MBB: Centennial Conference

[Hoopdog14]

Moune will be tough to replace but Robinson always seems to have F&M land  their feet.  Swarthmore is the logical pick to win.Kosmalski is the top coach in the conference.  G-burg will have size and experience to battle and Nelson and Seretti will have Hopkins and Dickinson in contention with several key players returning.  Washington is still re-building and McDaniel may struggle.  Haverford will have ups and downs.   The Bears and the Mules don't have the horses or the coaching to muster up a challenge.

[Reserved Seat]

In a nail biter at F&M with major momentum changes,  F&M held on for a 94-91 win.  F&M ran to an early 15 point lead on the back of 5 threes, three from Tate.  F&M held onto a 12 point at the half, but the second half started out all LBC as they held the F&M offense to only 2 points in the first 9 minutes scored by Levy 3 minutes into the half.  Herbie Brown(LBC) went wild and couldn't miss to start the half, as LBC built an also insurmountable lead of 17 points.  LBC still lead by 12 points with 3 minutes to go, but self-destructed as F&M tied the game in regulation.  In a back and forth overtime,  F&M had a 1 point lead with 0.4 seconds to go and Stoma(freshman)(21 points) hit two final free throws.  Matt Tate added 23 points, and Federici came hot done the stretch to finish with 20 points.  Micah Brown ended with 23 points for LBC.  Rebounds were 35-45 in F&M's favor, and turnovers were 30-19 with F&M fortunately on the low side.  LBC shot 55% for the game and F&M only 40%.  F&M takes on York tomorrow.

[Reserved Seat]

 Ugly game in Lancaster.  No continuity to the game.  The officials really struggled at F&M.  York hit 19/27, while F&M hit 9/12.  York only had 6 fouls in the second half, while F&M had over 10 early in the quarter.  Fouls--York(18)  F&M(27)  F&M's subs played well.  Enough said.

[Hoopdog14]

JHU got battle tested this weekend, splitting games against 2 well regarded opponents.  Salisbury (6 votes in Top 25 poll) overwhelmed JHU.  The exploded at the start and never relinquished.  To JHUs credit they fought hard to the end. 

Better luck against Cabrini a perennially tough team as JHU edged them 67-64.   

[Team First]

Only two games in but Dickinson looking to be a formidable squad. Defense ahead of the offense currently but some real bright spots on the offensive end. They seem to have no trouble scoring with a number of players able to post double figures. Clearly the three point percentage won't stay above 50%, but that doesn't appear to be the focus of the offense anyway. Turnovers and free throw percentage are an early problem and an opportunity for real improvement. The defense overcame those issues by holding the two opponents to a combined 38% from the field and 24% from the three point line.  Bottom line, it's early but with quality wins on the road against Arcadia and Mary Washington (on their home court) the Red Devils are off to a good start. They will face Muhlenberg at home on Tuesday and then on Sunday at home again they take on last year final four participant CNU.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to be Dickinson right now - CNU got embarrassed last night against Marietta.  They are going to want to make a statement in their next game.  Hopefully they'll be able to hang tough.

[Team First]

From what I know about the Dickinson team, I bet they'd rather face an angry, focused talented CNU team than the alternative. Might as well get tested by the best at their best. Not sure how the game will go, but I know the Red Devils will compete. I'm more worried about the Mules tomorrow...if Dickinson looks past them they could easily get beat.

[givengo]

Amen to that.  Coach Seretti looks for the best challenge, not the W's and L's at this point.  They'll look forward to playing any team that will step onto the court with them as they are guaranteed to gain something from it.   A look at the past five seasons should show that Dickinson will NEVER be a deer in the headlights to any team, and have turned the tables on ranked opponents many times.  Do I expect them to win?  Maybe, maybe not.  Do I think they have the talent and coaching to rise to any occasion?  You bet.

[Reserved Seat]

Gettysburg took control of the game early at F&M and built a 35-21 lead at half-time.  F&M had difficult getting into any sort of offense.  Gettysburg controlled most of the contested rebounds.  Despite a comeback attempt by F&M in the second half, F&M lost by 3(57-54) after tying the game with 33 seconds left.  Christ hit a 3 giving F&M little time to get a shot off, instead they turned it over on inbound pass.  Stoma lead all scorers with 18, Tate had 16, and Federici and Hunter contributed 9 and 8 points.  The Bullets had well rounded scoring with 3 players with 10 each.  Gettysburg bench outscored F&M's 15-3.  Gettysburg, also, had 3 blocks.

[Hoopdog14]

Dickinson was up to the challenge in conference opener.  Teams were a study in contrast.  Striking example of one team who looks to tested vs one looking to pick easy wins.  Two stats stand out for the game Dickinson had 22 assists vs Mules 7 and Mules who lived in prior games on 3s found the Red Devils to be less accommodating on 3 pointers holding the Mules to 33% from behind the arc.  Would not bet against Dickinson as the longer they play together the better they are liable to be.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Early on it looks like Dickinson and Swarthmore are the cream of the crop.  Hopkins might be very good, but results are still a little too cryptic for me at this point.

[centfan]

nice win for gettysburg away against f&m. should be a confidence builder for them. gettysburg game is an early wake up call for f&m and g-rob. swat and dickinson off to a good start. both programs prove how a program gets turned around by an engaged, capable and prepared coach. fords starting off rough again in the cellar with a huge loss to ursinus at home.

[CCHoopster]

0-2 for the Centennial today.

Close loss for Haverford vs Bryan Athyn. Not sure what Bryn Athyn is like. Expected more from the Fords in this one.

Widener thumped Ursinus. Not sure about Widener this year although following the MAC, I did not see them as a playoff team in the CWealth.

Big day tomorrow.

CNU @ Dickinson
Swat at Miseri (BIG GAME HERE!)
#23 FnM @ LVC.
PSU Schuykill vs McDaniel

CNU by 15 (77-62)
Miseri by 3 (71-68)
FnM by 9 (74-65
McDaniel by 14 (82-68)

[Reserved Seat]

Despite the best efforts of the officials, F&M held on for 73-67 at LVC.  Twenty-eights fouls were called on F&M and 18 on LVC(3 in the closing moments when LVC was attempting to put F&M on the foul line).  With only 11 players suited, Robinson had to juggle the line-up continuous to keep 5 players on the floor without foul trouble.  The bench came through with quality play as Stoma and Owana went to the bench with 5 fouls each.  Federici and Tate had to spend time on the bench with 4 fouls each.  Sylke and Lior, also, picked up 3 fouls each.  Federici lead all scorers with 29 points, while Stoma added 10.  McGrath pulled in 7 rebounds none bigger than the one in the closing moments after Federici missed 2 foul shots.  Tate contributed 8 assists.
Light lead LVC with 25 points, and Orr contributed 18.  Bugg had 8 rebounds for LVC.  Big win for F&M at LVC.

[centfan]

congrats to F&M on their win over Lebanon Valley away , despite almost blowing it at the end
federici, who was a scoring load throughout the game, committed a bad foul and missed two foul shots in crunch time to keep things interesting
f&m held on