That's Donna Dixon in Doctor Detroit, not Defiantly Dutch nemesis Daniel Dixon, who was negative-11 years old when Doctor Detroit was released. Who doesn't love alliteration?
As it turns out, taking it is not as much fun as giving it out. Elon got its revenge on the Flying Dutchmen Thursday night, when the Phoenix rose (get it?) from a 33-point rout nine days earlier and returned the favor with an 81-55 win that trust us was not nearly as close as the final score indicated. With their hopes of winning the CAA’s regular season crown or the no. 2 seed fully evaporated, the Dutchmen will look to clinch third place today, when they are slated to host William & Mary, which is coming off its own historic defeat. Here’s a look back at the loss to the Phoenix and a look ahead to the Tribe. Hey! Singular nicknames!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
This won’t be as enjoyable as the previous recap! Recent history looked like it might be repeating itself when Omar Silverio scored five points in a 25-second sequence to give the Dutchmen a 15-14 lead just before the midway point of the first half, but Elon scored the next five points and never trailed again. Silverio sandwiched another five points around a pair of free throws by Andrew Junkin to pull the Dutchmen within 23-22, but Elon finished the half on a 20-9 run and wow did it get worse from there. The Phoenix opened the second half on a 13-0 run as the Dutchmen went the first eight minutes without a point. And it could have been worse: Elon didn’t score for the first 2:49. The Phoenix led by as many as 31 before the Dutchmen ended the game on a 7-2 run. So we've got that going for us! Silverio and Darlinstone Dubar shared the team lead with 10 points, and Dubar didn't get there until sinking a 3-pointer for the Dutchmen’s final points with 57 seconds left. Caleb Burgess had four points and five assists and had a hand in all of the Dutchmen’s first 10 points. Aaron Estrada’s streak of double-digit scoring efforts as he finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Estrada was just 4-of-17 from the field, including 0-for-6 from 3-point land. Jalen Ray (six points on 2-of-8 shooting) and Zach Cooks (three points on 1-of-7 shooting) also struggled. Not going to win a lot of games when Estrada, Ray and Cooks are a combined 7-of-32.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Elon, 2/24)
3: Caleb Burgess
2: Omar Silverio
1: Aaron Estrada
SEASON STANDINGS
Aaron Estrada 59
Darlinstone Dubar 30
Jalen Ray 29
Zach Cooks 21
Omar Silverio 13
Abayomi Iyiola 13
Caleb Burgess 4
Kvonn Cramer 4
Jarrod Simmons 1
The first 3-star honor for Burgess, who was really good when this was a game.
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-NINE GAMES
With Thursday’s loss, the Dutchmen fell to 19-10, which is tied for the 15th-best record through 29 games in program history. Bright side: That’s the same spot the Dutchmen were through 28 games! It’s the third time the Dutchmen have opened 19-10 and the first time since 2010-11. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 29 games.
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 18-11 (win in 29th game came in ECC Tournament championship game, marked sixth win of six-game winning streak and sent the Dutchmen to the NCAAs for the first time as a D-I program)
1976-77: 22-7 (win in 29th game came in ECC Tournament championship game, marked ninth win of nine-game winning streak and sent to the Dutchmen to the NCAs for the second straight season)
1999-2000: 23-6 (win in 29th game came in America East tournament semifinals)
2000-01: 25-4 (win in 29th game came in America East tournament semifinals and marked 17th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, only 25-4 start in school history)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 22-7 (most recent 22-7 start, win in 29th game clinched tie for the CAA regular season title and was eighth win of eight-game winning streak)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 21-8 (win in 29th game came in America East quarterfinals, was final win of season)
2004-05: 21-8 (loss in 29th game came in CAA semifinals)
2005-06: 24-5 (win in 29th game came in the CAA semifinals — THE TONY SKINN GAME — and locked up at least an at-large bid for the Dutchmen, or so we thought THANKS TOC, only 24-5 start in school history)
2006-07: 21-8
2015-16: 21-8 (most recent 21-8 start)
2018-19: 23-6 (most recent 23-6 start, loss in 29th game came in home finale to James Madison, final regular season loss)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 20-7 (season ended with third-round loss in NCAAs)
