Empire 8

[Caz Bombers]

Actually, thanks for mentioning it, AUPepBand, I've always thought it would be fun to do one of your signature rambling off-topic anecdotes.

I actually used to sit around and watch IC swim meets when I was an undergrad, mostly to warm up in the superheated natatorium on yet another frigid upstate witner day or to kill time after class before a Bomber hoops doubleheader directly across the hallway in the Bulb.  Usually left quickly as the distance events bored me and I couldn't take all the excessive shouting.  "GO, GO, STROKE, STROKE!!!" I'm thinking "DUDE, THEIR HEADS ARE UNDERWATER, THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"  Later in life for work, I found myself spending a weekend at a college conference championship swimming event.  Thought I was gonna go deaf.  Not a tremendous spectator sport, it turns out.

[sjfcards]

AU men swimmers and divers handily defeated the defending 2006 NYS Swim Champs Hartwick Hawks today, 136-103, at Lebohner Pool at Alfred University. AU remains undefeated on the season with meets remaining at LeMoyne Jan. 20 and at St. Lawrence Jan. 28.

Congrats to the SaxonSwimmers and Coach Striker!

Well that is big news...

However, let us focus on Elmira beating Hartwick. It was on the road, but having said that, they were playing Elmira...I had thought that Hartwick may be a up and comming team, that would compete this year, but maybe not.

Fisher nice bounce back win, and a solid victory over a good Brockport team. Should be a good way to jump into the conference full time. Big showdown next weekend. Fisher vs. Utica. Can't wait

Oops, sorry sjfcards...this is NOT a swimming and diving board. But, since there is no swimming and diving board and Hartwick happened to be "in the news," Pep thought the AU swim win over the Hawks' defending state champs was worthy of at least a post. Does St. John Fisher College have a pool? No swimming teams?

We do not have a pool, or a swim team AU...Had a friend who was "illegially recruited" to Swim at Hartwick...He ended up at American University, I just find it funny to hear about the dark side of division III swimming.

[AUPepBand]

Actually, thanks for mentioning it, AUPepBand, I've always thought it would be fun to do one of your signature rambling off-topic anecdotes.

I actually used to sit around and watch IC swim meets when I was an undergrad, mostly to warm up in the superheated natatorium on yet another frigid upstate witner day or to kill time after class before a Bomber hoops doubleheader directly across the hallway in the Bulb.  Usually left quickly as the distance events bored me and I couldn't take all the excessive shouting.  "GO, GO, STROKE, STROKE!!!" I'm thinking "DUDE, THEIR HEADS ARE UNDERWATER, THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"  Later in life for work, I found myself spending a weekend at a college conference championship swimming event.  Thought I was gonna go deaf.  Not a tremendous spectator sport, it turns out.

Pep would compare swim meets to baseball. There are a few moments of excitement when one jumps from his seat (a solid connection of bat and ball in a crucial situation...and the final relay with the meet on the line). As it were, AU's win was anti-climactic as the Saxons easily prevailed. A few of the 54 1-meter dives and a few of the 54 3-meter dives had Pep grimacing...and wondering why one would want to enter the water flat on one's back. Pep, however, not one to become easily bored, found entertainment in giving his score for each dive....and found that Pep is well qualified to be a diving judge, even if Pep doesn't know the difference between a nip and a tuck.

[AUPepBand]

Actually, thanks for mentioning it, AUPepBand, I've always thought it would be fun to do one of your signature rambling off-topic anecdotes.

Caz: Pep doesn't have any idea what you are talking about. 

[sjfcards]

Trying to spark some conversation here...

Who does everyone think is the best player in the E8 so far this year. Ray Bryant has been good, but has missed some time. From what I have seen I would have to say Canori from Naz has been the best so far. I have not seen all the teams so far this year, so I do not have the most educated opinion.

[FisherDynasty]

Best players in my opinion Going from the players I would want the most on my team.

