When even the victors describe last night’s action as ugly, you know we’d find an oddity or five. We went into last night’s games with a theory–we always do, and so should you.

Last night we were thinking we’d see low-scoring, ugly games. The reason? Coming off the four-in-eight grind everybody is tired. Drained. Whipped. But since there’s an actual day to breathe (if you aren’t Hofstra and VCU), you take that day and breathe. Let your guard down. Or, reduce concentration. This of course manifests itself in sloppy play.

I can’t take credit for this one, but it also means closer games than you’d think.

Drexel 52, Towson 49 Drexel had made a three in something like 320 straight games until posting a bagel against Penn earlier this season. It happened again last night–zippo for 10 against Towson. A 10/16 for Samme Givens.

Nor’easter 59, Delaware 55 And speaking of bagel-for-10, NU matched Drexel’s arc performance. It was just the second time since 1996 that the team hasn’t made a three. A 17-for-20 mark from the free throw line helps.

Old Dominion 70, UNCW 52 Brian Mull recaps this one, with a click to the boxscore. His first statement is one I want you to carry with you into early February, because it is dead on the mark: depth is overrated. My belief is that the only time you need depth is to counteract foul trouble. Otherwise, “depth” gets in the way of flow.

Mason 52, Georgia State 49 You shoot less than 40%, make 7-15 free throws, get pounded on the glass, and win? “We’ll take it” should be the Patriots mantra this morning.

***

We’re at the one-third mark of the conference season, so statistics matter. Trends are on the verge of behavior and identity, so we should start paying attention to what the number say. Plus, we’ve hit the favorite part of the year for coaches: predictable schedules and routines. Class, practice, travel, game. Class, practice, travel, game.

We’ve hit rhythm. That said, some interesting numbers that pop out at me. Note: these are conference games only and this is just a sampling. Noncon schedules can vary wildly, and some teams added significant players at the semester break. Using conference numbers is our best apples-to-apples approach:

• You want machine-like precision? Nor’easter is tied for the lead in offensive points per possession (1.06) and tied for the lead in defensive points per possession (0.86). What’s more, the Huskies are also first in fewest possessions per game (59.5). Safe adjective: bulldozing.
• The Dub is at the other end of the spectrum: 0.79 points per possession, and the Hawks turn the ball over on 27.8% of their possessions–a league worst by nearly six percent.
• When you think of ODUs size, you immediately think rebounding and blocks. Well, ODU is leading the conference in stals per game (9.8) but 10th in blocks per game (2.8)
• Scoring leaders: Julius Wells (21.4) and Denzel Bowles (21.3).
• Minutes leaders: Jawan Carter (39.8), Jamie Harris (38.3), Julius Wells and Charles Jenkins (38.2).
• Three point percentage leaders: Ed Nixon (70%), Luke Hancock (66.7%), Chase Allen (56.7%)
• Points per shot: Ed Nixon (1.6), Chase Allen (1.4), Miklos Szabo, Evan Neisler, Julius Wells, David Schneider (1.3).
• Most efficient: Denzel Bowles (22.0), David Schneider (18.0), Larry Sanders, Julius Wells (17.0)