I'll Be Quirky: Northeastern at Hofstra

Maxine Bousiquot probably won't be there today, Snowy. 

Omar Silverio. That’s it. That’s the lede.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Omar Silverio put on the greatest long-range shooting display in Hofstra history Tuesday night, when he shattered the school record for 3-pointers by draining 11 (!!!) of them on his way to scoring 40 points — off the bench! — as the Dutchmen rolled to a 97-64 win over Elon. Silverio actually opened his outburst with a midrange jumper to generate the last tie of the game at 11-11 with 13:24 left in the first half. He then hit a 3-pointer on the next trip to put the Dutchmen up for good and hit his first six 3-pointers on his way to finishing with seven 3-pointers and 25 points in the first half — which ended with Aaron Estrada sinking a 75-footer at the buzzer to put the Dutchmen up 56-34. Silverio hit the record-tying and record-breaking 3-pointers on consecutive trips shortly after the midway point of the second half — he actually converted a four-point play on the record-breaking basket — and hit his next two 3-pointers for good measure to help the Dutchmen take their biggest lead at 88-52. Not bad. Estrada added 14 points and seven assists while Darlinstone Dubar (11 points and five rebounds) and Jalen Ray (10 points) also got into double figures. Jarrod Simmons pulled down a team-high six rebounds in just 16 minutes.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Elon, 2/15)

3: Omar Silverio

2: Omar Silverio

1: Omar Silverio

Can I do that? OK fine.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Elon, 2/15)

3: Omar Silverio

2: Aaron Estrada

1: Darlinstone Dubar

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 55

Darlinstone Dubar 30

Jalen Ray 28

Zach Cooks 19

Abayomi Iyiola 13

Omar Silverio 11

Kvonn Cramer 4

Jarrod Simmons 1

Caleb Burgess 1

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

Yes! Not a real surprise, as 97-64 seems to be a pretty unique score, but the Dutchmen did come close a handful of times, most recently in a 96-64 win over Division II Molloy (not Molly) on Nov. 16, 2015. The Dutchmen also beat U.S.M.M.A. 96-65 during the 1971-72 season, defeated Lycoming 95-64 during the 1962-63 season and cruised past Long Island 97-62 during the 1958-59 campaign.

This is the 10th 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

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-SEVEN GAMES

With Tuesday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 18-9, which is tied for the 16th-best record through 17 games in program history. It’s the first time the Dutchmen have opened 18-9 since the 2010-11 season and the fifth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 27 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 16-11 (win in 27th game came in ECC Tournament opener and marked fourth win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)

1976-77: 21-6 (win in 27th game came in ECC Tournament opener and marked seventh win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)

1999-2000: 21-6 (the 66-57 win over Drexel in 27th game gave the Dutchmen the outright America East regular season championship, most recent 21-6 start) 

2000-01: 23-4 (win in 27th game capped regular season and marked 15th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak, tied for best 27-game record)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 20-7 (most recent 20-7 start, win in 27th game was sixth win of eight-game winning streak)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 19-8

2004-05: 20-7 (win in 27th game came in regular season finale and was sixth win of seven-game winning streak)

2005-06: 22-5 (win in 27th game came in regular season finale)

2006-07: 19-8

2015-16: 19-8 (most recent 19-8 start)

2018-19: 22-5 (most recent 22-5 start)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 20-7 (season ended with third-round loss in NCAAs)

1961-62: 23-4 (won first-round NCAA game for final win of VBK’s first stint, tied for best 27-game record)

1962-63: 21-6 (win in NCAA opener was 10th win of 11-game winning streak)

1963-64: 22-5 (won NCAA opener)

Some other notable 27-game records:

2017-18: 16-11 (most recent 16-11 start)

2016-17: 13-14 (most recent 13-14 start)

2014-15: 17-10 (most recent 17-10 start)

2013-14: 8-19 (most recent 8-19 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 6-21 (most recent 6-21 start, tied for worst 27-game record in school history)

2009-10: 14-13 (most recent 14-13 start, over .500 for good)

2007-08: 11-16 (only 11-16 start)

2002-03: 7-20 (most recent 7-20 start, lost regular season finale)

2001-02: 10-17 (loss in 27th game marked sixth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)

1996-97: 12-15 (most recent 12-15 start, season ended w/loss in NAC quarterfinals)

1995-96: 9-18 (most recent 9-18 start, season ended w/loss in NAC outbracket game)

1994-95: 10-17 (beat Maine in NAC outbracket game for final win, Jay Wright’s first year)

1993-94: 7-20 (beat Chicago State to begin ECC Tournament run, VBK’s last year)

1992-93: 9-18 (lost season finale)

1991-92: 19-8 (103-87 win over UMBC in 27th game ended regular season, locked up no. 1 seed in ECC title game & was eighth win in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game, also the final 100-point game for Hofstra until 2010-11)

1990-91: 14-13 (lost regular season finale)

1989-90: 13-14 (won regular season finale)

1988-89: 13-14 (won regular season finale)

1987-88: 6-21 (season ended w/loss in ECC first round, tied for worst 27-game record in school history, final game for Dick Berg)

1986-87: 10-17 (lost regular season finale)

1985-86: 15-12 (only 15-12 start, won regular season finale)

1983-84: 14-13 (won regular season finale)

1982-83: 18-9 (season ended w/loss in ECC first round)

1980-81: 12-15 (season ended w/loss in ECC first round)

1979-80: 14-13 (final win of season, final win for Joe Harrington)

1978-79: 8-19 (lost season finale, final game for Roger Gaeckler)

1977-78: 8-19 (lost season finale)

1952-53: 20-7 (lost season finale)

Hofstra has never been 27-0, 26-1, 25-2, 24-3, 5-22, 4-23, 3-24, 2-25, 1-26 or 0-27 through 27 games.

