Were there beefs squashed Sunday on the Drexel Basketball Podcast? You'll have to listen to find out!
The Flying Dutchmen again survived some tightrope-walking in the final moments and won another instant CAA classic Monday night, when they salvaged a split of the season series with UNC Wilmington by earning a 73-71 win. The Dutchmen are slated to embark upon their final road trip of the regular season tonight, when they visit Drexel for an ECC game. Here’s a look back at the win over the Seahawks and a look ahead to the Dragons.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Mike Okauru (25 points) outscored Aaron Estrada (23 points) in the latest battle of heavyweight CAA guards, but Okauru missed a driving layup just before time expired as the Dutchmen escaped with a thrilling win. The Dutchmen appeared to be in good shape up 72-65 with 32 seconds left, but Okauru drained a 3-pointer. Darlinstone Dubar missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Jaylen Fornes missed a 3-pointer and Jarrod Simmons missed the front end of a 1-and-1 before Okauru hit another 3-pointer, this one with eight seconds left. Zach Cooks was fouled on the subsequent inbounds and hit just one of two free throws. Okauru took the in-bounds pass, drove the length of the floor and tried to convert the game-tying layup with Simmons’ hand in his face, The ball rolled around just about every inch of the cylinder before spinning out and into the hands of Omar Silverio. That capped a Rolaids special in which there were 21 lead changes and nine ties overall and a second half in which the biggest lead was the Dutchmen’s late seven-point advantage. The newly efficient from beyond the arc Estrada finished with 23 points and went 5-of-9 from 3-point land while also pulling down seven rebounds, tying him with Abayomi Iyiola for the team lead. Dubar had 20 points, three rebounds, two steals and a block while Cooks had 16 points and was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Silverio had seven points and added some terrific defense while pulling down five rebounds and recording a steal. Caleb Burgess had seven assists in just 17 minutes.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. UNC Wilmington, 2/7)
3: Aaron Estrada
2: Darlinstone Dubar
1: Zach Cooks
SEASON STANDINGS
Aaron Estrada 47
Darlinstone Dubar 29
Jalen Ray 24
Zach Cooks 19
Abayomi Iyiola 12
Omar Silverio 8
Kvonn Cramer 4
Caleb Burgess 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! Not a surprise, as 73-71 seems like a pretty routine score. The Dutchmen previously earned a 73-71 win on Nov. 17, 2007, when they edged Manhattan in overtime at the Arena. 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-FOUR GAMES
With Monday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 15-9, which is tied for the 23rd-best record through 24 games in program history. (With 24 games — one more than last season — in the rearview mirror, I suppose it’s time to drop the term “start” for these records) It’s the first time the Dutchmen have opened 15-9 since the 2014-15 season and the seventh time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 24 games.
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 13-11 (win in 24th game marked first win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1976-77: 18-6 (win in 24th game marked fourth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 18-6
2000-01: 20-4 (win in 24th game marked 12th win in program-record 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 17-7 (most recent 17-7 start)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 17-7
2004-05: 17-7
2005-06: 19-5 (most recent 19-5 start)
2006-07: 18-6 (most recent 18-6 start)
2015-16: 16-8 (most recent 16-8 start)
2018-19: 20-4 (most recent 20-4 start)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 18-6
1961-62: 21-3 (most recent 21-3 start)
1962-63: 18-6 (seventh win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 20-4
Some other notable 24-game records:
2017-18: 14-10 (most recent 14-10 start)
2016-17: 11-13 (most recent 11-13 start)
2013-14: 7-17 (most recent 7-17 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 6-18 (most recent 6-18 start)
2011-12: 8-16 (most recent 8-16 start)
2009-10: 12-12 (most recent 12-12 start)
2001-02: 10-14 (most recent 10-14 start, loss in 24th game marked third loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1995-96: 8-16 (win in 24th game snapped Jay Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)
1994-95: 8-16 (Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 6-18 (win in 24th game was final win of regular season, VBK’s last year)
1991-92: 16-8 (win in 24th game was fifth in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1990-91: 13-11 (most recent 13-11 start)
1987-88: 5-19 (only 5-19 start, worst 24-game record in school history)
1986-87: 9-15 (most recent 9-15 start)
1981-82: 11-13 (loss in 24th game was sixth loss of eight-game losing streak)
1978-79: 8-16 (third loss of season-ending five-game losing streak)
1977-78: 8-16 (final win of season)
1974-75: 11-13 (won season finale)
1973-74: 8-16 (won season finale)
1972-73: 8-16 (lost season finale)
1971-72: 11-13 (third loss of season-ending four-game losing streak)
1970-71: 16-8 (win in 24th game was third win of season-ending five-game winning streak)
1968-69: 11-13 (last loss of season)
1967-68: 12-12 (last loss of season)
1962-63: 18-6 (win in 24th game was seventh win of 11-game winning streak)
1960-61: 21-3 (most recent 21-3 start, win in 24th game was final win of season)
1959-60: 23-1 (only 23-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in season finale was 13th straight)
1955-56: 21-3 (first 21-3 start)
Hofstra has never been 24-0, 22-2, 4-20, 3-21, 2-22, 1-23 or 0-24 through 24 games.
