Possible file photo of me meeting Pat Kelsey (tattoo not shown) and learning about the needlessness of coat racks following Monday's game.
The Flying Dutchmen won what amounted to an exhibition game Monday night, when they held off a late rally by Charleston to earn an 89-84 win. That served as the precursor to tonight, when the third-seeded Dutchmen are scheduled to face sixth-seeded Charleston in an immediate rematch in the CAA quarterfinals. Here’s a look back at the Cougars and a look ahead to…uhh, the Cougars.
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Neither team treated the tune-up like an exhibition Monday as the Dutchmen trailed just once and led by as many as 12 points in the second half before Charleston, playing its uniquely chaotic style, charged back and made it a one-possession game several times in the final 75 seconds. A 3-pointer by Omar Silverio gave the Dutchmen their biggest lead at 57-45 with 12:33 left, after which the Cougars got within between four and six points eight times before Ben Burnham’s dunk closed the Dutchmen's lead to 80-77 with 1:13 remaining. Aaron Estrada responded with a 3-pointer and Raekwon Horton hit a layup for Charleston before Silverio drained a pair of free throws. Reyne Smith then sank a 3-pointer, after which Estrada hit two more free throws. Caleb Burgess fouled Smith on a 3-pointer and the freshman hit the first two free throws before missing the third. Jalen Ray pulled down the rebound and finally iced the game with a pair of free throws with seven seconds left. John Meeks missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, which was interesting for entertainment purposes only. Estrada put the finishing touches on his CAA Player of the Year season by leading the Dutchmen with 28 points and seven assists while tying for the team lead with six rebounds. Silverio had another strong game with 19 points, five rebounds and two steals while Jarrod Simmons had 10 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes. Burgess had seven points, six assists and three steals while Abayomi Iyiola had six points and six rebounds despite fouling out in 19 minutes.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Charleston, 2/28)
3: Aaron Estrada
2: Omar Silverio
1: Jarrod Simmons
SEASON STANDINGS
Aaron Estrada 63
Jalen Ray 32
Darlinstone Dubar 30
Zach Cooks 21
Omar Silverio 17
Abayomi Iyiola 13
Caleb Burgess 4
Kvonn Cramer 4
Jarrod Simmons 2
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
Yes! The Dutchmen previously posted three 89-83 wins — most recently over UNC Wilmington on Jan. 31, 2021 — and also earned wins by scores of 90-84 and 89-85 but had never before won 89-84. Neat!
This is the 11th unicorn score victory of the season for the Dutchmen, who recorded no unicorn scores last season after recording 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.
11/24/21: 87-49 over Molloy
11/27/21: 98-84 over Detroit Mercy
12/1/21: 81-77 over Princeton
12/4/21: 88-69 over Bucknell
12/12/21: 102-52 over John Jay
12/18/21: 89-81 over Arkansas
12/22/21: 77-71 over Monmouth
1/9/22: 87-80 over James Madison
2/5/22: 85-78 over James Madison
2/15/22: 97-64 over Elon
2/28/22: 89-84 over Charleston
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER THIRTY-ONE GAMES
With Monday's win, the Dutchmen improved to 21-10, which is tied for the ninth-best record among the 20 teams that have played at least 31 games in program history. It’s the third time the Dutchmen have opened 21-10 and the first time since the 2010-11 season. Here is how postseason-bound Hofstra teams fared through 31 games.
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1999-2000: 24-7 (season ended with an 86-66 loss to Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, only 24-7 start)
2000-01: 26-5 (season ended with a 61-48 loss to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which snapped the program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, best 31-game record in program history)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 23-8 (most recent 23-8 start, beat James Madison in regular season finale to clinch second straight CAA regular season title)
Hofstra’s two other Division I tournament teams — the 1975-76 and 1976-77 squads — each completed their seasons in fewer than 31 games, as did all four of the schools Division II tournament teams (the 1958-59, 1961-62, 1962-63 and 1963-64 squads).
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 22-9 (lost to Drexel in America East semifinals)
2005-06: 25-6 (beat Nebraska, 73-62, in the first round of the NIT)
2006-07: 22-9 (most recent 22-9 start, lost to George Mason—PASS THE BALL TO AGUDIO, GREG—in the CAA quarterfinals)
2015-16: 23-8 (beat Drexel in the CAA quarterfinals)
2018-19: 25-6 (most recent 25-6 start, beat Delaware in regular season finale to clinch the outright CAA regular season title)
The 2004-05 NIT team completed its season in fewer than 31 games.
