Swat fan I see your point but also completely disagree with you. Hank wasn't necessarily arguing whether the players should kneel or stand for the anthem even though you felt the need to turn it into a debate on that matter. I for one actually agree with Hank here as he brings up some very intriguing arguments. The AD hired the coach to do what he believes is in the best interest for the student-athletes and to win games. The coach has the right to make players stand for whatever his reasons are because he was put in that control but if the players can't respect that and want to kneel they can go somewhere else that will gladly take them... and if the AD doesn't agree with the coach's decision he can find a new coach who supports those freedom's and doesn't necessarily care about the unwritten rule of standing for the national anthem to honor the countless number of men and women who have lost their lives to protect the freedoms that we have today.

@GoDiplomats Plenty of reasons for the Dips to be excited this year! After thinking about last year and analyzing some of the recruits coming in I anticipate F&M, Swat, Dickinson, Ursinus, and good ole Johns Hopkins to round out our 5 playoff teams. This is the same as last years playoff teams because I just don't see anybody stepping up and knocking out one of those teams. I like Ursinus to really make a push this year. They battled tough last year and this program has been on the rise. Word has it they have a philly catholic league stud who can flat out ball. With him, Quattro, Williams, Big Joe, and please don't touch my raf, I see them right in the hunt for a conference championship.

@Centfan and @Reserved I hope you're both right! I'd love to see the Cent make its way to the upper echelon of division 3 basketball... @Reserved who all did F&M bring in?

Tough one for my Jags against those freaking Titans... Looks like they could be reverting back to their old ways but at least their defense seems to be up and coming! Speaking of defense... I know the best defender in the CC debate brought in many different opinions last year ranging from B-fed to Robbie Walsh to Matthew Tate to Remi "Boyz" Janicot and maybe even Owen McClouds... But I fully anticipate Kyle Doran out of Johns Hopkins to handcuff defenders on the perimeter and in the post. I hate to boost @Hopkinsnest ego but the kid can lock up. He's long enough and athletic enough where I think he's going to take his defensive intensity to a new level this year.

Afterthought*
I know this will not sit well with @Reserved but I don't see F&M getting back to their powerhouse tradition like they used to be after this year is over. G-Rob is sure to be leaving soon and with the losses of this senior class and G-Rob on his way out, look for the Dips to become the new Fords... A bye week at home and a light sweat on the road, but nonetheless an easy victory as long teams aren't out the night before or eating ridiculous pre-game meals such Mcdonalds or Chipotle.

2 more months my fellow fanatics!!!!

I like the hire of Jake Brown too Dave. Played his high school basketball in the northeast pa where he played aau under the great mentor of John Bucci. Bucci has a great basketball mind as well as being able to push his players and get the most out of them. Jake also played for Jeff Brown at Middlebury where they won a chip and I believe he also is Jake's uncle so the coaching has got to be in his blood there. Just over a month until the teams get on the grind and about two months until they start showing what they can truly do. The wait is killing me but at least we have football back!!!! Let's go jags!!!

Hank I usually agree with most all of your comments but I disagree with the Rindock prediction. Rindock's injury history did not serve him well last year as he was never able to fully hit his stride. A full year of him being healthy and the new fantastic hire by Goff will have this kid as the comeback player of the year and a chance at making first team all cc. I have to say I really like the hire of coach Hopkins and think he will be able to get the most out of his players. This is something that Muhlenberg just hasn't been able to do in the past few years for whatever the reason may be. Many bloggers seem to have different opinions on this subject and I won't say my opinion mainly because I don't want to upset the bday boy but expect Muhlenberg to make a push as a top dog in the cent within the next 5 years.

Wixted was a very good player and congrats to him on player of the year, but was he really the best player of the year?! Come on now back to reality. I'd personally still take Milligan to lead my team over him any day of the week.

Happy birthday Monix/Hopkinsnest! The Killing thing is a little mind boggling just because he was very very disappointing... talented but not very good. Probably got the shaft on the cc selections his senior year but who cares about a non playoff team. Killing is the guard version of boogie

Unless Swat brings in some good players they're just not winning it next year. Before everybody blows a gasket, let me say that they have only one guard who can handle pressure and that's wiley, and I hate to say this but i just have a gut feeling he will have to spend a good amount of time this year in the training room due to swats breakout performers almost always getting hurt in some capacity the next year.