Thirty-two seasons were completed in fewer than 27 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)

1948-49 (18-8)

1949-50 (17-9)

1953-54 (15-9)

1954-55 (19-7)

1955-56 (22-4)

1956-57 (11-15)

1957-58 (15-8)

1959-60 (23-1)

1960-61 (21-4)

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)

2020-21 (13-10)

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 TWENTY-SEVEN

With Tuesday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 18-9 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 17-9 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the fourth to post a .500 or better record through 26 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Paul Lynner opened 21-6 in 1962-63 and Joe Harrington started 14-13 in his lone season in 1979-80. The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 27 games for seven coaches, with Jack McDonald posting an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly leading the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48, Butch van Breda Kolff going 22-4 in the first season of his first stint in 1955-56 and Mike Farrelly directing the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.

EXCELLENT AGAINST ELON

The 33-point win was the Dutchmen’s most lopsided victory over a Division I team since a 102-61 win over Elon on Feb. 7, 2019. It was also the second-most lopsided win in a CAA game this season, behind only the 86-50 win Towson recorded against Elon last Saturday. 

FANTASTIC FIVE

Before we get to breaking down Omar Silverio’s insane game, a quick note to, uhh, note that the win Tuesday was the fifth straight for the Dutchmen. It marks the fourth straight season in which they’ve posted at least one CAA winning streak of five games or longer. That is the longest streak in the CAA — by far, as no other school even entered this season with five-game league winning streaks in consecutive season. (Somewhat of an asterisk there, as Charleston had at least one five-game winning streak in four consecutive seasons entering last year, when the Cougars played just 10 CAA games)

In addition, the Dutchmen have posted five winning streaks of at least five games since the 2013-14 season, the first in the Joe Mihalich/Mike Farrelly/Speedy Claxton era. That’s tied for the most such streaks over the last nine seasons with Charleston, Northeastern and Towson.

OMAR OFF THE BENCH (part one)

OK now to the mind-boggling shooting display by Omar Silverio. His 40 points were almost surely the most by a Hofstra player off the bench in at least the last 30 years. (I can’t officially confirm Demetrius Dudley started in his 44-point effort against Central Connecticut on Feb. 9, 1993, but I’m pretty confident he did) At the least, he had the most prolific effort by a Hofstra reserve since Justin Wright-Foreman scored 30 points against William & Mary on Jan. 2, 2017.

OMAR OFF THE BENCH (part two)

Omar Silverio was also the first Division I player to score 40 points off the bench in more than two years. Arizona State’s Alonzo Verge was the previous player to collect at least 40 points as a reserve on Dec. 18, 2019, when he had 43 points against Saint Mary’s.

A GOOD START

Omar Silverio hit his first six 3-point attempts for the second time this season — he drained his first seven 3-pointers against Detroit Mercy on Nov, 27 — and finished with seven 3-pointers. Prior to Tuesday, a Hofstra player hit as many as seven 3-pointers in a game just 17 times.

In addition, Silverio finished the first half with 25 points — just three points shy of his previous career-high, which was also set against Detroit Mercy, The 25 first-half points were the most by a Hofstra player in a half since Desure Buie scored 26 points in the second half of his 44-point performance against Elon on Jan. 4, 2020.

THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN

Of course, Silverio stayed pretty hot after halftime. His 11 3-pointers shattered the school record by three — Silverio, who had eight 3-pointers against Detroit Mercy, previously shared the mark with Brian Bernardi and Jalen Ray — and also broke the CAA record for 3-pointers in a game. George Mason’s Dre Smith (Jan, 19, 2008), Georgia State’s R.J. Hunter (Feb. 2, 2013) and Northeastern’s Bolden Brace (Feb. 23, 2017) each hit 10 3-pointers. Silverio was just the second Division I player this season to hit 11 3-pointers against a Division I foe, following in the footsteps of Winthrop’s Patrick Good (against Washington State on Nov. 22).

ELEVEN MAKES FOR A LASTING TEN?

Silverio’s historic effort marked the 10th time since 2000 the single-game school record for 3-pointers was matched or broken. Frank Walker, the first Hofstra player to drain seven 3-pointers in a game on Dec. 10, 1987, held sole possession of the record for 355 games until Jason Hernandez tied it against Northeastern on Jan 28, 2000. Hernandez and Walker shared the record for another 317 games until Cornelius Vines hit seven 3-pointers against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 13, 2010. The mark was tied four more times (once apiece by Mike Moore and Taran Buie and twice by the late great Zeke Upshaw) over the next 171 games before Brian Bernardi broke it against Canisius on Nov. 13, 2015. And Bernardi held sole possession of the record for 182 games, a span in which four players had at least one game with seven 3-pointers (Justin Wright-Foreman 3, Tareq Coburn 2 and Bernardi and Desure Buie with one apiece), before Jalen Ray tied Bernardi by hitting eight 3-pointers against Towson on Feb. 6, 2021. Silverio needed just 12 more games to turn the duo into a trio on Nov. 27 and 20 more games to stand alone.

FUN WITH NUMBERS

Some bullet point notes to underline just how bonkers a game Silverio had:

—In Hofstra’s first 1,122 games with the 3-point line, no one hit nine or 10 3-pointers. I mean, I know you know that already, but it’s just mind-boggling that in game no. 1,123, Silverio hits three more 3-pointers than anyone ever.

—Speedy Claxton attempted 11 3-pointers…IN HIS ENTIRE SOPHOMORE SEASON IN 1997-98. The 11 3-pointers made by Silverio on Tuesday were three fewer than Claxton had IN HIS FIRST THREE SEASONS COMBINED.

—In my three seasons on campus — from 1993-94 through 1995-96 — the Flying Dutchmen played 84 basketball games and hit as many as 11 3-pointers in a game TWICE. They drained 12 3-pointers against New Hampshire on Jan. 6, 1995 and again against Army on Jan. 30, 1995.

—Since 2010-11 — the first season of the Play Index era at College Basketball Reference — the Dutchmen have hit fewer than 11 3-pointers 299 times in 380 games.

