I'll Be Quirky: Hofstra vs. St. John's

Felipe Lopez on the cover of Sports Illustrated the same week Jay Wright made his head coaching debut? Bad job, SI. Bad job. 

The Flying Dutchmen flirted with hitting triple sevens in Vegas (that’s a slot machine reference for you kids) but faded after a second-half comeback on Dec. 21 and fell to UNLV, 74-56. The Dutchmen will look to complete their non-conference schedule with an upset this afternoon, when they visit UBS Arena for the first time to face St. John’s for the first time under a coach who’s not scared to play Hofstra. Prove me wrong, children! Here's a look back at the loss to the Runnin’ Rebels and a look ahead to Red Storm.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

The Flying Dutchmen overcame a 12-point halftime deficit by opening the final 20 minutes on a 16-2 run, but the Dutchmen went cold and UNLV ended the game on a 36-16 surge. UNLV held a pair of 13-point leads in the first half, when nine Dutchmen hit exactly one field goal each (how many Dutchmen hit exactly one field goal each?), and entered the locker room with a 36-24 lead. Darlinstone Dubar continued his second half success this season by scoring seven points in the 16-2 run, including the layup that gave the Dutchmen their lone lead at 40-38 with 15:26 left. Keylan Boone responded with five straight points for UNLV and the Dutchmen got within a basket twice more. Jaquan Carlos’ jumper with 12:36 left cut the Runnin’ Rebels lead to 46-44, after which the Dutchmen had eight straight empty trips as UNLV scored nine unanswered points. Tyler Thomas’ 3-pointer pulled the Dutchmen within single digits for the last time at 55-47 with 8:28 left. UNLV closed with an 11-4 run following Dubar’s layup with 5:33 left. Dubar scored 14 of his game-high 17 points in the second half while Thomas shot just 4-of-20 from the field while finishing with 13 points, four assists and two steals. Carlos had seven points, four rebounds and four assists while Jacco Fritz and Bryce Washington shared the team lead with six rebounds. Silas Sunday added six points and five rebounds in 13 minutes.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. UNLV, 12/21)

3: Darlinstone Dubar

2: Tyler Thomas

1: Silas Sunday

SEASON STANDINGS

Tyler Thomas 25

Darlinstone Dubar 23

Jaquan Carlos 13

Jacco Fritz 6

Bryce Washington 3

Silas Sunday 1

KiJan Robinson 1

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWELVE GAMES

With the loss Dec. 21, the Dutchmen fell to 7-5. This ties the 2023-24 team for the 32nd-best record in school history through 12 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 7-5 since 2020-21 and the 14th time overall in school history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 12 games:

NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 6-6

1976-77: 9-3

1999-2000: 8-4 

2000-01: 8-4

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 8-4 (most recent 8-4 start)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 8-4

2004-05: 10-2

2005-06: 10-2 (most recent 10-2 start)

2006-07: 8-4

2015-16: 8-4 

2018-19: 9-3 (most recent 9-3 start, marked sixth win in the 16-game winning streak)

2022-23 6-6 (most recent 6-6 start, obvs)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 8-4

1961-62: 11-1

1962-63: 8-4

1963-64: 11-1 (most recent 11-1 start)

Some other notable 12-game starts:

2013-14: 4-8 (most recent 4-8 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 3-9 (most recent 3-9 start)

2011-12: 5-7 (most recent 5-7 start)

2002-03: 2-10 (most recent 2-10 start)

1994-95: 2-10 (Jay Wright’s first team)

1993-94: 1-11 (VBK’s last team, most recent 1-11 start)

1959-60: 11-1 (win in 12th game marked first win in season-ending 13-game winning streak)

1955-56: 12-0 (only 12-0 start in school history)

The Dutchmen have never opened a season 0-12.

Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.

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 SEVENTY-NINE

With the loss on Dec. 21, Speedy Claxton fell to 53-26 (.671) as head coach. That’s the second-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 79 games at the helm. The last 25 games mark the highest Claxton has been in the all-time game-to-game standings since he became head coach in 2021-22.

Paul Lynner 55-24 (.696, 79th game was the 20th game of his third season in 1964-65)

SPEEDY CLAXTON 53-26 (.671, 79th game was the 12th game of his third season in 2023-24)

Butch van Breda Kolff I 50-29 (.633, 79th game was the fourth game of his fourth season in 1957-58)

Dick Berg 41-38 (.519, 79th game was the 24th game of his third season in 1982-83)

Butch van Breda Kolff II 39-40 (.494, 79th game was the 22nd game of his third season in 1990-91)

Joe Mihalich 38-41 (.481, 79th game was the 12th game of his third season in 2015-16)

Mo Cassara 35-44 (.443, 79th game was the 14th game of his third season in 2012-13)

Roger Gaeckler 30-49 (.380, 79th game was the seventh game of his fourth season in 1975-76)

Jay Wright 30-49 (.380, 79th game was the 24th game of his third season in 1996-97) 

Tom Pecora 28-51 (.354, 79th game was the 18th game of his third season in 2003-04)

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.

UNLUCKY THIRTEEN

The loss Dec. 21 marked the 13th straight time the Dutchmen have lost when scoring fewer than 60 points. The Dutchmen haven’t won a game while scoring fewer than 60 points since Dec. 31, 2016 — hey that’s seven years ago tomorrow! — when they edged Delaware 58-56.

A QUIET FIRST HALF

The Dutchmen trailed 36-24 at the half Dec. 21. The 24 points were the Dutchmen’s fewest in a first half since they scored 20 points in a 68-47 loss to Towson on Jan. 16.

DON'T BLINK

The Dutchmen led just once Dec. 21, when Darlinstone Dubar’s layup capped the half-opening 16-2 run and put Hofstra ahead 40-38 with 15:26 left. It was the first time the Dutchmen led just once in a game since Jan. 25, 2018, when they held a 14-12 lead in an 81-67 loss to Northeastern.

DOUBLE DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS

Speaking of losses to Northeastern…the Dutchmen overcame a double-digit deficit to take a lead before losing by double digits (that’s a lot of double digits) Dec. 21 for the first time since Jan. 9, 2021, when they trailed Northeastern by 12 points in the first half and went ahead by eight points in the second half before suffering a 67-56 loss in Boston. 

