LANCASTER, Pa. – Swarthmore narrowly edged Johns Hopkins atop the Centennial Conference men's basketball preseason poll in a vote among conference head coaches. The Garnet tallied six first-place nods and 78 points while the Blue Jays collected the other four first-place votes and 76 points.
Gettysburg was projected to finish third with 65 points, followed by Muhlenberg (54), Ursinus (49) and Franklin & Marshall (43) in the top six.
Haverford was picked seventh with 31 points, while Dickinson (28), McDaniel (14) and Washington College (12) rounded out the voting.
The 2023-24 season tips of on Wednesday, Nov. 8 with four Centennial teams in action. All 10 CC squads will open their campaigns by Saturday, Nov. 11. Conference play will commence on Tuesday, Nov. 21, with the six-team CC postseason set for Feb. 20-23-25 with the higher seeds hosting each round.
2023-24 Centennial Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank | Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Swarthmore (6) |
78 |
| 2. Johns Hopkins (4) |
76 |
| 3. Gettysburg |
65 |
| 4. Muhlenberg |
54 |
| 5. Ursinus |
49 |
| 6. Franklin & Marshall |
43 |
| 7. Haverford |
31 |
| 8. Dickinson |
28 |
| 9. McDaniel |
14 |
| 10. Washington College |
12 |
2023-24 Schedule | 2022-23 All-Centennial Team | D3hoops.com Preseason Poll
The past five seasons of Centennial Conference men's basketball have featured Swarthmore and Johns Hopkins atop the conference and facing off in the championship game. With multiple all-conference returners back in the fold for both squads again this season, the question remains: Can anyone take down the Garnet or Blue Jays?
Swarthmore captured last year's title with an incredible come-from-behind victory at Hopkins, led by reigning Player of the Year and All-American Vinny DeAngelo. DeAngelo scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half of the title matchup, including the go-head three-pointer with just over a minute remaining. The win gave the Garnet their third CC crown since 2017, with the other coming in 2019. Sandwiched in between those Garnet titles are JHU's recent string of championships in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Both the Blue Jays and Garnet made deep runs through the NCAA Tournament, with Swarthmore advancing to the Final Four for the second time (also in 2019) and becoming the sixth team in Centennial history to reach the national semifinals. The Garnet fell to eventual national champion Christopher Newport in the semifinals, 69-66. Hopkins put together an impressive tournament of its own, advancing to the Sweet 16 before bowing out to Wisconsin-Whitewater in dramatic fashion, 83-82.
Swarthmore and JHU are just outside the top 10 in the D3hoops.com Preseason National Rankings, with Swarthmore 11th and Hopkins 12th.
DeAngelo is the lone player with All-America laurels returning to the CC this season. Three players with All-Region accolades and 10 players from seven different teams with All-Centennial accolades are also back this winter.
Returning All-Americans (1)
Vinny DeAngelo, Swarthmore, Sr., G (2022-23 NABC First Team, 2022-23 D3hoops.com Fourth Team)
Returning All-Region (3)
Giovanni Rubino, Muhlenberg, Sr., G (2022-23 D3hoops.com Second Team, NABC Second Team)
Vinny DeAngelo, Swarthmore, Sr., G (2022-23 D3hoops.com First Team & Player OTY, 2022-23 NABC First Team, 2021-22 NABC First Team)
Michael Caprise, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2022-23 D3hoops.com Second Team)
Returning All-Centennial (10)
Josh Parra, Franklin & Marshall, Sr., F (2022-23 Second Team)
Jordan Stafford, Gettysburg, Jr., G (2022-23 Second Team)
Carl Schaller, Gettysburg, Jr., G (2022-23 Honorable Mention)
Carson James, Johns Hopkins, Gr., G (2022-23 Second Team, 2021-22 Honorable Mention)
Sidney Thybulle, Johns Hopkins, Gr., F (2022-23 Honorable Mention, 2021-22 Honorable Mention)
Giovanni Rubino, Muhlenberg, Sr., G (2022-23 First Team)
Vinny DeAngelo, Swarthmore, Sr., G (2022-23 First Team & Player OTY, 2021-22 First Team, 2019-20 Honorable Mention & Rookie OTY)
Michael Caprise, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2022-23 Second Team, 2021-22 Second Team)
Trevor Wall, Ursinus, Sr., G (2022-23 Honorable Mention, 2021-22 Second Team)
Kedrick Frink, Washington College, Sr., G (2022-23 Honorable Mention)