TAKING HIS FREEBIES, TOO

In addition to his historic shooting from long range, Omar Silverio also went 5-for-5 at the free throw line. He is the third Division I player this season to score at least 40 points while making all his free throws (minimum five attempts). Liberty’s Darius McGhee did it twice — against Stanford on Dec. 23 and Florida Gulf Coast on Jan. 15 — before Bryant’s Charles Pride (!!!) achieved the feat against Saint Francis (PA) on Feb. 3.

ONE ESTRADA STREAK CONTINUES…

I suppose other players did things too Tuesday. Aaron Estrada scored in double figures for the 14th straight game Tuesday, which is the longest streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player this season and the longest by a Dutchman since Eli Pemberton ended his career by scoring in double figures in the final 14 games of the 2019-20 season.

…TWO ESTRADA STREAKS END

Estrada scored 14 points Tuesday, snapping his streak of five straight games in which he scored at least 20 points. He also hit two 3-pointers, ending a streak of four straight games in which he drained at least four 3-pointers.

AARON BUCKETS

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 — 331 points in 14 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 11 CAA games and in 14 games overall after posting just one 20-point game at Saint Peter’s and Oregon. 

RAY GAINING ON RICHARDSON

With his 10 points Tuesday, Jalen Ray crept closer to Norman Richardson for 11th place on the all-time Hofstra scoring list. Ray has 1,670 points, eight shy of surpassing Richardson. Ray has been in 11th place on the all-time list since Dec. 12, which capped a stretch dating back to Dec. 22, 2020 in which he gained at least half a spot on the all-time list 21 times in 26 games.

A QUIET COOKS

To be fair, when Omar Silverio is scoring 40 points, there’s not a lot of other points to go around. But Zach Cooks scored six points in 24 minutes Tuesday, which marked the third straight time Cooks scored fewer than 10 points. It’s the fifth time he’s been held to single digits in three consecutive games and the first tie since Jan. 4-11, 2020. Cooks has never scored in single digits in four straight games.

NINE FOR TEN

Nine players saw at least 10 minutes of playing time Thursday for the Dutchmen, It marked the first time nine players played at least 10 minutes since Nov. 29, 2020, when nine players actually played at least 13 minutes each in the season-opening 70-56 loss to Rutgers. (Remarkably, six of those players — starters Isaac Kante, Tareq Coburn and David Green and reserves Kevin Schutte, Shawndarius Cowart and Vukasin Masic — are no longer with the program)

OVER THE AIR

If today’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.

JOE MIHALICH DAY

Hofstra is slated to honor former head coach Joe Mihalich throughout today’s game. If you get a chance, please check out my feature from yesterday on Mihalich and the warm reception he’s received everywhere he and his wife Mary have traveled this season. One of the great perks of this job is the occasional chance to spend time with terrific people who leave you feeling better and happier at the end of the interview than you were beforehand.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN

The Huskies, under 16th-year head coach Bill Coen, are 7-18 overall and 1-13 in the CAA after falling to Drexel, 67-51, on Feb. 12. Northeastern, whose lone win is over second-place Towson, is already assured of its worst CAA record since joining the league in 2006-07. The Huskies finished 6-12 in 2010-11 

A hard-luck season began in the spring for the Huskies when superstar point guard Tyson Walker — known forever in these parts as the guy who might have flipped the 2020 title game result if he was anywhere close to 100 percent healthy — transferred to Michigan State. Highly touted UNC Wilmington transfer Joe Pridgen wasn’t granted immediate eligibility and the Huskies have had just two players — Jahmyl Telfort and Jason Strong — appear in every game this season. 

The Dutchmen and Huskies had two common foes in non-league play. Hofstra beat Duquesne 73-63 and defeated Detroit Mercy 98-84 on Nov. 27 while Northeastern also earned double-digit victories over the Dukes (71-55 on Nov. 19) and Titans (66-56 on Nov. 30), respectively.

In the CAA, Hofstra swept Delaware, Drexel and James Madison, all of whom also swept Northeastern, while splitting with UNC Wilmington, which swept the Huskies. The Dutchmen also beat Charleston and Elon, both of whom defeated Northeastern, while being swept by Towson. Both Hofstra and Northeastern have lost to William & Mary.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 100th at KenPom.com. The Huskies, who were picked to finish second, are ranked 267th.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank third in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (109.9) and third in defensive efficiency (102.0). The Huskies rank ninth in conference-only offensive efficiency (96.9) and last in defensive efficiency (111.9).

Telfort, a sophomore guard who was a preseason second-team all-CAA selection, leads the Huskies with 12.6 points per game. Graduate student guard Nikola Djogo is second in scoring at 11.8 points per game and second in rebounding at 5.3 rebounds per game. Redshirt senior guard Shaquille Walters, a preseason second-team all-CAA selection, is averaging 11.5 points per game while redshirt junior forward Chris Doherty is averaging 11.0 points per game and a team-high 9.0 rebounds per game.

KenPom.com predicts a 77-63 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 13-point favorites. The Dutchmen are 12-12-1 against the spread this season after covering for the third straight game Tuesday.

THE CAA RACE

The Dutchmen’s five-game winning streak has given them an outside shot at winning the CAA’s regular season championship for the third time in four seasons. The Dutchmen (10-4 CAA) do not have any tiebreakers due to being swept by Towson, so their clearest path is to sweep the final four games — all at home against Northeastern, Elon, William & Mary and Charleston — while first-place UNC Wilmington (12-3) and second-place Towson (11-3) lose twice apiece. UNC Wilmington hosts James Madison today before visiting Drexel and Delaware while Towson visits Charleston and plays James Madison in a home-and-home before completing a suspended game against Delaware on Feb. 28 — which the Tigers trail 38-29 with 18:42 left. 

ALL-TIME VS. NORTHEASTERN

Hofstra is 27-25 against Northeastern in a series that began during the 1949-50 season. All but three of the meetings have come in conference play since the 1994-95 season, when Hofstra joined the North Atlantic Conference. The Dutchmen cruised to a 72-50 win over Northeastern in Boston on Jan, 22, when Zach Cooks returned from a four-game absence to score a team-high 19 points off the bench. The Dutchmen are looking to sweep the regular season series for the second time in three years.

