With the Centennial Conference 2015-2016 basketball regular season coming to a close, it’s time to offer some post-season prognostications. This year has been a perfect embodiment of everything that makes this conference great: upstart underdogs, historic milestones, freshmen phenoms, and versant veterans. This marks my seventh year in the Centennial, and the 2015-2016 season has featured some of the most compelling competition I have seen to date. Though the playoffs certainly have some heavy favorites, there could (and should) be some tremendous upset opportunities that make the tournament, once again, must-see basketball. So without further ado, onto the previews, beginning with the men’s tournament:
#4 Gettysburg College Bullets (17-8, 12-6 CC) v.
#5 McDaniel College Green Terror (14-11, 10-8 CC)
Wednesday, February 24, 7:30 PM
Bream Gym, Gettysburg, PA
McDaniel's Wes Brooks is one of six seniors guiding the Green Terror. (Photo via David Sinclair Photography/ McDaniel)
McDaniel was able to make it to the play-in game, nabbing the number five seed in the final week of the regular season, and are uniquely prepared to take the road as a now battle-tested unit. Unlike many of the other teams in the Centennial that are described as “building something,” for Kevin Curley, the 2013-2014 Coach of the Year this is a squad that is “built.” They feature six seniors who have helped develop this program to where it is today. Two of their leaders, Tim Stewart (16 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 50 FG%) and Wes Brooks (15 ppg, 47.3 3PT%, good for first in the CC) lead a squad that suffered a big-time injury to Duane Echols, a loss that has presented substantive challenges. However the play of the Green Terror has shown that there is little doubt they have veteran depth that has allowed them to step up and help guide this team in the postseason.
This is the coming together that has been on the horizon for some years now in Westminster, and though the Green Terror have at times been down, they most definitely never been out. Case in point: on February 6th, they sat one game below .500 in both their season record and against conference opponents. With four and a half minutes left to go in regulation, their opponent that day, Ursinus, hit three consecutive three-pointers, giving the visiting Bears a 12-point lead at 64-52. At that point, I sent off a text to a fellow Centennial broadcaster, also watching from home that read, “I think McDaniel might be toast.” As soon as the message went through, the Green Terror went on a run to win the ballgame, which kicked off a stretch in which they finished the season with four victories in their final five games, clinching a playoff spot. In my mind, this is the embodiment of what makes this conference so fun to follow, and certainly taught me a lesson about doubting this squad.
The Green Terror play a very particular style of game, wherein they struggle to score (58 points per game, second to last in the Centennial) but play very strong enough defense to keep them competitive, only allowing their opponents 60 points per contest this season (first in the CC.) They are only 2-4 against the other four teams in the tournament, with their lone wins coming once against Dickinson, and once against Gettysburg (notably on the road.)
For Gettysburg this year is very nearly a culmination of what has been an extensive rebuild on the fly for George Petrie in his 27th season at the helm of the Bullets. Even if this proves to not be their season, with just one senior on the squad, the future is bright for Gettysburg as they come of age having only won one postseason game since 2011. They are second in the conference in scoring offense and third in scoring defense, though both marks by razor thin margins. They have four players who average double-digits in points (if you round up, which I generously tend to do.) This is a team that is tops in the CC in 3-pointers made, and second in attempts, and it is not a function of being behind in contests and relying on the long ball to rally comebacks. They have the confidence of their coach who has given them the green light to shoot from downtown if they are given any open looks.
Kevin Gladstone facilitates the offense of the sharpshooting Gettysburg Bullets. (Photo via Gettysburgian.com)
Players to keep an eye on include sophomore forward, Matt England who averages 10 ppg, and senior center, Kevin Gladstone, who shoots 55% from the floor, netting 12 ppg. Gladstone started off high school as a point guard but now as a college senior has fully transformed to one of the more dominant big men in the CC with his 6’6” frame. Cody Kiefer is a junior who pulls down 6 boards per contest and serves as his accomplice in the low post. On the outside, the sharpshooters are junior Peter Christ (42% from downtown) and sophomore, Alex Kaslander (40% 3PT) who make this the only team in the playoffs with two shooters who convert over 40% of the time from beyond the arc.
