People scoffed and laughed when 70-year-old Dave Brown was hired to replace Mike Adras, (who’s own story on the resignation is taking strange turns)who suddenly resigned after a 2-7 start. (Full disclosure: so did I.) Um, a few less people are laughing today after the Lumberjacks beat Arizona State on Saturday night.
We have more reaction/recap here and here You want excitement? Listen to Mitch Stroman’s call of the ending. Holy cow.
A small item of note which is relatively big for the Lumberjacks: junior guard Gabe Rogers played his first game back from injury and, despite coming off the bench and playing just 15 minutes, made an impact. Four points, four assists, sure, but so much more.
Rogers’ final jumper cut the lead to 67-66 with 23 seconds left. … Rogers found Saldivar with one second left from the right side to take the lead for first time in the second half and win the game.
Now, we look into Dave Brown’s interim reign, which has injected life into the program. A two-game win streak, a 2-0 record and freshman guard James Douglas, the only player in double figures 11 games in (12.9 points) will have some help as point guard Stallon Saldivar (5.5 apg, 9.5 ppg) has scored 40 points in the last two contests, and Rogers, NAU’s only major player (aside from Saldivar), is going to make his way back once the Big Sky season starts.
NAU has netted 74.5 ppg in Brown’s reign, up from 52.8 ppg against D-I teams. That’s, well, huge. In the Brown era 2.0, NAU has posted 25 FGs in two consecutive D-I games for first time all season and a plus-45% FG in two consecutive games for the first time as well. Other firsts against D-I opposition in Brown’s games: 9 3-pointers is best all season, and it’s come twice in a row; 10-plus FTs made back-to-back; 19-plus assists b2b (21-19); three players in double figures after a game (b2b). Douglas, who is going to merit consideration for Freshman of the Year, has 20 ppg in the last two, as does Saldivar.
How long will it last? At this point, after what’s transpired, no clue.
