If the Simpsons are going to a game in Delaware, they really should bring Grandpa to help lower the median age of the fan at the BOB.
Put that one in a bottle and save it for Washington, D.C. The Flying Dutchmen posted perhaps their most impressive win of the CAA season Thursday night, when Aaron Estrada went into Jenkins/JWF mode yet again in the second half of an 83-73 win over Drexel. The Dutchmen will look to close out the ECC season (hi Litos) in winning style this evening, when they are slated to visit Delaware. Here’s a look back at the win over the Dragons and a look ahead to the Blue Hens.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Aaron Estrada continued building his case for CAA Player of the Year by scoring 32 points, including 17 during a sensational second half, as the Dutchmen slowly pulled away from Drexel. There were two ties and 14 lead changes in a first half — including eight in a span of as many baskets over a span lasting more than five minutes and ending with 5:16 left — that ended, appropriately enough, with the teams tied 36-36. The Dutchmen took the lead for good on Estrada’s jumper 56 seconds into the second half and led by at least two possessions for the final 17:30 and by at least eight points for the final 11:32. Estrada was 7-of-8 shooting with three assists in the second half. He also finished the game with a team-high six assists as well as six rebounds, third-highest on the Dutchmen. Jalen Ray, playing through injury in the second half, snapped out of a slump by scoring 20 points and going 6-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point land. Abayomi Iyiola posted a double-double, finishing with exactly 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Jarrod Simmons spelled him with six points and eight rebounds.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Drexel, 2/10)
3: Aaron Estrada
2: Jalen Ray
1: Abayomi Iyiola
SEASON STANDINGS
Aaron Estrada 50
Darlinstone Dubar 29
Jalen Ray 26
Zach Cooks 19
Abayomi Iyiola 13
Omar Silverio 8
Kvonn Cramer 4
Caleb Burgess 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! But it’s been more than 35 years since the Dutchmen’s previous 83-73 win, which was recorded over Colgate on Dec. 5, 1986 at the Hofstra Classic. I was not there, as I was 13 years old and obsessed with baseball cards and growing out my mullet.
The Dutchmen have nine unicorn score victories this season after recording no unicorn score victories last season, 13 unicorn score victories in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn score victories in 2018-19. 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 TWENTY-FIVE GAMES
With Thursday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 16-9, which is tied for the 21st-best record through 25 games in program history. It’s the first time the Dutchmen have opened 16-9 since the 2014-15 season and the fifth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 25 games.
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 14-11 (win in 25th game marked second win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1976-77: 19-6 (win in 25th game marked fifth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 19-6
2000-01: 21-4 (win in 25th game marked 13th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 18-7 (most recent 18-7 start)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 18-7
2004-05: 18-7
2005-06: 20-5 (most recent 20-5 start)
2006-07: 19-6 (most recent 19-6 start)
2015-16: 17-8 (most recent 17-8 start)
2018-19: 21-4 (most recent 21-4 start)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 19-6
1961-62: 22-3 (best 25-game record in school history)
1962-63: 19-6 (eighth win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 20-5
Some other notable 25-game records:
2017-18: 15-10 (most recent 15-10 start)
2016-17: 12-13 (most recent 12-13 start)
2013-14: 8-17 (most recent 8-17 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 6-19 (most recent 6-19 start, tied for worst 25-game record in school history)
2009-10: 12-13 (under .500 for the last time)
2007-08: 9-16 (most recent 9-16 start)
2001-02: 10-15 (only 10-15 start, loss in 25th game marked fourth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1996-97: 11-14 (most recent 11-14 start)
1994-95: 8-17 (Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 6-19 (loss to ECC foe Chicago State started two-game losing streak heading into ECC Tournament, VBK’s last year)
1992-93: 8-17 (win over ECC foe Central Connecticut in 25th game gave Hofstra a sweep of the seasons series and the “ECC title”)
1991-92: 17-8 (win in 25th game was sixth in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1990-91: 13-12 (most recent 13-12 start)
1987-88: 6-19 (final win of the season and of Dick Berg’s tenure)
1985-86: 14-11 (most recent 14-11 start)
1982-83: 18-7 (final win of season)
1981-82: 11-14 (loss in 25th game was final loss of eight-game losing streak)
1978-79: 8-17 (third loss of season-ending five-game losing streak)
1971-72: 11-14 (lost season finale and Paul Lynner’s final game as coach)
1970-71: 17-8 (win in 25th game was fourth win of season-ending five-game winning streak)
1969-70: 12-13 (under .500 for the last time)
1968-69: 12-13 (won season finale)
1967-68: 13-12 (won season finale)
1966-67: 12-13 (won season finale)
1960-61: 21-4 (lost season finale)
1956-57: 11-14 (final win of season)
1955-56: 21-4 (final win of season)
1952-53: 20-5 (final win of season)
1950-51: 15-10 (third win of six-game winning streak)
Hofstra has never been 25-0, 24-1, 23-2, 7-18, 5-20, 4-21, 3-22, 2-23, 1-24 or 0-25 through 25 games.
