MBB: Centennial Conference

[noonhooper]

Just want to be clear, when you say they didn't stop "pressing" you mean pushing the pace and being aggressive on D, right? I don't think I saw them implement a press last night and, as you said during your broadcast, some teams' style is one where they can't really throttle down.
Why would a team with two more games this week get their team out of rhythm by having them do something they don't practice? I guess they could have put that bench mob in with five minutes left instead of three to stop "pressing" but those poor guys would have been dying if they had to play five straight minutes just to slow the game down.

[Swat Fan #1]

Well, now I have more questions than I do answers. Could you explain your "Press" comment. I don't remember them pressing last night, but I certainly could be wrong. I know that a couple players have had diminished minutes lately and I was wondering if something was going on. Could you at least say that I may be correct? I know we don't want to talk about young men on here unless it is positive. Thanks.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

When I say/talk about "pressing," I mean defensively a full-court press. Not talking about style of offensive play or defense in the half-court.

I don't think I saw them implement a press last night and, as you said during your broadcast, some teams' style is one where they can't really throttle down.

They had a full court press on halfway through the second half. I didn't see it much in the first half, but I think there was some signs of a 3/4 press at times. However, a full court press popped up in the middle of the second half. McDaniel guards were being guarded and trapped 90 feet from the basket. Swat occasionally called it off when the ball would get batted out of bounds in the back court.

Swat was leading by 30 at the time.

However, I wasn't bringing up the press as a negative or positive. On the broadcast, noonhooper, I mentioned that teams do stick with their style and there isn't anything wrong with that. I also stated that teams will use opportunities to put things on tape for other conference opponents to think about. For example, a football team leading by 50 might run a 2-point conversion or a fake punt because it forces their next opponents to waste time on those possibilities.

I am also not one of those kinds of broadcasters who sits there, bitching and complaining, in situations like that. I didn't see Curley upset at the time by the tactic and I didn't think it was my place to whine about a full-court press up 30. I found a better way to approach describing what was going on in the game in a way that can help those watching at home maybe understand it better - or for McDaniel fans to not get upset with Swat for pressing their team while they had no chance to come back.

My original point was about the personnel they used in the game and how they used them. I stated that the starters and the second unit played pretty much the entire game until about the 3:30 point of the second half when they "called the dogs" off. By that, I mean they sent in the four guys on the bench who hadn't played, yet, and the rest of the squad was done for the most part. The comment about the press was that it was utilized in the second half and it showed me Swat wasn't laying off necessarily - rightly or wrongly. It wasn't an attack. It was simply a statement of fact of how the game played out.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I will add, the press wasn't on for long stretches. It showed up for a bit and then called off. Showed up again, I think, then called off.

Again... I am not knocking the press. I was pointing out how long players played.

The entire point was my recognizing and acknowledging that Swarthmore is deep. They have talent that goes beyond their top five. That they can go 10, even 11, deep and still have guys hitting shots, making plays, etc. That because of that depth, it is hard for a team like that to not have that intensity and effort deep in a blow-out because the only guys not involved are the final four off the bench ... who against McDaniel came in around 3:30.

NOTHING else was intended by my comments.

[noonhooper]

Dave,
Loved your work on the game Tuesday night. I had to stop watching for about 13 minutes of the game and I missed the actual pressure. Glad that I cleared it up because I don't see Swat pressing that much so I read the comment incorrectly.
I agree with your take that sometimes coaches want to try new things when they feel like a game is in hand. I didn't take your comments as bashing Swat, just the reality of the situation. Thanks for your explanation!

[HopkinsNest7]

Had to watch Mules vs. GBurg on the smart phone tonight... tough night to miss in the barn. Really like what Hopkins is doing but given that Mardukas has experienced these games in person I imagine Brown has a great deal to do with this given his praise. Regardless, this is McClarys recruiting class and that's enough to get me through the Centennial season until McClary inevitably lands another "blue blood" centennial job. An aging G Rob only makes me wonder.....

[Hank Mardukas]

I know we have gotten past the McClary talk but I have one last thing to say about this because Hopkinsnest has brought it up. McClary reminds me of Sam Hinkie, the former GM of the Sixers. Nobody understood anything McClary did during his tenure at Muhlenberg, but now everything is going just as he planned. He was truly before his time, some sort of basketball Jedi who could foresee the future. Only McClary believed that Hughes could be producing the way he is, Hughes is having a great season and McClary always believed in him. I know I have bad mouthed the Mules in the past, but now I understand what McClary had planned all along. He was truly a basketball mastermind and hope to see him back in the Cent. Some may say he is even a Vatican Assasian in the truest sense of the word!   

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Great job by the Centennial with the Palestra event yesterday.  It was a lot of fun and the crowds were pretty good.  That place is big, but a smaller group can feel like a real presence and the teams did a pretty good job keeping the lower sections full and making some good noise.

We had an OT and a double OT game and four of the five were pretty competitive throughout.

I thought the most impressive part of the day was seeing the young talent on the WC men's team.  They'll feel the loss of Dixon after this year, but everyone else is back and the bulk of the production was from 1st and 2nd year players.  Those guys are long, quick, talented, and smart.

They're also the closest d3 team to my house, so I'm excited about these developments.

