It was crushing news to Norm Roberts and his staff last month when informed that their best player, Anthony Mason Jr. would miss the entire season with a foot injury. It only got worse when Justin Burrell sustained a facial fracture after being hit by teammate Sean Evans in practice last Thursday. So with its top two players sidelined, along with freshman Malike Boothe playing with a sprained left thumb, it was no suprise that it would be a struggle vs former Big East memeber-now ACC foe Virginia Tech.
Month: December 2008
Blue Devils Blow Out Xavier in Return to New Jersey
The last college basketball game in this building was played March of 2007. Even the name was different then; at the time it was Continental Airlines Arena. Currently, the arena goes by the name of Izod Center. College ball returned on Saturday as Duke faced Xavier.
Blue Hens Battle Elements, Terriers Successfully
There are several things Delaware can take away from Sunday’s 70-68 win at Boston University. It was full of positives both in the immediate and going forward. Let’s start with the easy one. The Blue Hens were affected by the snowstorm that hit the northeast, arriving in town late Saturday after their plane sat on the runway for three hours. They took a bus back down after the game, taking no chances dealing with possible flight difficulties.
Big East Notebook – Friars’ Geoff McDermott is Still a Quarterback
During his high school days, Geoff McDermott was known as rifle-toting Geoff McDermott. Then a quick-strike 6-foot-6 quarterback, McDermott helped lead perennial power New Rochelle to back-to-back state championships. After committing to Providence, where there’s no football team, he kissed all gridiron dreams goodbye. Today, McDermott is still whipping passes.
Friars’ Flaws Are All There to See
In Saturday’s 81-76 win by Boston College over Providence, neither team gave a tremendous account of itself. But the team that had the more concerning play was, without doubt, the team on the losing end of the score. Providence’s flaws were all right there on display as a reason why they lost the game, and this hasn’t been an isolated case.
Friars And Eagles Could Use a Boost
Saturday’s game at The Heights between Providence and host Boston College has a few notable items to it. It’s a matchup of regional rivals and of former conference foes, as the two used to play each other in the Big East all the time. The schools are less than 50 miles apart and are continuing the rivalry despite Boston College’s jump to the ACC back in 2005. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for Providence head coach Keno Davis.
Big East Notebook – Blue Demons and Cardinals Streaking in Opposite Directions
The intracity rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier had everything one could ask for, including five technical fouls. But in the end, it was Xavier coming away with the victory.
Horizon League Notebook – Scheduling Issues and Cupcakes
If you’re inferring some annoyance on the part of this writer with schools scheduling “cupcakes,” well, you’re inferring correctly. In addition to Detroit’s game this past week with Aquinas, Jimmy Collins’ vaunted UIC team played D-II Lewis College (a school I’d never heard of), and on its upcoming three-game home stand, Cleveland State will play both D-III La Roche College and D-III Notre Dame College (that’s not the Notre Dame we all know and love – the one CSU should be playing). If any of these schools find themselves on the wrong side of the bubble for an at-large NCAA bid (or for an NIT bid), they need look no further than their own schedules to learn why.
Maggie Dixon Classic Notes
Madison Square Garden has played host to many great events over the years. In the college basketball game it is home to the “final four” of the nation’s oldest post-season tournament, The NIT. Add the Pre-season NIT, Big East Tournament and Coaches vs. Cancer, to name a few and you can see why the Garden is termed the “Mecca” of basketball.
Wright State Finally Wins
DAYTON – Wright State finally broke out of their losing streak and even set a new record for the fewest points allowed as they beat Toledo 50-35 at the Nutter Center.
