Summer Report

It has been too long, but such is the case of being a college kid...landing a summer job (two actually), finals, setting up internship interviews. But enough of my adventure, this post is about the University of Delaware Men's Basketball Team. A lot has happened since my last post.


A Season of Change
Since I last posted, UD made quite the turnaround. After their surprise 65-60 over George Mason on Feb. 1st, the team proceeded to win their next 9 regular season games, and steamrolled to the #5 seed in the CAA Tournament. After being predicted by some established CAA bloggers (keep up the high praise, Mr. Litos) to reach the semifinal, UD defeated Towson before falling to ODU in perhaps ODU had their best game of the season.

After the CAAT, UD accepted a post-season berth for the first time since joining the CAA, traveling to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to face Butler in the CBI, where they promptly lost. The Hens finished the season at 18-14, their first winning record since 2003-04.

Off-Season
UD graduated just two players, and nobody from the starting five, from last year's team. However, UD recently stated that Khalid Lewis, UD's starting point guard, would not return to the team, instead choosing to A-10 team and local rival La Salle. The hens did add 6-8 Maurice Jeffers, a HS senior from DC, and Tyquane Goard, a 6-7 F from Ohio University after choosing to transfer. Delaware will also have Marvin King-Davis, a redshirt freshman, and Carl Baptiste, a transfer from St. Joes who sat out last year.

Delaware projects to return a bevy of talent, including Devon Saddler, Jarvis Threatt, Jamelle Hagins, Josh Brinkley, and Kyle Anderson.

Questions still remain with the roster, primarily around depth. UD now only has 3 guards, and should Monte Ross keep his 3 guard starting rotation, UD will have to rely heavily on the training staff, as well as Larry Savage, who filled in for the guards as a true freshman last year. Most believe he more closely resembles a 3/4 guy rather than a 2/3 guy, but only time will tell.

Schedule
UD announced their non-conference schedule, including games against Duke and Temple:

Nov. 10	at La Salle	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Nov. 12/13	vs. Fairfield (NIT Season Tip-Off, Charlottesville, Va.)	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Nov. 13/14	vs. Virginia/Penn (NIT Season Tip-Off, Charlottesville, Va.)	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Nov. 19-23	NIT Season Tip-Off (site TBA)	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Nov. 25	at Temple	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Nov. 28	at Lafayette	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Dec. 1	at Duke	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Dec. 4	Radford	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Dec. 8	Delaware State	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Dec. 16	at Villanova	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Dec. 21	Penn	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD
Dec. 31	Rider	TBA	Radio: 94.7 WDSD

Here's to hoping this isn't the last we've heard from UD this summer, whether it be an announcement of new CAA members, an additional transfer or recruit, etc.

The Back Nine (or six, in this case...)

After a wild Wednesday in which we saw Delaware knock off then-first place George Mason, there now exists  4 way tie for first place in the Colonial. Today, as it was Wednesday, has the ability and potential to be just as exciting, with a major rivalry game taking place, and a two-group system between the 1-4 seeds and the 5-7 seeds ready to bust wide open. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some great conference basketball.

UD @ JMU- Believe it or not, I actually predicted Delaware beating GMU Wednesday, granted my pick was made on a wing and a prayer, but hey, if Tebow can have his answered every Sunday, maybe I can get a game in there every now and then on a Wednesday. It can't be that busy mid-week, right? But I digress.

Getting back to basketball, Wednesday's game can be looked at from two angles, and I would buy into either theory at this point. On the one hand, Delaware shot over 45% for the entire game, 50% from 3, all while holding Mason to under 34% shooting, under 20% from 3, and 62% FT shooting. That is impressive CAA basketball. On the other hand, many Mason fans will argue that the loss was inevitable, the way Mason has played on the road recently. Believe what you may, but I'm gonna hold out hope that this is where UD turns it around. With every game on the schedule winnable, they could still get the #5 seed and most likely Towson in the first round.

For JMU, its been a rough go, but this team, presumably fighting for Matt Brady's job, have played competitive  basketball the past two weeks. That being said, this game does offer some intrigue. Delaware is terrible on the road, while JMU is just 4-6 at home. Someone is gonna have to create an opportunity- for Delaware, its a chance to build on their momentum and take their current form into the home stretch. For JMU, its an opportunity to build a positive foundation for the end of the season, improve their chances of acquiring a better seed for the conference tourney, and possibly next year as well.

It was Kyle Anderson's turn last game to have a good shooting night, I'm picking Saddler tonight. Through all the 2-10's that he's been putting up, every now and then he gets a nice 8-12. Too bad when Saddler is taking all the shots, this team struggles.