HOW MANY PLAYERS HIT EXACTLY ONE FIELD GOAL IN THE FIRST HALF?

And probably speaking again of losses to Northeastern…nine players hit exactly one field goal apiece for the Dutchmen in the first half Dec. 21. I am pretty certain that’s the first time nobody hit more than one field goal for the Dutchmen in the first half since way back on Jan. 7, 2009, when seven players had one field goal each in the first half of a 73-50 loss to Northeastern. I looked up all the boxscores for the 2012-13 season as well as a handful of other lean possibilities — such as the CBI game against IUPUI, shudder — but at least one player had at least two field goals ini the first half of all those games. If I have some time this week I may complete that research.

In the meantime, here’s the seven players who had one field goal apiece in the first half against Northeastern nearly 15 years ago: Tony Dennison, Dane Johnson, Greg Johnson, Miklos Szabo, Greg Washington, Cornelius Vines and Darren Townes. There’s some random dudes there!

D-STONE DEALING

Darlinstone Dubar continued his impressive season Dec. 21, when he finished with a team-high 17 points. Dubar has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season, which is his longest single-season stretch of consecutive double-figure efforts, and in 14 straight games overall dating back to the 88-86 overtime win over Rutgers in the first round of the NIT on Mar. 14. 

SECOND HALF D-STONE

Darlinstone Dubar also continued his penchant for performing his best after halftime Dec. 21, when he scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half. Dubar has scored 213 points this season, including 123 in the second half or overtime. Shades of Justin Wright-Foreman’s breakout season in 2016-17.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

Tyler Thomas finished second on the Dutchmen in scoring Dec. 21, when he had 13 points. Thomas has scored in double figures in 35 of his last 37 games and 40 times in 47 games overall since joining the Dutchmen last season.

THOMAS TOUGH FROM TWO

Tyler Thomas scored his 13 points Dec. 21 despite being just 4-of-20 from the field, including 1-of-9 from inside the 3-point line. Thomas is the first Hofstra player to hit one 2-point field goal or fewer while taking at least nine shots inside the arc since Dion Nesmith was 1-of-10 on 2-point field goals in a 59-53 loss to James Madison on Feb. 10, 2014.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY

Silas Sunday had a solid game Dec. 21, when he scored six points, pulled down five rebounds and had one assist, one steal and one block in 13 minutes. It marked the first time Sunday filled in all five parts of the boxscore as a collegian. The six points were one shy of Sunday’s season-high, set against South Florida on Nov. 30, while the five reboudns tied his season-high against a Division I opponent, Sunday had seven rebounds against Division III St. Joseph’s in the season opener Nov. 6 and five rebounds apiece against George Washington on Nov. 14 and against Saint Louis on Dec. 9. 

A PERFECT SUNDAY

Silas Sunday scored his six points Dec. 21 on 3-of-3 shooting from the field. It marked the second straight game in which at least one Hofstra player was perfect form inside the arc (minimum three attempts). Jacco Fritz and Bryce Washington were each 4-of-4 on 2-point field goal attempts against Norfolk State on Dec. 16.

BRYCE THE GLUE GUY

Bryce Washington had two points but had six rebounds — tied with Jacco Fritz for the team lead — in 27 minutes on Dec. 21. The six rebounds tied a season-high for Washington, who also shared the team lead with Darlinstone Dubar in the 74-67 loss to Princeton on Nov. 10. 

NO SHOPPING AT THE FIVE-AND-DIME FOR CARLOS

Jaquan Carlos had a quiet game Dec. 21, when he finished with seven points and four assists. The seven points were the second-fewest this season for Carlos while he collected fewer than five assists for the third time. The Dutchmen are 1-2 this season when Carlos has fewer than 10 points and fewer than five assists.

OVER THE AIR

This afternoon’s game will be carried live on Fox Sports 1, which is channel 69 in the Optimum/Altice Are Our Overlords Universe. Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.

ST. JOHN’S AND THE BIG EAST

St. John’s, under some no-name first-year head coach named Rick Pitino, is 8-4 this season and 1-1 in the Big East following last Saturday’s 69-65 loss to no. 5 Connecticut. The Red Storm led by as many as eight in the second half and held a 63-61 lead with 4:15 left before the Huskies fended off the upset bid.

St. John’s was picked to finish fifth in the 11-team Big East. Fifth-year senior why can’t Fordham get guys like Joel Soriano, who was selected to the preseason all-Big East first team, leads the Red Storm with 17.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He has posted five straight double-doubles and eight double-doubles overall this season. Soriano and sophomore Drissa Traore are the only returnees from last year’s team.

Graduate student Daniss Jenkins, who opened his career at Pacific before playing last season under Pitino at Iona, is averaging 11.3 points per game. Senior Jordan Dingle, who played his first three seasons at Pennsylvania, is averaging 11.0 points per game while graduate student Chris Ledlum is averaging 10.8 points per game and ranks second on the team with 7.8 rebounds per game. However, he will likely miss today's game due to a sprained ankle suffered against UConn.

The Dutchmen and Red Storm have one common opponent this season. St. John’s opened the Pitino Era on Nov. 7 with a 90-74 win over Stony Brook, which will host Hofstra on Jan. 22 before visiting the Arena on Feb. 1.

At KenPom.com, St. John’s is ranked 41st nationally in offensive efficiency (112.9 points per 100 possessions) and 64th in defensive efficiency (98.3 points per 100 minutes) while ranking 89th in tempo (71.1 possessions per 40 minutes).

Hofstra is 5-22 all-time against St. John’s. The teams haven’t opposed each other since Dec. 20, 2009, when the Red Storm beat the Dutchmen 72-60 in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. That ended a four-game winning streak for the Dutchmen in the series and marked just the second win for St. John’s in the last seven games between the schools dating back to the 2000-01 season. You know, just in case you were wondering why St. John’s stopped scheduling the Dutchmen. 

Hofstra is 6-35 all-time against current Big East schools. The Dutchmen haven’t faced a Big East foe since Dec. 22, 2017, when they fell to no. 1 Villanova, 95-71, at Nassau Coliseum. Wait basketball games at Nassau Coliseum? Since when? And who was Villanova’s coach back then?

