MBB: Centennial Conference

[diehardfan]

That was one seriously packed gym. That's gotta be the most packed decently sized gym I've ever seen for a playoff game. I parked like a half mile away. I thought the students were on spring break...

[onetinsoldier]

As i predicted last night, F&m ran into a team that played stellar defense but could also shoot well.  I think the emotion of Friday really took a toll early.  most of the missed shots early were short, a rarity for F&M.  for the first five minutes, it looked like Salandra was the only player who realized they were playing for a final four trip.  Then, when things get going Porter gets hurt.  That opened up the door for number 4, who is the quickest player i've ever seen at this level.  Why he's not D1 i have no idea. 

So porter comes back in half 2, but MIT then puts on an amazing clinic of fundamental arms-length basketball.  at no point in the second half did F&M get within 7.  They wore clock, played smart, waited for shots and effectively shortened the game.

the following needs to be said, F&m didnt just get outcoached, they got badly outcoached.  Not using the use it or lose it time out, not using a timeout until the team was down 14 late, not having an offensive strategy such as a pick and pop to try and jump start the team, just unacceptable.  GRob is the best xs and o's coach in D3 history, everything revolves around the system.  But to not use game management is absurd

Sad day.  this might be the best F&M team i've ever seen since starting in the late 90s (the only one thats debatable is 2010, and similar to that night the team was emotionally spent from a great sweet 16 affair).  Milligan is the greatest player in school history.  But they lost a game that was very much winnable.  Too many missed fts.  too many missed assignments. 

[cold_case]

GRob is the best xs and o's coach in D3 history, everything revolves around the system.  But to not use game management is absurd

Sad day.  this might be the best F&M team i've ever seen since starting in the late 90s (the only one thats debatable is 2010, and similar to that night the team was emotionally spent from a great sweet 16 affair).  Milligan is the greatest player in school history.  But they lost a game that was very much winnable.  Too many missed fts.  too many missed assignments.

LOLOL, on the GRob comment.
Dave Janetta is the best to ever wear an F&M uni. I'll take him to war with me anyday.
Stream of the game was crystal clear, unlike the American Legion Hall Scranton played in. Fuzzy...

[Reserved Seat]

Unable to get on the message board last night.  My computer said the site was down or overwhelmed.
F&M was never able to get into the flow of the game.  MIT's defense was tight and physical.  MIT's big men keep F&M was getting any position under the boards making it hard for the guards to get the ball inside.  MIT's threes killed F&M, and as
F&M missed foul shot after foul shot, they seem to lose confidence in their whole game.  MIT's guards were incredible. Whereas most teams have one decent guard, maybe 2, MIT had three defensively and offensively. F&M didn't seem to make any adjust as they did the night before against Amherst.  MIT's coach doesn't have to do much,  he pretty much just rode 5 men both night.  Fortunately, they didn't seem to tire, and could play through foul trouble late in the second half.  Porter's injury early in the first half didn't help F&M defense since he and Milligan are the key defensive personnel.  Even when he return in spurts for the second half he was significantly limping.
MIT looks like they have the horses to go all the way.  Foul trouble could hurt them, because the bench must be weak.

[crambam]

I don't think Robinson got outcoached badly. 

The best coach in the world can't make your layups and foul shots.  MIT played a good game, but F&M held them to under 70.

[Hugenerd]

As i predicted last night, F&m ran into a team that played stellar defense but could also shoot well.  I think the emotion of Friday really took a toll early.  most of the missed shots early were short, a rarity for F&M.  for the first five minutes, it looked like Salandra was the only player who realized they were playing for a final four trip.  Then, when things get going Porter gets hurt.  That opened up the door for number 4, who is the quickest player i've ever seen at this level.  Why he's not D1 i have no idea. 

Kates had an invited walk on spot to Cornell, but he came to MIT (and be a starter from day 1).  Hollingsworth is also a D1 transfer from Brown (he didn't play all that great last night). 

Also, despite a few of them being listed as seniors, all the starters (except for the injured Bender who didnt play last night), have at least year of eligibility left because of medical redshirt seasons (Hollingsworth, Karraker, and McCue, to go along with Juniors Kates and Tashman).

I don't think Robinson got outcoached badly. 

The best coach in the world can't make your layups and foul shots.  MIT played a good game, but F&M held them to under 70.

