MBB: Centennial Conference

[Reserved Seat]

F&M had an unexpected easy time as they built a dominating first half lead(39-15) and coast to a 22 point win.  F&M unraveled a little down the stretch playing a mixture of starters and subs.  The combination of players couldn't  get in sync.  Surprising F&M controlled the boards despite some decent height on Gettysburg.  Lee played a strong game under the basket causing the Bullets to get in foul trouble.  The first half reminded me of the F&M/Dickinson where F&M could do nothing right, only it was Gettysburg who couldn't do anything right.  Eggers played a solid game for the Diplomats, and Figueroa kept up his strong shooting.  Few 3s were taken and fewer were made.

[Hoopdog14]

Dickinson topped Muhlenberg by 12.  Despite being down 5 at the half the game was hardly in doubt.  Again the lack of defense was quite evident.  McClary seems to have decided he will ride Rindock and Hunter on offense regardless of how they get beat on the defensive end.  Both were used as turnstiles for the Devils players going to the iron.  More than once they were beaten end to end despite a half court head start.  Giving up 90 points will not win you any games.

Killing and LaRose seem to be sacrificed on the offensive end to the detriment of the team.  Hunter again was in foul trouble trying to contain Dickisons big men who can nail the 3s.  There just are not enough places to hide the lack of defense.  Schreer seems to be fading into the woodwork while MCleod shows flashes of promise.

Dickinson had to many weapons that could go to the hole or nail the 3 and usually uncontested. Dickinson has the tools to go deep into the tournament.  For the Mules the season is fading fast

[givengo]

Dickinson did not play as well as they should have tonight defensively. They parked in a zone a few times that didn't work for them at all.   They'll work that out.  Gerry Wixted had another great game-- high scorer with 24, adding 9 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Yet when he was kicked in the face during a scrum and came out of the game, the Red Devils went on a 13 point run.  The team has nice depth. 
Muhlenberg has the pieces they need going forward; some truly nice players.

[CCD3Basketball]

Everything went about as I expected it to last night, albeit I didn't really see F&M cruising that easily. However, Sean Gordon only played 6 minutes for the Bullets according to the box score. I assume some sort of injury? Can anybody provide insight?

I figured Hopkins would get a tough matchup from McDaniel. What I DIDN'T see was Tim Stewart scoring over half of the Green Terror's points. Getting hardly any production from the guards did them in.

I wasn't overly surprised at the Dickinson/Muhlenberg score. Over the last few years with the likes of Wixted/Honig//Angradi and Killing/Curry/Hargrove etc., high scoring contests seem to be more of the norm than the exception.

I expected Haverford to win last night.....they were due for a win bad and got one on their home court over a still improving but young Ursinus squad.

Only one game on the schedule tonight between WC and Swat, and as of right now it has no bearing on the playoff chase.

[Hoopdog14]

givengo

I don't disagree with you.  Mules do have some nice players however right now some have very limited skills on both ends of the court. At this point in the season you would expect them to show some type of improvement on both ends.  That improvement has not materialized.  One key piece missing right now seems to be the will to win.  And no relief in sight as they go to McDaniel this weekend at McDaniel's den

[givengo]

Right Hoopdog,
I was thinking more about next year, and not the current season.  They've got guards who shoot and penetrate well,  a big guy who could be decent.   Defense?  You're right-- problems there.
I give Muhlenberg my vote for best game program in the Centennial. Whoever is responsible does a nice job of coming up with pertinent facts for both teams and good head to head comparisons useful to both home and visiting fans.

[Gabriel]

Haverford breaks 9 game losing streak and wins a close one 68-63 against Ursinus. Was expecting more of Ursinus based upon recent posts of  their improvement.  Bears are still a big work in progress.  Haverford guards had their pick of easy shots against pourous defense.  Matt Sherman a sophmore is developing into a top guard in conference for Fords. Keep your eye on him in future years for Haverford.  Surprised Ursinus waited untill late to take advantage of Haverford weak interior defense. By the time they figured it out, was too late to overcome 14 pt  hole  they were in. Joseph  Lostracco a 6'8 280 bear had his day with countless 2foot layups to close lead.  Bears with  terrible shot selection at the end- down 3 under a minute, and didnt get a shot off that made it  to hoop.  The growing pains of underclass men.

hoop master,

Actually the Bears trailed for most of the game after the first five minutes or so.  Ursinus was down by 20 with 10 minutes to go and then rallied to within 3.  Like every other team, I am quite sure the Ursinus game plan was to pound the ball inside against a very small Haverford line up.  The problem with a young team, is getting the players to execute the game plan.   Clearly, they did not until the final 10 minutes when they scored down low at will.  Then they proceeded to butcher the final minute.  Probably a lot of teaching points in today's film session.  Clearly a disappointing performance by the Bears.

[Hoopdog14]

givengo

I think in large part you are right, it depends on the habits they develop now and they are getting worse.  There big men need work.  A 6'10" guy in the CC should be dominant. But the issue remains at the top.  Not sure how that is solved.  Winning needs to start at the top and you need to let the guys who do know how to win help the rest.  All coaches have a whistle but not every one who has a whistle is a coach.  McClary record has deteriorated with each passing year.

But you are right about the game program.  Most seem to put no effort into it.  You can pick up the Mules program and get a good sense for the game you are about to see.