At KenPom.com this afternoon, Hofstra is ranked 108th while St. John’s is ranked 45th. KenPom.com predicts a 79-69 loss for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 8 1/2-point underdogs. That’s a big swing. The Dutchmen are 5-6 against the spread this season.

I previewed today's game for Field Level Media. Give it a click! 

SO THAT’S WHY THEY DIDN’T WANT TO PLAY HOFSTRA

Since Dec. 20, 2009, St. John’s has 236 wins — 21 fewer than Hofstra and only sixth-most among the 22 metropolitan New York schools. I’m not gonna lie, I figured Hofstra was no. 1 on the list, but the Dutchmen rank fifth. Still pretty good! Here’s the full list of wins by local Division I teams since the last time the Dutchmen played St. John’s:

Iona 294

Stony Brook 268

Seton Hall 262

Princeton 261

HOFSTRA 257

St. John’s 236

Wagner 227

Rider 225

Long Island University 217

Monmouth 214

Fairfield 212

Saint Peter’s 209

Rutgers 204

Army West Point 195

NJIT 191

Manhattan 189

St. Francis (NY) 186

Sacred Heart 173

Columbia 161

Fairleigh Dickinson 157

Fordham 152

Marist 136

A FAMILIAR FACE

Rick Pitino will make a truly quirky bit of history at the opening tip, when he becomes the first coach to oppose the Flying Dutchmen with four different schools.

Pitino first faced the then-actual Flying Dutchmen way back on Dec. 29, 1986, when Providence cruised to a 97-61 win in Rhode Island. Future national champion head coach Billy Donovan was one of five Providence players to score in double figures. Almost exactly three months later, the Friars were in the Final Four. Gerald King scored 24 points for the Dutchmen.

And Pitino’s second game following his second national championship LUKE HANCOCK BIAS was against Hofstra on Nov. 12, 2013, when Louisville beat the Dutchmen, 97-69, in Joe Mihalich’s third game at the helm. Dion Nesmith led the Dutchmen with 24 points while the late great Zeke Upshaw had 17 points.

Pitino faced Hofstra in each of his three seasons at Iona, when he directed the Gaels to a pair of 82-74 wins on Dec. 5, 2020 and Nov. 16, 2021 before the Dutchmen finally got revenge upon him for his many decades of torment with an 83-78 victory on Nov. 11, 2022.

Pitino was one of just four coaches to oppose Hofstra with three different schools, joining Jim Lynam (Fairfield, American and Saint Joseph’s between the 1969-70 and 1980-81 seasons), Nick Macarchuk (Canisius, Fordham and Stony Brook between the 1977-78 and 1999-2000 seasons) and Jim Baron (St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and Canisius between the 1992-93 and 2015-16 seasons).

A NEW ARENA

The Dutchmen will see a familiar foe in a new Islanders-specific place when they make their UBS Arena debut this afternoon. This is the first time the Dutchmen have played in a New York-area arena since Dec. 11, 2022, when they fell to Massachusetts, 71-56, at Barclays Center. It’s also the first time the Dutchmen have debuted at an arena since they played at Barclays Center for the first time on Dec. 22, 2012, when they lost to Tulane, 83-62. That was so long ago, the Islanders hadn't even tried playing there yet!

Per Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov, the Dutchmen are 14-22 all-time at the area’s three arenas — Madison Square Garden, Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center, The Dutchmen are 10-9 at MSG, 3-10 at Nassau Coliseum and 1-3 at Barclays Center. They are seeking their first win at a New York-area arena since an 86-80 victory over Appalachian State at MSG on Dec. 6, 2015.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

You’ve won as many NCAA Tournament games as us since 2001 bias! (It’s true)

We won the all-time football series bias! (This one comes courtesy of Jaden Daly, who notes Hofstra finished 4-3 against St. John’s on the gridiron and earned a 48-0 win in the last meeting between the schools on Nov. 10, 1990, when I was a high school senior, Joe Gardi was in his first year as the Flying Dutchmen’s head coach and both schools were in Division III)

Mike Francesa graduated from your school but he likes ours more bias! (Actually, I don’t think Mike likes anyone)

Felipe Lopez bias! (He played four years at St. John’s in the mid-to-late ‘90s but would be a one-and-done today)

This isn’t Rick Pitino’s last job bias! (Prove me wrong, Rick!)

I'll Be Quirky: Hofstra at UNLV

Larry Johnson would probably take a paycut in the NIL era.

The Flying Dutchmen ended a brief losing streak Saturday afternoon, when they took the idea of a well-distributed offense to potentially historic heights while pulling away from Norfolk State in the second half of a 74-58 win. The Dutchmen will hit the road in search of a defining upset win tonight, when they trek all the way across the country to visit UNLV. I smell a lot of good biases coming, Here’s a look back at the win over the Spartans and a look ahead to the Fighting Larry Johnsons (or Runnin’ Rebels, I can’t remember which).

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Tyler Thomas scored a game-high 22 points, but Bryce Washington and Jaquan Carlos sparked the decisive second half runs that turned a nail-biter into a comfortable win for the Dutchmen, who finished with a whopping 23 assists on 26 field goals. The Dutchmen led just twice in the first half against Norfolk State, which led by as many as seven points before entering the locker room with a 32-31 lead. Thomas and Washington had five points apiece — and Washington had assists on both of Thomas’ field goals — as the Dutchmen opened the second half on a 10-1 run. Norfolk State responded by scoring the next nine points, a stretch in which the Dutchmen missed five shots. Darlinstone Dubar ended the drought with a 3-pointer and Christian Ings hit a layup to tie the score at 44-44 before Thomas and Carlos combined to hit three 3-pointers in a 36-second span to begin a game-ending 30-14 run. Carlos capped his double-double (10 points, 10 assists) by scoring 10 points and collecting five assists in the surge. He also had just one turnover after committing 14 turnovers in the previous three games. Washington had eight points, two assists and both his steals in the second half and finished with 13 points and three assists. Dubar collected 13 points and seven rebounds in  another solid effort while Jacco Fritz (nine points) just missed turning the quartet of double-digit scorer into a quintet.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Norfolk State, 12/16)

3: Jaquan Carlos

2: Tyler Thomas

1: Bryce Washington

SEASON STANDINGS

Tyler Thomas 23

Darlinstone Dubar 20

Jaquan Carlos 13

Jacco Fritz 6

Bryce Washington 3

KiJan Robinson 1

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! But this was only the Dutchmen’s second 74-58 win and their first since Feb. 12, 1983, when the Flying Dutchmen — who really were the Flying Dutchmen back then! — beat Drexel, much to the delight of fourth-grade me. Long time ago!

