MBB: Centennial Conference

[Swat Fan #1]

Looks good to me, I have no complaints. I think Wixted had a better year than Ward, but I love how they favor upper-classmen. So, all in all, good job. I feel Liddic is just too good not to be co-mvp. He is a beast at both ends of the court.

Congrats to all! There are a ton of really good young men on this list. Having had the opportunity to meet all of them, I can attest to how really nice they are. Gotta give a shout out to Porter for making the list. Probably my favorite kid I met this year!

I am also somewhat shocked that no Haverford fan wrote about Bo F. and his ankle injury in his last game. It was sad to see him end his career that way.

Again, congrats to all who made the all-conference team!

[Gabriel]

Swat Dad,

Ward required and received doubles and triple teams all year.  I think the coaches recognized that and rewarded him for what he did with that kind of attention.  Go Bears!

[cocoh2oDad]

Well said Gabriel, short and sweet, but still tells the tale of what Ward went through every time he stepped on the floor. Congrats to all the guys for their all conference honors.   

[cocoh2oDad]

 My Dear Centfan, As I've said, my previous posts are there to read and decipher for all, including you, again, since you can't seem to comprehend my opinion of you. I believe that they fully answer and respond quite well to all of your juvenile post and comments.

[Swat Fan #1]

Gabriel - I think you are correct. However, he is not the only player to be doubled and tripled this year. Now that I have had time to let it settle, I think the list is spot on. The coaches know the whole story and get it right most of the time.

Anyone else think Georgio could have played DI? I coached a player who starts on a DI team and Georgio is a much better player. In fact, not even close. I was just wondering what others thought about him.

[centfan]

wixted deserved first team over ward. wixted got doubled and collapsed on every time, as do all the better players down low. the difference is that when wixted got the ball in the paint he had more toughness and strength than ward and fought through it. wixted stepped up in big games which unfortunately ward was not able to do this year. wixted has a stronger will to win despite ward being a good player. both deserve all conference but wixted had a better season and was the reason his team won. dickinson didn't skip a beat with wixted after losing a very good senior this year. would you agree gabriel despite being a bears fan? i know you are happy that ward got first team but really...who had the better season?
reserved seat...you and i see eye to eye on first team.

[njf1003]

Based off what I have read here and seen I agree Wixted deserved first team, but I think it came down to Senior v. First year, and people put the older one on first team. I see Wixted being a really good player for Dickinson down the road (and getting that first team next year).

I have to say I didn't exactly see Porter as an honorable mention, I guess Salandare, Gyokchyan, and Milligan have out-shined him normally during a game that I just never really thought of him. It does make some sense though.

[ddm1027]

I was pleased to see Goldberg, who I mistakenly indicated would be back next year (I meant Baker in that context for Haverford), get first team.  He really impressed me with how he raised the playing levels of the people around him (something that distinguished him from some of the second team players).  I think Ward was deserving but the CC voting does often take into account career accomplishments.  Ward received a lot of attention from defenses and was still effective.  I also think the league got it right giving Gates second team rather than HM for the same reason.  He faced full denials and double teams and still played well. 

Coach Nelson is very deserving of coach of the year.  It has been an impressive turnaround for JHU this year.

Congrats to all the players, Coach Nelson, and any of you, like Swat Dad, who had sons or friends who were honored!

[ddm1027]

Gabriel - I think you are correct. However, he is not the only player to be doubled and tripled this year. Now that I have had time to let it settle, I think the list is spot on. The coaches know the whole story and get it right most of the time.

Anyone else think Georgio could have played DI? I coached a player who starts on a DI team and Georgio is a much better player. In fact, not even close. I was just wondering what others thought about him.

I definitely thought he could have played D1 even as a freshman.  His offensive game has developed in college but athletically he was a D1 talent for sure with his size, speed, and skill at the PG position. I was surprised to see a player like him from a quality league like Don Bosco's end up in D3.  He was not a major D1 type of player out of high school but he could probably start for many low- to mid-majors right now.  As a freshman, he was similar to a former teammate of mine who had a decent career in the Sun Belt (when that player was a senior in high school) but was not nearly at the level of another Pac-12 teammate.

