Me and my Empire 8 updates

I love getting new e-mails. It’s like Christmas every time. I just received an e-mail from the Empire 8 with the subject line: Empire 8 Free webcasts for basketball championships. This is gold. This is like the Nintendo 64 I got when I was nine years old.

The e-mail reads as follows:

The Empire 8 will provide free live video webcasts of the 2007 Empire 8 Men?s and Women?s Basketball Championship finals.

For more information, please click http://www.empire8.com/020807-1.html

For general information on the conference, please visit the Empire 8 web site at www.empire8.com

The Empire 8 will also begin webcasting a number of regular season contests and conference tournaments beginning in the fall of 2007. Sweetness.

That’s why they play the games

So I’ve been covering the Ithaca College men’s basketball team for the past two seasons and, as with any sports team, they’ve had their fair share of highs and lows. On the court the team stampeded through the ECAC Upstate Tournament at the end of last season to claim the crown - as a seventh seed. Off the court, the Bombers were placed on probation for hazing after it was discovered that seniors on the team hazed rookies at a party.

It doesn’t get much worse than that for a team. But consequently, it doesn’t get much better than reeling off three consecutive victories to earn a title no one gave you a shot at. Of course last season the Bombers had three of their best players in recent memory on the squad. Jim Bellis ‘06, Jon Whetstone ‘06 and Brian Andruskiewicz ‘06 were all integral parts of the team. In particular, Bellis was a pure scoring machine and single-handedly won a number of games for Ithaca last year.

Jump ahead to this season where, entering last night’s game against conference powerhouse Utica College, the Bombers deployed a starting lineup of two sophomores, a freshman, and a junior and a sophomore transfer, both who are in their first season with the team. It’s fair to say that things are a lot different for the team this year. But change isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, for the Bombers this season, it has been a thing of beauty.

Last night Ithaca pulled off what might be one of the biggest upsets I’ve ever seen. Not just in Division-III sports, but in any sports. Utica was picked by virtually everyone to run away with the Empire 8 this season, and they essentially have. They entered last night’s contest with a 16-2 overall record (8-0 in the Empire 8). The Baby Bombers stood no chance right? But that’s why they play the games. Where’s Chris Berman when you need him?

Ithaca raced out to a 11-0 lead to start the game and never looked back, winning 70-68 in overtime. OK, so the Pioneers made it interesting, but hey, Ithaca walked away with the W. And just about an hour ago the Bombers pummled dismal Hartwick College, putting them in a conference record tie with usual powerhouse St. John Fisher, and leaving them only two and a half games behind Utica.

I have never been more excited about Division-III basketball and, at this point, I can honestly say I have no idea how things will end. And with only two full weeks of regular season games left, things promise to be very interesting. Two games that are must-watch: Friday, Feb. 9th, St. John Fisher at Ithaca, Friday, Feb. 16th, Utica at St. John Fisher.

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