City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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Here are the updated CoBL-area Division III Power Rankings for Nov. 28, 2017:

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Others to Watch: Albright (3-1, 0-0 MAC Commonwealth), Alvernia (2-2, 0-0 MAC Commonwealth), Arcadia (3-2, 0-0 MAC Commonwealth), Cairn (2-1, 0-0 CSAC), Eastern (1-2, 0-0 MAC Freedom), Del-Val (1-4, 0-0 MAC Freedom), Gwynedd Mercy (2-1, 0-0 CSAC), Haverford (2-2, 0-1 Centennial), Immaculata (2-2, 0-1 CSAC), Lancaster Bible (2-1, 0-0 NEAC), Muhlenberg (1-3, 0-1 Centennial), Susquehanna (1-3, 0-0 Landmark), Ursinus (3-1, 1-0 Centennial), Widener (2-2, 0-0 MAC Commonwealth)

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10. Penn State-Harrisburg (Last Week: OTW)
Record: 4-1 (1-1 CAC)
Last Two Weeks: @ Haverford (W, 85-79), vs. Immaculata (W, 85-60), vs. Mount Union (W, 73-68), vs. Wesley (L, 74-73), vs. Southern Virginia (W, 74-68)
Star Watch: Gbolahan Alliyu (Jr./F)

Update: Don Friday’s Lions make their first-ever appearance in our rankings after winning four of their first five to start off the season, making them one of just four teams in the area with four-or-more wins. They’ve got a Philly-heavy contingent leading the way, including the Central High duo of Alliyu (10.6 ppg, 13.4 rpg) and Khalil Williams (10.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), both juniors. Alliyu, a third-year starter, seems to have really clicked offensively after averaging between 3-4 ppg his first two years, though his rebounding total has risen each season. He’s a big reason the Lions are out-rebounding their opponents by 6.6/game, a major reason they’ve been successful thus far this season. Tough two weeks ahead, including a road trip to a Salisbury squad that made the NCAAs last year.

Next Two Weeks: @ Frostburg St. (Nov. 29, 8 PM), @ Salisbury (Dec. 2, 4 PM), vs. DeSales (Dec. 4, 7 PM)

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9. Neumann Knights (10)
Record: 3-1 (1-0 CSAC)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Rutgers-Camden (W, 96-65), vs. Eastern (W, 89-67), vs. Marywood (W, 84-71), @ Rowan (L, 109-97)
Star Watch: Tyaire Hudson (Sr./G)

Update: Despite having to replace four starters from last year’s 25-win, NCAA tournament squad -- easily the best to ever represent the program --  Jim Rullo’s Knights kept it rolling to start off 2017-18 with a trio of wins before dropping one to Rowan over the weekend. Hudson, that sole returner, is the team’s leading scorer (18.8 ppg) and passer (4.0) plus its second-best rebounder (7.3 rpg), making half of his shots but just 1-of-9 from 3-point range. They’re getting great contributions from freshman forward Aaron Johnson-Chavis (15.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and sophomore wing Raquan Brown-Johnson (14.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), with senior Billy Cassidy (9.3 ppg) serving as their 3-point specialist. A busy two weeks ahead as Neumann wraps up the 2017 portion of its schedule on Dec. 8; Rullo’s squad won’t take the court again until Jan. 3 for the main stretch of CSAC play.

Next Two Weeks: vs. Rosemont (Nov. 29, 8 PM), @ Keystone (Dec. 2, 3 PM), @ Scranton (Dec. 4, 7 PM), vs. Del-Val (Dec. 6, 7 PM), @ Valley Forge (Dec. 8, 7 PM)

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8. Moravian Greyhounds (6)
Record: 3-1 (0-0 Landmark)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Muhlenberg (W, 95-74), vs. Hunter (@ Gettysburg, W, 88-50), vs. Bridgewater (Va.) (@ Gettysburg, W, 96-89 OT), @ DeSales (L, 73-67)
Star Watch: Oneil Holder (Jr.F)

Update: Now in his third year, Justin Potts continues to show why he was Landmark Coach of the Year after leading the Greyhounds to a 19-win season a year ago. Despite graduating three key seniors from a year ago, Moravian has kept it rolling with some good wins to start off the year, before a letdown game against the Bulldogs where they trailed by 14 with under four minutes to play before a late rally made the final score more respectable. Four players in double figures are led by the 6-5 Holder (17.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg), but sophomore C.J. Barnes (15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), junior Jimmy Murray (15.0 ppg) and sophomore Elijah Davis (12.3 ppg) are off to strong starts as well. Through their first four games, the Greyhounds have committed just 46 turnovers (11.5/game) while forcing nearly twice as many (22.0/game).