Gettysburg runs a very efficient Princeton offense, maximizing their movement and passing with quickness, backdoor cuts, picks on and off the ball, and tremendous teamwork. There do not seem to be any “me-first” players on this squad. If they do have a vulnerability that can be exploited it is their frontcourt: should their starters get into foul trouble, their interior depth does not match up well against some of the deeper forward-heavy teams in the tournament. If the Bullets are to go on a run, they are going to put the lion share of the responsibility on their outside shooters, which is a departure from the traditional play of many Centennial powerhouses of the past. Gettysburg went 3-5 against their potential postseason opponents, having won a game against each team in the tournament except for Swarthmore.
#2 Swarthmore College Garnet (19-6, 8-4 CC) v.
#3 Dickinson College Red Devils (13-12, 7-4 CC)
Friday, February 26, 6:00 PM
Mayser Center at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
So what exactly happened to the Red Devils? At first glance, the reigning Centennial Conference champions took a major step backwards in 2015-2016 finishing just one game over .500 overall, with 11 fewer victories than a year ago. But a closer look reveals a tale of two seasons for Dickinson, as they started off the year just 2-9 overall, winning only one of their first four conference matchups. By the end of January, spectators’ eyebrows were raised, heads were scratched, and Dickinson was largely written off as destined to watch the postseason from back home in Carlisle. But all of a sudden, Alan Seretti's team figured it out. They won eleven of their final fourteen contests, and reeling off seven victories in a row to finish the year as the number three seed. Two major factors likely contributed to the sub-standard start to their season. The first: a very tough non-conference schedule that included Cabrini; #22 St. John Fisher; the eventual Landmark Conference Champions, Catholic University; Greensboro; Guilford; and Wilkes. Additionally, in consecutive years the Red Devils had to cope with the loss of a CC Player of the Year: Adam Honig in 2013 followed by Gerry Wixted in 2014.
Brandon Angradi helps anchor one of the best backcourts in the Centennial Conference for the Red Devils. (Photo via herosports.com)
The turnaround of the Red Devils in the second half of year can be attributed to the consensus top backcourt in the league with the 1-2 punch of Ted Hinnenkamp and Brandon Angradi, who play some of the best up-tempo, quick ball movement offense in the CC. Hinnenkamp, the Centennial’s top scorer averaged 17 points per contest shooting 54% from the floor this year, but is hardly one-dimensional as he hauled in 7 rebounds per game as well. Angradi’s 13.9 ppg was sixth in the conference, and he goes into the tournament just seven three-point field goals away from being second all-time in Centennial Conference history. Additionally, the emergence of the lightning fast freshman guard Elijah Wright presents matchup problems and unbelievable defensive challenges for any and all comers. Simply put, it’s hard to bet against the Red Devils as they come into the postseason with all kinds of momentum on their side. Dickinson went 4-4 against teams participating in the tournament, having split their matchups with each of the playoff participants. If there is a weakness to the Red Devils it’s a lack of depth, as their rotation primarily only features eight players, but my goodness what a tough eight players they are.
The Swarthmore Garnet were far and away the biggest revelations in the CC this season, and very well may be one of the considerable surprises in many, many years. They were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll, which is not exactly a shock given that they had not made a postseason appearance since 1997, which was also the last year in which they claimed a winning record. But much like the Red Devils, anyone who was paying close attention (which evidently did not include the cast of preseason pollsters) would have known that this is a team on the rise. Many of the musings from two years ago about Gettysburg can apply to the Garnet squad of 2015-16, namely that head coach Landry Kosmalski in his third season has brought the winning culture of his D-I pedigree, and has helped to shape a complete roster built to compete for a title. With the turnaround orchestrated by the Garnet, there is little doubt that Kosmalski is a shoo-in for the CC Coach of the Year award.