Some other notable 31-game records — in fact, all of them!
2017-18: 19-12 (most recent 19-12 start, season ended with a loss to UNC Wilmington in the CAA quarterfinals)
2016-17: 15-16 (only 15-16 start, beat James Madison in regular season finale to get within one game of .500 for the fifth time since falling under .500 for good on Jan. 14, last win of season)
2014-15: 19-12 (lost to James Madison in regular season finale)
2013-14: 9-22 (only 9-22 start, beat James Madison in regular season finale, Joe Mihalich's first season)
2012-13: 7-24 (lost to Towson in regular season finale, worst 31-game record in program history)
2011-12: 10-21 (only 10-21 start, beat UNC Wilmington in regular season finale, last win of season)
2010-11: 21-10 (beat William & Mary in CAA quarterfinals, last win of season)
2009-10: 18-13 (only 18-13 start, beat Georgia State in regular season finale)
2008-09: 21-10 (beat UNC Wilmington in CAA first round, last win of season)
2001-02: 12-19 (only 12-19 start, beat George Mason in CAA quarterfinals, hee hee, last win of season)
1997-98: 19-12 (season ended with loss to Delaware in America East semifinals)
Hofstra has never been 31-0, 30-1, 29-2, 28-3, 27-4, 20-11, 17-14, 16-15, 14-17, 13-18, 11-20, 8-23, 6-24, 6-25, 5-26, 4-27, 3-28, 2-29, 1-30 or 0-31 through 31 games.
Sixty-six seasons were completed in fewer than 31 games:
1936-37 (7-10)
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)
1950-51 (18-11)
1951-52 (26-3)
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 (24-4)
1962-63 (23-7)
1963-64 (23-6)
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)
1975-76 (18-12)
1976-77 (23-7)
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)
1984-85 (14-15)
1985-86 (17-13)
1986-87 (10-18)
1987-88 (6-21)
1988-89 (14-15)
1989-90 (13-15)
1990-91 (14-14)
1991-92 (20-9)
1992-93 (9-18)
1993-94 (9-20)
1994-95 (10-18)
1995-96 (9-18)
1996-97 (12-15)
2002-03 (8-21)
2003-04 (14-15)
2004-05 (21-9)
2007-08 (12-18)
2020-21 (13-10)
(Well) 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 THIRTY-ONE
With Monday's win, Speedy Claxton improved to 212-10 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 21-10 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11. Only two other first-year coaches presided over seasons of at least 31 games, and Tom Pecora (12-19 in 2001-02) and Joe Mihalich (9-22 in 2013-14) were both under .500 by this point.
The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 30 games for 12 coaches, six of whom finished .500 or better. Jack McDonald posted an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly led the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48 and Butch van Breda Kolff went 22-4 in the first season of his first stint in 1955-56. Paul Lynner went 23-7 in 1962-63, 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.
IT’S TECHNICALLY A COMEBACK WIN
The Dutchmen trailed just once on Monday — at 2-0 following a layup by Dimitrius Underwood 1:28 into the game. Jalen Ray and Abayomi Iyiola hit baskets on the next two trips down the floor for the Dutchmen, who allowed Charleston to tie the score at 4-4 but never trailed again after Caleb Burgess’ 3-pointer with 16:25 left. It was the second time this season the Dutchmen have won a game in which they only trailed after the opponent’s opening points -- or point, as was the case when Delaware raced out to a 1-0 lead in the Dutchmen’s 80-66 win on Feb. 12.
A PANTING PACE
Not surprisingly, playing Charleston — whose average of 74.4 possessions per game is the most in the country per KenPom.com — resulted in the Dutchmen setting a season-high with 82 possessions. It was the most possessions for the Dutchmen in a non-overtime game since they had 84 possessions in a 111-69 win over NYIT on Nov. 15, 2019 and the most possessions for the Dutchmen in a non-overtime game against a Division I foe since they had 82 possessions in a 91-62 loss to Monmouth on Nov. 9, 2012. The Dutchmen previously recorded at least 82 possessions in a win over a Division I opponent on Dec. 29, 2011, when they had 82 possessions in an 83-75 victory over Iona.
