Get your invasion supplies and let's go to Stony Brook!
Ed Rooney: So far this streak, the Flying Dutchmen have won nine times.
Katie Bueller: Nine times?
Ed Rooney: Niiiiiine times.
The Flying Dutchmen indeed kept streaking in multiple ways Thursday night, when they once again led wire-to-wire in a 73-43 win over Hampton. The Dutchmen will look to hit double digits and maintain their share of first place in the CAA tonight, when they are slated to visit Stony Brook. Here's a look back at the win over the Pirates and a look ahead to the Seawolves. To the high seas!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Aaron Estrada needed just 27 minutes to collect a game-high 21 points before he watched the final eight-plus minutes from the bench as the Dutchmen dispatched of Hampton. Estrada and Thomas combined to score 24 points in a game-opening 32-11 run for the Dutchmen, who led by at least 20 points the rest of the way. The Dutchmen led 45-17 NICE FOOTBALL SCORE BUT NOT AS COMMON AS YOU’D THINK at the half and held a trio of 33-point leads in the second half. Thomas scored all 13 of his points in the first half while Jaquan Carlos (a team-high eight assists and 10 rebounds). Warren Williams (12 points, seven rebounds) and Darlinstone Dubar (eight points, seven rebounds) all flirted with double-doubles. Carlos added three steals while Nelson Boachie-Yiadom had three of the Dutchmen’s nine blocks.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Hampton, 2/16)
3: Aaron Estrada
2: Jaquan Carlos
1: Tyler Thomas
SEASON STANDINGS
Aaron Estrada 54
Tyler Thomas 41
Darlinstone Dubar 28
Jaquan Carlos 24
Warren Williams 10
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom 7
Amar’e Marshall 6
German Plotnikov 2
Bryce Washington 1
Griffin Barrouk 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
Yes! Prior to Thursday, the Dutchmen hadn’t even come within one point of a 73-43 final. Not surprisingly, with such a low final score for the opponent, the first six of the previous seven wins that came within three points of 73-43 were all not only from the pre-shot clock era, but the pre-high school days for my parents! Prior to a 73-40 win over Charleston on Feb. 25, 2015, the Dutchmen's closest 73-43 final was another 73-40 victory over Washington during the 1960-61 season. (Not the Washington of the Pac-10, I checked)
This is the Flying Dutchmen’s 10th unicorn score victory of the season. The Dutchmen recorded 11 unicorn score victories last season after recording no unicorn scores in 2020-21, 13 unicorn scores in 2019-20 and 10 unicorn scores 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. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.
11/11/22: 83-78 over Iona
11/14/22: 85-80 over George Washington
11/17/22: 85-76 over San Jose State
12/22/22: 96-48 over Old Westbury
1/11/23: 77-57 over Monmouth
1/26/23: 82-65 over Not Twitter Guy
1/28/23: 85-81 over Charleston
2/2/23: 76-72 over Towson
2/8/23: 72-53 over Northeastern
2/16/23: 73-43 over Hampton
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Moar streaks! We’re just gonna call Darlinstone Dubar the Joe DiMaggio of the Keith Hernandez after Dubar hit the third-chance layup that put the Dutchmen ahead for good at *double checks* 2-0 with 19:38 left in the first half. That’s the third second straight game-opening Keith Hernandez for Dubar, who is the first player with three straight Keith Hernandezes in the history, or at least since this statistic began being tabulated way back in November. Dubar is now alone in second place on the all-time list behind Tyler Thomas. The Dutchmen have collected five straight Keith Hernandezes in the first half, though this one ended the streak of each Keith Hernandez happening earlier than the one before it. So there’s one streak that ended!
