Cheese: The anti-double teamed half-court buzzer beater.
Five was the magic number Sunday for the Flying Dutchmen, who had five players score in double figures as their winning streak reached five games with an eventful 89-83 win over UNC Wilmington. The victory completed a second straight (hey that’s not divisible by five) series sweep for the Dutchmen, who will hope to stay hot this afternoon when they are scheduled to return home to face longtime rival Drexel. Here’s a look back at the win over the Seahawks and a hopeful look ahead to the Dragons.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Isaac Kante scored a season-high 21 points and KVonn Cramer (17 points, 11 rebounds) had a monstrously energetic double-double as the Dutchmen, once again playing without the injured Tareq Coburn, raced out to a fast start and overcame a pair of one-point deficits before pulling away in the final minutes. The Dutchmen raced out to a 32-15 lead, fell behind after giving up a 26-8 run and scored the final nine points of the first half before fending off the Seahawks in the second half until Mike Okauru’s two free throws put UNC Wilmington ahead 76-75 with 4:59 left. But Kante converted a nostalgic 3-point play on the next trip down the floor to give the Dutchmen the lead for good. The Seahawks got within one point three times but the Dutchmen responded every time via a pair of free throws by Kante, a layup by Kante and a dunk by Cramer. Kante finished 7-of-10 from the field and added five rebounds while Cramer, who posted his third double-double, pulled down a whopping eight offensive rebounds and recorded three blocks. Jalen Ray scored 18 points, Caleb Burgess collected 15 points, six rebounds and five assists and Omar Silverio continued emerging as instant offense off the bench by scoring 10 points.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. UNC Wilmington 1/31)
3: KVonn Cramer
2: Isaac Kante
1: Jalen Ray
SEASON STANDINGS
Jalen Ray 31
Isaac Kante 24
Tareq Coburn 19
Caleb Burgess 13
KVonn Cramer 11
Omar Silverio 3
Kevin Schutte 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
Guys, I seriously think we ran out of unicorn scores. Once again this wasn’t even a unicorn score for the Joe Mihalich. The Dutchmen earned their previous 89-83 win by beating St. Bonaventure on Nov. 28, 2015.
As you no doubt know by now, the Dutchmen have yet to record a unicorn score this season. *still making a begging motion* The Dutchmen recorded 13 unicorn score victories last season, three more than in 2018-19, which was when we first started tracking unicorn scores. I don’t think we’re approaching those numbers this season. The term unicorn score was coined by Mets superfan, historian and blogger Greg Prince to describe a score by which the Mets had never previously won.
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER SEVENTEEN GAMES
With Sunday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 11-6, which is tied for the 25th-best start in school history. Six other teams have opened 11-6, most recently the 2009-10 squad. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 17 games.
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 8-8
1976-77: 12-5
1999-2000: 12-5
2000-01: 13-4 (marked fifth win in program-record 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 12-5
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 11-6
2004-05: 11-6
2005-06: 13-4
2006-07: 12-5
2015-16: 12-5
2018-19: 14-3 (marked 10th win in the 16-game winning streak)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 12-5
1961-62: 15-2 (loss in 17th game snapped 14-game winning streak, most recent 15-2 start)
1962-63: 11-6
1963-64: 14-3
Some other notable 17-game starts:
2017-18: 10-7 (most recent 10-7 start)
2016-17: 9-8 (most recent 9-8 start, last time over .500)
2014-15: 13-4 (most recent 13-4 start)
2013-14: 6-11 (most recent 6-11 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 5-12 (most recent 5-12 start)
2008-09: 10-6 (most recent 10-6 start)
2007-08: 4-13 (most recent 4-13 start)
2003-04: 7-10 (most recent 7-10 start)
1994-95: 3-14 (most recent 3-14 start, Jay Wright’s first team)
1993-94: 2-15 (only 2-15 start, VBK’s last team)
1990-91: 8-9 (most recent 8-9 start, last time under .500)
1987-88: 4-13 (loss in 17th game was seventh loss of program-record 13-game losing streak)
1985-86: 8-9 (last time under .500)
1964-65: 9-8 (last time over .500)
1959-60: 16-1 (most recent 16-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 17th game was sixth win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)
1957-58: 13-4 (loss in 17th game snapped 10-game winning streak)
1939-40: 9-8 (over .500 for good)
1936-37: 10-7 (season complete)
Hofstra has never been 17-0, 1-16 or 0-17 through 16 games.
Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1951-52, 1954-55, 1957-58.
This feature is inspired by Greg Prince, who measures how the current Mets compare, record-wise, to previous teams through the same point in the season.
WE’RE STREAKING (again)
If Sunday’s win extended the Dutchmen’s winning streak to five games, then last Saturday’s win extended the winning streak to four games (math is fun!), which, I did not realize at the time, vaulted the Dutchmen into some pretty rarefied air. This marks the seventh straight season the Dutchmen have posted at least one winning streak of at least four games, a streak currently matched in the CAA by only Northeastern. William & Mary, which had a winning streak of at least four games in each of the last six seasons, could still equal the feat.
