MBB: Centennial Conference

[Gabriel]

I agree.  Ursinus always knows how to come off a tough loss.  Coach Smalls is one of the best in-game coaches I've seen, he can make great adjustments at TOs and Halftime. 

Gettysburg, on the other hand, is not a contender period.  They have some solid players: I think Powers has potential to become an all-american, and I think Capkin plays his heart out.  BUT they also have some weaknesses: Spierenburg does a lot of great stuff like getting blocks, making great cuts, but he can easily be defended by a bigger guy because he's not very quick and he's easy to push around.  Also, Dorsey is a JOKE.  I've never seen a D3 player with a worse off-hand dribble.  He plays like a chump and think's he's the best player on that team and probably in the league.  If you put a guard defender right on him tight and tell him to go for the steal everytime Dorsey dribbles then he won't score all game.  Until Gettysburg learns to work around Powers as their focal point and get an inside out game to Capkin/Spierenberg, those guys will not be legitimate contenders. 

Kevin Small does not get enough credit for what he has done at Ursinus.  He was not even a full time employee until about two to three years ago. He was working three jobs until he was hired full time.  He has not had a full time paid assistant for the past three years, since Joe Rulewich left although Mike McGarvey is probably going to fill that role.  He took a program that was morbid at best and molded a first class program.  He does it through hard work, relentless recruiting, smart coaching and keeping in close touch with his players.  The success at Ursinus is no accident and it will continue.  They may not win the conference every year but they will be in the hunt every year.

As opposed to Gettysburg, Coach Small stays positive during every game and sticks with his rotation even if the kids make mistakes.  The players are confident because they know the coach has confidence in them.

[ne-ball]

no question that ursinus is a "family" and that has huge dividends. i had the pleasure of meeting a couple of their former players (mcgarvey, stanton) when they worked with some young athletes and they are special people. fine young men, devoted athletes and great attitudes that make them models for the younger kids. no surprise that it comes from the top down and creates a program with alot of heart and comradery.

[old ends]

Results for 12/6

Second Half

Dipsetdynasty          4  -  1
Gabriel                    3  -  2
D.B.Cooper              3  -  2
Diplomanic1             3  -  2
ne-ball                   3  -  2
old ends                  3  -  2
r.w.mcnickels           2  -  3
Reserved Seat         2  -  3
UniqueNewYork       2  -  3
Brce4                    1  -  4

Overall

Dipsetdynasty         8  -  2
Diplomanic1             8  -  2
old ends                 8  -  2
Reserved Seat         7  -  3
ne-ball                  7  -  3
D.B.Cooper             7  -  3
UniqueNewYork        6  -  4
r.w.mcnickels          6  -  4
Gabriel                    3  -  2
Brce4                     5  -  5

As you have stated this could be a good tight race this year. Some of the teams we all tought would win.. well it just did not happen.

I agree with Reserved that the home court advantage should not have been that big a difference. Must look at the stats and see what happened.

[old ends]

Picks-ems for 12/9 and 12/10.

12/9
Moravian at Swarthmore

12/10
Hunter at F & M

These games are part of the first half standings. There will not be any conference games until 1/7/09. So from now until then all first half.

recap of 1st half so far
Overall

Diplomatic1             15  -  3 ( .833)
ne-ball                    19  -  4 ( .826)
r.w.mcnickels           19  - 5 ( .792)
Reserved Seat         18  -  5 ( .783)
Old ends                 18  -  5 ( .783)
Brce4                     18  -  5 ( .783)
D.B.Cooper              17  -  6 ( .739)
Dipset Dynasty        16  -  8 ( .667)
UniqueNewYork          9  -  6 ( .600)

enjoy

[old ends]

In reviewing the stats for the Ursinus -- Gettysburg game, two things jump out

1. Gettysburg shot 38.5% from the floor
     15.8 % 3-pts shots
      52.6% from the foul line.

     Ursinus   49.2% from the floor
      39.3% 3 pt shots
      81.3% on the foul line

2.  Gettysburg 21 turnovers
      Ursinus 16 turnovers, 3 blocks, and 13 steals.

Points in the paint-GC 28,UC 26. Points off turnovers-GC 17,UC 24.
2nd chance points-GC 13,UC 7. Fast break points-GC 0,UC 4.
Bench points-GC 17,UC 25.

Gettysburg just does not look like they were there.

[UniqueNewYork]

Picks-ems for 12/9 and 12/10.

12/9
Swarthmore

12/10
F & M

[Reserved Seat]

Picks-ems for 12/9 and 12/10.

12/9
Moravian(have some good wins and some bad losses)

12/10
F & M

[ne-ball]

rw...not sure about chaz's status, but he did not play, you are right. no news on that.

[BRCE4]

After my awful picks on Saturday, I'll go with Moravian and F&M

[D.B. Cooper]

next picks

Moravian
F&M

[dipsetdynasty]

Moravian and F&M

[Gabriel]

My picks are Moravian and F&M

[diplomaniac1]

Folks -

Mr picks for 12/9 and 12/10 are:

Moravian
F&M

I was at the F&M game on Saturday. The observation that I will make is that the Dips would have lost this type of game last year when the Mules started their run of threes. The Dips let a lot of leads perish in similar types of situations in the second half of many games last year. While one game does not a season make, this is a very hopeful sign for the Dips and their fans!

I agree that the Dips appear to be quicker and more atheletc this year. Also, this team appears to be tougher mentally and more "coachable". I thought that Balderston (No. 34) gave some strong minutes defensively off of the bench in the first half - a pleasant surprise. Finally, having a point guard with a two-dimensional game (both scoring and running the offense) is a big plus.

Good luck to all! Hopefully, the off-weeks in December will go by fast and the second half will be here soon! Regards.

Eric

[old ends]

Picks for 12/9 and 12/10

Swarthmore  12/9
F & M    12/10

Very good information from all. +k's to ya

[old ends]

Stats thru 12/8 are in,

SCORING OFFENSE
## Team                  G   W-L   Pts Avg/G
--------------------------------------------
1.Franklin & Marshall.  6   6-0   484  80.7
2.Ursinus.............        6   5-1   479  79.8


SCORING DEFENSE
## Team                  G   Pts Avg/G
--------------------------------------
1.McDaniel............    6   347  57.8
2.Gettysburg..........  5   295  59.0

FREE THROW PERCENTAGES
## Team                  G    FTM   FTA   Pct
---------------------------------------------
1.Ursinus.............       6     85   110  .773
2.Johns Hopkins.......  7    114   153  .745

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGES
## Team                     G     FG   FGA   Pct
---------------------------------------------
1.Ursinus.............       6    173   335  .516
2.Franklin & Marshall.  6    182   366  .497


3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGES
## Team                      G     FG   FGA   Pct
---------------------------------------------
1.Franklin & Marshall.  6     18    35  .514
2.Ursinus.............        6     48   125  .384

REBOUNDING MARGIN
## Team                  G  TEAM   Avg  OPP   Avg Margin
--------------------------------------------------------
1.Muhlenberg..........  5   217  43.4  164  32.8  +10.6
2.Franklin & Marshall.  6   239  39.8  187  31.2   +8.7


See it all:http://www.centennial.org/basketball/men/2009stats/confldrs.htm

enjoy