MBB: Centennial Conference

[ronk]

Is this a down year for the conference? Hasn't G-Burg's coach has been there since Lincoln was in office?

He wrote Lincoln's Gettysburg address as the recruiting coordinator.

[Team First]

Is this a down year for the conference? Hasn't G-Burg's coach has been there since Lincoln was in office?

There are two teams in the top 25 and Bennett Rankings has the Centennial at 15 out of 44. That's probably enough to make the case that no, this is not a down year. I've found the quality of play to be very good this year especially as the season has gone on and the teams in the bottom half have found ways to be more competitive. One of the biggest turnarounds I've witnessed live is Haverford. I saw them sit in a zone and get hammered by Dickinson (101-59) at home early in the year and then last week they played a more aggressive man defense; it was a battle until the last few minutes when Dickinson made a game ending run to win by 10. That same Haverford team took Swathmore to OT just one week earlier. Muhlenberg seems to be responding well to their new coach and is still in the hunt for a play-off spot. Meanwhile, Hopkins has shown themselves to be a force on defense; Massey has them as the number two rated defense in all of D3. They are playing the best ball in the conference right now. I still think the top teams in the Centennial can compete with the top teams anywhere. Dickinson has early season wins over CNU and Mount St Josephs and they led York until the last minutes in a heart breaker of a loss. I was present at all those games including a good contest with St Thomas early and there is no doubt that Dickinson can play and win at that level...and they sit in fifth place right now. Can you make an equally strong case that the conference is down?

[noonhooper]

Interesting day in the CC! Obviously the F&M/Ursinus game has the most sparkle, if Tate can play meaningful minutes I think the Dips will be fine.

All the other top teams are on the road against the bottom half of the conference- someone is going to get caught snoozing, but who will it be?!

[ReturnOFmonix]

No talk about the Goodman/ Hopkins shove match in the hand shake line? Weren't they suspended a game?!

[noonhooper]

You're just bringing this up now?! I don't even know what you are talking about!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Muhlenberg took down Swarthmore.

[BeRightOn]

Rindock was Rindonculous. Scored his 1000th point and just kept going...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Muhlenberg took down Swarthmore.

Shafer played 13 minutes, but I'm not sure he's entirely healthy.

[swatfan#2]

Swat didn't shoot well from the free throw line either.  Rindock certainly had one of those games.  Not only did Shafer play limited minutes but O'Dell was in foul trouble all night.  Just one of those games.  Puts Swat in a tough spot tho as they lose the tie-breaker to F&M right now.  They play last game of regular season but Swat still has to go on the road to Ursinus and Hop, tough spots to play.  Much easier to host the conference tournament for sure.

[HoopGuru]

A generous 33 FTs for F&M last night.  For the fan base/coach that regularly complains about officiating I guess that seems about right 🤔

[Gabriel]

Lots of questions about the officiating at the Mayser Center last night which resulted in 23 PF for Ursinus and 16 for the Dips and the resulting 33 free throw attempts for F&M as opposed to 21 for the Bears.  The biggest question is why the officials did not allow Rafferty's three at the final buzzer?  Looked to me like it beat the buzzer but I don't know what the call was.  It wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game but it could be a factor in potential tie-breaker scenarios.

Bears lost due to the difference in free throw scoring and self inflicted lapses in ball security (22 turnovers) compounded by an inability to guard Tate, particularly in the first half when he scored 25 of F&M's 42 points.  Unfortunate because the Bears held Federici and McGrath in check for most of the game.  Credit to the Dips, they closed better than the Bears.

[D.B. Cooper]

The  box score on Dip hoops site and recap have the buzzer beater counting. It looked like it was in time to me also. Where does it indicate it did not count?

[sunny]

It wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game but it could be a factor in potential tie-breaker scenarios.

No, it could not. Differential is not part of the tie-breaking criteria for Centennial Conference basketball.

http://www.centennial.org/Manual/2017-18/sports/Basketball-M.pdf

[Hank Mardukas]

Player of the Year has been officially sealed up. Nick Rindock was unconscious as the mighty mules took down a depleting Swarthmore team. The atmosphere was electric and Rindock has proven himself to be THE BEST PLAYER IN THE CONFERENCE. Not only did the Mules pull this upset off, they did it without Pete Morreale and Spencer The Duke of Hazzard. Landry looked like a lost puppy on the sideline and really disappointed me out there, I could feel his insecurties from the 5th row. I feel as if he has lost the team and even heard Yonda and Walsh getting into with him on the sideline. On the other sideline, Hopkins and Brown proved that they are the fearless leaders that the Mules need. THIS IS OUR YEAR MULES FANS. I have literally not slept since the game. My wife tried to sedtate me with copious amounts of Xnax but nothing can slow me down now. I have wactehd the Rindock interview at least 20 times last night. I havn't been this proud of anybody for quiet sometime. I have never been this proud of any of my 5 chilldren, praise Rindock, priase Brown, LONG LIVE THE MULES.     

[Gabriel]

The  box score on Dip hoops site and recap have the buzzer beater counting. It looked like it was in time to me also. Where does it indicate it did not count?

D.B.

In the  box score.  Final would have been 80-77 vice 80-74.  Also, Rafferty was not credited with a 3 in the box score.