Empire 8

[gobombers15]

Cyclone, per one of the ICTV reports during IC's semi-final game vs Fisher, Ithaca was not eligible to compete in the ECAC's this season. Apparently, the story goes, Ithaca came back a day early from Thanksgiving Break to start practice. The one extra practice constituted an "extra week" of practice and, thus, the team went over the maximum allowed weeks of practices as regulated by the ECAC. This is what the report said so I apologize for any inaccuracies, complete or partial.

Normally, I think ECAC's are a good chance to get more playing time together, improve, etc. However, I think there'd be diminishing returns if the Bombers were to lace 'em up for this year's version of the NIT. It'd be their third straight year in ECAC's and I just don't think they'd be motivated after winning the regular season conference title and then having their season end the way it did. I think Utica would have stood to benefit most from this year's E8 Tourney. The Pios would have had a chance to face teams who made it into the E8 Tourney (Fisher) and measure themselves against other top teams in the region (SLU, B'port, Oswego, Vassar, etc.) that everyone had just assumed were better than Utica. Plus, they're a young team that will get better with each game. Unfortunately, like IC, Utica had too many practices and was ineligible. I hope Fisher shows well.

[Cyclone0205]

Thanks for the info GB


I know this is Stevens first trip to the ECAC (I think last year's NCAA was their first post season tourney of any kind) so I guess it could help them, particularly since most of the team is back...tho losing Farid and Williams at the end of the season will hurt.  Top 2 rebounders...leader in assist...leader in blocks(Ayodele, 3rd senior)...2 of top 4 scorers. 


Hope they play well...and hope that coach has done some recruiting.

[jasper]

Cyclone, per one of the ICTV reports during IC's semi-final game vs Fisher, Ithaca was not eligible to compete in the ECAC's this season. Apparently, the story goes, Ithaca came back a day early from Thanksgiving Break to start practice. The one extra practice constituted an "extra week" of practice and, thus, the team went over the maximum allowed weeks of practices as regulated by the ECAC. This is what the report said so I apologize for any inaccuracies, complete or partial.

Normally, I think ECAC's are a good chance to get more playing time together, improve, etc. However, I think there'd be diminishing returns if the Bombers were to lace 'em up for this year's version of the NIT. It'd be their third straight year in ECAC's and I just don't think they'd be motivated after winning the regular season conference title and then having their season end the way it did. I think Utica would have stood to benefit most from this year's E8 Tourney. The Pios would have had a chance to face teams who made it into the E8 Tourney (Fisher) and measure themselves against other top teams in the region (SLU, B'port, Oswego, Vassar, etc.) that everyone had just assumed were better than Utica. Plus, they're a young team that will get better with each game. Unfortunately, like IC, Utica had too many practices and was ineligible. I hope Fisher shows well.

I played college sports and i'll tell you one thing if my regular season ended in a 20 point butt kickin on my home floor you bet your bottom dollar my butt would want to play one more game for a chance to get that taste outta my mouth. I'm pretty sure Burton and company being the competitors they are feel the same way.

[UCgrad45]

Then who is (are) the 'notorious undisciplined streetballers' on naz? You certainly don't mean 2nd in the NCAA in assists Corey McAdam?

He is the only one I would take on my team.

Look, this year is slightly different for naz. They pulled it together for a weekend at the right time. But I have seen them for years, and in nearly a decade they have been a bunch of guys playing for themselves. A single season does not change the trend. They keep it up for a while and they may get a different rep. However, they have been a team with "first team all conference" players that have underachieved because of lack of D, poor decisions, and playing street ball for nearly a decade now.

[gobombers15]

Cyclone, per one of the ICTV reports during IC's semi-final game vs Fisher, Ithaca was not eligible to compete in the ECAC's this season. Apparently, the story goes, Ithaca came back a day early from Thanksgiving Break to start practice. The one extra practice constituted an "extra week" of practice and, thus, the team went over the maximum allowed weeks of practices as regulated by the ECAC. This is what the report said so I apologize for any inaccuracies, complete or partial.

Normally, I think ECAC's are a good chance to get more playing time together, improve, etc. However, I think there'd be diminishing returns if the Bombers were to lace 'em up for this year's version of the NIT. It'd be their third straight year in ECAC's and I just don't think they'd be motivated after winning the regular season conference title and then having their season end the way it did. I think Utica would have stood to benefit most from this year's E8 Tourney. The Pios would have had a chance to face teams who made it into the E8 Tourney (Fisher) and measure themselves against other top teams in the region (SLU, B'port, Oswego, Vassar, etc.) that everyone had just assumed were better than Utica. Plus, they're a young team that will get better with each game. Unfortunately, like IC, Utica had too many practices and was ineligible. I hope Fisher shows well.

I played college sports and i'll tell you one thing if my regular season ended in a 20 point butt kickin on my home floor you bet your bottom dollar my butt would want to play one more game for a chance to get that taste outta my mouth. I'm pretty sure Burton and company being the competitors they are feel the same way.

Normally, I'd feel the same way. I'm not saying that I support the rationale behind it. I just don't think they'd be up for it. I've watched Ithaca a lot this season and that's just my opinion based on watching this year's personnel. I think they'd be disinterested and would go through the motions. Call me crazy.

