MBB: Centennial Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

1,000 round mega draft?!? 

In the Multi-Region section, there's a fantasy game area - last year someone had the bright idea to just draft hundreds of players and play a gigantic d3 fantasy basketball game.  It was crazy, but we spent the whole summer picking players and pickings were getting slim by the end, so people were offering incoming freshmen names.

[Gabriel]

Understand it is a bit early but any buzz about the teams for the upcoming year?

Any decent recruiting classes?

Favorites likely Swarthmore/Hopkins/F&M?

Even without considering incoming recruits, Swat is clearly the favorite to repeat as CC champion.  After that, take a look at the final standings from last year and expect the contenders for the other four playoff spots to be JHU, Ursinus, WC, F&M, Muhlenberg and Dickinson.  McDaniel, Haverford, and Gettysburg will play the role of spoilers and might surprise us. Once again, I believe the CC will be a dog fight for the playoff spots.

[CC Fan]

I see the Gettysburg website has posted their schedule. Sad to see they have went the route of try and get some "easy" games and dropped the stiffer opponents. It looks like their first few games are against teams that had maybe 10 wins combined. They dropped York, a great local rivalry game, but they did pick up PSU Berks🤦🏻‍♂️  Haven't seen a schedule done like this in about 29 years!

[CCD3Basketball]

I see the Gettysburg website has posted their schedule. Sad to see they have went the route of try and get some "easy" games and dropped the stiffer opponents. It looks like their first few games are against teams that had maybe 10 wins combined. They dropped York, a great local rivalry game, but they did pick up PSU Berks🤦🏻‍♂️  Haven't seen a schedule done like this in about 29 years!

Of the 6 non-conference games currently on the schedule (assuming the Mount St. Mary's game doesn't officially count as one of the 25), 4 out of the 6 teams won more games than the Bullets did last year. W&L by themselves won 18 games in a difficult league last year, and 4 out of the 6 were in double digits in total wins. My guess would also be that when they post the final two teams involved in the season opening tournament, those teams will also be quality. For a head coach in his second season with a team that he's still trying to mold, that's a very solid schedule. Some quality tests on there with a chance to build some confidence into a young team as well.

[CC Fan]

I have no issues with W&L. But starting off the season with a 4 win team, then possibly an 8 win team or Wilson, and I realize Wilson had 14 wins, but probably a bottom 2-3 conference in Division 3. And then follow that up with a 3 win Berks team and a sub 500 Del Val🤔  Not sure that is going to prepare them for their next 4 games, F&M, at Juniata, at Hopkins, at SWAT! Then a 2 1/2 week break.
I don't disagree with having a game or 2 to gain a rhythm and confidence, but you also need to prepare for the reality that is to come. And I understand he is trying to get his system in and acclimate 10 plus freshmen, but keeping a York in there would have been nice. But maybe it will work out in the end, who knows. I just hope they play a little defense this year! With what looks like a philosophy of shooting tons of 3's and who cares if they go in, you better be able to get some stops. Shooting 31% from 3 and giving up 77 ppg  is not a great combination!
Can't wait for  basketball to get started so the Bullets can prove me wrong! Go Bullets!

[Gabriel]

Former Ursinus Associate HBC Keith Hack has been named as the new HBC at Medaille College.  Congratulations to Coach Hack, a well deserved opportunity.  Loss of Keith amounts to a double hit as Justin Klingman left for Catholic University last summer. Also well deserved.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

This page is silent considering today's big news: https://d3hoops.com/notables/2019/10/preseason-mens-top-25

[CCD3Basketball]

This page is silent considering today's big news: https://d3hoops.com/notables/2019/10/preseason-mens-top-25

Was waiting for someone else to chime in, but I suppose I'll go ahead with it then

Good for the Garnet, and good for the Centennial Conference as a whole as well. I thought the Garnet would be in the top 5, but was surprised to see them be #1 and was even more surprised to see how many first place votes they have.

Although, after thinking about it, it makes sense. The Garnet return the most out of the teams at the top of the poll. Yes, losing Cam Wiley is obviously huge, but at the end of the day, he is the only player gone off of a team that made it all the way to the title game. The core of bigs on the inside is outstanding and there's shooters a plenty on the perimeter. I think Sallah can step into the Wiley role nicely, he showed flashes of doing so in spurts last year; not saying he will replace Wiley, because it's hard to replace that; but if he can step in as a starter and be valuable, with the rest of that corps that returns, there's no reason why the Garnet can't be near the top again.

Obviously, the only poll that TRULY matters is the final one in March, but, this is a big day, not only for Swat but for the conference as a whole.

[Warriors]

This page is silent considering today's big news: https://d3hoops.com/notables/2019/10/preseason-mens-top-25

Was waiting for someone else to chime in, but I suppose I'll go ahead with it then

Good for the Garnet, and good for the Centennial Conference as a whole as well. I thought the Garnet would be in the top 5, but was surprised to see them be #1 and was even more surprised to see how many first place votes they have.

