MBB: Centennial Conference

[Swat Fan #1]

Swat #1,

Always enjoy your posts. Thanks for your input.  Doubt that you ever saw Shattuck, McGarvey or Stanton play.  Five CC POY's between them.  Milligan is right there too so don't argue with your comments on him.  He was terrific.

Regarding Swat, they will be the favorites but do not take anything for granted.  CC will be competitive next year so Swat will have to earn it.

Yeah, I was stupid. I should have said that since I started watching Centennial Conference games, Milligan is the best I have seen. I have seen several All-Americans at Ithaca College and the teams they play and no one was close to Milligan. He was just a special player. I was just being a smart-a** about next year. So many things can happen to change what will happen. Again, cheers all and have a wonderful summer!

On another note, many former Centennial players play in a league in downtown Philly. It is like a brotherhood and they often go out after games. They are all quality young men!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Dickinson is still in the Centennial, right?  If you're going to have this largely pointless offseason conversation, isn't there a National Player of the Year who hasn't really been included yet?

[centfan]

i think it would be more fun to simply acknowledge players we appreciated rater than argue over who was the best. most people haven't watched the conference for that long or that thoroughly for their opinion to be credible.

[Red Onwuatuegwu]

Wixted was a very good player and congrats to him on player of the year, but was he really the best player of the year?! Come on now back to reality. I'd personally still take Milligan to lead my team over him any day of the week.

[Pat Coleman]

I'd have thought there would be more discussion of Dave Jannetta on this list.

[HopkinsNest7]

Here is my all time centennial roster if I have to play a basketball game against the martians to save the earth from mass destruction. (Bill Simmons idea)

Starters:
Malique Killing: fearless leader who may be able to win this game by himself. Can score from all three levels of the court and is a pure winner when dialed in.
Georgio Milligan: Impossible to press and a relentless on ball defender, him and Killing could be a two man press while also providing 50+ points of high powered offense.
Brandon Angradi: unconscious shooter who can space the floor for the prior two guards. Tough shot maker who will be unaffected by the mythical wingspan of these aliens. It will be an issue if kawhi leonard shows up at the game as it is proven he's not actually human.
Spencer Liddic: bruising 4 who will exert sheer will into the glass and become a walking double double. As consistent as the Cent has ever seen. Abington product.
Gerry Wixted III: Small ball center who can space the floor and score in a number of ways. Can afford the lack of rebounding here because Liddic will be busy pounding the glass like a drum. Makes for a dynamic offense.

Bench:
Alec Stavetski: perfect replacement for the inevitable finger sprain for Angradi. 4 point play machine. Jamal Crawford.
George Bugarinovoc: poor mans Liddic as he will terrorize the martians glass as well. Impressive mid range game and he is a doctor so he might be able to fix Angradis finger.
Gibby Graves: do it all forward who can play 4 positions and defend 5. This may be a stretch but I have to give Haverford some love since they couldn't land McClary.
Cam Wiley: Malique Jr. Simple as that.
Rob Walsh: only true shot blocker on the roster but can be a big time deterrent at the rim. Look for him to play 15 minutes and block 2-3 shots. Efficient.

Coach: Scott McClary. Let's be real, would this blog be a thing without that guy? I would trust him with this squad to defend the earth. A well balanced offense and array of crafty defenses makes McClary the only true candidate to coach the Centennials best.

[gordonmann]

Ha. Plus k to you.

I don't have much Centennial knowledge pre-2004 but my starting five would be -- Wixted (POY, and versatile player), Milligan (I liked his style at guard), Mike McGarvey (one of the best pure passers in D3), Dennis Stanton (great scorer) and Andrew Powers (Really, really good post at Gettysburg).  Next five are Nick Shattuck in a Manu Ginobli role, Liddic, Danny Nawrocki who had the biggest arms I've ever seen on a D3 basketball player, Ian McCormick and Cam Wiley in the young-gun-who-has-to-carry-the-veterans-bags-to-pay-his-dues role. I'm really high on Wiley and think he'll be a total stud by his senior year.

Oh, and I never saw Killing play but I hope Muhlenberg SID Mike Falk used the headline "Killing them softly" at least once for a basketball recap.

[Corporal Hicks]

              Well well well..... nothing like showing your hand.  Only referencing players from the last 7 years or so for an all Centennial team.  Keep in mind fellow writers, the Cent was established in 1981.  Another form of giving yourself away @HopkinsNest7 or should I say....@Monix.  By the way, Happy belated to you HopkinsNest7/Monix.  This blog was created well before you hit your adolescent years which is why it makes sense as to why you only reference players that have recently played in the Cent.  Guys on your list who should never even be considered for an All Time Cent team: Angradi, Stavetski, Graves, Walsh, and Wiley(not yet at least.  Still has some things to prove as a rising junior).  No disrespect to the student athletes mentioned, but lets be real here.  Angradi a better shooter than future Cent all time leading scorer, Federici?  I think not.  I'll leave it here because I'd rather not bash anyone on this forum but I mean lets think logically before we post.

