MBB: Centennial Conference

centfan · December 08, 2012, 11:53:36 PM

diplomatjunkie,
i have been watching closely only since 2007, visiting all the CC gyms. perhaps it was different years ago but i can't remember seeing guys getting hammered or being intimidated or "abused" down low. maybe i have seen a harder foul here and there but no consistently aggressive play in the paint.i have never seen a flagrant foul called or contested dunk attempts, for example. i have seen certain guys with a few basic post moves or superior strength dominate, but not through aggression or anything close to abuse.

centfan · December 09, 2012, 12:24:59 AM

dickinson, playing good team ball, beat ursinus today. wixted once again dominated in the paint with 31. dickinson went 27 for 27 from the line.

Gabriel · December 09, 2012, 01:08:18 PM

Dickinson played a great game shooting 50 percent from the field and 100 percent (27 for 27) from the line.
Ursinus played very well in the second half after being down by 15 at the break. Ward led the comeback in the second half until he fouled out with 7 minutes to play. Wixted is a load, no doubt about that.

Ursinus needs to play better in the opening minutes---- they have been playing from behind in most games. Coach Small played mostly zone in the second half and that proved to be effective. The Bears actually closed to within one point with about 20 seconds on the clock. Some poor decision making in the last minute of play cost them the win. All in all----a terrific, hard fought game. I am proud of my Bears---the never give up.

diplomatjunkie · December 09, 2012, 05:34:50 PM

As we reach the CC break in action until early January I'll throw out some thoughts on how CC might play out.

I think that on any given night almost anyone can lose and the top 2 teams in the CC could have 4-6 losses and 9-9 has a chance to make the CC playoffs. Not the best for getting an at large bid this year.

This is my current order of finish:

1. Dickinson: Look the best balanced team (Wixted & Honig) inside and out
2-3. F&M: Best inside game on offense & defense. Guard play falls short. Hayk can't carry load all season.
2-3. Muhls: Mules balanced enough to get job done
4. Ursinus: Big frontline, excellent PG and monster freshman Draper who may be their best player
5. JHU: last spot goes to hard nosed well coach squad

Also-ran but generally tough outs: Haverford (will sneak in mix if any team falters), G-burg (better than record), SWAT, McDaniel & Washington (all can pull off upset at times)

Gabriel · December 09, 2012, 08:17:19 PM

Quote from: diplomatjunkie on December 09, 2012, 05:34:50 PM
As we reach the CC break in action until early January I'll throw out some thoughts on how CC might play out.

I think that on any given night almost anyone can lose and the top 2 teams in the CC could have 4-6 losses and 9-9 has a chance to make the CC playoffs. Not the best for getting an at large bid this year.

This is my current order of finish:

1. Dickinson: Look the best balanced team (Wixted & Honig) inside and out
2-3. F&M: Best inside game on offense & defense. Guard play falls short. Hayk can't carry load all season.
2-3. Muhls: Mules balanced enough to get job done
4. Ursinus: Big frontline, excellent PG and monster freshman Draper who may be their best player
5. JHU: last spot goes to hard nosed well coach squad

Also-ran but generally tough outs: Haverford (will sneak in mix if any team falters), G-burg (better than record), SWAT, McDaniel & Washington (all can pull off upset at times)

junkie,

Sounds good. Can't fault your analysis. League is well balanced. As a Bears fan, wish Kamara could play and, I think, that would make a difference because Ursinus could deal with Hayk and Wiksted.
But----that's the way it goes.

centfan · December 09, 2012, 11:23:41 PM

gabriel,
i agree that if kamara played the bears could limit hayk, but i don't know if it would stop wixted.

centfan · December 09, 2012, 11:35:23 PM

diplonmatjunkie,
i agree that dickinson and f&m are top 2, and the mules probably third. after that i am unsure. i would put hopkins, ursinus, swarthmore, haverford in the same group with gettysburg, mcdaniel and washington at the bottom. swarthmore...they put up points and the new coach has them playing hard and well now, running davidson sets. haverford has a strong pair in cohen and baker with some role players that can do some damage. hopkins plays good D and plays together and ursinus has size, and strong freshmen in draper and wonderling (good defender). gettysburg doesn't have great chemistry though zurn might be the best all round player in the conference. dickinson has the best duo in wixted and honig.

centfan · December 13, 2012, 07:37:04 AM

swat wins another game last night and puts up 81 points with several players in double figures again.

D.B. Cooper · December 17, 2012, 06:31:13 PM

Tough holiday tournaments coming up for F&M. If Dips win 3 out of four maybe they are as good as a ranking in the top 15-18.
However that may not happen. I wasn't originally thinking that Mt. St. Joseph would be so good and maybe Transy isn't the juggernaut all expected. A summary anyway.

Don Lane Classic:
1. Get initially a tough MSJ who's unbeaten in their conference. They ony have a short jaunt from Cincy to Lexington, but Dips may be suffering from 10+ hour bus ride.
2. Next night they face the always tough & talented Transy Pioneers in their gym. Dips likely to lose at least one of these. (Shame they can't play other team in KY tourney,the former Muhlenberg coach Steve Moore's Wooster Scots (would love to see that contest someday).

