Diplomats Rank Second in January 14 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Basketball Poll

by Sports Information
1/15/03

LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College men’s basketball team is ranked second in the January 14 NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Poll.

Ranked #15 in the D3Hoops.com national poll, Franklin & Marshall is one of three Centennial Conference teams in the NCAA poll as Hopkins (5th) and Ursinus (honorable mention) trail the Diplomats.

One of the most successful intercollegiate basketball programs in Division III history with a 1,085-776 record, Franklin & Marshall is off to an 12-1 start following wins over Widener (93-68), Elizabethtown (81-78 OT), Wesley (72-64), Muhlenberg (93-70), Bethany (108-43), Hobart (89-74), St. Mary's (112-67), Lincoln (91-60), Goucher (82-49), Alvernia (101-61), McDaniel (93-56) and Lebanon Valley (75-70).

In three wins last week, center Steve Juskin (Jr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) averaged 17.6 points per game, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots to earn Centennial Conference Player of the Week and ECAC Honor Roll accolades.

On the season, Juskin ranks among the Centennial Conference leaders in scoring (16.9, 5th), rebounding (7.6, 7th), field goal percentage (.506, 12th), blocked shots (3.75, 1st), offensive rebounds (2.08, 13th) and defensive rebounds (5.50, 6th) per game.

Another key for the Diplomats has been the play of senior forward Asaf Ganot (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly).

Ganot, leads the team in offensive rebounds (39), defensive rebounds (77), total rebounds (116), assists (55) and assist-to-turnover ratio (55-18).

Off the bench, freshman Brandon Smith (Fr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) has been an offensive spark for the Diplomats as the first year guard is averaging 10.2 points per game to rank fourth on the team.

As a team the Diplomats rank among the CC's best in scoring offense (90.8, 1st), scoring defense (64.2, 1st), scoring margin (+26.7, 1st), field goal percentage (.507, 1st), field goal percentage defense (.391, 1st), three-point field goal percentage (.427, 1st), three-point field goal percentage defense (.282, 1st), rebounding offense (44.4, 1st), rebounding defense (33.7, 3rd), rebounding margin (+10.8, 1st), blocked shots (7.42, 1st), assists (19.25, 1st), steals (9.92, 2nd), turnover margin (+4.17, 2nd), assist/turnover ratio (1.29, 1st), offensive rebounds (14.83, 2nd), defensive rebounds (29.58, 2nd) and three-point field goals made (7.50, 2nd)

The Diplomats (12-1, 2-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season of intercollegiate men's basketball at the College at home in the Mayser Center on January 15 versus Ursinus College. Game time is set for 7:30 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 January 21.

NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (1/14/03 Poll)
1. DeSales (10-1)
2. Franklin & Marshall (12-1)
3. Mary Washington (10-1)
4. Catholic (11-2)
5. Johns Hopkins (9-3)
6. Wilkes (7-1)

Honorable Mention: Lycoming (6-5); Moravian (7-3); Scranton (10-2); Ursinus (7-5)