Empire 8

buck1053 · February 28, 2011, 01:56:50 PM

Quote from: FROMAFAR on February 28, 2011, 12:35:04 PM
I still find it hard to see IC get in NCAA... but what do I know If they do we have two shots.....

I guess when you're the second ranked team in the region and the top 5 teams lose, you're probably not going to be moving too far from that spot. Oswego was the top team and they're also hosting.

Bombers798891 · February 28, 2011, 01:58:55 PM

Interesting note about MIT. They rank 329th in turnovers, but the Bombers rank 370th in steals. That's sort of a "movable object meets an force that struggles to move things" sort of dichotomy, but I wonder who it favors. Height is going to be a major issue for the Bombers. MIT has two starters who are 6-8. IC can't counter that unless Oztemel plays significantly, which isn't good for the defense. (I guess you could use Sweeny or Wightman, but at the expense of your offense.)

Maybe the Bombers just say, "Screw it", throw Jordan and Grier in their, and hope to pressure the guards into T.O's while running MIT up and down the court with their athleticism. Thoughts?

Ethelred the Unready · February 28, 2011, 01:59:54 PM

Quote from: buck1053 on February 28, 2011, 01:56:50 PM
Quote from: FROMAFAR on February 28, 2011, 12:35:04 PM
I still find it hard to see IC get in NCAA... but what do I know If they do we have two shots.....

I guess when you're the second ranked team in the region and the top 5 teams lose, you're probably not going to be moving too far from that spot. Oswego was the top team and they're also hosting.

My guess is the Rochester women will have dibbs on hosting so UR wasn't likely to host

FROMAFAR · February 28, 2011, 02:15:21 PM

Buck I guess your right, Those teams ranked regionally losing sort of kept the rankings the same.... thus IC was ok..... What would Stevens chance have been had they beat Hartwick........let's say lose the Fisher game?
Bomber987....... I would think IC will play their game. They don't want get into any half court action with the height and shouldn't alter their rotation. Pressuring the guards may not make a difference in that as you stated IC is 370 in steals, will pressure make a difference? I am beginning to learn one thing about E-8 we can look at form all we want, but it doesn't always hold true. I think IC should go at them with their strength.... shoot shoot shoot........ although defense usually gets you through these tourneys, IC has a definite strength and they should use it... let the Cards fall where they may.....too late to change now....

Go BOMBERS, and WICK..... bring some respect back to this conference.... even though I will be elswhere next year.........

Bombers798891 · February 28, 2011, 02:31:25 PM

A question for a defensive stopper like Bomber3.

In your experience, when a team that has a lot of turnovers faces a team that doesn't generate many, which side wins out? Vice versa for a team that's very aggressive defensively vs. a team that doesn't cough it up much?

7express · February 28, 2011, 02:52:15 PM

My guess is the Rochester women will have dibbs on hosting so UR wasn't likely to host
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Yah, Rochester women are definatly hosting. If they weren't the UR men more then likely would've been at home. May not have been these 4 teams, but they would've been at home.

buck1053 · February 28, 2011, 05:35:13 PM

Quote from: FROMAFAR on February 28, 2011, 02:15:21 PM
Buck I guess your right, Those teams ranked regionally losing sort of kept the rankings the same.... thus IC was ok..... What would Stevens chance have been had they beat Hartwick........let's say lose the Fisher game?

I don't know. I think they could have the edge over IC, but the Bombers did win both matchups during the season, so that may have made it hard for a committee to pick Stevens over IC. In terms of the rankings and how teams played in their last game, Stevens would have been the highest ranked team to win their final game. I'm not sure if it would have been enough to supplant Ithaca. Even if they had moved past IC in the rankings, I'm guessing the Bombers still would have gotten a bid over Stevens -- simply based on the head-to-head matchup.

bomber3 · February 28, 2011, 08:59:46 PM

Quote from: Bombers798891 on February 28, 2011, 02:31:25 PM
A question for a defensive stopper like Bomber3.

In your experience, when a team that has a lot of turnovers faces a team that doesn't generate many, which side wins out? Vice versa for a team that's very aggressive defensively vs. a team that doesn't cough it up much?

Even my optimistic projections (in comparison to other posters here) with respect to the Bombers' playoff chances seemed to have been low-balling the squad as they now have the potential for not only one home NCAA game, but two. Seems to be a very favorable draw in terms of the location and seeding as the Bombers have another opportunity at something special.

Now to answer your question I would probably say it is more about the defense than the offense. Usually the defense will dictate what happens so I would expect MIT to have fewer turnovers than normal based on the fact the Bombers are relatively conservative defensively. If a defensive is aggressive they will most likely force turnovers even if a team is strong with the ball and vice versa for a conservative defensive team. Of course each team is different but I wouldn't expect IC to suddenly force MIT into 20 turnovers.

with age came? · March 01, 2011, 03:34:13 AM

Glad to see Ithaca go to the dance. My comments still stand though. EMU a top 25 team all year is the "bubble team that got screwed".