[hoop master]

Hoopdog

Mules may just be adjusting  this year in their rotations missing Hargrove and Curry as past  solid go tos beside Killing. Certainly their presence helped give Mallick the opportunity to do his thing and run the floor as teams needed to spread focus,on defense besides him.  It takes time each year when key srs graduate and underclassmen take the prime time role, and establish a consistancy.  I agree. though defense usually revolves around effort, and coaching staff needs to respond accordingly.  Thats where bench depth helps give the coach alternatives.  Mules will be in running for the battle for 4/5 playoff position. 

[CC Fan]

Rough night for the Bullets at F&M to say the least.  I think they will respond very well Saturday with Ursinus visiting.  They owe them from their earlier trip to Collegeville! Gordon will be back and ready to go.  I look for an aggressive Bullets squad to come out ready to play and get back in the win column.  Most likely they are playing to at least host the 4-5 game, and possibly sneak into a 3 spot.  Time will tell, they will likely need to beat F&M, or JHU on the road, never easy, and get a win against McDaniel to take away the head to head if tied with the Terrors.  Interestingly enough, Gburg beat Dickinson, McDaniel beat F&M, so it is important where those two finish for tie breaking circumstances too.  I am certainly not discounting JHU, but McD and Gburg each have lost to them. And they can't have a slip up against a bottom half team. They have a tough stretch coming after, and including Saturday also, Dickinson at home, then hit the road to Muhl, JHU, and Haverford.  And then finish up at home with F&M and McD!! They could gain some ground, or also fade away.  I hope they don't allow SWAT, Muhl, or Ursinus to believe they can crawl back into the last playoff spot!

[Hoopdog14]

Hoop Master

With all due respect what Mules team have you been watching?  Missing Hargrove and Curry as only "go to" guys after Killing last year.  Stavetski then a sophomore avg 13.2ppg while  "go to" seniors  Hargrove 10.5ppg and Curry 8.9 followed.  And in the playoff loss to McDaniel last year the "go to" guys had a total of 5 points.

Clearly the underclass haven't developed defensively no matter the rotations or trying to hide them in a zone.  They are slow and un- athletic and teams have taken advantage of that.  Stavetski, the second leading scorer and rebounder is out for the year and that has hurt on many levels.  Additionally a consistent point guard (it should be McLeod) and LaRose is more suited to be an overpowering wing man than power forward would be a good start. The bench is weak and the rotations are ill-advised. 

Finish 4/5?  Given their current record 3-8 and their schedule it is almost mathematically impossible.  They are 0-6 on the road and face Ursinus, Swarthmore, Dickinson and McDaniel on the road.  At home, marginally winning record at 3-2 with Haverford, Gettysburg and F&M at Memorial Hall.  Those don't look like a scenario where they will leap 2-3 spots.  A reasonable guess is they get 3-4 wins giving them same number of wins McDaniel (currently 5th place) have now. 

[Hooper]

With all due respect...  They struggle defensively cause they have to play 4 "gaurds".  Losing Hargrove was huge.   3rd all-time shot blocker in CC and a rim protector.   Hunter is progressing offensively, but he is no Hargrove defensively.  The part you are missing is a Bovino/Forsman and even Albano on the defensive end from last few years.  Big, strong in the middle at the 4 to complement the Center.  This team plays "small" because they have to and most of the CC is bigger and older.   They start 2 6' 4" "gaurds" in LaRose/Rindock with Killing/Scheer.   Losing Stavetski doesn't change the fact that they have no inside presence defensively at the 3-4 spot.   In the last few years, they could go with 3 bigs and 2 gaurds if they needed to.   Currently, they don't have that option.  At the end of the day, you are only as good as the players you have to work with.   I am one that believes they will be very good in a year or two.   Coach needs to recruit a few athletic "bigs" in the 3-4 spot.  Easier said than done...

 

[givengo]

Just reviewed parts of yesterday's Hoopsville marathon including the interview with Dickinson Coach Allen Seretti.  Well worth taking a look at.  He gives thoughtful commentary on the Centennial, regional rankings and at large bids. Great spot-- his interview helps to demonstrate why his team is flourishing.  I Also watched the prerecorded interview with the chair of the men's National committee, Jeff Burns AD at Randolph-Macon, another interesting interview covering what may be coming next year, as well as criteria for selection-- regional ranking vs strength of schedule, etc. 
Until this year there was a bias toward conferences like the UAA, NESCAC, CCIW and the NCAC, based legitimately on past performance.  The Centennial, thanks in part to Dickinson's cross country travels into the heart of the CCIW and NCAC two years in a row, and Hopkins hard fought 1st round loss last year is gaining a foothold in legitimizing the conference on a national scale.  Don't get me wrong, F & M, Ursinus; others have history.  With three teams ranked now though, more acknowledgement has been earned for the conference.  Parity is a helping all.  Washington College, Gettysburg, McDaniel and others get mentions as tough opponents. All good!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Here is a link to the show page where you can find individual links to each of the interviews we conducted during the 13 hours and 8 minutes we were on the air!

www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2014-15/jan29

[givengo]

I was impressed with yesterday's marathon:  a testament to the commitment to D3 Hoops as you travelled the extra mile, going into overtime last night. Well done.