The Dutchmen have earned four unicorn score victories this season after recording 12 unicorn score victories last season, 11 unicorn score victories in 2021-22, no unicorn score victories in 2020-21, 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. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.

WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?

Tyler Thomas became the second player this season with multiple Keith Hernandezes when he hit the tie-breaking 3-pointer to put the Dutchmen up 47-44 with 13:45 left. It was the second time Thomas has recorded a Keith Hernandez by hitting a tie-breaking 3-pointer in the second half (that’s a mouthful).

Darlinstone Dubar go-ahead layup vs. St. Joseph’s (NY), 11/6/23 (14:30 left 1H)

Jaquan Carlos tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Buffalo, 11/20/23 (19:33 left 1H)

Tyler Thomas tie-breaking free throw vs. Wright State, 11/21/23 (4:16 left 2H)

Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking jumper vs. High Point, 11/22/23 (4:47 left OT)

Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. South Florida, 11/30/23 (19:42 left 1H)

Jacco Fritz tie-breaking jumper vs. Iona, 12/6/23 (12:37 left 1H)

Tyler Thomas tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Norfolk State, 12/16/23 (13:45 left 2H)

SEASON STANDINGS

Darlinstone Dubar 3

Tyler Thomas 2

Jacco Fritz 1

Jaquan Carlos 1

ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since last season)

Tyler Thomas 12

Darlinstone Dubar 8

Aaron Estrada 4

Warren Williams 3

Jaquan Carlos 2

German Plotnikov 2

Jacco Fritz 1

The Keith Hernandez is bestowed upon the player who scores the points that put the Dutchmen ahead for good in a victory. The stat pays homage to Hernandez, the World Series-winning Cardinals and Mets first baseman who had a record 129 game-winning RBIs when the stat was inexplicably discontinued after the 1988 season.

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER ELEVEN GAMES

With Saturday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 7-4. This ties the 2023-24 team for the 23rd-best record in school history through 11 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 7-4 since 2019-20 and the 16th time overall in school history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 11 games:

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 5-6

1976-77: 8-3

1999-2000: 7-4 

2000-01: 8-3

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 7-4

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 7-4

2004-05: 10-1 (most recent 10-1 start)

2005-06: 9-2 (most recent 9-2 start)

2006-07: 7-4

2015-16: 7-4 

2018-19: 8-3 (most recent 8-3 start, victory marked fifth win in the 16-game winning streak)

2022-23: 6-5 (most recent 6-5 start)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 7-4

1961-62: 10-1

1962-63: 8-3

1963-64: 10-1

Some other notable 11-game starts:

2013-14: 3-8 (most recent 3-8 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2011-12: 4-7 (most recent 4-7 start)

2007-08: 2-9 (most recent 2-9 start)

2002-03: 1-10 (most recent 1-10 start)

2001-02: 5-6 (Tom Pecora’s first team, most recent 5-6 start, never got back to .500 again)

1994-95: 2-9 (Jay Wright’s first team)

1993-94: 2-9 (VBK’s last team)

1979-80: 5-6 (Joe Harrington’s only season, under .500 for the last time)

1965-66: 6-5 (over .500 for good)

1959-60: 10-1 (Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise)

1955-56: 11-0 (most recent 11-0 start)

1951-52: 11-0 (first 11-0 start)

1940-41: 6-5 (over .500 for good)

The Dutchmen have never opened a season 0-11.

Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.

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 SEVENTY-EIGHT

With Saturday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 53-25 (.679) as head coach. That’s the second-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 78 games at the helm. The last 24 games mark the highest Claxton has been in the all-time game-to-game standings since he became head coach in 2021-22.

Paul Lynner 55-23 (.705, 78th game was the 19th game of his third season in 1964-65)

SPEEDY CLAXTON 53-25 (.679, 78th game was the 11th game of his third season in 2023-24)

Butch van Breda Kolff I 49-29 (.628, 78th game was the third game of his fourth season in 1957-58)

Dick Berg 41-37 (.526, 78th game was the 23rd game of his third season in 1982-83)

Butch van Breda Kolff II 39-39 (.500, 78th game was the 21st game of his third season in 1990-91)

Joe Mihalich 37-41 (.474, 78th game was the 11th game of his third season in 2015-16)

Mo Cassara 34-44 (.436, 78th game was the 13th game of his third season in 2012-13)

Roger Gaeckler 30-48 (.385, 78th game was the sixth game of his fourth season in 1975-76)

Jay Wright 30-48 (.385, 78th game was the 23rd game of his third season in 1996-97) 

Tom Pecora 27-51 (.346, 78th game was the 17th game of his third season in 2003-04)

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.

COMEBACK KIDS

The Dutchmen, who trailed Norfolk State 32-31 at the half, improved to 2-4 when trailing at the half this season — they trailed Wright State by 10 points at halftime of an 85-76 win on Nov 21 — and 9-9 when trailing at the half since the start of last season. 

DROPPING THE DIMES (part one)

Led by Jaquan Carlos, the Dutchmen distributed the ball Saturday as well as just about anyone in the country this season — and as well as any Hofstra team since, well, maybe ever. The Dutchmen finished with 23 assists on 26 field goals, which means they had an assist on 88.4 percent of their baskets. (Once again, math only remains useful for sports-related reasons) Through Tuesday, only four Division I teams had a better assist-to-field-goal percentage (minimum of 20 assists) in a game this season against a fellow Division I school.

UT Arlington vs. Abilene Christian 11/29/23 (25/27, 92.6%)

Southern Illinois vs. New Mexico State 11/22/23 (22/24, 91.7%)

Wofford vs. Coastal Carolina 12/9/23 (28/31, 90.3%)

Virginia Tech vs. Coppin State 11/6/23 (29/32, 90.1%)

Hofstra vs. Norfolk State 12/16/23 (23/26, 88.4%)

The assist-to-field goal percentage registered by the Dutchmen is their best in a game in which they had at least 20 assists since at least the 2002-03 season, which is as far back as my boxscores go at home. Prior to Saturday, the Dutchmen’s highest assist-to-field goal percentage in a game in which they had at least 20 assists was set Feb. 25, 2012, when they had 25 assists on 30 field goals (83.3 percent).