The seven-season streak of four-game winning streaks is the longest for Hofstra since a nine-year run of seasons with at least one four-game winning streak from 1957-58 through 1965-66. That is believed to be the second-longest such streak in program history, behind an 11-year streak from 1945-46 through 1955-56. Some records from that period are incomplete, hence the qualifier.
BIG BLOWN LEAD, BUT A WIN
The Dutchmen took an unusual path to victory Sunday, when they frittered away all of a 17-point lead and twice trailed by a point before beating the Seahawks. It marked the first time the Dutchmen have squandered a lead that big, fallen behind and still won the game since way back on Nov. 24, 2006, when they led Marshall by 18 points and fell behind by five before earning a 73-70 win at the Great Alaska Shootout. That would have been one long flight home.
1010101010 WINS
The Dutchmen put five players into double figures for the third time this season and the first time since an 81-78 loss to Northeastern on Jan. 7.
SEVEN UP
The Dutchmen had three players hit at least seven field goals for the second straight game. Isaac Kante (7-for-10), KVonn Cramer (7-for-11) and Jalen Ray (7-for-16) combined to score 56 points one day after Kante (8-for-11), Cramer (7-for-10) and Omar Silverio (7-for-9) combined to score 51 points. It was the first time the Dutchmen have had three players drain at least seven field goals in consecutive games since at least the 2002-03 season, which is as far back as my game-by-game records go at home. Not too bad for a team not even a month removed from scoring 56 points in back-to-back games.
EIGHT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH
KVonn Cramer collected eight offensive rebounds Sunday. Per research by Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov, Cramer is the first Dutchmen with at least eight offensive rebounds since Jacquil Taylor pulled down eight offensive rebounds in the CAA championship game against Northeastern on Mar. 12, 2019. No Hofstra player has had more than eight offensive rebounds in a game since Rokas Gustys had 12 offensive rebounds against Siena on Nov. 25, 2017.
THE KIDS ARE STILL ALL RIGHT
It was another Verve Pipe kind of afternoon (GOOGLE IT CRAIN) for the typically veteran-laden Dutchmen, who had three freshmen combine to play 59 minutes Sunday after four freshmen combined to play 55 minutes in Saturday’s win. On Sunday, starters KVonn Cramer (32 minutes) and Vukasin Masic (22 minutes) played 54 minutes while David Green chipped in five minutes off the bench. The 59 minutes by freshmen were the most for the Dutchmen since Jalen Ray, Stafford Trueheart and Matija Radovic played 59 minutes in a 91-86 win over Drexel on Jan. 13, 2018.
SELECT CLUB FOR CALEB
Sophomore Caleb Burgess continued to thrive at point guard Sunday, when he finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. It was the second time this season Burgess has collected at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. He had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in the 68-67 win over Delaware on Jan. 17. He is the seventh Hofstra player to post multiple 15-5-5 games since the start of the 2010-11 season, which marked the start of the Play Index era at CollegeBasketballReference.com. This is a pretty good list.
Juan’ya Green 16
Justin Wright-Foreman 10
Charles Jenkins 5
Desure Buie 5
Eli Pemberton 3
Deron Powers 2
Caleb Burgess 2
TRIPLE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE FUN
KVonn Cramer recorded his third double-double Sunday, when he finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He is the first Hofstra freshman with three double-doubles since He Who Shall Not Be Named had three double-doubles in seven games before getting booted for You Know What in 2012-13. The most recent Hofstra freshman to collect more than three double-doubles was Halil Kanacevic, who had six in 2009-10.
TRIPLE THE AWARD-WINNING FUN
KVonn Cramer earned his third CAA Rookie of the Week award for the week ending Sunday after he collected 33 points and 20 rebounds in the sweep of UNC Wilmington. Cramer, who also won the award for the weeks ending Dec. 7 and Dec. 28. He is the first Hofstra freshman to win the Rookie of the Week award three times since Eli Pemberton in 2016-17. The most recent Hofstra player to win the Rookie of the Week award more than three times is Jamall Robinson, who earned four awards in 2013-14.
STILL RIDIN’ HIGH UNDER BIDEN
The Flying Dutchmen were one of the few American entities to fare well the previous four years, but things might be getting even better now and isn’t that great? The Dutchmen are 4-0 since President Joe Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20. They won their opener under He Who Shall Not Be Named before losing the second game played under his “reign.”
Remarkably, this marks the fifth time the Dutchmen have welcomed a new President by winning at least four straight games following his inauguration. The Dutchmen also opened 4-0 under Dwight Eisenhower (1953), Richard Nixon (1969) and Jimmy Carter (1977). They’ve got a long way to go to match the opening sprint put together under George W. Bush in 2001, when the Dutchmen won their first 13 games before falling to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.