Robbie Walsh aspires to bring Swarthmore a win in their first playoff appearance since 1997. (Photo via swarthmoreathletics.com)
This Swarthmore lineup has its fair share of stars including Zack Yonda (13 ppg), Matt Brennan (12 ppg, 38% 3PT), and the conference’s best shooter from the field in Robbie Walsh (10 ppg, 60% FG, 7 rpg.) However, the Garnet are deep all the way up and down their roster, and on any given night it would not be a surprise to see Sean Thaxter, Shane Loeffler, or even the freshman Henry Cousineau step up to have a game-altering performance. The squad had to suffer a decent amount of adversity this season with the loss of Chris Bourne, who last took the floor in the second week of January against Johns Hopkins, and in his absence the Garnet have been forced to replace 14 ppg and the reliability of his 64% field goal shooting accuracy. But with rose-colored glasses, his injury happened early enough that it has given the Garnet adequate time to adjust. For the last month and a half of the season they have adapted to playing without Bourne, and have still found a way to thrive down the stretch. Swarthmore concluded the year 5-3 against the other four teams in the top five (though just 1-3 against F&M and Dickinson,) and can no longer enjoy the luxury of flying under the radar the way they did at the outset of this season. They had a huge coming out party this year, and they are going to be sticking around near the top of the CC for several years to come.
#1 Franklin & Marshall (20-5, 15-3 CC) v.
winner of the 4/5 matchup
Friday, February 26, 8:00 PM
Mayser Center at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Coming into the season, the Diplomats had a target squarely placed on their backs. This was one of the best lineups F&M had fielded in several years, and having lost only one senior the season before, expectations in Lancaster were sky high. The supporters of the Blue & White were rewarded with a campaign that saw a major milestone for their coach, as Glenn Robinson in his 45th season picked up career victory number 900 in a January 9th nail-biting win at home over Swarthmore, joining Mike Krzyzewski (1,032), Herb Magee (1,021), and Bobby Knight (902) as the only coaches to record 900 NCAA wins. F&M very nearly led the Centennial from the top spot in the standings for the duration of the season, but not without duress. They suffered two non-conference blowouts on the road versus Lancaster Bible College (who finished as the undefeated champions of the NEAC), and against Carnegie Mellon. Additionally, the Diplomats were bitten by the injury bug, particularly in the frontcourt with Lionel Owana, Daniel Osley, Nick Stern, Lior Levy, and Kyle Borden all missing time at varying points throughout the campaign. But for F&M, closed doors begot them open windows: their two bad losses allowed them to play for the milestone 900th win at home instead of what would have likely been a matchup on the road against McDaniel, and the injuries they suffered allowed for the emergence of Shawn Hines to play a significant role to capping off his senior season, and for sophomore Kevin Beins, who eared valuable minutes in the rotation after scoring all of four points in his first year as a collegian.
The reigning CC Rookie of the Year, Brandon Federicci seeks to win his first conference title for the Diplomats. (photo via Lancaster Online)
While Dickinson may have the best 1-2 guard combination in the CC, F&M’s 1-2-3 punch of Matthew Tate, Hunter Eggers, and Brandon Federicci are the best starting backcourt in the Centennial, and are likely the greatest strength of a team that historically has focused on their might in the low post. Tate, though still just a sophomore had shown the ability to distribute the ball with the best of the rest, as he ranked second in the CC with four assists per game. Eggers, who got the nod earning his first start in the final contest of the 2014-15 regular season has been a stellar addition to the starting five, averaging 12 ppg and finishing the campaign with a 2.8 assist to turnover ratio, third best in the conference. The Centennial’s reigning Conference Rookie of the Year, Brandon Federicci finished a sensational sophomore season with 17 ppg and a 43% mark shooting from beyond the arc. All of this ignores perhaps the Diplomats best player, senior forward Cedric Moune. Moune’s name has become synonymous with double-doubles, having tallied ten on the year, and was just shy of averaging one per game. He finishes the regular season slate with 15.6 ppg, having grabbed 9.4 rpg, while shooting 58% from the floor.
Going into the postseason, the Diplomats will have some well-earned time off, hoping to return some of their injured back to good health. They will watch Wednesday to see who they will meet Saturday evening at home, as they play tournament host to their conference peers. F&M is both the second best scoring and defensive team in the CC, and their 12 turnovers per game defensive output has elevated them to the Centennial’s top turnover margin. The Diplomats are 6-2 against playoff opponents, with their lone losses coming against Gettysburg on the road, and at home by two points in double-overtime by to Dickinson in the final game on the schedule (though it should be noted that F&M had already locked up the conference’s top seed.) The Diplomats have faced their opponents’ best efforts all season long as the CC’s top dogs straight out of the gate, and it will be no different this weekend at home in Lancaster.