Jaquan Carlos tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Princeton, 11/7/22 (1:11 left 2H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Iona, 11/11/22 (:35.2 left 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar go-ahead layup vs. George Washington, 11/14/22 (5:09 left 2H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. San Jose State. 11/17/22 (6:32 left 2H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking jumper vs. UNC Greensboro, 11/26/22 (14:56 left 1H)
Aaron Estrada go-ahead jumper vs. Quinnipiac, 11/27/22 (17:28 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Old Westbury, 12/22/22 (19:02 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking jumper vs. Delaware, 12/29/22 (19:42 left 1H)
Aaron Estrada tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Hampton, 1/5/23 (19:27 left 1H)
Aaron Estrada tie-breaking jumper vs. William & Mary, 1/7/23 (8:37 left 1H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/11/23 (7:50 left 1H)
Warren Williams tie-breaking nostalgic 3-pointer vs. Delaware 1/14/23 (14:28 left 1H)
Aaron Estrada tie-breaking jumper vs. UNC Wilmington, 1/19/23 (19:02 left 2H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking jumper vs. Not Twitter Guy, 1/26/23 (14:03 left 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking jumper vs. Charleston, 1/28/23 (15:24 left 2H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking jumper vs. Towson, 2/2/23 (:58.6 left 2H)
Tyler Thomas tie-breaking jumper vs. Stony Brook, 2/4/23 (6:54 left 1H)
Warren Williams tie-breaking free throw vs. Northeastern, 2/8/23 (6:32 left 1H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. Monmouth, 2/11/23 (18:14 left 1H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. Drexel, 2/13/23 (19:52 left 1H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. Hampton, 2/16/23 (19:38 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas 7
Darlinstone Dubar 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Warren Williams 2
German Plotnikov 2
Jaquan Carlos 1
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-NINE GAMES
With Thursday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 21-8. This ties the 2022-23 team for the 10th-best record in school history through 29 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have been 21-8 through 29 games since 2015-16 and just the fifth time they’ve opened 21-8 in program history. The last 13 teams to open 21-8 or better either made the NCAA Tournament (at both Division I and Division II) or NIT or qualified for the NCAA before, well, you know. 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
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
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)
The 1958-59 team, Hofstra’s first to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 27 games (20-7), while the 1961-62 team, Hofstra’s second to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 28 games (24-4).
Some other notable 29-game records:
2021-22: 19-10 (most recent 19-10 start)
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.
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 SIXTY-ONE
With Thursday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 42-19 (.689) as head coach. That’s the second-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 61 games at the helm. These last eight games mark the highest Claxton has been in the all-time game-to-game standings since he became head coach last season.
Paul Lynner 47-14 (.770, 61st game was the second game of his third season in 1963-64)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 42-19 (.689, 61st game was the 29th game of his second season in 2022-23)
Butch van Breda Kolff I 38-23 (.623, 61st game was the ninth game of his third season in 1957-58)
Dick Berg 30-31 (.492, 61st game was the sixth game of his third season in 1982-83)
Mo Cassara 29-32 (.475, 61st game was the 28th game of his second season in 2011-12)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 29-32 (.475, 61st game was the fourth game of his third season in 1989-90)
Joe Mihalich 28-33 (.459, 61st game was the 28th game of his second season in 2014-15)
Jay Wright 22-39 (.361, 61st game was the sixth game of his third season in 1996-97)
Roger Gaeckler 20-41 (.328, 61st game was the 13th game of his third season in 1974-75)
Tom Pecora 20-41 (.328, 61st game was the 29th and final game of his second season in 2002-03)
Dick Berg, who snapped a tie with Butch van Breda Kolff for fifth place following 59 games and moved into a tie with Mo Cassara following 60 games, climbs into sole possession of fourth place after game no. 61. Jay Wright loses for the THIRD STRAIGHT time with a freshman point guard named Speedy Claxton, I dunno, maybe this isn't going to work out for anyone involved. And Tom Pecora remains in a tie for ninth (i.e. last) place with Roger Gaeckler.
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenures of Jack Smith (1943-46) and Frank Reilly (1947-55).
Three coaches had one-season tenures lasting at Hofstra. McDonald went 18-6 in the lone season of his second stint in 1946-47 while Joe Harrington went 14-14 in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly went 13-10 in 2020-21.
CLUB 21 AND OVER
The Dutchmen equaled their win total from last season by recording their 21st victory Thursday night. They are just one of 16 Division I schools with at least 21 wins in the last two seasons. Here’s the full list — eight mid-majors and eight majors.
HOFSTRA
Drake
Furman
Kent State
Liberty
North Texas
San Diego State
UNC Wilmington
Arizona
Gonzaga
Houston
Kansas
Miami (FL)
Purdue
Saint Mary’s
UCLA
STREAKING (part one)
The Dutchmen’s nine-game winning streak is tied the fourth-longest active streak in Division I.
Eastern Washington 16
Oral Roberts 11
Toledo 10
HOFSTRA 9
Northwestern State 9
All five teams won Thursday and are playing today, as are Howard and Vermont, each of whom have an eight-game winning streak. Southern Mississippi had its nine-game winning streak snapped with an 85-54 loss to South Alabama Thursday night while Rider’s eight-game winning streak ended with an 81-78 loss to Canisius on Friday night.
