MBB: Centennial Conference

[diplomaniac1]

CCDC3 -

Agreed - humble apologies. Greetings to all Centennial Conference Fans. The rest of my earlier post still applies. Good luck. Enjoy the coming season. Regards to all.

Eric

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Anyone been by an F&M practice yet?  I'm curious if these freshman bigs are going to be able to contribute right away.  Without some inside help, it could be a long year for the Dips.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have been told they lost a few players where were role players off the bench in the past few years... they may be struggling with depth. Strange that two years ago it was a bunch of freshman that ended up being the surprise of the conference and region (even nation)... that freshman class is now juniors and we are looking at the freshman class to help.

[Reserved Seat]

I don't think any of the new freshmen at F&M can be considered true bigs. The tallest one goes 6' 5".  The roster will be short, so depth could be a problem if they have any injuries to the starters.
Moune will be hard to replace.  Three players graduated, two are not recovered from injuries and are not on the team, 2 transferred(one to return closer to home)  Both will not be playing basketball this year.  If Hunter, Tate, and Federici stay healthy, they will be capable of putting up points.

[diplomaniac1]

Folks -

This is not exactly Centennial news. But, I watched the rebroadcast of yesterday's Wisconsin-Platteville/Wisconsin game on the Big Ten Network on Lebanon Area Comcast. Not a bad showing by the Pioneers as they hung with the Badgers throughout the first half. The Badgers' size took a toll on the Pioneers. In my opinion, that was the biggest difference between the teams and was the deciding factor in the game which the Badgers won by about thirty points. Just thought it was interesting that Division III Basketball continues to make inroads on TV coverage!

Feel free to share this with others and to post on other conference boards. It is November 1st, so the games can't be too far behind! Regards to all.

Eric

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well it helps if a regional entity has a deal with a D1 school and thus broadcasts the game(s)... and you can pick it up on a regional channel or something like DirecTV. Or on something like Big Ten network.

That said, to truly make in roads, we need actual D3 games being picked up by even more regional entities. That is where I hope things start heading... or schools/conferences start to figure out how to get things on WatchESPN and the like.

[njf1003]

Lancaster Community TV (LCTV 66) was (is?) rebroadcasting some of F&M's webcasts on the very local channel for a while. So nothing super, but it helped get the coverage out.

[Gabriel]

I don't think any of the new freshmen at F&M can be considered true bigs. The tallest one goes 6' 5".  The roster will be short, so depth could be a problem if they have any injuries to the starters.
Moune will be hard to replace.  Three players graduated, two are not recovered from injuries and are not on the team, 2 transferred(one to return closer to home)  Both will not be playing basketball this year.  If Hunter, Tate, and Federici stay healthy, they will be capable of putting up points.

Dips finally posted their roster for 2016-17.  They list 13 players.  It does not seem that they are that short of players.  The two missing from last year other than the graduates are Beins and Borden.  Both seemed to have talent.  Transfers or injured?  Agree Moune will be hard to replace on both ends of the court.  Perhaps Levy will fill in as a senior.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I had heard the team did lose some players outside of graduation and I was told there was 12 or 13 at practices... can't remember who told me, though... so that doesn't surprise me. It was one of the reasons I didn't vote for F&M in the preseason Top 25. I think too much is going to fall on Federici with not much help.

[Gabriel]

Preseason poll about what I expected.  Should be an interesting and competitive year.  At this point, I think at least seven teams have a shot at the playoffs.  I say this with limited knowledge of returning players (some improve more than others) and knowing nothing about incoming players---either freshmen or transfers and their potential impact.  Look forward to the games. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I like that Swarthmore team.  Coupled with some big question marks on the other top squads, it should be a very interesting season.

[Reserved Seat]

F&M lost 3 players to graduation, 2 to transfer(neither will be playing basketball), and 2 to nagging injuries.  Roster will be slim this year.  Two of the freshmen look decent, but hard to tell until they play a legit opponent.

[D.B. Cooper]

Swarthmore is preseason CC official pick to take the Centennial title of the annual CC coaches & SID poll. That pick is surely correct. They are clearly the top team. They have a deep balanced team and a tough talented inside presence. With Moune gone to graduation I 'm not sure how F&M can counter. Dickinson and Hopkins always are loaded with tall good inside players, they may be very competitive. Swarthmore should be ranked if anyone from the CC is to be in the top 25, its the Garnet not F&M.

F&M has a tough renewal of old major rivalry this year when then they travel to Annville to challenge LVC. It sounds like Dutchman are loaded this year with an All-American Orr and a very talented point guard. Orr is a difficult matchup in the paint with his size and a 3 point shot which the Dips may not have an answer. LVC should renew rivalry with a solid victory.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Believe it not, the 2016-17 basketball season is just days away. But the season can't start without Hoopsville hitting the air!

Tune in tonight starting at 7pm as Dave talks to the two preseason numbers one teams, finds out how the offseason went for the two defending national championships, and touches bases with the men's and women's basketball committee chairs.

Guests include:
- Kevin Vande Streek, men's basketball committee chair and head coach for Calvin
- Bobbi Morgan, women's basketball committee chair and head coach for Haverford
- John Tauer, head coach for No. 10 St. Thomas men
- Dave Hixon, head coach for No. 1 Amherst men
- Jeff Hans, head coach for No. 4 Thomas More women
- Carla Berube, head coach for No. 1 Tufts women

You can watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2016-17/nov13

You can also tune into the podcast(s) after the show has aired:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

[Reserved Seat]

F&M will struggle without Moune.  Replacing his rebounding ability will be a real challenge for this year's team.