I don't know what it is, but I'm starting to think the Dutchmen have it.
Turns out some history repeated itself against William & Mary, but it was the kind we liked. The Flying Dutchmen capped a historic Quarterfinal Sunday of lopsided upsets at the CAA Tournament by doing the lopsided thing but avoiding that upset thing in a wire-to-wire 92-61 win over the sixth-seeded Tribe. The Dutchmen will face our seventh-seeded friends at Towson, who walloped second-seeded Charleston, 81-56, earlier Sunday night.
As will hopefully remain the case for the rest of the season however long it lasts, here’s the Keep It Perky featuring the usual postgame boilerplate material. The individual news and notes from the win over the Tribe and a preview of the Towson semifinal game will be posted later today. Enjoy!
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Cruz Davis (30 points) snapped out of his two-game slump in resounding fashion to lead four players in double figures for the Dutchmen, who dominated William & Mary on both ends of the floor in recording their second-most lopsided CAA Tournament win, behind only the 94-46 win over William & Mary on Mar. 5, 2023. German Plotnikov opened the game with consecutive 3-pointers (SPOILER ALERT) for the Dutchmen, who maintained a lead between one and 10 points until Preston Edmead scored five points in a 10-0 run that ended the half and extended the Dutchmen’s lead to 50-33. The Tribe got no closer than 15 in the second half, when the Dutchmen went ahead by 20 points for good at 58-37 on Plotnikov’s 3-pointer with 15:39 left. The Dutchmen opened up their first 30-point lead at 84-54 on a pair of Edmead free throws with 4:48 remaining and expanded the lead to as many as 36 before William & Mary scored seven of the final nine points. Davis was 9-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-9 from 3-point land, while adding five assists and two steals. Plotnikov finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Biggie Patterson (10 points, 12 rebounds) had another double-double off the bench while Silas Sunday finished with seven points and 12 rebounds. Edmead collected 13 points despite playing through foul trouble. The Dutchmen limited William & Mary to 20.8 percent shooting in the second half, including 1-of-12 from 3-point land, to complete an evening in which they held the Tribe to 34.8 percent shooting (16-of-46) overall, including 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from beyond the arc.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. William & Mary, 3/8)
3: Cruz Davis
2: German Plotnikov
1: Biggie Patterson
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 69
Preston Edmead 49
Biggie Patterson 27
German Plotnikov 14
Silas Sunday 10
Joshua DeCady 8
Victory Onuetu 6
Joshua Aaron Reaves 3
Jaeden Roberts 3
A.J. Wills 2
Alex Tsynkevich 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! Would you believe that? Well, I’ve never lied to you before, but given the high-scoring and lopsided natures of the victory, this might be the most surprising non-unicorn score ever — especially since the Dutchmen’s previous 92-61 win came way back on Feb. 21, 1963, when the Dutchmen rolled past Wilkes College. That was back when my parents were teenagers and the shot clock was more than two decades from being implemented! Truly quirky.
The Dutchmen have recorded seven unicorn score victories this season and 67 (six seven!) unicorn score victories since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores.
2025-26: Seven unicorn scores
2024-25: Seven unicorn scores
2023-24: Seven unicorn scores
2022-23: 12 unicorn scores
2021-22: 11 unicorn scores
2020-21: Zero unicorn scores (really)
2019-20: 13 unicorn scores
2018-19: 10 unicorn scores
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?
German Plotnikov recorded his first Keith Hernandez in exactly two months by opening the game with a 3-pointer that gave the Dutchmen the lead for good at (double checking here) 3-0 with 18:33 left. It’s the second time this season the Keith Hernandez has been recorded with a 3-pointer to open the scoring and the first time since Cruz Davis did it against Monmouth on Jan. 31. It’s also the second straight CAA Tournament game in which the Keith Hernandez was recorded with a 3-pointer to open the scoring. Davis did the trick against North Carolina A&T on Mar. 7, 2025 to spark a 77-55 win.
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Molloy, 11/10/25 (18:47 left 1H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Bucknell, 11/14/25 (13:30 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking free throw vs. La Salle, 11/28/25 (1:35 left 2H)
Preston Edmead tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Merrimack, 11/29/25 (15:25 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pennsylvania, 11/30/25 (18:03 left 2H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pittsburgh, 12/7/25 (8:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking free throw vs. Old Westbury, 12/10/25 (19:50 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Syracuse, 12/13/25 (:31.9 left 2H)
Cruz Davis nostalgic 3-point play vs. Quinnipiac, 12/21/25 (3:54 left 2H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Campbell, 12/29/25 (12:05 left 1H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Drexel, 1/3/26 (18:27 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Towson, 1/8/26 (3:33 left 1H)
A.J. Wills tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/10/26 (4:31 left OT)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/31/26 (19:50 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Northeastern, 2/5/26 (12:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking jumper vs. Towson, 2/7/26 (16:21 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking jumper vs. Charleston, 2/12/26 (6:44 left 1H)
Joshua DeCady go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Hampton, 2/19/26 (15:29 left 1H)
Joshua DeCady tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Northeastern, 2/21/26 (6:00 left 1H)
Joshua DeCady go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Stony Brook, 2/28/26 (17:50 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking dunk vs. Drexel, 3/3/26 (15:27 left 2H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. William & Mary, 3/8/26 (18:33 left 1H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 6
German Plotnikov 5
Joshua DeCady 3
Preston Edmead 3
A.J. Wills 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Cruz Davis 9
German Plotnikov 8
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Biggie Patterson 3
Joshua DeCady 3
Preston Edmead 3
Michael Graham 3
Warren Williams 3
Silas Sunday 2
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
A.J. Wills 1
Eric Parnell 1
KiJan Robinson 1
Bryce Washington 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 THIRTY-TWO GAMES
The Dutchmen improved to 22-10 with Sunday night’s win. This ties the 2025-26 team for the sixth-best record in school history through 32 games. This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 22-10 since 2006-07 and the third time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 32 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 24-8 (most recent 24-8 start, beat Drexel in the CAA quarterfinals)
The 1975-76 team, Hofstra’s first to reach the NCAA Tournament, completed its season in 30 games (18-12), as did the 1976-77 team (23-7). The 1999-2000 NCAA Tournament team completed its season in 31 games (24-7), as did the 2000-01 team (26-5).
