Diplomats Rank Fourth in February 11 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Basketball Poll

by Sports Information
2/12/03

LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College men’s basketball team is ranked fourth in the February 11 NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Poll.

Ranked #19 in the February 11 D3Hoops.com national poll, Franklin & Marshall is one of three Centennial Conference teams in the NCAA poll as Ursinus (2nd) and Johns Hopkins (Honorable Mention) are also among the top 10 teams in the region.

The ranking marks a one spot jump for F&M, which was ranked fifth last week, second on January 28, third on January 21, and opened polling in the second position on January 15. This week, Catholic University remained in first place, followed by Ursinus, Lycoming, F&M, Mary Washington and the University of Scranton.

One of the most successful intercollegiate basketball programs in Division III history, Franklin & Marshall defeated McDaniel (54-46) and Swarthmore (62-45) last week to move back into first place in the Centennial Conference Western Division.

Last week, forward Bob Lynch (So., Richboro, PA/Council Rock) was named to the Centennial Conference Honor Roll for averaging 10.0 points as the Diplomats improved to 7-2 in the Centennial Conference.

On the year, he is averaging 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game off the bench as the #23 nationally ranked Diplomats are 18-3.

Overall, Lynch ranks among the Centennial Conference leaders in field goal percentage (65.5, second), free throw percentage (74.2, 12th) and offensive rebounds (1.95, 12th).

In addition to Lynch, duo of junior center Steve Juskin (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) and senior forward/guard Asaf Ganot (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) has been a dominating presence.

The F&M career blocked shot record holder with 176, Juskin now has a school record 68 blocked shots this season to erase his own record of 59 set last season.

For his career, Juskin has 918 points, 475 rebounds, and 126 assists in 75 games.

On the season, he ranks among the Centennial Conference leaders in scoring (16.1, sixth), rebounding (7.4, seventh), field goal percentage (.490, 14th), blocked shots (3.24, first), offensive rebounds (2.19, ninth) and defensive rebounds (5.19, fifth).

A defensive presence, Ganot is among the CC leaders in rebounding (8.0, sixth), field goal percentage (.504, 11th), assists (4.00, third), steals (1.76, fifth), blocked shots (1.62, fourth), assist/turnover ratio (2.90, first), offensive rebounds (2.52, sixth) and defensive rebounds (5.48, fifth).

For his career, Ganot now has 105 blocked shots for the second most in program history. On the year, Ganot has been a one-man statistical machine racking up 168 rebounds, 84 assists, 34 blocks, 37 steals and 183 points.

Overall, his career numbers now stand at 438 points, 395 rebounds, 186 assists and 137 steals in 87 games.

As a team the Diplomats rank among the CC's best in scoring offense (84.2, first), scoring defense (64.1, first), scoring margin (+20.1, first), free throw percentage (.711, third), field goal percentage (.494, first), field goal percentage defense (.399, first), three-point field goal percentage (.391, first), three-point field goals made (6.52, fourth), three-point field goal percentage defense (.310, second), rebounding offense (41.9, first), rebounding defense (32.8, second), rebounding margin (+9.0, first), blocked shots (6.95, first), assists (17.05, first), steals (9.76, first), turnover margin (+3.10, second), assist/turnover ratio (1.11, first), offensive rebounds (14.10, third) defensive rebounds (27.76, second), home attendance (878, first) and total attendance (728, first) per game.

F&M (18-3, 7-2 CC) will continue the season on February 12 at Gettysburg College in a showdown for first place in the Centennial Conference Western Division. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.

The NCAA Regional poll is selected each week by John Dzik (Cabrini), Mark Coleman (Drew), Alfred Johnson (St. Mary's), Dave Martin (College Misericordia), Brad McAlester (Lebanon Valley) and Kevin Small (Ursinus) from January until the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The next poll is scheduled for February 11.

NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (2/11/03 Poll)
Rk. School Region Record Overall Record
1. Catholic 15-1 19-2
2. Ursinus 13-1 15-6
3. Lycoming 12-2 14-7
4. Franklin & Marshall 16-2 18-3
5. Mary Washington 10-2 16-3
6. Scranton 12-4 17-4

Honorable Mention: Alvernia (12-5, 14-7); Johns Hopkins (9-3, 15-5); Neumann (11-4, 13-8); DeSales (16-3, 17-4)