STREAKING (part two)
Welcome to the club, San Diego State, which earned its fifth straight win Thursday night by overcoming an 18-point second-half deficit to beat Denver, 80-75. The Jackrabbits (again, great nickname) are now the 43rd Division I team to record a five-game winning streak in each of the last five seasons — a club that, of course, includes Hofstra.
WIRE-TO-WIRE WINS
The Dutchmen never trailed Thursday. It was their third straight wire-to-wire win and their eighth wire-to-wire win of the season, all of which have happened in CAA play.
12/29/22: 87-73 over Delaware
1/5/23: 67-51 over Hampton
1/14/23: 86-62 over Delaware
1/19/23: 70-46 over UNC Wilmington
2/4/23: 79-58 over Stony Brook
2/11/23: 86-57 over Monmouth
2/13/23: 66-52 over Drexel
2/16/23: 73-43 over Hampton
This is the first time the Dutchmen have recorded three straight back-to-back wins since at least the 2005-06 season, which is as far back as play-by-play logs go at the Hofstra site.
The eight wire-to-wire wins are the most for the Dutchmen in a season since 2005-06, when they had at least eight wire-to-wire wins. I say at least eight because there’s no play-by-play available from a 74-59 win over Dartmouth at Madison Square Garden in which the Dutchmen raced out to a 15-2 lead. So my guess is that was a ninth wire-to-wire win. Perhaps I’ll have reason to dig deeper to confirm soon enough!
A PRETTY GOOD HALF
The Dutchmen led 45-17 at the half Thursday. It was their second-biggest halftime lead of the season, behind the 34-point margin enjoyed at 59-25 of the game against Old Westbury on Dec. 22, and their biggest halftime lead against a Division I foe since heading into the locker room with a 61-33 lead against James Madison on Feb. 29, 2020. Speaking of that…
TURNING THIRTY-SOMETHING FAST
The Dutchmen opened their first 30-point lead at 47-17 when Nelson Boachie-Yiadom hit a layup for the first points of the second half with 19:24 left. That’s the fastest the Dutchmen have taken a 30-point lead against a Division I opponent since Feb. 29, 2020, when Desure Buie’s 3-pointer with 19:44 left gave the Dutchmen a 64-33 lead against James Madison.
THE DEFENSE DIDN’T REST (part one)
The Dutchmen allowed fewer than 60 points Thursday for the fifth straight game. That’s the longest streak for the Dutchmen since a six-game season-ending run from Feb. 13-Mar. 10, 1999, when the Dutchmen — who really were the Dutchmen back then! — went 4-2 with a 58-55 win over Boston University, a 78-52 win over Northeastern, a 79-59 win over Drexel, a 69-59 win over Vermont in the America East quarterfinals, a 55-37 loss to Drexel in the CAA semifinals and a 58-45 loss to Rutgers in the first round of the NIT. Speedy Claxton was limited to a total of 11 minutes in the final three games — including none against Rutgers — due to an injury. The Dutchmen allowed 60 points or fewer in five straight games from Jan. 28-Feb. 11, 2001 which were wins eight through 12 of the 18-game winning streak that ended with a first-round loss to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.
THE DEFENSE DIDN’T REST (part two)
The Dutchmen improved to 10-0 this season when allowing fewer than 60 points and have won 43 straight games when surrendering fewer than 60 points. The Dutchmen last lost when giving up fewer than 60 points on Feb. 10, 2014, when they fell to James Madison, 59-53.
In addition, the 10 games with fewer than 60 points allowed is the most in a season for the Dutchmen since 2012-13, when the Dutchmen allowed fewer than 60 points 11 times — and went 5-6 in those games with a team that was depleted for reasons we all remember but don’t want to mention.
THRIFTY FROM THREE (again)
Hampton was just 2-of-18 (11.1 percent) from 3-point land Thursday, which marked the second straight game in which an opponent made just two 3-pointers. Drexel was 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) on Monday night. The four 3-pointers allowed is the fewest surrendered by the Dutchmen since they gave up four 3-pointers to Delaware (3-of-16) and VCU (1-of-6) from Jan. 7-9, 2009. The Dutchmen went 1-1 in those games with a win over Delaware and a loss to VCU. Different times.
NOT MANY DIMES
Hampton finished with just three assists Thursday night. That's the fewest assists by a Hofstra opponent since Charleston had three assists — on 26 made field goals — in a 76-70 win over the Dutchmen on Jan, 20, 2018. That's a strange one.
