Empire 8

[bamm]

Onyurika and McSweeney are similar players with almost identical stats, which is why I originally objected to FD's assertion that Fisher's bigs were better than Rochester's.

As to the All-Conference teams... I think Kornaker was the right choice for COY.  With everything they lost they remained near the top of the conference all season.

I'll be at the games this weekend... not a lot of discussion about Utica the last few days, it's like we've given them up for dead.  I hope the Pioneers show up and play well.

[b4the3isme]

Bamm & Super - thanks for the lowdown on how the site is selected for the NCAA.  It looks again to me that the voting for the league allstars is extremely slanted towards upper classman (seniors in particular) and winning teams.  Though I haven't seen Coco play by all accounts from people I trust, the guy is absolutely a 1st teamer.  As far as Fisher being a lock.  I'm not so sure yet. A loss in the first round to RIT could put them in jeopardy.  A loss in the championship to Ithaca would not help the QOWI either.  A loss to Utica and they probably are in.

[gobombers15]

McSweeney plays in a conference where he can get by on athletic ability alone. In watching him during his first three years, I never ONCE saw Fisher dump the ball in the post to him and him do a post move. Everything was alley-oops and putbacks. I don't think you can compare how refined McSweeney and Onyiruka's games are.

Just curious GB15, how do you think Onyiruka gets his points? 

UR hasn't changed its offensive scheme in years. They've always been an inside-out team. Onyiruka does score points on post moves. You can't really tell me that Onyiruka's stats wouldn't go up playing in the E8 and McSweeney's stats wouldn't go down playing in the UAA. And if you do tell me that, I'll probably laugh and not take your posts seriously.

I'll be at the games this weekend... not a lot of discussion about Utica the last few days, it's like we've given them up for dead.  I hope the Pioneers show up and play well.

Well, what has Utica ever done to make us believe that they can beat Fisher on Fisher's court? I think Utica's best chance is to hope RIT pulls the upset and then beat RIT. This is assuming that they will beat Ithaca. A lot depends on how healthy Bryant is.

[gobombers15]

Bamm & Super - thanks for the lowdown on how the site is selected for the NCAA.  It looks again to me that the voting for the league allstars is extremely slanted towards upper classman (seniors in particular) and winning teams.  Though I haven't seen Coco play by all accounts from people I trust, the guy is absolutely a 1st teamer.  As far as Fisher being a lock.  I'm not so sure yet. A loss in the first round to RIT could put them in jeopardy.  A loss in the championship to Ithaca would not help the QOWI either.  A loss to Utica and they probably are in.

I'm really surprised Canori was only honorable mention. Probably one of, if not the best shooter in the league and just a flat out scorer. I'd say that's more surprising to me than Coco on second team.

[b4the3isme]

gb I know you follow this really closely so I trust your statement.  I just think the habitual underachievement of Nazareth must play in also.  Is Canori a soph or Junior? That probably is an overwhelming factor too.

[bamm]

Well, what has Utica ever done to make us believe that they can beat Fisher on Fisher's court? I think Utica's best chance is to hope RIT pulls the upset and then beat RIT. This is assuming that they will beat Ithaca. A lot depends on how healthy Bryant is.

Nothing.  But you could have said the same thing about RIT a couple of weeks ago.  Any of these teams is capable of winning this thing.  The game last weekend was over in the first five minutes (Technical to start the game, Bryant injury).  Utica just got blitzed -- not the first time or the last time that will happen to a team @ Fisher. 

Over the last several years Fisher has vacillated between just squeaking out wins and blowing good teams out in this tournament.  Given their relative diminished talent, there's no way to know what could happen this year.

[FisherDynasty]

I agree Bamm, this years tourny is any teams chance to get into the tourny. Predictions for this weekend:

Fisher over RIT by +5-9
Utica over Ithaca +3.5

Fisher over Utica +3

[rjcarter8]

Wouldn't it be amazing if it was an IC-RIT final?

I don't think that'll happen, but crazy things sometimes do happen during weekend tourneys.

If such a scenario were to occur, it would raise two questions:
1) Would there be a second E8 rep in the NCAA tourney?
2) Who's better: Fisher or Utica?

I say no to the first one, and the second would probably depend on the outcome of the first round games, because the the two split during the regular season, but Fisher has a better record. On the other hand, choking at your own building in the first round is a lot different than choking on the road.

[dmcclintock]

UR hasn't changed its offensive scheme in years. They've always been an inside-out team. Onyiruka does score points on post moves. You can't really tell me that Onyiruka's stats wouldn't go up playing in the E8 and McSweeney's stats wouldn't go down playing in the UAA. And if you do tell me that, I'll probably laugh and not take your posts seriously

I am well aware of UofR's offensive patterns.  The argument is between Mcsweeneys and Onyirukas game.  Sure Onyiruka does score some points in the post but his post moves are in no way refined. Mcsweeney scores in the post 2.  Both of them seem to rely on the putbacks more so than anyother way of scoring.  I do think Mcsweeney is the better player but I would not call either of their games refined.  Both use their athleticism.  An example of  refined game is Seth Hauben and neither player possesses that.  Oh well

Exciting Week for the E8

Are the Frosh for Fisher going to handle the pressure?
Will Utica crawl out of their late season woes?
Can RIT pull off another upset?
Will Ithaca kick Utica while they are down?

Who knows...its playoff time

[sjfcards]

Should be a great weekend for E8 basketball this weekend. I have to say that fisher is the favorite being at home. I think Utica's chances all depend on if Bryant can play or not. Ithaca and RIT could both be suprise winners in the first round. I think it will be tough for either to win...unless of course they both win on Friday, but I do not see either of them beating Fisher and Utica on back to back nights.

I see it like this:

Fisher +8 against RIT
Utica even against Ithaca...I will guess UC because I think Bryant will play. Maybe +3

and I ill take Fisher over UC by 5 in the championship.


I have an obvious bias, and it probably shows. However, I really do think that Fisher is the best/most talented team in the league, if the freshan show up and handle the pressure.

GO FISHER...good luck to all teams.

[FisherDynasty]

For the sake of the E8 lets hope fisher wins, they are the only ones that stand a chance of doing any damage since they have two solid big guys with playoff NCAA experience.

[reelentless]

FD - For the sake of the E8 lets hope fisher wins, they are the only ones that stand a chance of doing any damage since they have two solid big guys with playoff NCAA experience.

I don't think the E8 would be too badly represented by Bryant and Lighthall.

[bamm]

For the sake of the E8 lets hope fisher wins, they are the only ones that stand a chance of doing any damage since they have two solid big guys with playoff NCAA experience.

What is damage, exactly?  Getting killed in Amherst for the third straight year?

[superman57]

hey losing to amherst is nothing to be ashamed of...they are an incredible team...and are my pick to go back to the final 4 from the east

[lileyes]

Bryant didn't do any damage in NCAA's last year??