No better way to celebrate Billy Joel's return to the radio than Long Island's Division I men's basketball teams playing a game that embodied this 1990 hit.
Wait a minute, you’re saying to yourself. The Flying Dutchmen overcame a 13-point deficit against Stony Brook last night and earned a euphoric 72-71 win thanks to Tyler Thomas threading a jumper between a double team with 0.4 seconds left. (Shake harder, Stony Brook!) The Dutchmen aren’t scheduled to play again until hosting Towson on Saturday night. So what is this nonsense appearing on my screen?
Well, I’ve been been thinking for a while about splitting up I’ll Be Quirky and doing the boilerplate postgame material (recap, 3 Stars, the Dutchmen’s record through however many games and Speedy Claxton’s standing with previous Hofstra coaches through however many games, plus, hopefully, the unicorn score and Keith Hernandez bits) in one file after the game instead of waiting until the next game’s IBQ.
Long story short is this isn’t labor-intensive work, but it is time-consuming and it’s often turning a night before project into a night before and the day of project. And whether it’s because I’m posting later on the day of the game or because the files are much longer, I’m receiving far fewer views this season than last. None of this season’s posts have matched the AVERAGE view count of last season’s posts. While I know this is a niche blog, that’s still a sizable drop. My guess is the biggest factor is Tickle Me Stupid tanking Twitter for writers.
There isn’t much I can do about that, but maybe splitting up IBQ — a solid idea, considering the first IBQ in 2016-17 was 592 words and Thursday’s post was A LOT longer than that — and trying to post links on other social media sites will help. We’ll see. Of course, in my own inimitable style, I’m doing this halfway through the conference season.
Also, as is always the case with all of IBQ, none of this is solely or even mostly my idea. Loyal readers Jaden Daly, Stephen Gorchov and Jess Kalbfleisch all suggested this to me as well, so if they think it’s a good idea, it must be.
Anyway, I’ve already buried the lede in my own inimitable style, which probably isn’t helping readership! Drop me a line on Twitter (yeah, that’s what I’m calling it) with any feedback you have on the new split format and please stop back tomorrow for the rest of the IBQ, including individual news and notes from the win over Stony Brook and a preview of Towson, Now finally…the first postgame IBQ!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Tyler Thomas scored 26 points and hit an off-balance, double-teamed jumper with 0.4 seconds left to cap a chaotic final 30 seconds, complete a comeback from a 13-point deficit and get the Dutchmen to the midway point of the CAA season with a winning record. Stony Brook led 41-31 following a first half in which the Seawolves shot 53.6 percent, including 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from 3-point land. The Seawolves scored the first three points of the second half and led 50-38 with 16:22 before the Dutchmen began inching back with a a 10-2 run. Stony Brook took two more seven-point leads, the last at 58-51, before German Plotnikov scored the final six points of an 8-0 run to give the Dutchmen their first lead in almost 28 minutes. The two Tylers — Stephenson-Moore and Thomas — then channeled their inner Larry Bird and Michael Jordan by combining to score the next 14 points. Thomas hit a pair of free throws to put the Dutchmen ahead 66-64 with 2:00 left, but Dean Noll hit a corner 3-pointer 15 seconds later. Following a timeout, Jaquan Carlos missed a 3-pointer and Aaron Clarke sank a jumper on the other end to extend the Seawolves’ lead to 69-66 with 30 seconds left. Jacco Fritz was fouled while hitting a layup off a gorgeous feed from Carlos under the basket but missed the free throw. Keenan Fitzmorris hit a pair of free throws before Fritz put back a Carlos miss to again pull the Dutchmen within one with seven seconds left. Carlos fouled Clarke, who missed the front end of the one-and-one to set up Thomas’ game-winner. The Dutchmen weren’t whistled for a technical foul for mobbing Thomas on the court (phew) and Stephenson-Moore missed a 65-foot Frantz Massenat attempt at the buzzer. Thomas added six rebounds an three assists while Carlos (11 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds) came as close as humanly possible to a triple-double without getting it. Carlos also didn’t commit a turnover in 38 minutes. Plotnikov scored a career-high 17 points while Dubar (10 points, seven rebounds) flirted with a double-double. Fritz had eight points and five rebounds for the Dutchmen, who got all their scoring from starters.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Stony Brook, 2/1)
3: Tyler Thomas
2: Jaquan Carlos
1: German Plotnikov
SEASON STANDINGS
Tyler Thomas 43
Darlinstone Dubar 43
Jaquan Carlos 23
Jacco Fritz 9
Bryce Washington 6
German Plotnikov 5
KiJan Robinson 2
Silas Sunday 1
A tie!
