Dragons’ Up-and-Down Season Continues
BOSTON – Not many coaches keep a sense of humor after their team has been man-handled on the court. Often, interviewing a coach after such a game isn’t easy, as one can expect the coach to not have many words and not be in the best state at that time.
Bruiser Flint isn’t just any coach, though. Proof positive was the way that Drexel’s leader was still entertaining following his team’s 79-45 thumping at Northeastern on Wednesday night. Flint got some laughs in while talking to reporters, showing that he’s a great interview win or lose.
But anyone who saw the game knows there wasn’t much to laugh about if you’re a Drexel fan. The Dragons were basically never in the game from the outset, falling behind 14-2 early and trailing by double digits for the majority of the game. They never got closer than 21 in the second half.
The stat sheet can convey some of the complete dominance of the Huskies. Northeastern shot over 58 percent from the field, while the Dragons made just 29 percent of their shots. The Dragons turned the ball over 19 times, which turned into 25 Husky points. The final score reflects it as well.
Even with the numbers, one had to see the game to fully appreciate it. The Dragons were a bad matchup for the Huskies last season, and they proceeded to win all three meetings. This year, the first meeting was quite another story.
“They just kicked our butts,” said Flint to begin the press conference. “They just absolutely, positively came out and kicked our butts, just took it to us from the very beginning.”
The game highlighted a couple of season-long trends for the Dragons, who are 8-8 overall and 1-3 in the Colonial. They have struggled on the offensive end, although that wasn’t a major factor on Wednesday, as their defense has kept them in games but the old adage “you have to score to win” has rung true a few times this season. The Dragons average 59 points per game, dead last in the CAA. The biggest stat of all is that only two CAA teams turn the ball over more than the Dragons’ 17.5 giveaways per game, and those wasted possessions can make a difference in close games that their defense keeps them in. Last year, the Dragons scored over 66 points per game and shot 44 percent from the field while turning the ball over less than 14 times per outing, so they scored enough to win with their lock-down defense, in part from not giving the ball away.
The bigger trend has been the team’s inconsistency, which isn’t entirely shocking. The Dragons lost three key starters off last season’s team, and each meant a lot to them. Flint describes Chaz Crawford as the “best defensive player I’ve ever coached”, and Bashir Mason is the only player to be named to the CAA’s All-Defensive team four times. Mason was also a leader at the point guard spot, a four-year starter who at times in his career helped will the team to wins. Dominick Mejia gave them a shooter who can score. Freshmen Jamie Harris and Gerald Colds have had some good games, but haven’t consistently shot well although Colds is third in the CAA in three-point field goal percentage.
The inconsistency is demonstrated by their 8-8 record, but not by that alone. The Dragons have looked impressive at times, like when they started the season 5-1 including wins over Robert Morris and Loyola (Md.). But they have also had a few losses that will jump off the page at you, like their 85-38 loss at George Mason at the end of November and a 72-48 blowout against Creighton at home in the next game, in addition to Wednesday night.
“You haven’t been looking at our scores,” Flint said, with a little laugh, to a reporter who brought up the scoring margin of the game. “We’ve had a few like this one. It’s feast or famine a little bit with this crew right here.”
Where the aforementioned departed players come in is not by themselves, but by those who remain. The Dragons have capable veteran players like seniors Frank Elegar and Randy Oveneke and juniors Tramayne Hawthorne and Scott Rodgers, but the holdovers haven’t all moved into their new roles yet. Elegar has had to become options 1, 1-A and 1-B on offense, while Hawthorne and Rodgers were good reserves who haven’t fully adapted to having to start and lead the team the entire game.
“Some of those guys haven’t stepped into the roles they need to step into,” Flint said. “They’ve done it at times, and that’s why we’re 8-8. They haven’t done it at times, and that’s why we’re 8-8.”
One example of that could be seen on Wednesday, as Elegar, who has battled turf toe for a lot of the season, struggled and only played five minutes in the second half. He sat for most of it, as Flint wasn’t happy with his effort on the court. But Hawthorne, who Flint has praised for his defense, only played one minute in the latter frame for the same reason. After starting early in the season, Hawthorne is coming off the bench again, which he did effectively his first two seasons.
Flint is happy with his young players thus far, as they’ve been up and down as he expected. Harris and Colds have shown potential thus far, with Harris starting all but one game thus far and Colds starting seven. Flint is also well aware that most players don’t come to college and become instant impact players because there’s a learning curve, especially on a team like his where defense is so important. That’s why his bigger concern is his veteran players.
“I’ve got to get Scott (Rodgers) and (Tramayne Hawthorne) to play on the same page in a couple of games,” said Flint. “At the beginning of the year, Scott Rodgers was flat awful. He’s starting to play a little bit better, and now as Scott’s playing a little better Tramayne has been awful. I’ve got to get those two guys to step up and be a little more consistent.”
Wednesday night was not a night that saw anyone on the Dragons get going. About the only thing that was still going was Flint’s interview prowess after the game. As difficult as the game was, Flint still feels his team is showing progress, but it may not be reflected in the win-loss column just yet because the progress isn’t consistent.
