MBB: Centennial Conference

[Stretch4]

F&M definitely reeling a bit as they are 2-8 in last 10 games. A really tough shooting second half vs Swat coupled with basically a 4 guard, 1 small forward lineup pretty much throughout the second half allowed Swat to catch up and pull away without much of a fight. That being said, as I understand it as of today F&M still controls their own destiny in terms of grabbing the sixth and final conference playoff spot. They have work to do and it doesn't get any easier with Hopkins and Muhlenberg in their next two games. Plus they have 3 teams in Haverford, Dickinson and McDaniel on their heels who want to take that last spot from them. Anxious to see who rises to the challenge in the final two weeks.

Big games on Tuesday night with major playoff implications ... Haverford at Muhlenberg / Dickinson at Gettysburg / Swat at Ursinus / JHU at F&M. Great basketball in the Centennial conference.   

[Gabriel]

Ursinus/Swat game was much closer than the final score indicates.  Terrific defensive battle first half with teams tied at 24 following low scoring 1st half. Bears could not get untracked offensively due in part to excellent Swat defense. Swat led by only 4 with 8 minutes to play but then DeAngelo took over despite very good defense and made a short floater followed by back to back  3 pointers to push the lead to double digits and then it became a FT contest. DeAngelo was terrific and so was Swat's defense. In the 2nd half Swat shot 58% from the floor, 64% from 3 and 93% from FT line. Impressive.  What was not impressive was Visconti's double technical during his/Swat's mauling of Ryan Hughes.

[McBuckets]

Swat just wears teams down and they are relentless.  They have a unique ability to irritate other teams and fans.  Are there repercussions to a double technical?  Does the player have to sit out the next game?

[txg]

I was watching without sound, so as not to annoy my wife (more than my base level of annoying, which is unavoidable).

Ursinus got 4 technical free throws, and then got the ball.  So were there two technicals called on Visconti there?  Don't you get kicked out of the game for that?  Or were two of the free throws for a flagrant foul?

Then, it was Visconti who got the T at the very end of the game also, wasn't it?

[Gabriel]

I think one tech was on Visconti and the other on Swat fans----so two techs but only one on Visconti

[Gabriel]

Also, Visconti fouled out on that play. I am old school and believe basketball was intended to be a game of skill and finesse. I don't like what it's become with bullish post play, palming, indeed carrying the ball, transfer portal etc, etc. Governor Charlie Baker is the new NCAA head.  He was a great governor and played college hoops  but can he clean up the NCAA mess?

[Reserved Seat]

Gabriel, I agree with your overview of the sport.  Skill and finesse are taking a backseat to brute play.  Trickle down from the pros.  It's taken years but D3 is definitely changing.  I quit watching professional basketball years ago.

[Gabriel]

Reserved Seat----I agree that it started with the pros and has trickled down. To reveal how old I am, it started with George Mikan in about 1950 with the then Minneapolis Lakers when he  bulled his way to the basket. He was only 6'10" but incredibly strong. I was a Lakers fan in those days but never have liked that part of the game. Some chnges I like, i.e. the shot clock and the 3 point shot.

[Stretch4]

Watched the replay of Swat / Ursinus game.  Extremely intense game with some really good play that was unfortunately marred by dirty play from Swat and the embarrassing behavior of their fans.  For the record, Visconti received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game. First one was for a flat out dirty play in taking Hughes to the ground way too aggressively after a foul was called on the floor.  Second tech was for taunting the opponent after making an and one shot with a minute to go in the game. To my knowledge two technical fouls on a player in NCAA basketball results in ejection from the game with no impact to availability for next game.

Swat had a game plan to be as physical as possible on Hughes and make sure the game was not in a situation where it was a one or two possession game either way down the stretch with Hughes having an opportunity to decide the game.  From that standpoint, they executed their game plan well. Relentless is definitely a good word to describe Swat. 

[stlawus]

Wow you weren't kidding about the Swat fans.  Embarrassing behavior as it is, but if those were parents that's even worse.

[txg]

Tuesday night game in Collegeville, I can't imagine it would have been Swarthmore students.

[Reserved Seat]

Swarthmore is certainly the dirtest playing team in the league.
It seems they try to hurt players.

[Gabriel]

Swat certinly succeeded in neutralizing Ryan Hughes. He wore a facemask last night against WC which indicates a broken nose or a facial fracture.  Probably a broken nose as he was bleedimg from the nose late in the game.   Against WC he was clearly not himself shooting 3 of 11 and only 9 points.  He adjusted to playing mostly as a facilitator. Wearing a mask inhibits a players vision----and confidence.  This will undoubtedly impact on UC's playoff chances and Ryan's chances of winning POY honors.  The game is deteriorating and if it's played like rugby, soon the players will be required to wear helmets and face masks.

[McBuckets]

I watched the video where Hughes was fouled by Visconti and it was hard to tell if it was a dirty play.  Not defending the play at all but I certainly couldn't tell....but many on here are saying it was.  Did Visconti hit him in the face?

As for POY, to me it's DeAngelo.  Very steady and hits big shots.

Playoff picture still a bit crazy with Ursinus, Muhlenburg and Gettysburg all tied.  Likely tie breakers will come into play.

Haverford with advantage for last spot.

[Gabriel]

McBuckets, The last one was only one of several he took during the game, but that was the one that bloodied his nose