MBB: Centennial Conference

[diplomaniac1]

Fellow Centennial Conference Fans -

Without any great degree of confidence, here are my selections for the pick-ems for the Conference semi-final games on Saturday (2/28) -

McDaniel vs. Gettysburg:   Gettysburg.    (This is a very tough one to call - it should be real close. I will take the Bullets since they appear to be playing better and are on a roll at the end of the regular season. However, I wouldn't be that surprised if the Terror beat them since I think the team from Westmister is more athletic and more physical than the squad from Gettysburg).

Muhlenberg vs. Franklin And Marshall:   Franklin And Marshall.    (Despite the poor play of the Diplomats of late, I will follow my heart and take them over the Mules in another close game. I am giving them the slight advantage due to being at home in Mayser Center, which should be a great atmosphere on Saturday afternoon. If everyone on the team comes to play, I think they have a little bit better balance and more weapons than the Mules. However, they will have to make a few more outside shots and three pointers than the last two games. They also need to utlize Brooks more in the offense.  Just don't overlook the home fan edge at Mayser Center. All in all, no "Mule Barn" magic here)!

I will be making the trek from Mount Union to Mayser tomorrow rain or shine. I hope to see the early game also. Hope to see the rest of you there as well. Anyone up for a post-game summit at a local eatery? It sure seems hard to believe that three months have already passed and that the regular season is over!

Good luck to all teams and their fans. Travel safely to and from Lancaster. Enjoy the games! Regards to all,

Eric

[Reserved Seat]

Pool C is filling up fast with league champions.  Looks like there have been numerous upsets around the nation already.
Guilford
Buena Vista
St. Mary's

This means that probably only the winner of the Centennial Conference is going to the dance.
The Dips better have their game faces on.

[r.w. mcnickels]

r. w. -

I remember that semi-final game. However, I thought it was a three-point heave by Alex Kraft from just over the center court line that lifted the Dips that night over the Shoremen led by Greg Adams! If my "growing older" memory serves me correct, there was almost a brawl after the game between Adams and some Diplomat fans. Coincidentally, Adams went to the same high school in Toms River, NJ as another player on that great Diplomat team - Mike Ritacco. Can anyone else help clarify the respective memories of r. w. and me?

Eric

Eric -

I wonder what the record is for buzzer beaters in a season, because there were quite a few that year (including the Calvin game you mentioned).  I think Kraft's deep shot came against Gettysburg in the regular season, and Maiatico hit a shorter jumper to beat Washington in the CC semis.  I remember the post-game "near brawl" between Adams and the fans -- luckily nobody got hurt.

Great choices for best games.  I hope this weekend produces similarly exciting contests (G-burg/McDaniel could be one to remember).  Wish I could be there for tomorrow's matchups, but will have to follow on the video.

Pool C is filling up fast with league champions.  Looks like there have been numerous upsets around the nation already.
Guilford
Buena Vista
St. Mary's

This means that probably only the winner of the Centennial Conference is going to the dance.
The Dips better have their game faces on.

I might need some Advil this weekend to get through the Pool C madness!

[Reserved Seat]

Randolph-Macon falls into Pool C.
It's getting crowded.

[crambam]

Does anyone know if F&M v. Muhlenberg is being broadcast over the internet for free?

[r.w. mcnickels]

Does anyone know if F&M v. Muhlenberg is being broadcast over the internet for free?

All of the games are free -- here's a link from F&M's site:

http://godiplomats.prestosports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2008-09/CCChamps/champland

[crambam]

Help!  I can get picture but no sound.

[Gabriel]

I understand the selection of Andrew Powers over John Noonan as POY----I guess.  Ursinus' failure to make the playoffs was key and, I am sure, the selection committee did not want to give it to Ursinus every year.  Nevertheless, I'll bet the voting was close as the statistics support John Noonan.  The Jostens nomination is an indicator.

