Empire 8

[RITFAN]

I read the stat sheet in the same way fromafar does.  However, this is a young team and a win is a win.  The freshman are looking for what will work for them at this level, and it might take them a while to figure it out

My hope is that thay gain confidence as the season progresses, get into the tourny, and make some noise then.

Tomorrow's game at U of R will be interesting.

[Cyclone0205]

FROMAFAR -


What's missing is a certain toughness factor?  If you look at the 06-07 team, they had players like Morris, Collins, and Farid..along with newcomers Greco and Higgins..that were just tough kids.  Morris provided a senior leadership at point guard, not to mention a stability as a 4 year starter.  Likewise, Collins gave them a presence down low and a certain grit about them.

That team also had more flexibility, at times using both Morris and Greco in the backcourt to harrass opposing guards, or sliding Farid down to the 3 and going with Collins and Higgins at the front spots.  


This years team, unlike the past two years, is essentially a 1 person team.  They will only go as far as Gray goes.  The two years prior you weren't quite sure who was going to beat you, even though you knew Farid and Gray were "the guy".  



As for Ithaca, I always try to avoid annointing teams this early in the season, but they are definitely going to be a Top 25 team.  All the things I talk about from the Stevens 06-07 team, or more recently the William Paterson team from last year,  I see in this years Ithaca team.  That being said, I still don't think they will runaway with the conference, just because I think the Empire 8 always provides tough in conference tests, particularly in road games.  I must say I can't wait for January though, when conference play starts.

[bombersquadron]

Ithaca Bombers did receive votes today in the top 25 poll.  Ranked 30th in the nation right now with their 6-0 record.

[FROMAFAR]

Cyclone, your on the $ with your analysis. I don't like annointing either and the E 8 presents problems on the road... I don't see them losing more than maybe twice... Fisher is a tough gym, they seem to own the refs, the second loss  I just don't see it. There are no other dominant teams in the conference. I think anyone can beat anyone out of the other 8 teams... Yea I know Alfred and Elmira shouldn't BUT they seem to have some energy with new coaches, and Hartwick seems to believe a little bit. Utica looks inconsistent, Naz and Stevens both not deep...( your right about Gray being the only option) RIT.... I hope RITFAN is right , Fisher will win when they shouldn't and lose when they shouldn't.  It's goping to be a roller coaster ride for sure

[Gregory Sager]

Ithaca Bombers did receive votes today in the top 25 poll.  Ranked 30th in the nation right now with their 6-0 record.

The East Region is considered by national observers to be the weakest region in D3, but there's always room for an East Region team in the Top 25 if it can muster a gaudy enough record to overcome the perception that it's playing a subpar schedule. With traditional East Region powers Rochester, Brockport State, and St. John Fisher looking as though they might be on their way to somewhat down years, the path could be wide open for Ithaca to be that team.

[Cyclone0205]

Sager,


The east is really worse than the Atlantic?  Having been following Skyline, CUNY, and NJAC basketball for quite some time, the Atlantic has dropped off DRAMATICALLY from where it used to be.  The Skyline is actually awful now, especially since it's 2 best teams (stevens and manhattanville) left the region the year after going to the NCAA tournament.

NJAC has fallen off considerably from the dominance it once had.

And CUNY has been the York show, but aside from that it's been a bunch of mediocre teams. 


I dunno, just seems odd to me that the Atlantic Region is considered stronger than the East, especially since I think the Atlantic has gotten definitely 1 (Stevens 06-07), and maybe 2 at most, at large Pool C bids into the Big Dance in recent memory.

[gobombers15]

Sager,


The east is really worse than the Atlantic?  Having been following Skyline, CUNY, and NJAC basketball for quite some time, the Atlantic has dropped off DRAMATICALLY from where it used to be.  The Skyline is actually awful now, especially since it's 2 best teams (stevens and manhattanville) left the region the year after going to the NCAA tournament.

NJAC has fallen off considerably from the dominance it once had.

And CUNY has been the York show, but aside from that it's been a bunch of mediocre teams. 


I dunno, just seems odd to me that the Atlantic Region is considered stronger than the East, especially since I think the Atlantic has gotten definitely 1 (Stevens 06-07), and maybe 2 at most, at large Pool C bids into the Big Dance in recent memory.

I'm not too upset about where IC is ranked right now. If they keep winning, that will take care of itself. Trinity and UR are perennially very good, but are experiencing some rebuilding right now. Those wins would have looked even better in other years. Cortland has struggled a bit, too, and I doubt much credence was given to the Hobart, B-W and Allegheny wins even though they were by substantial margins.

