MBB: Centennial Conference

[centfan]

looks like wixted is took charge
no answer for him at f&m
4 years of solid play
dickinson is wixted plus role players
kudos to him
not sure if he can do it by himself against hopkins...should be fun

[Reserved Seat]

Wixted played a typical solid game for Dickinson.  He does seem to get away with a lot though.  Sometimes he looks like bull in a china shop and gets bailed out by the refs, and he doesn't foul shots.
If Wixted played like he did tonight, Dickinson should be able to beat Hopkins. F&M threw up a lot of shots and made few.  Federici continued to struggle on offense, but his potential still seem boundless.  The last few games defenses seemed to push him out beyond his comfort zone.
F&M had difficult getting the ball inside providing few opportunities for Lee and Moune.  Dickinson controlled the boards so there was little opportunity for put backs.   Eggers put back to back good games as he lead F&M in scoring with 16, helping to keep F&M in the game early.  Looks like F&M will have to start getting ready for next year, but only need to replace one key player.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

dickinson is wixted plus role players

I'm not so sure about that one.  I like Hinnenkamp a lot - he's got size, athleticism, and scoring ability.  He may not have to use it as much this year with Wixted around, but I think he'll do very well next season taking on more of a scoring role.

[Team First]

No doubt that Wixted brought his A game last night. When he does Dickinson is very hard to beat.

Regarding role players, I think it's fair to say that the Dickinson players understand their roles very well and this also makes them hard to beat. And depending on what the defense is doing, the players seem to adjust their scoring roles.This has been evident throughout the season as Hinnenkamp, Angotti and Collins have all had big scoring games at different times this season.

Looking forward to a great game tonight.

[givengo]

Well put.   

[centfan]

to be clear, calling someone a role player is not an insult. dickinson has thrived on role players and seretti's ability to recruit selfless players and teach them specifically how to fit into his system of basic basketball. it works very well. wixted is the only legitimate D3 star, in my opinion, over the last several years of their success. it was visible in his freshman year, similar to milligan when he started playing. they "make plays", which is different than being a good player.

[givengo]

to be clear, calling someone a role player is not an insult. dickinson has thrived on role players and seretti's ability to recruit selfless players and teach them specifically how to fit into his system of basic basketball. it works very well. wixted is the only legitimate D3 star, in my opinion, over the last several years of their success. it was visible in his freshman year, similar to milligan when he started playing. they "make plays", which is different than being a good player.

I beg to differ, and that's okay.  Role players don't average double figures.

[Team First]

Plenty of players making plays in the conference final. Both Hopkins and Dickinson players played hard and played well in a championship worthy game.

Don't want to get caught up in the star verses role player discussion too much but it was evident to me that even a role guy like Chris Cox understood that his role in the final stretch was to be opportunistic and get to the rim which he did twice at key moments using his athleticism and fearlessness. And Hinnenkamp showed some crafty inside finishing moves in traffic when it counted. For Hopkins, Omar Randall who had made only 12 threes on the season, knocked down two big time threes in the second half to answer two from Dickinson players...because he was open, taking advantage of how the defense was playing him- heady and fearless as well.

I guess my point is that I agree that it's players that make the plays regardless of the system a team chooses to run. To my eye, Dickinson runs an offense suited to guys that enjoy playing the way they play. Being able to create a shot at the end of the shot clock is only one basketball skill  albeit a valuable one. But having guys who enjoy playing high percentage ball doesn't mean they couldn't score more points in another system and look like stars in the post game write-ups.

On to the NCAAs for two teams that earned it.

[givengo]

Amen.  By the way, kudos to Hopkins' Bill Nelson.  He is the epitome of good sportsmanship and professionalism, shaking hands with players pregame, etc.  He sets a great example for other coaches. 

[Gabriel]

Amen.  By the way, kudos to Hopkins' Bill Nelson.  He is the epitome of good sportsmanship and professionalism, shaking hands with players pregame, etc.  He sets a great example for other coaches.

I second that.  Happy for him that he brought the program back after several lean years.  I have talked to him several times after games and win or lose he is always gracious.

[Reserved Seat]

Coach Nelson is a class act.  He always takes time to say hello when he sees me.  I'm sure he doesn't know my name, but he recognizes me as a loyal fan, even though it's for the enemy.

[D.B. Cooper]

Best of luck to JHU and Dickinson to represent the CC well and advance to Sweet 16 and beyond next weekend.

I enjoyed watching my school (F&M), give me memories I couldn't have imagined before the season started. I expected if things went well for them to be in the CC playoff mix and hopefully make it to even the 4-5 play in game. However after the first weekend I texted my friend that you've got to see this freshman Federici, he has a great shot and quick release and lots of skills, plus the freshman PG looks good also.

Then season started rolling along and they kept winning and the young players kept getting better peaking with a surprising win over JHU and an emotional upending of Stockton. I knew the rigors of the CC double round robin would take a toll, with motivated well coached teams & road games and they did as part of a painful learning process. I certainly never saw them cracking the top 10 though briefly but it did happen.

The only minimal chance of further play is to be placed ahead of Catholic in the Regional rankings, but that is not what I expect. Thus to be on the table near the end of the process is possible, but Dip teams have only gotten an at large bid once in the last 15 or so years since the current approach to select has been used. Most people thought the 2008-9 Dip team would not get that at large bid, but when they did the the result was purely magical. If Federici is analogous to Milligan he lacks the McNally, Baker, Scovill & Brooks to make a run as deep as that one. But being left on the table if they even get there is much more likely. 

It was fun while it lasted. They need a McNally like player recruited to make this team dangerous next year if all are healthy and come back.

[centfan]

congrats to Dickinson and JHU on their seasons and NCAA tournament bids!
good luck to both Centennial Conference teams

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Rough, rough draw for Dickinson.  Albertus Magnus may not beat Springfield, but if they do that team is perfectly constructed to beat Dickinson.  They've got a shot-blocking center who's also more than athletic enough to guard Wixted - they might be the two best big men in this part of the country.  They go very up-tempo.

[hoop master]

All Conference Team annoucements seem to have hit it right. Though interesting that 1900 scorer Mallick Killing despite an inconsistant sr season received no  " love"  at all.  Congrats to all. Hopefully Dickenson and Hopkins will have a good run representing the conference in tourney.