Empire 8

[superman57]

I started this by saying that I feel and still feel no single team should get that much of an advantage...it should either go to the team that won the year before or it should be a neutral site picked in advance....that way citys can be ready....we can make reservations ahead of time...and people can really put some pride into hosting

[sjfcards]

I don't understand what the problem is.  Every season the folks involved do an objective analysis of each team in the field that takes into account several factors.  And each of the last several seasons their work in the East region has looked pretty darn good in hindsight. 

Your argument might hold some water if Fisher was ever actually competitive in a game that meant something.  A neutral court isn't going to overcome the 23 point shellacking by Amherst or the embarassing loss to the Bears.

A game that means something? well they did win an NCAA game to get to the sweet 16. I am pretty sure they won two games in the tourny last year.  And they also won a few E8 championship games in the last two years. those games did not mean anything...I think most other E8 teams would love to have those kind of games not mean anything.

[sjfcards]

Also if Amherst was the number one seed well then the argument is mute I guess. They got to play on their home floor as they should. I was under the impression that Fisher was the one seed that year.

Amherst was good that year and most every year as well. Fisher has had bad games each of the last two years in the tournament. Was Potsdam better than Fisher twp years ago? well, they may have been. I don't think they were 20 points better. I was at the game and Fisher missed a lot of open looks that they had made all year long. At that stage of the tourny you just can't do that.
Obviously it is disapointing to lose like they have the last few years at deeper stages in the tournament. but lets not take a big time loss to a good Potsdam or Amherst team to mean that Fisher was not good either year. Bottom line, they were the best team in the Conference, and at least one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the Region. It is what it is...tough losses to end great seasons

[Pat Coleman]

Pat, I was aware of the Amherst strength of schedule and aware of their #1 seed. However, I still think the team that is undfeated should get the #1 seed in that case, its almost like compared to football

It's not like football. A one-game difference out of 12 games is different than a one-game difference out of 28 games.

[superman57]

I was at every fisher home game last year and a bunch of road games including both sweet 16 and elite 8....maybe not every team has a home court advantage like Amherst...but boy do they have a home court advantage...they are louder than fisher fans even fisher vs. naz....they pack the place and really make their presenace known...Fisher could not hit a open shot and I think some of it had to do with the noice...Amherst couldn't miss a shot......I know I might be the only one who feels this but it either needs to be a neutral site or a pre-determined site...as in the idea I really like the previous years champs get to host...that way if their team is not in it they still get to make money on concessions...and reasons for the ncaa to put it in neutral sites...say St. Rose College a DII in Albany you control the concessions and get to add even more money into your pocket

pat I agree. its not like football amherst deserved to host because of strength of schedule...that year the E8 was like MWC...a good conference but nothing great....

[bamm]

I don't understand what the problem is.  Every season the folks involved do an objective analysis of each team in the field that takes into account several factors.  And each of the last several seasons their work in the East region has looked pretty darn good in hindsight. 

Your argument might hold some water if Fisher was ever actually competitive in a game that meant something.  A neutral court isn't going to overcome the 23 point shellacking by Amherst or the embarassing loss to the Bears.

A game that means something? well they did win an NCAA game to get to the sweet 16. I am pretty sure they won two games in the tourny last year.  And they also won a few E8 championship games in the last two years. those games did not mean anything...I think most other E8 teams would love to have those kind of games not mean anything.

Beating Norwich and Lebanon Valley at home are not the kind of wins that grab anyone's attention.  You complain about seeding and home court advantage, but Fisher has done nothing in recent NCAA runs that makes anyone think they deserved to be a #1 seed and regional host. 

Potsdam destroyed them offensively and defensively.  Amherst beat them by 23.  Until the Cards win a regional -- errr, at least until they look competitive in a regional -- expect to be traveling, gaudy record or not. 

[bamm]

Full Conference Schedule this weekend, as the Rochester schools go on the road.  These games, especially the Saturday afternooner, are tough (unless it's Elmira).

Friday:
RIT over Elmira
Utica over Alfred
Ithaca over Naz
Fisher over Hartwick

Saturday:
Naz over Elmira
Utica over Fisher
RIT over Ithaca
Hartwick over Alfred

[FisherDynasty]

Friday:
Rit over Elmira +15
Utica over Alfred +12
Ithaca over Naz +2.5
Fisher over Hartwick +13

Saturday:
Naz over Elmira +17
Utica over Fisher +4
Rit over Ithaca +2
Alfred over Hartwick +3

[dmcclintock]

Beating Norwich and Lebanon Valley at home are not the kind of wins that grab anyone's attention.  You complain about seeding and home court advantage, but Fisher has done nothing in recent NCAA runs that makes anyone think they deserved to be a #1 seed and regional host. 

