Empire 8

[Cyclone0205]

Fromafar...depends on where you are rating them?


Are they a top 15 team in the country?  No.

Are they top 5 in the East region?  Yes.

Do they have enough talent to make another sweet 16 run?  Yes.

Could they just as easily lose in the first round?  Absolutely.


I'd say they've been pretty evenly rated most of the year.  They are a solid basketball team.  Not great, but solid.  Clearly the best team in the e8, but only because they snuck 2 out from against the second best.  (That statement is off records only..in terms of "best" i don't see much difference between Stevens and Naz) 

[FROMAFAR]

We can always count on Cyclone to put it all into perspective. I couldn't have said it better. Makes sense... Thanks, 

[FisherDynasty]

Agreed with Cyclone

[gobombers15]

GOBOMBERS MAKE A GOOD POINT. Stevens has 5 very good starters, and that will make the numbers for Fareed, and Grey not as noticeable. Passalaqua keeps teams honest from the perimeter, Williams keeps them honest inside, and Greco never seems to fold under pressure, makes pressing Stevens impossible, almost welcomed. The two NAZ games really came down to Passalaqua in game 2 from the free throw line, and Greco in game 1 making an incredible last second reverse layup against NAZ bigs to put it into O.T... They seem to get what they need from anyone of those 5. So the point is the POY will probably come from a less dimensional team. Actually without looking, Burton is really Ithaca, a little bit of Leahy but not much... Not sure what his stats are though, haven't looked in awhile. I think McAdams may get it if NAZ holds on to 2nd. My look at the remainder of the season is this. Stevens and NAZ are at the top and have good overall records.  That's for a reason. As GOBOMBERS said Fareed is coming back to form and they basically did it with him belwo par. They could be scarry as they seem to be picking up speed. NAZ should run the table. If they lose to Ithaca, the Grey or Waleed have a shot. This weekend should set up the last weekend one way or another.  

Naz shouldn't run the table. Ithaca dominated them (91-78) in Naz's home gym and Naz has historically been awful in Ithaca. Not one member of Naz's current team has ever won a game there. Naz may win that game, but I doubt it. I don't think they "should" run the table, though.

[Caz Bombers]

Hartwick beat RIT tonight, if IC wins at Alfred (any update here, AU doesn't do live stats) that ends RIT's postseason hopes.

Utica 85, Naz 77 on East Avenue...that should end any talk of a three-bid E8.  Pios not dead yet for E8 tournament.  Herring does work with 26 and 9.

[gobombers15]

Hartwick beat RIT tonight, if IC wins at Alfred (any update here, AU doesn't do live stats) that ends RIT's postseason hopes.

Utica 85, Naz 77 on East Avenue...that should end any talk of a three-bid E8.  Pios not dead yet for E8 tournament.  Herring does work with 26 and 9.

UCgrad in 3...2...1....

[sjfcards]

Naz up to their old tricks. Honestly, I thought this years Naz team was different, but here they are, losing games at the end of the year when the count. Utica is an alright team, but that is a tough one to drop with the #2 seed.
Fisher got another one tonight, as well as Ithaca, setting the stage for another big E8 game tomorrow. Any one else going?

[fisheralum03]

If Fisher and Stevens both end up at 13-3 in the conference (I know there are still games to play but you can begin the conversation) who hosts the E8 tournament. Stevens has a 1 game lead in the loss column. Stevens has to play utica and Ithaca on the road, no easy tasks. Fisher plays Ithaca today and Utica and Hartwick next week. It they end up tied, who hosts? They split the season series 1-1. I'm sure it would depend on who is #3 b/c Stevens swept Naz and Naz swept Fisher. Fisher swept RIT and Stevens split with RIT.  I know there are games to play but hey, it's fun to start the conversation now.

[Jacketfan2011]

It has been 4 games since either Carson kid has played for Hartwick.  Anyone know why?

[Cyclone0205]

Fisheralum -

Kind of early to call now just because it depends on who's in that #3 spot and how Stevens does the next two weekends and how Fisher does today.


*I believe these to be correct, but if wrong, sorry:

If Naz finishes at #3, Stevens hosts by virtue of their Naz sweep
If Ithaca finishes at #3, depends what happens between Fisher/Ithaca today and Ithaca/Stevens next week
If (somehow) Utica finishes at #3, depends what happens with Utica/Stevens tomorrow and Fisher/Utica next week


Hahaha, basically you're like 2 days ahead on the question.  After this sunday's Stevens/Utica game it'll be a little more clear who has to do what.


*When's the last time the e8 had seeds #1-#5 all battling each other in the last weekend to get in/host the E8 tournament!

[fisheralum03]

I definitely agree cyclone, good analysis.

[Cyclone0205]

It's weird...being from NyC and having seen Stevens the most out of all the teams, I naturally am drawn to pulling for them.  However, I'd much rather them have to win the tournament somewhere else.


I've already seen that they can pull out games in Hoboken, but I've also seen that they are very lackluster on the road.  I think I'd have more confidence in them come NCAA tournament time if they pulled out an e8 title at Fisher or Naz.



That being said, I also want them to win out...just so that its a shorter commute for me to see the e8 tournament.

[bombersquadron]

Fisher got another one tonight, as well as Ithaca, setting the stage for another big E8 game tomorrow. Any one else going?

After a short vacation from posting, i will be back in action tonight. I am heading up to the Ithaca game at Fisher, should be a great one.

[WICB Sports]

Radio coverage of today's Ithaca-Fisher games starts at 1:40 p.m. with Bombers Shootaround on www.vicradio.org, before tip-off at 2 p.m. of the women's game.

At 3:40 p.m., coverage of the men's game starts on 92 WICB and www.wicb.org.  Tip-off at 4 p.m.

[sjfcards]

Fisheralum -

Kind of early to call now just because it depends on who's in that #3 spot and how Stevens does the next two weekends and how Fisher does today.


*I believe these to be correct, but if wrong, sorry:

If Naz finishes at #3, Stevens hosts by virtue of their Naz sweep
If Ithaca finishes at #3, depends what happens between Fisher/Ithaca today and Ithaca/Stevens next week
If (somehow) Utica finishes at #3, depends what happens with Utica/Stevens tomorrow and Fisher/Utica next week


Hahaha, basically you're like 2 days ahead on the question.  After this sunday's Stevens/Utica game it'll be a little more clear who has to do what.


*When's the last time the e8 had seeds #1-#5 all battling each other in the last weekend to get in/host the E8 tournament!

Has the tie-breaker changed? I don't know if this is still the tie-breaker, but in years past, after head to head, it was your record vs the worse team in the league, and then the 2nd worse, and so on. In that scenario, if Fisher and Stevens both end up 13-3 in the league, Fisher would host because of Stevens loss to RIT. This just how I understand the rules, but I don't know the inner workings of the league rules.