Next Two Weeks: @ Del-Val (Nov. 29, 8 PM), @ Elizabethtown (Dec. 2, 2 PM), vs. PSU-Lehigh Valley (Dec. 6, 7 PM), @ Baruch (Dec. 9, 4 PM)

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7. DeSales Bulldogs (OTW)
Record: 4-1 (0-0 MAC Freedom)
Last Two Weeks: @ Rosemont (W, 78-70), vs. Oneonta (@ Lycoming, L, 66-64), vs. PSU-Wilkes Barre (@ Lycoming, W, 69-53), vs. Moravian (W, 73-67), vs. Catholic (W, 76-63)
Star Watch: Kweku Dawson-Amoah (Soph./F)

Update: The Bulldogs are quickly building up a solid start to the season -- the road win at Rosemont was a nice way to open the year, and beating Moravian and Catholic give them some good momentum with four games remaining before a 20-day layoff. Unlike several of the teams in the area which are top-heavy, Scott Coval’s Bulldogs are reliant on their depth, 10 different players are averaging double-figure minutes while playing in all five games, and nine of them are averaging at least 4.0 ppg. Dawson-Amoah, a 6-6 forward out of Bethlehem Catholic (Pa.), went from averaging 5.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg as a freshman to leading the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg) through its first five games. The frontcourt is a major strength for this group; senior forward Connor Jones (12.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and junior forward Luke Connaghan (10.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) are the other two in double figures.

Next Two Weeks: @ Arcadia (Nov. 29, 8 PM), @ PSU-Harrisburg (Dec. 4, 7 PM), @ PSU-Berks (Dec. 7, 7 PM), vs. Muhlenberg (Dec. 9, 3 PM)

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6. Cabrini Cavaliers (2)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 CSAC)
Last Two Weeks: @ Eastern (W, 82-68), vs. Denison (@ Mary Washington, L, 90-70), vs. Randolph (@ Mary Washington, W, 88-72)
Star Watch: Keith Blassingale (Soph./SG)

Update: The Cavaliers picked up a nice win at Eastern to open the year, but a 20-point loss was enough to knock them a few rungs down the ladder. They’re certainly missing the presence of senior wing DeVahnte Mosley, who tore his ACL and is out for the season; guards Brett Foster and Anthony Wright-Downing are currently ineligible until the end of the semester, so this is a group that should be stronger as the year goes on. Senior forward Tyheim Monroe has been a two-way force as expected, averaging 20.3 ppg and a nation-best 17.7 rpg, but it’s the emergence of Blassingale alongside him (20.3 ppg) that’s been the most pleasant surprise for fourth-year boss Tim McDonald. As a team, Cabrini is shooting just 32.5 percent from 3-point range compared to 41.8 percent by its opponents.

Next Two Weeks: vs. Scranton (Nov. 29, 8 PM), vs. Immaculata (Dec. 2, 3 PM), @ Cairn (Dec. 6, 8 PM), @ Gwynedd Mercy (Dec. 9, 1 PM)

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5. Dickinson Red Devils (5)
Record: 3-1 (1-0 Centennial)
Last Two Weeks: vs. St. Thomas (Minn.) (@ Marietta, L, 73-68), vs. Mt. St. Joseph (@ Marietta, W, 80-64), @ Muhlenberg (W, 89-68), @ No. 14 Christopher Newport (W, 64-54)
Star Watch: Justus Melton (Sr./F)

Update: Dickinson certainly didn’t start its season the way it wanted to, dropping its opener, but bounced back in a big way with a trio of wins topped off by a true road victory at a top-15 program in CNU. Leading the way has been Melton, a 6-7 Charlotte (N.C.) native who’s steadily increased his production each year: he averaged 4.0 ppg/2.9 rpg as a freshman, 8.0 ppg/5.5 rpg as a sophomore, 12.3 ppg/6.1 rpg as a junior and now up to 18.3 ppg/8.8 rpg to start off his senior season. Melton is hitting 64.2 percent of his shots, pacing a group that’s hitting 49.2 percent overall and 43.7 percent from 3-point range. Sophomore Bryce Allen is second on the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg with a team-high 6.0 apg; the rest of the starters -- Elijah Wright (11.5 ppg), Mike Hinckley (11.3 ppg) and Moses Romocki (11.3 ppg) -- are all in double figures, but nobody else averages more than 2.0 ppg.

Next Two Weeks: vs. McDaniel (Nov. 30, 7:30 PM), vs. Swarthmore (Dec. 2, 4 PM), @ Gettysburg (Dec. 6, 8 PM)

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4. Lebanon Valley Dutchmen (4)
Record: 4-1 (0-0 MAC Commonwealth)
Last Two Weeks: @ Cairn (W, 83-68), vs. New Rochelle (W, 89-65, vs. College of Staten Island (W, 95-65), vs. Elizabethtown (W, 82-72), @ Franklin & Marshall (L, 101-98 2OT)
Star Watch: Andy Orr (Sr./F)

Update: Lebanon Valley certainly had a good shot at being undefeated and a spot or two higher, but couldn’t quite close the door on F&M in that two-OT defeat on the road. Both Orr (20.2 ppg, 12.0 rpg) and senior Sam Light (24.4 ppg) continue to lead the team in scoring, but they’re the only two in double figures. Senior Ricky Bugg has jumped up from 3.5 ppg a year ago to averaging 9.2 ppg this year, and junior Chris Anderson (Malvern Prep) is averaging 7.0 ppg while starting four of five contests. So far this season, LVC’s perimeter defense has been great; opponents are shooting just 25.6 percent against them, while the Dutchmen have hit 35.1 percent from deep; they’re also out-rebounding opponents by 7.2 boards/game.

