Diplomats Rank Third in February 18th NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Basketball Poll

by Sports Information
2/19/03

LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College men’s basketball team is ranked third in the February 18 NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Poll.

Ranked #16 in the February 18 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 fourth last week. This week, Catholic University remained in first place, followed by Ursinus, F&M, Lycoming, DeSales and Mary Washington.

Last week the Diplomats dominated Gettysburg (68-52) and Haverford (76-66) behind the play of guard Jackiem Wright (Jr., Sicklerville, NJ/Moorestown Friends) who averaged 21.5 points per game as the Diplomats improved to 20-3, 9-2 in Centennial Conference play and clinched a berth in the upcoming Conference playoffs.

Against Haverford, he hit seven-of-12 from the field and five-of-eight from three-point range for 25 points on the heels of a six-for-12, five-of-seven performance for 18 points at Gettysburg to lead the Diplomats and earn the honors as the Centennial Conference Player of the Week.

The honor marks the second time this season Wright has been recognized by the Conference Office as he was named the December 9 Player of the Week for connecting on 13-of-21 shots from the floor for a career high 30 points in a 93-70 rout of Muhlenberg College.

Overall, he ranks among the Centennial Conference leaders in scoring (13.7 points, 11th), free-throw percentage (.909/50-of-55, first), three-point field goal percentage (.441/64-of-145, fourth) and three-point field goals made (2.78, second) per game.

In addition to Wright, the 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 183, Juskin now has a school record 75 blocked shots this season to erase his own record of 59 set last season.

For his career, Juskin has 942 points and 488 rebounds in 77 games.

A defensive presence, Ganot now has 107 blocked shots for the second most in program history. On the year, Ganot has been a one-man statistical machine racking up 185 rebounds, 90 assists, 36 blocks, 42 steals and 195 points.

Overall, his career numbers now stand at 450 points, 415 rebounds, 192 assists and 142 steals in 89 games.

As a team the Diplomats rank among the CC's best in scoring offense (83.2, first), scoring defense (63.7, first), scoring margin (+19.5, first), free throw percentage (.717, third), field goal percentage (.493, first), field goal percentage defense (.400, first), three-point field goal percentage (.396, first), three-point field goals made (6.43, fourth), three-point field goal percentage defense (.308, first), rebounding offense (40.8, second), rebounding defense (32.7, second), rebounding margin (+8.1, second), blocked shots (6.83, first), assists (16.48, second), steals (9.83, first), turnover margin (+3.17, second), assist/turnover ratio (1.07, first), offensive rebounds (13.61, third) defensive rebounds (27.22, second) and home attendance (873, first) per game.

F&M (20-3, 9-2 CC) will continue the season on February 19 at home versus Dickinson College. If the Diplomats win, the Diplomats will clinch the CC Western Division title. Game time is set for 8:00 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 25.

NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (2/16/03 Poll)
Rk. School Region Record Overall Record
1. Catholic 16-1 20-2
2. Ursinus 15-1 17-6
3. Franklin & Marshall 18-2 20-3
4. Lycoming 13-3 15-8
5. DeSales 17-4 18-5
5. Mary Washington 12-3 18-4

Honorable Mention: Johns Hopkins (10-4, 16-6); Neumann (12-5, 14-9); Scranton (13-5, 18-5); Wilkes (14-5, 17-5)