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Division III Power Rankings: Jan. 15, 2018

01/15/2018, 11:15am EST
By Josh Verlin

Tyheim Monroe (above) and Cabrini made a nice jump in this week's D-III power rankings. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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Here are the updated CoBL-area Division III Power Rankings for Jan. 15, 2018:

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Previous Rankings: Preseason (Nov. 14) | Nov. 28 | Dec. 12 | Jan. 2 |

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Others to Watch: Alvernia (8-8, 3-4 MAC Commonwealth), Arcadia (8-8, 3-4 MAC Commonwealth), Bryn Athyn (6-8, 3-2 NEAC), Dickinson (8-7, 4-4 Centennial), Eastern (8-7, 3-1 MAC Freedom), Immaculata (7-7, 4-4 CSAC), Lancaster Bible (10-4, 6-0 NEAC), Muhlenberg (7-7, 5-3 Centennial), Rosemont (8-5, 4-3 CSAC), Susquehanna (5-9, 2-2 Landmark), Ursinus (10-5, 6-2 Centennial), Widener (8-7, 2-5 MAC Commonwealth)

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10. Lebanon Valley Dutchmen (Last Week: 9)
Record: 11-5 (5-2 MAC Commonwealth)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Lycoming (W, 81-71), @ Albright (W, 78-70), vs. Arcadia (L, 94-82)
Star Watch: Sam Light (Sr./G)

Update: Brad McAlister’s Dutchmen won their first four games of the season but haven’t been able to string together as many consecutive wins since; they’re 3-3 over their last six games, though that does include a win over a Lycoming squad that was undefeated and ranked No. 6 in the country heading into the matchup. But the inconsistencies reared their head a week later against Arcadia, as the Knights forced 18 turnovers and hit 11 3-pointers in the upset. Light, the No. 19 scorer in all of Division III (23.3 ppg), led the Dutchmen in scoring in all three games, going for a high of 30 points (on 10-17 shooting) against Albright plus 49 combined in the other two. His partner in crime, Andy Orr put together three double-doubles, averaging 17.3 ppg and 12.3 rpg these two weeks; he’s No. 32 in the country on the glass (10.2 rpg).

Next Two Weeks: @ Messiah (Jan. 17, 6 PM), @ Alvernia (Jan. 20, 3 PM), vs. Stevenson (Jan. 24, 8 PM), @ Hood (Jan. 27, 3 PM)

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9. Moravian Greyhounds (8)
Record: 11-4 (3-1 Landmark)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Susquehanna (W, 106-74), @ Drew (L, 87-80), vs. Catholic (W, 103-101 OT)
Star Watch: Nicholas Casazza (Jr./G)

Update: After a 7-1 start to the year, the Greyhounds have found some trouble the last month, going 4-3 their last seven games, though none of those defeats have been by more than seven points. The loss to Drew, who Moravian turned over 20 times but allowed to shoot over 55 percent from the floor, allowed the Rangers to take a one-game lead in the Landmark standings, but there’s still 10 games left in the regular season, including a return game at Moravian in February. Junior guard Jimmy Murray, the Greyhounds’ leading scorer on the season (17.9 ppg), set the tone with 28 points against Catholic and 19 against Drew, but we’ll give our shotout this week to Casazza. The 5-11 guard from Honesdale (Pa.), averaging 9.8 ppg this season, was 6-for-8 from 3-point range in the win over Susquehanna for 20 points, and also hit double figures against Drew (11 points) and Catholic (15).

Next Two Weeks: vs. Scranton (Jan. 17, 7 PM), @ Juniata (Jan. 20, 2 PM), @ Goucher (Jan. 24, 7 PM), @ Susquehanna (Jan. 27, 2 PM)

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8. Albright Lions (3)
Record: 11-4 (4-3 MAC Commonwealth)
Last Two Weeks: @ Hood (W, 106-93), vs. Lebanon Valley (L, 78-70), @ Lycoming (L, 86-85), vs. Messiah (L, 101-100 3OT)
Star Watch: DeJuan Smith (Sr./G)

Update: It was tough to figure out what exactly to do with Albright this week. The Lions had risen into the top three in the rankings on the strength of an eight-game winning streak, including a win over a nationally-ranked Franklin & Marshall. But they are now on a three-game losing streak, which has seen them drop games on a pair of foul shots with five seconds left (to Lycoming) and on a four-point play with four seconds left -- in triple overtime -- to Messiah. There’s not really a bad loss in the bunch, considering LVC, Lycoming and Messiah are a combined 36-12 this year. But if Rick Ferry can’t get his group to get back on track immediately with three of the next four games on the road, they could quickly find themselves out of the running for a regular-season Commonwealth title. Smith, a 6-3 guard from Bowie (Md.), scored in double figures in all four games, including 28 against Hood and 32 points (plus 10 boards) against Messiah.