Next Two Weeks: @ Widener (Nov. 29, 6 PM), vs. Alvernia (Dec. 2, 3 PM), @ Stevenson (Dec. 6, 6 PM), vs. Hood (Dec. 9, 3 PM)

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3. Franklin & Marshall Diplomats (7)
Record: 5-0 (1-0 Centennial)
Last Two Weeks: @ Misericordia (W, 92-84), vs. Bethany (W.Va.) (@ William Marshall, W, 72-70), vs. Alvernia (@ William Marshall, W, 84-67), @ Gettysburg (W, 68-53), vs. Lebanon Valley (W, 101-98)
Star Watch: Brandon Federici (Sr./G)

Update: At 5-0, the Diplomats are off to their best start since 2014-15, when they won their first 14 games en route to a 20-6 season that ended in the Centennial semifinals. Federici, the team’s All-American candidate, has continued the high scoring level (22.0 ppg) that he’s displayed his entire career (19.1 ppg), but he’s also averaging a career-best 5.8 rpg as well. Keep an eye out for 6-8 freshman Matt Groll, who’s averaging 15.0 ppg and 8.4 rpg while making 51.9 percent of his shots; senior Matthew Tate (17.4 ppg) and junior wing J.C. McGrath (11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) are also averaging double-figures for 47th-year head coach Glenn Robinson. The most experienced coach in the league will get to face the two newest in the next two weeks, when Haverford (Pat Doherty) and Johns Hopkins (Josh Loeffler) and their first-year coaches come to visit.

Next Two Weeks: @ Ursinus (Nov. 30, 6 PM), vs. Haverford (Dec. 2, 3 PM), vs. Johns Hopkins (Dec. 6, 8 PM), @ Albright (Dec. 8, 7 PM)

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2. York Spartans (3)
Record: 3-0 (0-0 CAC)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Pitt-Bradford (@ Scranton, W, 101-89), @ Scranton, (W, 84-70), @ Mount St. Mary’s (L, 91-80), vs. Gettysburg (W, 83-59)
Star Watch: Blayde Reich (Sr./F)

Update: The Mount St. Mary’s game doesn’t count towards the record, but the Spartans are pretty happy about playing a Division I opponent -- and one coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance, at that -- competitive on the road. The Spartans have a three-headed monster in seniors Reich (17.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg), Matt Scamuffo (17.7 ppg) and Dalton Myers (16.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg), but it was sophomore Jared Wagner (10.7 ppg) who went off for 23 and seven rebounds against the Mountaineers. It’s a group that goes deep -- 11 players are seeing double-digit minutes -- but outside of the top four, nobody else scores more than six points per contest. Conference play starts with the game against Wesley on Wednesday, and continues with the three following to give the Spartans a good idea where they stand heading into the winter break.

Next Two Weeks: @ Wesley (Nov. 29, 8 PM), vs. Mary Washington (Dec. 2, 3 PM), vs. Frostburg State (Dec. 6, 8 PM), @ Marymount (Va.) (Dec. 9, 3 PM)

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1. Swarthmore Garnet (1)
Record: 4-0 (1-0 Centennial)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Hood (W, 111-89), vs. Albertus Magnus (W, 95-85), @ Washington (Md.) (W, 79-70), vs. Misericordia (W, 93-75)
Star Watch: Cam Wiley (Jr./G)

Update: Our No. 1 preseason team gave us no reason to change in the first two weeks of the season, starting off with four wins by an average of 14.8 points. As expected, the duo of Wiley (20.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.8 apg) and senior Zack Yonda (17.3 ppg) are leading the way, with senior forward Robbie Walsh (11.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) right there, but it’s been sophomore Zac O’Dell who’s been the biggest surprise thus far. O’Dell only averaged 3.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg last season but has jumped that up to 14.0 ppg and 7.3 rpg, despite only playing six extra minutes per contest.  Three other Garnet players -- freshman Conor Harkins (8.5 ppg), sophomore Nate Shafer (8.5 ppg) and freshman Ryan Ingram (7.3 ppg) have given Swarthmore reliable bench scoring in each of their contests. Three more Centennial matchups are next, including a tough trip to Dickinson and a visit from an Ursinus squad that’s right on the fringes of the top 10.

Next Two Weeks: vs. Muhlenberg (Nov. 30, 8 PM), @ Dickinson (Dec. 2, 4 PM), vs. Ursinus (Dec. 6, 6 PM), @ Del-Val (Dec. 9, 1 PM)

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