Due to the holiday schedule this week we’re going to change things up a bit and not name a Team of the Week. Most teams only played one game – if any – and the one team that played two – Fordham – managed a home split, which is exactly what we’d expect. Continue reading “Big Apple Buckets Weekly Awards – Dec. 30”
For those of you who believed Central Connecticut (CCSU) was a legitimate contender to win their first NEC championship since 2007, Mike Anthony’s tweet late on Sunday afternoon threw some cold water on the Blue Devils’ chances:
Central Connecticut forward Matt Hunter out for season (and career over because he’s a senior). Academically ineligible.
— Mike Anthony (@ManthonyCourant) December 29, 2013
The news was broken by Anthony, the Hartford Courant beat reporter for CCSU, after the Blue Devils escaped a monster upset by Albertus Magnus, a Division III program residing in New Haven, CT. The narrow victory was of little significance in the grand scheme of the season, but it was Anthony’s scoop afterwards that will be most damning toward CCSU’s NEC title chances as they head into league play next month.
Matt Hunter, a JUCO transfer from Odessa Junior College who was coveted by several Division I programs, joined the Blue Devils for the 2012-13 season, eventually earning an all-conference third team selection. In his breakout junior season, Hunter’s ability to stuff the stat season on both ends of the floor and remain durable was an asset for Howie Dickenman. The highlight of Hunter’s season came somewhat early in his Division I career, when he lit up Indiana at Assembly Hall for 40 points after making 13 of 25 shots. Later on that season, Hunter turned in his finest performance, at least from an efficiency rating standpoint, at home versus St. Francis (PA). In the double OT victory, he registered 23 points (on 11 shots), seven rebounds, nine assists and two steals.
During his final year of eligibility, however, Hunter’s production on the offensive end had regressed, albeit slightly:
2012-13 season: 91.3 ORtg, 39.5% FG%, 7.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.77 A/TO, 37.2 mpg
2013-14 season: 84.1 ORtg, 42.4% FG%, 6.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.50 A/TO, 28.9 mpg
CCSU has the depth to replace Hunter’s minutes for the remainder of the season, which was a luxury Dickenman didn’t enjoy in an injury ridden 2012-13 season. Even though Hunter wasn’t terribly efficient shooting the basketball (career 44.2% effective field goal percentage), his versatility, infinite energy to reek havoc, especially defensively, and prowess on the glass will be nearly impossible for Dickenman to replace, though. His 3.5% steal rate and 4.6% block rate this season was nationally ranked, according to KenPom. Hunter also led the team in rebounding for the last two seasons.
Hunter’s scoring had been down compared to last season (15.7 ppg to 9.3 ppg), perhaps due to the emergence of forward Faronte Drakeford down low. The junior transfer is second on the team in scoring with 12.4 ppg.
Hunter’s absence places even more pressure on CCSU’s upperclassmen, led by, of course, Kyle Vinales. CCSU has struggled mightly to defend (107.1 points allowed per 100 possessions) and rebound the basketball (average rebounding margin of -5 per game). Those two facets of the game just got that much more difficult without their tireless swingman, who will forfeit his final semester of eligibility due to some unforeseen academic issues.
Dickenman will surely look to lean more on senior Terrell Allen and JUCO transfer forward Juwan Newman. Both have been underwhelming – neither was averaging more than five points and 15 minutes per game in CCSU’s first 12 contests.
As far as CCSU’s title chances are concerned, this latest news likely places them inside the bottom half of the conference, among the likes of LIU Brooklyn, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (PA), and Fairleigh Dickinson. Given their poor play with a record of 3-8 versus Division I competition, it’s difficult to consider them as a serious contender at the moment, especially without Hunter in uniform.
You can follow Ryan on Twitter @pioneer_pride
St. Francis Brooklyn is now 8-5 overall after defeating NJIT at home on Monday. The Terriers once again used their suffocating defense to wring the life out an opponent and earn another victory. Continue reading “St. Francis Brooklyn 77, NJIT 65”
When you have only eight healthy scholarship players things can go sideways fast. That’s exactly what happened for LIU Brooklyn in the first half against Temple at the Barclays Center on Saturday. The Blackbirds trailed by 16 at the break and allowed 63 points in the second half in a blowout loss. Continue reading “Temple 101, LIU Brooklyn 65”
Greg Herenda took a seat on the bench, leaned back in his chair, and put both his hands atop his shiny, bald head. The normally loud and boisterous Farleigh Dickinson head coach had seemingly all but given up. Continue reading “Columbia 82, FDU 59”
Apparently there’s a flair for the dramatic in Brooklyn these days. Continue reading “St. Francis Brooklyn 65, Lafayette 62”
Gerrell Martin stood, lurking, several feet behind the 3-point line begging Jason Brickman for the basketball. Continue reading “LIU Brooklyn 82, Lamar 79”
Four players scored in double figures as the Hofstra Pride defeated the CCSU Blue Devils 72-67 at the Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead, NY. Senior forward Zeke Upshaw led the Pride with 22 points. Continue reading “Hofstra 72, CCSU 67”
Constant composure and a intense tenacity on defense helped the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers rebound with a convincing 67-51 victory over Canisius on Saturday evening at the Pope Athletic Center. Continue reading “St. Francis Brooklyn 67, Canisius 51”
It’s finals time for many college students, yet the NEC still had four programs in action on the second Saturday of December. All four contests were considered winnable games for NEC, so let’s sift through to see which teams pulled through. Continue reading “NEC Recap – December 14th”
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