Empire 8

[sjfcards]

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 postion, i will be back in action tonight. I am heading up to the Ithaca game at Fisher, should be a great one.

The Ithaca/Naz game looks bigger and bigger for the E8 tourny every time I look at things. Could you imagine Stevens/Naz 3 in the first round of the E8 tourny? I think that would definatly give Fisher and IC a much better chance of sneaking into the NCAA's with an E8 tourny win.

[gobombers15]

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.

Yes, the tiebreaker changed this year. The 'breaker now looks at record vs teams from top-to-bottom instead of the reverse. Makes a lot more sense when you think about it.

[Caz Bombers]

The breaker worked that way last year too.  It was merely oft-repeated misinformation that it was bottom up, it was top-down then too.

[gobombers15]

Bombers having their way with Fisher in the early going. IC leads 28-13 with just under 7 minutes left in the first half.

[gobombers15]

Refs doing their best to let Fisher back in the game. Fouls on four straight possessions including a phantom 2nd on Bostic, sending Bostic to the bench.

[gobombers15]

Ithaca by 7 at the half, 38-31. I don't like to complain about the refs so I'm just going to withhold my views on the officiating thus far. Both teams shooting terribly from the FT line.

[Jacketfan2011]

So...are the Ithaca guys using clubs or something?  17-5 foul disparity.

[gobombers15]

12-2 start run to start the half. Ithaca leads 50-33.

[gobombers15]

So...are the Ithaca guys using clubs or something?  17-5 foul disparity.

Don't even get me going. I'm watching the game so I actually saw the ref do the following as he approached the scorer's table: Foul on 5-5 gray for looking at the guy sideways, two shots! That really happened.

[gobombers15]

Fisher on a big run, cutting a 20 point lead down to a 69-64 advantage before Burton hits a big 3 in transition. Ithaca up 72-64 with 3:45 left.

[Cyclone0205]

This could settle all the hosting talk.  If Ithaca pulls this out, all Stevens needs is a W tomorrow or next week to lock up home court.  Can't believe I'm saying this but...



LETS GO BOMBERS!

[gobombers15]

Mullins gets T'd up after a terrible call where the ball clearly goes off Newman and the ball was awarded to Fisher. Then a 3-point play for Fisher. Down to 3. Traditional 3-point play for Burton. IC by 6. Layup by Beigel cuts it to 4.

Honestly, one of the most poorly officiated games I've ever seen. No matter what the result.

[gobombers15]

Ithaca gets the win, and deservedly so, 84-73. Three-way tie for 2nd place right now between Ithaca, Naz and Fisher. By my calculations, in the head-to-head matchups between  the three teams, Ithaca is 2-1, Naz is 2-1, and Fisher is 1-3.

With a win tomorrow, Stevens can send the E8 Tourney to Hoboken.

[sjfcards]

Back from the Fisher Ithaca game, and it was ugly. Fisher played very poorly, and missed several chances to take advantage of some favorable calls. I hate to admit it, but the fouls were a bit one sided. Ithaca deserved to win.

With the tie breaker changing to the top down, If Stevens beats IC next week, then Fisher is the #2 seed, because of their win over Stevens? If IC beats Stevens, then what does that mean for the three teams with 4 losses (assuming Naz and Fisher win out)? The way I read it, the two losses to Stevens would put Naz in 4th. Anyone know the next tie breaker to determine who is #2 Fisher or IC? Guess it really does not matter much. The field is pretty much set.

I am actually very excited about the tournament. All 4 teams are capable of winning the thing. I guess the key this year is just getting in, and then hope that you play your best basketball for 2 days. 

[bombersquadron]

Huge win by the Bombers. They let Fisher hang around and make some runs, (with the help of some bogus calls) but were always able to hit a big shot. I almost had a heart attack watching that game. Huge second halfs from Bostic and Burton. Bostic showed a lot of emotion taking control early in the second half and then Burton made some clutch shots down the stretch some from 25-30 range. One big key was Ithaca shut down Smalt and held Beigel in check, unlike last weeks game. Bostic dominated the glass and it seemed like he had 25 not 19 rebounds.

Ithaca got the win despite a very one sided ref crew. I don't want to sound like UC Grad but it was awful. Phantom calls, calling charges that weren't and missing about 30 travels by fisher. There was one play which Beigel got it at the top of the key, traveled, drove to the basket pumped faked, switched pivot foots three times and then scored. Even the fisher fans in front of me were baffled by the no charge call. I also almost had a heart attack on the Mullins Tech. I was on that end closer to that endline and the ball was clearly off Newman, no doubt in anyone's mind. He called it off Ithaca. No excuse for that call.

All in all a big win for Ithaca at Fisher on their senior night, getting the monkey off their back. It also seemed like Fisher tried to get some fan support from their fellow athletic teams but there was very little. I remember playing at packed houses there with great fans who were in to the game. Today's crowd had one or two hecklers but no one who really cared.