Let's take a peek at tonight's games, shall we?
Johns Hopkins @ Dickinson: Having Bryce Allen back and full go definitely changes things for Dickinson, but they still don't have enough horses to run with the Blue Jays.
Franklin & Marshall @ McDaniel: I don't know what to think of either one of these teams. The Dips should be the more talented team, but they have been so inconsistent this year that it's maddening from the outside looking in. 43 points at home over the weekend to Washington, who would have thought? McDaniel, they play hard, but they just don't have the pieces to run. I think F&M wins tonight, but honestly a Green Terror win wouldn't surprise me at this point.
Muhlenberg @ Swarthmore: While the Mules aren't locked into the 4 seed by any means, being 2 games clear of 5th and 2 games out of third pretty much solidifies their position at this point. The Mules are playing good ball, but Swarthmore is a whole different animal. What concerns me about the Garnet is that, even though they keep winning, they've looked real vulnerable against a couple of recent opponents (WAC, Gettysburg, hell Ursinus had them down by 10 with 10 minutes left). At some point I keep waiting for them to slip up, but they haven't done it yet. Could the Mules do it tonight? If they take care of the ball and shoot well, they've got a chance, but I still believe the Garnet win tonight.
And now, we get to the two biggest games of the evening.....
Gettysburg @ Ursinus: Two of the three teams scrapping for the 5th and final playoff spot clash tonight in Collegeville. The Bullets have cooled off a little after a hot start, but they are still a year ahead of schedule with a second year head coach and play some real good basketball. Ursinus, man, the Bears are maddening. They have the shooters and the talent to run with anybody.....it just depends on what night you catch them on. The Bullets won the first meeting this year by 12, and I think I like Gettysburg again tonight, but this is another game where if Ursinus won, especially at home, I wouldn't be shocked.
Haverford @ Washington: Washington comes in as the third team locked into that three team tie for the 5th and final playoff spot. Haverford has been dramatically better this year than they've been in a long time and find themselves in the 3 seed, two games clear of the Mules and 2 games behind JHU, so probably locked into that 3 seed you would think. They also handled WAC in the first meeting this year. Washington, meanwhile, has gone 4-2 in their last 6 games after enduring a 1-9 stretch and, much like last season when they snuck into the playoffs, are peaking at the right time. Daniel Brown has taken the giant leap this year and the consistent senior leadership around him is paying dividends. As far as the game tonight? On paper, the Fords should win. But anything can happen in front of a loud Cain Athletic Center crowd, and WAC has had a decent amount of success at home against Haverford lately. This game, to me, is truly a toss up. If the Fords play the way they want to play, they win. If there's any sort of deviance from that, I think WAC takes it.
Either way, it's a big night of implications for that 5 seed! Also, another note on that.....Ursinus and Gettysburg both have to travel to Washington next Wednesday and Saturday. Think those games will be big?
