WBB: Empire 8

Caz Bombers · December 13, 2006, 11:09:50 PM

Without looking at more than W-L records and the names of some of the opponents (admittedly a less than scientific way to do things):

I pick Utica to win, SJF to place and Elmira, Ithaca and RIT to play musical chairs for the right to wear dark jerseys in the semis. Alfred, Naz and Hartwick will....ummm...play 14 league games each.

I'd really like to think Ithaca will turn it around, they've been competitive in a lot of their games, including UR and St. Lawrence. However...my buddies and I used to show up to the women's games knowing at least one of the two games that night was going to be an IC victory by a Top 25 team with D3 All-American talent. I graduated in 2004 but those days feel like about a century ago. Here's hoping the rebuilding is nearly complete.

patroonbball · December 15, 2006, 09:52:28 PM

Sounds like a major problem at Hartwick: http://www.thedailystar.com/sports/2006/12/15/13-hartwick-151.html

I would think these two games would count as forfeits for 'wick. The future doesn't look any brighter there. Lindsey Wilson and company graduate this year and all those highly recruited freshmen are doing nothing.

Caz Bombers · December 16, 2006, 02:06:48 PM

Thanks for the info, patroonbball. Time was that Hartwick was the clear "best of the rest" behind IC and Fisher and usually gave the Bombers and Cardinals tough games home and away. Those days are definitely behind them.

hoopfan17 · December 30, 2006, 12:24:27 PM

My picks for the conference are as follows:

1. SJF
2. Utica
3. Hartwick
4. Toss up between RIT/Elmira/Ithaca

SJF is a well coached team and always seems to end up on top in the conference, with or without experience. Utica however, not extremely well coached at all, but somehow ends up with athletic players. Ava will carry this team to the conference tournament. I feel that people out there are under estimating Hartwick, but if you look at their non conference schedule it was extremely tough. They are returning everyone, but one player, who was not a huge contributor. I feel that if the seniors can bring everything together this team could surprise many people in the Empire 8. As for Ithaca, RIT, and Elmira I feel that they will all be fighting for the last spot and tend to shock a few people with key wins at home.

sotier · January 09, 2007, 09:35:59 PM

In earlier posts, opinions were expressed that Ithaca was better than many think, that once the E8 season got into swing that they may have worked the kinks out. Well you folks were right,at least on this night. Tonight they put a spanking on Elmira.Put up 97, and basically dominated the game. As a newcommer to E8 basketball, I lack in perspective, but thats a lot of points no matter how you look at it. So tell me fans,,
--is Ithaca that good or were they having an "on" night
--is Elmira that bad or were they having an "off" night
Despite Elmira"s record, and E8 leading scoring ,I have yet to see any flow to their offense. Its one pass and fire,not a play run through, no two pass-or three pass possession.They rely to much on scoring off turnovers.

Caz Bombers · January 09, 2007, 10:13:53 PM

Very pleased to log on and see the great game played by the Bombers tonight in 97-77 win over Elmira. Sotier, to answer your question, strength of schedule and that preparation given by the schedule has a lot to do with it. IC was 2-7 against some very good teams including UR, St. Lawrence, D1 Cornell and others. Elmira, besides a game against UR (Ithaca much closer to Jackets than EC, perhaps an indication of things to come) played some much lesser foes such as Southern Vermont and Keystone. Still think EC will be a factor in the race for the league tournament. Quite a lot of hoops left to play. Go Bombers.

lileyes · January 10, 2007, 12:53:13 PM

Wow, suprised to see that IC EC score. Elmira always has pretty high scores for because of their run and gun style, but I was still suprised. I thought Elmira was going to be one of the top teams. Anybody know who Ithaca has as weapons? I know they lost who I considered their best player.

