MBB: Centennial Conference

[ronk]

Gabriel,
   Good catch, especially for those that are prospects for these DIII schools in the Mid-Atlantic region.

[Gabriel]

For light summer reading, I recommend the book "Under Your Nose" by Matt Leon.
Matt is the sports anchor & reporter for KYW Newsradio in Philly.  The book is about great Philadelphia sports stories many of us have never heard about.  I was attracted because one chapter is about the 2007-2008 Ursinus Men's Basketball Team and its surprising run to the Final Four.

You can get the book at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com or visit www.sportschallengenetwork.com

[D.B. Cooper]

I was watching a commercial on the Oakland area mlb network and had my memories of yore strirred. I
was surprised that the Ad theme was  "The Three Matt's". It featued three Bay area sports personalitities named Matt. One of them was Matt Steinmetz a formmer F&M player who I think is a reporter that focuses on the Golden State Warriers. Long-time Dip fans may remember some of his exploits in the mid-80's.

Here are a few that bring back strong or fond memeries.
1. The overtime game against Princeton that he almost singlehandedly engineered an upset in 1985.
2. Herb McGee's Philadelphia Textile finally stopping Dips by double-teaming Matt in Philadelphia.
3. Making a shot at Dickinson's Kline Center from very, very long range at games end to win.
4. Matt having a torrid shooting night in NCAA's against Susquehanna, until they switched to a Box & One on him & they came back to upend Dips. I also think this was the game a Freshman Brad Markey made a long trifecta that would have been key, but was ruled out of bounds but heralded another future star of the programs ability.

[Gabriel]

http://www.ursinusathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/releases/20100514k6sz3

See the resumes on the three Ursinus recruits.  Bears apparently will stick with a 12 man roster.

[Gabriel]

http://www.ursinusathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/releases/20100514k6sz3

See the resumes on the three Ursinus recruits.  Bears apparently will stick with a 12 man roster.

http://www.ursinusathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/releases/20100514k6sz3b

Maybe this link will work better.

[Swat Fan #1]

Thanks! All three seem like really good recruits! Any other news out there anyone?

[diplomaniac1]

Greetings folks! As we enter August, it is easy to begin to think about the return of DIII Men's Basketball. Does anyone else have any new on recruiting, injuries, non-returnees, coaching changes, etc? Let's get some buzz going in this room again.

[Gabriel]

http://www.ursinusathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/releases/20100514k6sz3b

Diplomaniac1,

Welcome back!  Can't wait for hoops to get going again.  Ursinus released the names/resumes of their recruits.  All three have excellent resumes and carry themselves with class.  Hope they blend in quickly as the Bears season will depend on how fast the freshmen and sophomores mature. 

Matt Hilton is likely to be the only senior starter and he is poised to have a much better season that last year when he just never found his groove.  The rising juniors will have to work hard for playing time.  The Bears will be young again with perhaps five freshmen and sophomores in the rotation.

[r.w. mcnickels]

Looking forward to the season...but haven't heard any recruiting info from F&M. Brooks graduated and won't use his final year of basketball eligibility -- he'll be a big loss. I think Beckford is a strong candidate for that starting spot. Will be interesting to see what the Dips bring in after several good recruiting years.

For the first time in a few years, I like F&M's schedule (or at least what's been pieced together on the D3hoops website, since the school hasn't officially posted anything). The Dips have an early road test at St. Mary's in a Sweet 16 rematch. Then it's on to the Lopata Classic at Wash U, where they'll play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the first game. Throw in a road trip to Collegeville on Dec. 1, and the Dips have a stronger pre-holiday schedule than they've had in quite some time.

[Gabriel]

Welcome back R.W.

Ursinus has a challenging schedule too.  They open at the Wesleyan (CT) College tip off.  Wesleyan projects to finish in the second tier of the NESCAC---behind Williams, Middlebury & Amherst.  Wesleyan had a couple of superb recruiting years under their new coach.  The Bears will open against the College of Staten Island in tourney and then, hopefully, Wesleyan.  Then they play three straight home games (unusual for them) against McDaniel, Eastern and F&M.  No Drew or Leb Valley on their schedule this year---again very unusual.

They play in two back to back post Christmas tourneys---first at the Hampton Sydney Holiday Tournament and then the Casa Mia Holiday Tournament----they play Albright University in the first game.  No West Coast or Florida trips this year.

Some early tests to see if the young Bears are ready to compete with the top tier teams of the Centennial Conference.  Hope to see all of you Dips fans at Collegeville on December 1.  The place should be rocking.

[diplomaniac1]

Gabriel -

Thanks for the "welcome back" and you info on Ursinus! It has been a very busy time for me professionally since my trip to St. Mary's in early March and I haven't really had the time to think about DIII basketball and to check out D3hoops.com. I know, that is really hard to believe! Sounds like the Bears have some good contests early on. Good luck to your Bears as long as they don't beat my Diplomats!

Have a great rest of the summer. Regards,

Eric

[diplomaniac1]

R. W. -

Welcome back! It is good to see that you are still posting up. I haven't heard any news on recruting either. However, my time and focus has bee somewhat limited this summer. I am starting to get the itch for DIII basketball.

I agree that Brooks' graduation is a tremendous loss. His athleticism, speed, defense, and leadership will be hard to replace. I also agree with you that Beckford is the likely starter as long as he continues to progress defensively. I thought there were many times last year that he got lost on defense. The game in St. Mary's is a notable example of this in my mind.

As to the Diplomats' schedule. I am also disappointed that it has not yet been posted on the F&M website. I even sent an e-mail inquiry message to the Athletic Department several weeks ago asking about the schedule. I have not yet received any response to my inquiry, not even an acknowledgement of receving my inquiry.

As to your information on the Dips' early season schedule, I think a tough slate pre-holidays is a dangerous "double-edged sword". I don't really see the upside to any potential early-season losses and, with the exception of the St. Mary's game, any potential early-season wins won't even count as in-region wins. Quite frankly, I am a proponent of the way F&M has designed its early-season schedule in recent years. This is because, I think those games are best designed to get "rid of the rust"; to build team chemistry; to develop the expected standard substitution rotation; and to get the freshman recruits acclimated to F&M's way of doing things. Feel free to disagree with me.

Let me know if you hear any news. Otherwise, bring on the season now. Regards,

Eric

[Pat Coleman]

This may get you started:

http://www.d3hoops.com/school/FM/mens/2011

In recent years F&M has had trouble filling its home tournaments. No idea how they are progressing this year, though.

[chairman]

Does F & M play away games?

[Pat Coleman]

Well, the Centennial forces it to. Otherwise ...