@SwatFan- Here come all the Swarthmore "Faithful" from out of the depths now that they are finally relevant on the hardwood.  I would have corrected you for your claim that everyone else is playing for second this year but you did that yourself.  Wise move.  Swat will be tough as they continue to build a really nice program under the Centennial Popovich (Kosmalski).  With players like the explosive scorer Wiley, the "do it all yonda", and walsh holding down the paint for them I can see them obviously contending but also making a push to win a game or 2 in the national tournament as its Walsh and Yondas last go at it.  I like what they have going there, but I just wonder how long until Kosmalski follows in the footsteps of Popovich and heads for the pros(or should I say Mula).  That may be a stretch, but realistically its only a matter of time until he has a chance at a D1 head coaching position.  We have all seen his immediate impact on that program and I must say its quite impressive. 

@Red- I too am a big fan of rafferty of ursinus.  Legit 6'4 point who is simply just bigger than his opponent on most nights.  I could see him having a really nice senior year.  I'd like to see him look to score more though as he tends to be a little passive on most nights.  With the lost of North east PA product Knowles I think we may see Raff in a more scoring role than we are used to seeing. 

On a lighter note, who's excited for the NBA finals?  Durant vs Lebron, Kyrie vs Curry.  Kind of reminds me a little bit of those Dickinson vs Muhlenberg Matchups.  Stavetski vs Angradi, and Killing vs Cox.  May be a bit of a stretch, but hey might as well have some fun with it 

Corp.Out.

[NEPAFAN]

blog
bläɡ/Submit
noun
1.
a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.
verb
1.
add new material to or regularly update a blog.
"it's about a week since I last blogged"

[Pat Coleman]

This is really a message board, rather than a blog, for what it's worth.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wait... is it the regular season? This page has had more traffic in the last few days then it gets in the regular season... starting to look like a CCIW or MIAA board... except, those boards have multiple posters, not multiple personalities. LOL

BTW - sorry I have Killing credit as a second teamer... was doing it off the top of my head. All I remembered was that he didn't "earn" the honors his apologizers wanted... and rightly so.

And Gordon... love your list of Centennial players... that is an outstanding list.

BTW - didn't Killing play at the same time as Wixted? Hmm. I think Wixted proved he was the better player head-to-head, not that he was actually trying to do that. While being outscored in the final game of the 2015 season 8-4 (by Killing)... Wixted also had 11 rebounds.

And to the argument that Killing's problem was McClary... any good or great player finds a way to get themselves on the court, play in the system, and rise to the occasion. McClary played Killing 30.8 minutes a game his senior year... and against Dickinson he scored 11 and 8 respectively. Killing got his chances... he just didn't take advantage of those chances. You can't blame a coach when you are on the floor and still can't get it done. Sure, he scored 15.8 ppg, but 12-12 your senior year is disappointing.

Killing never lived up to the expectations and if the situation was so bad, he could have transfered.

[ronk]

Ha. Plus k to you.

I don't have much Centennial knowledge pre-2004 but my starting five would be -- Wixted (POY, and versatile player), Milligan (I liked his style at guard), Mike McGarvey (one of the best pure passers in D3), Dennis Stanton (great scorer) and Andrew Powers (Really, really good post at Gettysburg).  Next five are Nick Shattuck in a Manu Ginobli role, Liddic, Danny Nawrocki who had the biggest arms I've ever seen on a D3 basketball player, Ian McCormick and Cam Wiley in the young-gun-who-has-to-carry-the-veterans-bags-to-pay-his-dues role. I'm really high on Wiley and think he'll be a total stud by his senior year.

Oh, and I never saw Killing play but I hope Muhlenberg SID Mike Falk used the headline "Killing them softly" at least once for a basketball recap.

Having seen McGarvey, Stanton(loss to Scranton), Powers, McNally, and Milligan in NCAA tourney action(other half of regional doubleheaders involving Scranton), I'd probably pick Milligan as the best over Powers in this group; to be fair, McGarvey was only a freshman when I saw him.

[Corporal Hicks]

      Tomato/Tomoto, Potato/Pototo lets not nit pick here fellas.  I think you all know what I meant when I said blog.  I however am recently newer to writing on this "messaging board" although I have been a pretty frequent reader and follower of the Cent for years now. 