THE BARONE BOWL

The Barone Bowl was established by me and Northeastern graduate Mike Brodsky during the 2009-10 season, after Northeastern and Hofstra dropped football within two weeks of one another (Hofstra’s decision, of course, was reached after a multi-year study, wink wink nudge nudge).

The Barone Bowl pays homage to the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond in which a Hofstra kicker boots a 68-yard field goal against Northeastern but Frank Barone catches the ball and refuses to give it up. Apparently that wasn’t the type of publicity either school liked. Anyway.

Northeastern leads the Barone Bowl series, 15-13, and regained possession of the trophy with last year’s sweep. I’ll note here again we had it before that because Hofstra swept the 2019-20 regular season series before beating Northeastern in the CAA championship game. With a win today, Hofstra will be positioned to grab back the Barone Bowl barring a title game loss to Northeastern. This, unfortunately, is a purely symbolic trophy, one which you will not find displayed by either school. But you can find me and Brodsky talking about it on Twitter!

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

Boston Public jumped the shark something fierce in season 3 bias! (Hoo boy did it ever)

Boston Common was the worst Must See TV show ever! (Hoo boy was it ever)

Maxime Boursiquot made me throw Snowy bias! (Hoo boy did he ever)

Bolden Brace bias! (Alliteration!)

After 141 wins and a CAA title, Hofstra prepares to thank Joe Mihalich for everything else

Three words by Mary Mihalich — uttered at the end of a half-hour interview Monday in which she and her husband Joe shared laughs at Joe’s “This Is Your Life”-esque tour of college basketball arenas up and down the eastern seaboard and also shed some tears over just how close the celebratory tone around this season came to being a mournful one — summarized why Joe was inducted into Niagara’s Hall of Fame in December, will be honored this weekend by Hofstra and has spent this season as the most popular guest everywhere he’s visited.

“It’s everything else,” Mary Mihalich said.

As Towson head coach Pat Skerry, perhaps Joe Mihalich’s closest friend in the business, said earlier this week, head coaches are measured by two abilities, and the more important of the two — building relationships — doesn’t pay the bills.

But Mihalich — who will be the subject of a celebratory dinner tonight before Hofstra hosts “Joe Mihalich Day” during Saturday afternoon’s game against Northeastern — produced consistent winners while never compromising the other parts of the job.

Mihalich won 419 games and earned three trips to the NCAA Tournament while serving as the head coach at just two schools, an outlier in an industry defined by restless souls strolling the sidelines and impatient suits occupying the offices of athletic director and president. He was the 2013 winner of the Skip Prosser Award, which honors head coaches whose on-court success is coupled with “…moral integrity off it as well.”

He coached 17 MAAC All-Academic honorees at Niagara before Hofstra earned the NCAA APR Public Recognition Award, which is given to programs whose APR (academic progress rate) ranks among the top 10 percent nationally. Hofstra’s also had the CAA’s last two Dean Ehlers Leadership Award winners in Desure Buie and Tareq Coburn.

As anyone who ever watched him at Niagara or Hofstra knows, Mihalich ran as white-hot as anyone during a game. But after it was over? There were friendships to maintain with his opposing coaches and a mutual bond to be shared with officials.

“Sometimes you have a mutual respect for guys, especially guys that do it the right way,” Skerry said. “I got here when I was a lot younger, and as you get into it, you gain that respect.”

Mihalich also fostered relationships with the community after taking over a pair of struggling programs that were afterthoughts in their own regions — understanding that while a good Division I basketball team provided opportunities to raise the profiles of Niagara and Hofstra, neither would be as big as the Buffalo Bills or any of the metropolitan New York City-area teams and that his job was to strengthen the ties with the existing no-nonsense, blue-collar fan bases.

“He’s not a flashy guy,” said Hofstra summer camps director Terry Ryan, who served on the staffs of Jay Wright and Tom Pecora and has become close friends with Mihalich. “He doesn’t wear those Armani suits. He’s got the one brown sports coat. That was kind of like (his) whole m.o. — just to be down low, normal, quiet (person).”

The respect Mihalich engendered with how he went about “everything else” resulted in the ultimate show of respect the Mihalich family has received since the afternoon of Aug. 15, 2020, when Mary sensed something was wrong when Joe wasn’t responding to her while they talked on the phone.

Mary, who was on her way to the family vacation home on the Jersey shore, turned around and headed back for Long Island. She called Colin Curtin, who joined Mihalich as a freshman student manager in the fall of 2005 and has been on his coaching staff since 2009, and asked him to check on Joe.

Curtin headed to Mihalich’s house just off the Hofstra campus and saw him in his driveway. Joe waved to Curtin, but had a difficult time speaking.

“Something didn’t make sense,” Joe said. “It was hard to talk.”

Curtin took Joe to the hospital in East Meadow, where it was discovered he’d suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Joe was transported to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where the entire Mihalich family — including their siblings, their three sons and their daughters-in-law — gathered by nightfall,

“Wow, everybody was here that day,” Mary said. “Everybody was out in the parking lots. They weren’t allowed in. They had those folding back chairs and they would just camp out.”

Mihalich underwent a complicated surgery — overseen by a doctor whom Joseph Jr., the couple’s oldest son, dubbed the “Navy SEAL” of doctors in an interview with The Niagara Gazette — in which a bone from his skull was removed and stored in his abdomen until the swelling in his skull subsided. 

“We were blessed that you survived and that you’re in as good a shape as you are,” Mary said while sitting next to Joe. “Because, statistically, (the) survivor (rates) of the brain hemorrhage is not very good.”

A rare moment of levity early in Joe’s recovery convinced Mary he would be fine. Pandemic restrictions didn’t allow any visitors from states not adjacent to New York. The couple’s youngest sons, twins Matt and Tony, live in Connecticut and Virginia, respectively. When Tony was denied access, he went back outside and switched hats and glasses with Matt.

