Empire 8

[JQV]

That has to be an error then.  No way a team is going to play a 4 pm Sunday game with a 6 hour bus ride following.

[bballfan44]

Utica is losing alot from last year, they going to be able to still compete at the top level?  I mean i know they have a good coach and they have a few good players returning but do they have any stud freshman coming in, because Ray Bryant is a big lose.......?

[Pat Coleman]

A big lose?

[bballfan44]

sorry I ment he is a big loss

[gobombers15]

I think Utica has a big transferring in from a low-level D1 school. I forgot which school it was, though. My first inkling is to say Prarie View but I could be completely off. I think UCgrad told me about it. If so, he should be added to a fairly solid group of young, inside players. Utica also has Herring come back and the guy should be expected to challenge for E8 POY.

Ithaca has a lot returning, too. It's now or never for Naz and I think they'll be capable, especially with Corey MacAdam prepared to take over the league and Canori having one last chance to get Naz over the hump. Stevens is a great team, as well. Should be a fun year. I look forward to things heating up around here near Thanksgiving.

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer.

[lileyes]

UC grads Justin Cichon and Ray Bryant just signed with the ABA.  They're both gonna be on the same team, the Corning Bulldogs. 


http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007072406004

http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007073006002

[e8bballfan]

I believe that former SU pg Billy Edelin and SU recruit Dayshawn Wright will be playing on Syracuse's ABA team as well...

any word around the e8??

-@IC Brian Joe is gone, for good, or just one semester and transferring back in??

-anyone know anything on Stevens?

-will RIT/Alfred struggle now that big men (Bacon/Stein) are gone? Saw Alfred got a big kid from Rochester suburbs who I had heard is lanky, athletic, needs some work done but has potential, we'll see.

-naz has older mcadams back (did he redshirt??)to team up with little bro...let's see if they can get it together they could be good.

-who will step up at fisher? beigel? smalt? baltz? how many freshmen they bring in(+/- 12??)?

-Jan Cocococo is good, anyone else at hartwick good?

-utica? herring is solid, athletic, pretty sick(despite crapping the bed @e8 final)...supporting cast?

what's the word?!

[slickyquick]

As far as Stevens goes...they should be pretty good. They were in the Sweet 16 last year with a new coach who was in these parts for a couple of years with Hamilton and St. Lawrence. I would assume they brought in some good players considering their location.

They should fight with Ithaca and Fisher for top billing in the league.

[FisherDynasty]

Way Early predictions for the E8:

1) Fisher of course all 5 players coming back which started a number of games last year.  Have the 2 best bigs, solid young guard play.  However, although this year i think they even more vulnerable to losing the league than last year as the other teams in the E8 are much better. Look for mark bearden and matt newman to have a huge year for the cardinals.  Also have a really talented athletic freshmen from Rush Henrietta who will bring alot to the team at the guard positions. Will need to have excellent minutes from 6'8 matt haley.

2) Naz - i know giving them this spot is undeserving, however, i really believe this is the year for them to finally come together. Ryan McAdam killed it during empires this summer, him along with canori and younger bro with the 2 4 year starting bigs, should be able to put together a good year.  Talent wise they get the 1 spot.

3) Ithaca - Very young team last year, always play hard, and should be much improved. Bostic should have a huge year along with the pg.  also the young leahy will have a good year. 

4) Utica/RIT/Stevens - tough to say here all will be solid not great.  RIT will be similar to they are every year with or without  bacon they could get the #2 slot as usual.  Same for Utica, they will bring in good transfers, had some solid youngsters last year, and herrig is good, they always play hard.  Stevens very athletic quick guard oriented team.  Will have some big wins, but wont win consistent enough to take the league, however all 3 of these teams have a shot there is a lot of parity in the league this year.  The Gap between Fisher and the rest is very slight, are the favorites due to playing he best defense and play the best team basketball.

7) Hartwick - not bad will be better but not as good as the rest, will pull of some big wins though.

8-9) Alfred/Elmira- just not good teams

[Cadillac]

Fisher -

First the good

• Mark Bearden is standing out.  Mike McKeever is playing well.  Chris Baltz is shooting lights out, as is -- Bill Lidell.
• A transfer from Ithaca, a big (Jose-any idea?) is looking good.  That could make it easier on Matt Haley.

The maybe-just-a-little-concerning:

• Justin Beigel isn't in the same game shape he was in March.  He was just outstanding down the stretch.  I'm sure he'll get there.
• Every year there's 1-2 freshmen who make a big impact, but Franklin (the R-H kid) might have to really work for it.  I heard he's been a little out of control and allowing turnovers on offense.  There's a transfer from Virginia Union that's kind of in the same boat.

This is all secondhand info, but scrimmages will start soon enough.

[JQV]

Fisher -

• A transfer from Ithaca, a big (Jose-any idea?) is looking good.  That could make it easier on Matt Haley.

no idea. Maybe a JV player?

[superman57]

Fisher -

• A transfer from Ithaca, a big (Jose-any idea?) is looking good.  That could make it easier on Matt Haley.

no idea. Maybe a JV player?

you didn't here bostic...transfered to fisher last night[/list]

[e8bballfan]

welllll, practices start monday.

games open up mid-late november for e-8(9) squads..

11/16 - Alfred vs Oglethorpe
            Stevens Tech vs Skidmore (they play Fisher 12/2, should be a good measuring stick for the                         r            est of the conference to see how good this Stevens team is)
           Utica vs. SUNYIT
           Naz vs. SUNY Oneonta   
           IC vs Potsdam   
          Hartwick vs Lehman
           Elmira vs Ferrum

11/20 -  Fisher vs Hobart (have an exhibition on 11/3 vs Waterloo)
             RIT vs York


Should be an interesting year. I'm looking forward to seeing all the rosters up to see who is still around, who is new, etc...

[bball05]

Utica is gonna suprise everyone ... no1 realizes it

[bballfan44]

Of course there going to surprise people.  They lost 5 kids from graduation and one of there freshman transfered out.  So there is going to be alot of new faces.