Playoff Predictions:
Quarterfinal: McDaniel v. Gettysburg
McDaniel has had four games this season decided by two points or fewer, which can either be interpreted as meaning that they are a lucky squad who wins by the skin of their teeth, or that they know how to take care of business, winning close games in crunch time. Given the nature of the way McDaniel plays, I think the Bullets match up extremely well in this contest, with far more options coming off the bench and with the confidence of a victory in the final weekend of the regular season over the Green Terror. I expect a repeat performance on Wednesday: Gettysburg over McDaniel.
Semifinal #1: Dickinson v. Swarthmore
For the Garnet, it is the first time they have ever picked up votes in the Top 25 poll, and though they are playing for keeps seeking to win a championship, regardless of what happens to them in this tournament this season is unequivocally, by any and all objective measures, a success. The Red Devils though have gotten better and better the more games that they have played, they are experienced in a playoff atmosphere having made the championship game four of the last seasons, and they are tenacious, which is why they are my pick to win: Dickinson defeats Swarthmore.
Semifinal #2: F&M v. Gettysburg
Should Gettysburg prevail Wednesday, they take on the top seed in F&M on Saturday evening. The Bullets handed the Diplomats their most lopsided conference loss of the year on January 20th, a 73-57 final decision in Gettysburg. The Diplomats flipped the script in the final week of the season, knocking off the Bullets by 11 at home, by a score of 71-60. Expect a repeat performance in the playoffs: F&M over Gettysburg.
Championship game: F&M v. Dickinson
This game is a coin toss, and should it play out it could be one of the most eagerly anticipated championship matchups since these same two teams squared off in the final two years ago at the same venue. In the final weekend of the regular season, the Red Devils defeated the Diplomats in what ended up being a game that was decided by a few missed free throws in the second overtime period. The game offered a visually stunning contrast of hosts of red and blue clad hordes that bore witness to the Diplomats senior day festivities and the celebration of Glenn Robinson’s 900th victory in a post-game ceremony. Though there have been a number of memorable matchups between these two programs in recent history, this figures to be another fight to the finish. F&M wins the third matchup of the year over Dickinson utilizing their home court advantage, avenging their only loss in Lancaster this season, capturing their eighth Centennial Conference title, and punching their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
Conference Player of the Year
As it stands, there are likely three serious contenders for the Centennial’s top individual honor, Conference Player of the Year.
Tim Stewart guides his team on their playoff run. (photo via McDaniel Athletics)
Tim Stewart (Sr., Forward), McDaniel
Stewart has been a stalwart all season long, capping off a tremendous career for the Green Terror as a dark horse candidate for the award, having led his squad with 16 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and shooting 50% from the floor. In a year in which the McDaniel has suffered their fair share of injuries, Stewart has been unaffected in his play, and has thrived the more his teammates have looked to him to guide them. Stewart is known not only for both his strength and speed, but also his court awareness and talent in finding himself open for his the Green Terror guards to be get the basketball in his hands in big moments. He had the most veteran help of any of the nominees, playing on a squad with five fellow seniors, but was the standout amongst the bunch.
Ted Hinnenkamp aims to become the third Red Devil in a row to be named Conference Player of the Year. (Photo via dickinsonathletics.com)
Ted Hinnenkamp (Sr., Forward), Dickinson
Hinnenkamp is one of the best pure shooters in the Centennial, and certainly has had big shoes to fill as the leader of a Red Devils squad that has featured each the last two POTY’s. His 17 points per game are tops in the conference, and he features 7 rpg, and a 54% shooting mark to his ledger. After playing the past several years as a role player behind some top veteran talent, Hinnenkamp has ascended to the mantle of one of his the Red Devils' and Centennial Conference's very best. Hinnenkamp is one of the key reasons Dickinson has been able to excel particularly on the offensive end of the floor this season, and has a unique ability to create his own shot better than many others in the league. If the voters want to give the award to the top shooting senior in the league, which has been known to happen on occasion, he can make it a Red Devil trio to keep their consecutive award-winner streak alive.
