Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Naz has suddenly dropped two, to Stevens and now to Fisher. Things are getting interesting in the E8. Saxons made it six straight tonight but not without a struggle as Stevens was on fire to start the game and rolled to a 27-11 lead. By halftime, the Saxons had pulled to within 34-32.

The second half was a see-saw affair and just when it looked like the Ducks were pulling away, AU raced back and regulation ended at 64-64. AU then went on a 14-0 run to move to 9-2 in conference play, 16-4 overall, while Fisher topped Naz by 10. Naz is still in front at 10-2, AU 9-2 and Fisher 9-3, with Stevens at 7-7.

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Wondering if the Saxons (17-4) might get a little love in the NCAA Regional Rankings this week. Looks like Naz, Fisher and Alfred are locked in to the Conference Tournament, and most likely Stevens. A lot of games left to play to determine the first place (host) team.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Caz Bombers]

Alfred's non-conference schedule was really, really, really, really bad.

Two different flavors of Bryant & Stratton, seriously, don't do that

D'Youville (.500 AMCC team); Keuka (sub-.500 NEAC team, even sub -.500 in the NEAC); RIT (5-17, last place in LL); lost to Geneseo (9th place in SUNYAC)

SUNY Canton (only 13-12 despite playing in the NAC); Cobleskill (at least a competitive NEAC team, but they lost to RIT and RPI, plus Delhi by 30) and Brockport (they're fine! But you lost.)

The E8 is pretty terrible this year and the only quasi-good team is Naz, and Alfred hasn't beaten them either.

So that's a no from me, dawg.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I see no way Alfred gets into the rankings. Their SOS is a bad .466 (their non-conference SOS even worse than that) and they are 0-2 against regionally ranked opponents. You basically can't afford to lose with that kind of resume ... and Alfred has lost four times.

[AUPepBand]

I'll take that as a "no." No love for Alfred.   Looks to be a lonely Valentine's Day. 

On Saxon Warriors!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The second week Regional Rankings have been released: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2019/02/men-regional-rankings-second

[AUPepBand]

Saxons trailed Utica by 18 in the first half (36-18), pull to within 41-34 at halftime, then a flurry of treys early in the second half gets AU ahead. Saxons hold on for an 86-77 win in Utica to move to 19-4, 12-2, their most E8 conference wins ever.

Will have their work cut out for them at St. John Fisher tomorrow.

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

So Saxons beat regionally-ranked St. John Fisher 104-82 on Fisher's court to go to 20-4 overall, 13-2 in E8 play. Meanwhile, Naz loses at Elmira, 81-80, to move to 18-6, 12-3, thus setting up Tuesday's season finale at Galanis Arena in Alfred for the E8 regular season title and home court advantage for E8 Tourney.

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Awesome story on AU hoop seniors Scotty Stopera and Dom LaMorta....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgMSazosK70

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bartman]

So Saxons beat regionally-ranked St. John Fisher 104-82 on Fisher's court to go to 20-4 overall, 13-2 in E8 play. Meanwhile, Naz loses at Elmira, 81-80, to move to 18-6, 12-3, thus setting up Tuesday's season finale at Galanis Arena in Alfred for the E8 regular season title and home court advantage for E8 Tourney.

On Saxon Warriors!

Pep,
    Good luck to your Saxons in the Tourney. I read recently that Keuka College is going to join the E8, is anyone leaving the league?

[Caz Bombers]

Stevens is gone to the MAC Freedom this summer, yeah

[AUPepBand]

So Saxons beat regionally-ranked St. John Fisher 104-82 on Fisher's court to go to 20-4 overall, 13-2 in E8 play. Meanwhile, Naz loses at Elmira, 81-80, to move to 18-6, 12-3, thus setting up Tuesday's season finale at Galanis Arena in Alfred for the E8 regular season title and home court advantage for E8 Tourney.

On Saxon Warriors!

Pep,
    Good luck to your Saxons in the Tourney. I read recently that Keuka College is going to join the E8, is anyone leaving the league?

Thanks, Bartman. Campus is buzzing with the success of our Saxon men. Football team's ECAC Bowl banner will be presented at tomorrow's Naz game. Will be fun if we host...a first for AU. Good size AU crowd at Fisher Saturday.

Yes, Stevens on the way out the door....but hadn't heard about Keuka. Was hoping the E8 would live up to its name with eight members and not experience another nine-team scheduling nightmare. But at least Keuka isn't a five-hour trip!

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

AU captures its first ever Empire 8 regular season championship, defeating Nazareth, 94-83, before a rockin' Terry A. Galanis Arena crowd that surpasses any Pep has seen at the McLane Center since a Ron Frederes team went 25-3 in 1985-86, and advanced in the NCAA Tournament with a buzzer beater (ironically to defeat Nazareth in pre-Empire 8 days) at Potsdam State.

Saxons finish regular season 21-4 (14-2 E8) and will host the Empire 8 Tournament this Friday and Saturday. Nazareth is #2 seed and finishes regular season 18-7 (12-4 E8). #3 will be St. John Fisher (17-8, 12-4 E8) and #4 will be Stevens (16-9, 9-7 E8).

Saxons took control early and led the entire game, although the Golden Flyers pulled to within two late in the game to make it interesting but Saxons hit a couple treys and pulled away.

Great crowd from Nazareth made for a very noisy gym, what with the PurpOut that brought in a huge Saxon faithful crowd.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The third public NCAA Division III regional rankings are out: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2019/02/men-regional-rankings-third

[AUPepBand]

The third public NCAA Division III regional rankings are out: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2019/02/men-regional-rankings-third

Does this regional ranking committee do stand-up? They are HILARIOUS!!!