1961-62: 24-4 (season ended with second-round loss in NCAAs)
1962-63: 23-6 (loss in first round of NCAAs was final loss of season)
1963-64: 23-6 (season ended with first-round loss in NCAAs)
Some other notable 29-game records:
2017-18: 18-11 (most recent 18-11 start)
2016-17: 13-16 (only 13-16 start)
2013-14: 8-21 (most recent 8-21 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 7-22 (only 7-22 start, win in 29th game was final win for Mo Cassara, worst 29-game record in school history)
2011-12: 9-20 (most recent 9-20 start)
2009-10: 16-13 (only 16-13 start, win in 29th game marked fourth win of seven-game winning streak)
2007-08: 12-17 (only 12-17 start, win in 29th game was final win of season)
2003-04: 14-15 (most recent 14-15 start, season ended w/loss to Old Dominion in CAA quarterfinals)
2002-03: 8-21 (season ended w/loss to UNC Wilmington in CAA quarterfinals)
2001-02: 10-19 (only 10-19 start, loss in 29th game ended regular season and marked eighth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1997-98: 18-11 (won regular season finale)
1993-94: 9-20 (ECC champs! Beat Northeastern Illinois in 2 OTs to win ECC title in VBK’s final game)
1991-92: 20-9 (season ended w/loss to Towson State in ECC championship and ended nine-game winning streak, only 20-9 start)
1988-89: 14-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC semifinals)
1985-86: 17-12 (only 17-12 start, win in ECC semifinals was final win of season)
1984-85: 14-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC semifinals)
1951-52: 26-3 (won known season finale, best 29-game record in school history)
1950-51: 18-11 (lost season finale)
Hofstra has never been 29-0, 28-1, 27-2, 15-14, 11-18, 6-23, 5-24, 4-25, 3-26, 2-27, 1-28 or 0-29 through 29 games.
Fifty-one seasons were completed in fewer than 29 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)
1946-47 (18-6)
1947-48 (13-6)
1948-49 (18-8)
1949-50 (17-9)
1952-53 (20-7)
1953-54 (15-9)
1954-55 (19-7)
1955-56 (22-4)
1956-57 (11-15)
1957-58 (15-8)
1958-59 (20-7)
1959-60 (23-1)
1960-61 (21-4)
1961-62 (14-14)
1964-65 (11-14)
1965-66 (16-10)
1966-67 (12-13)
1967-68 (13-12)
1968-69 (12-13)
1969-70 (13-13)
1970-71 (18-8)
1971-72 (11-14)
1972-73 (8-16)
1973-74 (8-16)
1974-75 (11-13)
1977-78 (8-19)
1978-79 (8-19)
1979-80 (14-14)
1980-81 (12-15)
1981-82 (12-16)
1982-83 (18-9)
1983-84 (14-14)
1986-87 (10-18)
1987-88 (6-21)
1989-90 (13-15)
1990-91 (14-14)
1992-93 (9-18)
1994-95 (10-18)
1995-96 (9-18)
1996-97 (12-15)
2020-21 (13-10)
More than half the previous Hofstra seasons were completed by this point.
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-NINE
With Thursday’s loss, Speedy Claxton fell to 19-10 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 19-10 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the third Hofstra coach to post a winning record through 29 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stint). Paul Lynner opened 23-6 in 1962-63. Only three other first-year coaches presided over seasons of at least 29 games, and Butch van Breda Kolff (14-15 in the first season of his second stint in 1988-89), Tom Pecora (10-19 in 2001-02) and Joe Mihalich (8-21 in 2013-14) were all under .500 by this point.
The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 29 games for eight 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 Butch van Breda Kolff going 22-4 in the first season of his first stint in 1955-56. Joe Harrington finished 14-14 in his lone season at the helm in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly directed the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.
PAINFUL PAYBACK
The Dutchmen lost to Elon by 26 points just nine days after beating the Phoenix by 33 points. It’s the first time in CAA history — dating all the way back to 1982-83 — that two teams have split the season series with each team winning once by at least 25 points. It’s also, not surprisingly, the first time in Hofstra history the Dutchmen have split a season series with an opponent in which each team won by at least 25 points. Hey, we acknowledge all sorts of history here, positive and negative.
THEY CAN'T WIN WITH 55
The Dutchmen’s 55 points Thursday night were their fewest since Dec. 7, 2019, when St. Bonaventure cruised to a 73-45 win.
LOPSIDED LEAGUE LOSS
The 26-point margin of defeat Thursday was the largest for the Dutchmen in a CAA game — or otherwise, for that matter — since an 88-61 loss to William & Mary on Jan. 2, 2020.