JMU 68, UD 63

GSU @ Hofstra- Poor GSU. Being situated in Atlanta, every game away from home is at least a 4 hr trip. In February, that will take its toll. Hofstra is playing good basketball; this is the proverbial 'watch our games, not our record' team. Hofstra in a mild upset.

Hofstra 61, GSU 57

ODU @ GMU- THE marquee match-up of the evening, this one would give the winner bragging rights, a nice win under the belt, a bump in the RPI, oh, and the winner maintains first place, while the loser may drop all the way to fourth. Mason at home coming off that display Wednesday, is gonna come out playing like a bat outta hell.

GMU 60, ODU 53

Drexel @ Towson- Nobody is really giving Towson a chance in this game. Given Drexel's recent form, its understandable. But Towson at home may play up to Drexel's level. Nwankwo matching up against Givens is a really good battle in the post. But guard play will dictate this one. Massenat is too good for Towson.

DU 72, Towson 56

W&M @ UNCW- In must wins for both programs, I see the hawks pulling one out, simply because if they wish not to fall back into the cellar zone, they must win this game to keep pace with UD, NU, and GSU.

UNCW 67, Tribe 60

NU @ VCU- For what I will say about NU, see GSU, and replace Atlanta with Boston. For VCU, they are VCU. An intriguing trap game, but alas, VCU doesn't fall for it.

VCU 64, NU 52

Mixing and Matching

As February begins, we leave behind an exciting January, one in which the CAA took frame, as the cream of the crop have begun to separate themselves from the rest of the Conference, the middle of the pack is held together by teams feigning existence between last minute hopes for a deep title run and the 2012-13 season, and the bottom of the Conference shaping up as a dogfight between teams with their sights set on next season. Tonight's games feature teams jockeying for position, teams at opposite ends of the spectrum, and teams looking to rebound. Without further ado, let the games begin!

GMU @ UD- George Mason is 18-5, UD is 9-12. Last times these two played, Mason handed down the biggest whooping Delaware has taken all season. That, however, was at GMU. Delaware is a different team at home. Saddler and Hagins are one of the best combos in the CAA. With Brinkley and Threatt playing well, this team could be dangerous.

That being said, it appears Kyle Anderson and Khalid Lewis have hit the freshman wall. Both must break through if UD is to have any chance of salvaging this season. On another note, how does Monte Ross still have his job. I get that the University has been spending tons of money in recent years, and buying out a head coach isn't the best usage of money in a down economy. But is it worth driving away fans with perennial losing seasons? Delaware needs this, and as a fan, I need this. Will it happen: probably not. But I can dream...lets just say Anderson hits a three with 22 seconds left in the 2nd half.

UD 67, GMU 64

Drexel @ NU- The most exciting match-up tonight, Drexel travels to Boston to play the Huskies in an elimination game for NU. If they lose, odds are they will miss out on a top 4 seed. If they win, they stay alive in the chase for that coveted spot. Drexel is on fire, as it has been documented. But road games in which travel can't necessarily be done on a bus offer intriguing possibilities...

NU 57, Drexel 55

GSU @ UNCW- It looks like Buzz doesn't have the kind of team he needs to be successful again this year. Losing to Towson is tough, plain and simple. How this team responds at home will be interesting against a GSU team that has lost steam since starting out so strongly.

GSU 70, UNCW 66

Towson @ Hofstra- Both teams have one win in CAA play. The winner of this team will be tied for 10th in the CAA. Towson, I congratulate you on the win earlier. Much deserved, and I hope this is the beginning of competitive play from Towson for many years to come. Hofstra, at Hofstra however, has too many perimeter players to lose at home.

Pride 65, Towson 59

VCU @ W&M- In a rematch of what looks like W&M's best performance this season (yes, they have two wins, but their game against VCU @ VCU was the best this team has played), Shaka Smart has to have something planned. Don't expect VCU to let it get that close in this one.

VCU 69, W&M 60

Knowing Your Enemy

I'm cutting straight to the preview today, as witty insight and clever introductions are MY worst enemy.

UD @ Drexel- Drexel is on fire, plain and simple. Riding an eight game winning streak, they are definitely filling the mold of CAA contender. Frantz Massenat may not be the best player in the Colonial, but he certainly appears to be the most valuable player. Bruiser Flint has his men playing to the best of their abilities, and entering February looking like the team to beat.