And when Tony walked in wearing Matt’s garb?

“I thought I was going to have to play along with it (that Tony was Matt) and that it was going to be confusing,” Mary said. “(Joe) winked at me. With everything going on, he winked at me. That’s when I knew he was going to be OK.”

On Aug. 26, 2020, Hofstra announced Mihalich’s leave of absence and named Mike Farrelly acting head coach. There were no updates issued about Mihalich’s health nor any outside speculation on Mihalich’s illness or his condition — a remarkable feat in a gossip-fueled social media world.

Even more remarkable were the acts of kindness bestowed upon the family. People checked in with Mary and expressed their good wishes without intruding on the family.

“I always say oh my God, if something happened to me, I’d probably get about four cards,” Mary said with a laugh. “I have boxes and boxes of cards and letters and things that people have sent to Joe.”

Asked about his friendship with Skerry, Joe paused for 17 seconds, during which he took off his glasses, pulled down his N95 mask and wiped his eyes.

“Pat’s a good guy,” someone said.

“Yeah,” Joe said.

“Great guy,” Mary said. “Great friend.”

“Yeah,” Joe said.

“He was calling everyday,” Mary said, “If not you, texting, calling one of the boys everyday.”

Mary sniffed.

“He was always checking on him,” Mary said.

Both Mihalichs shed tears when talking about the Ryan family, which lives in Bellmore, several miles south of Hofstra. In addition to cooking for the Mihalichs on a nightly basis, the Ryans — who’d benefited from the kindness of friends and neighbors when when one of their children battled cancer as a pre-teen — shopped for the family, removing from a to-do list an item that is perilous in a pandemic. And during a snowstorm last winter, Terry and his son shoveled the Mihalichs’ driveway before Joe and Mary even stepped outside.

“We never needed to go to the store once,” Mary said. “I think I was at the hospital everyday and I never had to worry about food. We had the kids around and stuff, we were always at the hospital and the Ryans (made) dinner every night.”

For friends such as Skerry and the Ryans, checking in and chipping in were small ways to try and make sense of the unexplainable. 

“I consider him a friend,” Skerry said. “And you’re just like, man, how can that happen? We’re all into this coaching thing — I’m as guilty as anyone, you get blinders on, you do whatever you can to win — and you hear something like that, it knocks you back. This guy invested everything in coaching. And to unfairly, unfortunately have that knock him back from it? It just sucks.”

“You just feel for a guy that did everything right — what a tough break,” Ryan said. “Morally sound, treated people the right way.”

Joe’s recovery has bordered on the miraculous. When Joe was hospitalized, Curtin remembered talking to Mary’s brother and the two understanding Joe would be dealing with elements of the stroke for the rest of his life. But other than his slowed speech, Mihalich looks and feels as good as ever. Arduous rehab gave him back full use of his right side and he walks multiple miles a day, just as he did while coaching Hofstra.

“He was fit as a fiddle and still is and I’m sure that served him well,” Mary said, again looking at Joe. “Your personality and the way you are is what got you in that in that recovery. I mean, he is just relentless with that. But that’s your hard work.”

As his recovery progressed, Mihalich understood he’d have to permanently step aside as head coach. Mihalich acknowledged “it was hard” to come to such a realization, but he put a positive spin on retirement by declaring he’d ended his career on a make — the win in the CAA championship game on Mar. 10, 2020, which had Hofstra primed to make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 19 years until the pandemic forced the tourney’s cancellation two days later — when the school announced he’d transition to a new role as an assistant to athletic director Rick Cole last Mar. 19.

The upbeat approach to his retirement lifted those who asked the unanswerable questions the Mihalichs — who attend Mass every day — never pondered: Why him? Why does something like this happen to someone who’d so properly built a sustained mid-major contender? Why now, when Joe and was positioned to coach as long as he wanted at Hofstra, where he was 74 wins shy of tying Butch van Breda Kolff all-time record and comfortable as the face of the university — especially in the opening days and weeks of the pandemic, when Mihalich was able to eloquently explain how he and his players understood why the tournament was canceled but were still crestfallen?

“I mean, up until that point, he was Superman,” Curtin said. “You can’t help but ask questions.”

Invoking one of his favorite bits of advice also allowed Mihalich to punctuate a career unique in both its arc and approach. Joe said he heard Morgan Wootten use the term “end on a make” while coaching under the legend at DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland. He continued to repeat the phrase to his sons when they played basketball as well as to his players at Niagara and Hofstra.

It also summarizes an approach to program-building that he put to use at Niagara and Hofstra. Complete every task, even those started by predecessors. 

“There was never a scandal, there was never a guy who never graduated, we never had APR problems,” Curtin said. “I remember him calling Greg Springfield (who was a senior in 2000-01) and saying ‘Hey Greg, you’re three credits away from your degree. Let us help you get this degree.’ And he got his degree that first year.

“Man, the wins are great, but stuff like that? It just gives you the chills.”

Mihalich is as invested in Hofstra’s games now as he was as a head coach — one of the great sights of the season was Mihalich cackling with glee as he hugged first-year head coach Speedy Claxton following an overtime win over James Madison on Feb. 5 — but it’s the “stuff like that” which yields such as warm reception for him everywhere he goes.

“I learned a long time ago,” Mihalich said before pausing for seven seconds. “It was the right thing to do.”

When he arrived at Niagara for a dinner in his honor on Dec. 2, a group of attendees — from Ryan and Curtin to former players and even a former neighbor of the Mihalichs — couldn’t fit into the picture in the accompanying story in The Niagara Gazette. 

Mary laughed when recalling the hugs Joe shared with officials last week, when Hofstra visited Drexel and Delaware.

“The referees come running up into the stands to give Joe a big hug — I’m like oh my God, we’re 12 rows up,” Mary said. “After games (he coached), I would say ‘Boy, Joe, he was really giving you a hard time.’ (And Joe would say) ‘Oh he’s a great guy.