Bored at the office so what a better way to pass time than to make some predictions
Very early predictions for All Cent teams this year?
Mine would have to be
First team:
1.Wiley
2.Federici
3.Yonda
4.Quatro
5.Walsh

Second:
1.Tate
2.Wright
3.Rindock
4.Scibili (if healthy)
5. Baez

HM in no specific order- Rafferty,Mcleod, Janicot(Mardukas would like this one), Eric Williams, Slyka. 

COY- Robinson in other news the sky is indeed blue
POY-Federici as he eclipses the conferences all time scoring record
DPOY- Walsh
MIPOY- Rafferty
Best hair- With the departure of seniors Pete Christ/John Hunter it looks like its time for Dan Vila of Johhny Hop to take the crown.  Young man has quite an impressive head of hair on him
Best story line- With Wiley really starting to take over the conference the comparisons of Killing and Milligan will become more and more realistic.  Similarly to what we are seeing with Lebron/Jordan debates
Message Boarder of the year-Might have to go with Veteran D-mac on this one.  Just seems like his year.
Rookie of the year-Too early to tell.  Not familiar with enough recruiting classes.  TBD
Best Hospitality for a game- Memorial Hall for its plentiful seating, but Dip Zone for its atmosphere
Underachieving team of the year-Dickinson.  With the loss of Brown I think they could struggle also because the need to fill position.  Not easy getting thrown into the fire in the Cent.  Especially with some hostile message boarders(Hoopdog1414,Monix/HopkinsNest7)
Best student body representation- Johns Hopkins.  Man I've seen a few games in Baltimore and those kids are funny but ruthless.  Look forward to catching a few more. 
Matchup of the year-Whenever Swarthmore matches up with The Dips.  Has the potential to be a slugfest of the 2 top dogs
Best Fan- Reserved Seat.  Goes without having to explain

Standings
1.F&M
2.Swat
3.Ursinus
4.Dickinson
5.Mules
6.Mcdaniel
7.Getty
8.Hopkins
9.Fords
10.Washington

[NEPAFAN]

      Tomato/Tomoto, Potato/Pototo lets not nit pick here fellas.  I think you all know what I meant when I said blog.  I however am recently newer to writing on this "messaging board" although I have been a pretty frequent reader and follower of the Cent for years now. 

Now you are just trolling me.

[Hank Mardukas]

Zero shot Rindock even makes honorable mention, youngster is on a downward slope.

      Tomato/Tomoto, Potato/Pototo lets not nit pick here fellas.  I think you all know what I meant when I said blog.  I however am recently newer to writing on this "messaging board" although I have been a pretty frequent reader and follower of the Cent for years now. 

Bored at the office so what a better way to pass time than to make some predictions
Very early predictions for All Cent teams this year?
Mine would have to be
First team:
1.Wiley
2.Federici
3.Yonda
4.Quatro
5.Walsh

Second:
1.Tate
2.Wright
3.Rindock
4.Scibili (if healthy)
5. Baez

HM in no specific order- Rafferty,Mcleod, Janicot(Mardukas would like this one), Eric Williams, Slyka. 

COY- Robinson in other news the sky is indeed blue
POY-Federici as he eclipses the conferences all time scoring record
DPOY- Walsh
MIPOY- Rafferty
Best hair- With the departure of seniors Pete Christ/John Hunter it looks like its time for Dan Vila of Johhny Hop to take the crown.  Young man has quite an impressive head of hair on him
Best story line- With Wiley really starting to take over the conference the comparisons of Killing and Milligan will become more and more realistic.  Similarly to what we are seeing with Lebron/Jordan debates
Message Boarder of the year-Might have to go with Veteran D-mac on this one.  Just seems like his year.
Rookie of the year-Too early to tell.  Not familiar with enough recruiting classes.  TBD
Best Hospitality for a game- Memorial Hall for its plentiful seating, but Dip Zone for its atmosphere
Underachieving team of the year-Dickinson.  With the loss of Brown I think they could struggle also because the need to fill position.  Not easy getting thrown into the fire in the Cent.  Especially with some hostile message boarders(Hoopdog1414,Monix/HopkinsNest7)
Best student body representation- Johns Hopkins.  Man I've seen a few games in Baltimore and those kids are funny but ruthless.  Look forward to catching a few more. 
Matchup of the year-Whenever Swarthmore matches up with The Dips.  Has the potential to be a slugfest of the 2 top dogs
Best Fan- Reserved Seat.  Goes without having to explain

Standings
1.F&M
2.Swat
3.Ursinus
4.Dickinson
5.Mules
6.Mcdaniel
7.Getty
8.Hopkins
9.Fords
10.Washington