This season has us this close to drinking suntan lotion and tripping out.
A wheezing home stretch unlike any we’ve seen in quite some time will continue tonight, when the Flying Dutchmen aim to snap their five-game losing streak — the longest skid of the Speedy Claxton era — as they host Monmouth. Oh sure NOW a blizzard veers off into the Atlantic Ocean!
As will hopefully remain the routine throughout conference play, I ran down the boilerplate material from Saturday’s lopsided loss to Hampton in Wednesday’s Keep It Perky. Today will be about the individual news and notes from that loss as well as a preview of the Hawks. As always, try and enjoy!
NO LONGER STREAKING
Every loss brings with it the end of another impressive streak for the Dutchmen. With Saturday’s loss, the Dutchmen fell to 4-10 in the CAA and thus guaranteed themselves a losing season in league play and the end of their streak of seven straight winning seasons in CAA action. That was the longest such streak by a CAA school since VCU ended its tenure in the league with 12 straight winning seasons from 2000-01 through 2011-12. Pretty good company. The longest active streaks belong to Towson and UNC Wilmington, each of whom have locked up their fourth straight winning season in the CAA. Drexel’s streak ended at three seasons, though the Dragons (5-9) can still finish at .500.
FIVE BELOW
It’s not just a store selling discounted junk that is still overpriced! The loss last Saturday was the fifth straight for the Dutchmen, which is their longest losing streak of the Speedy Claxton Era and their longest losing streak since a six-game skid from Jan. 2-19, 2017 — the longest losing streak of the Joe Mihalich Era. Every other CAA school that’s been in the league for all or part of the past eight seasons suffered at least two five-game losing streaks in the interim except Charleston, which hasn’t dropped five in a row since way back in the 2014-15 season. In fact, the other CAA schools combined for 61 losing streaks lasting five games or longer in between the Dutchmen’s five-game losing streaks. So there is that.
The five-game losing streak is tied for the 21st-longest active skid in the country entering play today. Good news though — three losing streaks of five games or longer ended Wednesday night, when Longwood, Mercer and Penn State all won. And we’re still 13 losses behind The Citadel for the longest active losing streak in the country. So we’ve got that going for us!
STUCK ON ZERO
The Dutchmen and Hampton remained scoreless Saturday until Kyrese Mullen sank a free throw with 17:03 left in the first half. It was the deepest into a game both the Dutchmen and their opponent have been scoreless this season. But Jean Aranguren’s jumper with 16:44 left in the first half ended only the fourth-longest game-opening drought of the season for the Dutchmen, who were scoreless for at least the first three minutes three times in a four-game span from Nov. 13-22. The Dutchmen didn’t score until there was 15:15 left in the first half of the 49-48 win over Seton Hall on Nov. 13 (ahh, memories) and were scoreless until there was 15:53 left in the first half of the 79-61 loss to Florida State on Nov. 19 before they were held without a point until there was 16:34 left in the 80-44 loss to Houston on Nov. 22.
HALFWAY WHERE?
The Dutchmen ended the first half Saturday trailing Hampton 35-16 (decent football score?). It was the lowest-scoring half for the Dutchmen since way back on Jan. 21, 2009, when they scored 15 first half points but still beat William & Mary 54-44. That was 528 games ago! Unfortunately for the Dutchmen, low-scoring halves have become the norm this season. The Dutchmen have scored fewer than 20 points in a half five times this season after doing so just four times in the previous 11 seasons combined. The five halves with fewer than 20 points are the most for the Dutchmen since the 2012-13 season, when they scored fewer than 20 points in a half six times. It’s never good when the 2012-13 season is the nearest comp.
NO FIRST HALF FADE
Do the last two minutes of the first half matter when you’re already down double digits? But we update everything here, so we must note the Dutchmen were outscored 3-0 over the final two minutes of the first half Saturday, when they held William & Mary to 1-of-3 shooting. Alas, the Dutchmen were 0-for-3 over the final two minutes of the half. Overall this season in CAA play, the Dutchmen have been outscored 46-38 in the final two minutes of the first half in 14 league games, during which their opponent has shot 14-of-33 from the field (42.4 percent) in the last two minutes and scored on their final possession six times. The Dutchmen have shot 15-of-40 from the field (37.5 percent) in the last two minutes of the first half and scored on their last possession four times. But the Dutchmen have not scored on their last possession of the first half since Jan. 25, when Michael Graham’s dunk preceded a free throw by Campbell’s Cam Gregory. And then what happened?
STIRRING SANDERS?