“It just really spoke to how much respect people do have for you and that they respected you to that level.”

Hofstra has long appreciated the 141 wins and the program development template that has Mihalich’s imprint all over yet another CAA contender. Claxton was Mihalich’s first major external hire in 2013 and Claxton’s first star recruit, likely CAA Player of the Year Aaron Estrada, has been as revelatory a find as Justin Wright-Foreman and the late Zeke Upshaw.

But this weekend, Hofstra gets to thank him for everything else.

“There’s an old saying we’ve used with some of our better teams: As we drink the water, let’s be mindful who helped dig the well,” Skerry said. “Joe Mihalich dug the well up at Hofstra.”

I'll Be Quirky: Hofstra at Elon

Happy Charles Jenkins Day to all who observe (also, if Aaron Estrada wanted to do this tonight, that would be really great too).

The Flying Dutchmen continued their February push Saturday night, when Aaron Estrada overcame some early foul trouble to put the capper on yet another CAA Player of the Week performance and lead the Dutchmen to an 80-66 win. The Dutchmen will look to complete a perfect road trip tonight, when they are slated to visit Elon in the makeup of a game originally scheduled for Dec. 31. Here’s a look back at the win over the Blue Hens and a look ahead to the Phoenix.

THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Aaron Estrada, who sat out the final 6:07 of the first half after picking up his second foul, scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half as the Dutchmen gradually pulled away from Delaware. Estrada had nine points in a half-opening 18-12 run by the Dutchmen, whose lead fell into single digits just once over the final 15 minutes. After a 3-pointer by Ebby Asahoma pulled the BlueHens within 67-60 with 8:15 left, the teams traded five empty trips before Darlinstone Dubar and Estrada converted layups on consecutive possessions. Estrada also finished with a team-high seven rebounds and three steals while adding four rebounds. Jalen Ray hit four 3-pointers while scoring 12 of his 14 points in the second half for the Dutchmen, who received 15 points and five rebounds from Dubar. Jarrod Simmons, pressed into extended duty with Abayomi Iyiola saddled with two early fouls, scored 11 points in his first double-digit scoring effort in more than three years. Omar Silverio added 10 points and his usual strong defense off the bench. Zach Cooks was held scoreless but had a team-high five assists as well as five rebounds.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Delaware, 2/12)

3: Aaron Estrada

2: Jalen Ray

1: Jarrod Simmons

SEASON STANDINGS

Aaron Estrada 53

Darlinstone Dubar 29

Jalen Ray 28

Zach Cooks 19

Abayomi Iyiola 13

Omar Silverio 8

Kvonn Cramer 4

Jarrod Simmons 1

Caleb Burgess 1

That’s nine players with at least a point this season! How many players have at least one point this season?

WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?

No! And in a potentially historic twist, the most recent 80-66 win was recorded over the same program the Dutchmen just beat! The Dutchmen earned their previous 80-66 victory by beating Delaware at the Arena on Jan. 22, 2005. I began trying to figure out if that’s ever happened in our three-plus seasons of tracking unicorn scores — a non-unicorn score posted in two consecutive wins over an opponent — but that was more complicated than I thought. A research project for later!  

Anyway, the Dutchmen have nine unicorn score victories this season after recording no unicorn score victories last season, 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. 

THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-SIX GAMES

With Saturday’s win, the Dutchmen improved to 17-9, which is tied for the 22nd-best record through 26 games in program history. They slipped a spot from last game despite the win! It’s the first time the Dutchmen have opened 17-9 since the 2010-11 season and the fourth time overall in program history. Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 26 games.

NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1975-76: 15-11 (win in 26th game marked third win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)

1976-77: 20-6 (win in 26th game marked sixth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)

1999-2000: 20-6 (the 67-64 win over Maine in 26th game locked up the no. 1 seed in the America East tournament, most recent 20-6 start) 

2000-01: 22-4 (win in 26th game marked 14th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak)

2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 19-7 (most recent 19-7 start, win in 26th game was fifth win of eight-game winning streak)

NIT TEAMS

1998-99: 18-8

2004-05: 19-7 (win in 26th game was fifth win of seven-game winning streak)

2005-06: 21-5 (most recent 21-5 start)

2006-07: 19-7

2015-16: 18-8 (most recent 18-8 start)

2018-19: 22-4 (most recent 22-4 start)

NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1958-59: 20-6 (win in 2nd round of NCAAs was final win of season)

1961-62: 23-3 (won Middle Atlantic Championship with win in 26th game, best 26-game record in school history)

1962-63: 20-6 (win in regular season finale was ninth win of 11-game winning streak)

1963-64: 21-5

Some other notable 26-game records:

2017-18: 15-11 (most recent 15-11 start)

2016-17: 12-14 (most recent 12-14 start)

2014-15: 16-10 (most recent 16-10 start)

2013-14: 8-18 (most recent 8-18 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)

2012-13: 6-20 (most recent 6-20 start, tied for worst 26-game record in school history)

2009-10: 13-13 (most recent 13-13 start)

2007-08: 10-16 (most recent 10-16 start)

2002-03: 7-19 (only 7-19 start)

2001-02: 10-16 (loss in 26th game marked fifth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)

1996-97: 12-14 (final win of season)

1995-96: 9-17 (most recent 9-17 start, final win of season)

1994-95: 9-17 (won regular season finale, Jay Wright’s first year)

1993-94: 6-20 (loss to ECC foe Northeastern Illinois in regular season finale, VBK’s last year)

1992-93: 9-17 (final win of season)

1991-92: 18-8 (win in 26th game was seventh in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)

1990-91: 14-12 (most recent 14-12 start, final win of season)

1987-88: 6-20 (lost regular season finale)

1986-87: 10-16 (final win of season)

1982-83: 18-8 (lost regular season finale)

1981-82: 11-15 (loss in regular season finale was final loss of eight-game losing streak)

1980-81: 12-14 (lost regular season finale)

1978-79: 8-18 (fourth loss of season-ending five-game losing streak)

1970-71: 18-8 (win in season finale completed season-ending five-game winning streak)

1969-70: 13-13 (won season finale)

1965-66: 16-10 (lost season finale)

1956-57: 11-15 (lost season finale)

1955-56: 22-4 (final win of season)

1954-55: 19-7 (lost known season finale)***

1950-51: 16-10 (fourth win of six-game winning streak)

1949-50: 17-9 (won known season finale)***

1948-49: 18-8 (lost known season finale)***

***records are incomplete for the 1948-59, 1949-50 and 1954-55 seasons

Hofstra has never been 26-0, 25-1, 24-2, 5-21, 4-22, 3-23, 2-24, 1-25 or 0-26 through 26 games.