One player I think is really gonna have a breakout year is Brian "please don't touch my raf" rafferty. No reason other than I just think he will do well this year. Ursinus could go places in the future but I think they settle for the 4/5 game this year and maybe win that playoff game but then ultimately lose to the 1 the next game if it comes to that.

Similarly to the way Lil B "the based god" put his based god curse on James Harden I am going to give out my Red Onwuatuegwu curse and curse F&M for the upcoming year as they will not win the cc this year. This is not a random curse and you could just consider my curse to them for the year a punishment because of the paying of players (not always in money) that occurs at F&M.

Be safe friends and I'm looking for a great year of cc ball in the 12th best conference in all of D3.

Speaking of NEWS.... I have heard from my buddy Lou in A-town that 6'7" stretch 4 Sam McClellan is not returning either. He said he hasn't heard about any other fellow Mules following in the footstep of Miller and now McClellan, another possible player to add to the Fords! Not sure what the reasoning was for it but this hurts a team that is already limited at the big position. Coach Hopkins really needs to keep the big German now or it could be a long year for the Mules.

Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 08, 2017, 06:09:35 PM
So when the three of you post in succession like that, are you all using the same computer or what?

Pat, I am one and posted on my own. I had no control over the succeeding posts to mine. I intend to discuss the cent news and stories as a follower and fan of the conference.

GoDiplomats: Couldn't agree more and you know very well that Miller struggled against top teams like the Dips themselves.

HopkinsNest: I think your miller-kidd comparison is a stretch for the "emotional leader" of the Mules. Look no further than last seasons stats where he posted a solid 23,26,50 (three%,fg%,ft%) stat line.

Monix: Preposterous.... A coach getting fired because of a blog?? There is definitely some ethical issues going on if that were to be the case.

Hank: Gaynor should help this year with a full year to recover and a new staff. Coming out of high school he reminded me a lot of former Mules player Alec Stavetski who had a solid career with the Mules before injuries plagued him. Key to the success for the Mules though will lie in keeping the big German.

McClary's elite recruiting ability could also lead to Kaslander and English making the move to the fords if were throwing out other cent players possibly looking to make the switch. Kaslander can really play and would add a nice dimension to the fords on the mainline.

Product of a kid who wasn't very good and coach couldn't get the most out of him. No loss for the Mules here as here tended to be a cancer to the team from what it looks like. @Hank you really bring up a good point about if it was due to the resignation of McClary or if it had to involve some other factor. Mules team will definitely look different next year and look for improvement out of a kid like Owen McCloud. Very talented player who could use a bit of new coaching that can hopefully lead to some success for the Somerset standout.

Any news on the Haverford hiring? If the McClary claims about him being an applicant are true, maybe we can see a transfer out of Miller from the Mules to the Fords.

Thank you Dave.

Brown leaving doesn't surprise me at all. Didn't look himself at times last year and Dickinson wasn't his first choice. I have also received word that another Red Devil is most likely going to transfer and that's Corey Sherman. Must be a new trend with these Lower Merion kids... Kobe went a full career having to deal with jabronis such as Steve Blake, Dennis Rodman, Samaki Walker, Sasha Vujacic, Slava Medvedenko, Vladimir Radmanovic, Brian Cook, Smush Parker, and Kwame Brown and he never bounced. I'm intrigued to see if the same thing can happen to another possible CC recruit from Lower Merion, Noah Fennell. Heard Fennell was receiving interest from g-rob and dips. @GoDiplomats have you heard anything on the recruitment of Fennell?

Hank: Your picks are pretty spot on. Scary thing is that Dickinson was left off because they only had one senior last year who didn't play till the second half of the year and even then, he did not see much time on the court... This is a team that made it to the finals and competed hard with the champs twice on their home court. (first in regular season and second in finals) They will be looking to make another run at the chip this year after bringing everybody back and you know Seretti will get them playing their best ball late in the season as he always does. Look for them to have a solid year once again. @Corp, maybe their success from late last year can draw in bigger crowds this year for a tougher home court?

Dave: Thanks for the update. Understandable you can't release any insider information right now but please update us when you can on the Hopkins position. I know @HopkinsNest will be very excited to see who takes the lead in Baltimore.

*Quick side note... Hopkins can get some very good turnouts in their gym that can get quite rowdy, but what happened with the playoff game this year??? Seemed as if nobody was there from watching it online and were talking about a freakin playoff game!