I don't know too much about the teams this year, just that Fisher lost the majority of their key players. I pick Utica to finish 1st. Nobody in the league can contain Ava Thomas.

sotier · January 13, 2007, 08:41:51 PM

Elmira has a nice bounce back weekend after the loss to Ithaca.Friday they put a smothering defense to Utica, and slowed Ava Thomas down for a confortable win.(lileyes, anyone can be stopped ) . Saturday.the story was the same against Hartwick. So now the question remains, was Ithaca an aboration? Beginning to think it was!! They can put up the points to win and when they play that kind of "d" they will.

bigchief · January 13, 2007, 09:54:59 PM

What has happened at Hartwick? I can't believe they can turn this season around with the way they are playing. I see mention of four seniors, but only three are seeing any floor time. This is the first time in four years the team has more than one senior. Is there a story there?
Their main scorer is putting up some points, but have you seen the number of shots taken. As a team they don't shoot 40% from the floor! I agree with an earlier post that they were just outside the elite in the empire 8. Now they play as if they are going through the motions, no heart/no fire. What happened?

Caz Bombers · January 13, 2007, 11:54:49 PM

I'm really not sure what to make of the women's E8 right now, it hasn't started off with results that I was expecting at all. Thought Utica would sweep their road trip instead they come home with two losses. Ithaca blows out Elmira and Utica, games I had the Bombers losing in my mind, but in between was a bad loss to Hartwick that I thought they would win. RIT seems to have been cooled off at the Chase. Maybe Fisher is just gonna run away and hide with the pennant.

EDIT: Well now, I just saw that Fisher lost by 32 to Geneseo this afternoon. So, you know, maybe not so much the running away with the league thing.

sotier · January 14, 2007, 08:30:14 AM

The message after week one of league play is ,"Empire 8 is a On Any Given Night League". Until someone matures(SJF),becomes more consistant(EC)(RIT),properly uses their strength(UC),or finds their coaching method(HC),anyone can win.

bigchief · January 14, 2007, 09:40:05 AM

Quote from: sotier on January 14, 2007, 08:30:14 AM
The message after week one of league play is ,"Empire 8 is a On Any Given Night League". Until someone matures(SJF),becomes more consistant(EC)(RIT),properly uses their strength(UC),or finds their coaching method(HC),anyone can win.

"Finds their coaching method(HC)?" Their head coach has been there since 1992. Did they loose their method along the way or did they not have one? The seniors on this team should be at the top of their game. If anything, they played better as freshmen.

UCgrad45 · January 21, 2007, 10:44:40 PM

Nice win for the Utica women this weekend over fisher. Keep it up UC!

sotier · January 29, 2007, 06:55:18 PM

Conference games at the halfway point, where do your teams stand. Encouraged, disappointed,or simply confused??How do you think things will shakeout now?? Elmira and Ithaca at top right now, but I think it will be Elmira and Utica in the end. EC playing some great balll, getting everyone involved. Solid returning players, and some solid freshman play.Their deep bench is a asset for a playoff run.

patroonbball · January 29, 2007, 10:40:46 PM

Quote from: bigchief on January 13, 2007, 09:54:59 PM
What has happened at Hartwick? I can't believe they can turn this season around with the way they are playing. I see mention of four seniors, but only three are seeing any floor time. This is the first time in four years the team has more than one senior. Is there a story there?
Their main scorer is putting up some points, but have you seen the number of shots taken. As a team they don't shoot 40% from the floor! I agree with an earlier post that they were just outside the elite in the empire 8. Now they play as if they are going through the motions, no heart/no fire. What happened?

I'm scratching my head myself. This is team where the seniors have played mega-minutes for 3-4 years and they have a terrible record this year. I expected them to win the empire 8 this season. When Lindsey and company graduate this year, it looks real bad. The contributions of the rest of the team are marginal. I don't know whether it is poor recruiting or no recruiting at all.

I'm sure the drinking incident that resulted in the college president forcing them to drop two games over break is having an affect. Everyone is real tight lipped about that. Lucky those 2 games don't count as forfeits.