Potsdam destroyed them offensively and defensively.  Amherst beat them by 23.  Until the Cards win a regional -- errr, at least until they look competitive in a regional -- expect to be traveling, gaudy record or not.

Yeah I guess getting farther than Fisher ever has before has been accomplished without having one quality...Beating Springfield at Springfield and a good Rutgers Newark team do not qualify aside from going 28-0.  I am not saying Fisher 100% deserved Home court but neither did Amherst...Lets look at Amhert's run.  They have hosted 2 years in a row.  They were the one seed and had home court advantage so they are expected to win.  They lost against u of r, Dissapointing, and they went to the Final Four last year and lost both games...(but I will not count the 3rd place game since I think this game is ridiculous...who really wants to play a game after they just had their titles taken away)so what has Amherst really done aside from performing expectedly at best.  The only way for this argument could go undisputed would be if Fisher hosted the one year and still got waxed...Than No one would be talking...However since that didnt happen and my time travel device has not been completed yet for me to go back and change who hosts that year, this will always be questioned...Now lets move on...this week is a big week for seeing who could be numero uno (u know i dont speak spanish) and #2...Also big games for the possible 3-6 teams (Alfred, Ithaca, RIT, NAZ)...Elmira hartwick sorry they are just not good...there playoff game is when they face each other...only Prediction, Fisher beats Utica...

[Pat Coleman]

I was at every fisher home game last year and a bunch of road games including both sweet 16 and elite 8....maybe not every team has a home court advantage like Amherst...but boy do they have a home court advantage...they are louder than fisher fans even fisher vs. naz....they pack the place and really make their presenace known...Fisher could not hit a open shot and I think some of it had to do with the noice...Amherst couldn't miss a shot......I know I might be the only one who feels this but it either needs to be a neutral site or a pre-determined site...as in the idea I really like the previous years champs get to host...that way if their team is not in it they still get to make money on concessions...and reasons for the ncaa to put it in neutral sites...say St. Rose College a DII in Albany you control the concessions and get to add even more money into your pocket

pat I agree. its not like football amherst deserved to host because of strength of schedule...that year the E8 was like MWC...a good conference but nothing great....

The NCAA already controls the concessions.

There has been talk about neutral sites for the sectional round. There hasn't been a whole lot of interest by schools in hosting them if their team is not in them. It's an incredible amount of work and there's not much in it for the school.

[thebear]

Actually in '04-05, Amherst was on break, so there wasn't a lot of home court advantage.  There were plenty of empty seats for the Fisher-Potsdam game.  Then many of the Fisher fans cleared out, so people weren't hanging from the rafters for the Amherst-Rochester game later that evening.  Potsdam was also on break, so any students that travelled to Amherst (5 & 1/2 hours) did so on their own.

The Elite 8 game between Rochester and Potsdam was a true neutral court game, no real crowd advantage for either side. 

My memories go back to the 80's when Potsdam routinely filled their gym with 3000+ for regional and sectional games. That was a home court advantage.

[superman57]

well, it was packed to the rafters at last years elite 8 they even tried to sit in our section at whic point they got kicked out

[sjfcards]

well I think all of this is a pointless argument at this point. Fisher lost to a better team last year...they probably would have lost at home as well, although it would have been a much better game. I would have loved to see the game at Fisher as much as anybody. This year is a much better topic I think.
Big weekend for all teams in the E8 this weekend it seems like. Maybe not for Elmira but that is besides the point. This weekend could go a long way to determining the outcome of the league.

[Caz Bombers]

Ithaca's new live stats interface is terrific.  Other things that are terrific include the Bombers whipping Nazareth 75-68, which happened tonight at the Bulb.  Jeff Bostic with 20 points, 7 boards, 4 blocks on 8 of 12 shooting to lead IC.  Sean Stahn 6 of 9 from the floor for 14 points and Sean Burton adds 14 of his own with 6 assists and 3 steals.  Tyler Smith doing the work for Naz with 22 and 9.  14 and 6 for Rayvon Higdon and 13 points for Corey McAdam.

[sjfcards]

Wow...huge win for Ithaca early in the conference season. This win could be a big stepping stone for moving into the top 4 in the conference at the end of the season.

Fisher and Utica both take care of business setting up a big one tomorrow in Utica. First place on the line. Should be a good one.