Empire 8

[FisherDynasty]

The loss to Ripon reinforces Ithaca still has a ways to go if they want to make it to the NCAA tournament.  Sounds like Burtons big night against colby may have took too much energy out of him for the Ripon game.  How good did Ripon look? top 25 caliber?

Sjfcards, big win indeed.  Definatly a different team with Smalt on the floor. WPI was solid and previously ranked in the top 25.  Fisher also still has a ways to go, but I think they will come together similarly to last year.  Smalt looked very good for his first game back, ozell is still playing strong.  Matt Newman needs to start playing better and they are going to need more from Mark Bearden.  Its going to be a team peaking at the end of the season for sure, if they will have enough to win the e8 tourny, to early to tell.

[lileyes]

article on burton in the utica od....

http://www.uticaod.com/sports/x1925651944

[gobombers15]

The loss to Ripon reinforces Ithaca still has a ways to go if they want to make it to the NCAA tournament.  Sounds like Burtons big night against colby may have took too much energy out of him for the Ripon game.  How good did Ripon look? top 25 caliber?

With non-conference L's to St. Lawrence, Potsdam and Ripon, the only way into the dance for the Bombers will be via the auto bid given to the E8 Tourney champ. As far as whether or not they have a "long way to go" is another question. Ithaca led for a majority of the game against the consensus top team in the league (Stevens) at their place and did so without the best player in the conference to date. Additionally, IC lost to the Larries in OT without Burton, and lost to Potsdam without Bostic who is still trying to round his game into form. The game against Ripon was the first time that IC lost to anyone when Burton and Bostic were available for an entire game.

As a team, I think Ithaca was in foul trouble from the second they stepped off the plane in Florida. Brown and Bostic both averaged 21 minutes/game down in Florida and spent each game in foul trouble. I'm not questioning the officiating but I don't think the Bombers adjusted to the difference in how the game was called down South (note: this is not the same argument that several Utica fans make that the officiating is markedly different in Rochester than it is in Central New York). I'm simply saying that I have a feeling that Brown and Bostic will not be in that much foul trouble once conference play gets into full swing.

Good win for Fisher vs WPI. Having another serviceable big will help Fisher. I'm still of the opinion that Smalt is an above average player, and not very good/excellent as some think, but just to have an additional five fouls to use, as well as Smalt's experience, will help Fisher quite a bit. However, you know the Fisher swagger may be waning a bit when the Cardinal faithful is very pumped about a win at home against a team that is usually out of the NCAA's pretty early in the proceedings. In years past, Fisher would've won that game by 10-15 pts and nobody would have thought twice about it.

Good tourney win for Naz at the York tourney, too. Actually showed some grit for once in rallying from a double-digit halftime deficit in the championship game. Looks like it'll be a two-horse race for POY between Corey McAdam and Burton.

Predictions for the final E8 standings:

1) Stevens
2) Ithaca
3) Fisher
4) Nazareth
5) RIT
6) Utica
7) Hartwick
8 ) Elmira
9) Alfred

Happy New Year to all the E8 posters!

[AUPepBand]

Alfred 78-72 over Caz.  Sounds like Pep should have made the trip

Pep was seeing the sights in North Carolina....from Charlotte to Calabash to Roanoke Island near Nags Head.

Congrats to the young Saxons!

And Happy New Year to the E8 Nation!

[Tags]

And Happy New Year to the E8 Nation!

Pep, does that automatically carry over to the hardwood boards? I think we've got to get a lot more going in here if that is the case...

Sorry I missed you on Christmas, once again I fell victim to being exceedingly lazy and driving past the Hornell exit on my way back up to Rochester.

Happy New Year +k

[bamm]

Stevens makes the RIT/Naz trip this weekend, playing the Tigers on Friday and the Golden Flyers on Saturday.  Should give us a good indication of exactly how dominant this Stevens' team is. 

The games will be both teams' last chance to impress before the Chase.

[Cyclone0205]

I think, if I can read a schedule correctly, that this is the first road trip for the Ducks in the new conference.  I would have to say that they'll earn a split this weekend.  Not sure which team will get them, but RIT and Naz are both pretty quality opponents so the back to back might be tough.

[fisheralum91]

hey guys,
been on the football boards all fall---
im a little suprised that this is a down year for fisher after hearing a ton last year on how solid they were coming back.
I make no bones about it- im not a bb guy- im just a proud alum and football nut- but this season suprises me---
I have read about the injuries and the rise of other teams- but is their something else?
Or is it just one of those things--just a down year?

[JQV]

but is their something else?

Unrealistic Fisher hoop fans that seen the world through rose cardinal colored glasses.

[fisheralum91]

jose- im not wearing any glasses-
esp for bball- just notice that this season is a little less than advertised


though i will tell ya that mrs 91 hooked me up with new fisher sweats to replace the ones from 87!!

so i guess im looking at it through new sweats...............instead of 20 yr old fisher soccer warm up sweats.

[maxpower]

Yuck.

[fisheralum91]

max- they held up pretty well all things considered!

now when i get back next fall ill be decked out in my new apparel!

[FisherDynasty]

Fisheralum,  Its a combination of injuries, lack of depth, lack of leadership and lack of chemistry. The rest of the league has gotten older and better with the addition of Stevens. Fisher took a while to get it together last year as well.  I think they will come together and peak at the right time, as long as everyones healthy they will be in good shape to win the e8 tourny. 

[fisheralum91]

fisherdyn- sounds like a lot to get together in a short span- but i do hope they can do it.

always want the alma mater doing well!

all i know is what i read on these posts, whereas i have seen the fb team firsthand- so i will take your word for it.

[FisherDynasty]

Yeah we'll see, definatly a lot more to do than in years past.  I know this is off topic but, did you see the Fisher vs. Mount U. game? Did Fisher not finish or get any breaks or was Mount that much better?