SOUR SECOND HALF START
The Dutchmen opened the second half by going scoreless for exactly eight minutes — a span in which they went 0-for-10 with two turnovers — before Jarrod Simmons converted a nostalgic 3-point play. If it’s not the longest scoreless drought to open a half in memory, well, it doesn't take long to call the roll. Even that disastrous game against Tulane on Dec. 22, 2012 — in which the Dutchmen were tied at the half the Green Wave before the latter went on a 20-0 run out of the locker room — only “featured” a half-opening scoreless drought of barely four minutes.
SOUR SECOND HALF FINISH
The Dutchmen scored just 24 points in the second half, which tied a season low for a half set Nov. 22 against Richmond, when the Dutchmen scored 24 second-half points in an 81-68 loss. The Dutchmen haven’t scored fewer than 24 points in a half since a 22-point second-half against Northeastern in an 81-78 overtime loss on Jan 7, 2021.
IMPERFECT TEN
Omar Silverio and Darlinstone Dubar shared the team lead with 10 points Thursday. It marked the first time since Jan. 31, 2013 — when David Imes led the way with 10 points in a 61-43 loss to James Madison — that the Dutchmen’s leading scorer had just 10 points. That’s a span of 295 games!
NO LONGER STREAKING
Aaron Estrada’s streak of consecutive double-digit scoring efforts ended at 15 games Thursday, when he finished with nine points. Estrada’s streak was the longest of the season by a Hofstra player and the longest by a Dutchman since Desure Buie scored in double figures in 22 consecutive games from Nov. 21, 2019 through Feb. 13, 2020. The new active leader in consecutive double-digit scoring performances is Darlinstone Dubar, who has scored at least 10 points in four straight games.
HE’S MR. MIDRANGE AGAIN?
Estrada scuffled again from outside Thursday, when he missed all six of his 3-point attempts. It was the most 3-point attempts without a make for Estrada in his career and the most 3-point attempts without a make for a Hofstra player since Omar Silverio went 0-for-7 against Stony Brook on Dec. 8. Estrada is 3-of-19 from 3-point land in his last three games, which followed a four-game stretch in which he was 18-of-30 from beyond the arc.
HIGH CALEB-AR START
Well, it wasn’t ALL bad for the Dutchmen on Thursday. Caleb Burgess had an impressive start by contributing to each of the Dutchmen’s first 10 points via four assists and a jumper. That’s the most consecutive points Burgess has contributed to at the start of a game, exceeding the eight points he had a hand in creating against UNC Wilmington on Jan. 31, 2021, when he had six points and an assist.
OMAR’S BAKER’S DOZEN
Omar Silverio’s two 3-pointers gave him 13 this season against Elon, which is the most 3-pointers a Hofstra player has ever made against an opponent in the regular season. In fact, as far as I can tell, Silverio’s 11 3-pointers last Tuesday are more 3-pointers than any Hofstra player's ever made against an opponent in the regular season. This research isn’t entirely complete — it's possible someone hit six 3-point field goals twice against an opponent — but none of the players with seven or more 3-pointers in a game have more than 10 regular season 3-pointers against an opponent. The late great Zeke Upshaw hit 10 3-pointers against William & Mary during the 2013-14 season while Justin Wright-Foreman had 10 3-pointers against William & Mary during the 2016-17 season and Desure Buie had 10 3-pointers against Elon during the 2019-20 season. Upshaw finished with 14 3-pointers against UNC Wilmington in 2013-14, but that total includes a third game played in the conference tournament.
MR. 300
Jalen Ray hit another milestone Thursday, when he recorded his 300th career 3-pointer by sinking a trey with 9:53 left. Ray, who added one more 3-pointer and now has (carries the one, drops the remainder) 301 career 3-pointers, is the second player in school history to hit at least 300 3-pointers. Antoine Agudio established perhaps the modern version of Bill Thieben's rebounding record by collecting 357 3-pointers in just four seasons from 2004 through 2008.
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.
SENIOR DAY
While the Dutchmen officially have one more home game scheduled — a makeup Monday night against Charleston — a terrific tradition thankfully returns today, when Hofstra will honor its four seniors in a pregame ceremony. Graduate students Zach Cooks, Jalen Ray and Jarrod Simmons will all be recognized along with Omar Silverio, who is an academic senior but could return with the extra year of eligibility granted to those who played during the pandemic season. Of course, there was no Senior Day last season, when the Dutchmen’s final two home games against Charleston were postponed due to, well, you know.
