MBB: Centennial Conference

[Gabriel]

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!

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!


I can hardly wait

[GoDiplomats]

Totally unrelated but by any chance would anyone know the passwords for streaming games on the Centennial website? I missed the F&M game against Dickinson and tried watching it but the website is requesting a password. Not sure what else I can do to stream the game.

[sunny]

Totally unrelated but by any chance would anyone know the passwords for streaming games on the Centennial website? I missed the F&M game against Dickinson and tried watching it but the website is requesting a password. Not sure what else I can do to stream the game.

Whomever the host school is sets the password for their home games.

[Gabriel]

This board is no longer a forum for meaningful discussions about Centennial Conference Division III basketball.  I understand why this has happened and think it's a shame because CC basketball, top to bottom, is better and more competitive this year than any of the 18 years I have been following this conference.  I believe it will only get better and more competitive as the new coaches integrate their systems and bring in their own recruits.  They need time to build programs.

Back in the 2000-2001 season, the league was all about F&M, JHU, Muhlenberg and Gettysburg and their respective coaches.  Then, along came Ursinus as a major player followed by Dickinson and then Swarthmore----with new coaches.  I believe Muhlenberg will return as a perennial force under Coach Hopkins as will JHU under Coach Loeffler, Haverford under Coach Doherty and Washington College under Coach Goodman.  It just takes time and hard work and they seem to be up to the challenges.

There have been recent comments about McDaniel and Coach Curley because they are having a bad year.  I think Coach Curley is a very good X's and O's coach who routinely does more with less than any other coach in the CC.  In my opinion, he needs to do a better job recruiting but, admittedly,  I don't know the obstacles he faces.

Just some thoughts about the CC and I hope we can return to some meaningful basketball dialogue on this board.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

This board is no longer a forum for meaningful discussions about Centennial Conference Division III basketball.  I understand why this has happened and think it's a shame because CC basketball, top to bottom, is better and more competitive this year than any of the 18 years I have been following this conference.  I believe it will only get better and more competitive as the new coaches integrate their systems and bring in their own recruits.  They need time to build programs.

Back in the 2000-2001 season, the league was all about F&M, JHU, Muhlenberg and Gettysburg and their respective coaches.  Then, along came Ursinus as a major player followed by Dickinson and then Swarthmore----with new coaches.  I believe Muhlenberg will return as a perennial force under Coach Hopkins as will JHU under Coach Loeffler, Haverford under Coach Doherty and Washington College under Coach Goodman.  It just takes time and hard work and they seem to be up to the challenges.

There have been recent comments about McDaniel and Coach Curley because they are having a bad year.  I think Coach Curley is a very good X's and O's coach who routinely does more with less than any other coach in the CC.  In my opinion, he needs to do a better job recruiting but, admittedly,  I don't know the obstacles he faces.

Just some thoughts about the CC and I hope we can return to some meaningful basketball dialogue on this board.

Hear, hear...

But to add some levity... dilly, dilly.

[noonhooper]

Gabriel,
I agree, I finally start trying to post and no one is on here except people not interested in discussing CC hoops.

I think that the new coaches will bring life to their programs but I wouldn't expect all those teams to improve. The Centennial has some Have's and some Have Not's in recruiting and even though teams like Swat have been able to overcome some hurdles I think it's tough to project.

Speaking of recruiting, I agree that McDaniel's issue is partly that they have whiffed on some guys they were hoping would be better. On the other side though, Curley is running the EXACT same offense he was five years ago. Failure to recognize the need to change is dangerous to continued success.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - there are a number of us in here who at least read what is posted - at least the relevant stuff, so post away!

[GoDiplomats]

Gabriel,
I agree, I finally start trying to post and no one is on here except people not interested in discussing CC hoops.

I think that the new coaches will bring life to their programs but I wouldn't expect all those teams to improve. The Centennial has some Have's and some Have Not's in recruiting and even though teams like Swat have been able to overcome some hurdles I think it's tough to project.

Speaking of recruiting, I agree that McDaniel's issue is partly that they have whiffed on some guys they were hoping would be better. On the other side though, Curley is running the EXACT same offense he was five years ago. Failure to recognize the need to change is dangerous to continued success.

FYI -- GRob and F&M have been running the same plays for possibly the last 3 decades, probably longer. I don't think McDaniel's issue is the "running [of] the EXACT same offense [from] five years ago." I think McDaniel's issue is heart and lack of identity. Watching them over the last few years there is either two teams that show up, especially against my Diplomats. I think 14-15 was one of the toughest teams they put on the floor. They were gritty, tough, played with heart and seemed like you were playing a 10 on 5 on both ends of the floor. They've gotten away from that identity and just get out there like it a boxing match with their hands down, expecting not to get socked.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I don't necessarily agree with those thoughts on McDaniel. Granted, I see them pretty up close and personal, so my view might be a little slanted, but I also try to be a neutral observer.

I think they come to every game looking to win. They have players like Cannon who just won't quit. They have some youth on this team who are doing their best to compete. Sure, they have had some players in the past who maybe didn't give their all.. but I see them giving their all every game this season.