All four Hofstra teams to reach the NCAA Tournament at the Division II level completed their seasons in 30 games or fewer. The 1958-59 team finished 20-7 while the 1961-62 team ended up 24-4, the 1962-63 team finished 23-7 and the 1963-64 team went 23-6.
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 22-10 (season ended with a loss to Rutgers in the first round of the NIT)
2005-06: 26-6 (beat Saint Joseph’s, 77-75, in the second round of the NIT)
2006-07: 22-10 (season ended with a loss to DePaul in the first round of the NIT)
2015-16: 24-8 (beat William & Mary in the CAA semifinals, final win of season)
2018-19: 26-6 (most recent 26-6 start, beat James Madison in the CAA quarterfinals)
2022-23: 24-8 (most recent 24-8 start, win in 32nd game marked final win of 12-game winning streak that ended in the CAA Tournament semifinals)
The 2004-05 NIT team completed its season at 21-9.
Some other notable 32-game records — in fact, all of them!
2024-25: 15-17 (most recent 15-17 start, beat North Carolina A&T in CAA first round, final win of season)
2023-24: 20-12 (most recent 20-12 starts, beat Delaware in CAA Quarterfinals, final win of season)
2021-22: 21-11 (season ended with a loss to Charleston in the CAA quarterfinals)
2016-17: 15-17 (season ended with loss to Delaware in CAA first round)
2014-15: 20-12 (beat James Madison in CAA quarterfinals, final win of season)
2013-14: 10-22 (beat UNC Wilmington in CAA first round, final win of season)
2012-13: 7-25 (season ended with loss to Delaware in CAA quarterfinals, worst 32-game record in school history)
2011-12: 10-22 (season ended with loss to Georgia State in CAA first round)
2010-11: 21-11 (lost to Old Dominion in CAA semifinals, final win of season)
2009-10: 19-13 (beat Georgia State in CAA first round, final win of season)
2008-09: 21-11 (season ended with loss to Old Dominion in CAA quarterfinals)
2001-02: 12-20 (season ended with loss to VCU in CAA semifinals)
Hofstra has never been (deep breath) 32-0, 31-1, 30-2, 29-3, 28-4, 27-5, 25-7, 23-9, 18-14, 17-15, 16-16, 14-18, 13-19, 11-21, 9-23, 8-24, 6-26, 5-27, 4-28, 3-29, 2-30, 1-31 or 0-32 through 32 games.
Seventy-one seasons were completed in fewer than 32 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)
1997-98 (19-12)
1998-99 (22-9)
1999-2000 (24-7)
2000-01 (26-5)
2002-03 (8-21)
2003-04 (14-15)
2004-05 (21-9)
2007-08 (12-18)
2017-18 (19-12)
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.
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 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE
With Sunday night’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 103-62 (.624) as head coach. That’s the third-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 165 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 125-40 (.758, 165th game was the 14th game of his seventh season in 1961-62)
Frank Reilly 118-47 (.715, 165th game was the ninth game of his seventh season in 1953-54)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 103-62 (.624, 165th game was the 32nd game of his fifth season in 2025-26)
Paul Lynner 100-65 (.606, 165th game was the fifth game of his seventh season in 1968-69)
Joe Mihalich 89-76 (.539, 165th game was the first game of his sixth season in 2017-18)
Tom Pecora 89-76 (.539, 165th game was the 12th game of his sixth season in 2006-07)
Jay Wright 85-80 (.515, 165th game was the 20th game of his fifth season in 1998-99)
Dick Berg 84-81 (.509, 165th game was the 26th game of his sixth season in 1985-86)
Roger Gaeckler 79-86 (.479, 165th game was the sixth game of his seventh season in 1978-79)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 76-89 (.461, 165th game was the 24th game of his sixth season in 1993-94)
Welcome to the 100-win club, Paul Lynner, who reaches the milestone as his 1968-69 team improves to 2-3. There’s no movement in the standings, though game no 165 is notable for Joe Mihalich, whose 2018-19 season offers a sign of things to come in a 27-win season by beating Mount St. Mary’s, 79-61, in the opener, as well as Butch van Breda Kolff, who earns his final regular season win as the Dutchmen defeat St. Francis (NY), 96-89. I sure hope he has at least three more wins to come!
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenure of Jack Smith (1943-46).
Smith finished 27-32 in his three seasons while Mo Cassara finished 38-59 in his three seasons. 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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