While Senior Day is a bittersweet afternoon for players and coaches, the game itself has traditionally been a happy occasion for the Flying Dutchmen. The Dutchmen are 22-5 in home finales in the DD Era with losses absorbed in 1994 (Army won 87-76), 2001 (Towson won 61-60), 2013 (Delaware won 57-56), 2017 (UNC Wilmington won 83-76) and 2019 (James Madison won 104-99 in overtime).
Joe Mihalich went 18-4 in regular season home finales as a head coach. His 10-game winning streak in home finales was snapped in 2017. The only other times a Mihalich-coached team lost a home finale were in 2001, when Niagara fell to Canisius, 85-70, and 2006, when the Purple Eagles lost to Manhattan, 82-81.
SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY
The Tribe, under third-year head coach Dane Fischer, are 5-25 this season and 4-13 in CAA play following a 62-28 loss to Northeastern on Thursday. That score is not a misprint. Talk about two teams coming off a rough night. The loss locked the Tribe into ninth place and the eighth seed in the CAA Tournament and assured a rematch against 10th-place and ninth-seeded Northeastern a week from today.
The Dutchmen and Tribe had no common opponents in non-league play.
In CAA play, both teams have split with Elon and been swept by Towson. The Dutchmen swept Northeastern and Drexel, each of whom split with William & Mary, as well as James Madison and Delaware, both of whom swept the Tribe. The Dutchmen have beaten Charleston and split with UNC Wilmington, both of whom also swept William & Mary.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 119th at KenPom.com. The Tribe, which was picked to finish 10th, is ranked 341st.
According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank fourth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (108.2) and fourth in defensive efficiency (103.3). The Tribe rank 10th in conference-only offensive efficiency (93.0) and eighth in defensive efficiency (106.6).
Sophomore forward Ben Wight leads the Tribe in both scoring (11.3 points per game) and rebounding (5.6 rebounds per game). Sophomore guard Connor Kochera, who was named to the preseason all-CAA second team, ranks second in scoring with 10.8 points per game and third in rebounding with 4.6 rebounds per game. Graduate student guard Brandon Carroll is third in scoring (8.4 points per game) and second in rebounding (4.7 rebounds per game).
KenPom.com predicts an 82-63 win for the Dutchmen. That’s a 96 percent win probability. Let’s hope it goes closer to form than Thursday! Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 16-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 12-14-1 against the spread this season.
THE CAA RACE
Alas, things are pretty simple now after Thursday’s loss. The Dutchmen (11-5 CAA) can no longer finish first in the CAA but will lock up the third seed behind UNC Wilmington (14-3 CAA) and Towson (13-3 CAA) with one more win or one more Delaware loss. The Dutchmen will only fall to fourth if they lose their final two games while Delaware (10-6) beats UNC Wilmington today and Towson Monday in the completion of a game suspended Jan. 27 with 18:42 left and the Blue Hens ahead 38-29. The Dutchmen would win the tiebreaker with Delaware by virtue of a head-to-head sweep.
ALL-TIME VS. WILLIAM & MARY
Hofstra is 25-15 against William & Mary in a series that began when the Dutchmen joined the CAA prior to the 2001-02 season. The Tribe are looking to complete the sweep after stunning the Dutchmen, 63-62, in the CAA opener for both teams on Dec. 29. The Dutchmen haven’t been swept by William & Mary since the 2014-15 season.
The Hofstra-William & Mary series has lately been one of the CAA’s most exciting and competitive rivalries. Twelve of the last 20 games between the teams have been decided by six points or fewer or in overtime, including back-to-back barnburners in the CAA Tournament in 2015 (shudders) and 2016.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Michael Jordan and Tony Shaver both went to North Carolina bias! (If you’re of a certain age, you recognize 63-62 as one of the most famous final scores in college basketball history)
I still can’t believe David Cohn’s 3-pointer in the final seconds of the 2016 semis missed bias! (I really can’t)
Donna Dixon and Daniel Dixon are both from Virginia bias! (Only one broke our hearts multiple times though, but that’s OK IT DOESN'T HURT ANYMORE)
Beasthoven bias! (That’s for Rob & Teej in honor of Tim Rusthoven)
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