Cedric Moune anchors a Diplomats squad that will play host to the tournament this year, and seeks to win their first title since 2012. (Photo via LancasterOnline.com)
Cedric Moune (Sr., Forward), Franklin & Marshall
Moune is the most complete, dependable, reliable, multi-faceted big man, not only in the conference, but also in all of Division III basketball. He averages 15.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and shoots 58% from the field. In the Centennial, this season he ranked is 8th in steals; 4th in scoring; 3rd in blocks and FG%; 2nd in minutes per game; and 1st in free throw attempts. Although the Player of the Year award is not a career honor, on occasion it has been used to reward a player for their entire body of work, and Moune is worthy of the recognition. His 22 career double-doubles match the number he sports on his jersey, and his size and stature have created mismatches in the post for the past several years. Additionally, Moune enters the tournament 25 points shy of 1,000 and 25 rebounds away from 800 for his career. For a 6’7” athlete from Douala, Cameroon, who grew up playing soccer and only began his basketball career two years before he began to wreak havoc in the Centennial Conference, for his leadership, for his effort, and for his performance, Cedric Moune is my pick for Centennial Conference Player of the Year in 2015-2016.
And now onto a look at the Women’s Playoff preview:
#4 Dickinson College Red Devils (15-9, 11-7 CC) v.
#5 Haverford College Fords (15-10, 10-8 CC)
February 24, 7:30 PM
Kline Center at Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Heading into the final weekend of the Centennial Conference schedule, there was plenty of scoreboard watching for the supporters of the four teams battling for the final two playoff spots. Although Haverford had some help getting into the tournament with losses by both Johns Hopkins and Ursinus down the stretch, they have proven to be a team that has deservedly earned their trip to the postseason for the fifth straight year. They are experienced, having been in this exact position before, a year ago sneaking into the 4/5 matchup, a game that they won to advance to the semifinals. Coach Bobbi Morgan has assembled not only just a team that is a great fit for this program, but also a staff that reflects that as well by bringing in former standout and all-conference award winner in Jackie Pizzuto as one of her assistant coaches.
Sierra Berkel and the rest of the Fords squad returns to the postseason for the fifth consecutive year. (Photo via haverfordathletics.com)
Haverford is lights out shooting from the charity stripe at a making free throws at a 72% clip which is first in the conference, a statistic that seems to come into play with particular import at this time of the season year in and year out. The Fords also feature some of the top shooters from the floor as well, led by sophomore forward, Sierra Berkel who tallies 11 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and shoots field goals at a 50% rate (only .2% behind the conference leader Emily Gibbons of Gettysburg.) Two-sport varsity athlete Olivia Walsh is their only senior, but uses her volleyball hops to elevate to 10 ppg and digs out 34% of her shots from beyond the arc. Freshman guard, Katie Cook joins Walsh and shoots just below her from downtown at 32% in her first season playing at the NCAA level. In the post, 6’2” sophomore center, Samantha Wetzel keeps opponents hands full, tallying 10 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and a 47% FG mark. Given the makeup of this squad and the way they performed this season, they take on the attitude of playing to win on any given night. They mostly keep games close, and have had very few blowouts in either the win or loss column, largely relying on their defense to keep them in contests.
The Dickinson Red Devils did themselves plenty of favors by winning the final three games of the season, which included two on the road following their senior day to earn the opportunity to host the quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday. In evaluating their season, it feels as though the ended up right around where they ought to be in the standings, as they are squarely in the middle of the pack in most of the key statistical measures used to determine team success. They bounced back from a tough OT loss against Haverford, their opponent in the quarterfinal, leading to that four game win streak, and seek to build on that stretch in the postseason. The composition of this roster features just two seniors but five juniors, so whether or not Dickinson is able to string together a few postseason wins, this year, there is little doubt they will be back next year with some big things expected from them.
