MBB: Centennial Conference

Gabriel · October 14, 2011, 04:14:03 PM

Basketball practice starts next week. Preseason picks will be announced very soon. I will give you all something to shoot at and get things started with my preseason picks in the following order:

1. F&M---the defending champs return some key players in Milligan, Gyokchyan and Beckford
2. Muhlenberg---finished strong last year and return Liddic, Hargrove, Curry and others
3. Dickinson---great year last year and return most key players except Dolan
4. Ursinus---primarily a sophomore and junior team led by Ward and Krasna. Should be much improved
5. Haverford---always scrappy led by Baker and Goldberg

d3hoopsfan · October 15, 2011, 11:16:20 AM

McDaniel is definitely in the top 5, returning everyone from last year and healthy...

Gabriel · October 15, 2011, 03:16:40 PM

Quote from: d3hoopsfan on October 15, 2011, 11:16:20 AM
McDaniel is definitely in the top 5, returning everyone from last year and healthy...

d3hoopsfan,

O.K., how would you rank them. Understand that we do this not knowing much about the incoming freshmen etc.

centfan · October 15, 2011, 07:53:57 PM

f&m and muhlenberg in the top tier.
haverford,ursinus, mcdaniel in the second tier
dickinson,gettysburg,washington in the third tier
hopkins, and swat at the bottom

d3hoopsfan · October 16, 2011, 10:34:48 AM

Well Gabriel,

I would first take a look at the playoff teams from last year:

1) F & M- They were the top team last year and deserve to at least be the favorite again. However, I do feel the loss of McNally & Baker will impact them more than some may think. I wouldn't be surprised if F & M doesn't win the league this year.

2) Dickinson- The loss of Dolan will again really hurt Dickinson w/ scoring and rebounding. Still returning alot of quality players, but I see them taking a step back this year. Battling for the 4 & 5 playoff spot.

3) Gettysburg- Powers and Kennedy gone, I see them falling out of the playoff race for this season.

4) McDaniel- Like I said before, an experienced senior led team that returns everybody. I see them in the playoffs again.

5) Haverford- Permutt loss will hurt, but like you said always scrappy and well coached. I see Haverford battling for that 5th playoff spot or on the outside looking in.

I find it difficult to rank teams now 1-5, but I see the following teams as the top 5 and being in the playoffs this season:

F&M, Dickinson, McDaniel, Ursinus, Muhlenberg

I wouldn't be surprised though if Haverford bumped one of those teams out of a spot.

Washington, Gettysburg is the next teir, followed by JHU and Swat

With that being said, I think this will be a very competitive season in the Centennial!

Reserved Seat · October 16, 2011, 09:54:41 PM

Still too early to pick the top teams. Too many freshmen to deal with. F&M lost a lot of points, but still proved they could win without McNally at full strength after his injury at Dickinson. F&M has a lot of impressive looking freshmen. How soon they can learn the system will tell how far they can go. I like how Muhlenberg and Dickinson played last year.
Will Gettysburg have any of the suspended players back? Can Ursinus' 7-foot freshman develop into a player? Didn't seem to dominate in high school, but he's still a 7-foot player. Without knowing what freshmen will become key players, I see Muhlenberg giving F&M a challenge.

Gabriel · October 17, 2011, 12:49:36 PM

d3hoopsfan & Reserved Seat,

Thanks for the input. I agree we know little about the impact of freshmen and/or transfers. There seems to be a consensus that McDaniel will be in the playoffs and on second thought, I would agree with that.

Ursinus will be much better this year. Their 7 footer is a project. His primary role this year will likely be to make Jon Ward and Kevin Janowski better by challenging them every day at practice. Hopefully, he will be a starter as a junior and senior. The other three freshmen will likely get more court time and will make the Bears a much better rebounding and defensive team. Last year they were way too soft.

diplomaniac1 · October 17, 2011, 04:44:53 PM

For any in-the-area Diplomat fans -

See the link below to the Men's Basketball page.

http://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/201110117trkd7

See you there! Reagrds,

Eric

Gabriel · October 19, 2011, 11:42:13 AM

My preseason picks for CC All Conference teams:

First Team
Georgio Milligan F&M
Kevin Breslin Washington
Spencer Liddic Muhlenberg
Jon Ward Ursinus
Cam Baker Haverford

Second Team
Ian Goldberg Haverford
Will Gates Swarthmore
Jesse Krasna Ursinus
Hayk Gyokchyan F&M
Adam Honig Dickinson

Honorable Mention
Devon Lesniak McDaniel
Kevin Hargrove Mushlenberg
Brandon Beckford F&M
Brian Gerney Dickinson
Phil Walker Ursinus

POY--Milligan, Liddic or Ward---depending on who hosts the playoffs

ROY--Phil Walker

O.K. people, shoot at it!!!!

Reserved Seat · October 19, 2011, 01:06:27 PM

Gabriel,
Good start, but F&M could have as many as 3 freshmen starting or at least playing significant time.

Gabriel · October 19, 2011, 04:06:56 PM

Quote from: Reserved Seat on October 19, 2011, 01:06:27 PM
Gabriel,
Good start, but F&M could have as many as 3 freshmen starting or at least playing significant time.

Reserved Seat,

As will Ursinus in Walker, Harry, and Kamara. Ursinus will be a sophomore/junior led team as Ursinus is recovering from two weak recruiting classes----losing their top recruit from this year's senior class two years ago and from last year's class three years ago.

At this point I don't have a clue about the other teams and their recruits so none of us really know how good the frosh will be. I have seen Phil Walker play and believe he will be a very special player during his four years at Ursinus. I may be at the Mayser Center on November 30 so tell me where your "Reserved Seat" is so we can meet. I hope it will be a competitive game.

Reserved Seat · October 19, 2011, 10:03:03 PM

Four rows above the scorers' table behind the home scorekeeper. Bench seat 20
F&M's Midnight Madness is tomorrow night--the season has officially started.

Gabriel · October 20, 2011, 09:14:29 AM

Reserved Seat,

Thanks, I will make it a point to look you up if I get there. At my age, I must take it day to day.
Mayser is a great venue as I have seen many Ursinus/F&M games there. They have been memorable.

Reserved Seat · October 20, 2011, 03:50:24 PM

Milligan, Liddic, and Ward named to preseason All-American teams. Hopefully all 3 can live up to their billing.

Swat Fan #1 · October 20, 2011, 05:17:48 PM

No love at all for Swat! Ok I am going out on a limb and saying that they will be tier III this year. I am hoping for at least six league wins this year. A shift in their lineup will make them much much bigger and a returner from two years ago will have some coaches shaking their heads saying, "I thought this guy was gone." I see 6'5 6'5 6'7 6'9 for positions 2-5 with a new shooting point guard. Look for Jay Kober to compliment Swat's other scorer really well. Kober is the real deal. Kober and Gates will make a great duo this year as they move to the 2/3. F&M wins the national championship with the best DIII player in the country.