MIT only averaged 72 ppg for their conference schedule, so holding them to 69 is really only a basket under their average.  They play a really controlled tempo game (reflection of Coach Anderson), so when they play other good teams, they typically dont score out of the 70s.  They arent a team that is going to run wild up and down the court, unless they are playing a really overmatched team. Their game hinges as much on ball/tempo control, poise of their players, and executing the game plan as it does on the talent of their players (which I believe MIT has very talented players).

I really thought the difference in the game was Kates.  In the first 37.5 minutes of the game, he held Milligan to 14 points on 5-16 shooting, 2 assists, and 4 TOs (0.5 A/TO) (Milligan scored 9 points in the last 2.5 minutes, when I felt the game was already decided, when F&M went to a more desperation style offense).  Meanwhile, he was also able to be effective on the offensive end, getting past Milligan one-on-one pretty regularly.  Obviously, knocking down outside shots was crucial, but a lot of those were also setup by Kates drawing help after getting by his defender (he had 8 assists).

[Gabriel]

Which ever way you look at the F&M/MIT game, the best team won.  MIT was clearly the best team in the sectional.  They remind me of the Washington U team of 2008---solid fundamentals and very poised.

[Dips75]

Which ever way you look at the F&M/MIT game, the best team won.  MIT was clearly the best team in the sectional.  They remind me of the Washington U team of 2008---solid fundamentals and very poised.

MIT was quite impressive. They were stout defensively, comparable to F&M. They were very, very physical, even bruising, with both Porter and Salandra getting roughed up early and other F&M players taking a lot of shots. And they could hit shots from anywhere on the floor, with their eyes closed, or even from the concession stand. Anything they put up went down, especially from outside. That kind of team is very tough to beat.

[Gabriel]

Now that the emotions have settled a bit, congratulations to F&M on a terrific season to cap off a great four year run with Georgio Milligan.  He clearly deserves all the honors he has won and will be remembered as one of the best, both at F&M and in the CC.  Bravo Zulu, Georgio.

[oftdip]

To all on the MIT compliments, they deserve everyone of them... what a poised mature team... men on a mission and they achieved it... Dips were off as much as they were beaten... never had been behind by more than nine points all year until last night...
Very proud of this team, especially when you lose McNally - Tolliver - Baker in one class... Some of the energy is now back in Mayser, I have not seen it that packed since the Marsh/Manaskie/Lasky days... Just damned good D3 hoops...

Some great reading this AM in Lancaster paper on what D3 sports are or should be all about...
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/602360_Division-III-and-college-sports-at-its-best.html

I think MIT can run the table...Good luck in Salem...

[Reserved Seat]

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.(30-3)
I believe this is Dr. Seuss quote.

[oftdip]

Dave McHugh... I did not get to hear you his weekend as I was at all four Mayser games... so how was your trip to Lancaster, F&M and Mayser? Have you been there before? I know many of us Dipsters woud appreciate your thoughts...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

You wouldn't have heard me... I entrusted the calls of the games to those we brought in or were already there. However, I was ready to step in when necessary (though, I did provide some score updates during the broadcast).

My main focus was producing the games to their very best with five cameras and other bells and whistles. Wanted to make sure those who weren't at Mayser got the best broadcast possible to let them feel like they still were part of the experience.

As for my trip... uneventful. Family came along and they loved the games as well. I have been to F&M and Mayser many times, especially for NCAA tournament games, but even for regular season games. It is one of the classic gyms to see a game at and I know, having talked to several others new to the arena, they appreciated the atmosphere, the gym, and the hospitality.

As for my thoughts on the game... will get back to you later tonight. I am busy getting ready for Hoopsville tonight and then can share my thoughts here!

[crambam]

The most difficult thing for me was that the game WAS winnable.  MIT was great.  They have a real shot at winning it all, and I hope they do to take the sting out. 

But if F&M wasn't so putrid on the foul line and some of their shots fell, it would have been different.  I credit the MIT defense, but F&M DID get good shots off that didn't fall.  It was rough to watch such a good team have a bad night.

Unrelated...

Is there an NCAA rule against hanging from the rim in warmups or dunking in general?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The NCAA rule is in the final 30 minutes of warm-up since that is when the refs are on the floor and if the refs see it...