Empire 8

[bamm]

I consider the Pioneers the frontrunner despite the loss of Cichon and Lucas because I think what Fisher is losing is much more important to them.  SOB has been running that team for three years.  He played 35+ minutes every game the last two years.  It's not an easy transition.

[FisherDynasty]

I agree with ya there that it will definatly be a very hard transition with the lost of its guard play.  The loss of 5 guards who all played big minutes, Sean obrien and Nick Bennett have led the team in minutes played the past 3 seasons.  In no way do i think next years fisher team will be close to as good as this year.  I just think they still have the top talent in the league, with the addition of a few solid recruits, they should be able to top utica again.  By the time league play comes around some of the kinks from the transition will be loosened.  I think Nazareth (even tho its hard to say bc of last years dissappointment, will should finish 2nd talent wise but probably will finish 4th behind rit and utica due to bad coaching.

[col]

What is "Paradise"?

[tigerfan2]

Fisher probably does have the best front line returning, but the question is if the guards can get them the ball. O'Brien, Bennett, etc. always did a great job of not only spreading out the defense for the post players with their perimeter shooting, but also getting the post players the ball in a position that they could do something with it.

For Mueller and the new guards coming into the program to to provide that will certainly be a question mark going into the season. If they can't do this efficiently, most teams will probably just pack the defense in and try and make the new, relatively inexperienced backcourt beat them. That, or pressure them as much as possible to create turnovers.

Should be an interesting year to see how Fisher transitions to a new lineup.

[FisherDynasty]

Couldn't have said it better Tigerfan....

[gobombers15]

I still think Fisher is the best team in the league going into next season. However, to echo the sentiment of other posters, I think the gap will significantly narrow next season. I think whoever wins the conference may have as many as 3 or 4 conference losses. I say "as many" because Fisher had only lost one conference game in the past two seasons. Other potential challengers:

Utica will be solid. They have the best player in the conference and I think Herring will be a solid second option as a sophomore. The loss of Cichon and Lucas is very big. Lucas always scared me because he was an athetic, hard-nosed player who wasn't afraid to mix it up inside, but also could beat you from outside. As for Cichon, his stats speak for themselves and he'll be missed. I don't think they'll go 0-for-the-season against Fisher next year; Bryant is good enough to get them at least once.

RIT is there, too. The loss of Snyder hurts. As does the loss of Martin (less so, obviously). RIT will rely on its outside shooters but they should really be going to Bacon a lot more next season. It sounded like that's what they did against Fisher in the E8 tourney and it was almost enough. Their game should be inside-outside and and not the other way. That said, the team still has to get over the mental block of not being able to beat Fisher. On the bright side, O'Brien/Bennett/McGee are gone and it seemed like those three always had their biggest games against the Tigers.

Ithaca is really an enigma and I could see things going either way with them. If Bostic improves as much this off-season as he did in the last 3 weeks of the season, they will definitely be a contender. He basically went from a stiff to a very good player in a short time, capped by him winning the MVP of the ECAC tourney (over Bellis, no less). Not sure if he or Burton is ready to be "the guy" next year but I trust that one of them will find that role. They also have other solid contributors coming back in Joe and Stahn. They'll need a couple of this year's freshmen or a recruit or two to step up to provide some depth, but I don't think you can really count the Bombers out.

Nazareth. Blah. Talent galore. Horrible coach. Call me when they can develop some consistency on a night-to-night basis. Or when they decide to play a lick of defense. Or when they seem to care when they play against a team not named Fisher or RIT. Not hopping on that bandwagon.

[fpc85]

Any truth to the runmor that the st. john fisher coach is leaving? I heard from a reliable source that he may be moving on.

[tigerfan2]

Would that mean one of his 17 assistent coaches would be taking over, or would he take them all along with him to his next job?

[gobombers15]

Any truth to the runmor that the st. john fisher coach is leaving? I heard from a reliable source that he may be moving on.

Hm, I never really saw Kornaker as a guy who would want to end up at the D1 level. I understand all people want to advance in their profession, but that's less true at the D3 level. He seems to have a good thing going at Fisher. At best, he'd be a second or third assistant at a mid-major (MAAC schools, perhaps?). It's a long road from there to make it as a big-time D1 coach.

[fpc85]

Any truth to the runmor that the st. john fisher coach is leaving? I heard from a reliable source that he may be moving on.

Hm, I never really saw Kornaker as a guy who would want to end up at the D1 level. I understand all people want to advance in their profession, but that's less true at the D3 level. He seems to have a good thing going at Fisher. At best, he'd be a second or third assistant at a mid-major (MAAC schools, perhaps?). It's a long road from there to make it as a big-time D1 coach.

I never said he was looking for a D1 job.....It might be a lateral move.....I was wondering if anyone has heard anything?

[retired12]

Any word on Hobart hiring a new ccoach?

[fpc85]

Maybe its the Fisher coach.

[AUPepBand]

Personally, I'd love to see Kornaker take over at his alma mater...

[superman57]

I don't believe that Kornaker, would leave Fisher for another school in the same region.  Maybe if he got an offer from a bigger name D3 school, or a D2 school, but he has a good thing going at Fisher, and I saw him driving a BMW yesterday,

[clearconceit]

I have heard it is official - Kornaker is now the Hobart Coach.