Dickinson vs. Muhlenberg
You don't get much tighter in an all-time series than you
do with these two rivals who meet for the first time in a
Centennial playoff game. The Mules (17-8) have a 42-41 advantage on
the Red Devils (14-11) in a series that goes back to 1923 and, not
surprisingly, the teams split their two games this season.
Muhlenberg is making its 14th Conference playoff appearance with
two titles to its credit and a 7-11 all-time record. Dickinson,
making its first back-to-back CC tourneys in history, is 4-2
all-time and captured the crown in 1997. This one gives the fan
options - you can focus on the backcourt or frontcourt battles that
could prove vital, while also watching the present and future of
the Conference. The guard matchup is intriguing between the Red
Devils soph Adam Honig (14.2 ppg) and the
Mules' rookie Malique Killing (17.1 ppg) - a
pair of second-team All-CC selections. Or look inside as Dickinson
first-year Gerry Wixted (17.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg),
also a second-teamer, locks horns with Muhlenberg
senior Spencer Liddic (18.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg), a
unanimous first-team All-CC pick.
Washington College at Franklin & Marshall
The Diplomats (23-2), ranked 12th nationally, can make
history this weekend as F&M looks to become the first team to
win three straight Centennial titles. And the Blue and White could
have the chance to avenge both its regular-season losses in the
process, beginning with the Shoremen (14-12). Washington came into
Mayser and handed F&M its first loss of the season, 78-74, on
Jan. 14. The Diplomats are 3-1 all-time against the Shoremen in the
playoffs, winning in 1994 (72-71), 2000 (87-85) and 2003 (92-62),
but falling in 1999 (77-71) - all at Mayser. A pair of first-team
All-Centennial guards square off for the final time in their
collegiate careers. F&M's Georgio Milligan
(18.4 ppg) was named the Conference's Player of the Year for the
second straight season, while Washington's Kevin
Breslin (18.1) earned first-team honors for the second
consecutive year. The Diplomats, 11-3 in semifinal games, are
shooting for their seventh Centennial crown, while the Shoremen are
just 1-7 in semis and look for their first final appearance since
1999.
What to Watch For
- Franklin & Marshall is 43-5 at the Mayser Center over the last four seasons. The Diplomats' lone loss in the 2011-12 campaign came against Washington College.
- F&M is 21-1 when leading at the half, 19-1 when outrebounding opponents and 11-0 when shooting better than 50 percent from the field.
- Muhlenberg is 14-2 when outrebounding its opposition and 5-3 in games decided by five points or less. Washington College is 7-4 in tight games, while Dickinson is just 4-7 and F&M is 1-2.
- The Shoremen have twice overcome halftime deficits of seven or more points. The Mules have taken down a pair of deficits of five points or greater, while the Red Devils have one seven-point comeback to their credit.
- Muhlenberg's Spencer Liddic needs eight rebounds to reach the 1,000 mark for his career.
- F&M's Georgio Milligan is the fifth-leading scorer in Conference history with 1,807 points.
- Malique Killing and Gerry Wixted are the seventh and eighth freshmen in Centennial annals to earn All-Conference first or second-team recognition. Milligan is the lone rookie to make the first team (2009).
Link: Championship Website