DROPPING THE DIMES (part two)

As noted, the Dutchmen finished with 23 assists Saturday, their highest single-game total against a Division I foe since collecting 24 assists in an 86-57 win over Monmouth on Feb. 11. The Dutchmen had 28 assists in a 101-48 win over Division III St. Joseph’s (NY) on Nov. 6.

10 TO ONE, THOSE ARE GOOD ODDS

Jaquan Carlos had 10 assists and just one turnover Saturday afternoon. He’s the first Hofstra player to have at least 10 assists and one turnover or fewer since…Jaquan Carlos had 10 assists and one turnover in a 79-58 win over Stony Brook on Feb. 4. Carlos is the only Hofstra player to finish with at least 10 assists and one turnover or fewer against in two games against Division I foes since the 2010-11 season, the start of the Play Index Era at College Basketball Reference. The only other players to achieve the feat once are Stevie Mejia (10 assists and one turnover in a 70-59 win over Old Dominion on Feb. 24, 2013) and Desure Buie (10 assist and one turnover in a 99-95 win over Charleston on Feb. 14, 2019).

JC’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE MIX

Jaquan Carlos posted his third career double-double Saturday afternoon, when he had 10 points and 10 assists. Carlos recorded a rebounds-assists double-double (10 rebounds, 10 assists) in a 79-58 win over Stony Brook on Feb. 4 before racking up a points-assists double-double (11 points, 10 assists) in an 82-63 win over South Florida on Nov. 30. 

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

Tyler Thomas returned to his familiar spot as the Dutchmen’s leading scorer Saturday afternoon, when he finished with 22 points. Thomas has led the Dutchmen in scoring seven times in 11 games this season. He has also scored in double figures in 34 of his last 36 games and 39 times in 46 games overall since joining the Dutchmen last season.

D-STONE DEALING

You know a team had a pretty good day when a player finishes with 13 points and seven rebounds and doesn’t make the 3 Stars of the Game. Darlinstone Dubar extended the longest active streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player after he finished with — you guessed it — 13 points Saturday afternoon. Dubar has scored in double figures in all 11 games this season, which is his longest single-season stretch of consecutive double-figure efforts, and in 13 straight games overall dating back to the 88-86 overtime win over Rutgers in the first round of the NIT on Mar. 14. 

FIVE BY SEVEN

Darlinstone Dubar also finished with at least seven rebounds for the fifth straight game Saturday. Prior to this current stretch, Dubar had as many as two straight games with at least seven rebounds just once. He pulled down seven rebounds apiece against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 31 before again recording seven rebounds against Hampton on Jan. 5.

BRYCE THE GLUE GUY

Bryce Washington bounced back from a quiet game against Duke by finishing with 13 points in 32 minutes Saturday afternoon. Washington has scored in double figures four times in 11 games this season after doing so four times in a combined  40 games the previous two seasons for Hofstra and Pennsylvania. In addition, the 32 minutes Washington played Saturday were his most in regulation this season and his most in regulation since he logged 35 minutes in a 79-58 win over Stony Brook on Feb. 4. 

PUTTING ON THE FRITZ

Jacco Fritz once again played a key role in a Dutchmen victory Saturday afternoon, when he scored nine points while adding four rebounds, two assists and two blocks over 27 minutes. Fritz also drew just three fouls as the Dutchmen improved to 6-1 this season in games in which he doesn’t foul out. The Dutchmen are 1-3 when Fritz fouls out.

GO FOURTH YOUNG MEN

Bryce Washington and Jacco Fritz were each 4-of-4 from inside the 3-point line Saturday afternoon. They are the first pair of Dutchmen to make all their 2-point field goal attempts (minimum four attempts) since Dec. 1, 2021, when Darlinstone Dubar was 6-of-6 from inside the arc while Kvonn Cramer was 4-of-4 on his 2-point attempts in an 81-77 win over Princeton.

FIVE FOR KIJAN

Freshman KiJan Robinson continued chipping in Saturday afternoon, when he had five points in eight minutes. It was the second straight game in which Robinson scored five points and the fourth time he’s scored at least five points in 11 games this season.

WELCOME BACK 

German Plotnikov, who missed the previous four games with an injury, returned to action Saturday and had one rebound in four minutes.

OVER THE AIR

Tonight’s game is slated to be carried live on the Mountain West Network, which I believe can be streamed for free here. I guess we’ll find out together! Hofstra will also provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.

UNLV AND THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

UNLV, under third-year head coach Kevin Kruger, is 4-5 this season after a 69-67 double overtime loss to Saint Mary’s on Saturday. 

UNLV — or, as the cool kids called it back in the day, Nevada-Las Vegas — was picked to finish sixth in the 11-team Mountain West. Dedan Thomas Jr., who was selected the Mountain West’s preseason freshman of the year, shares the team lead in scoring at 13.6 points per game with fifth-year senior Kalib Boone, who opened his career at Oklahoma State. Fifth-year senior Luis Rodriguez, a transfer from Mississippi, is averaging 11.6 points per game while fifth-year senior Jalen Hill, a transfer from Oklahoma, is averaging 11.5 points per game. Hill (6.8 rebounds per game) and Rodriguez (5.9 reboudns per game) are UNLV’s top rebounders.

The Dutchmen and Runnin’ Rebels have no common opponents this season.

At KenPom.com, UNLV is ranked 63rd nationally in offensive efficiency (111.0 points per 100 possessions) and 180th in defensive efficiency (104.9 points per 100 minutes) while ranking 294th in tempo (66.6 possessions per 40 minutes, they should play Iron Maiden at the Thomas & Mack Center).

The Dutchmen lost their lone previous meeting against UNLV way back on Dec. 30, 1992 — so long ago that I was not even two months removed from my first visit to the Hofstra campus! — when future NBA star and rabble rouser J.R. Rider scored 20 points to lead 16th-ranked Running Rebels to a 79-41 win over the Flying Dutchmen, who were playing the season as an independent. UNLV’s head coach that season was the late great Rollie Massimino, whose assistants included some guys named Jay Wright and Tom Pecora. I wonder if they ever got head coaching jobs!