Twenty-four seasons were completed in fewer than 26 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)

1953-54 (15-9)

1957-58 (15-8)

1959-60 (23-1)

1960-61 (21-4)

1964-65 (11-14)

1966-67 (12-13)

1967-68 (13-12)

1968-69 (12-13)

1971-72 (11-14)

1972-73 (8-16)

1973-74 (8-16)

1974-75 (11-13)

2020-21 (13-10)

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 TWENTY-SIX

With Saturday’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 17-9 as head coach. He is the second coach to open 17-9 at Hofstra, following in the footsteps of Mo Cassara in 2010-11, and the fifth to post a .500 or better record through 26 games in his first season (or the first season of a second stints). Butch van Breda Kolff began 22-4 in his first stint (1955-56). Paul Lynner opened 20-6 in 1962-63 and Joe Harrington started 13-13 in his lone season in 1979-80. The debut seasons (or first season of a second stint) ended in fewer than 26 games for six coaches, with Jack McDonald posting an 18-6 record in the first and only second of his second stint in 1946-47, Frank Reilly leading the Dutchmen to a 13-6 record in 1947-48 and Mike Farrelly directing the Dutchmen to a 13-10 record in his lone season last year.

A HANDFUL FOR AARON

Aaron Estrada earned his second straight CAA Player of the Week award — and his league-leading fifth of the year — on Monday after finishing last week with 76 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists in leading the Dutchmen to a 3-0 record. Estrada is the first player to win at least five CAA Player of the Week awards in a single season since — who else — Justin Wright-Foreman won seven Player of the Week awards (six solo, one shared) during the 2018-19 season.

Twelve Hofstra players have won CAA Player of the Week honors since 2013-14, which was Joe Mihalich’s first season as head coach. No other CAA school has more than 10 Player of the Week honorees in that span. 

A RARE BIG BLUE HENS GAME

Forgot to mention this before Saturday, so I wanted to note it here that Saturday’s game marked just the fourth time in the CAA era that the Dutchmen and Delaware have both entered a regular season game against each other with a winning CAA record. Hofstra was 8-4 heading into Saturday while Delaware was 7-4. Both teams were 1-0 going into action on Jan. 9, 2013 and 4-2 heading into their game on Jan. 18, 2018 before the Dutchmen were 12-3 and the Blue Hens 10-5 entering their game on Feb. 22, 2020.

IT’S TECHNICALLY A COMEBACK WIN

The Dutchmen trailed just once on Saturday — at 1-0 following a free throw by Andrew Carr 40 seconds into the game. Darlinstone Dubar hit a jumper on the next trip down the floor to put the Dutchmen ahead for good. It marked the first time the Dutchmen won a game in which their only deficit was following the opposing team’s opening points since Feb. 15, 2020 — two years ago today! — when UNC Wilmington raced out to a 2-0 lead before the Dutchmen earned a 78-64 win. Hey, that’s almost the exact same score as Saturday!

1010101010 WINS

The Dutchmen had at least five players score in double digits Saturday for the fourth time this season and the first time since Darlinstone Dubar (24 points), Jalen Ray (22 points), Omar Silverio (20 points), Zach Cooks (14 points) and Abayomi Iyiola (12 points) did so against John Jay on Dec. 12. It was the first time the Dutchmen have had five double-figure scorers in a CAA game since a 79-74 win over Drexel on Feb. 7, 2021.

AARON’S BAKER’S DOZEN

Aaron Estrada scored in double figures for the 13th straight game Saturday, which is the longest streak of double-digit scoring performances by a Hofstra player this season and the longest by a Dutchman since Eli Pemberton ended his career by scoring in double figures in the final 14 games of the 2019-20 season.

NO MORE MR. MIDRANGE?

Aaron Estrada continued to thrive from outside Saturday, when he scored 21 points while going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. It was the fourth straight game in which Estrada hit at least three 3-pointers. Prior to Feb. 5, when he hit a career-high six 3-pointers against James Madison, Estrada hit as many as three 3-pointers just five times in his first 59 career games with Saint Peter’s, Oregon and Hofstra. Estrada is 28-for-51 (54.9 percent) from 3-point land in his last seven games after going 23-of-94 (24.5 percent) from beyond the arc in his first 18 games of the season.

AARON BUCKETS

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 — 282 points in 12 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 11 CAA games and in 14 games overall after posting just one 20-point game at Saint Peter’s and Oregon. 

7 x 3 EQUALS 21

Aaron Estrada had 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals Saturday night. He’s the second Hofstra player this season with at least 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals in a game — Darlinstone Dubar had 24 points, seven rebounds and three steals against John Jay on Dec. 12 — and the first todo it against an Division I opponent since Tareq Coburn had 28 points, seven rebounds and four steals against James Madison on Feb. 13, 2021. Hey, seven times four equals 28!

THE 15/5 CLUB

Darlinstone Dubar finished with 15 points and five rebounds Saturday, It was the sixth time this season Dubar’s had at least 15 points and five rebounds and the first time since Dec. 22, when he also had 15 points and five rebounds against Monmouth.

RAY REVVING UP

Jalen Ray had his second straight strong game Saturday night, when he scored 14 points while going 5-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point land. The 34 points over his last two games are the most for Ray in a two-game span since he had 41 points against Delaware and Drexel from Jan. 15-17.

