St. John Fisher Favored in Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
St. John Fisher College, which won five consecutive conference titles from 2003-2007 and captured the regular season title last season, was selected to finish first in the Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Cardinals, who received five first-place votes in the poll, have advanced to the conference title game seven times in the past eight years.
Junior guard Jordan Gettings of the Cardinals earned second-team all-conference honors last season. He averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game while averaging more minutes per game than any player on the team. St. John Fisher allowed only 59.1 points per game and finished 23-6.
Ithaca College, which captured the ECAC Upstate New York Championship last season, received two first-place votes and is the coaches’ selection to place second. Senior forward Phil Barera and junior guard Jordan Marcus of the Bombers earned first-team and second-team all-conference honors, respectively, last season. Barera averaged a double-double last season, posting per game averages of 16.3 points and 10.2 boards. Marcus led the Bombers in scoring (18.2 points per game) and in three-point field goals (78).
Rochester Institute of Technology received one first-place vote and has been chosen to place third this season. Senior guard Anthony Terry was named to the all-conference first team after leading the Tigers in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game. He shot over 50 percent from the field and hit 42.2 of his three-point attempts. Junior forward/center Brendan Harder averaged 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game to earn second-team all-conference recognition.
Hartwick College, which finished sixth last season, is the coaches’ choice to finish fourth this season and earn a spot in the conference tournament for the first time. Junior guard Mark Blazek was named to the all-conference first team last season after earning the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year award in 2008-09. Last year, he averaged 20.3 points per game to lead the Hawks. He also led the squad in field goals made, three-point field goals made, free throws made, and free throw percentage.
Defending conference champion Nazareth College is the coaches’ selection to place fifth this year. The Golden Flyers must replace All-American and Empire 8 Player of the Year Corey McAdam. Sophomore guard Tyshun Stephens is the Golden Flyers’ top returning scorer.
Stevens Institute of Technology, which qualified for the conference tournament last season, is picked to finish sixth this season. Junior forward Simon Smith garnered second-team all-conference honors last season, after leading the Ducks in scoring and rebounding (12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game), while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field.
Alfred University is the coaches’ pick to finish in seventh place as it did last season. Senior guard Mike Stopera led the Saxons in scoring (15.5 points per game) and three-point field goals (51) a year ago.
Utica College and Elmira College tied for eighth place in last year’s standings. The Pioneers were chosen eighth in this year’s preseason poll with the Soaring Eagles picked ninth. Senior guard James Patterson of the Pioneers received honorable mention all-conference recognition last season after averaging 14.4 points per game. Senior Bobby DiPiazza averaged 13.8 points and 4.2 boards per game last year for the Soaring Eagles.
The last three Empire 8 champions were picked to finish third (Nazareth in 2009-10), fourth (Nazareth in 2007-08) and sixth (RIT in 2008-09) in the preseason coaches’ poll.
2010 Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. St. John Fisher College (5 first-place votes) 60 points
2. Ithaca College (2) 58
3. Rochester Institute of Technology (1) 53
4. Hartwick College 38
5. Nazareth College 35
6. Stevens Institute of Technology 34
7. Alfred University 19
8. Utica College 15
9. Elmira College 12
2009-2010 Empire 8 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Results
First round: St. John Fisher 60, Brooklyn 56; Medaille 78, Nazareth 72 (OT)
Second round: Brandeis 66, St. John Fisher 52
2009-2010 Empire 8 ECAC Championship Results
Quarterfinals: Baruch 75, Stevens 64
Semifinals: Ithaca 88, Rensselaer 67
Finals: Ithaca 78, Brockport 71