Empire 8

[UCgrad45]

Cyclone, good point, that definately will help.  All of the leagues in the East are beating each other up, the top teams have been losing a lot of games, so i think the set up this year will be less traditional, meaning some teams with more losses will get in the tourny.  i think its safe to say Sunyac will get two in, liberty one, i think the e8 could get two but again still think it has to be stevens getting the at large.

UcGrad, Utica already has too many losses to get an at large i think, UNLESS, they absolutely kill league play having at most 2 more losses and sweep the rest of there non-conf schedule which is unlikely seeing how oswego is a strong team same with cortland, and potsdam will match the athletism.  Could happen but unlikely.  The year Utica got in with 6 losses is when 3 of those losses were to a highly ranked Fisher team with a high QWI, brining Utica's up even higher even though they lost those games.

Tough to say. Cortland lost a lot a few years ago and UC smoked them last season. I have a friend on the team there and he isn't so sure about a cortland win. Oswego and UC have beaten each other up the last few seasons. UC smacked Potsdam in their scrimmage with Potsdam only winning a portion of the game when Whyte was out.

Granted UC can't afford to screw up, but I have seen them win an insane amount of games with the addition of a big man at mid season just a few years ago. They have their work cut out for them, but their isn't a game on their schedule the rest of the way that isn't a game they can win.

Keep in mind, beating teams that they barely lost to while shorthanded and hosed by a ref will give them wins later in the season against teams that have a slightly better record.

At large shouldn't even be a thought for any team right now. There isn't a team in the top 5 of the conference that isn't capable of winning two games in a row at the end to get the automatic bid.

[Cyclone0205]

If you projected the tourney now what do you think happens. 


Personally I think you'd see Stevens hosting. 


#2 UC def #3 Ithaca
#1 Stevens def #4 Fisher


Toss up on the championship..I'd say Stevens right now but the Stevens/UC matchup in Hoboken is this weekend so more will be learned then.  I think Naz ends up being the team left at home.

[FisherDynasty]

UCGrad, I agree.  I think Utica is a good team and will have a shot at getting in the tourny, and once in, they def will have as good of a shot as anyone to win it.  Its just going to be awful hard to get all those wins even if they should win a lot of the games, its almost in evitable they will blow a game they should have won and vice versa win a few games maybe they shouldnt. I know whoever comes to Utica will have their hands full, its a very tough place to play. 

[UCgrad45]

If you projected the tourney now what do you think happens. 


Personally I think you'd see Stevens hosting. 


#2 UC def #3 Ithaca
#1 Stevens def #4 Fisher


Toss up on the championship..I'd say Stevens right now but the Stevens/UC matchup in Hoboken is this weekend so more will be learned then.  I think Naz ends up being the team left at home.

I think those are the teams that will be in the tournament (maybe not in that order), with RIT just on the outside and Naz ending up 2 games or so out.

[FisherDynasty]

I think its be more like:

Stevens #1 versus #3 Ithaca
Fisher #2 versus #4 Naz

Toss up for Champ, Hosting team would be the favorite especially if it were fisher or stevens. I think the Naz win against utica will play a big part in getting in the tournament

[UCgrad45]

UCGrad, I agree.  I think Utica is a good team and will have a shot at getting in the tourny, and once in, they def will have as good of a shot as anyone to win it.  Its just going to be awful hard to get all those wins even if they should win a lot of the games, its almost in evitable they will blow a game they should have won and vice versa win a few games maybe they shouldnt. I know whoever comes to Utica will have their hands full, its a very tough place to play. 

I agree with you on the blowing a game and winning one that they were not favored in.

As long as they play their game, they will be fine. The early season loaded schedule as far as league games and injuries really hurt. This weekend was an excellent response to the adversity.

It is a daunting task, but knowing the talent and guys on the team, I think they are up for it. Plus I wouldn't want anyone but Coach Goodemote leading a team in this situation. The guy is great.

Who is out for Fisher at the moment? What is their schedule like the rest of the way?

[UCgrad45]

I think its be more like:

Stevens #1 versus #3 Ithaca
Fisher #2 versus #4 Naz

Toss up for Champ, Hosting team would be the favorite especially if it were fisher or stevens. I think the Naz win against utica will play a big part in getting in the tournament

I think UC will beat Naz by at least 20 next time around.

[gobombers15]

Im not taking sides, but Ithaca is still a year away from being an NCAA tournament team in my eyes.

I say a year away and depth away. Won't be helped by losing Burton after this season either.

He's a junior. As are Bostic and Leahy. They will all be back next year. As for the rest of your claims, I don't find it necessary to reply to them. We'll see who finishes with the better conference record.

Claims? They are called stats. Ya'll got smoked. Plus you need more than 3 players. 9 points off the bench doesn't cut it.

Wow, citing statistics from a game Utica won. Way to dig deep, UCgrad. Well, I only had to do five minutes of research to debunk one of your main claims (that IC has no depth). Ithaca's top three bench players (Rogers, Scanlon, Kail) are averaging 21.5 ppg for Ithaca. Utica's top five bench players (Goodman, Smith, Munch, Preston, Trahms) are averaging almost exactly the same PPG. In other words, Ithaca is getting the same production as Utica and using two less players to get it, allowing the starters (theoretically, the "better" players) to get more PT and get their numbers.

