MBB: Centennial Conference

[Swat Fan #1]

"I would also like to comment on the Swarthmore fans yesterday.  Get up for your games!   There was an overrated chant for 2 seconds and then I saw its fans going for a free buffet.  Was there an email going out to the campus inviting people to come because of a free buffet.  SAD!"

I didn't see it like this at all. I thought the crowd was great. I also thought Swarthmore put up a heck of fight with their #2 scorer not playing because of injury and their #3 scorer barely playing because of an injury. To only lose by 10 (after getting beaten by over 40 earlier in the season) was pretty darn good.

Swarthmore is basically playing with all Freshmen and Sophomores this year, so I feel they will be much improved next year. Kober, Federer, and Cheney are all quality Freshmen that will all start next year. I see Swarthmore having the same starting five for the next two years, which will help a lot. Look for Kober to average 15-16 next year as he is a real talent (great kid too). I also see the backcourt of  Martinez and Federer as being much improved. Do I see them winning the conference - no. Do I feel they will be very competitive over the next two years - yes. I forsee a year where they finish .500.

[diplomaniac1]

Folks -

Here are the "Pick-Ems" results for last week's games and the to-date standings:

NAME   LAST WEEK   TO-DATE   PERCENTAGE
         
R. W. McNickles   0 – 0   1 – 0   1.000
Reserved Seat   6 – 4   31 – 13    .705
HighHoops   0 – 0    13 – 6    .684
Gabriel   7 – 3    38 – 18    .679
Diplomaniac1   8 – 2    33 – 18    .647
BRCE4   0 – 0    0 – 0    .000

Regards to all.

Eric

[docmarc]

Swat Dad- the crowd was mostly made up of the away group.  The F&M crowd was passionate and into the game a great deal.  And that is sad because Swarthmore kids did play a good game- tough zone and shooting well in the first half.

Coleman- money comes from sponsorship.  If Coke Zero can have a booth at Salem, how are they not a sponsor for this website.  SPONSORS PAY THE BILLS and potentially your salary.  Look at how certain sites out there got huge- like jump the shark.com, etc.

Gordanmann- Also, F&M does not charge for online video feed.  Gettysburg can charge, but Division 3 basketball had a golden opportunity based on the national spotlight it received with the G Rob interview on ESPN 2 and the articles in the NY times and Philly Inquirer.  I know at least a dozen people that went online to watch the game and then decided to go back to ESPN and watch G-town/ Syracuse because they would have had to pay $6 to watch that game.  That is serious missed opportunity for D3 hoops! 

[Pat Coleman]

docmarc -- it takes about triple the traffic we have to get that kind of sponsorship. Coke Zero is in Salem because it's an NCAA event. We're not affiliated with a larger entity like that.

I'm aware sponsors pay the bills! They pay ours, too, just not in a large way.

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

Well the Lusty one is back from a great weekend of basketball and poker in Southeast PA.  I think it is a great credit to Coach Robinson the way he reinvented this team during the season, and F&M is starting to play like the top defensive team it was a year ago. 

The Swat atmosphere was nothing to write home about, but it was what it was.  The school just isnt known for basketball, but at least the few fans didnt embarrass themselves with stupid chants the way Ursinus students usually do.  Hopefully this will be the last such type of atmosphere has to play in this season

[docmarc]

Lusty-  the overrated chant at Swarthmore lasted only a few seconds.  At least there were not any safety school chants. 

Well it is official that the centennial conference tourney will be in Lancaster at the Mayser Center.  See everyone there!

[Gabriel]

Picks for the week

2/16/2011
Muhlenberg over Haverford----in a dogfight with home court winning
Dickinson over Gettysburg---another close one with home court winning
Ursinus over Washington---Bears playing much better lately
F&M over JHU---Dips just so much better
Swat over McDaniel---Swat is due and they are at home

2/19/2011
JHU over Washington---for pride
Gettysburg over McDaniel---home court in a close one
Haverford over Swat---Fords fight for survival
F&M over Dickinson---Dips finish strong
Ursinus over Muhlenberg---Bears continue their come back

Wow!  If all of this happens, playoffs are in a turmoil. I just hope!

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

F&M makes top 15 of the rankings and is top ranked Mid Atlantic team.  I think this is clearly based on recent play over season wide play.  My stats show F&M has been significantly improved on defense during the year, but theyre just not what they were a year ago.  However, where they have dramatically improved is on offense.  My stats show, per possession, their play the last nine games would put them right around where Williams and UWSP were entering the tournament a year ago.  Obviously, these stats are not adjusted for opponent quality, but if F&M can maintain where they've been the last month or so, i see no reason why they cannot make another deep tournament run.

[commish]

Can't make it out to a game tonight? Enjoy all the action on your computer at the Conference's "C-Zone" - our one-stop channel. We'll have cameras at all five venues and you can also join in the conversation on our live blog or on Twitter. Be part of the action!

C-Zone: http://www.centennial.org/sports/mbkb/c-zone
Live Blog: http://centennialconference.blogspot.com/2011/02/centennial-hoops-tonight.html

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Week 3 Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/16/ncaa-2011-regional-rankings-week-3/

[Reserved Seat]

This week's guesses

2/16/2011
Muhlenberg--home court --Liddic,Curry
Dickinson--young and improving
Ursinus--still sticking with Bears
F&M--too many options
Swat--pure guess

2/19/2011
Gettysburg--Powers 'swan song'
Haverford--hustle to victory
F&M--senior night
Muhlenberg---Ursinus struggles
Washington--another pure guess

[diplomaniac1]

Folks -

Here are my picks for tonight's games:

Muhlenberg over Haverford (@ the Mule Barn)
Gettysburg over Dickinson (Bullets really need a win)
Ursinus over Washington (at home and just a bit better)
F&M over Johns Hopkins (just better all around)
McDaniel over Swarthmore (more athletic)

Enjoy the games! Regards to all.

Eric

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

another good win for fandm last night.  theyve finally gotten to dominating these conference games the way we expected.  I started to take a look at Pool C.  Right now, i see at minimum 14 Pool C candidates that would be good competition for F+M if the Diplomats lose in the conference tournament, and thats not counting the CSAC 2-3.  Throw them in and thats 16.  With only 18 Pool C bids, i'm still fearful that F+M might have to win the CC to get a bid.

the good thing for F+M in these rankings is that whoever wins last usually wins best.  if they beat dickinson, they should be able to take a strong regional ranking into selection sunday.

[oldford]

It is not impossible that three teams could end up 10-8:
Gettysburg and McDaniel are each 10-7 and play each other so someone has to be 10-8
Ursinus beats Muhlenburg (Ursinus keeps getting better, Muhlenburg has injured players)
Haverford beats Swat

My interest as a Ford is what it takes for Haverford to qualify assuming they beat Swat which is never, ever a given. I assume McDaniel and Ursinus trump Haverford as each beat Franklin and Marshall. If, however, Gettysburg winds up 10-8, they will have been swept by McDaniel and F&M unlike the other teams and I think that gives the Fords the nod??

[r.w. mcnickels]

the good thing for F+M in these rankings is that whoever wins last usually wins best.  if they beat dickinson, they should be able to take a strong regional ranking into selection sunday.

No matter if they beat Dickinson or not, if they lose in the CC semis, they'll likely be playing in ECACs. And maybe even with a semi win and loss in the title game.