Next Two Weeks: @ Alvernia (Jan. 17, 6 PM), vs. Widener (Jan. 20, 4 PM), @ Arcadia (Jan. 24, 8 PM), @ Stevenson (Jan. 27, 3 PM)

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7. DeSales Bulldogs (6)
Record: 12-3 (3-1 MAC Freedom)
Last Two Weeks: @ Eastern (L, 78-67), vs. Del-Val (W, 78-56), @ Manhattanville (W, 88-78), vs. FDU-Florham (W, 83-65)
Star Watch: Kweku Dawson-Amoah (Soph./F)

Update: After dropping a pair of games spanning the new year, DeSales bounced back to win three straight, though the Bulldogs still drop a slot due to the success of several teams that were previously below them. What’s impressive about this DeSales squad is its ability to put up big scoring numbers without an outburst by any one player; in going for 83 against FDU-Florham, nobody had more than Luke Connaghan’s 13, with eight players between six and 13 in that outing; against Manhattanville, Tracy Simsick paced five players in double figures, all between 12-16 points. Though I’m sure Scott Coval won’t complain about the 22-point outing that Dawson-Amoah put up on a perfect 7-7 shooting (including a triple) in the win over Delaware Valley.

Next Two Weeks: @ Wilkes (Jan. 17, 6 PM), vs. Misericordia (Jan. 20, 4 PM), @ King’s College (Jan. 24, 6 PM), vs. Eastern (Jan. 27, 3 PM)

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Billy Cassidy (above) is in the top 35 in the country in three-point makes and percentage. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

6. Neumann Knights (7)
Record: 11-3 (6-2 CSAC)
Last Two Weeks: vs. Immaculata (W, 95-68), vs. Clarks Summit (W, 107-64), @ Gwynedd Mercy (L, 79-68), vs. Cairn (W, 97-64), vs. Centenary (W, 91-65)
Star Watch: Billy Cassidy (Sr./SG)

Update: The top three teams in the CSAC are incredibly close. Neumann’s road loss to Gwynedd Mercy snapped a five-game win streak, but they have to wait until Valentine’s Day to attempt some sweet revenge on the Griffins. Much closer together are the two games against Cabrini, which has been an incredibly entertaining rivalry of late; no matter which team loses on Wednesday, it only has to wait five days for the turnaround in a scheduling quirk that wasn’t due to weather. Cassidy, the team’s resident sharpshooter and a Friends’ Central alum, has now scored in double figures in nine straight games; he’s averaging 13.8 ppg on the back of 53-of-116 (.457) shooting from 3-point range, which is No. 15 in the country in made treys and No. 32 in percentage.

Next Two Weeks: @ Cabrini (Jan. 17, 8 PM), @ Clarks Summit (Jan. 20, 3 PM), vs. Cabrini (Jan. 22, 7 PM), @ Immaculata (Jan. 24, 8 PM), vs. Keystone (Jan. 27, 3 PM)

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5. Cabrini Cavaliers (10)
Record: 12-2 (7-1 CSAC)
Last Two Weeks: @ Centenary (W, 89-66), vs. Keystone (W, 98-96), @ Rosemont (W, 92-81), vs. Marywood (W, 93-66), @ Clarks Summit (W, 90-62)
Star Watch: Tyheim Monroe (Sr./F)

Update: Watch out for the Cavaliers. Cabrini is now on a seven-game winning streak after winning five straight CSAC matchups to begin 2018, and its star player is playing at perhaps his highest level to date. The nation’s leading rebounder (17.0 rpg) put up an absolutely insane 28-point, 28-rebound double-double in the win over Centenary, setting not only his career best effort in rebounds but also the Cabrini career scoring record on the same night; he’s now over 1,700 points, surpassing Aaron Walton-Moss’s 1,641. He only followed that up with a 16-point, 21-rebound game against Keystone and a 24-point, 17-rebounding outing against Rosemont. Freshmen brothers Trey Smith and D.J. Smith, both out of Wildwood Catholic, have moved into the starting lineup, and the pair combined for 27 points in the win over Clarks Summit. The two Neumann games are going to be some of the best D-III games around these next two weeks.

Next Two Weeks: vs. Neumann (Jan. 17, 8 PM), @ Marywood (Jan. 20, 3 PM), @ Neumann (Jan. 22, 7 PM), vs. Cairn (Jan. 24, 8 PM), vs. Centenary (Jan. 27, 4 PM)

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4. Gwynedd Mercy Griffins (5)
Record: 12-2 (7-1 CSAC)
Last Two Weeks: @ Immaculata (L, 71-70), vs. Neumann (W, 79-68), @ Clarks Summit (W, 106-69), @ Cairn (W, 78-68)
Star Watch: Rip Engel (Sr./G)

Update: The loss to Immaculata, which came on a game-winning 3-pointer by freshman Brandon McCullough, snapped eight-game win streak for Gwynedd, which turned around and beat Neumann to start a new streak it continued with two road wins. Engel, who’s journey we chronicled last week, was Gwynedd’s leading scorer in the win over Neumann with a career-high 32 points, hitting six 3-pointers; he also had 24 points (on 12 shots) against Clarks Summit and hit double figures in the other games as well. Gwynedd avoids playing Cabrini or Neumann the next two weeks, but they do get games against Keystone (5-2 in CSAC play) and an always-tough trip to Rosemont in the mix.