An 8-man rotation is more than sufficient at this level. Plus, I think we'll be seeing more of Matt Ruger as the season progresses so it will be a 9-man rotation. Ithaca is fine in the depth department. IC had a bad game, UC played one of their better games. I don't think you need to make blanket claims about the entire IC team based on one game.

[Cyclone0205]

I gotta agree with UCGrad...I mean, Naz did get triple digits dropped on them last night.  I know it was double OT but they were home against a Stevens team on a tough trip that had just lost its first game of the season the night before.  I just can't see them beating UC into the tourney.


That said, UC has a much tougher road then Naz does to get in. 

[gobombers15]

If you projected the tourney now what do you think happens. 


Personally I think you'd see Stevens hosting. 


#2 UC def #3 Ithaca
#1 Stevens def #4 Fisher


Toss up on the championship..I'd say Stevens right now but the Stevens/UC matchup in Hoboken is this weekend so more will be learned then.  I think Naz ends up being the team left at home.

Don't think UC can get the #2. Too many road games left. Still have to go to all the Rochester schools and Stevens. If they get in, they're gonna be #4.

[UCgrad45]

Im not taking sides, but Ithaca is still a year away from being an NCAA tournament team in my eyes.

I say a year away and depth away. Won't be helped by losing Burton after this season either.

He's a junior. As are Bostic and Leahy. They will all be back next year. As for the rest of your claims, I don't find it necessary to reply to them. We'll see who finishes with the better conference record.

Claims? They are called stats. Ya'll got smoked. Plus you need more than 3 players. 9 points off the bench doesn't cut it.

Wow, citing statistics from a game Utica won. Way to dig deep, UCgrad. Well, I only had to do five minutes of research to debunk one of your main claims (that IC has no depth). Ithaca's top three bench players (Rogers, Scanlon, Kail) are averaging 21.5 ppg for Ithaca. Utica's top five bench players (Goodman, Smith, Munch, Preston, Trahms) are averaging almost exactly the same PPG. In other words, Ithaca is getting the same production as Utica and using two less players to get it, allowing the starters (theoretically, the "better" players) to get more PT and get their numbers.

An 8-man rotation is more than sufficient at this level. Plus, I think we'll be seeing more of Matt Ruger as the season progresses so it will be a 9-man rotation. Ithaca is fine in the depth department. IC had a bad game, UC played one of their better games. I don't think you need to make blanket claims about the entire IC team based on one game.

Based on two games actually. I commented during the first game that IC had no bench. Their bench players can't play D. They rely heavily on the top 3 guys.

When your top 3 guys have to play nearly 40 minutes, you do not have a deep bench.

Only one player on UC played 30 minutes or more. That is called balance.

[UCgrad45]

If you projected the tourney now what do you think happens. 


Personally I think you'd see Stevens hosting. 


#2 UC def #3 Ithaca
#1 Stevens def #4 Fisher


Toss up on the championship..I'd say Stevens right now but the Stevens/UC matchup in Hoboken is this weekend so more will be learned then.  I think Naz ends up being the team left at home.

Don't think UC can get the #2. Too many road games left. Still have to go to all the Rochester schools and Stevens. If they get in, they're gonna be #4.

I don't know about the 2, but I can see them getting the 3. Naz and RIT are both games they should win when at full strength. Alfred 2 times and hartwick 2 times as well. Splits against Stevens and Fisher are not out of the realm of possibility. 11-5 in conference would be pretty high up there.

[Cyclone0205]

Fisher, I haven't kept up on the squad in the new year much.  How has Smalt looked?  I think I heard something about him being back and I think that could make a big difference for them in conference play.  Also, is Ozell getting more playing time?

[UCgrad45]

By the way, those aren't the top bench players on UC either. Maxwell ( the transfer from Sienna ) and Patterson and Smith have been splitting time starting and off the bench. Before last nights game, Maxwell was averaging 10.7 points per game and patterson 7.0. Patterson has 28 assists in 11 games.

Last nights starting 5 was probably what I would go with. Also, Miller likely would have been getting more time if not for his thumb injury.

[FisherDynasty]

Smalt has been close to getting double doubles on his two games back, scoring about 12 and rebounding 10.  His presence and leadership are more important that his statistics.  Ozell will be in the starting line-up within a few more games, he needs to be on the court more, especialy if bearden keeps up with his non-productive role.  I think Beigal and Smalt as the two down loans are are tough combo, along with shooting guard baltz, newman and ozell at the guards with bearden and mckeever giving good bench rotation.  I think they will come together and get the 2 spot.  As far as the schedule the rest of the way, they have the chase tourny which they will get atleast 1 other loss, before jumping back into conf. play.

I agree on Utica having if they get in, getting the 3 or 4 not the two.  Naz may not get in, especially now that they dont have ryan mcadam, but when he comes back if they are still in good shape to get in, i think with him they can come out of the e8 tourny on top.  They played stevens close without him.  Naz doenst play defense, they are awfully coached, and dont take full advantage of their threats, so they could possibly not get in.