1) Ray Bryant
2) Dan Mcsweeney
3) Doug Herrrig
4) Joe Canori
5) Tim Bacon
6) Justin Beigal
7) Coco Crisp
8) PG for Ithaca
9) Barret Zeinfeld
10) Dan Mueller

[dmcclintock]

Hmmmm...interesting list however how can you have ray bryant over danny mac or justin beigl...bryant is good do not get me wrong however he has never beaten fisher and to my recollection has not really played well against them...Yes i know when it is all said and done he might have some decent numbers but the games i watched last year he didnt do anything until the game was pretty much decided...i think the jury should be out on him until his utica team can actually win a game against fisher

[sjfcards]

Best players in my opinion Going from the players I would want the most on my team.

1) Ray Bryant
2) Dan Mcsweeney
3) Doug Herrrig
4) Joe Canori
5) Tim Bacon
6) Justin Beigal
7) Coco Crisp
8) PG for Ithaca
9) Barret Zeinfeld
10) Dan Mueller

Nice list dynasty,
I agree with most of your top 5, perhaps not the order. I think if you use your criteria of who you most want on your team it is pretty solid. Ray Bryant probably has the most physical ability in the league, Canori probably the best shooter, Mcsweeny the best big man...interesting to see Dan Mueller on the list. not bad for the question mark area for the fisher team. He has played very well this last two weeks.

[gobombers15]

Best players in my opinion Going from the players I would want the most on my team.

1) Ray Bryant
2) Dan Mcsweeney
3) Doug Herrrig
4) Joe Canori
5) Tim Bacon
6) Justin Beigal
7) Coco Crisp
8) PG for Ithaca
9) Barret Zeinfeld
10) Dan Mueller

McSweeney? 2nd? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here. He's pretty good, but let's get serious.

[sjfcards]

I agree 2nd may be a little high for Mcsweeny, but he is for sure one of the top 5 players in the league. And, there is not a team in the Empire 8 that would not want him as their big man.

[FisherDynasty]

I kind of agree Dmc, but mcsweeney has not played well as of late, so I put bryant above him.  If i were putting together a starting 5 this would be the line up..

PG. Doug Herrig
SG. Joe Canori
Sf. Ray Ray (league lacks this position)
Pf. Bacon/Beigal
C. Mcsweeney

This line-up could almost beat Fisher the last few years.  haha Sorry had to say it to piss people off.

[bamm]

McSweeney is an above average big man in a conference that lacks a lot of size.  Do you remember what happened to Fisher's bigs against Potsdam a couple of years ago?  Just because he "might" be the best center in the league does not make him one of the best five players. 

[FisherDynasty]

Bamm point taken about the lack of size in the E8 and overall lack of talent at the center position.  However, the point about potsdam, Mcsweeney was a sophmore in that game, there is a huge difference between sophmore and senior year, especially a player that was newer to the game.

[bamm]

Good call, but I would counter that by saying the makeup of the E8 hasn't changed much since then.  McSweeney was a good player in '04/'05 in a league that lacked size.  Nothing has changed in two years.  He puts up decent numbers in league play because he's literally the biggest guy in the league.

It just seems that whenever Fisher plays a team with guys that are as tall and strong as him (Potsdam, UR) he's pretty much shut down.

He also always struggled against the Tigers 6'10" Jesse Foote.  Fisher always replaced him with Zahn, who hit 16 footers and forced Foote out of the paint.

[FisherDynasty]

Yeah id have to say he plays worse in the league from past years.  Last year and this year look at stats against UofR plus 20 both games, Geneseo this year with good size, plus 20, he also put up good numbers in limited minutes against an all american big man for York PA.   But again point taken, Zahn did replace mcsweeney and offer more of a scoring threat.  The rest of the year should help with this arguement we'll see how he does against the rest of the E8, only this year teams are keying on him and beigal. But i can guarantee when he is not in foul trouble and plays 30+ minutes hes going to get 20 pts.