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LANCASTER, PA -- In the aftermath of Wednesday night's practice at Mayser Center, Franklin & Marshall men's basketball coach Glenn Robinson summoned four of his five starters to the sideline. "I need the law firm of Smith, Wright, Lynch & Lynch over here," he said, tongue in cheek and a smile creasing his face. Brandon Smith, Jackiem Wright, Bobby and Danny Lynch aren't all pre-law majors, but they are going to be called upon to state their case as the Centennial Conference coaches' preseason favorite. "We're still working to create our own identity," said 6-foot-7 senior forward Bob Lynch, a Division III Preseason All-America Honorable Mention. "What we did last year was special, but we want to create an identity that sets us apart." Bob's brother, Dan, a 6-6 senior center, agreed. "It's nice to have the rankings," he said, "but we still need to prove ourselves. The preseason rankings mean something, but they're not that important yet because we haven't done anything to prove ourselves." The Diplomats, who went 26-4 last season - 17-1 en route to the Centennial Conference title - and advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight, get an early chance to prove themselves when they host DeSales Saturday night in a 7:30 season opener at Mayser Center. The Bulldogs were ECAC finalists a year ago and are the coaches' pick to win the Freedom Conference. Saturday's game marks the first of two F&M will play against DeSales this season, one reason why Robinson calls the 2004-05 schedule one of the more challenging in program history. "This is about as tough a schedule as you can hope to have," Robinson said. Asked if it was the toughest in his 34 years as Diplomat boss, Robinson thought for a moment. "It might be," he said. "It's a very difficult schedule." F&M's second game of the season is against conference foe McDaniel, beginning a three-game set with Centennial opposition. The Dips also host ECAC champ Lebanon Valley, travel to Catholic University - which went 23-5 last season and will challenge for Capital Athletic Conference honors - and face a grueling, 11-game gauntlet of largely Centennial opposition in January. "That's basically a game every other day," noted Robinson, who called the Cntennial schedule more challenging than ever before. "I see a conference that is tough top-to-bottom," he said. "When you look at the schedule, you can't say 'We should win this one.' Everybody has talent, and the lower(-ranked) teams have improved a lot." Whether or not the Dips have improved is to be determined. Ranked eighth in the country by D3hoops.com and 17th by DIII News, F&M graduated a pair of All-America players in center Steve Juskin (14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds per game, 114 blocks) and guard Duran Searles (14.2), as well as guard and inspirational leader Brandon Jones. Returning are Bob Lynch (team-high 15.7, 7.3), Wright (12.9, 50 steals), Smith (11.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 58 steals), and Dan Lynch (3.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Sophomore guard Logan Outerbridge (4 ppg, 35 steals) will start, and 6-5 sophomore forward Bryan Teschke will see considerable playing time as well. The Dips' depth includes freshman guards Mantas Paulauskas and Derya Yannier, both part of an incoming group of players who look to have an impact this season. "Last year, everything was pretty well set (entering the season) because we had an extremely experienced starting team," Robinson said. "This year, there's so much untested talent. These early games will be like a lab experiment. Little by little, our younger people will gain experience and hopefully show what they can do." With a little help, Smith said, from the F&M veterans. "We're adding a lot of young talent," said Smith a 6-4 junior guard. "So our (senior) leadership is going to help out a lot." Wright, a 6-2 senior guard, expects the Dips' younger players to have an impact as the season progresses. "It's a different team this year," he said, "so we're going to have to figure out who does what. But I think we're going to have a successful season." The Dips' on-the-job training begins Saturday, and will be carried out amid the hunt for another conference title and trip Number 20 to the Big Dance. "Everybody is gunning for us this season," Bob Lynch said. "We just have to go out and prove ourselves." Indeed, and it sounds as if the firm of Smith, Wright, Lynch & Lynch is set to state its case.
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