Thirteen seasons were completed in fewer than 24 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
1957-58: 15-8
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-FOUR
With Monday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 15-9 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 15-9 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the seventh to post a .500 or better record through 14 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Jack McDonald steered the Dutchmen to an 18-6 start in the first (and only) season of his second stint while Butch van Breda Kolff began 21-3 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 18-6 in 1962-63 and Joe Harrington started 13-11 in his lone season in 1979-80 before Dick Berg began 12-12 in 1980-81. (Frank Reilly’s first team finished 13-6 in 1947-48 and the Dutchmen finished 13-10 in Mike Farrelly’s lone season last year)
TEAMS BARBASOL
Well, that was an appropriately anxious game. The Dutchmen and UNC Wilmington, each of whom have played seven league games decided by six points or fewer or in overtime (tied for the most in the CAA), had stretches of six and nine possessions in the second half in which every basket either tied the game or resulted in a lead change. Along those lines…
CLOSELY CONTESTED
The Dutchmen and UNC Wilmington were never separated by more than eight points Monday, when the Dutchmen led once by eight points and the Seahawks led once by four points. It marked the fifth time this season the Dutchmen played an entire game in which neither team led by more than eight points. The Dutchmen never led by more than four nor trailed by more than seven in a 69-67 loss to Maryland on Nov. 19, never led by more than four nor trailed by more than six in a 63-62 loss to William & Mary on Dec. 29, never led by more than seven nor trailed by more than eight in an 87-80 win over James Madison on Jan. 9 and never led by more than six nor trailed by more than seven in a a 71-68 win over Drexel on Jan. 17.
THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN
Aaron Estrada scored in double figures for the 11th straight game Monday. It’s the longest active streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player and tied for the longest streak of the season for the Dutchmen. Zach Cooks scored in double figures in each of his first 11 games from Nov. 9 through Dec. 12.
NO MORE MR. MIDRANGE?
Aaron Estrada continued to thrive from outside Monday, when he scored 23 points while going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. It was the second straight game in which Estrada hit at least five 3-pointers. Prior to last Saturday, when he hit 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 21-for-40 (52.5 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.
20-SOMETHING TANDEM
Aaron Estrada (23 points) and Darlinstone Dubar (20 points) each scored at least 20 points Monday afternoon. It marked the sixth time this season at last two Hofstra players have scored 20 points in the same game and the first time since Estrada (30 points) and Jalen Ray (23 points) did so against in an 82-77 win over Delaware on Jan. 15. The Dutchmen are 5-1 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.
CAN’T MISS DUBAR
Darlinstone Dubar scored 20 points while going a perfect 6-for-6 from inside the arc Monday. It marked the second time this season Dubar made all his 2-point field goal attempts (minimum six attempts). Dubar was also 6-for-6 on 2-point field goal attempts in scoring 16 points in a 76-73 win over Charleston on Jan. 27.
ZACH COOKS OFF THE BENCH
Zach Cooks scored 16 points off the bench for the second straight game Monday. It marked the 14th time this season a reserve has scored in double figures for the Dutchmen, with Omar Silverio doing it six times and Cooks and Jalen Ray achieving the feat four times each. The 14 double-digit efforts off the bench are the most for the Dutchmen since 2018-19, when a reserve also scored at least 10 points 14 times.
CALEB’S DISHING DIMES
Caleb Burgess had one of the more unique games of this or any other season Monday, when he had seven assists and no points in 17 minutes. Burgess is the first Hofstra player since at least the 2002-03 season (as far back as my full records go at home) to finish with at least seven points while scoring no points. And given the point guards before that were Jason Hernandez and some guy named Speedy Claxton, odds are pretty good Burgess is the first player to do this in at least 25 years.
In addition, per College Basketball Reference, Burgess is the first player this season to finish with at least seven assists and no points while playing 17 minutes or fewer against a Division I foe. Florida Gulf Coast’s Luis Rolon (eight assists in 17 scoreless minutes against Eckerd on Nov 21) and Quinnipiac’s Kevin Marfo (seven assists in 17 scoreless minutes against Western New England) each did it against non-Division I opponents.