TURNOVER (AND OVER AND OVER)
Charleston committed a whopping 28 turnovers Monday, which is the most turnovers committed by a Hofstra opponent since at least the 2010-11 season (the first season of the Play Index era at College Basketball Reference). The Dutchmen forced more than 25 turnovers just one other time — on Feb, 1, 2012, when Towson finished with 26 turnovers in Hofstra’s 74-49 win.
SO MANY STEALS
The Dutchmen finished with 15 steals Monday, their second-most of the season behind a 21-steal game against Division III John ay on Dec. 12 and their most against a Division I opponent since recording 15 steals against Northeastern in a 79-68 loss on Feb. 12, 2015.
THE 25/5/5 CLUB
Aaron Estrada finished with 28 points, six rebounds and seven assists Monday. It marked the fourth time this season he’s had at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game, which is the most 25/5/5 games by a Hofstra player in a single season since Justin Wright-Foreman had five such games during the 2017-18 campaign.
ESTRADA IS MR. EVERYTHING
Updating a great Aaron Estrada-Speedy Claxton connection stat, this one from Hofstra SID Stephen Gorchov: Estrada is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. No Hofstra player has averaged at least 18 points, five rebounds and five assists in a season since Claxton averaged 22.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists during the 1999-2000 season.
AARON BUCKETS
And updating a great stat from Hofstra in-game host and occasional play-by-play man Dan Savarino: Aaron Estrada has scored more points in CAA play alone — 400 points in 18 league games — than he did in his entire CAREER entering this season (255 points at Saint Peter’s and Oregon). In addition, he has at least 20 points in 13 CAA games and in 16 games overall after posting just one 20-point game at Saint Peter’s and Oregon.
NO MORE MR MIDRANGE?
Estrada snapped a four-game outside shooting slump Monday, when he went 4-of-7 from 3-point land. That equaled the number of 3-pointers he hit in his previous four games, during which he was 4-of-24 from beyond the arc. Prior to that slump, he enjoyed a four-game stretch in which he was 18-of-30 from beyond the arc.
FAST-STARTING SILVERIO
Omar Silverio scored 10 points in the first half Monday and finished with 19 points, The 10-point first half marked the fifth time this season Silverio has reached double figures before halftime, following his performances against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 27, Monmouth on Dec. 22, Elon on Feb. 15 and William & Mary on Feb. 26. Silverio entered this season having scored in double figures in just seven of his first 40 games with Hofstra and in eight of his 68 games overall dating back to his season with Rhode Island in 2018-19.
OMAR OFF THE BENCH
Silverio scored at least 10 points off the bench Monday for the 10th time this season. He’s the first player with at least 10 double-digit scoring efforts off the bench in a season since Jalen Ray, who had 10 such games during the 2018-19 campaign.
SHOPPING AT THE FIVE AND DIME
Jarrod Simmons played through foul trouble Monday night to finish with 10 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes. It’s the second time this season Simmons has finished with at least 10 points and five rebounds and the first since he scored a career-high 11 points and added five rebounds against Delaware on Feb. 12. Simmons had just one game with at least 10 points and five rebounds during his three-year career at Pennsylvania, for whom he had 16 points and five rebounds against Division II Penn State Brandywine in his fourth game as a collegian on Nov, 18, 2017. The 10-point game Monday marked the second time in the last six games Simmons has scored in double figures after he scored in double figures just three times in his first 80 career games.
(It should be the dime and five, since Simmons scored 10 points and five rebounds, but just work with me people, here, its not my fault Woolworth’s called it a five and dime)
SPEAKING OF DIMES…
Caleb Burgess finished with six assists Monday, one behind Aaron Estrada for the team lead. It was the second time this season two Hofstra players had at least six assists in a game and the first time since Dec. 1, when Estrada and Zach Cooks both had six assists against Princeton.
SCUFFLING RAY
Jalen Ray went 0-for-7 from 3-point land Monday, which were his most misses without a make from beyond the arc and the second time this season a Hofstra player has gone 0-for-7 from long distance. Omar Silverio also went 0-for-7 from 3-point land against Stony Brook on Dec. 8.
