards]

Hey guys. I know I have not been on here in a while, and I really don't want to be that guy that jumps back on the boards after their team wins a big game, but I just got back from the Fisher/IC game and wanted to give my two cents.

Fisher looked like a team that could back into an E8 title if they can play like that against Hartwick. They ran their sets with the ball, stuck to the gameplan on D, and really looked sharp. Tough to beat any team when they play that well.

IC looks like a NCAA team to me. They have some real talent, and I was never comfortable with the lead Fisher had until about 1:30 left. IC can shoot, and Rossi really makes them go. It was a tough game for IC as Fisher played really well (they had over a week to prepare for IC and it showed).

I would have loved to have seen the Hartwick/Stevens game. Sounds like a classic. How many people had Hartwick in the finals at the start of the season?

[with age came?]

I truly hope that Ithaca gets a chance to dance but I am afraid it might not happen.  So many good teams in the Northeast and there is already a bias in that direction (just look at the d3 rankings) and truthfully, if you look at past results, the bias is probably justified.  I can only hope that the committee can not see fit to only dole out one pool c bid to the entire east region (I am assuming that Oswego goes) and makes some other region's team the "bubble team that got screwed"!

[Bombers798891]

I truly hope that Ithaca gets a chance to dance but I am afraid it might not happen.  So many good teams in the Northeast and there is already a bias in that direction (just look at the d3 rankings) and truthfully, if you look at past results, the bias is probably justified.  I can only hope that the committee can not see fit to only dole out one pool c bid to the entire east region (I am assuming that Oswego goes) and makes some other region's team the "bubble team that got screwed"!

If I hear one person claim "Ithaca got screwed out of a bid," I'm going to lose my ****ing mind. Getting screwed to me is a team playing in a deep conference, finishing 2nd, and missing out. It is not losing in the opening round of your conference tournament for the 8th year in a row--and the third time in four years as the #1 seed, no less--and expecting the selection committee to do what you couldn't do and write you a way into the dance.

The Bombers have had a very good season, and played a very tough schedule. According to one assistant I spoke to yesterday, they've played, by far, the toughest schedule in the East.

That being said, Ithaca's go no-one to blame but itself if it misses out. I'm short on sympathy for teams that constantly underachieve in the conference playoffs and then try to shift the blame to a committee. So if they get left out, I hope all we hear is "Yup. We deserved it"

[TheNextLevel]

I truly hope that Ithaca gets a chance to dance but I am afraid it might not happen.  So many good teams in the Northeast and there is already a bias in that direction (just look at the d3 rankings) and truthfully, if you look at past results, the bias is probably justified.  I can only hope that the committee can not see fit to only dole out one pool c bid to the entire east region (I am assuming that Oswego goes) and makes some other region's team the "bubble team that got screwed"!

If I hear one person claim "Ithaca got screwed out of a bid," I'm going to lose my ****ing mind. Getting screwed to me is a team playing in a deep conference, finishing 2nd, and missing out. It is not losing in the opening round of your conference tournament for the 8th year in a row--and the third time in four years as the #1 seed, no less--and expecting the selection committee to do what you couldn't do and write you a way into the dance.

The Bombers have had a very good season, and played a very tough schedule. According to one assistant I spoke to yesterday, they've played, by far, the toughest schedule in the East.

That being said, Ithaca's go no-one to blame but itself if it misses out. I'm short on sympathy for teams that constantly underachieve in the conference playoffs and then try to shift the blame to a committee. So if they get left out, I hope all we hear is "Yup. We deserved it"

Great Post...I couldn't agree more.   
Also glad I was wrong about Hartwick pulling out a win at Stevens.  Now a home game for the E8 title...I did predict Wick making the playoffs, but didn't dream that they might actually win it.  Great job and Good Luck!

[bomber3]

I truly hope that Ithaca gets a chance to dance but I am afraid it might not happen.  So many good teams in the Northeast and there is already a bias in that direction (just look at the d3 rankings) and truthfully, if you look at past results, the bias is probably justified.  I can only hope that the committee can not see fit to only dole out one pool c bid to the entire east region (I am assuming that Oswego goes) and makes some other region's team the "bubble team that got screwed"!