RAY MOVIN’ ON UP
With his 18 points Sunday, Jalen Ray surged past a trio of Joe Mihalich-era stars — Rokas Gustys, Brian Bernardi and Juan’ya Green — and into 25th place on Hofstra’s all-time scoring list. Next up on the list are a trio of Joe Mihalich-era stars. Ray is 27 points away from moving past Demetrius Dudley and John Mills, who are tied for 23rd place.
22.) Carlos Rivera 1,225
23t.) Demetrius Dudley 1,220
23t.) John Mills 1,220
25.) JALEN RAY 1,194
26t.) Juan’ya Green 1,186
26t.) Brian Bernardi 1,186
28.) Rokas Gustys 1,184
29.) Ted Jackson 1,159
30.) Nathaniel Lester 1,139
31.) Wandy Williams 1,132
32.) Mike Moore 1,128
33.) Richie Swartz 1,107
34.) Ameen Tanksley 1,090
35.) Derrick Flowers 1,069
36.) Darius Burton 1,060
37.) Percy Johnson 1,045
38.) James Shaffer, 1,022
39.) John Irving 1,018
Since joining the 1,000-point club on Dec. 22, Ray has gained at least a half-spot on the all-time scoring list in every game.
Dec. 22: Tied for 38th place
Jan. 2: 38th place
Jan. 3: 37th place
Jan. 7: 36th place
Jan. 9: 35th place
Jan. 15: 34th place
Jan. 17: 33rd place
Jan. 23: 29th place
Jan. 24: Tied for 28th place
Jan. 30: 28th place
Jan. 31: 25th place
OVER THE AIR
Today’s game will be aired on FloHoops.com (subscription required). Hofstra will provide a radio feed and live stats at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING DREXEL
The Dragons, under fifth-year head coach Zach Spiker, are 7-6 this season and 2-4 in CAA play after falling to James Madison, 73-64, in a hastily scheduled game last Sunday. It was the second straight weekend consisting of one hastily scheduled game for Drexel, which beat William & Mary, 79-64, on Jan. 23. Drexel’s last two scheduled series, against Elon and Northeastern, have been postponed due to coronavirus cases within those programs. What a season.
The Dutchmen and Dragons had no common foes in non-league play.
The Dutchmen, who were picked first in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 157th at KenPom.com. The Dragons, who were picked third, are ranked 155th. That’s close!
According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank first in the CAA in offensive efficiency (105.0) and fifth in defensive efficiency (104.5). The Dragons are second in the CAA in offensive efficiency (103.0) and third in defensive efficiency (102.4).
Junior guard Camren Wynter, a native of Hempstead, leads the Dragons with 17.9 points and 5.5 assists per game. Senior forward James Butler is averaging 13.8 ppg and a team-high 9.4 rebounds per game. Senior guard Zach Walton is averaging 11.2 ppg.
KenPom.com predicts a 69-67 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 3 1/2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 8-9 against the spread this season, including 3-7 in CAA play.
THE ECC RACE
This is still a thing for me, even in this year of all years! The Dutchmen have earned at least a share of the mythical ECC title for the last three seasons (though one could argue last year’s tie with Towson was broken because Hofstra won CAA Tournament games against Drexel and Delaware, in fact, that’s exactly what I’m going to argue). Who knows how many ECC games will be played this year — Drexel hasn’t played one yet — but with the Dutchmen already 3-1 against Towson and Delaware, a split this weekend should put them in position to at least share the title again. Stop looking at me like that, I’m telling you this is a real thing.
HOFSTRA 3-1
Delaware 1-1
Drexel 0-0
Towson 0-2
ALL-TIME VS. DREXEL
Hofstra is 46-46 against Drexel in a series that began during the 1958-59 season. This marks the second straight weekend the Dutchmen have played an opponent with whom they are tied in the all-time series. Hofstra entered last weekend 22-22 all-time with UNC Wilmington and ended it 24-22. Maybe that’s a good omen!
The Dutchmen tied the all-time series by winning three games against Drexel last season. Hofstra came back from an eight-point second-half deficit to beat the Dragons, 72-59, at the Arena on Jan. 25 before earning an 81-74 win in Philadelphia on Feb. 20 and a 61-43 win in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament on Mar. 8. The regular season sweep was the fifth for Hofstra over Drexel in the last six years. That’s how you make up ground, kids.
The Dutchmen and Dragons have opposed one another as members of the East Coast Conference, the North Atlantic Conference/America East and the CAA. The only opponent Hofstra has faced more than Drexel is Delaware, whom the Dutchmen have played 95 times.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
You can’t hurt us anymore Frantz Massenat bias! (May not be true)
Hall & Oates bias! (An oldie but goodie from an oldie but goodie)
Charlie likes cheese bias! (Know your Sunny, kids)
Bashir Mason bias! (Classic CAA player)
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