STRATEGIC PLAYING TIME?
Something that was interesting considering the Dutchmen knew they were going to play Charleston again in six days: Darlinstone Dubar played a season-low 13 minutes while Jaquan Carlos, the last player in the rotation, played four minutes, all in the first half. For Carlos, it was the first time he’s played in the first half since Jan. 29 when he appeared against UNC Wilmington.
AWARDS SEASON
Congrats again to Aaron Estrada, who joined a pretty good club by being named the CAA Player of the Year on Friday. Estrada is the fifth Hofstra player to win the award, joining two-time winners Loren Stokes (2006-07), Charles Jenkins (2010-11) and Justin Wright-Foreman (2018-19) as well as Juan’ya Green (2016).
Jalen Ray was named to the all-CAA third team while Zach Cooks became the first Hofstra player to win Sixth Man of the Year honors. Ray has earned all-CAA honors three times after being named to the all-rookie team in 2018 and being named to the all-CAA first team last year.
OVER THE AIR
If tonight’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.
THE DUTCHMEN IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT PLAY
The Flying Dutchmen enter today 19-19 in CAA Tournament play since 2002, 28-24 in conference tournament play in the NAC/America East/CAA era (1994-present) and 31-24 in conference tournament play in the Defiantly Dutch era (1993-present), which, let’s face it, is the only era that matters because it includes the ECC. Hello Litos.
In the CAA, the Dutchmen fell in the title game three times — in 2006, 2016 and 2019 — before finally breaking through and winning it all by beating Northeastern 70-61 in the title game on Mar. 10, 2020. It was a nice 24 hours. The repeat championship bid ended in the conference semifinal last season, when the Dutchmen lost to Elon 76-58.
In addition to the one title game win and three title game losses as a CAA member, the Dutchmen have fallen in the semifinals five times, been eliminated in the quarterfinals eight times and lost on Pillowfight Friday four times since 2002. Dating back to 1994, the Dutchmen have won four championships (1994 ECC, 2000 America East, 2001 America East, 2020 CAA), fallen in the title game three times, lost in the semifinals seven times, fallen in the quarterfinals nine times and been eliminated in an outbracket game five times (we didn’t call it Pillowfight Friday back in the NAC).
First-year Hofstra coaches are 4-0 in their first conference tournament games in the DD era.
THE DUTCHMEN AS THE THREE SEED
The Dutchmen finished in third place in the CAA with a 13-5 record. This is the fifth time the Dutchmen have earned the three seed since joining the CAA in 2001-02 and the first time since 2017-18. Earlier, the Dutchmen earned the three seed in the America East tournament in 1999, when they fell in the semifinals (because Speedy Claxton was hurt, damnit).
The Dutchmen are 3-3 as the three seed in CAA Tournament play with a trip to the championship game in 2006 (grrr) and a trip to the semifinals in 2011 as well as quarterfinal losses in 2007 (FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLAY STATION PASS THE BALL TO AGUDIO HE’S WIDE OPEN FOR THREE) and 2018.
The three seed is 47-35 all-time in CAA Tournament play and has won the championship four times (Northeastern in 2015, James Madison in 2013, George Mason in 2008, Richmond in 1998), lost in the finals 11 times, lost in the semifinals 13 times and lost in the first round 11 times.
Since 2002, the three seed is 26-16, including 14-6 in its first game. In addition to winning three titles, the the third seed has lost in the finals six times since 2002, lost in the semifinals five times and been eliminated in the quarterfinals six times, including the last two seasons and in three of the last four years dating back to Hofstra’s loss in 2018.
AN IMMEDIATE REMATCH
The Dutchmen and Charleston are battling a quarterfinal game immediately after opposing one another in the regular season finale. Good news for the Dutchmen: The team that won the regular season finale is 10-6 in an outbracket or quarterfinal rematch. Bad news: The team that lost the regular season finale has won the last three quarterfinal rematches. The Dutchmen beat James Madison in 2015 while William & Mary beat James Madison in 2016 and Northeastern defeated Towson in 2020.