We'll know more next week when Ithaca plays at Oneonta State and at St. Lawrence. O-State lost to Hartwick but knocked off Cortland and played a good Gordon team very close at their place. The St. Lawrence game will be a good one, too. The Larries are 3-1 with their only loss coming to then-#12 Ursinus, 82-76, at the Williams Tournament. St. Lawrence beat both Middlebury (solid NESCAC team) and Plattsburgh State by double digits. That will be a tough game as Ithaca looks to avenge the 85-81 OT loss to the Larries last year in a game that Ithaca played without the services of Sean Burton.

[bamm]

RIT loses at the Palestra to UR.  Marc Roberson is the hero for the Jackets, giving them the lead with 2 seconds left.

RIT stormed out of the gate, I think it was 12-0 just a few minutes in. 

RIT led by 6 with under 3 minutes left, but they turned the ball over a couple of times and missed an open jumper that really might have sealed it.  Tough loss for the Tigers.

Nice games for Korinchak and Carson, who I'm not sure ever came out of the game.  His transformation in two years has really been incredible.  Actually, I just looked and Korinchak had a triple double.  18/11/10.  Nice.

[Ethelred the Unready]

RIT loses at the Palestra to UR.  Marc Roberson is the hero for the Jackets, giving them the lead with 2 seconds left.

RIT stormed out of the gate, I think it was 12-0 just a few minutes in. 

RIT led by 6 with under 3 minutes left, but they turned the ball over a couple of times and missed an open jumper that really might have sealed it.  Tough loss for the Tigers.

Nice games for Korinchak and Carson, who I'm not sure ever came out of the game.  His transformation in two years has really been incredible.  Actually, I just looked and Korinchak had a triple double.  18/11/10.  Nice.

UR overcame a 37-15 (!?!?!) rebounding disadvantage.  15 rebounds?  THAT's going to have to improve. 

[gobombers15]

Other E8 scores from this week:

-Hamilton nips Utica, 71-68.

-Hartwick loses at Skidmore, 78-75, just a few days after Elmira ripped Skidmore.

-Fisher slips by Hobart, 56-54. Wopperer (11) and Witte (13) lead a balanced Fisher attack.

-Tonight, Lycoming easily disposes of Elmira, 81-49.

-Stevens takes care of Drew, 72-58. Gray (20), Passalacqua (17) and Higgins (16) do heavy lifting for the Ducks.

[with age came?]

Think the Ithaca-St Lawrence game may establish the early "beast of the east" though I am sure plently SUNYAC faithful and Hamilton fans may differ from my opinion. Certainly Geneseo fans will say they are in the mix too (and for those of you who have not seen the clip of the end of the Genesseo-Oswego that Razor provided on the SUNYAC board it truly is amazing-take it in).

[buck1053]

Think the Ithaca-St Lawrence game may establish the early "beast of the east" though I am sure plently SUNYAC faithful and Hamilton fans may differ from my opinion. Certainly Geneseo fans will say they are in the mix too (and for those of you who have not seen the clip of the end of the Genesseo-Oswego that Razor provided on the SUNYAC board it truly is amazing-take it in).

I posted this over on the LL board, but it applies here too.

I'm not sure it will be that close. Ithaca knocked off UofR by 9 in Rochester's tourney. And I know Hobart isn't the best measuring stick (1-4, though they lost by just 2 to St. John Fisher and 8 to Geneseo) but the Bombers absolutely killed them (118-81) at IC. Ithaca is averaging 90.2 points per game, while giving up 70.3 ppg. St. Lawrence does have a couple of nice wins under their belt (Middlebury and Plattsburgh's usually tough) -- and are averaging 86.8 ppg, while giving up 75.8 -- but it seems like Ithaca may be the class of the region this year.

I'm sure I'll probably wind up eating crow, it usually happens when I make predictions like this, but I've just gotten a feeling about the Bombers when I've seen their games this year.

Oh, the Geneseo clip was pretty unbelievable. Don't know if you caught it, but the Morton kid also tried to take a charge on the defensive end -- he got knocked over by the Oswego player taking the go-ahead shot -- in between the three and the crazy putback.

[Pat Coleman]

Noticed that the d-3 home page did report their victory way down at the end of the article.  But any press on this site is good press.  I would be shocked the way numerous teams are losing in the top 25 if they do not crack it or at least get very close.  I agree that based on early results they are VERY DESERVING!!

We're writing about Ithaca in Around the Nation this week, too.

[bombersquadron]

The article about Ithaca is on the front page currently. You can't miss it, great article highlighting how the team really has come together and what they are doing in the school history books. Tough lay-off for the Bombers, ten days between games which is odd to me as they aren't currently taking finals and are still in class until the end of next week I believe.

[d3lifer]

Hartwick College rebounds with a win over Wells College tonight 75-61 at home after a tough loss on road to Skidmore Tuesday night...

Hartwick had five players post double figures in the win and improve their record to 5-2 on the young season. Cocozziello finished with 11 points 9 boards and 7 assists to round out the evening McCann led all HC scorers with 13.