MBB: Centennial Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Gets them ready for the Centennial tournament and possibly the NCAA tournament, wouldn't you think? If they can't handle this, they aren't going to handle the rest of the season very well is my thinking.

[centfan]

i agree dave
g-rob will have them ready

[Reserved Seat]

Not so much getting ready, but the recovery for the players who are playing with significant injuries.  Back to back games are expected for the playoffs, but the less you have to play the better.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

That doesn't necessarily hold water. Do you want to count up how many conferences play on back-to-back nights all season long (or at least twice a weekend)? To be honest, some of the best teams and conferences in the country play difficult schedules. Doesn't seem to bother them.

Yes, the players are used to playing a different schedule in this conference... but one extra week isn't the end of the world I would hope. If anything, it may give coaches an early alert as to whether they can handle the schedule... which may be a benefit.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Or that no other teams really can complain when Ursinus has to play four games in seven nights.

[givengo]

Most teams, and especially the juniors and seniors on those teams have nagging injuries by this point in the season. So it's probably more of a level playing field than you imagine.  Players grit it out and don't let anyone know if they can help it because they just want to play the game.  My sons have played through tonsillitis, sesamoiditis (inflamed small bones of the feet), and stress fractures among other things-- I only found out later when it was time to pick up the pieces. Toughest guys I know.
Same goes for make up games.  We worry more about it than they do.  Hopkins plays tonight and tomorrow, Dickinson just played three games in five days, and Ursinus takes the cake.  Sometimes it gets them into a groove and they play better than they would have.  I admire them all.

[Gabriel]

Well said by all.  Go Bears!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

F&M locked up #1 tonight.  Ursinus is technically still alive, although they need to win all three remaining games and have pretty much everyone else lose.

[Reserved Seat]

In an unusual game at Ursinus, F&M only suited up 9 players, while Ursinus only suited up 8.  F&M had a comfortable double digit lead most of the way, until a string of errant uncontested passes lead to a run by Ursinus to close the gap to 3.  F&M then calmed down and opened up a breathable lead.  In the first half despite a tough and physical defense by Ursinus, F&M shot no foul shots.  Federici and Beins both fouled out for F&M.  F&M only shot 5 foul shots in the second half until the closing minute.  Both teams had difficulty shooting, especially Ursinus on foul shots.
Also, unusual Terrell Phelps and Kevin Beins lead F&M's scoring with 17 and 14 points each.  Janicot played a tough game with 14 rebounds and 17 points.  LoStracco played a very physical game under the boards picking up 7 rebounds and preventing F&M from collaring many.

[Gabriel]

Reserved,

Congratulations to the Dips for winning the right to host!  The game last night was kind of a reflection of the season for the Bears. The positives----- good team play, lots of energy and  effort, good rebounding and continued development of the three sophomore starters---Rafferty, Janicot and Lo Strocco.  The negatives include the season ending injuries to Matt Knowles and Zach Muredda, poor free throw shooting and, of course, turnovers.  On balance, I "m optimistic and think the Bears will be a major player next year and the years thereafter.  I am impressed with the character of this team and their desire to do things the right way.  I will always believe that unselfish team play trumps individualism every time.  Go Bears!

[Polly Math]

Tonight in Baltimore was another in the ongoing  line of Dickinson vs Hopkins nailbiting classics.  Although much of the lineups have changed, the game felt  similar to last years championship game.  Dickinson outplayed Hopkins and led big with 10 mins to go. Hopkins then mounted a furious rally that fell just short, and the game ended on a missed Hopkins 3 for the win.   

Dickinson clinches a playoff berth with the win and has a shot at the 3 seed due to the Gettysburg loss.  Pretty amazing considering where they were 3 weeks ago.  Hopkins now needs to win out and get help to make the playoffs.     

[Reserved Seat]

F&M lead the whole as they started with a 10-0 run and increased the lead to 33-11.  Gettysburg started to fight back and cut the gap to 38-27 at the half.  Gettysburg continued to fight back in the second half, twice getting the game down to a 4 point difference, but could never quite close the gap.  F&M finished off the game for a 71-60 game, as Gettysburg ended the game with a long 3-point shot.
F&M worked the inside game early punching the ball in Moune who eventually ended the game with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. Federici added 17 points and Tate tossed in 13 and added 9 assists.  With Owana out of the game due to injury, his subs Hines, Jordan Phelps, and Beins combined for 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Gettysburg fought back putting 4 players in double figures lead by England with 15.  Kirkpatrick played a solid game with 11 points and 8 rebounds plus good defense on Moune in the second half.

[givengo]

Okay gang. So what are the playoff implications right now and tie breakers, if it comes to that?

[Polly Math]

Best I can do:     F&M and Swat are set at 1 and 2.  Muhlenberg and Ursinus are out.  Hopkins gets in only if Gettysburg loses to McDaniel and Ursinus and Hopkins beats Wash Coll.   Dickinson has the tiebreak over McDaniel (because Dickinson beat Swat) but not Gettysburg, so if Gettysburg wins out and Dickinson loses at F&M, Gettysburg gets the 3 seed and Dickinson falls to the 4 seed. If Dickinson beats F&M or McDaniel beats Gettysburg, Dickinson is the 3 seed.  If Gettysburg beats McDaniel they lock up the 4 seed with a chance to get to 3 by beating Ursinus on Monday.  If McDaniel beats Gettysburg then McDaniel locks up the 4, with Dickinson the 3 and Gettysburg the 5.   

Think thats right.  So the games to watch for playoff seeding purposes on Sat. are, in order of importance:   (1) McDaniel v. Gettysburg;(2) Dickinson v. F&M; (3) Hopkins v. Wash Coll.     

Good night.

[Reserved Seat]

Official tie-breaking rules
Tie-Breaker Format
1. All seeds other than the final seed will be determined by applying the following criteria in the order listed:
a. head-to-head Centennial Conference competition among the tied teams;
b. team with the best record vs. teams in descending order of standing (1st place, 2nd, etc.);
c. coin flip by the Executive Director;
d. once the above criteria have been used to reduce the number of tied teams, they will be used again on the teams that remain tied.
2. Ties for the final playoff seed will be determined by applying the following criteria in the order listed:
a. head-to-head Conference competition among the tied teams;
b. team with the best record vs. teams in descending order of standing (1st place, 2nd, etc.). It should be noted
that if 1 (c) above had to be used to break a tie between teams, those teams will be considered as tied for purposes of
applying this tie-breaker;
c. once the above criteria have been used to reduce the number of tied teams, they will be used again on the teams
that remain tied;
d. if the application of 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) does not determine the final seed for the playoffs, a tie-breaker game will
be played. The host for the game will be determined through a coin flip by the Executive Director. It should be noted that, under the provisions of criteria 2, a tie-breaker game would only be played if the teams had split their head-to-head games, and the tied teams' records were identical against every other team in the Conference. The rationale of 2(d) is that a tiebreaker game should be held if, and only if, the only other possible way to determine the final playoff team was a coin flip.