MBB: Centennial Conference

[Gabriel]

Good game between Ursinus and JHU yesterday with Hopkins winning 99-90.  Bears hung with JHU for most of the game----tied at 42 at the half. Bears just ran out of gas at the end. Bears can score but interior defense was a problem defending the much more mature Hopkins players.

Regarding SwatFan#1's question regarding missing Vinnie D, I have noticed Muhlenberg is missing several players too. I assume Covid or, perhaps, injuries. For the Bears, a couple of players have missed games due to Covid tests. It's a fact of life these days.

[txg]

The announcer said during the Washington game on Wednesday that DeAngelo was injured and was "questionable" to play this past weekend (and he did not).  So hopefully it's not too serious and he will be back this week.

[Stretch4]

Heard the injured comment as well in regards to DeAngelo.  My observation to this point in the Centennial is that covid has impacted available players on every team with the exception of Swat and Hopkins.  It is definitely an obstacle that teams need to work through and will likely be a factor for the rest of the season.  Also a reality that teams manage the return to play differently ... they follow ncaa guidelines, but beyond that schools clearly vary in when players return and in what capacity they return (i.e. full availability vs. partial availability for unspecified time).  Not sure how Swat and Hopkins seem to stay covid free.  Good for them, maybe they are just lucky? Then again, as a follower of Centennial Conference basketball my observation is that Swat and Hopkins have taken a different path (during the tenures of Kosmalski and Loeffler) in how they run their basketball programs than the rest of the conference ... obviously has worked for them in terms of producing highly successful teams.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I know Swat has very strict COVID protocols for the campus in general - and one would assume something similar for Johns Hopkins, seeing that it's Johns Hopkins - that may have something to do with how they've fared so far.

[Swat Fan #1]

Thank you all. Hopefully we are rounding the corner on Covid and all teams can return to full health. I watched the game with the sound off so I missed that about Vinny. Cheers and Happy and Safe New Year!

[Stretch4]

Down goes Swat! Huge victory for Dickinson to end Swat's long regular season winning streak in the Centennial Conference.  Swat shot a miserable 26% from the field, but if you watched the game you really need to credit Dickinson's defense. Absolutely would not give Harkins or Ingram any room to get an open look.  Visconti was forced in to repeated poor shot selection and they really took away Caprise in the second half after he was dominant in the first half.  Dickinson with a great job on the boards as Swat was out-rebounded by 10 (only the second time all year they were out-rebounded). Swat will be back (probably with vengeance), but great to see the Red Devils rise up to the challenge.

Crazy day in the Centennial.  In addition to Dickinson upset, Washington College gets first conference win with a big win over a previously surging Gettysburg, and McDaniel picks up a win over 3rd place Ursinus.  The parity beyond the top two teams continues.

[McBuckets]

Crazy day indeed!

Any idea when Gaines may return for the Mules?

[Stretch4]

No info on return of Gaines.  Not sure if it is Covid or something else.  I know they had 4 games in 7 days this past week and he missed all of them.  Not surprising that they struggled without him.  I know starters like Hoffman, Allen and Watson were out with Covid the week before, but returned for the past few games (although coming off the bench now).  Maybe it was Gaines turn to get Covid.  Hopefully it is a temporary thing and he returns as he is fun to watch.   

[centennial fan]

Gaines was in a cast for Muhlenberg-Gettysburg last night, looks like an arm injury of some kind. Also, was listening to Hoopsville around last week sometime and heard Dave mention that Hopkins had some internal conflicts but said it was hard to elaborate on. Was wondering if anyone knew more about that or if Dave could give an explanation.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Gaines was in a cast for Muhlenberg-Gettysburg last night, looks like an arm injury of some kind. Also, was listening to Hoopsville around last week sometime and heard Dave mention that Hopkins had some internal conflicts but said it was hard to elaborate on. Was wondering if anyone knew more about that or if Dave could give an explanation.

I don't believe there's any internal conflict or chemistry issue.

I think Dave was referencing a conversation I had with him (off camera) about how much of JHU's offense is just Delaney with the ball in his hands.  I've posited that Lincoln Yuetter is really valuable as a PG, but isn't able to contribute as much off the ball.  It seems like they've struggled to play both he and Delaney at the same time, because they both naturally want to be running the offense.  I thought Dave was going to bring this idea up and then maybe, as is common with live broadcasting, decided he didn't have the time to do it justice and moved on.

I've not talked to Josh Loeffler about this, so its total speculation (which is also probably why Dave decided not to bring it up), but I wonder if bringing Yuetter in as a transfer was, in part, to be a Delaney replacement (at least as ball handler).  The 2020-21 season would've given him a chance to acclimate to the team in Delaney's final year and then take over this year.  COVID messed up that time schedule.

Again - all speculation on my part - but I do think it's clear JHU is not consistently playing to the level we expect or they're capable of.  This was just my putting forth an idea as to why that might be.  I'm just as likely to be wrong as right, but there you have it.  I think Delaney could do just fine as an off guard with Yuetter bringing the ball up, but I'm also not going to presume to tell Josh Loeffler how to coach.

