Colonial Notebook
by Beth Iskoe
They just keep rolling
Virginia Commonwealth (17-7, 12-4) won both contests last week to extend its
winning streak to an incredible eight straight games. In their 93-73 victory
over William and Mary (11-13, 6-9) Wednesday night, the Rams set a school
record by making seventeen three-pointers. They also set a school record and
tied the CAA mark for three-point attempts in a game with 45.
Can’t buy a break
Towson (4-21, 1-15) was unable to stop its longest ever Division I losing
streak. With two more losses this past week, the Tigers have now dropped
eleven straight games. They have not won since their 61-54 home victory
over Hofstra (6-19, 5-11) January 15, their only conference victory of the
season. Towson has two final chances to record another CAA win this week
when it goes on the road in an attempt to sweep Hofstra Wednesday night and
then returns home to host Delaware (13-12, 8-8) Saturday night in its
regular season finale.
Special achievements
UNC Wilmington senior guard Brett Blizzard became the Seahawks’ all-time
leading scorer Wednesday night in his team’s 75-55 win over George Mason
(14-11, 9-7). Blizzard made nine-of-eighteen shots and scored 24 points as
he pushed his career point total to 1,978 points. In doing so, he passed
Brian Rowsom’s mark of 1,974 set in 1987.
During that game, Blizzard also moved into eighth place on the CAA’s
all-time scoring list. After scoring fourteen points Saturday in UNC
Wilmington’s 75-51 win over Towson Saturday afternoon, Blizzard needs only
eight more points to reach 2,000 for his career. He is a big reason the
Seahawks (18-6, 12-3) are still atop the CAA.
Blizzard was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches
All-District 5 First Team. The NABC recognizes the country’s best men’s
college basketball student athletes. He leads the CAA in scoring, steals,
three-point field goal percentage, and three-pointers made.
Four other CAA players joined Blizzard on various NABC teams. Drexel senior
center Robert Battle was named Second Team All-District 5. Battle is
currently fifth in all of Division I in blocks (3.79). He is the Dragons’
leading scorer and rebounder, and has recorded nine double-doubles this
season.
Virginia Commonwealth senior forward Willie Taylor was named Second Team
All-District 4. He is averaging 16.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest and
broke the 1,000 point barrier earlier this season.
Old Dominion senior forward Ricardo Marsh was also named Second Team
All-District 4. Marsh leads his team in scoring (17.7) and rebounding (8.6).
William and Mary junior forward Adam Hess was named to both the NABC
All-District 4 First Team and the Verizon Academic All-District III Men’s
Basketball Team, which is voted on by the College Sports Information
Directors of America. He is second in the CAA in scoring (21.2). He has
scored 30 or more points in a game five times this season. Hess has a 3.52
GPA while majoring in finance, and has been named to the dean’s list. Last
season, Hess was one of five players selected to the CAA’s All-Academic Men’
s Basketball Team and has been nominated for the award again this season.
George Mason senior forward Jon Larranaga was also named to the Verizon
Academic All-District III Men’s Basketball Team. Larranaga has a 3.56 GPA in
his first year of graduate school, where he is working towards a master’s
degree in public administration. He is a three-time award-winner of the CAA
Scholar-Athlete honor and has been named to the George Mason athletic
director’s honor roll six straight semesters. He has made the dean’s list
three times and was named to the 2001-2002 CAA All-Academic Team. Larranaga
is second on the team in scoring, third in rebounding and leads the team in
assists.
Road warriors
By virtue of their 62-57 win over Old Dominion Wednesday night and its 78-62
defeat of William and Mary Saturday, Drexel has now won four straight games
on the road. Overall, the Dragons finished their conference road schedule
with a 7-2 record. The two victories give Drexel sole possession of third
place. The Dragons wind up their regular season this week with important
home match-ups against Delaware Wednesday night and George Mason Saturday
afternoon.
The Midas touch
In a 92-81 road victory over Delaware Wednesday night, Hofstra made
ten-of-nineteen three-pointers and shot 54.1 percent from the field
(33-for-61). The Pride was especially on fire in the first half, as they
connected on 62.5 percent of their shots (20-for-32). All five of Hofstra’s
starters scored in double figures. Sophomore forward Kenny Adeleke led the
way with a double-double, as he converted seven-of-eleven shots for twenty
points and grabbed 10 boards.
The “Purple Team” to the rescue
When James Madison (11-15, 7-9) found itself trailing by ten points with
just over eleven minutes remaining in regulation Saturday afternoon at
George Mason, head coach Sherman Dillard knew exactly what to do. He put in
the “Purple Team”, which consists of five reserves that focus on defense.
The strategy worked as the Dukes fought back and ended up with a 57-52
victory.