[HopkinsNest7]

PANDAMONIUM AT THE PALESTRA!! Wow what an invigorating time to be a Mules fan.. I have had my doubts archived in this chat room time and time again but I am officially on the Brown/Hopkins bandwagon. I was unable to make the trip to the city of brother love because my mechanic was away and I have a faulty exhaust pipe (my wife drives stick and I am yet to learn.) But I was able to listen to the inspiring broadcast of Jack McCollum which has lead me to believe that the Mules will be a fixture in the playoff pictures this year. Of course there will be doubts regarding the Mules strength of schedule but Brown out maneuvering G Rob in the barn should look good on paper to the committee.

With that being said I think it is time for a coaching change in Westminster... McDaniel fans give so much of themseleves and deserve at least one conference win that has not been delivered at this point. It sure would be interesting to see if a former player of Tim Stewarts prestige would be interested in jump starting this suffering program.

[njf1003]

But I was able to listen to the inspiring broadcast of Jack McCollum which has lead me to believe that the Mules will be a fixture in the playoff pictures this year. Of course there will be doubts regarding the Mules strength of schedule but Brown out maneuvering G Rob in the barn should look good on paper to the committee.

Without winning the CC tournament, there is almost 0 way they make the NCAAs as an at large team. There SOS and WP make it highly unlikely.
There's going to be competition for the CC playoff spot as well. We'll see what happens!

[Hank Mardukas]

Nobody has responded to my post asking what is up with the German Born Big man Eric Weinheim. I am a little disappointed and fear that Coach Jake Brown told Coach Hopkins that Weirhiem is a lost cause. I truly believe Wierhiem had the potential to be one of the best bigs in Mules history. Let's have some fun with this a rank the best bigs in Mules History. Please feel free to leave your comments.

1. Sean Mackin: By far the best big I've ever seen play. He had the ability to not just be a dominant scorer but a great passer. I remember the F&M game back in 83', Mackin was being doubled team the entire game and lead the Mules to victory. He also was one of the hardest workers I've ever seen on and off the court. He ended up graduating with a 3.9 GPA which put him in a great position to be successful. He kept his competitive drive up in the workforce and made a boatload of money playing the future markets. Ever hear of Microsoft, Mackin was an early investor, pure genius. He was very successful as a College Coach and holds the record of most consecutive games of holding the opponent in single digits for the duration of the first quarter. He is currently starting a new company and is looking for outside investors, contact me if interested. Currently, we are only 40% funded.

2. Dennis Roth: Schools all-time leading rebounder, played in the mid 50's. Although he was thrown out of 6 games in his career. Glen Salow is his nephew, great basketball family.

3. Kevin Hargrove: Nice guy and comes from a great family. Can score the basketball but wasn't very consistent.

[centfan]

henry
i would add spencer liddic; smart, solid player

[noonhooper]

Guesses for tonight on "Rivalry Wednesday"^TM:
Mules over Ursinus
Hop over Washington (is this really a rivalry?)
F&M over Dickinson
Swat over Fords
McD over Gburg -Come on upset pick!

[BleedingGreen]

Hank, where have you developed the idea of Jake Brown running the Mules program? I can assure you that is not the case. Werheim is also not from Germany, and it seems as if you exist just to spread blasphemy.  Not sure what your relationship/interest is in the Mules if you just come on here and spread nonsense. Seems like you devote an awful amount of time obsessing over the team, especially considering you have no correct knowledge of anything that is going on.

Big game for the Mules tomorrow. Will be watching on the live stream. I hope Morreale is back, hoping to see the Mules bounce back after a tough loss at Ursinus.

[HopkinsNest7]

Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving.. and today. Hopkins at Mules. My personal paradise, coasting up I95 north to the Mule Barn for a matchup between my two favorite Centennial squads. This is the one day a year my wife lets me get out of dodge for a weekend, (No hall pass though). Though I don't love what this blog has become I have recently contacted fellow user Red to head up to A town with me. Here is what Ill be looking for in todays game.

1.Jake Browns coaching- last time the Mules came down to Hopkins I noted that I couldn't necessarily tell if the play calls were coming from Hopkins or Brown. Mardukas nominated Brown for coach of the year the other day and I'm interested to see if coach Hopkins has become a more vocal leader of his squad.

2. Mike Morreale- Mules freshman appeared to be hurt last game and I didn't catch him in a box score. Assuming this is injury and not suspension? haven't heard much about his character but we all know the discipline problems the Mules have had in the past. I hope to get to see him play, very athletic and the closest thing youll get to a sky walker in the Centennial.

3. Mules vs. Doran: This seems like a matchup that defensive liability Rindock will be in charge up with a potential reinforcement form freshman center Spencer Duke. Doran has been working on his post game whenever I head to the nest for practice. This could pose an issue for the Mules. RIndock theoretically should be able to stop him but it all depends on Brown/Hopkins game plan. Havent seen enough of Duke yet, seems like a versatile player I would compare him to Joe Ingles of the Jazz.

4. Mardukas vs this forum: This guy is a lunatic and I am glad I will get to see this game in person for myself, so I can decide for myself what I think of this rendition of the Mules team.

What a day, what a day! Ill post my thoughts later tonight. Go Hopkins!