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
Yes! Holy crap! Prior to last night, the Dutchmen had a whopping 32 victories end within three points of a 72-71 final, but never AT 72-71 until now! That’s awesome.
This is the Dutchmen’s fifth unicorn score victory of the season but their first since way back on Nov. 30. Wow! Spanning two months AND two years! That’s by far the longest in-season unicorn score victory drought since in the five-plus seasons we’ve been tracking unicorn scores.
11/6/23: 101-48 over St. Joseph’s (NY)
11/20/23: 102-68 over Buffalo
11/22/23: 97-92 (OT) over High Point
11/30/23: 82-63 over South Florida
2/1/24: 72-71 over Stony Brook
The Dutchmen recorded 12 unicorn score victories last season after recording 11 unicorn score victories in 2021-22, 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.
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Moar history! Tyler Thomas, of course, recorded the Keith Hernandez by hitting the go-ahead and game-winning jumper with 0.4 seconds left. That is, not surprisingly, the latest in a game the Keith Hernandez has ever been recorded, or at least since the start of last season. And in a wild bit of quirkiness, Thomas has all four Keith Hernandezes recorded in either the final minute of regulation or overtime. That’s clutch. That’s the Keith Hernandez.
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)
Tyler Thomas go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Delaware, 1/6/24 (17:46 left 1H)
Bryce Washington go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Hampton, 1/18/24 (5:24 left 1H)
Darlinstone Dubar go-ahead jumper vs. Stony Brook, 1/22/24 (6:52 left 2H)
Darlinstone Dubar tie-breaking layup vs. William & Mary, 1/25/24 (19:47 left 1H)
Tyler Thomas go-ahead jumper vs. Stony Brook, 2/1/24 (:0.4 left 2H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Darlinstone Dubar 5
Tyler Thomas 4
Bryce Washington 1
Jacco Fritz 1
Jaquan Carlos 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since last season)
Tyler Thomas 14
Darlinstone Dubar 10
Aaron Estrada 4
Warren Williams 3
Jaquan Carlos 2
German Plotnikov 2
Bryce Washington 1
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 TWENTY-TWO GAMES
With Thursday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 12-10. This ties the 2023-24 team for the 36th-best record in school history through 22 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 12-10 since way back in 1990-91 — which, as you no doubt are tired of hearing by now, was my senior year of high school — and the sixth time overall in school history. The Dutchmen have been 8-8, 8-9, 10-9, 11-9 and 12-10 this season all for the first time since that 1990-91 season. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 22 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 12-10 (ended a season-long pattern of never being more than one game over or under .500)
1976-77: 16-6 (win in 22nd game marked second win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 17-5 (most recent 17-5 start, win in 22nd game marked final win of 10-game winning streak)
2000-01: 18-4 (win in 22nd game marked 10th win in program-record 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 15-7 (most recent 15-7 start)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 15-7
2004-05: 15-7
2005-06: 18-4 (most recent 18-4 start)
2006-07: 16-6
2015-16: 16-6 (most recent 16-6 start)
2018-19: 19-3 (most recent 19-3 start, win in 22nd game marked final win in the 16-game winning streak)
2022-23: 14-8 (most recent 14-8 start, win in 22nd game marked second win of 12-game winning streak that continued into the CAA Tournament)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 17-5