I do not understand why Remy Cousart was not selected for the Second Team.  Of the 13 individual statistical categories, his name appeared in 9. He was:

1st in assists and assist to turnover ratio
2nd in defensive rebounding (this is a point guard)
4th in total rebounding & 3pt shooting %
11th in field goal %
12th in steals
14th in scoring
9th in minutes per game

He is one of the most selfless players I have seen.  I think Remy deserved a better position on the all conference team.  Guess he will have to wait until next year to see if he is better than honorable mention.

Regarding my earlier posting concerning the all conference selections.

Miguel Jones & Josh McKay from McDaniel, two second team all conference selections, did not score a point between them against Gettysburg today.  Both were selected above Remy Cousart.  I rest my case.

Gabriel

[Gabriel]

Pick em for 3/1/2009

I stick with my earlier pick of Gettysburg over F&M in the championship game.  Getty seems to be back on track.  F&M is fortunate they host.

[fritzdis]

Miguel Jones & Josh McKay from McDaniel, two second team all conference selections, did not score a point between them against Gettysburg today.  Both were selected above Remy Cousart.  I rest my case.

While I agree that Cousart's numbers probably warranted a better position, it's understandable to me that Jones and McKay were selected.  Simply comparing numbers doesn't make sense when the players come from teams with such different styles.  One team led the conference in scoring defense but was in the lower half in scoring offense, while the other was dead last in scoring defense (by more than 2 ppg) but was 2nd in scoring offense.  When a situation like that makes direct comparison of numbers difficult, team success will end up playing more of a part, and McDaniel's season was far better than Ursinus'.

There was almost no way the the team with the 2nd best record in the conference was not going to get at least 1 player on the 1st or 2nd team.  Whether they deserved 2 spots is certainly a valid question.  Since I didn't see them play nearly enough (only once) to know how important McKay and Jones were to their defense, I can't say with much certainty that they did not deserve the selections.

[Reserved Seat]

Two different games at F&M.
In the first game, Gettysburg dominated McDaniel from start to finish.  The score was closer than the actual game.  The only thing worst than McDaniel's play was the shot clock.
Gettysburg could do very little wrong.  Powers and Dorsey had big games.

In the second game you had an ugly officiated game.  Sixty-one fouls were called and numerous fragrant fouls were missed.  Barnes put McNally and Selig with elbows to the head and neither one was called a foul.  After falling behind 10-0 in the first six minutes, the Muhl started to exert themselves physically.  The play could very dirt.  Muhlenberg was whistled for only 37 fouls.  Fortunately for them, F&M missed 21 foul shots.  F&M was whistled for 24 fouls, and the Muhes were 22 for 30 from the line.  The best taunt of the night was "Ref, it's a foul even it the jersey doesn't rip."
This game was much better played than F&M's last two as they distributed the scoring much better.  All the scorers scored in  double figures with Brooks leading the way with 20.
F&M actually took 2 3-pointers and made them both.
Muhlenberg was 7 for 18 from beyond the arc.
F&M caused 19 turnovers including 10 steals.
F&M will have to play a well-rounded game tomorrow and make their foul shots to Gettysburg, who looks like the ranked team they were in the beginning of the year.
I, as expected, stay with the Dips to win.

[Reserved Seat]

Commish, how do they pick the refs for the play-offs?  Even before the game started between F&M and Muhlenberg, I turned to the man next to me and said that 2 of the refs are terrible.
They didn't disappoint me.  I got what I expected.

[fritzdis]

A couple other stats:

F&M attempted 58 free throws, a new F&M record.

9 of Muhlenberg's 37 fouls came in the last 2:10, as they attempted to make up the deficit.  Before this, there was a much smaller disparity in fouls and FTs between the teams.

Frankly, the game was so ugly and physical that I have no idea whether F&M is at all back on track offensively (despite the 87 points).

[Reserved Seat]

I believe two more top twenty teams lost today.
Ithaca
Trinity(Texas)
Upsets abound as we wind down the season.

[Reserved Seat]

Interesting stat
Out of 392 schools ranked, F&M is ranked 392th for 3-point shots attempted per game. Gettysburg-211
Muhlenberg-213
McDaniel-375

Looks like the Centennial is not a 3-point conference.
Grinnell leads the nation with over 21 attempts per game.