Half his points came in the meaningless final two minutes, but Jaquan Sanders continued to show flashes of his non-conference self Saturday afternoon, when he led the Dutchmen with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting while adding a team-high four assists and two steals over 23 minutes. Sanders led the Dutchmen in scoring for the first time since he scored a career-high 24 points in the 90-76 win over Iona on Nov. 6 while the two steals marked his most since he had three thefts agains the Gaels. In addition, Sanders’ 5-for-5 performance from the free throw line Saturday marked his most free throws and attempts since he was 5-for-6 against Iona. Sanders has 17 points over 43 minutes in the last two games after scoring just eight points over 51 minutes in the previous eight games in which he played dating back to Jan. 4. Even with Saturday’s solid game, Sanders has just 54 points on 14-of-59 shooting, including 9-of-34 from 3-point land, in the last 14 games in which he’s played dating back to Dec. 6 after opening the season by averaging 11.3 points and shooting 34 percent from the field, including 33 percent from 3-point land, over the Dutchmen’s first nine games.
JEAN FITS
Jean Aranguren returned to the land of double-digit scorers Saturday afternoon, when he had 10 points, albeit on 4-of-14 shooting, including an 0-for-4 effort from 3-point land. Aranguren, whose streak of double-digit scoring efforts ended at 15 straight games when he was limited to seven points in the 61-60 loss to William & Mary last Thursday night, has 17 points (obvs) over the last two games, his lowest two-game total since he had 15 points against Arkansas State and St. Joseph’s (NY) from Dec. 1-6. Aranguren has scored in double figures 23 times in 27 games this season after reaching double figures just nine times in 33 games last season with Iona.
GRAHAM SHOPS AT THE FIVE-AND-DIME
Michael Graham returned to his usual level of production Saturday afternoon, when he finished with five points and 10 rebounds over 24 minutes. Graham, who didn’t record a point or a rebound while playing a season-low four minutes in last Thursday’s 61-60 loss to William & Mary, has scored at least five points 21 times this season and pulled down at least 10 rebounds 11 times, including five times in the last seven games. The Dutchmen are now 9-9 when Graham plays at least 20 minutes in a game.
GERMAN FOR STARTERS
German Plotnikov, the lone returning player who made a start last season for the Dutchmen, made his third straight start Saturday afternoon, when he finished with five points and three rebounds in 26 minutes. The 26 minutes were the most for Plotnikov since Jan. 25, when he he logged a career-high 43 minutes in the 69-67 overtime loss to Campbell. Plotnikov has scored in 18 of the last 19 games in which he’s played after scoring just once in the first six games.
NO LONGER CRUZ-IN
Cruz Davis’ streak of double-digit scoring efforts ended at eight straight games Saturday afternoon, when he scored a season-low four points while shooting 2-of-12 from the field while adding three rebounds and three assists before fouling out in 32 minutes. Davis, who missed his first eight field goal attempts, is the first Hofstra player to make two or fewer field goals while hoisting at least 12 shots since Jean Aranguren was also 2-of-12 from the field in the 55-37 win over Northeastern on Jan. 4. He has scored in double figures in 17 of the Dutchmen’s 27 games this season after scoring at least 10 points just five times over the previous two seasons for Iona and St. John’s.
SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY
Silas Sunday joined fellow big man Michael Graham in resuming his usual role Saturday afternoon, when Sunday had four points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. Sunday played just 1:15 and didn’t record a stat in the 61-60 loss to William & Mary last Thursday. He has played at least 10 minutes in 21 of 27 games this season after logging 10 minutes 17 times in 32 games last season.
TJ TO THE EXTREME
TJ Gadsden returned to the starting lineup Saturday afternoon, when he also reverted to his inconsistent form as he finished with three points and three rebounds over 16 minutes. Gadsden had five fewer points and played 12 fewer minutes than he did when he came off the bench in last Thursday’s 61-60 loss to William & Mary. He has scored in double figures just twice this season after scoring at least 10 points in 11 of 25 games last season for Canisius.
DECADY’S DANCE
Joshua DeCady continued establishing himself as a key member of the Dutchmen’s front court rotation Saturday afternoon, when he was again the first player off the bench before he finished with three points and one rebound over 11 minutes. DeCady has played 42 minutes over the last two games, by far the most minutes he’s logged over a two-game span during his freshman season. He has also played in eight straight games overall after seeing the court just 12 times in the Dutchmen’s first 19 games.
HERE’S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON
KiJan Robinson’s quiet stretch continued Saturday afternoon, when he scored one point while adding two rebounds and one steal in eight minutes. It was the second straight eight-minute effort for Robinson following his first DNP of the season Feb, 8. He has just 17 points over 74 minutes in the last eight games he’s played, a span in which Robinson was held scoreless twice. Robinson was held scoreless just twice in the Dutchmen’s first 18 games, a span in which he averaged 8.1 points and 21 minutes per game.
PARNELL’S CAMEO
Eric Parnell played six minutes Saturday afternoon, when he finished with two points. Parnell, who ended each half on the court, has scored in each of the lat three games in which he’s played dating back to Feb. 1 after going scoreless in the three games he played from Dec. 29 through Jan. 23.