Although, after thinking about it, it makes sense. The Garnet return the most out of the teams at the top of the poll. Yes, losing Cam Wiley is obviously huge, but at the end of the day, he is the only player gone off of a team that made it all the way to the title game. The core of bigs on the inside is outstanding and there's shooters a plenty on the perimeter. I think Sallah can step into the Wiley role nicely, he showed flashes of doing so in spurts last year; not saying he will replace Wiley, because it's hard to replace that; but if he can step in as a starter and be valuable, with the rest of that corps that returns, there's no reason why the Garnet can't be near the top again.

Obviously, the only poll that TRULY matters is the final one in March, but, this is a big day, not only for Swat but for the conference as a whole.

That was my question...whether they could replace Wiley and this was helpful.

My bigger surprise was that no other schools received any votes which suggests the gap is very wide between Swarthmore and everyone else. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think Hopkins could well be a Top 25 team, but they lost so much, it's hard to give them preseason votes.  F&M is talented, too, but didn't do enough last year.

[Pat Coleman]

First Centennial Conference team ever to get to No. 1 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.

[CCD3Basketball]

I think Hopkins could well be a Top 25 team, but they lost so much, it's hard to give them preseason votes.  F&M is talented, too, but didn't do enough last year.

Initially I was surprised at Hopkins not getting any votes, but like you said, after taking a few minutes to think about what they lost, it winds up not being a great surprise. At some point in this season though, I think they'll garner votes and maybe even crack that top 25, but, not yet, not until we see what this unit can do.

Wouldn't even be surprised to see the Blue Jays pick off the Garnet during one of their two CC matchups, to be honest. Those teams match up with each other pretty well, and they'll face off in the 9th game of the season on December 10th, so both teams should have a good idea of what they've got by then.

Speaking of, Swat put together a schedule in which they don't leave the state of PA to play a game until January 5th, in their 11th game. That will be their only non-conference game out of the state all season, and they only have 4 in total because they have their CC road trips to Maryland to play JHU, McDaniel, and WAC. What a schedule that is.

Also shows the quality of teams in PA that they have on the schedule too.

[CCD3Basketball]

First Centennial Conference team ever to get to No. 1 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.

Was pretty sure this was the case, but thanks as always for the confirmation

After spending 15 years watching basketball in this league since my early teenage years, still feels odd to see a team from the CC sitting atop the D3 landscape, even if it is the preseason poll and things haven't officially tipped off yet

I also remember just a handful of years ago, when Swat would come to town (won't give my town away, of course  ) and it would be an even matchup or a game you felt really confident that you could watch your team win. What Coach Kosmalski has done up at Swat in a handful of years is outstanding.

[Swat Fan #1]

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2019-20/preseason?fbclid=IwAR0pXVu4wvp2CYAiPzZViFelQj-Z1U6OO5tGqOjR4DBTeh9Di6asz6hyWS4

I guess there isn't much more I can say, but even I was surprised they were picked #1. I thought top ten or even five, but that was a nice surprise. I will tell you the Swat community is all abuzz about it. Coach K. seems to have another great group of newbies and I think George Visconti (a Sophomore) will have a break-out year. But, look for the Bigs to dominate this year. Those are some big men in the paint with skills. I don't see Swat going undefeated in League play, but it will take a huge effort to upset them. It will take three shooters who are hot to beat them. On another note, losing CW is a bigger deal than most think it is. He was the go to guy in tough situations. Someone will have to step up this year, but losing a First Team All American is a big deal.

Throw up the ball and let's go!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2019-20/preseason?fbclid=IwAR0pXVu4wvp2CYAiPzZViFelQj-Z1U6OO5tGqOjR4DBTeh9Di6asz6hyWS4

I guess there isn't much more I can say, but even I was surprised they were picked #1. I thought top ten or even five, but that was a nice surprise. I will tell you the Swat community is all abuzz about it. Coach K. seems to have another great group of newbies and I think George Visconti (a Sophomore) will have a break-out year. But, look for the Bigs to dominate this year. Those are some big men in the paint with skills. I don't see Swat going undefeated in League play, but it will take a huge effort to upset them. It will take three shooters who are hot to beat them. On another note, losing CW is a bigger deal than most think it is. He was the go to guy in tough situations. Someone will have to step up this year, but losing a First Team All American is a big deal.

Throw up the ball and let's go!

I thought Cam played the best game of his career in that National Semifinal.  Under the brightest lights, he stepped up and got them to the title game.  That leadership will certainly be missed, but hopefully the experience in Ft. Wayne helps the other guys take on that mantle.  I'm a little concerned about the schedule - very few real national caliber tests - but I guess that's where preparation comes in.