Empire 8

Cyclone0205 · March 04, 2008, 02:10:52 PM

Fromafar -

Haha, thanks. Being from New York City and following the Skyline, NJAC, and CUNY closely for almost 10 years now I figured I'd be in the best position to keep up with the Ducks. As for the ECAC matchups, if the Ducks can avoid the NJAC schools, I think they'll win it. Easier said than done, but historically I think the Ducks only NJAC win in the last 7 or 8 years was last years upset in the 2nd round of the NCAA's against Ramapo. I know they beat TCNJ this year but that's a bad team. They usually don't play the top of the NJAC well.

For the first round, they play Staten Island, who they dismantled in January 71-56 in Hoboken, so I don't see that game being close. Out of the rest of the field, i think only the winner of #2 seed York vs. #7 seed NJCU has a chance at beating the Ducks. St. Joes, their skyline former buddy, never beats Stevens. Brooklyn has gotten blown out by Stevens repeatedly. NYU and Rutgers-Newark just don't have the right matchups to play with the Ducks this year. If I'm predicting, I think the Ducks meet the winner of that York/NJCU game in the final.

As for the line-up switch....your guess is as good as mine. If I had to guess, I think it was "over-coaching" if you will. They had lost to Utica...and then Ithaca..and I think maybe their coach thought a line-up switch might give them a jumpstart. No clue really, surprising move since they had basically used the same starting lineup all year.

z · March 04, 2008, 04:41:25 PM

congrats to Naz on winning the championship and getting the NCAA bid - hopefully they can get a couple wins and a shot at a powerhouse team.

And thanks to all the supporters of Naz and the E8 on the forums. Its great that no matter who wins, the league backs them.

Pat Coleman · March 04, 2008, 07:40:56 PM

Quote from: MHoops on March 04, 2008, 10:11:28 AM
Quote from: gobombers15 on March 03, 2008, 10:00:45 PM
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.

I believe most schools handle this by taking an extra week off over the holidays.

sjfcards · March 04, 2008, 08:12:45 PM

Does anyone have a scouting report on Vasser? Most of the other teams in the ECAC tournament I have a handle on, except maybe for Medaille. But, I honestly have not followed the LL at all this year, and now Fisher is playing them in the first round.

I hope Fisher takes the tournament seriously. I can see them coming out and playing well, and I can see them coming out and laying a big time egg. This could be a great chance to get some younger players to continue to develop, as well as let the seniors go out on a winning note. There are some tough games in the tourny, but I think if Fisher plays well they can compete.

keystonelight · March 04, 2008, 09:02:11 PM

knowing most of the team personally i hope they take it seriously... they are already missing spring break and lost all 3 meetings to their arch rival, including a chance at the ncaa tournament... i think they will feel like they have something to prove, those seniors are all great competitors

keystonelight · March 04, 2008, 09:02:51 PM

side note... jose what do you think about the new Rays? I'm digging it... alot

with age comes? · March 04, 2008, 10:16:41 PM

SJFC- I haven't seen SJF at all this year (sadly) but I have seen Vassar twice so I'll give it a shot. They are senior laden and the defending ECAC champs. They have two really good players that are seniors. Liberty League POY Larry Avitabile is among the hardest working overachievers I've seen this year. The guy just flat out never takes a play off. At 6' 3" maybe 6'4" in the program he rebounds extremely well by just working hard for position on every single play. Averages about 14 pts and 8 rebounds a game. Just a "garbage points machine". (Please read - box him out or suffer). Brazell is a senior guard who is extremely quick, tends to go right, but still gets where he wants to go, and invariabley gets to the charity stripe if the ref's are calling it legit. He anticipates well and always seems to get a couple of steals that way. He is 1st team Liberty League. Goes for 15 pts 5 boards. Next best player is Jr guard Brian Butterworth- streaky shooter who can on occasion just go off. By far their top 3 point threat (probably took a third of the teams 3 point shots for the season). Averages 10 pts 2 rebs. Senior Kyle Magnus does the grunt work and heavy lifting. Banger who will probably be in foul trouble quickly if memory serves right about the reffing at SJF

, Senior guard Dan Forcella is small, crafty, a good outside shooter but does not get the time he did earlier in his career. This being his final game (look at that I've already got SJF beating them) he may look to shoot more than he has. Off the bench spark is provided by Jr Matt Nunn 6'5" swingman with a very deft touch both mid range and from the 3. He's also a tremendous foul shooter at well over 80%. Other spark is Jr. Joe Davis a 6'4" banger jr who does nice work off the offensive glass. Two other guys get time Sr Jon Swartz & Jr Lenny Holt both are the same player practically so I get confused. Swartz may be a little better shooter from the outside and Holt may drive a little better. Both average about 4 pts and 2 boards. Oh by the way Davis & Nunn both go for about 7 pts and 3 boards. This is the only interesting first round matchup. The others are blow outs. Sorry for the long post but I really love d-3 hoops.