UP-AND-DOWN RAY
Jalen Ray’s rollercoaster fifth season took a downward turn Monday, when he was limited to three points in 17 minutes — the fewest minutes he’s played since he was limited to seven minutes while playing injured against Canisius on Dec. 2, 2019. It was the second straight single-digit scoring performance from Ray, who had eight points against James Madison last Saturday. Ray has scored fewer than 10 points in eight of his 22 games this season after being limited to fewer than 10 points 13 times in 56 games over the previous two seasons.
SPREAD OUT DEPTH
We’ve all gotten used to the Dutchmen employing a lean rotation throughout the CAA era, which makes Monday’s distribution of minutes so notable. Eight players — everyone who hit the court for the Dutchmen — played at least 17 minutes. It was the first time eight players recorded at least 17 minutes of playing time for the Dutchmen against a Division I foe since Nov. 16, 2018, when Justin Wright-Foreman (37 minutes), Jalen Ray (28 minutes), Desure Buie (25 minutes), Eli Pemberton (24 minutes), Tareq Coburn (23 minutes), Jacquil Taylor (20 minutes), Dan Dwyer (20 minutes) and Stafford Trueheart (17 minutes) all played at least 17 minutes in an 80-69 loss to Maryland. Now THAT’S quirky!
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 DREXEL
The defending CAA champion Dragons (hi Crain), under sixth-year head coach Zach Spiker, are 11-10 this season and 6-5 in CAA play after beating James Madison, 72-66, on Monday night. That still counts as a league game, right?
I joined the Drexel Basketball Podcast, hosted by Dan along with Nate Hemerly and Eric Resnick, to talk CAA hoops, realignment, baseball, Speedy Gonzales dolls signed by Speedy Claxton (really) and tonight’s game. Check it out here!
The Dutchmen and Dragons had one common foe in non-league play. Hofstra beat Princeton, 81-77, on Dec. 1, three days before the Tigers edged Drexel, 81-79, in overtime. Neat! In the CAA, both teams have swept James Madison and beaten Northeastern. Drexel split with Delaware, whom Hofstra beat, and Towson, which swept the Dutchmen. The Dutchmen split with UNC Wilmington, which beat Drexel. The Dutchmen and Dragons each fell to William & Mary.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 122nd at KenPom.com. The Dragons, who were picked to finish third, are ranked 147th.
According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank sixth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (105.6) and fourth in defensive efficiency (103.0). The Dragons rank fifth in conference-only offensive efficiency (108.3) and fifth in defensive efficiency (103.7).
Senior guard Camren Wynter, a Hempstead native who was named the CAA’s preseason player of the year, leads the Dragons with 15.9 points per game. Graduate student guard Melik Martin, a transfer from Monmouth, is averaging 10.9 points per game while sophomore guard Xavier Bell, who had a career-high 30 points against Hofstra on Jan. 17, is right behind at 10.8 points per game. Graduate student forward James Butler, a preseason all-CAA first-team selection, is averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Amari Williams is averaging 8.7 points per game and ranks second in rebounding with 5.8 rebounds per game.
KenPom.com predicts a 74-72 loss for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 1.5-point underdogs. The Dutchmen are 9-12-1 against the spread this season, including 0-3-1 in their last four games.
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. Again, I implore you to stop looking at me, this is a real thing.
Towson 4-1
HOFSTRA 2-2
Delaware 2-2
Drexel 1-4
ALL-TIME VS. DREXEL
Hofstra is 48-47 against Drexel in a series that began during the 1958-59 season. The win over the Dragons on Jan. 17 was the Dutchmen’s 15th in the last 17 games between the schools and gave them the all-time series lead over their second-most frequent foe for the first time in 30 years! Prior to Jan. 17, Hofstra hadn’t led the series since taking a 17-16 lead following a 78-71 win over Drexel in an ECC game (hi Litos) at the PFC on Jan. 12, 1991.
Aaron Estrada (26 points) and Xavier Bell (30 points) traded symbolic haymakers on Jan. 17 before Estrada’s fallaway jumper with 48 seconds left gave the Dutchmen the lead for good in a 71-68 win at the Arena. Hofstra is looking to sweep the regular season series for the fourth time in five years. The teams split the series last season.
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 98 times.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
James Harden bias! (A thing as of two hours ago)
Thanksgiving beefs bias! (As always, know your Sunny, kids)
The Flyers are worse than the Islanders bias! (Islanders are 3-0 against the Flyers and 14-17-6 against everyone else)
Where did Samme Givens’ hair go bias? (Of all the balding stars Bruiser Flint recruited, Samme was the baldingest)
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