Hofstra is 0-7 in all sports all-time against UNLV. Hmm I smell some family business getting settled tonight. The Flying Dutchwomen softball and volleyball teams are each 0-2 against UNLV — the softball team’s first loss to the Runnin’ Rebels was in the 1993 NCAA Tournament at Hofstra — while the men’s soccer and women’s basketball teams are each 0-1. 

Hofstra is 2-2 all-time against current Mountain West schools. The Dutchmen beat San Jose State, 85-76, on Nov 17, 2022 to even the all-time series with the Spartans. The Dutchmen beat Air Force during the 1991-92 season before falling to UNLV the following season. 

At KenPom.com this afternoon, Hofstra is ranked 98th while UNLV is ranked 101st. That’s close! KenPom.com predicts a 73-71 loss for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 5-point favorites. That’s a big swing. The Dutchmen are 5-5 against the spread this season.

WEST COAST IS THE BEST COAST

Is there anything better than watching a local team play a late-night game on the west coast ? Well, I guess it’s not that great if you don’t have the hours of a vampire like me. Anyway! The Dutchmen are 2-3 in west coast games that tip off after 10 PM EST in the CAA era (2001-present, though tonight is the fourth such game in the last five seasons — a pretty remarkable feat considering the Dutchmen were mostly limited to the east coast due to the pandemic in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons).

San Jose State 85-76 W 11/17/22

San Diego 79-69 L 11/27/19

UCLA 88-78 W 11/21/19

Oregon State 82-72 L 11/16/11

Gonzaga 69-61 L 11/22/02

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

That call was so bad, the NCAA just put Cleveland State on probation bias! (The late Jerry Tarkanian was in fact a renegade, but he wasn’t wrong about the NCAA’s idea of selective punishment)

Game fixers in the hot tub bias! (That’s what finally did in UNLV)

Grandmama bias! (Duh)

Why did you have to lose your perfect season to Duke in 1991 bias? (Sure, it was one of the most seismic games in NCAA history, but ugh. Also, I just realized how awesome it would have been to play Duke & UNLV in consecutive games, maybe next year)

Guy Fieri bias! (The chef went to UNLV)

I'll Be Quirky: Norfolk State at Hofstra

If you're a certain age, you're now humming a certain theme song.

The game we’d waited 30 years to see looked for a little while like it’d been the upset we’d been waiting 30 years to see. But Kyle Filipowski and the rest of Duke’s blue bloods were too much for the Flying Dutchmen, whose bid to knock off another Goliath faded in the second half of an 89-68 loss Tuesday night. The Dutchmen will look to get back in the win column this afternoon, when they host Norfolk State in the final home game of the non-conference slate. Already? Here’s a look back at the loss to the Blue Devils and a look ahead to…the Spartans? The Spartans.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Darlinstone Dubar (24 points, eight rebounds) stoked hopes of an upset by matching Kyle Filipowski with 17 first-half points as the Dutchmen took six leads spanning almost six minutes and went ahead by as many as five points, but Duke took the lead for good by heading into entered the locker room on a 12-2 run and was never seriously threatened in the second half. The Dutchmen held a pair of early leads before the Blue Devils took their biggest first half lead at 16-10 following a 9-3 run. Dubar then sparked a 27-16 surge by scoring 12 points on four 3-pointers. Tyler Thomas’ 3-pointer gave the Dutchmen a 37-32 lead with 3:56 left and Darlinstone blocked a shot by Filipowski on the next trip down the floor, but Thomas missed a 3-pointer and Dubar turned the ball over prior to the under-4 timeout. Filipowski scored five straight points after the stoppage, after which Dubar gave the Dutchmen their final lead with a layup with 2:17 left. The Blue Devils then scored seven points in the last two minutes to take a 44-39 lead. Jacco Fritz hit a layup to begin the second half and missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer before Duke scored eight unanswered points in a 68-second span to extend its lead to 52-41. The Dutchmen inched within nine points four times, the last at 64-55 with 9:33 left, but Duke ended any upset hopes with a 12-0 run and eventually led by as many as 25 as Filipowski (28 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists) messed around and almost got a triple-double. Dubar sank a career-high seven 3-pointers while Thomas had 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Jaquan Carlos (10 points, nine assists) again flirted with a double-double while Fritz had nine points and five rebounds in a Dolly Parton/Sheena Easton special.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Duke, 12/12)

3: Darlinstone Dubar

2: Tyler Thomas

1: Jaquan Carlos

SEASON STANDINGS

Tyler Thomas 21

Darlinstone Dubar 20

Jaquan Carlos 10

Jacco Fritz 6

Bryce Washington 2

KiJan Robinson 1

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TEN GAMES

With Tuesday’s loss, the Dutchmen fell to 6-4. This ties the 2023-24 team for the 28th-best record in school history through seven games. This is the second straight season in which the Dutchmen have opened 6-4 and the 17th time overall in school history. The Dutchmen have had the same record this year as last year following each of the last five games. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 10 games:

NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 5-5

1976-77: 7-3

1999-2000: 6-4 

2000-01: 7-3

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 6-4

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 6-4

2004-05: 9-1 (most recent 9-1 start, loss to Syracuse in 10th game was first of season)

2005-06: 8-2

2006-07: 6-4

2015-16: 6-4 

2018-19: 7-3 (most recent 7-3 start, marked fourth win in the 16-game winning streak)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 6-4

1961-62: 9-1

1962-63: 7-3

1963-64: 9-1

Some other notable eight-game starts:

2021-22: 5-5 (most recent 5-5 start)

2013-14: 3-7 (most recent 3-7 start)

2008-09: 8-2 (most recent 8-2 start)

2007-08: 2-8 (most recent 2-8 start)

2003-04: 4-6 (most recent 4-6 start)

2002-03: 1-9 (most recent 1-9 start)

2001-02: 5-5 (at .500 for the last time)

1994-95: 2-8 (Jay Wright’s first team)

1993-94: 1-9 (VBK’s last team)

1960-61: 10-0 (most recent 10-0 start)

1959-60: 10-0

1955-56: 10-0

1947-48: 9-1 (loss to Brooklyn Polytech in 10th game was first of season)

The Dutchmen have never opened a season 0-10.

Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.

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 SEVENTY-SEVEN

With Tuesday’s loss, Speedy Claxton fell to 52-25 (.675) as head coach. That’s the second-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 77 games at the helm. The last 23 games mark the highest Claxton has been in the all-time game-to-game standings since he became head coach in 2021-22.

Paul Lynner 55-22 (.714, 77th game was the 18th game of his third season in 1964-65)

SPEEDY CLAXTON 52-25 (.675, 77th game was the 10th game of his third season in 2023-24)

Butch van Breda Kolff I 49-28 (.636, 77th game was the second game of his fourth season in 1957-58)

Dick Berg 40-37 (.519, 77th game was the 22nd game of his third season in 1982-83)

Butch van Breda Kolff II 38-39 (.494, 77th game was the 20th game of his third season in 1990-91)

Joe Mihalich 36-41 (.468, 77th game was the 10th game of his third season in 2015-16)

Mo Cassara 34-43 (.442, 77th game was the 12th game of his third season in 2012-13)

Roger Gaeckler 29-48 (.377, 77th game was the fifth game of his fourth season in 1975-76)

Jay Wright 29-48 (.377, 77th game was the 22nd game of his third season in 1996-97) 

Tom Pecora 26-51 (.338, 77th game was the 16th game of his third season in 2003-04)

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.

POTENT AGAINST THE POWER FOES

Despite the loss Tuesday night, Darlinstone Dubar became the latest Hofstra player to thrive on the big stage. Dubar led the Dutchmen with 24 points as he authored the 16th 20-point performance by a Hofstra player in 17 games against a power conference foe since the 2013-14 season, the start of the Joe Mihalich/Mike Farrelly/Speedy Claxton era.

Darlinstone Dubar 24 pts vs. Duke, 12/12/23

Tyler Thomas 25 pts vs. Rutgers, 3/14/23

Amar’e Marshall 24 pts vs. Purdue, 12/7/22

Aaron Estrada 22 pts vs. Arkansas, 12/18/21

Jalen Ray 22 pts vs. Arkansas, 12/18/21

Jalen Ray 22 pts vs. Rutgers, 11/29/20

Desure Buie 29 pts vs. UCLA, 11/21/19

Jalen Ray 27 pts vs. UCLA, 11/21/19

Justin Wright-Foreman 29 pts vs. North Carolina State, 3/19/19

Justin Wright-Foreman 27 pts vs. Maryland, 11/11/18

Justin Wright-Foreman 25 pts vs. Villanova, 12/22/17

Eli Pemberton 23 pts vs. Auburn, 11/19/17

Justin Wright-Foreman 20 pts vs. Clemson, 11/17/17

Juan’ya Green 28 pts vs. South Carolina, 11/22/15

Brian Bernardi 24 pts vs. Florida State, 11/20/15

Dion Nesmith 24 pts vs. Louisville, 11/12/13

Only three power opponents have held the Dutchmen’s leading scorer to fewer than 20 points — barely — over the last 11 seasons. Juan’ya Green had 19 points against North Carolina State on Nov. 17, 2014, Deron Powers scored 18 points against Kentucky on Dec. 11, 2016 and Jalen Ray finished with 18 points against Maryland on Nov. 19, 2021.

D-STONE’S DOUBLE TROUBLE

Darlinstone Dubar’s streak of consecutive double-doubles ended at three games Tuesday night, but he still led the Dutchmen with 24 points and eight rebounds in the loss to Duke. Dubar is the first Hofstra player to hold at least a share of the team lead in scoring and rebounding against a power conference foe since Justin Wright-Foreman, who led the Dutchmen with 27 points and tied Jacquil Taylor for the team lead with five rebounds in an 80-69 loss to Maryland on Nov. 16, 2018. Dubar is the first Hofstra player with sole possession of the lead in both categories since one of the He Who Shall Not Be Nameds had 17 points and five rebounds in an 83-54 loss to Purdue on Nov. 11, 2012. (You can probably guess who that was)

D-STONE DEALING

Darlinstone Dubar extended the longest active streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player after he finished with 24 points Tuesday night. Dubar has scored in double figures in all 10 games this season, which is his longest single-season stretch of consecutive double-figure efforts, and in 12 straight games overall dating back to the 88-86 overtime win over Rutgers in the first round of the NIT on Mar. 14. 

D-STONE DEALING FROM DEEP

Darlinstone Dubar was particularly hot from outside Tuesday, when he went 7-of-11 from 3-point land. The seven 3-pointers shattered Dubar’s previous career high of five, set against Buffalo way back on Nov. 20, and marked the third time this season he’s hit at least four 3-pointers in a game. He also had four 3-pointers against South Florida on Nov. 30. Dubar never sank more than three 3-pointers in a game in his first two seasons with the Dutchmen.

D-STONE’S FAST START

Darlinstone Dubar wasted little time getting into double figures on Tuesday, when he scored 17 points in the first half while helping the Dutchmen to a series of early leads. Prior to Tuesday, Dubar scored 17 points or fewer in 65 of his first 76 games for the Dutchmen.

LUCKY SEVENS (part one)

Another game, another Hofstra player hitting at least seven 3-pointers. Darlinstone Dubar’s impressive performance from outside Tuesday marked the third time this season a player has hit at least seven 3-pointers in a game for the Dutchmen. Tyler Thomas hit a career-high eight 3-pointers in the season-opening win over Division III St. Joseph’s (NY) on Nov. 6 before hitting seven 3-pointers against South Florida on Nov. 30. A player has now drained at least seven 3-pointers in a game 20 times in the Dutchmen’s last 437 games dating back to Feb. 13, 2010, when Cornelius Vines tied the then-school record by hitting seven 3-pointers against UNC Wilmington. Vines, Frank Walker (Dec. 10, 1987) and Jason Hernandez (Jan. 28, 2000) were the only Hofstra players to hit seven 3-pointers in a game in the first 674 games of the 3-point shot era, which began in 1986-87. Another way to look at that: There have been as many instances of a Hofstra player hitting at least seven 3-pointers in a game as many times in 10 games this season as there were in the first 674 games of the the 3-point shot era. Now THAT’S quirky!