Eighteen seasons were completed in fewer than 25 games:
1936-37 (10-7)
1937-38 (10-4)
1938-39 (10-8)
1939-40 (12-9)
1940-41 (13-7)
1941-42 (15-6)
1942-43 (15-6)
1943-44 (7-12)
1944-45 (8-13)
1945-46 (12-7)
1947-48 (13-6)
1953-54 (15-9)
1957-58 (15-8)
1959-60 (23-1)
1972-73 (8-16)
1973-74 (8-16)
1974-75 (11-13)
2020-21 (13-10)
Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1949-50, 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.
NUMBER TEN THROUGH TWENTY-FIVE
With Thursday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 16-9 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 16-9 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the fifth to post a .500 or better record through 25 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Butch van Breda Kolff began 21-4 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 18-6 in 1962-63 and Joe Harrington started 13-12 in his lone season in 1979-80. The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 25 games for six coaches, with Jack McDonald posting an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly leading the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48 and Mike Farrelly directing the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.
TIGHT AT THE HALF
The tie score at the half marked the third straight game in which the Dutchmen headed into the locker room separated by a point or fewer. The Dutchmen held 31-30 leads in each of their previous two games against James Madison on Feb. 5 and UNC Wilmington on Monday. It’s the first time the Dutchmen played three straight games in which they were within a possession either way since Jan. 18-25, 2020, when they led Charleston 41-39, trailed Delaware 38-37 and led Drexel 33-32.
In addition, the Dutchmen and Drexel were also tied — at 31-31 — at halftime of their game at the Arena on Jan. 17. It marks the first time in at least the last 14 seasons that the Dutchmen and an opponent have been tied at the half of both their regular season meetings.
ESTRADA KEEPS TURNING THIRTY-SOMETHING
Aaron Estrada scored a game-high 32 points Thursday. It was the fourth 30-point effort of the season for Estrada, whose 30-point games have all come in the last nine games. That’s the most 30-point games in a season for a Hofstra player since Justin Wright-Foreman had 12 30-point efforts in 2018-19 as well as the most 30-point games in a nine-game span since Wright-Foreman collected scored at least 30 points four times in his final nine games.
DELICIOUS DOZEN
Aaron Estrada scored in double figures for the 12th straight game Thursday. It’s the longest streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player this season — snapping a tie with Zach Cooks, who scored in double figures in each of his first 11 games from Nov. 9 through Dec. 12 — and the longest by a Dutchman since Eli Pemberton ended his career by scoring in double figures in the final 14 games of the 2019-20 season.
NO MORE MR. MIDRANGE?
Aaron Estrada continued to thrive from outside Monday, when he scored 32 points while going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. It was the third straight game in which Estrada hit at least four 3-pointers. Prior to Feb. 5, when he hit a career-high six 3-pointers against James Madison, Estrada hit as many as four 3-pointers just twice in his first 59 career games with Saint Peter’s, Oregon and Hofstra. Estrada is 25-for-46 (54.3 percent) from 3-point land in his last six games after going 23-of-94 (24.5 percent) from beyond the arc in his first 18 games of the season.
AARON BUCKETS
A great stat from Hofstra in-game host and occasional play-by-play man Dan Savarino: Aaron Estrada has scored more points in CAA play alone — 261 points in 12 league games — than he did in his entire CAREER entering this season (255 points at Saint Peter’s and Oregon). In addition, he has at least 20 points in 10 CAA games and in 13 games overall after posting just one 20-point game at Saint Peter’s and Oregon. He’s good. Just ask The Wolf.
THE 30/5/5/ CLUB
Aaron Estrada finished with 30 points, six rebounds and six assists Thursday night. It marked the second time this season he’s had at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. Estrada had 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists in a 76-73 win over Charleston on Jan. 27. He’s the first Hofstra player with at least two 30/5/5 games in a season since Justin Wright-Foreman had two such games during the 2018-19 campaign.
20-SOMETHING TANDEM
Aaron Estrada (32 points) and Jalen Ray (20 points) each scored at least 20 points Thursday night. It marked the second straight game in which at least two Hofstra players scored at least 20 points — Estrada (23 points) and Darlinstone Dubar (20 points) did it Monday against UNC Wilmington — and the seventh time this season. The Dutchmen are 6-1 this season when at least two players score 20 points, with the only loss being the 63-62 stunner at the hands of William & Mary on Dec. 29.
RAY REVVING UP
Jalen Ray snapped out of a slump in a big way Thursday night, when he scored 20 points while going 6-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point land. The 20 points were nine more than Ray scored in his previous two games combined and his first 20-point game since a 23-point effort against Delaware on Jan. 15. In addition, the one missed field goal attempt marked the first time since Ray missed just one shot since Jan. 19, 2019, when scored 14 points while going 5-of-6 from the field, including 4-of-5 from 3-point land, in an 86-72 win over Charleston.