Also think that Emory in the always tough UAA with its second place finish and beating of U of R has a case too. My comments on the coaching is NOT about the regular season. I do not think that anyone could argue Ithaca's results but about the preparations for the playoffs and the tournament games. Perhaps too much pressure to win or players are "tight" because of "the curse" but somewhere in the mix the coaching staff has to change the how they approach these games because there is a need for redemption.

FROMAFAR · March 01, 2011, 10:35:34 AM

This is why I love this site. We all dig deep into reasons why this and why that, then we get the "curse" factor...which I am a believer in .. sort of. We have a great cast of characters here. We are more consistent than the teams...in opur thoughts and philosophy.. That's what keeps me coming back.... I see the Ducks once ahgain in ECAC....playing Baruch AGAIN in ECAC> Talk about curses... I believe Baruch has beaten them 5 or 6 in a row..... Let's see how this curse runs it course........Am I going to lose more KARMA....I being de-KARMA'd rapidly......

Bombers798891 · March 01, 2011, 10:38:20 AM

Quote from: with age came? on March 01, 2011, 03:34:13 AM
Glad to see Ithaca go to the dance. My comments still stand though. EMU a top 25 team all year is the "bubble team that got screwed". Also think that Emory in the always tough UAA with its second place finish and beating of U of R has a case too. My comments on the coaching is NOT about the regular season. I do not think that anyone could argue Ithaca's results but about the preparations for the playoffs and the tournament games. Perhaps too much pressure to win or players are "tight" because of "the curse" but somewhere in the mix the coaching staff has to change the how they approach these games because there is a need for redemption.

Yeah, it's a tough spot to be in. I wonder about the players being tight. In some ways it's an unfair burden to place on them. Should the 2011 team be feeling pressure because the 2008/2009 teams couldn't get it done? But on the other hand, I think that's part of what you have to expect when you play sports. Sure, you weren't on the team three years ago, but fans don't reset at zero every season.

This IC/MIT game is very interesting. MIT seems like they are a really aggressive team defensively. If you add up their steals + fouls, you get 747. For Ithaca, that number is 566. I wonder if they gamble a lot? MIT's opponents shoot ~20 free throws per game. Unfortunately for IC, the two guys who get to the line most often are also their worst FT shooters.

I think this will be a tough one, but I will again say Ithaca takes it.

Bombers 82
MIT 77

Bombers798891 · March 01, 2011, 10:40:38 AM

Quote from: FROMAFAR on March 01, 2011, 10:35:34 AM
This is why I love this site. We all dig deep into reasons why this and why that, then we get the "curse" factor...which I am a believer in .. sort of. We have a great cast of characters here. We are more consistent than the teams...in opur thoughts and philosophy.. That's what keeps me coming back.... I see the Ducks once ahgain in ECAC....playing Baruch AGAIN in ECAC> Talk about curses... I believe Baruch has beaten them 5 or 6 in a row..... Let's see how this curse runs it course........Am I going to lose more KARMA....I being de-KARMA'd rapidly......

I was noticing that as well. At first, I thought maybe Bomber3 had made it his mission to destroy me, but that doesn't seem to be his style. But thankfully, Karma doesn't really mean anything. If someone wants to smite me, knock yourself out.

bomber3 · March 01, 2011, 10:57:48 AM

You're right, karma points aren't my style and I think I have taken a beating too. Why hasn't the time of Friday's game been announced yet? Or has it and I'm missing it? Also, will there be a webcast (was there one 2 years ago)? I know the NCAA has strict policies for their games but they better have one...

Also, condolences to the IC family for the death of a professor's freshman daughter over the weekend. I know him personally and he is a class act and a great professor and person. RIP.

Bombers798891 · March 01, 2011, 11:53:53 AM

Quote from: bomber3 on March 01, 2011, 10:57:48 AM
You're right, karma points aren't my style and I think I have taken a beating too. Why hasn't the time of Friday's game been announced yet? Or has it and I'm missing it? Also, will there be a webcast (was there one 2 years ago)? I know the NCAA has strict policies for their games but they better have one...

Also, condolences to the IC family for the death of a professor's freshman daughter over the weekend. I know him personally and he is a class act and a great professor and person. RIP.

Games are at 5:30 (Rochester/Elms) and 7:30 (IC/MIT) on Friday.

Winner plays at 7 on Saturday.

Thankful for the bumping up the time of these games. Last year, when the women played, it was nearly impossible to get quotes in time for a newspaper when you factored in the cooling off period. Yeah, newspapers are dying, but they aren't dead yet.

FROMAFAR · March 01, 2011, 12:03:24 PM

First, my deepest condolences and prayers as well............

So all 3 of us taking a hit on Karma, it truly is a down year in the E8...

I don't want to jinx our boys, but I am picking IC to get to the sweet sixteen... I'll go from there IF THERE IS A THERE......I just feel after all my talk about a down year.... maybe they go far........ form has meant very little this year. Maybe that works in IC's favor.

Hartwick get's one win..........not bad.......(watch them win it all).........