I don't know how it happened, but Hamilton College lost to my alma mater F&M in an intense struggle in Clinton NY, I had been watching the Continentals online for several games this season and felt like all Centennial teams would be solid underdogs to them especially when they are on their home court. Hamilton's best player Morgan did not dominate like he did in the other games I saw. Well anyway just a few thoughts. Anyhow the NESCAC is loaded with strong teams, and I am sure legit FF contenders this year. GL & good health to all.

Halftime at Mayser Gym.

Stunning me F&M leads 53-29. Balanced scoring, making reasonable 3 pointers and watch out if this continues especially odd 7 for 7 from charity stripe. I assume Neumann will scrap and make a game of it. We'll just have to watch.

The pre-season starts.

F&M gets a tough 1st game with Neumann who are coming off consecutive 21-win seasons. Plus, they have an All-American inside player (Vaughns) that will be hard to contain, while possibly keeping Parra on the bench with foul trouble. They have overcome situations like this occasionally with strong 3-point play in past, but we will see tonight if they can stay in the game or not. It will be interesting to see if any of freshman can play & whether Dylan Cormac is recovered and able to pick up like he started a promising rookie season last year before being injured.

A key reason for Dips downturn might be the loss of Josh Parra. He was apparently injured 2 minutes into Washington game and hasnt played since. I couldn't see him on the bench at Gburg. If he is out for any significant length of time the Dips outlook is dismal. Seidman & Parra are players they can't afford to be without.

That was a shallow attempt to attack me, rather it seems like dips were not highly regarded before games were played, not about retaking a preseason poll. Perhaps you may have not looked at the video which is available with about 8 minutes left in regulation while dismissing me as griping about one call. It appeared like an attempt to inflict a potentially serious harm to a defender who had made a good play, the kind reaction that may merit ejection. Plus I said that missing many FTs gave game away.

I wonder if CC revoted order of predicted finish if F&M would be picked higher then 8th this time?
If dips would've shot better than 16/35 at FT line they probably win. However one play sticks out, late in Reg or 1st OT Dip guard tipped the ball away from one of league all conference players in red on offense & rather than go for looseball he took his forearm and whacked jaw/neck area hard instead. Odder yet it was called a player control foul, no shots awarded. I believe it should have been called a technical foul with player ejection. Marring what was generally a back & forth amazing struggle.

Interesting, exciting early tilt at Allentown. Dips controlled 1st 60% of game fending off each others charges. Then mules Put on extended stretch of 2 players doing the scoring and not missing baskets until they seemed to have control of game. Point guard for MC reminded me of JHUs Conner Delany who starred for 4 years. Getting streaking layups that were challenged. Then I had to leave and found out Dips came back and won somehow.

Nice trip to LV for Dips. I thought they might be able to play with Pioneers of Platteville but was surprised by how they came back vs Dubuque. What awaits are tough conference games. 1st going to Allentown where muhls are always tough & this seems to be their best team in many years. SWAT is next in Mayser and they have been tough on current coach by pressing Dips out of game in 1st 10 minutes over and over. I hope they are well prepped. It will be a tough task on the point forward.

Thank you, Pat, that's nice to know.

Hello. Does the D3Hoops Las Vegas Event have a Broadcast or Statcast?
League looks tough up and down the rankings of CC this year. It looks like JHU, SWAT, MUHLS & perhaps URSINUS look to be the main ones to worry about.
Dips have 2 talented strong teams from last year's NCAA field to play out west, Dubuque & U Wisc. Platteville (rematch of 1991 National title game). Xmas want list for F&M would be an actual PG someone like Georgio Milligan would suffice and getting off the bottom 4 of D3 FT% shooting list. Additionally, they'll need some injured players to get healthy. Good luck to all the teams & players.

Been seeing F&M mostly online, except for nearby scranton ot loss which I saw in person. I was surprised they nearly had that game featuring tons of 1st year players.
I was also not expecting them to beat Alfred who came in with a 6-1 record.
Now they are playing highly ranked Wesleyan who has been destroying most of their opponents,  unless they make free throws and trifectas they likely won't be competative. Also seems like they have trouble in road games. Don't see them making playoffs this year, too inexperienced, but I imagine I'll go with the obvious that JHU & SWAT should run away with league honors.

In news for an outstanding former F&M All American player, Chris Finch has now reached his longtime goal.

About 2 weeks ago he became the new Head coach of the NBAs Minnesota Timberwolves. I wish him well. It was a long journey through UKs National team , European leagues, the NBAs D-League as head coach, Assistant or bench coaches for at least 3 NBA teams, particularly with the Houston Rockets to land the top spot in Minnesota.

He played for some of the best Dip teams ever until he graduated in 1992. I saw his team play in my only trip as spectator to D3 Final 4 in 1991. Although they lost a hard fought game to a bigger, deeper Wisc-Platteville team coached by Bo Ryan (also a D3 grad from Wilkes) it was still exhilarating for me. My more positive memory was F&M then considered a sold underdog in Semis against Ramapo. But the Dips did 2 amazing things, 1st had a 26-0 run to get control of of game and then rolled to a 52 point win, which was and may still be a FF record for margin of victory.

In any case an honor well deserved for a D3 player who worked his way through the hoops ranks to be an NBA head coach.

Lack of prep time matters for an unbeaten #1 balanced deep squad to beat a decimated sad looking F&M team?

Hard to believe any real concern, as it took foul trouble to SWATs big men last year vs a deeper, healthier, better Dip team to heave in a desperation shot at buzzer to pull of a miracle on hardwood last year at SWAT. This year with only one legit Dip inside sized player to counter the waves of garnet athletic big men and myriads of 3-point sharp shooters, plus a SWAT second team that could handily beat Dip starters, it looks like a rout alert. Like every other CC coach not much prep time needed to figure out to hound and wear down only Dip player who could hurt them and can create his own shot. Although same coach was on the bench running team last year it is likely the help during season prepping by GRob helped make upset happen.

My line (prep time or none) is SWAT -29.5, sad to say as an alumni and big fan going back to 1st of 5 Dip Final Fours in 1978-9 season. I wonder if my lifespan includes seeing a 6th trip back one day.

I'll give a few snapshot great memories that highlight GRobs legendary tenure.

1. Victory over Jersey City State in 1979 to go to 1st Final Four with Donny Marsh against North Park legendary team.

2. 1991 when Dips lost to UW Platteville in tough Final Championship game. After winning semifinal by 50+ when said to be an underdog, and having about a 25-0 unanswered run to get to Final.

3. 1996 E8 game vs, Wilkes with both teams something like 28 and 1. Dips won to go to Salem.

4, 2008-9 run to Final 4 when the great Georgio Milligan came aboard a young team as a freshman and led Dips to Robinsons last (5th) Final 4.

Plus too many other exciting moments to mention over my 40+ years as an alum and fan.

Tremendous year for Garnet. I am not sure if this is significant but SWAT has only lost to CC teams and beaten all other foes. Show them how it is done in the Centennial.