[MHoops]

Cyclone, per one of the ICTV reports during IC's semi-final game vs Fisher, Ithaca was not eligible to compete in the ECAC's this season. Apparently, the story goes, Ithaca came back a day early from Thanksgiving Break to start practice. The one extra practice constituted an "extra week" of practice and, thus, the team went over the maximum allowed weeks of practices as regulated by the ECAC. This is what the report said so I apologize for any inaccuracies, complete or partial.
...

The NCAA Div. 3 manual states the season limit is 19 (consecutive?) weeks from the start of the first pre-season practice, excluding and NCAA tournament games/practice time.  So it would seem that if a team chooses to start practice the first allowable day (October 15th) then they're already excluding themselves from the ECAC tournament since the 19th week ended on March 2nd.  That's a tough choice for a coach to decide whether or not to sacrifice 1 week of pre-season practice in order to be eligible for the ECAC tournament.

[fisheralum91]

wow- i havent seen venom like this since football season!
Wow!

[JQV]

So it would seem that if a team chooses to start practice the first allowable day (October 15th) then they're already excluding themselves from the ECAC tournament since the 19th week ended on March 2nd.  That's a tough choice for a coach to decide whether or not to sacrifice 1 week of pre-season practice in order to be eligible for the ECAC tournament.

This is right.  It is a weird rule.  It would seem that ECAC would do everything possible to make teams eligible given some of the ambivalence that exists anyway.

The debate about participation happens in football too.  Both sides have good arguments.  One more game (or a few more in hoops) for seniors.  Competitors want to play.  But, on the other hand, people are tired and injured after a long season (my first college season really wore me out and I was hurt for a good part of it).  Players also had much higher hopes and expectations and are understandably less than thrilled about playing for 40th place.  Also, don't forget that ECAC/NCAA eliminate spring break.  It's easy to give that up for a shot at the title.  But is the same true for a weekend in Brockport, or Hoboken, or Ithaca, or Fairport?

[thebear]

The NCAA Div. 3 manual states the season limit is 19 (consecutive?) weeks from the start of the first pre-season practice, excluding and NCAA tournament games/practice time.  So it would seem that if a team chooses to start practice the first allowable day (October 15th) then they're already excluding themselves from the ECAC tournament since the 19th week ended on March 2nd.  That's a tough choice for a coach to decide whether or not to sacrifice 1 week of pre-season practice in order to be eligible for the ECAC tournament.

I checked with someone knowledgeable about the rules, and the weeks don't have to be consecutive.  The problem appears to be that if you practice (or play) for 1 day during the week, the whole week counts.  If you took the whole week from 12/23 - 12/29 off, you would be OK, but if you came back on the 27th or 28th, you would indeed have to count the week.   Ithaca played in a tournament on the 28th & 29th, so they had to count the week, then came right back to Ithaca to play on the 4th of January.

There are 20 weeks inclusive between October 15 (start of practice) and March 1 (Last Saturday of Regular Season).  To be eligible for ECAC's you would have to take two weeks off, (e.g. Thanksgiving & Finals or Finals and the week between Christmas & New Years).  The schools that don't start practice until late obviously have an advantage here.

[e8bballfan]

ECAC Tourney

Weds First Rd Match-Ups

6 seed Medaille (15-12) at 3 seed Cortland St (19-7)

7 seed Cazenovia (14-13)  at 2 seed Oswego St (20-7)

5 seed Vassar (18-7) at 4 seed St. John Fisher (16-11)

Semis Saturday at Brockport State

Medaille/Cortland vs. Cazenovia/Oswego

1 seed Brockport St. vs. Vassar/Fisher

Sunday championship at Brockport St at 2 p.m.

A brockport - fisher match up would be very interesting and entertaining.

[Cyclone0205]

I asked someone from the CUNY who is familiar with Stevens a bit...they started practice on October 15th like everyone else.  From what I heard they usually have like a 2 week stretch right after the 1st week of December (whenever the last december game is) where they don't have official "practice" because of finals week and then xmas break week.  They don't start up again until after xmas.  So do 18 weeks between October 15th and NCAAs..I guess that's how they qualified.

Just one way a coach is getting around it i suppose.

[FROMAFAR]

I've been trying to stay out of the Fray.. I'm still trying to understand why Stevens changed their starting line-up in the tourney after beating NAZ twice.  That seems like Months ago........Anyway, hey let's go NAZ there is no reason they can't go far. They have talent and they won our tourney.. Let's go Fisher and Stevens in ECAC...... We're all E 8 guys, we have to swollow our pride and pull for our teams......One of these days my guys are going to make the E-8 tourney... but not for awhile.        

[gobombers15]

There are a lot of "informal" practices. Every school does this. As early as Labor Day weekend, one can walk through almost any D3 gym in the country and see teams having "informal" practices. Drills are run, free throws are taken, scrimmages are organized, and only the players from that year's team are playing. But the coaches are sitting in the hallways, reading a newspaper. Somehow, this is not deemed a practice.

Seems like that one practice after Thanksgiving break is what made Ithaca ineligible. Oh well.

Fromafar, who is your team? I don't think you've ever disclosed.

[FROMAFAR]

Go Bombers your right It keeps me neutral and hopefully makes my posts looking unbiased, WHICH I try to be... Hey I'm an old guy and really enjoy reading your guys posts....  All of you really know this league... albeit a couple of guys are blinded by there allegiance. I have to say Bombers and Dynasty usually hit it on the head everytime.   

[FROMAFAR]

Hey Cyclone, your on the money as well, and you know allot about Stevens. Any read on their ECAC match-ups and why did they change their line up versing NAZ.