If I hear one person claim "Ithaca got screwed out of a bid," I'm going to lose my ****ing mind. Getting screwed to me is a team playing in a deep conference, finishing 2nd, and missing out. It is not losing in the opening round of your conference tournament for the 8th year in a row--and the third time in four years as the #1 seed, no less--and expecting the selection committee to do what you couldn't do and write you a way into the dance.

The Bombers have had a very good season, and played a very tough schedule. According to one assistant I spoke to yesterday, they've played, by far, the toughest schedule in the East.

That being said, Ithaca's go no-one to blame but itself if it misses out. I'm short on sympathy for teams that constantly underachieve in the conference playoffs and then try to shift the blame to a committee. So if they get left out, I hope all we hear is "Yup. We deserved it"

Great Post...I couldn't agree more.  
Also glad I was wrong about Hartwick pulling out a win at Stevens.  Now a home game for the E8 title...I did predict Wick making the playoffs, but didn't dream that they might actually win it.  Great job and Good Luck!

IC has never passed the blame to a committee.  They didn't deserve to get in last year and made no claims they did.  Now comes the question of whether they deserve to get in based on the NCAA's criteria.  The answer to that is YES.  If they do by chance miss out,  which I do not think they will, I will not say they necessarily "got screwed" out of a bid but I will say their quality of work from November until last week warranted a bid.  Luckily, nothing else gets taken into consideration when determining the at-large bids other than the quality of work the entire season (i.e. not current or past postseason transgressions).  They will most likely be the 3rd ranked East Region team at the time of the selection behind Oswego and UR, who will both get in.  Oswego will get an at-large and UR will win the UAA automatic bid.  

Judging on last year's results the following teams received at large bids from the East:
Oneonta State - was ranked 4th in the final published East Region rankings
St. John Fisher - was ranked 1st

So does IC have anyone to blame but themselves if they don't get in?  No.  But their season long package of work warrants another trip to the NCAAs.  If/when they get a bid they definitely won't get a home game and will probably face stiff competition.

Now Stevens on the other hand officially sealed their fate with their loss.  They were on the fence prior to the tournament and now need a miracle to get in.  Within two games they went from a chance to host the E8 tournament and a probable at large bid to needing a miracle to have a shot.

[Bombers798891]

Elms' win knocks another bubble team off...grim for the Bombers...

[Bombers798891]

Now Stevens on the other hand officially sealed their fate with their loss.  They were on the fence prior to the tournament and now need a miracle to get in.  Within two games they went from a chance to host the E8 tournament and a probable at large bid to needing a miracle to have a shot.

Stevens has absolutely no shot at getting in. The E8's not sending three teams to the NCAA's

[bomber3]

Now Stevens on the other hand officially sealed their fate with their loss.  They were on the fence prior to the tournament and now need a miracle to get in.  Within two games they went from a chance to host the E8 tournament and a probable at large bid to needing a miracle to have a shot.

Stevens has absolutely no shot at getting in. The E8's not sending three teams to the NCAA's

..thats essentially what I said.

[Bombers798891]

to needing a miracle to have a shot.

No,
Stevens has absolutely no shot at getting in. The E8's not sending three teams to the NCAA's

..thats essentially what I said.

See how selectively highlighting things works? Not only did you qualify your original statement of "Stevens sealed their fate" with your whole miracle thing, you qualified the rebuttal of my post by saying that's "essentially" what you said.

There's no miracle that can save Stevens. They were done the second the Bombers finished blowing their game, but Oswego State and Rochester just piled on for good fun.

In a related story, what the heck happened to the East Region? The 1-5 seeds all lost. Brutal weekend.

[maxpower]

Does IC put 'regular season champion' banners up in Ben Light? Maybe they should start.

[with age came?]

Bomber plus lots of numbers - I, too, do not think that Ithaca deserves the right to expect to go.  Their playoff performance in recent history has been pitiful.  At some point someone on the coaching staff has to say "we have to prepare differently because what we have been doing isn't working".  The talent on some of those teams was without question the best in the league if not the entire east but when you lose so many games at home in a row your team is playing tight or you aren't preparing the proper game plan.  I can not say I am an insider here, but at some point the coaching staff has to take some ownership in an effort to break the "curse of the Bulb-o" (with apologies to Babe Ruth & the Red Sox).

[buck1053]

Hartwick gets the E8 title, knocking off Fisher 69-58.

First conference tournament appearance for the Hawks and they win the championship. Maybe they can give IC a pointer or two.