This marks the fifth time since joining the CAA that the Dutchmen have been part of an immediate rematch in the first round or quarterfinals. In addition to falling to James Madison in the season finale and winning the quarterfinal game in 2015, the Dutchmen lost to Towson but beat the Tigers in the rematch in 2002 and won both the regular season finale and first-round rematch against UNC Wilmington in 2009 and Georgia State in 2010.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERY FOE
While the Dutchmen are familiar with Charleston this season, tonight marks the first Hofstra-Charleston CAA tournament game. The Dutchmen have faced every other one of their past and present CAA foes at least once in a tournament.
ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A VICTORY?
The Dutchmen swept Charleston in regular season action this year. Hofstra is 12-3 all-time when facing in a conference tournament a team it beat twice in the regular season.
2020: Beat Drexel
2020: Beat Northeastern
2019: Beat Delaware
2017: Lost to Delaware
2016: Beat Drexel
2016: Beat W&M
2014: Beat UNCW
2011: Beat W&M
2009: Beat UNCW
2001: Beat Vermont (America East)
2001: Beat Maine (America East)
2000: Beat Boston U. (America East)
2000: Beat Drexel (America East)
1992: Beat UMBC (East Coast Conference)
1991: Lost to UMBC (East Coast Conference)
1984: Lost to Lafayette (East Coast Conference)
In addition, since the 2001-02 season, CAA teams are 53-24 when facing in a conference tournament a team they beat twice in the regular season. Bad news: The team that swept the regular season series is just 2-4 in the tournament rematch the last two seasons. Good news: The two wins were recorded by Hofstra against Drexel and Northeastern in the 2020 tournament! The Hofstra-Charleston game is the only quarterfinal tilt pitting a team against an opponent it beat twice this season.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON
The Cougars, under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey, are 16-14 overall and 8-10 in the CAA after — and you probably remember this! — an 89-84 loss to the Dutchmen on Monday.
The Dutchmen and Cougars had no common foes in non-league play. In the CAA, both teams swept Northeastern and were swept by Towson. Hofstra swept James Madison, which swept Charleston, as well as Delaware and Drexel, both of whom split with the Cougars. The Dutchmen split with UNC Wilmington, which swept Charleston, as well as with Elon and William & Mary, each of whom the Cougars swept.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 119th at KenPom.com. The Cougars, who were picked to finish seventh, are ranked 159th. Same spots as Monday!
According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank fourth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (108.5) and second in defensive efficiency (102.6). The Cougars rank sixth in conference-only offensive efficiency (105.4) and fourth in defensive efficiency (103.7). Notably, Charleston leads the nation in adjusted tempo (74.4 possessions per 40 minutes).
Graduate student forward John Meeks, a transfer from Bucknell who was named to the all-CAA season team, leads the Cougars with 13.7 points per game and ranks third in rebounding at 4.6 rebounds per game. He’s played 49 minutes off the bench in the last five games since suffering an injury against James Madison on Feb. 17. Freshman guard Reyne Smith, a native of Australia who won five CAA Rookie of the Week awards and made the all-rookie team, is averaging 12.4 points per game. Graduate student forward Dimitrius Underwood, a transfer from Division III Texas-Dallas who made the all-defensive team, is averaging 11.4 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. Junior guard Brendan Tucker is also averaging 11.4 points per game. Graduate student forward Osinachi Smart ranks second in rebounding at 4.7 rebounds per game.
KenPom.com predicts an 82-80 win for the Dutchmen. I’m already super nervous! Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 3-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 12-14-3 against the spread this season after pushing for the second straight game Monday.
ALL-TIME VS. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
Hofstra is 9-7 against Charleston in a series that began with the Cougars joining the CAA prior to the 2013-14 season. The Dutchmen swept the regular season series this year for the first time since 2018-19 by edging the Cougars, 76-73, on Jan. 27 before escaping with the win Monday. Eight of the last 10 games between the teams have been decided by six points or fewer. Charleston was the only team Hofstra didn’t face during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Pat Kelsey impersonated Speedy Claxton before the Xavier-Hofstra game during Speedy’s freshman season! (True story)
Your head coach has better tattoos than our head coach bias! (I think so, anyway)
Pat Kelsey was the first head coach in America to wear jeans with a polo shirt bias! (Maybe not, but I have to admit, that Hank Scorpio comp made me laugh)
John Meeks looks like Ryan Daly who looks like Kevin Van Valkenberg bias! (They really do look like our friend and ESPN.com writer)
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