East Region Fan Poll

[gobombers15]

I thought Utica and Fisher were the clear #7 and #8 teams. Rochester lost two home games over the weekend, so I slotted them at #6. RIT was 1-2 last week and lost to a weak Hartwick club, hence they were at #5 for me. I wrestled a lot with the Geneseo vs Hamilton decision. Hamilton does have a better in-region record, but I think Geneseo is the better team at this very second. The Blue Knights have won 7 in a row and I was very impressed by the 30-point drubbing they gave Oswego on the Lakers' own floor. At the time, Oswego was streaking and making a push for the #1 seed in the SUNYAC. Plus, I would have liked to see Hamilton give SLU a tougher game the second time around. Based on the numbers, I think we can all agree that it's a pretty significant dropoff after #2.

[Ethelred the Unready]

I thought Utica and Fisher were the clear #7 and #8 teams. Rochester lost two home games over the weekend, so I slotted them at #6. RIT was 1-2 last week and lost to a weak Hartwick club, hence they were at #5 for me. I wrestled a lot with the Geneseo vs Hamilton decision. Hamilton does have a better in-region record, but I think Geneseo is the better team at this very second. The Blue Knights have won 7 in a row and I was very impressed by the 30-point drubbing they gave Oswego on the Lakers' own floor. At the time, Oswego was streaking and making a push for the #1 seed in the SUNYAC. Plus, I would have liked to see Hamilton give SLU a tougher game the second time around. Based on the numbers, I think we can all agree that it's a pretty significant dropoff after #2.

Which is why I gave Medialle some love this week.  Winners of 9 out of 10 and avenging some early season losses.  Granted we don't get to see them play, but they are still in region.

[FisherDynasty]

I'm with Gobombers on the geneseo issue, was impressed with the drubbing of oswego and think they have underachieved in the first half of the season. I think i still had hamilton above geneseo as all of hamiltons losses are very good losses.   I had Fisher over Utica as Fisher beat utica on their own floor and have more wins overall so I dont see how utica shoudl be ranked over them. 

I took a look at medaille but just couldnt squeeze them in as there wins are not against good teams and the only sunyac, ll, e8 teams they played they lost to so I couldnt give them enough love there record would need to be better than it is in the weak conf they play in. 

Utica didnt get in on mine since they are not good on the road I think they will drop a few more games by end of season and won't finish in the top 8 in region.  I had NYU in over Utica.

[Ethelred the Unready]

I'm with Gobombers on the geneseo issue, was impressed with the drubbing of oswego and think they have underachieved in the first half of the season. I think i still had hamilton above geneseo as all of hamiltons losses are very good losses.   I had Fisher over Utica as Fisher beat utica on their own floor and have more wins overall so I dont see how utica shoudl be ranked over them. 

I took a look at medaille but just couldnt squeeze them in as there wins are not against good teams and the only sunyac, ll, e8 teams they played they lost to so I couldnt give them enough love there record would need to be better than it is in the weak conf they play in. 

Utica didnt get in on mine since they are not good on the road I think they will drop a few more games by end of season and won't finish in the top 8 in region.  I had NYU in over Utica.

Well, I have the same feeling about Hamilton.  The only good teams they play, they lose to.  At least Medialle has beaten most of the teams that they lost to early in the season.  If Hamilton had been competitive against SL, I'd have moved them up

[Ethelred the Unready]

Ethelred, how is Brandies? are they better than Ithaca in your opinion?

Haven't seen them in person yet.  That will be this weekend.  But my impression from others and what I have listened to is that they should be as good as Ithaca, but they are not.  They have all the weapons and are fairly deep, but seem to have trouble putting it together for complete games.

The Brandeis team I saw Sunday would likely beat Ithaca.  They are physical, shoot the ball well, have team quickness and are playing loose.  Of course, what I saw was clouded by tears......

[Pat Coleman]

Have to believe pollsters were impressed by win over Elmhurst (only team to defeat Wash U) to jump Wheaton over Ithaca.

That and the fact that Kent Raymond proved himself this week to be healthy and back to his old self. They are unbeaten with him playing his full minutes. (They lost two while he was out entirely and one more as he was coming back from his high ankle sprain, in which he played only 20 minutes.)

[Pat Coleman]

I see Magicman was also on top of this. Very nice.

[with age came?]

Somebody has to teach me how to give Karma to Magic (when you get noticed by Pat in a positive way you deserve it.) Glad to get some discussion on Genny State.  Still do not have them as a top 3 elite team in NYS.  Lost to U of R on a neutral court by 18 and lost to Naz.  May be there were injuries that I am not aware that might change my thinking but the only team they have played that I think should be ranked is U of R. I had them in 6th behind Hamilton, U of R and Roch Tech. Win against Oswego was solid but quite a few of their other wins were squeakers at home and a less than impressive win at Morrrisville. Still willing to have my mind changed?

[Pat Coleman]

You need to have 200 posts before you can do the karma thing, sorry.