Delaware is coming off a gut-wrenching loss at NU, in which the Hens had a five point lead with 30 seconds left, then proceeded to drink from the proverbial fountain of misfortune. Khalid Lewis lost his composure, poor in-bounds plays, missing free throws, and a weird scoreboard shot as time expired doomed the Hens. Not to take credit away from NU, as they shot over 50% from behind the arc and played stellar defense in the minutes that mattered the most. For the team to excel today, they must continue to do what they do best- get the ball inside to Josh Brinkley and Jamelle Hagins. If UD can replicate what they were able to accomplish at home today, this could be an interesting game.

In the end though, Drexel is too good to lose this one at home, and in a revenge game, Bruiser will have something good cooked up for this one.

Drexel 64, UD 52

Grinding the Gears

Monday's games showed us how the CAA may play out this season, with the top teams surviving, the middle teams battling between the edges of prominence and mediocraty, and the cellar dwellars refusing to go quietly into the night. Tonights matchups are no different. Two teams at/near the top battle it out for positioning and bragging rights, two teams in the middle of the pack slug it out to determine who may lead the pack, and teams near the bottom of the standings get a chance to build credibility and momentum against the teams at the top.

Prediction: One upset, one team grinds the gear, and finds themselves stuck in second gear, and five teams find themselves playing exciting basketball.

UD @ NU- Delaware is coming of a two game winning streak. Granted, one of those games was against Towson, but everyone gets to play them, so I'll count it. The other win was the double-ot thriller against GSU. However, in both games, there were quite a few moments in which this team did not look like a cohesive unit, whether it be through scoring droughts, foul trouble, or turnovers. UD is the epitome of the college basketball enigma- good looking wins over LaSalle and Drexel, as well as a 3 point loss to Temple in a game which many could argue Delaware was the better team, speak volumes to the potential this team possesses. On the other hand, losses to teams like Radford and Howard are inexcusable for a team looking to break into the top tier of CAA basketball.

NU consistently plays CAA opponents well at home; whether this has to do with the crowd or the travel remains to be seen. I can say that UD's team was stuck at the airport yesterday trying to travel to Boston. Whether this has an effect on today's game remains to be seen, but it is possible this delay could have an effect on the game. NU is coming off two losses in a row; granted, they were against Drexel and ODU on the road. Coming home will be a welcome treat for this weary bunch.

This one could very well come down to the psycological factors. Can UD win a road game against a CAA foe of equal talent? Can NU find the stroke they had against GSU (their last home game)? Will Delaware be able to get a strong shooting night from its perimeter players? And which freshmen show up tonight for their respective teams?

Answer: NU 58, UD 54

VCU @ Towson- Really, little analysis is needed for this game. As I said in a previous post, I do think Towson will win one game this year. Odds are, this is not that game. VCU comes in winners of 5 straight, and, well, Towson comes in having lost 40. Yes, you read that correctly. Fourty straight losses. Make it 41...

VCU 67, Towson 48

ODU @ UNCW- UNCW plays tough at home. ODU has looked vulnerable on the road. This is going to be a matchup of respective stars. Who will shine brighter, Keith Rendleman or Kent Bazemore. The answer: Adam Smith. The freshman has a big game, and coupled with the double-double machine which is Keith Rendleman, UNCW in a thriller.

UNCW 66, ODU 64

GSU @ Drexel- GSU comes in having snapped their losing streak with a home win against JMU. Drexel comes into this game looking like a top-2 team, right alongside George Mason. Interesting note: both teams are undefeated at home...the trend will most likely continue.

Drexel 55, GSU 47

George Mason @ Hofstra- GMU is looking like they haven't missed a beat, currently riding a 4 game winning streak. Hofstra is coming off a road loss to VCU. This Hofstra team looks to finally finding a better rhythm, but I feel as if they are still missing something to bring this team together.

GMU 70, Pride 65

Monday Funday

Lets face it, most associations of Monday aren't positive. Heck, for those who have seen Office Space, that movie essentially epitomizes the normal monday. Today does not register as a normal monday. With all 12 teams in action, there exists the possibility of some real moving and shaking within the conference standings. 8 of the 12 teams are currently 3 games back or less of first place. 4 teams are separated by just one game of first place...this is anyone's conference.

Towson @ UD- Towson is coming off, wait for it, another loss, this time against GMU at George Mason. However, Towson never really went away during the game, losing 72-60. Whether this can be attributed to Towson gaining experience and confidence under first year head coach Pat Skerry or just a poor showing from Mason, it does show that Towson is slowly becoming more comfortable playing basketball.

Delaware, on the other hand, is coming off a double-ot thriller against Georgia St, winning 77-74 behind Freshman Jarvis Threatt's 30 point outburst. It will be interesting to see what Monte does against Towson; play the hot hand in Threatt, Khalid Lewis, the starter for most of the season, or perhaps both. Through the eyes of the Blue Hens, this is a game in which you must win to keep pace.