RAY GAINING ON RICHARDSON

With his 14 points Saturday, Jalen Ray crept closer to Norman Richardson for 11th place on the all-time Hofstra scoring list. Ray has 1,660 points, 18 shy of surpassing Richardson. Ray has been in 11th place on the all-time list since Dec. 12, which capped a stretch dating back to Dec. 22, 2020 in which he gained at least half a spot on the all-time list 21 times in 26 games.

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME (part one)

Jarrod Simmons scored a season-high 11 points Saturday, which also, of course, marked his single-game high for Hofstra as well as his first double-digit effort for the Dutchmen. It was also Simmons’ first double-digit game since way back on Nov. 13, 2018, when he scored 11 points for Penn against Lafayette. Simmons didn’t score more than six points in his final 43 games with Penn before not playing last season, when the Ivy League cancelled the winter sports season due to the pandemic. He’d also never scored more than six points in 11 games for Hofstra prior to Saturday. Overall as a collegian, Simmons has five double-digit scoring efforts.

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME (part two)

Zach Cooks was held scoreless Saturday, when he went 0-for-8 from the field, including 0-for-2 from 3-point land. It was the first time Cooks has been held scoreless in 134 games as a collegian. He was held to two points just four times previously — three times with New Jersey Tech and once with Hofstra against William & Mary on Dec. 29. The scoreless game from Cooks marked the first time a Hofstra player went scoreless while taking at least eight field goal attempts since Taran Buie was scoreless while going 0-for-11 against Towson on Feb. 16, 2013. That said…

COOKS CHIPPING IN

…Cooks helped out the Dutchmen with a team-high five assists as well as five rebounds. Per loyal reader EvanJ, Cooks is the first Hofstra player to have at least five rebounds and five assists while going scoreless since Shemiye McLendon had 10 rebounds and five assists in a 74-60 win over Towson on Jan. 12, 2011.

QUICK HOOK

Abayomi Iyiola was replaced by Jarrod Simmons after picking up two fouls in the first 40 seconds Saturday. It marked the third time this season Speedy Claxton has made a change less than a minute into the game. Claxton subbed Kvonn Cramer for Iyiola 59 seconds after the opening tip against Iona on Nov. 16 while Omar Silverio was pulled for Caleb Burgess after picking up his second foul 32 seconds into the game against James Madison on Jan. 9. The latter marked the quickest substitution of a Hofstra player in at least the last five-plus seasons.

OVER THE AIR

If today’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.

SCOUTING ELON

The Phoenix, under third-year head coach Mike Schrage, is (are?) 8-18 this season and 5-8 in CAA play after falling to Towson, 86-50, on Saturday. Someone who warns you his picks are for entertainment purposes only picked Elon as his Shoe-In of the Day. It was the most lopsided game in the CAA since Hofstra beat Elon 102-61 on Feb. 7, 2019. Elon has played in three of the seven CAA games decided by  more than 20 points this season. In consecutive games Jan. 17-20, the Phoenix beat James Madison 90-67 and lost to Drexel 77-49.

The Dutchmen and Phoenix had one common foe in non-league play. Hofstra beat then-no. 24 Arkansas 89-81 on Dec. 18, three days before the Razorbacks took out their frustrations by beating Elon 81-55. Sorry guys! 

In CAA play, both teams have swept James Madison, split with UNC Wilmington, beaten Northeastern and been swept by Towson. The Dutchmen lost to William & Mary, which split with Elon. The Dutchmen swept Delaware and Drexel, each of whom beat Elon, and beat Charleston, which swept the Phoenix.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish fifth in the CAA preseason poll, are ranked 111th at KenPom.com. The Phoenix, which was picked to finish sixth, is ranked 262nd.

According to KenPom.com. the Dutchmen rank sixth in the CAA in conference-only offensive efficiency (107.3) and third in defensive efficiency (102.4). The Phoenix rank eighth in conference-only offensive efficiency (101.7) and sixth in defensive efficiency (104.7).

Junior guard Hunter McIntosh, a preseason first-team all-CAA selection, and sophomore guard Darius Burford are tied for the team lead in scoring at 12.6 points per game. Sophomore forward Michael Graham is averaging 9.8 points per game and pulling down a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. Junior guard Hunter Woods is averaging 4.6 rebounds per game.

KenPom.com predicts a 75-69 win for the Dutchmen. Per the wise guys in Vegas, for entertainment purposes only, the Dutchmen are 6-point underdogs. The Dutchmen are 11-12-1 against the spread this season.

IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME (part three)

Tonight marks the first time Hofstra has opposed Elon in a regular season game since since Jan, 30, 2020, when the Dutchmen beat Elon 86-63 in North Carolina. The Phoenix were one of two CAA teams the Dutchmen did not oppose in the regular season last year, along with Charleston, though, of course, Elon ended the Dutchmen’s hopes of repeating as league champions with a 76-58 win in the tournament semifinals.

ALL-TIME VS. ELON

Hofstra is 10-4 against Elon, which joined the CAA prior to the 2014-15 season. The Phoenix, as just noted, ended the Dutchmen’s season in the CAA semifinals last Mar. 8, when Elon overcame a six-point second-half deficit in a 76-58 win. The Dutchmen have won the last five regular season games against Elon dating back to an 86-78 loss at the Arena on Jan. 7, 2018. Hofstra and Elon first opposed each other on Nov. 23, 2009, when the Dutchmen cruised past the Phoenix, 70-46, in a preseason NIT game at the Arena.

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

Thank goodness Joe West is no longer an MLB umpire bias! (Of course there may no longer be an MLB so…)

Mike Schrage should be the next Duke head coach bias! (Possibly in order to get him out of the CAA)

Most of your students are from our area bias! (Per Wikipedia, which is never wrong, New York and New Jersey are among the most well-represented states among Elon’s out-of-state students)

Sandra Day O’Connor bias! (The former Supreme Court justice delivered the dedication address when Elon opened its law school in 2006)