MBB: Centennial Conference

[bball2020]

Sorry to see your team lose. I will ignore your "class" comment and be the bigger person.
You certainly won't hear me say anything about them losing as you donwith other teams. Have a good offseason too. Until next October, have a safe spring and summer.

[bball2020]

Was that towards me? Not sure what u are talking about???

[donho]

  It sure was 2020. But it is my bad I put someone else's post to your name. It was directed towards you by mistake. SORRY!

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

2020 touchy are we? If you look at all my posts on this board I was refering to a post that said last night would be tougher for F+M than last year at St.Mary's. I took that post as refering to the site of St. Mary's Not the St. Mary's game itself.

oh, i gotta admit, from what i saw online VaW had nothing as a site compare to SMC.  No empty seats in SMC and more of a confined space

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

Tough loss, especially with such a substantial lead late in the first.

I really thought of Robinson was going to get a national title, it would have been this year. After two years ago, making the final four with mostly freshmen and sophomores, I thought this would be the year. Now, it's tough to see if F&M will ever get one under Robinson.

This was not the year.  F&M was given a terrible draw in the NCAA tourney.  And winning a tourney is all about who you play, when it is and where it is.  Look at 2009, an unbelievable draw for F&M.

to be fair, they did not receive an unbelievable a draw in 09.  they got a good draw in the first round, but the second weekend was due to huge upsets in the rest of their bracket. 

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

Well as I am driving back from Va wesleyan I must simply write that this loss will take a few days to get over.  The refs in this game are ten times worse than those in the centennial conference.  The one guy looked almost 90.  Anyway more later.  Rough night indeed.  Congrats to f and m and the seniors.

Goodjob making the trip Doc. thats the other hard part of the trip, the drive home after a loss (its the main reason i didnt attend the jets/pats playoff game this year).  From what i gathered on tv, the refs were equally egregious with the fouls. But my biggest issue was with multiple uncalled travellings in the first half.

At least on the way back I did not get a ticket through slower lower Delaware.  What an awful state!  Anyway, the best was after the game when Coach came int our reception and said that he was running late because he had to fill out a comment card on the refs.  It is not fair when refs are too involved in the outcome of games- in Division 3 it is bad!

THE SIMPSONS ARE GOING TO DELAWARE!  I want to visit wilmington!!!!

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

Once again, Congratulations to F&M on a great season and to Tolliver, James and Mike on a great career.

the Lusty one is signing off for the season.  best wishes to all

[r.w. mcnickels]

A frustrating loss for F&M but an excellent effort on the road against one of the top teams in the tourney. A few things seemed similar to last year's loss to Randolph-Macon in the Elite Eight, so I checked the box scores. Free throws and 3-point shooting (both including the perimeter game of the opponent) doomed the Dips both years:

2010, Elite Eight vs. Randolph-Macon (at St. Mary's)
12-20 FT shooting
1-for-9 beyond the arc
RMC goes 11-for-20 beyond the arc

2011, Second Round at Virginia Wesleyan
12-24 FT shooting
1-for-7 beyond the arc
VWC goes 8-for-18 beyond the arc

Despite this, F&M had a chance to win on VWC's home floor. You could feel the tide changing when the Marlins hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the game. VWC should have a decent chance at beating Williams if they get hot from the perimeter, and if they play better defense in the post than they did against F&M.

A tremendous effort by Milligan, who I think belongs on one of the All-America teams. It was good to see McNally play like he did before the injuries, scoring on several nice moves.

[LustyLarryintheToilet]

i agree rw.  F&M left a lot of points on the floor, from the FTs to a few twos where the shooter's foot was on the line. 

good analysis, when i get karma back you are getting a point!

[r.w. mcnickels]

Best of luck to Mike Baker, James McNally and Steve Tolliver. They helped the F&M program rise from the ashes four years ago, ending up with 8 NCAA wins and 2 CC titles after many people thought the program was heading south for good. But aside from their many individual honors, I will remember most the way they played the game—with class. Well done guys, and good luck.

[Gabriel]

Best of luck to Mike Baker, James McNally and Steve Tolliver. They helped the F&M program rise from the ashes four years ago, ending up with 8 NCAA wins and 2 CC titles after many people thought the program was heading south for good. But aside from their many individual honors, I will remember most the way they played the game—with class. Well done guys, and good luck.

r.w.,

Agree with all the accolades.  Great kids who will do well in whatever they choose to do.

[Gabriel]

Swat Dad,

A few days ago you started to talk about next year.  I guess now we can after a very mediocre year for the Centennial Conference.  You think Swat will be good next year and they definitely will be better.  How Swat  measures up with the other teams is yet to be seen.  Based on returning players, I think Muhlenberg, Dickinson, F&M and Ursinus will be the top tier followed by Swarthmore and McDaniel.  F&M may be the favorite but not the overwhelming favorite they were this year.  Gettysburg loses a lot and JHU has a long way to go.

Much depends on recruiting and one thing about not being in the playoffs----coaches can focus on wrapping up next year's recruiting.  That's what it's all about and that's what is happening.

Ursinus always tries to schedule New England----in particular NESCAC schools. The last three years we have been to tip off tournaments at Williams, Hamilton and Wesleyan.  Hope we do it again next year. They are fun and in my neighborhood.  I am a believer in tough schedules with a good mix of road games.

How about some thoughts from you and others.

[Swat Fan #1]

Gabriel -

I think you are spot on with all except Haverford who I also see being good.

My prediction:
FM
Dickinson
Muhlenberg
Ursinus
Haverford

I am hoping Swarthmore finishes out of last place. Is that realistic - yes. The upper half next year - no.  I wish Swarthmore would head north as I am over four hours away and it is tough to get to games. Thanks for the reply!

[d3hoopsfan]

I think your top 5 teams in no particular order are:

F & M (Won't be as tough next year w/o McNally, Baker, and Tolliver- it depends on who steps up to help Milligan)

McDaniel-  Only lost 1 senior and return all their starters and top players.  Senior laden team next year and will finally have a healthy Sarris-Grau

Dickinson- Losing Dolan will really hurt them offensively and on the boards.  Although they have nice guard play, they lack an inside presence.

Ursinus-  Replacing Hilton's points will be the key and have someone step up to help Ward.  Krasna should have a bigger year next season as a Soph.

Muhlenberg-  Liddic.  They also will get nice contributions from the big kid and Curry. 

with Haverford a close 6 (losing Permutt is going to really hurt their inside game)

Swat will get out of the basement next year, but I think are two years away from potential playoff run

Wash and Gettysburg won't be easy wins for anybody, but just seem to be missing pieces next year

JHU will struggle in a very competitive Centennial next season...

[centfan]

top four teams are
f&m,muhlenberg,haverford,mcdaniel
dickinson and ursinus fight for 5th
swat and hopkins battle again for last
that is based on no info on recruits...as we know, a good freshman tilts the scales