[centfan]

milligan did come in as a "grown man" as a freshman. most freshman need a year or two to get stronger and more mature as a player but he was ready immediately. how old is he? did he prep? i wonder what kind of looks he got. was anyone in the MAAC conference interested? his mental toughness and calm impress me...never gets rattled.

[r.w. mcnickels]

milligan did come in as a "grown man" as a freshman. most freshman need a year or two to get stronger and more mature as a player but he was ready immediately. how old is he? did he prep? i wonder what kind of looks he got. was anyone in the MAAC conference interested? his mental toughness and calm impress me...never gets rattled.

centfan, Georgio did seem to adjust to the college game more quickly than other freshmen. A quick story for you:

Early in Georgio's freshman year (December '08), F&M was playing Muhlenberg at home. Milligan was running the show like a veteran, hurting the Mules by scoring and finding open teammates. Dave Madeira, Muhlenberg's coach, called a timeout in the second half, and I was close enough to hear what he was saying. Madeira spent the entire timeout talking about "number 4" - drawing up new defensive sets to stop Milligan. It was his fourth or fifth college game. I knew that day F&M had a great player.

[Gabriel]

Congratulations to all 15 players for being recognized by their opposition as being the best in the league.  Georgio Milligan certainly deserves his selection as player of the year.  Spencer Liddic is a class act who would have been a very good selection.  One could argue that any one of the players on the first two teams should have been on the first team.  The fact is, there was only room for five and, I believe, the selection process is fair the coaches know better than we do.

Milligan certainly has D1 talent.  Most of the top players in the conference over the past 12 years are border line D1 players---that's why they had the kind of success they had.  Look at the players of the year over the past 10 years and my suggestion as to why they ended up D3 instead of D1:

2003 Luciano---late bloomer---injured
2004 Stanton---late bloomer---developed as a junior and senior---arguably the best senior year of any
2005 McGarvey---size---too short
2006 McGarvery---size---too short
2007 Shattuck---lack of a consistent outside shot
2008 Shattuck---same as above but still one of the best all time
2009 Powers---undersized post player
2010 McNally---undersized post player
2011 Milligan---did not shoot well coming into the league
2012 Milligan---same as above but still one of the best all time as he improved his shooting

There are many others, Noonan, Cousart, Liddic, Breslin, Gates, Ward  just to name a few who were fringe
D1 players but elected to go D3 rather than sit on the bench in D1

[Reserved Seat]

Porter is F&M's defensive stopper and was usually assigned the other team's best small man.  The only other player who played as tough defense as Porter seemed to be Breslin.  Porter's selection showed you don't just have to put up offensive stats to be recognized as a quality player.

[oftdip]

Milligan was a prize recruit for Robinson out of Don Bosco Prep, the national football prep program, but still a major force in Bergen County hoops... He is 22 and did not PG (post-graduate) as some prepsters need sometimes to make grades... Brandon Beckford and Max Brewer of F&M are also from Don Bosco Prep... Georgio has always been an above average student and the D3 fit at F&M was perfect... He did have some D1 looks from the Metro NYC area but they were not schools the caliber of F&M... He brought a whole new level of offensive energy to the CC while still creating defensive havoc with his 'stealing' skills... Has been a model for the program on and off the court... really gonna miss him next year....

[Swat Fan #1]

Some really great stuff on here! I love hearing stories about the other players. R.W. - that is interesting it took one half to realize how good he is! Gabriel, again super post. I always look forward to your take on hoop. I agree with you. Reserved Seat - I think Porter is a special player who will have a break out year next year. Tremendous athlete who is a lock down defender. I do think he belonged on the list. I really thought about putting him on my list and should have. I see Wixted as player of the year next year. And, thank DDM! I appreciate it. I continue to be impressed with the entire league from the standpoint of great kids, great students, and then great players. My favorite time is 20 minutes after the game is over and most of the players from both teams are out on the court. I have had the privilege of meeting most of the players in the league and they are always respectful and well spoken young men. I finally got to meet Goldberg and his parents. Quality people. Good luck to all those with teams still playing!