[jmcozenlaw]

Down goes Swat! Huge victory for Dickinson to end Swat's long regular season winning streak in the Centennial Conference.  Swat shot a miserable 26% from the field, but if you watched the game you really need to credit Dickinson's defense. Absolutely would not give Harkins or Ingram any room to get an open look.  Visconti was forced in to repeated poor shot selection and they really took away Caprise in the second half after he was dominant in the first half.  Dickinson with a great job on the boards as Swat was out-rebounded by 10 (only the second time all year they were out-rebounded). Swat will be back (probably with vengeance), but great to see the Red Devils rise up to the challenge.

Crazy day in the Centennial.  In addition to Dickinson upset, Washington College gets first conference win with a big win over a previously surging Gettysburg, and McDaniel picks up a win over 3rd place Ursinus.  The parity beyond the top two teams continues.

I guess my beloved Swatters are going to have to sprint even faster from and to the locker room going forward!!:)

[Stretch4]

Not going to lie here, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Swat go down for the second game in a row with another poor showing. Outrebounded again and another tough night of shooting.  I totally respect their players and their program, but just not a big fan of the evil empire arrogance that Kosmalski and staff display from the sidelines (sit behind their bench within ear shot and you will know what I mean).  With that said, they have an opportunity to make it all good with a win over Hopkins. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Hoopsville Marathon is here!



The show is hitting the air at 12:00 PM ET and going for at least NINE hours for the 8th Annual Hoopsville Marathon Show.

Show link: www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2021-22/marathon

This year's show featured coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and many others around Division III who gave us a sense of the season to date and what is to come. There is only a month or so left in the regular season, so there was plenty to talk about.

The marathon is also a chance to celebrate the final month of the Division III basketball regular season.

Guests include (in order of appearance, subject to change):

• Conner Delaney, Johns Hopkins men's senior
• Frank Marcinek, Susquehanna men's coach
• Dan Krikorian, Chapman men's coach and Co-Host of "Slappin' Glass" podcast
• Minority Coaches Panel:
  
• • Larry Anderson (MIT men's coach)
  • Kam Gissendanner (La Roche women's coach)
  • Jason Harris (UMass-Boston men's coach)
  • Gary Stewart (Stevenson men's coach)
• Gary Stewart, Stevenson men's coach and NABC Board member
• National Committee Chairs:
  
• • Michael Schauer, Wheaton men's coach and men's committee chair
  • Megan Wilson, Luther Associate AD and women's committee chair
• Dan Kenny, John Jay men's sophomore and volunteer firefighter
• Jina DeRubbo, Washington & Jefferson women's coach
• Cameron Hill, Trinity (Texas) women's coach
• Stephen Gabel, Nazareth men's senior
• State of DIII with Louise McCleary, Interim Vice President for Division III
• Jim Haney, Division III Men's Officiating Coordinator
• Fred Roggin, NBC4 LA Sports Anchor and AM570 LA Sports Host
• Top 25 Women's Double-Take with Gordon Mann and Scott Peterson
• "Happy Hour" with friends of Hoopsville and D3 basketball

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Gaines was in a cast for Muhlenberg-Gettysburg last night, looks like an arm injury of some kind. Also, was listening to Hoopsville around last week sometime and heard Dave mention that Hopkins had some internal conflicts but said it was hard to elaborate on. Was wondering if anyone knew more about that or if Dave could give an explanation.

I don't believe there's any internal conflict or chemistry issue.

I think Dave was referencing a conversation I had with him (off camera) about how much of JHU's offense is just Delaney with the ball in his hands.  I've posited that Lincoln Yuetter is really valuable as a PG, but isn't able to contribute as much off the ball.  It seems like they've struggled to play both he and Delaney at the same time, because they both naturally want to be running the offense.  I thought Dave was going to bring this idea up and then maybe, as is common with live broadcasting, decided he didn't have the time to do it justice and moved on.

I've not talked to Josh Loeffler about this, so its total speculation (which is also probably why Dave decided not to bring it up), but I wonder if bringing Yuetter in as a transfer was, in part, to be a Delaney replacement (at least as ball handler).  The 2020-21 season would've given him a chance to acclimate to the team in Delaney's final year and then take over this year.  COVID messed up that time schedule.

Again - all speculation on my part - but I do think it's clear JHU is not consistently playing to the level we expect or they're capable of.  This was just my putting forth an idea as to why that might be.  I'm just as likely to be wrong as right, but there you have it.  I think Delaney could do just fine as an off guard with Yuetter bringing the ball up, but I'm also not going to presume to tell Josh Loeffler how to coach.

For some reason I just saw this ... I wasn't talking about any internal conflicts. I was referring to what some other coaches around the country and indicated to me was what they felt was something off about the offense from what they are watching. I don't know anything about anything internally nor would I ever report anything I hear about internally unless it comes directly from a coach who says it on record.

[Stretch4]

Some great stuff in the Centennial this past week.  Swat holding the tie-breaker on Hopkins, but cannot afford a let down in their final four games of the regular season as they want to lock up home court for the playoffs.  Outside of the top two, it basically looks like four teams for the final three playoff spots.  Gettysburg, Dickinson, Ursinus and Haverford all battling it out and all playing each other over the final two weeks ... makes for really competitive games.  Really good to see Gettysburg and Dickinson make a run as each has put themselves in a position to control their destiny this season.  Looking forward to some great games to close out the regular season.