Helen Roberts capped of her stellar season as the Centennial Conference Player of the Week. (Photo via dickinsonathletics.com)
The Red Devils squad has two players who are in the top four in three-point shooting in the conference in senior guard Sam Kennedy (35% 3PT) and junior guard Helen Roberts who not only shoots 38% from downtown, but also averages 13.2 ppg, two major reasons why she was named the final Centennial Player of the Week while averaging 21 points and 6 boards in the last week of the regular season. Additionally, junior guard Mary Martin lends 11 ppg, and continues to produce ever since she set foot on the floor in her first season Carslile, when she earned the conference Rookie of the Year. In the low post, we will see a lot of sophomore, Kassidy Lesher, whose 9.4 boards per game are 2nd in the league. Dickinson in year number two under coach Katherine Bixby who in her own right was a very successful player at Ithaca, where she earned All-American honors. Following her playing careers, she patrolled the sidelines serving as an assistant coach for a team that set the program record for wins in a season. Her experience as both a player and coach are going to be extremely valuable to have that success and experience translate to elevating her troops this year in the playoffs. The Red Devils are an even 4-4 against the other teams in the tournament, having split with Haverford in two low scoring games early on the season. The winner of the third matchup will be determined by who is best prepared to win in this playoff setting, which should be a thrill to watch.
#2 McDaniel College Green Terror (20-5, 15-3 CC) v.
#3 Gettysburg College Bullets (19-5, 13-5 CC)
February 26, 8:00 PM
Memorial Hall at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
Freshman sensation Emma Dorshimer helped guide her team to the playoffs, but also offers a bright future for the Bullets. (Photo via gettysburgsports.com)
The Bullets come in with a fresh face patrolling the sideline in first year head coach Nate Davis who brings his coaching experience from his time with the Eastern program. Lucky for him, he seamlessly fit in to a roster that was ready to follow his lead, resulting in a strong performance in the conference, and culminating in a #3 seed. Gettysburg ended the season on a hot streak as winners of 7 of their last 8, and 12 of 14 contests down the stretch to end their campaign. Their style is about ball control and maintaining a solid rotation, as they sport the best rebounding margin in the conference at +6.1. Their depth runs 9 players deep each of whom average ten minutes or more per game.
From a production standpoint their two leading scorers are senior forward, Jess Porter who became a member of the 1,000 point club while tallying 14 ppg, with 7.8 rpg, and freshman guard, Emma Dorshimer whose ledger includes 15 ppg, with a 42% 3PT field goal percentage, which is second best in the CC. Dorshimer, for what it’s worth is in my mind the top pick for Conference Rookie of the Year for her efforts in her first year on this squad. Other players to keep an eye on include “The Emily’s”: senior forward, Emily Duggan has the best A/TO ranking in the CC with +2.5, and sophomore forward Emily Gibbons scores 11 ppg, pulls down 7.5 rebounds per contest, all while staking her claim as the CC’s best FG shooter with a 50% mark. Gettysburg needs to be vigilant however, as they are only 3-5 in games against playoff opponents this year, though they did steal wins from the two teams ranked higher than them in the tournament.
For McDaniel, they likely are going to need to string together two victories this weekend to clinch the automatic qualifier to the NCAAs, because it is going to be very challenging to get into the tournament as an at-large bid this year. When at the top of their game, the Green Terror are clearly one of the more talented teams in of D-III hoops, but they currently sit 8th in the region right now, which is really little to no fault of their own.