FARMER’S CLUB TRILLION
Khalil Farmer may have continued hitting the late-season wall Saturday afternoon, when he played nine minutes without recording a stat. That’s a Club Trillion! It’s the lengthiest Club Trillion by a Hofstra player since Bryce Washington played 16 scoreless minutes without hoisting a shot or recording a rebound, assist, steal, block or turnover last Feb. 22, when the Dutchmen beat Drexel 69-57. Farmer has just 13 points and four rebounds over 108 minutes in his last six games after collecting 40 points and six rebounds in five games (one start) from Jan. 11 through Jan. 25. Overall, Farmer has scored in 18 of the last 22 games in which he’s played after he didn’t score in his first two games of the season.
OVER THE AIR
This afternoon’s game is slated to be carried live on CBS Sports Network, which is channel 215 in the Optimum/Altice Are Our Overlords Universe, at least until our Optimum/Altice overlords decide to drop CBSSN in a carriage dispute. Not-so-fun fact: The Dutchmen are 0-3 on CBS Sports Network this season but have squandered a double-digit lead in all three losses. Hofstra will provide a radio feed as well as live stats at the Pride Productions hub.
SCOUTING MONMOUTH
The Hawks, under 14th-year head coach King Rice, are 9-18 overall and 7-7 in CAA play following an 80-54 loss to Towson last Saturday. Greaaaat, Rice won’t have Monmouth super ready to go tonight or anything like that. The Hawks are 4-2 in their last six games with two losses to the Tigers. Monmouth is in a three-way tie for sixth place with Not Twitter Guy and Northeastern.
The Dutchmen and Hawks had one common opponent in non-conference play. The Dutchmen edged Seton Hall 49-48 on Nov. 13 before Monmouth snapped its season-opening eight-game losing streak by upsetting the Pirates 63-51 on Nov. 30. So we can both beat UConn!
In CAA play, the Dutchmen have beaten UNC Wilmington and Not Twitter Guy, each of whom beat Monmouth, as well as Delaware, which split with the Hawks. The Dutchmen lost to Charleston, Drexel and Hampton, all of whom Monmouth beat, and lost to Stony Brook, whom the Hawks swept, and Towson, which swept the Hawks. Hofstra was swept by Campbell and William & Mary, each of whom won their lone meetings against Monmouth.
The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fourth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 222nd at KenPom.com. That’s the lowest the Dutchmen have been entering a game in more than 11 years and a drop of 12 spots from pregame Saturday. The Hawks, who were picked to finish eighth, are ranked 286th, a drop of 72 spots from their preseason ranking but an 18-spot improvement from their season-worst ranking entering play Nov. 30.
According to KenPom.com, the Dutchmen rank last in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (98.4 points per 100 possessions) and third in defensive efficiency (102.2 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 64.2 possessions per 40 minutes, the 11th-most in the league. The Hawks rank ninth in the CAA in offensive efficiency (105.9 points per 100 possessions) and 11th in defensive efficiency (108.8 points per 100 possessions) while averaging 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes, the sixth-most in the league.
The Hawks return eight players from last year’s team. True sophomore Abdi Bashir Jr., whom Rice is begging other teams not to tamper with until at least after the season, leads Monmouth with 20.3 points per game. Junior Madison Durr, who opened his career with two seasons at The Citadel, is averaging 13.1 points per game and a team-high 3.0 assists per game. Imagine going from The Citadel to the Jersey shore, that must be a bends-inducing experience. True junior Jack Collins, a preseason all-CAA honorable mention selection, is averaging 8.6 points per game and a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game along while ranking second on the Hawks with 2.6 assists per game. True sophomore Cornelius Robinson Jr. is averaging 7.1 points per game and is second on the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. Redshirt sophomore Jaret Valencia, a preseason all-CAA second team selection, is averaging 6.1 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game, though he’s missed six games due to injury and has come off the bench in each of his last five games following a three-game absence due to a hip injury.
KenPom.com predicts a 69-63 win for the Dutchmen. Err, if he says so. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 6 1/2-point favorites. Again, if they say so. The Dutchmen are 11-14 against the spread this season.
ALL-TIME VS. MONMOUTH
Hofstra is 8-7 all-time against Monmouth in a series that began in 1983-84. The Hawks ended the Dutchmen’s seven-game winning streak in the series in the lone clash between the teams last season on Jan. 24, when Monmouth overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to earn an 81-78 victory.
THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER (OR BLUESKY) IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
King Rice really needs to bring back the flat top bias! (I’ll keep screaming it until he does it)
The 1982 movie version of Annie was shot on your campus bias! (Per Wikipedia, which is never wrong)
Real Housewives of New Jersey bias! (Per Wikipedia, which is never wrong, at least two cast members are Monmouth alums…I’ll take their word for it)
This season is going worse than the trip Dee & Dennis took to the Jersey Shore bias! (Maybe not that bad, but it feels like it)
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