REBOUNDS AND BLOCKS
The Dutchmen finished with 45 rebounds and nine blocks Thursday. Per Loyal Reader EvanJ, it’s the first time the Dutchmen have had at least 45 rebounds and nine blocks in a game against a Division I foe since 2010-11, the first season of the Play Index era at College Basketball Reference.
ESTRADA’S DOUBLE-DIGIT STREAK
With his game-high 21 points on Thursday, Aaron Estrada extended his streak of double-digit scoring efforts to 18 games. Estrada, who has missed four games during his current streak, has scored in double figures in 24 of 25 games this season and in 51 of 57 games since debuting for Hofstra last season. He scored in double figures in 13 of the 37 games in which he played for Saint Peter’s and Oregon from 2019 through 2021.
EFFICIENT ESTRADA
Aaron Estrada scored 21 points despite playing just 28 minutes Thursday, when he exited for good with 8:44 left and the Dutchmen ahead 61-28. The 28 minutes were by far a season-low for Estrada and his fewest since he played 21 minutes while being saddled with four fouls in a 77-71 win over Monmouth on Dec. 22, 2021.Not surprisingly, the exit was also by far the earliest Estrada has left a game for good.
ESTRADA MOVIN’ ON UP
Aaron Estrada continued climbing the Hofstra all-time scoring list Thursday, when he scored 21 points to move past Richie Swartz into 33rd place. Estrada enters tonight 14 points shy of surging past Mike Moore into 32nd place, 18 points away from moving past Wandy Williams into 31st place and 25 points away from surpassing Nathaniel Lester for 30th place.
29.) Ted Jackson 1,159
30.) Nathaniel Lester 1,139
31.) Wandy Williams 1,132
32.) Mike Moore 1,128
33.) AARON ESTRADA 1,115
34.) Richie Swartz 1,107
35.) Ameen Tanksley 1,090
36.) Derrick Flowers 1,069
37.) Darius Burton 1,060
38.) Percy Johnson 1,045
39.) James Shaffer 1,022
40.) John Irving 1,018
NO DOUBTING THOMAS
Tyler Thomas’ strong season continued Thursday, when he finished with 13 points, all in the first half. Thomas has scored in double figures in nine straight games as well as 15 times in 16 CAA games and 23 times in 29 games overall.
THE 10/8 CLUB
Jaquan Carlos created his own club Thursday night, when he finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists while adding three points. It’s the second time in the last five games Carlos has finished with at least 10 rebounds and eight assists. He had 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the 79-58 win over Stony Brook on Feb. 4. Carlos is the first Hofstra player since at least the start of the 1994-95 season — as far back as my game-by-game points-rebounds-assists logs go — to have two games in which he had at least 10 rebounds and at least eight assists. In other words, he’s done in five games what no other Hofstra player did in the preceding 897 games. four players did it once apiece, beginning with, who else, Speedy Claxton, who had 10 rebounds and nine assists against Maine on Feb. 22, 1998. Juan’ya Green, of course, reached these milestones in his triple-double against Long Island University on Dec. 28, 2014 while Aaron Estrada had 10 rebounds and eight assists in the 89-81 upset of no. 24 Arkansas on Dec. 18, 2021.
D-STONE’S STREAK
Darlinstone Dubar had a third straight solid game Thursday night, when he finished with eight points and seven rebounds. Dubar has scored 38 points in his last three games after scoring 54 points in a nine-game stretch from Jan. 11 through Feb.8.
SEVENS FOR D-STONE
Darlinstone Dubar finished with at least seven points and seven rebounds for the the first time since Jan. 28, when he had 18 points and eight rebounds in an 85-81 win over Charleston, and the ninth time this season. Dubar had just four such games last season.
A ONE-TWO PUNCH AT THE FIVE
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom and Warren Williams continued their season-long tandem at center Thursday night, when they combined for 18 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks, one assist and one steal in 37 minutes.
WILLIAMS’ 10/5 CLUB
Warren Williams finished with 12 points and seven rebounds Thursday night. It marked the eighth time this season he’s had at least 10 points and five rebounds in a game.
AIDAN’S BEST
Walk-ons Aiden Best and Petey Galgano played the final minute-plus for the Dutchmen on Thursday night, when Best collected the Dutchmen’s last two points by hitting a pair of free throws after he was fouled on a drive to the basket with 9.3 seconds left. Best (four points) and Galgano (two points) have combined for six points this season, the most by Dutchmen walk-ons since Connor Klementowicz scored nine points during the 2018-19 season.
