Empire 8

[with age comes?]

AU Pep- make the trip if you can because AU does have a chance against Caz the college (against Caz the poster they'd be in trouble!!) It all comes down to AU bigs versus Caz the college guards.  In particular a 6'3" lefty named Latendress (or something like that).  He's by far the best player on their team and they live and die by him.  Having seen both teams play and this being a a neutral court (Latendress gets "protected" at home) I'd say it was close to a dead heat.  Out on a limb- go see the game- AU in a squeeker because they've played in that gym before and I doubt that Caz the college has in recent years.

[Caz Bombers]

AU Pep- make the trip if you can because AU does have a chance against Caz the college (against Caz the poster they'd be in trouble!!) It all comes down to AU bigs versus Caz the college guards.  In particular a 6'3" lefty named Latendress (or something like that).  He's by far the best player on their team and they live and die by him.  Having seen both teams play and this being a a neutral court (Latendress gets "protected" at home) I'd say it was close to a dead heat.  Out on a limb- go see the game- AU in a squeeker because they've played in that gym before and I doubt that Caz the college has in recent years.

+K for your holiday season.

[bamm]

If anyone watches the Cuse/Cornell game tonight, Cornell seven footer Jeff Foote is former RIT Tiger Jesse Foote's brother.

Merry Christmas to all.

[e8bballfan]

It's the holiday season, I am bored, and I am sure every coach in the e8 has their own 'wish list' for what they'd like for their team. What do you guys think every coach is asking for this Christmas?!?


Alfred - A win.
Elmira - To get that big win (they almost had Stevens, Uitca)
Hartwick - For Jan Coco's health...if he goes down that could be bad for them.
Ithaca - For Burton to come back healthy.
Naz - For their key players to remain healthy.
RIT - To get more league wins. They dug themselves quite the hole to start the conference season.
Fisher - For Smalt to come back healthy. For Justin Beigel to learn how to stay out of foul trouble.
Stevens Tech - To hope that they can stay hot.
Utica - To win the close games. Lost to RIT and Naz in nail biters.

Yeah, there are some themes here. But just wondering anyone elses thoughts?

[buck1053]

It's the holiday season, I am bored, and I am sure every coach in the e8 has their own 'wish list' for what they'd like for their team. What do you guys think every coach is asking for this Christmas?!?


Alfred - A win.
Elmira - To get that big win (they almost had Stevens, Uitca)
Hartwick - For Jan Coco's health...if he goes down that could be bad for them.
Ithaca - For Burton to come back healthy.
Naz - For their key players to remain healthy.
RIT - To get more league wins. They dug themselves quite the hole to start the conference season.
Fisher - For Smalt to come back healthy. For Justin Beigel to learn how to stay out of foul trouble.
Stevens Tech - To hope that they can stay hot.
Utica - To win the close games. Lost to RIT and Naz in nail biters.

Yeah, there are some themes here. But just wondering anyone elses thoughts?

My wish for Alfred is a new coach, and for the E8 — a new champ. I'd actually like that to be Ithaca, Stevens is new and it would suck if they win the whole shot this year. Utica's been there, almost, before and the other Rochester schools, well, eh. Hartwick and Elmira, they don't get any wishes — Wick gets nothing, Elmira gets coal.

How's that for some holiday humbug?

Actually, to all those great posters out there, have a great holiday, with at least one day off work. It'll be interesting to see how this thing pans out in 2008.

[AUPepBand]

Alfred, still on the hunt for its first win, will be at the St. John Fisher Tournament Dec. 29-30, taking on first Cazenovia and then Worcester. Do the Saxons, 78-43 losers to Fisher at McLane Center, have a chance, perhaps, against Caz?

Go Saxons!

Pep, are you venturing up here for the game?

Tags, Pep will be in North Carolina with Pep Jr. In hindsight, Pep drove the fam to Kentucky a few years back only to see Pep Jr. sit on the bench during two agonizing AU losses, two of 22 losses that particular season. Pep has patriarchal priorities. 

Incidentally, Pep Jr. suffered injury during the Christmas Night open gym at A-A. Thus, Pep Jr. will need medical treatment when he arrives back home in Charlotte, NC 

[AUPepBand]

AU Pep- make the trip if you can because AU does have a chance against Caz the college (against Caz the poster they'd be in trouble!!) It all comes down to AU bigs versus Caz the college guards.  In particular a 6'3" lefty named Latendress (or something like that).  He's by far the best player on their team and they live and die by him.  Having seen both teams play and this being a a neutral court (Latendress gets "protected" at home) I'd say it was close to a dead heat.  Out on a limb- go see the game- AU in a squeeker because they've played in that gym before and I doubt that Caz the college has in recent years.

Pep can't make the trip.... Pep would like to see AU play as Pep has befriended frosh Ellis Walsh at the library. Perhaps the Saxons can pull out a win!

Did Caz Bombers play hoops at IC? perhaps with JoseQ?

[Caz Bombers]

Nope, I haven't been a varsity athlete since high school.  I was on the golf team in those days.

(silence)

I'll show myself out.

[bombersquadron]

Basketball action resumes tomorrow and the Bombers head to Florida for a pair of games. Ithaca is down in a tourney in Daytona Beach, nice tournament for the Bombers, hopefully everyone is healthy and still in shape. In a little less than 12 hours Ithaca will face Colby. Colby last played December 8th vs. Bowdoin and got their first loss (6-1). It will be interesting to see how the three week lay-off will affect them.

Doesn't seem like Colby has played any team of note from their area, or been tested really. Also interesting is the fact that in the games they won they scored 80 plus points and when held below 80 (75) they lost. They are scoring 91 points per game. So just like Ithaca they are trying to go out and score. They are shooting about 43% but letting opponents shoot 45%. I hope Ithaca comes out plays a little defense and holds them under 80. Should be an exciting offensive game and has the potential to be very high scoring from looking at Colby's numbers. I hope to catch it online and give some updates. Hopefully the Bombers can end 2007 on a two game win streak.

[JQV]

Any word on whether Burton will play?

Unfortunately, I can't get away this morning and get to the game.  But I am thinking about tuning in on Embry Riddle's pay per view site.

[Caz Bombers]

I'm headed out to the game in a few minutes.  Sounds like good seats are quite available.

[bombersquadron]

Ithaca leads 56-39 at the intermission. Burton returns and leads the way with five 3s. Leahy and Bostic also playing well as Ithaca is running Colby and talking advantage of their lack of defense. Hopefully the Bombers will keep it on them and finish them off instead of letting them hang around and make it close.

[bombersquadron]

Tom Brown and Bostic both pick up their fourth fouls early in the second half and Ithaca will have to go with Leahy at the four and Kail at the five for a while. They should still be able to hold this lead. Going to be interesting to see what line-ups Coach Mullins uses until about the five minute mark, when Brown and Bostic go back in.

[bombersquadron]

81-77 Ithaca leads with about 7 left to play. Colby is back in the game. Tom Brown got a tech for saying a curseword i believe and the refs have really slowed Ithaca's game down.

[JQV]

Nice win for Big Blue.  Burton is an absolutely electric player.  He is the most efficient guard I have seen at the D3 level.  No wasted motion, and seems to barely break a sweat while dogging his opponent.  It's incredible how much better IC is with Burton.