Ithaca Bombers Basketball Caps Off Great Regular Season

I decided today to focus more on colleges again and this time, I'm turning my attention to the place I call home for a good part of the year: Ithaca College. This winter has been one of the most memorable for the men's and women's basketball teams. Now with the regular season over, both teams are getting set for big playoff runs after a tremendously successful year.

The men have gotten the most attention, ranking 9th in the country as of today and likely on the way up to 7th or 6th after the final regular season poll is released tomorrow. Their record: 24-1 with their only loss being a very controversial one at RIT. A last second buzzer-beater was the only Bomber blemish, but replays clearly showed the ball did not leave the hand of Nate Korinchak before the buzzer sounded. Either way, Ithaca exacted revenge with a 101-74 blowout of RIT today to end the season.

The Bombers' run and gun offense, led by senior Sean Burton, the defending Empire 8 Player of the Year, has averaged 90 points a game and the team has an assist to turnover ratio of +1.5. Six players are averaging 10 or more points a game as well. There is no question the Bombers have been the best team in the East Region this year. They are hosting the conference tournament, likely the first round of the NCAA tourney as well, and could very well make it to the Division III Final Four this year.

As for the women, the Bombers shook off a rough start out of conference and have finished the year 17-8 overall and 13-3 in the Empire 8. The Bombers have done well against most of their conference foes, with St. John Fisher being the only team to beat them twice this year. The one problem: St. John Fisher is their first round opponent in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament.

Tracy Bradley and Katherine Bixby are both averaging close to 12 points a game and have had a lot of depth off the bench. Junior Jeanine Burke and sophomore Jordan Confessore along with freshmen Jessica Farley and Riley Dunn have filled in when needed and held down the fort when starters have run into foul trouble or injuries. The Bombers have the chance to reach the NCAA Tournament, as they've done several times under Head Coach Dan Raymond, but they'll need to at least get past the first round of the conference tournament.

Overall, Ithaca Bombers fans have to be happy with how their teams have played this year, especially the men's team. It has no doubt been one of the best winters for the Ithaca basketball teams. Fans are excited at how far these teams can go and at the chance to see a lot of playoff basketball at Ben Light Gymnasium. We'll see if Ithaca can make some noise during March Madness.