I'll Be Quirky: Delaware

Random Texas Rangers reference!

The leftovers from Rosemont were way too long to tack this on to the end, so here is a standalone I’ll Be Quirky looking back on the non-conference season and looking ahead to Delaware. Is this a one-time-only thing? I don’t know! Let’s see how the next couple days go. Anyway, without further ado…

WINNING THE NON-CONFERENCE SEASON

The seven-game winning streak to end the non-conference season not only ensured the Dutchmen would enter #CAAHoops play with a winning record, it also gave the Dutchmen their second-best non-conference mark of the CAA era. Only the 2004-05 team finished with a higher winning percentage before heading into the bulk of the CAA schedule. In addition, the 10 non-conference wins are the most of the CAA era for the Dutchmen.

This is the fifth straight season the Dutchmen have finished non-conference play with a winning record and the 12th time they have done so in 18 seasons since joining the CAA in 2001-02. CAA games that were played in the middle of the non-conference schedule were not counted but are listed separately. Also, these figures do not include any “Bracket Buster” games scheduled in the middle of the season.

2004-05: 8-1 (.889) 1-0 CAA

2018-19: 10-3 (.769)

2005-06: 6-2 (.750) 2-0 CAA

2008-09: 8-3 (.727) 1-0 CAA

2014-15: 9-4 (.692)

2015-16: 8-4 (.667)

2006-07: 7-4 (.636) 1-0 CAA

2016-17: 8-5 (.615)

2017-18: 7-5 (.583)

2009-10: 7-5 (.583) 1-0 CAA

2010-11: 6-5 (.545) 1-0 CAA

In addition, Joe Mihalich completes the non-conference schedule with a winning record for the 11th time in 21 seasons as a head coach. The five straight winning records in non-conference play is a personal best for Mihalich, who led Niagara to a winning record in non-conference play in three consecutive seasons from 2007-08 through 2009-10.

OVER THE AIR

Hofstra will carry live audio and video of today’s game and offer live stats here.

HOFSTRA AND THE CAA

This is Hofstra’s 18th season in the CAA. Remarkably, for all our griping and moaning, the 18-year tenure in the CAA leaves Hofstra just one or two seasons shy of tying the length of its membership in the ECC. (Hofstra was still considered a member of the ECC in 1992-93, along with Central Connecticut State, though the two teams played independent schedules) In between the Dutchmen spent seven years in the North Atlantic Conference/America East.

THE DUTCHMEN IN CAA OPENERS

The Dutchmen are 9-8 in the first game of league play since joining the CAA in 2001-02. They are 3-2 in CAA openers under Joe Mihalich following a 90-87 loss to William & Mary last season.

The Dutchmen are playing Delaware in the CAA opener for the fourth time in six years and the sixth time overall. Hofstra is 3-2 against the Blue Hens in CAA openers.

SCOUTING DELAWARE

The Blue Hens, under third-year head coach Martin Ingelsby, are 8-5 this season, though they ended the non-conference portion of the schedule with two straight losses. Delaware last played Dec. 19, when it suffered a 73-71 loss to Delaware State — ranked 353rd and last in the nation at KenPom.com. 

The Dutchmen and Blue Hens had two common foes during non-league play. Both teams lost to Maryland while the Dutchmen beat SUNY-Stony Brook Dec. 19, three days after SUNY-Stony Brook beat Delaware 

The Dutchmen, who were picked third in the CAA preseason poll, were ranked 105th at KenPom.com as of early this morning. The Blue Hens, who were picked seventh, were ranked 236th at KenPom.com as of early this morning.

According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank first in the CAA in offensive efficiency (111.2) and third in defensive efficiency (104.6). The Blue Hens rank fifth in the CAA in offensive efficiency (105.1) and ninth in defensive efficiency (111.4).

Eric Carter, who was one of two Blue Hens to be receive honorable mention on the all-CAA preseason team, leads Delaware with 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Freshman Ithiel Horton is averaging 13.7 points per game while sophomore Kevin Anderson is averaging 12.1 points per game. The Blue Hens’ other honorable mention selection, Ryan Allen, missed the first 11 games due to injury and has scored 25 points in the last two games. 

KenPom.com predicts an 80-68 win by Hofstra. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 12-point favorites as of early this morning. Hofstra is 10-2 against the spread this season.

ALL-TIME VS. DELAWARE

Hofstra is 56-32 against Delaware in a series that began during the 1954-55 season.  Delaware is Hofstra’s most common foe. The two schools were rivals in the East Coast Conference and the North Atlantic Conference/America East before heading to the CAA, along with Drexel and Towson, for the 2001-02 season.

The Dutchmen have swept the regular season series from the Blue Hens in each of the last four years, though Delaware ended Hofstra’s 2016-17 season with a win in the opening round of the CAA Tournament. Prior to the Dutchmen’s current regular season streak, the Blue Hens swept the season series three straight years and won eight games in a row overall between the teams from 2011-12 through 2013-14. And THAT, in turn, was preceded by the Dutchmen sweeping the season series three straight times from 2008-09 through 2010-11.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Kevin Mench bias! (The big-headed former big leaguer played at Delaware)

Cal Ripken Jr. bias! (Baseball’s iron man received an honorary degree from Delaware in 2008)

Why do we have to pay a toll to get into your small state bias? (Self-explanatory for anyone who has ever driven to Delaware)

Coach K coaching tree bias! (Three of the Blue Hens’ last four coaches are all from the world’s most pious coaching tree)