RAY BEGINNING TO MOVE ON UP?
With his 20 points Thursday, Jalen Ray moved within shouting distance of Norman Richardson for 11th place on the all-time Hofstra scoring list. Ray has 1,646 points, 32 shy of surpassing Richardson. Ray has been in 11th place on the all-time list since Dec. 12, which capped a stretch dating back to Dec. 22, 2020 in which he gained at least half a spot on the all-time list 21 times in 26 games.
(EXACTLY) 10/10 WINS
Abayomi Iyiola finished with an exact double-double Thursday, when he had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Iyiola is the first Hofstra player with exactly 10 points and 10 rebounds since Kvonn Cramer did so in an 81-78 overtime loss to Northeastern on Jan. 7, 2021.
OVER THE AIR
If today’s game is played, it will be carried live on FloHoops.com (subscription required). Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING DELAWARE
The Blue Hens, under sixth-year head coach Martin Inglesby, are 16-8 this season and 7-4 in the CAA after beating Northeastern, 74-61, on Thursday night.
The Dutchmen and Blue Hens had one common foe in non-league play. Hofstra fell to Iona, 82-74, on Nov. 16 while Delaware lost to the Gaels, 83-72, at UBS Arena on Dec. 21. In CAA play, both teams have beaten Charleston while the Dutchmen have swept James Madison, whom Delaware beat, and beaten Northeastern, whom Delaware swept. The Dutchmen swept Drexel, which split with Delaware, and split with UNC Wilmington, which beat the Blue Hens. The Dutchmen were swept by Towson, which beat Delaware, and fell to William & Mary, whom Delaware defeated.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 121st at KenPom.com. The Blue Hens, who were picked to finish first, are ranked 146th.
According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank sixth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (106.5) and fourth in defensive efficiency (102.9). The Blue Hens rank fifth in conference-only offensive efficiency (111.1) and seventh in defensive efficiency (106.9). Today marks the third time in four games the Dutchmen have opposed the team leading the CAA in league-only conference efficiency.
The Blue Hens, who lost several undergraduate stars to the transfer portal or professional ball early in Inglesby’s tenure, feature four returning starters among their five double-figure scorers. Graduate student forward Dylan Painter, a preseason first-team all-CAA selection, leads the team with 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, but he’s missed the last three games with an injury suffered on the slick surface at Towson Jan. 27. Junior guard Jameer Nelson Jr., a George Washington transfer and the lone newcomer in the bunch (and yes indeed the son of former Saint Joseph’s star Jameer Nelson), is averaging 13.2 points per game. Fifth-year senior guard Ryan Allen, a preseason all-CAA first-team selection, is averaging 12.3 points per game. Fifth-year senior guard Kevin Anderson, a preseason all-CAA second-team selection, is averaging 11.7 points per game while sophomore forward Andrew Carr is averaging 10.2 points per game. Nelson and Carr are tied for second in rebounding at 4.9 rebounds per game.
KenPom.com predicts a 76-75 loss for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 1-point underdogs. The Dutchmen are 10-12-1 against the spread this season after snapping a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) on Thursday.
THE ECC RACE
Meh, Litos was right, the ECC never existed. Possibly because this year marks the first full season since 2016-17 in which the Dutchmen will not win the only conference race that matters in America. Towson’s sweep of the Dutchmen ensured Hofstra could do no better than tie for first with the Tigers and thus lose the tiebreaker. Bummer. However, a win tonight coupled with a Towson loss to Delaware in the continuation of their Jan. 27 game on Feb. 28 would at least create the aforementioned tie, which I’d take. I implore you to stop looking at me, this is a real thing.
Towson 4-1
HOFSTRA 3-2
Delaware 2-2
Drexel 1-5
ALL-TIME VS. DELAWARE
Hofstra is 64-34 against Delaware in a series that began during the 1954-55 season. The Dutchmen won the first meeting this season at the Arena on Jan. 15, when Aaron Estrada scored a then-career high with 30 points (pfft, 30 points that’s nothing) to lead a comeback from a nine-point second-half deficit in an 82-77 win. The Dutchmen are looking to sweep the regular season series for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.
The Blue Hens are Hofstra’s most common foe. The Dutchmen and Delaware 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.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Sorta James Harden bias! (The 76ers are the closest NBA team to Delaware)
The Simpsons went to Delaware bias! (In season 12, which was supposed to be the last season, per “Behind The Laughter,” fortunately, that wasn’t the case)
Mike Pegues is Louisville’s interim head coach bias! (If he’s not retained, maybe Speedy can bring him on in a Cobra Kai-esque partnership of former rivals?)
Take it downtown and print it bias! (Lee Elia, author of the greatest rant in baseball history, went to Delaware)
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