JQV · March 05, 2008, 10:10:30 AM

Quote from: keystonelight on March 04, 2008, 09:02:51 PM
side note... jose what do you think about the new Rays? I'm digging it... alot

Good things are happening down here. A lot of the friends I made during my seven seasons are still working with the club and they all report good things internally to match the good things externally. Will be a fun summer (its about time we had one of those down here). +k for asking.

Caz Bombers · March 05, 2008, 10:29:22 AM

Quote from: JoseQViper on March 05, 2008, 10:10:30 AM
Quote from: keystonelight on March 04, 2008, 09:02:51 PM
side note... jose what do you think about the new Rays? I'm digging it... alot

Good things are happening down here. A lot of the friends I made during my seven seasons are still working with the club and they all report good things internally to match the good things externally. Will be a fun summer (its about time we had one of those down here). +k for asking.

TB has been giving the Yanks and Sox all they want in individual games and series for a couple years now but obviously has not been able to put it together against the rest of the league. I hope they do, the AL East needs a 3rd strong team since Toronto never followed through on the years of hype.

Knightstalker · March 05, 2008, 10:32:50 AM

The Empire 8 is being recognized by the NCAA for their sportsmanship initiatives.

with age comes? · March 05, 2008, 07:02:53 PM

Not to be cynical, but wasn't there a flat out brawl at a SJF / Naz game a few years back? Maybe the initiatives were are outgrowth of that and, if that is the case, they are truly to be appreciated...

sjfcards · March 05, 2008, 09:48:58 PM

Quote from: with age comes? on March 04, 2008, 10:16:41 PM
SJFC- I haven't seen SJF at all this year (sadly) but I have seen Vassar twice so I'll give it a shot. They are senior laden and the defending ECAC champs. They have two really good players that are seniors. Liberty League POY Larry Avitabile is among the hardest working overachievers I've seen this year. The guy just flat out never takes a play off. At 6' 3" maybe 6'4" in the program he rebounds extremely well by just working hard for position on every single play. Averages about 14 pts and 8 rebounds a game. Just a "garbage points machine". (Please read - box him out or suffer). Brazell is a senior guard who is extremely quick, tends to go right, but still gets where he wants to go, and invariabley gets to the charity stripe if the ref's are calling it legit. He anticipates well and always seems to get a couple of steals that way. He is 1st team Liberty League. Goes for 15 pts 5 boards. Next best player is Jr guard Brian Butterworth- streaky shooter who can on occasion just go off. By far their top 3 point threat (probably took a third of the teams 3 point shots for the season). Averages 10 pts 2 rebs. Senior Kyle Magnus does the grunt work and heavy lifting. Banger who will probably be in foul trouble quickly if memory serves right about the reffing at SJF , Senior guard Dan Forcella is small, crafty, a good outside shooter but does not get the time he did earlier in his career. This being his final game (look at that I've already got SJF beating them) he may look to shoot more than he has. Off the bench spark is provided by Jr Matt Nunn 6'5" swingman with a very deft touch both mid range and from the 3. He's also a tremendous foul shooter at well over 80%. Other spark is Jr. Joe Davis a 6'4" banger jr who does nice work off the offensive glass. Two other guys get time Sr Jon Swartz & Jr Lenny Holt both are the same player practically so I get confused. Swartz may be a little better shooter from the outside and Holt may drive a little better. Both average about 4 pts and 2 boards. Oh by the way Davis & Nunn both go for about 7 pts and 3 boards. This is the only interesting first round matchup. The others are blow outs. Sorry for the long post but I really love d-3 hoops.

You forgot to mention that they never miss a free throw..;.;

Cyclone0205 · March 05, 2008, 11:32:48 PM

Congrats to both St. John Fisher and Stevens on advancing to the Semi's of their respective ECAC tournaments. Good luck to Naz tomorrow.

E8...2-0 in the post season so far!

keystonelight · March 06, 2008, 10:23:14 AM

i'm a lifetime indians fan growing up in Ashtabula, OH. Given that I hate... HATE the yankees and after last season hate the red sox just as much I have been rooting for TB for a few years now, Like Caz said they have been giving them all they want and then some in the regular season...

Lets go SJFC, very pleased when i checked the box score last night

JQV · March 06, 2008, 10:29:24 AM

Quote from: with age comes? on March 05, 2008, 07:02:53 PM
Not to be cynical, but wasn't there a flat out brawl at a SJF / Naz game a few years back? Maybe the initiatives were are outgrowth of that and, if that is the case, they are truly to be appreciated...

Nah, these initiatives are totally unrelated to that brawl. The Chuck Mitrano, E8 "Commissioner," basically uses the league as a vehicle to promote himself and his sportsmanship agenda. He has been making a big deal about what a good sport he is as long as I can remember. Sounds like people are starting to notice, which I suppose was the point all along. Too bad ol' Chucky boy has not control over post patterns!