1961-62: 19-3
1962-63: 16-6 (fifth win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 18-4
Some other notable 22-game records:
2021-22: 13-9 (most recent 13-9 start)
2020-21: 13-9 (win over Delaware in the CAA quarterfinals was the final win of the season)
2016-17: 10-12 (most recent 10-12 start)
2013-14: 7-15 (most recent 7-15 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 5-17 (most recent 5-17 start, tied for worst 22-game record in school history)
1995-96: 7-15 (loss in 22nd game marked eighth loss of Jay Wright-era record nine-game losing streak)
1994-95: 7-15 (Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 5-17 (wins in games 21-22 were the first back-to-back wins all season; VBK’s last year)
1992-93: 6-16 (most recent 6-16 start)
1991-92: 14-8 (win in 22nd game was third in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1988-89: 9-13 (most recent 9-13 start)
1987-88: 5-17 (win in 22nd game snapped program-record 12-game losing streak)
1986-87: 8-14 (most recent 8-14 start)
1985-86: 13-9 (first and only other 13-9 start)
1984-85: 11-11 (most recent 11-11 start)
1981-82: 11-11 (at .500 for the last time, fourth loss of eight-game losing streak)
1978-79: 8-14 (last win of season and last win of Roger Gaeckler’s tenure)
1974-75: 8-13 (last loss of season)
1973-74: 6-16 (last win of season)
1972-73: 8-13 (last win of season)
1971-72: 11-11 (at .500 for the last time, first loss of season-ending four-game losing streak)
1970-71: 14-8 (first win of season-ending five-game winning streak)
1959-60: 21-1 (only 21-1 start & Hofstra’s winningest team, percentage-wise; win in 22nd game was 11th win of season-ending 13-game winning streak)
1955-56: 20-2 (only 20-2 start)
1946-47: 16-6 (last loss of season)
Hofstra has never been 22-0, 4-18, 3-19, 2-20, 1-21 or 0-22 through 22 games.
Eleven seasons were completed in fewer than 22 games:
1936-37: 10-7
1937-38: 10-4
1938-39: 10-8
1939-40: 12-9
1940-41: 13-7
1941-42: 15-6
1942-43: 15-6
1943-44: 7-12
1944-45: 8-13
1945-46: 12-7
1947-48: 13-6
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 EIGHTY-NINE
With Thursday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 58-31 (.652) as head coach. That’s tied for the second-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 88 games at the helm.
Paul Lynner 59-30 (.663, 88th game was the fourth game of his fourth season in 1965-66)
Frank Reilly 58-31 (.652, 89th game was the 18th game of his fourth season in 1950-51)
Butch van Breda Kolff I 58-31 (.652, 89th game was the 14th game of his fourth season in 1958-59)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 58-31 (.652, 89th game was the 22nd game of his third season in 2023-24)
Dick Berg 46-43 (.517, 89th game was the seventh game of his fourth season in 1983-84)
Joe Mihalich 46-43 (.517, 89th game was the 22nd game of his third season in 2015-16)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 44-45 (.494, 89th game was the fourth game of his fourth season in 1991-92)
Mo Cassara 37-52 (.416, 89th game was the 24th game of his third season in 2012-13)
Roger Gaeckler 36-53 (.404, 89th game was the 17th game of his fourth season in 1975-76)
Jay Wright 35-54 (.393, 89th game was the seventh game of his fourth season in 1997-98)
Tom Pecora 34-55 (.382, 89th game was the 28th game of his third season in 2003-04)
Paul Lynner moves into first while there’s a three-way tie for second, a tie for fifth and the eighth- thru 11th-place coaches separated by three wins.
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenure of Jack Smith (1943-46). But not Frank Reilly (1947-55) anymore!
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.
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