Snow in the forecast, cold is abating, last night’s action, weekend flurry, real work, updates, Christmas shopping, etc. Love it. Keep checking back, because I don’t know when more is coming but it is coming. (And we’re not advertising supported here, so this isn’t a ploy for more page views and thus money. Just a ton to get to.)
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Last night, Give ‘Em Hell Denzel Bowles crushed Gardner Webb for 37/15 in The Patients 78-57 win over the Bulldogs. That alone has the attention of CAA coaches. While Bowles was certainly taller, stronger, and wider than anyone GW had to offer, 37/15 is impressive no matter who you play. Bowles hit 17-25 FG and grabbed eight offensive rebounds.
More smiley-faced for JMU, if you listen to Matt Brady, was solid performances from freshmen Alioune Douf and Darren White (22 points), as well as eight assists from Ben Louis. Importantly, defense: JMU didn’t allow GW to score the final 7:57 of the first half. JMU held GW to 20-60 shooting on the night. And they only had eight players eligible and healthy.
Put a marker on: Julius Wells, the focal point of everything for JMU so far this season, played just nine minutes and missed five of six shots. The CAAs reigning freshman of the year also drew the ire of Brady for inconsistent play and poor shot selection.
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Passed along: Mason fans (and some of you) will remember Patriots’ youngster Vlad Moldy Vino. The 6-10 Romanian never quite figured it out at Mason and transferred to American.
He became eligible on Wednesday, and promptly scored 26 points off the bench as 1-8 American upset DePaul, in Chicago (Dub fans?). The entire American starting lineup only had five more points than Moldoveanu. It is also the most points scored off the bench this season against a power six conference team.
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Tonight, Drexel takes on Cal State-Northridge in a return game of one of the most odd home-and-homes imaginable. (What, the University of New Zealand wasn’t available?)
The sunshine of Cally, just after exams, it’s snowing at home, etc. All major distractions that bode poorly for the Dragons.
CSN–the team, not the network–is a middle of the pack Big West team, according to my trusty Blue Ribbon. Here’s the BB State schedule. The matadors get up and down the floor–every game this year has featured at least 71 possessions, with four of nine games more than 80.
You need balance and toughness to overcome the poor intangibles, and that’s what Drexel has. Dragons 69, Matadors 66.