LUCKY SEVENS (part two)

Darlinstone Dubar did figure out a way to stand alone with his seven 3-pointers on Tuesday night. At 6-foot-8, Dubar is the tallest Hofstra player — by far — to hit at least seven 3-pointers in a game. Prior to Tuesday, the tallest player to collect at least seven 3-pointers in a game for the Dutchmen was 6-foot-5 Tareq Coburn. So Dubar stands head and shoulders above his peers! We bring you the most essential info here at I’ll Be Quirky, folks.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

Tyler Thomas, swapping Batman and Robin roles with Darlinstone Dubar, scored 18 points in Tuesday’s loss Thomas has scored in double figures in 33 of his last 35 games and 38 times in 45 games overall since joining the Dutchmen last season.

JC’S NEAR DD

Jaquan Carlos can, as Tom Pecora used to say about Loren Stokes, stuff a stat sheet. Carlos again flirted with a double-double Tuesday night, when he finished with 10 points and eight assists. It’s the fifth time this season Carlos has missed a double-double by no more than two points or two assists and the seventh tie he’s done so since the start of last season.

JACCO TAKES THE MORNING TRAIN

Sure, it’d be easier to make the Dolly Parton reference here, but we need to give Sheena Easton some love because she’s not the one topping the album charts and performing at halftime of the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game. Jacco Fritz scored nine points and added five rebounds while playing 31 minutes Tuesday night. It was the third time this season Fritz has scored at least nine points and finished with at least five rebounds.

SCORELESS STARTER

Bryce Washington was scoreless in 16 minutes Tuesday. It was the third time this season a Hofstra starter has been held without a point. Jacco Fritz was scoreless against St. Joseph’s (NY) on Nov. 6 and against George Washington on Nov. 14.

A BUSY FARMER

Freshman Khalil Farmer played a career-high 26 minutes Tuesday, when he scored two points and pulled down a pair of rebounds while collecting one steal. Farmer previously played 21 minutes against Division III St. Joseph’s (NY) on Nov. 6 and against Iona on Dec. 6.

ROBINSON’S RUN

Another freshman, KiJan Robinson, scored all five of his points in the final 1:45 Tuesday night. The five points were the most for Robinson since he scored a career-high 13 points against Buffalo on Nov. 20.

KYLE’S NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE

We don’t have to like Duke — nobody has to like Duke! — but near triple-doubles are impressive regardless of author. Kyle Filipowski finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes Tuesday night. He probably would have gotten a chance to finish it off if a certain former George Mason head coach was his head coach! Anyway, Filipowski is the first player to come that close to a triple-double against the Dutchmen since Drexel’s James Butler had 23 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the Dutchmen’s 81-74 win on Feb. 20, 2020. A Hofstra opponent hasn’t recorded a triple-double since Marshall’s DeAndre Kane had 33 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the Dutchmen’s 103-100 double-overtime win on Nov. 18, 2012. And then what happened?

OVER THE AIR

Today’s game is slated to be carried live on Flo Hoops. For subscription options, click here. Hofstra will also provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.

NORFOLK STATE AND THE MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Norfolk State, under 11th-year head coach Robert Jones, is 7-4 this season after it began a Long Island swing by falling to Stony Brook. 84-78, on Wednesday night. Like most MEAC schools, Norfolk State is spending the bulk of its non-league season on the road. This is the fourth straight road game for the Spartans, who play 10 of their 12 Division I opponents on the road.

Norfolk State was picked to finish second in the eight-team MEAC. The Spartans are led by a pair of familiar faces in junior guard Jamarii Thomas and graduate transfer Allen Betrand, each of whom began their careers at CAA schools. Thomas, who played the last two seasons at UNC Wilmington and was named to the preseason all-MEAC third team, is averaging a team-high 20.0 points and 3.7 assists per game. Betrand, who played his first two seasons at Towson before transferring to Rhode Island and Rider, ranks second on the Spartans with 11.5 ppg. Graduate student guard Christian Ings, a preseason all-MEAC first team selection, is averaging 8.5 ppg while junior guard Jaylani Darden, a transfer from Longwood, leads Norfolk State with 6.5 rebounds per game.

The Dutchmen and Spartans have three common opponents this season. In addition to battling Stony Brook, Norfolk State beat Hampton, 75-68, on Nov. 13 and defeated William & Mary 96-62 on Nov. 28.

At KenPom.com, Norfolk State is ranked 197th nationally in offensive efficiency (103.9 points per 100 possessions) and 258th in defensive efficiency (108.4 points per 100 minutes) while ranking 277th in tempo (67.1 possessions per 40 minutes).

The Dutchmen won the lone previous meeting against Norfolk State in men’s basketball on Dec. 2, 2014, when Ameen Tanksley scored 30 points in an 88-74 win at the Arena. Hofstra is 8-4 in all sports all-time against Norfolk State. The baseball team is 4-4 against the Spartans while the Flying Dutchwomen basketball (2-0) and softball (1-0) teams have won their meetings with Norfolk State. The only team sport in which both schools field teams and have not played one another is women’s volleyball, which is sort of quirky because the Flying Dutchwomen volleyball team has played EVERYONE.

Hofstra is 10-6 all-time against current MEAC schools, though the last MEAC school it played was North Carolina A&T on Nov. 14, 2018, when the Dutchmen earned a 92-72 win. North Carolina A&T, of course, is now a CAA rival. The Dutchmen last opposed a current MEAC school on Nov. 11, 2016, when they edged Coppin State, 74-72.

At KenPom.com this afternoon, Hofstra is ranked 103rd while Coppin State is ranked 233rd. KenPom.com predicts a 76-66 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 9 1/2-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 4-5 against the spread this season.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Downtown Brown bias! (Tim Reid, who played the foil for the Simon brothers on “Simon & Simon,” graduated from Norfolk State in 1968)

J.B. Smoove bias! (The comedian attended Norfolk State)

Former outdoor track & field champions bias! (Norfolk State won back-to-back Division II national championships in 1973-74)

You’re the same age as us bias! (In a truly cool bit of quirkiness, Norfolk State was also founded in 1935, I think the Spiderman meme goes here)