The Tigers are improving. I will go as far to say that they WILL win a game this season. That being said, I don't see it coming on the road. UD has the ability to go in a variety of directions: big, small, young, etc. So long as the Hens stay grounded, UD comes out of this one with no ruffled feathers.

UD 74, Towson 64

NU @ ODU- ODU is coming off a tough loss to VCU. NU is also coming off a tough loss at the hands of Drexel. The winner keeps pace in the fight for a top-4 seed. The loser ends up in that murky 5-8 seed territory. Interesting note: NU is just 1-3 versus the top teams in the CAA.

ODU 64, NU 57

JMU @ GSU- JMU is coming off a two point loss to a previously-winless-in-conference Hofstra. GSU is coming off two tough losses on the road against NU and UD. Interesting note: GSU is undefeated at home (9-0), while JMU has a better record on the road (4-3) than at home (3-6). *excluding neutral court games

GSU 71, JMU 60

Hofstra @ VCU- VCU is playing in form, currently riding a 4 game winning streak, including a 61-48 victory against ODU. Hofstra notched their first CAA victory over the weekend, defeating JMU 71-69. Interesting note: VCU is 8-1 at home, while Hofstra is just 1-6 on the road.

VCU 78, Hofstra 58

Drexel @ W&M- Drexel enters on a 6 game winning streak. W&M currently rides in on a three game losing streak. Drexel is looking more established every game, and there are no indications that this will change tonight.

Drexel 63, W&M 47

UNCW @ GMU- A certain trap game for GMU, UNCW is entering tonights game coming off a win against W&M, 68-66. GMU played Towson, winning 72-60. If Mason plays with the mojo they had against UD, its a walkover. If not, and the Towson game can be seen as a mixture of overconfidence and sloppy fundamentals, we just might see something special.

UNCW 71, GMU 67

Bruisin' and Bangin'

Busy slate for the CAA tomorrow, as action can be found throughout the conference. With a possibility of wintery mix hanging over our cold heads, ask yourself if it gets any better...come July.

Georgia State @ UD- Both teams are coming off losses. Away losses. In UD's case, it may have been expected- George Mason is a very good team, and played to the best of their abilities. I can imagine Monte Ross just screaming "they are who we thought they were...why don't you just crown them now!?!" But in reality, having seen this team play over the past 2 weeks, its becoming increasingly clear that Monte is losing the respect and command of his players. In the GMU game, he decided to bench Jamelle Hagins, arguably the most consistent player on the team this year, for failing to run back on transition D. It was thought that would motivate Hagins and the rest of the team to elevate their effort levels and overall level of play.

It didn't. In fact, ask Devon Saddler how that went the last time Monte tried this, against UPenn. Go ahead, I'll wait. Until Monte Ross gets control of his team, gets them playing disciplined for 40 minutes, and gets them to start hitting shots (a constant plague on the team during the Ross Dynasty), I am officially picking this team as my downward spiral team.

Luckily for Ga.St, they are playing UD, because based on what I saw in Boston, they just looked flat. Granted, NU(read you loud and clear mikeweisberg) played a heck of a game. But this is definately a game they MUST win in order to remain in the hunt for a top 4 spot. GMU is looking great, Drexel is playing like the team people thought they were in october, VCU is VCU, which leaves one spot for Ga.St, ODU, and NU.

Perimeter and mid-range shots propel the Panthers in this one.

GaSt 58, UD 50

ODU @ VCU- The best game saturday in terms of records and level of play, this one will really be a test for both team's postseason aspirations. Home side pulls one out, but I say that salivating at the thought of these two teams playing on a neutral court.

VCU 70, ODU 64 

NU @ Drexel- Two very good teams, similar CAA records. But for those that have seen Drexel playing as of late, they are playing the way a championship team should be playing, winning home games, and not losing trap games on the road. The trend continues in a rockfight.

Drexel 54, NU 51

UNCW @ W&M- W&M live and die by the three ball- if their hot, their hot; if not, its ugly. UNCW dominates within the post. Two different styles of play, only one team walks out with the W. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but the Tribe just played VCU about as good as VCU has seen in a while...

W&M 68, UNCW 65

Towson @ Mason- Keep the pace going from wednesday.

GMU 76, Towson 50

Hofstra @ JMU- Uhh, well, both teams rank near the bottom in most statistical categories. But for whatever reason, I think Hofstra finds the hoop a tad more than JMU, who are coming off a road win at UNCW.

Pride 62, JMU 58