Karli Zeps is one of a trifecta of Green Terror seniors, looking to finish off their college careers with a conference crown. (Photo via McDaniel Athletics)
At times, this team has been frustrated and frustrating to watch. After being tabbed as the preseason conference favorite, they ranked dead last in the CC in rebounding margin (-7), and turn the ball over far too much (21 times per game.) But in spite of their misgivings they seem to find a way to get it done. They have been dubbed the “Cardiac Kids” by their coaching staff for their propensity to struggle early in ballgames, only to battle back and overcome deficits to emerge victorious in the second half of contests. Since the turn of the new year, they have gone 15-2, with eight of those matchups being separated by six points or fewer. They are a decidedly young squad with five freshmen and three sophomores, but have tremendous veteran leadership to guide their cadre of underclassmen. The trio of Brittney Davis (9 ppg), Karli Zeps (12 ppg, 44% FG), and Lindsey Nichols (20 ppg, 32% 3PT) serve as the leaders of the lineup, and have maintained a measure of continuity from their NCAA-tournament bound team of 2015. Nichols followed up her junior season in which she was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year with a performance that was as good or better in her senior season, and was named Player of the Week on two separate occasions. Additionally, she set a Green Terror hoops record for three-pointers and total points in a season, while also wresting the program's scoring record away from her head coach, Becky Martin. McDaniel will have to rely on their stifling defense that forces 11 steals per contest to help guide them to their first conference crown since 2010.
#1 Muhlenberg College Mules (22-2, 16-2 CC) v.
winner of the 4/5 matchup
February 26, 6:00 PM
Memorial Hall at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
It has been all systems go for the Mules this season, as they have turned in one of the most outstanding performances in all of college basketball this year. They are unquestionably the most complete team in the Centennial any way you look at it, but it is less about the number of games that they have won, and more the manner in which they have taken care of their business. They make it very difficult to determine what their greatest strength is, as they rank first in the Centennial in field goal percentage (42%), 3-point field goal percentage (36%), free throw percentage (72%), rebounds per game (46), assists per game (17.8), blocks per game (6.8), all while committing the fewest fouls per contest (13.3). Their success is made even more impressive given the talent they have had to replace in the departure of six seniors going into this season, including last year's POTY runner-up Leanna Tallamy.
Christina Santone and the Mules are favorites to repeat as champs, hosting the tournament in at home in Allentown. (Photo via Muhlenbergsports.com)
The lineup Coach Ron Rohn fields is full of athletes who were unquestionably selected first in gym class, and five weeks during the regular season that Muhlenberg players were awarded POTW honors. Christina Santone anchors the middle with 8.8 RPG (4th CC), 50% FG (3rd CC), and 87 blocks that was the top mark in the conference in rejections. However their two sophomores in the backcourt allow their guard play to create tremendous mismatches as well. Rachel Plotke averages 15 ppg (3rd CC), shoots 45% from the floor, and is the best shooter from beyond the arc at 47% 3PT. In addition, she is a perfect 45 for 45 from the charity stripe this year, in what is one of the greatest performances shooting free throws of all time. Brandi Vallely’s 14 ppg and 7.8 rebounds per contest are not even her two strongest statistical assets, as she was first in the CC in steals (81), and set a conference record in assists in a single season. Muhlenberg’s lone losses on the season came against McDaniel and Gettysburg, both games in which they shot under 30%, but do not expect to see a repeat performance out of them in the postseason. One can only imagine how difficult it was for the Mules to play against one another in team practices, which undoubtedly will have them ready to face off against conference foes for the final time this year.
Playoff Predictions:
Quarterfinal: Dickinson v. Haverford
Expect a low scoring affair in Carlisle on Wednesday, as these two teams face off having split their regular season series. The battle of Haverford’s Cassidy Lesher and Dickinson’s Sam Wetzel in the low post will be a matchup to watch and could dictate both teams success in this game. Last season, Haverford had to claw their way into the play-in and emerged victorious; I think they build off that experience and energy again this time around once again. In the regular season the road team won both contests, and I expect that to stay the same as Haverford upsets Dickinson to advance.
Semifinal #1: McDaniel v. Gettysburg
The Green Terror went into the final weekend of the regular season in a playoff atmosphere, controlling their own destiny to take the top seed and the opportunity to host the conference tournament. Instead they put up an uncharacteristically substandard performance falling 73-64 to the Bullets. Though it should be a treat to see these two teams match up again for the second time in four days in the semifinal, I doubt there will be a repeat conclusion. It’s a safe bet to say that McDaniel will trail at some point in the second half of this game, but they will stay true to their “cardiac kids” moniker and we will see McDaniel advance to the championship over Gettysburg.
