Diplomats Place Third in January 21 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Basketball Rankings

by Sports Information
1/21/03

LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College men’s basketball team is ranked third in the January 21 NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Poll.

Ranked #19 in the January 21 D3Hoops.com national poll, Franklin & Marshall is one of three Centennial Conference teams in the NCAA poll as Hopkins (4th) and Ursinus (5th) trail the Diplomats.

The ranking marks a one spot slip for F&M which was ranked second last week. This week, Catholic University moved up to second while DeSales University remained first in the poll.

In region, the Diplomats are tied with DeSales for the most wins with 11, including a 2-1 record against regionally ranked teams in the Mid-Atlantic with victories over Goucher (82-49), Alvernia (101-61) and an 83-82 loss to Ursinus. DeSales is 1-0 against ranked teams in the Mid-Atlantic with a win 63-62 over Wilkes University at home.

Overall, DeSales is 1-1 against ranked teams as the Bulldogs fell 91-69 at Christopher Newport on November 22.

On the year, the Diplomats have been led by the play of senior forward/guard Asaf Ganot (Sr., Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) who was named to the Centennial Conference Honor Roll on January 20.

In a 2-1 week for F&M, Ganot averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.3 blocks and 2.3 steals.

Versus Ursinus, he had 14 points, three assists and five blocks to lead the Diplomats' offense. Against Gettysburg in a 63-52 win, he added 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks as the Diplomats improved to 13-2, 3-1 in the Centennial Conference to remain in first place in the Western Division.

For his career, Ganot now has 388 points, 358 rebounds, 163 assists, 94 blocks and 123 steals in 81 games.

On the season, Ganot ranks among the Centennial Conference leaders in rebounding (8.5, sixth), assists (4.07, fifth), steals (1.53, 10th), blocked shots (1.73, third), assist/turnover ratio (3.21, first), offensive rebounds (3.07, sixth) and defensive rebounds (5.47, fifth).

Off the bench, guard Brandon Smith (Fr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) and forward Bob Lynch (So., Richboro, PA/Council Rock) have been offensive sparks for the Diplomats as the pair are averaging 9.2 and 9.8 points per game to rank fifth and third on the team, respectively.

At center, Steve Juskin (Jr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) has been a presence for F&M ranking among the Centennial Conference leaders in scoring (15.6, eighth), rebounding (7.0, ninth), offensive rebounds (2.07, 14th), defensive rebounds (4.93, ninth) and blocked shots (3.33, first).

For his career, Juskin now has 809 points, 425 rebounds, 106 assists, 48 steals and a school record 158 blocked shots, 55 more than runner-up and two-time All-America selection Chris Finch '92 (103).

As a team the Diplomats rank among the CC's best in scoring offense (87.3, first), scoring defense (65.0, first), scoring margin (+22.3, first), free throw percentage (.705, fourth), field goal percentage (.498, first), field goal percentage defense (.401, first), three-point field goal percentage (.411, first), three-point field goal percentage defense (.305, first), rebounding offense (42.7, first), rebounding defense (33.6, second), rebounding margin (+9.1, first), blocked shots (7.13, first), assists (17.80, first), steals (9.73, first), turnover margin (+4.07, first), assist/turnover ratio (1.22, first), offensive rebounds (14.40, second), defensive rebounds (28.27, second) and three point field goals made (7.07) per game.

The Diplomats (13-2, 3-1 Centennial Conference) will continue the 100th season of intercollegiate men's basketball at Franklin & Marshall on January 22 at Lincoln University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Lincoln, Pennsylvania.

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 28.

NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (1/21/03 Poll)
Rk. School Region Record Overall Record
1. DeSales 11-0 (12-1)
2. Catholic 9-1 (13-2)
3. Franklin & Marshall 11-1 (13-2)
4. Johns Hopkins 5-1 (11-3)
5. Ursinus 7-1 (9-5)
6. Mary Washington 6-1 (12-2)

Honorable Mention: Alvernia (8-2, 10-3); Goucher (6-2, 9-5); Lycoming (7-1, 9-5); Wilkes (7-2; 10-2)