The problem is, quite frankly, they are over-matched size wise and don't have better than average talent. That isn't a knock on them, it is just the reality. Harper is a pretty good talent, but can't do it all on his own. Cannon certainly tries to get it done, but when he's off it will be a long night. They have some size with Young, but he is still young (no pun intended) and needs to get some more strength to compete.

Time will tell. They don't have a deep bench currently and they have lost some players who absolutely didn't have their heart or minds in the right place. The group there now wants to be there and is fighting. Recruiting has always been a challenge at McDaniel, but that doesn't mean they can't find a couple of players who could make a difference. We shall see.

A lot of what I wrote could be said about Ursinus, Washington, and others from time to time. They have all proven to figure it out, maybe not consistently, but it can happen.

Heck, I also am at a lot of Goucher games. They may be 0-17 right now, but that doesn't mean they aren't fighting to the end either. Sometimes a team's record and score differential especially when they are overmatched doesn't reveal the true heart of a team.

[noonhooper]

GoDips,
I completely disagree. McDaniel players are working hard and giving it their all. Hard to argue any D3 player isn't invested or they wouldn't be putting in the time it takes to be on the squad. Those guys are gutting out close games all over the schedule and in a year or two those Ls could be Ws. Bill Parcells said "first you lose big, then you lose small, then you win small, then you win big" its hard to skip ahead with underclassmen.
I think Coach Curley is a great motivator, he just needs to maybe get away from only the wing ball screens if he doesnt have Brooks, Stewart, Royster-types to make it all work. Not every coach is blessed with the kind of players GRob can get in at F&M so not every coach can run the same five plays for 30 years. Never heard anyone be proud of not being willing to change to fit their players' abilities.
Anyway, I am rooting for the Green Terror to be more Terror and less "green" soon enough, their is a fun environment for a game and the conference is hurt by having to play two game each vs a bad squad.

[Gabriel]

Good stuff!  Let's keep it going and make this forum fun again.

Regarding plays,  I don't think it's what plays you run, it's how well you execute them. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regarding plays,  I don't think it's what plays you run, it's how well you execute them.

So true. Same goes for coaches who like to hide their games so the rest of us can't watch them On Demand.

Coach K, Sabin, etc. seem to win championships or at least be in the conversation pretty often... running stuff they have been running for years and having their games completely available and broken down ad nauseam for YEARS.

If players can't execute, it doesn't matter what you are trying to run. I see it every day. I can see one team running a 1-2-2 full court trap that is easily broken and the other running the same trap and getting steals a plenty.

[noonhooper]

So what does everyone think about the games tonight?

Seems like there is an "upset" every weekend. Or is there just not as much separation from top to bottom as there has been in the past?

Picks:
Swat over Wash (Love how hard Wash plays and their young guys are good. But if they don't get the W at home tough to see them getting it on the road here)

Mules over Dickinson (Dickinson isnt the best scoring team and, while their defense is good, they have given up some big point totals- I gotta pick one tough game to make it interesting)

Ursinus over Fords (Hard to shoot in the Haverford gym for some reason but Ursinus has some of the best individual players in the conference. Just like last year the Bears will get hot here because of a nice schedule and stay in the top of the conference for awhile)

Hop over McD (Already said my piece about McD and wont belabor it. Hop has players who know how to play, only seen them twice but is Duran the floppiest player in the league?)

Dips over Gburg (Poor Gburg, there were years this game would have been a battle. I hope it is a close one again tonight!)

[Team First]

Well played game in Carlisle last night by both teams. Fortunately for this Red Devil fan, the Dickinson men found a way to get the win. The Mules are definitely showing improvement on the defensive end and in my opinion on toughness. Dickinson also played solid defense and executed well enough on offense to find some inside opportunities against a packed in defense. Guys from both teams made some big plays down the stretch including big shots, tough shots, crunch time free throws, great contesting defense and one huge offensive rebound by (I think) Moses Romacki. I particularly liked the officiating. The crew was barely noticeable allowing the players (who were playing physically) to dictate the style of play and the outcome.

Based on what I've seen, despite the difference in overall wins/losses there is no dominant team in the Centennial this year. Plenty of games have been decided based on end game execution and toughness...and the bounce of the ball. This is one thing that I've enjoyed watching Centennial ball for the past seven years. It should be lots of fun watching teams battle for what should be a memorable and well-earned conference championship.

[Gabriel]

A hard fought game at Haverford last night between the Fords and the Ursinus Bears.  Haverford shot lights out in the first half and led 42-36 at the half and by as much as 9 points early in the second half.  Ursinus tightened their defense in the second half and their depth and size wore the Fords down at the end.  Sophomore Ryan McTamney led the Bears come back.

Commentator reiterated time and again it was the best the Fords have played all year.  They are much improved from the first time we saw them in December.  Coach Doherty has done an excellent job with a team that lacks size, but not tenacity.  Other teams need to pay attention because the Fords will give you a game.