Colonial Notebook
Tight at the Top
The CAA season is not even a month old and already teams are trading paint for the top spot. There are four teams legitimately jostling for first, and quite apropo, the top team is royalty…
Monarchs Own The Throne
Old Dominion is undefeated in conference play at 4-0. The Monarchs, who are on a seven game tear, have mowed down Drexel, George Mason, Hofstra and James Madison. ODU is doing it with balance. While Alex Loughton is clearly the superstar on this team (he leads the squad in points – 18.2 – and rebounds – 6.8) the supporting staff has turned the Monarch Machine into a winner. Arnaud Dahi doesn’t miss inside as his 63% FG percentage can attest and he’s been reeking havoc with 11 blocks this year. Drew Williamson’s unselfish play and superior court vision has also made folks excited again in Norfolk.
Wilmington Still Winning
UNC Wilmington, despite losing all-CAA product Brett Blizzard from last year’s squad, is holding steady at 4-1, with their only league loss coming at the hands of William and Mary back in early December. The Seahawks exacted revenge against the Tribe on January 7, 67-59, and began a three-game win streak with the victory.In a 72-52 dismantling of VCU, senior forward Anthony Terrell poured in 18 to lead four Seahwaks in double digits. Sophomore guard John Goldsberry is averaging 13.3 ppg during the streak.
How Patriotic!
George Mason has the best overall record at 10-3, and their young CAA season is shaping up well at 3-1. The Pats, who took on Maryland and Carolina in losing efforts earlier in the season, defeated Atlantic 10 members Dusquesne and St. Bonaventure as well as East Carolina out of C-USA. Their only loss in CAA play? To Old Dominion in a close one, 74-71, on January 7 in Fairfax.
VCU In The Fight
At 3-2, Virginia Commonwealth is very much in the top tier Colonial mix, but Jeff Capel’s Rams are coming off a 72-52 miscue against UNC-Wilmington. Still, Domonic Jones is padding his candidacy for CAA Player of the Year, the versatile senior point guard averaged 21.7 points and 9 rebounds in two of the Rams three conference wins. Against James Madison, Jones lit it up for a season-best 27 points and 13 boards in a 77-69 win and had 19 and 8 in a 99-72 demolishing of Delaware. Jones is tops in the conference in scoring at 19.6 ppg.
The Rams can redeem themselves on January 17 and 21st, when they face George Mason at home and ODU on the road, respectively.
Adeleke Back To The Rack
Junior power forward Kenny Adeleke had Hofstra fans worrying that their star big man wasn’t going to have the monster season he had last year. In 2003-03, Adeleke was one of the top five rebounders in the country, but in early play opponents caught wise, boxing him out with abandon and doubling up on him inside. Adeleke is back to midseason form, and has reclaimed the CAA boards lead at 10.6 rpg and owns both the defensive and offensive rebounding honors. He is also back in the top five in scoring with an 18.2 ppg clip. In three of the first five conference games Kenny was either the leading scorer or shared the honor with a teammate.
Tom Pecora’s Pride has amassed a CAA record of 2-3, with losses to top teams ODU and George Mason.
Hess Trucks On, But Tribe Does Not
The William and Mary Tribe knows how the Toronto Raptors feel. They haven’t seen the winning side of a game since their 80-67 smacking of Campbell on December 30. And yet they have the highest producing player in the CAA in Adam Hess. His 18.2 ppg average is good for team best and fifth best in the conference, but only one other Tribesman, Zeb Cope, averages above 10 points.
The Tribe’s five-game jinx could be broken when Drexel visits Williamsburg on the 17th.