Semifinal #2: Muhlenberg v. Haverford
The Mules have had their way with the Fords this year, defeating them by an average of 26 points over their two matchups. It should be noted that if Dickinson wins the quarterfinal game, they have not faired much better against Muhlenberg, with an average margin of defeat of 19.5 points. Either way, with the Mules at home it should not matter who their opponent is, they will win this game handily and Muhlenberg will play to defend their crown in the title game.
Championship game: Muhlenberg v. McDaniel
In the preseason poll, four of the five teams in the playoffs received at least one first place vote. When the players and coaches were asked for their predictions there was little consensus as well. Last season, Muhlenberg traveled to McDaniel and won the title on the road in Westminster, now hosting the tournament in Allentown with their rowdy fans supporting them, they are the tabbed to repeat in 2016. For a squad that has eight Centennial championships in twenty-one playoff appearances, they field a lineup that may be in the discussion as one of the best in program history. While there may have been questions about who the conference favorite was in the preseason, there is little doubt now that Muhlenberg will take home their ninth title this year. As a fervent follower of the Centennial, I hope that McDaniel can do enough to elevate their regional standing to earn them an at-large bid to the NCAAs with a solid performance in the postseason, but in all likelihood it will be the Mules who represent the Centennial alone in the Big Dance this year.
Conference Player of the Year
One of the things about the Centennial that is always tough is that there are regularly players whose teams fall short of the postseason who are deserving of being in the conversation for POTY recognition. This year, some of those names include Jessica Jowdy (Swarthmore), Jess Porada (Ursinus), Sarah Haddon (F&M), and Ali Grundy (Washington College.) Of those in the tournament it is not difficult to argue that this is Lindsey Nichols award to lose – it’s not so much that she was best pure scorer in the conference, but she held the scoring title by more than two points per contest over second place. We will learn a lot about the voters and find out what it is they value most by the outcome of the vote. If defense is the priority, a strong argument could be made for Christina Santone with her 9 rpg and 3.4 blocks per contest (while still shooting 50% from the floor.) If it’s offense, one could look at Rachel Plotke and award her the honor being third in the conference in points per game, fifth in field goal percentage, and first from outside shooting, while boasting that perfect 45-45 mark in free throws. Ultimately, it should be noted, that each team can only nominate one player and Muhlenberg’s best player, and the best player in the Centennial Conference in 2015-2016 is Brandi Vallely.
Though just a sophomore, Brandi Vallely is the most complete player in the Centennial Conference on the league's best team. (Photo via Muhlenberg Athletics)
While Vallely may face a challenge given that she is only still just a sophomore some of her individual marks are otherworldly. With 9.3 assists per game she was ranked first in the league. She not only set a conference record by tallying 15 assists in a contest, but did it on three separate occasions this year. Vallely was second in assist to turnover ratio, put up 14 ppg, pulled down 7.8 rpg, was a 44% field goal shooter, and was incredibly dependable with an 81% free-throw percentage. To add to her impressive resume, Brandi posted three triple-doubles on the campaign in a conference where no player recorded a single one since the 2010-2011 season. While we will have to wait and see if she can overcome her age and the propensity of the voters to present the award to a more veteran player, Vallely is deserving of recognition as the conference’s best player, and will undoubtedly earn the award multiple times if she continues to play the way she did this year.
The end of the basketball season is the most exciting times of the year, yet knowing the long offseason waits around the corner is decidedly bittersweet. The Centennial is a tremendously fun conference to be apart of, with the passion of the most dedicated players, coaches, and fans rivaling the dedication of some of the big Division-I conferences. I would be remiss without offering a small modicum of gratitude and recognition to the hard work from all of the athletic communications staffs around the league, and for the efforts of the Centennial Conference office for helping to orchestrate another successful season. I am looking forward to a strong final weekend of Centennial hoops to cap off the year on the hardwood before the NCAAs, and hope I don’t make too much of a fool of myself with my predictions. Thank you to all our readers and viewers this, and every season, and See You Later!
Bryan Stabbe (Johns Hopkins), Doug Raftery (McDaniel), Connor Fleegle (Washington College), Bob Long (Swarthmore), and Conference Commissioner Steve Ulrich talk about the upcoming Centennial Conference men's and women's basketball playoffs. #cchoops16
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