SPEEDY’S T
Speedy Claxton received a rare technical foul in the second half Thursday. It was the second technical of the season for Claxton, who said following his first technical against Saint Mary’s on Nov. 19 that he’d never been T’d up as a collegian or professional.
OVER THE AIR
Tonight’s game will be carried live on SNY, which is channel 60 in the Optimum/Altice Are Our Overlords Universe. Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves, under fourth-year head coach Geno Ford, are 10-18 this season and 6-9 in CAA play following a 71-66 overtime win over William & Mary on Thursday night. Stony Brook is alone in seventh place in the CAA, one game ahead of the five teams tied for eighth place at 5-10.
The Dutchmen and Seawolves had no common opponents in non-conference play. In CAA play, both teams have beaten Drexel. The Dutchmen swept Monmouth, Hampton and Delaware, whom split, fell to and beat Stony Brook, respectively. The Dutchmen beat UNC Wilmington & Elon, each of whom beat the Seawolves. The Dutchmen beat Northeastern and William & Mary while losing to North Carolina A&T, all of whom split with Stony Brook. Hofstra split with Towson, which beat Stony Brook.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish second in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 92nd at KenPom.com. The Seawolves, who were picked to finish ninth, are ranked 337th.
According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank second in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (112.7 points per 100 possessions) and first in conference-only defensive efficiency (91.6 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 66.9 possessions per 40 minutes, the sixth-most in the league. The Seawolves rank 10th in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (98.7 points per 100 possessions) and eighth in defensive efficiency (104.8 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 63.1 possessions per 40 minutes, last in the league.
The Seawolves have been ravaged by injuries this season, though senior guard Tyler Stephenson-Moore, who missed the first game against Hofstra on Feb. 4 due to a hip injury, returned to the lineup Feb. 8 and leads the Seawolves with 14.5 points per game while ranking second with 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Senior forward Frankie Policelli, who began his career at Dayton, is averaging 13.7 points and leads the Seawolves with 9.2 rebounds per game. Senior center Keenan Fitzmorris, a Stanford transfer who stands 7-foot-1, is averaging 9.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while junior forward Kenan Sarvan, a 6-foot-10 Coppin State transfer and Netherlands native who is thus ACTUALLY a Dutchman, is averaging 8.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Aaron Clarke, a former teammate of Tyler Thomas’s at Sacred Heart and a preseason all-CAA honorable mention selection after transferring to Stony Brook to play as a graduate student, has been limited to three games — none since Dec. 12 — due to a back injury. Freshman Jared Frey hasn’t played since the season opener against Florida.
KenPom.com predicts a 73-61 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 11-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 17-9-2 against the spread this season after covering for the ninth straight game Thursday night. They’re winning everywhere!
THE CAA RACE
What has felt like a two-team race for a week is officially a two-team race after Hofstra and Charleston improved to 14-2 and clinched no worse than a top-two finish Thursday by virtue of the Dutchmen’s win and the Cougars’ 88-66 victory over Elon. This marks the first time that two teams are 14-2 through 16 CAA games since 2011-12, when Drexel and George Mason were each 14-2. Charleston has the open date today before hosting Towson on Thursday, when the Dutchmen are off.
ALL-TIME VS. STONY BROOK
Hofstra is 25-6 all-time against Stony Brook, including 7-2 since the series resumed in 2014. The Dutchmen earned a 79-58 win at the Arena on Feb. 4, when Tyler Thomas had a double-double (29 points, 11 rebounds) in a game Aaron Estrada missed due to a stomach illness.
Hofstra is 35-33-1 in all sports against Stony Brook since the two schools began scheduling each other again in the spring of 2014, including 31-22-1 since the 2016-17 school year began. But the Seawolves have won nine of the last 12 meetings between the schools dating back to Dec. 8, 2021. In addition to the Dutchmen's win on Feb. 4, the the Flying Dutchwomen volleyball team earned victories against Stony Brook on Sept. 17-18.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Adrien Brody bias! (The Oscar-winning actor briefly attended Stony Brook)
Shutterstock bias! (The company’s founder. Jon Oringer, went to Stony Brook)
Wil Tye bias! (Tye, the first Stony Brook player to reach the NFL, had 897 yards receiving over three seasons with the Giants and Jets)
We’re still unbeaten against you in football bias! (Sorry, facts are facts)
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