But I +1'd him.

[GrassyKnoll]

I haven't gotten the chance to see many of the "flight conference" teams play (and that league is always loaded), but the NYU discussion should not be a discussion. Not a high-level team. And the discredit of Ithaca, saying that they'd get beat by 20, TO ANYBODY, is ridiculous. You're talking about a team that has 1 loss, to a very solid RIT team, that hit multiple buzzer beaters (shot clock, halves, etc.) I'm not trying to say that Ithaca deserved the win, but they realistically could be undefeated with an ALL-WORLD point guard. They are as talented an offensive team as I've seen in all my time in D3 and have the TALENT to be in the Final Four. That said, "Final Four" is not necessarily probable as they are beatable by very good, prepared teams as evidenced by their more recent close W's, but I'd have a hard time picking a team that you could favor vs. them... Just my opinion
Also, SLU has a very strong team and is capable of beating anyone on a given night. They consistently score and have 7 (insane by the way) kids that average double figures. If they can bring that same sense of urgency to the defensive end down the stretch, they are a team that can be a bit of a sleeper when talking on a national level. Again, not necessarily favored in all games, but find me someone who would want them in their side of the bracket.
All in all, I think  it's shaping up for some decent hoops down the stretch and I do whole-heartedly believe that the East region will be represented well in the national tourney. I think it'll have to be either IC or SLU, but I'd give good odds that one of them makes the final 8. Guess we have to wait and see...

[Ethelred the Unready]

I haven't gotten the chance to see many of the "flight conference" teams play (and that league is always loaded), but the NYU discussion should not be a discussion. Not a high-level team. And the discredit of Ithaca, saying that they'd get beat by 20, TO ANYBODY, is ridiculous. You're talking about a team that has 1 loss, to a very solid RIT team, that hit multiple buzzer beaters (shot clock, halves, etc.) I'm not trying to say that Ithaca deserved the win, but they realistically could be undefeated with an ALL-WORLD point guard. They are as talented an offensive team as I've seen in all my time in D3 and have the TALENT to be in the Final Four. That said, "Final Four" is not necessarily probable as they are beatable by very good, prepared teams as evidenced by their more recent close W's, but I'd have a hard time picking a team that you could favor vs. them... Just my opinion
Also, SLU has a very strong team and is capable of beating anyone on a given night. They consistently score and have 7 (insane by the way) kids that average double figures. If they can bring that same sense of urgency to the defensive end down the stretch, they are a team that can be a bit of a sleeper when talking on a national level. Again, not necessarily favored in all games, but find me someone who would want them in their side of the bracket.
All in all, I think  it's shaping up for some decent hoops down the stretch and I do whole-heartedly believe that the East region will be represented well in the national tourney. I think it'll have to be either IC or SLU, but I'd give good odds that one of them makes the final 8. Guess we have to wait and see...

I don't remember anyone saying that anybody would beat Ithaca by 20 this year.  I did say that they likely would come within 20 of LAST years UR team.  And having just seen the UR alumni game recently, I'm not sure they couldn't beat Ithaca today.  Just kidding, though Dominiak still has ridiculous range and Oniyiruka is still a speciman.  I also said that the Brandeis team I saw Sunday was better than the Ithaca team I saw earlier in the year.  But other than that, Ithaca is pretty much unchallenged in the east, except by SL.

[magicman]

Of course probably every team from Hamilton down to all the also rans might be 2-7 in that league too!!  And 2 of the last four losses are to Wash U which probably would put a loss on every team in our poll (and in my opinion that includes Ithaca too). Please don't smite me oh lord!!!!

Having seen both play, I'm not sure Ithaca could stay within 20 of Wash U right now. But I don't think many, if any,  teams could.

Ethelred,
I think this is what Grassyknoll was refering to.

[Ethelred the Unready]

Of course probably every team from Hamilton down to all the also rans might be 2-7 in that league too!!  And 2 of the last four losses are to Wash U which probably would put a loss on every team in our poll (and in my opinion that includes Ithaca too). Please don't smite me oh lord!!!!

Having seen both play, I'm not sure Ithaca could stay within 20 of Wash U right now. But I don't think many, if any,  teams could.

Ethelred,
I think this is what Grassyknoll was refering to.

Ahhh.  I absolutely stand by that.

[owen]

It's been 21 years since ANY team from what is now the E8, LL or SUNYAC (I guess you could say the upstate NY conferences) has made a Final Four appearance... and that was Hartwick before there was an E8 Conference. It's been 23 years since Potsdam won it all. Let's go! I'm not getting any younger.

Regardless, I'm hoping Ithaca can make a solid run in the tournament. The East region in my opinion is extremely weak this year, even weaker than it normally is; but hope springs eternal. Good luck to the Bombers.

[magicman]

Rochester travels to #2 Washington U and pulls off the upset 70-69. Wash U misses 2 free throws with 1 second left to play. Mike Chmielowiec with 32 pts leads the Yellowjackets.