Next Two Weeks: vs. Keystone (Jan. 17, 8 PM), vs. Immaculata (Jan. 20, 1 PM), @ Keystone (Jan. 22, 7 PM), @ Rosemont (Jan. 24, 7 PM), vs. Cairn (Jan. 27, 1 PM)

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Zack Yonda (above) and Swarthmore beat No. 2 Middlebury on Jan. 2 for the program's first win over a nationally-ranked team. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

3. Swarthmore Garnet (2)
Record: 13-2 (7-1 Centennial)
Last Two Weeks: @ Middlebury (W, 91-75), vs. Gettysburg (W, 69-61), @ McDaniel (W, 80-49), vs. Johns Hopkins (W, 79-70), @ Franklin & Marshall (L, 74-68)
Star Watch: Zack Yonda (Sr./G)

Update: As much success as Swarthmore has had on the hardwood of late, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance last year following its first-ever league championship, the Garnet had never beaten a nationally-ranked program -- until they went up to Middlebury and beat the No. 2 team in the country, convincingly. They extended the win streak to five before Centennial rival F&M held them to under 40 percent from the field and under 30 percent from 3-point range in forcing a two-way tie atop the league approaching the midpoint of conference play. Yonda and junior guard Cam Wiley took turns leading Swarthmore the last two weeks; Yonda had 20 against McDaniel and 21 against Gettysburg; Wiley had 22 against Middlebury and 19 against Hopkins, plus 17 against F&M.

Next Two Weeks: @ Haverford (Jan. 17, 8 PM), vs. Dickinson (Jan. 20, 3 PM), vs. Washington College (Jan. 25, 8 PM), @ Gettysburg (Jan. 27, 3 PM)

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2. Franklin & Marshall Diplomats (4)
Record: 13-2 (7-1 Centennial)
Last Two Weeks: vs. McDaniel (W, 70-50), @ Muhlenberg (L, 82-80), @ Washington (W, 82-73), vs. Swarthmore (W, 74-68)
Star Watch: J.C. McGrath (Jr./F)

Update: F&M and Swarthmore are so close in these rankings, we could easily call them 2a and 2b. A six-point home win over the Garnet doesn’t exactly stake the Diplomats’ claim as clearly the better team this season, though Swat has to wait until Feb. 17 for its chance at revenge. Three of the next four come on the road, which is where F&M’s two losses have come this season, both to the Mules and Albright. Even though Dickinson (8-7, 4-4) has lost three in a row, the Red Devils are no joke, and will be playing with plenty of fire after losing in 2OT to Washington College at the Palestra on Sunday afternoon. McGrath, a 6-6 forward out of Munich International (Germany), is averaging 12.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg but exploded recently, going for 13 points and 22 rebounds against Washington, one of three double-doubles in his past four games.

Next Two Weeks: @ Dickinson (Jan. 17, 8 PM), @ Haverford (Jan. 20, 3 PM), vs. Gettysburg (Jan. 25, 8 PM), @ McDaniel (Jan. 27, 1 PM)

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1. York Spartans (1)
Record: 15-0 (8-0 CAC)
Last Two Weeks: @ Salisbury (W, 84-81), @ Southern Virginia (W, 85-69), vs. PSU-Harrisburg (W, 88-78), vs. Christopher Newport (W, 79-69)
Star Watch: Matt Scamuffo (Sr./SG)

Update: So far, 2018 has been just as kind to Matt Hunter and his Spartans as the end of 2017, as York remains one of just four teams in Division III hoops with an unbeaten record. Though the Spartans’ bench certainly has been a capable second unit, there’s no denying that it’s York’s super-talented starting five which has carried the load so far. That was certainly evident in the wins over PSU-Harrisburg and Christopher Newport, when all five starters -- Scamuffo, Blayde Reich, Dalton Myers, Jared Wagner and Jason Bady -- finished in double figures, led by Scamuffo’s 18 against CNU and Myers’ 25 against PSU-Harrisburg. With that kind of balance, they’ll go far in their search for their first league title since 2011-12.

Next Two Weeks: @ St. Mary’s (Jan. 17, 6 PM), @ Mary Washington (Jan. 20, 3 PM), @ Frostburg St. (Jan. 24, 8 PM), vs. Marymount (Jan. 27, 3 PM)

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