MBB: Centennial Conference

[crambam]

Turning thoughts to F&M's future, who is going to replace Milligan?  When Lasky left, Jannetta was ready to go.  This F&M team was brilliant.  One of the best I've seen since the Lasky era, but it had a couple of big weaknesses that they didn't have 20 years ago.

Their foul shooting was putrid and they really don't have a good 3 point threat.  Tommy Nicholson was a three point specialist, but he wasn't alone. 

I remember reading about a recruit that was really good at shooting the 3.  Terrell Phelps.  Did he play much this year?  Will he next year? 

[crambam]

I don't care if you address it again or not.  That doesn't change anything.

I did read the rules.  It's pretty clear that you can't dunk in warmups.  MIT did that.  I know this because I was watching them. 

Making excuses for ref failures to call something doesn't change that it didn't happen.  They belong on the floor.  MIT was swinging from the rim in early warmups, but even within 30 minutes, they were practicing dunking.  They were all doing it. 

I'm not sour at all over it.  You seem to have a defend the refs at all costs attitude, which clearly shouldn't happen here.  That's your issue.  And I wouldn't be continuing to harp on it, if you weren't defending the indefensible.  That's your issue.  Makes no difference to me.

[Pat Coleman]

If it happens before the refs take the floor, it's fine. All teams know that. If the refs had been there, MIT would not have been dunking. You're making a mountain out of an anthill. This is only a controversy to you, and you are wasting all of our time by continuing to reiterate the same point over and over.

[Warren Thompson]

And I wouldn't be continuing to harp on it, if you weren't defending the indefensible.  That's your issue.  Makes no difference to me.

If it "makes no difference" to you, will you now, at long last, kindly shut up about it?

[onetinsoldier]

Turning thoughts to F&M's future, who is going to replace Milligan?  When Lasky left, Jannetta was ready to go.  This F&M team was brilliant.  One of the best I've seen since the Lasky era, but it had a couple of big weaknesses that they didn't have 20 years ago.

Their foul shooting was putrid and they really don't have a good 3 point threat.  Tommy Nicholson was a three point specialist, but he wasn't alone. 

I remember reading about a recruit that was really good at shooting the 3.  Terrell Phelps.  Did he play much this year?  Will he next year?

i think F&m has settled into what theyre going to be, a strong defensive team that will make-up on the fly where they will get their points.  They seem committed to pounding the ball down low (which they will do with Hayk and Solandra), and avoiding the 3 at all costs since missed 3's lead to long rebounds which lead to transition baskets for the opposition.  F&M knows no one in the conference can beat them in a half court game.  It looked like the ft woes were behind them, then they reared their ugly head again in the NCAAs. 

And as for recruits, as shown with Austin this year Robinson is not willing to trade defense for offense. 

[Gabriel]

Too soon, or can we start talking about next year? Would love to hear about recruits, expectations, and who will be the best teams.

Swat Dad,

My guess is that the conference will be a toss up next year.  F&M, Dickinson and Muhlenberg should be slight favorites---returning most of their players---but Milligan and Liddic will be tough to replace.  Expect Ursinus, JHU, Gettysburg-----and maybe---just maybe, Swat to make some noise next year.  Think it will be a down year for Washington and McDaniel.

I follow Ursinus closely.  They lost three seniors, none of whom played that much. Their bigs (Ward, Kamara, Janowski and Marciano) are big and they should be formidable next year if their guard play improves.   Coach Small has been very busy on the recruiting trail trying to bring in some wing scorers to take pressure off of Jon Ward.  Looks like they will bring in four or five recruits, mostly shooting guards.  The returnees Krasna, Harry & Vasturia should be better with a year of experience.  I think Ursinus will be in the top four next year.

[upstatenyfan]

Swat dad,

Any update on the coaching search?  They got any canidates?  Is Coach Culley going to be named coach?  Would you rather have a young coach or an experienced coach?

[Swat Fan #1]

Thanks Gabriel. If they can find some help for Ward, your team will be really good. Upstatenyfan (where are you from by the way), I have not heard a thing. I really have no idea what is going on. As for my preference, I am not sure. Culley did a very good job. He put in a new offense near the end of the season and they were much more competitive. I do know they got a ton of applicants for the job. When, I hear something, I will let you know. Swarthmore will have most of their starters back next year with two four year starters. Losing a coach midseason really stunned the team. They were better than their record showed.

[upstatenyfan]

I'm from the Syracuse area. 

[upstatenyfan]

That's too bad...I would assume as a parent of a current player, you'd probably want them to move forward asap so that he could get out and start recruiting.  At least that would be my thought. 

[Swat Fan #1]

I understand what you are saying, but Swarthmore is a different beast. There is no recruiting at this point. They let in about 7% of applicants and that was months ago (January 1st deadline). There is no more recruiting this year at this point. I think they have two recruits but don't think they are potential starters.

As far as moving forward, and as a parent, the only thing that matters is academics. The only thing. If there are ten things that matter, academics are numbers 1-99. Seriously. A problem set in math takes approximately 30 hours to solve. And, two a week are assigned. So, while I would love the program to move forward, I have no problem with this taking time. Whoever is hired needs to know that classes come first and then basketball. I am not making excuses, that is just how it is.

And, I grew up in Skaneateles so I know the area.

[centfan]

Let's look at some basketball academic honor roll numbers and standings in a student/athlete conference for 2011-12:
Haverford-6
Hopkins-5
Swarthmore-4
Ursinus-2
Dickinson,Washington,Muhlenberg,Gettysburg-1
F&M, McDaniel-0

-Top 3 teams had five times as many as the other 7 teams combined.
-Haverford alone had twice as many as the bottom 7 teams combined.

[magicman]

Let's look at some basketball academic honor roll numbers and standings in a student/athlete conference for 2011-12:
Haverford-6
Hopkins-5
Swarthmore-4
Ursinus-2
Dickinson,Washington,Muhlenberg,Gettysburg-1
F&M, McDaniel-0

-Top 3 teams had five times as many as the other 7 teams combined.
-Haverford alone had twice as many as the bottom 7 teams combined.

I think you need to re-calculate those figures.

[centfan]

thanks, magicman, i stand corrected... i went too fast!! (so much for my math).
here are the corrections:
Haverford-6
Hopkins-5
Swarthmore-4
Ursinus-2
Dickinson,Washington,Muhlenberg,Gettysburg-1
F&M, McDaniel-0
-top 3 times combined are 2.5 times as many as bottom 7 teams combined.
-haverford alone has as many as the bottom 7 teams combined.

[onetinsoldier]

where did you get those numbers from?