New Year Tournament:
1.Dips start off with a traditionally strong Plattsburg team (7-2 I think)
2. Then either the CAC co-favorite Salisbury (impressive 8-1 and on Showcase vs #1 VA Wesleyan tonight) or Eastern Conn. (6-2) highly regarded LEC invader.
Again Dips could lose any of these games and will if they don't get better and balanced production than last few games showed.

Another likely L looms down at nationally ranked St. Mary's on 1/7/13, if Dips get by SWAT in Lancaster on 1/5/13.

Pat Coleman · December 17, 2012, 08:25:30 PM

Quote from: D.B. Cooper on December 17, 2012, 06:31:13 PM
Tough holiday tournaments coming up for F&M. If Dips win 3 out of four maybe they are as good as a ranking in the top 15-18.
However that may not happen. I wasn't originally thinking that Mt. St. Joseph would be so good and maybe Transy isn't the juggernaut all expected. A summary anyway.

Don Lane Classic:
1. Get initially a tough MSJ who's unbeaten in their conference. They ony have a short jaunt from Cincy to Lexington, but Dips may be suffering from 10+ hour bus ride.

Whenever I hear those bold words, a red flag goes up. If you have to convince us that a team is tough, then probably they aren't.

Which of these seasons is MSJ the tough MSJ?

2012-13 (5-3, 4-0 HCAC)
2011-12 (7-18, 3-15 HCAC)
2010-11 (7-18, 5-13 HCAC)
2009-10 (10-14, 5-11 HCAC)
2008-09 (6-19, 2-14 HCAC)
2007-08 (9-16, 3-13 HCAC)
2006-07 (13-12, 9-7 HCAC)

The four HCAC teams MSJ has beaten are a combined 11-25, 3-13 HCAC.

r.w. mcnickels · December 17, 2012, 09:23:37 PM

Quote from: D.B. Cooper on December 17, 2012, 06:31:13 PM
Tough holiday tournaments coming up for F&M. If Dips win 3 out of four maybe they are as good as a ranking in the top 15-18.
However that may not happen. I wasn't originally thinking that Mt. St. Joseph would be so good and maybe Transy isn't the juggernaut all expected. A summary anyway.

Don Lane Classic:
1. Get initially a tough MSJ who's unbeaten in their conference. They ony have a short jaunt from Cincy to Lexington, but Dips may be suffering from 10+ hour bus ride.
2. Next night they face the always tough & talented Transy Pioneers in their gym. Dips likely to lose at least one of these. (Shame they can't play other team in KY tourney,the former Muhlenberg coach Steve Moore's Wooster Scots (would love to see that contest someday).

New Year Tournament:
1.Dips start off with a traditionally strong Plattsburg team (7-2 I think)
2. Then either the CAC co-favorite Salisbury (impressive 8-1 and on Showcase vs #1 VA Wesleyan tonight) or Eastern Conn. (6-2) highly regarded LEC invader.
Again Dips could lose any of these games and will if they don't get better and balanced production than last few games showed.

Another likely L looms down at nationally ranked St. Mary's on 1/7/13, if Dips get by SWAT in Lancaster on 1/5/13.

I believe the point guard position is finally going to hurt the Dips on this trip. Brewer is a perfect reserve PG -- they need more production out of the starter than he's giving them. I don't know when Rogo is supposed to return (or if he's even the answer at PG). The next few weeks will be a good test. I'm glad they're playing some good teams before the heart of CC play.

D.B. Cooper · December 17, 2012, 11:22:49 PM

Pat, why the attack? Perhaps MSJ is ordinary or less, I thought they would be a soft oponent when I saw the schedule, but they were winning most of their games and outperforming my expectations. I notice you didn't mention any of the other tournament opponents, does that mean you agree Transy, Plattsburg, Salisbury (who just beat VA Wes on the road) or ECSU are challenging opponents. I don't like things taken out of context to make it look like I am making a point that I was not. MSJ is local and the traveling team may get a challange if they also take a team lightly. They are the team F&M has the best chance to beat in the tourneys, but there are no guarantees. I should have called MSG better than expected or better than usual. But why an attack like I have an agenda, I'm just trying encourage CC conversation during this slow period on the board.

Pat Coleman · December 18, 2012, 12:05:44 AM

I don't think it's taking out of context. I included everything you said about MSJ, so that's all the context you provided. Then I added my own.

I don't disagree with the others, but I always see red flags whenever someone tries to sell a team by calling them "a tough" -- we all hear the coachspeak. Doesn't mean we should tolerate it.

Reserved Seat · December 18, 2012, 08:33:26 AM

Let's discuss (sports) in a positive way, sometimes kidding each other with no disrespect.

centfan · December 18, 2012, 09:27:51 AM

r.w.
i agree that f&m does not have a strong point guard this year. rogo remains an unknown as he hasn't played that much, but so far he has 1 assist and 9 turnovers. that could be first few games of freshman jitters or an indication that he needs more time to develop to play the position.