By AARON COLEMAN
Philahoops Staff
Back on Nov. 12, the Delaware Blue Hens were far from where they hoped to be. Sitting with a disappointing 0-2 mark after two close losses to the Richmond Spiders and Charleston Southern, the struggling squad’s luck got even worse as they were forced to suspend star guard Devon Saddler one month of action for “an unspecified violation of team rules,” according to CBS Sports.
Losing the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior was no minor loss for Delaware as Saddler was coming off of a 19.9 point, 4.5 rebound season for the Blue Hens and had averaged 23 points and five rebounds a game in the two games he had played thus far in 2013-14. Saddler also was on pace to become UD’s all-time leading scorer (2,030 points is the current record) and had 1,716 points at the time of his month-long suspension according to CBS Sports.
“We hold our student-athletes to high standards academically, athletically and socially,” coach Monte Ross said via statement. “When those standards are not met, there are consequences. Devon realizes that he now has an obligation to regain the trust of his teammates, coaches and fans.”
With all of this adversity affecting the team, a cold streak was expected for UD. However, coach Ross’ squad did the exact opposite and stepped up in the absence of their leader. Since the suspension and two-game skid, the Blue Hens have responded with a 5-2 record and have outscored their opponents by an average of 10 points in each of their wins.
The driving force behind the team’s resurgence has been hot scoring of their offense. With Saddler out of the lineup, upperclassmen Davon Usher (averaging 19 points and six assists a game), Jarvis Threat (averaging 18 points and five assists a game), and reigning CAA Player of the Week Kyle Anderson (averaging 15 points a game and shooting an astonishing 52 percent from deep) have shouldered the load completely for coach Ross’ squad and have kept them afloat in a top-heavy CAA conference.
With Saddler set to return in the next week, watch out for the Blue Hens to continue to blow opponents off the court as the senior gels back in with the scorching trio of Usher, Threatt, and Anderson.
College of Charleston
Record on the Week: 0-1 (Overall: 4-5)
Dec. 12 – Coker College 54, CoC 68
Player of the Week: F Adjehi Baru (19 points, 11 rebounds)
The Cougars were in action just once this week but the sure made it count as they dominated Coker College physically Thursday, enjoying a 44-27 rebounding advantage and a 20-10 points in the paint advantage en route to comfortable home win. In addition to Baru’s double-double, the Cougars got 13 points from Anthony Stitt and 11 from freshman guard Canyon Barry. Forward Willis Hall pulled down 14 boards as well on the night.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 15 vs. Marist; Dec. 18 at Old Dominion
Delaware
Record on the Week: 0-1 (Overall: 5-4)
Dec. 7 – Delaware 75, Notre Dame 80
Player of the Week: G Jarvis Threatt (23 points, six rebounds, 10 assists)
The Blue Hens had a tough draw Saturday as they were unable to knock off the Fighting Irish in South Bend. Despite a double-double (and near triple-double) from Threatt and 19 points from both Davon Usher and Kyle Anderson, the Blue Hens were slammed on the glass as ND outrebounded them 37-27 and outscored them 36-24 in the paint.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 16 at N. Dakota State; Dec. 18 at Ohio State
Drexel
Record on the Week: 1-0 (Overall: 6-2)
Dec. 7 – Tenn. State 61, Drexel 75
Player of the Week: G Frantz Massenat (21 points, six assists)
Thankfully for head coach Bruiser Flint and his Dragons, the team did not need any overtime to send the Tennessee State Tigers to 0-10 on the season. Behind another dominant performance from Massenat and Chris Fouch (20 points and two assists), the Dragons outrebounded the Tigers 34-25 (Dartaye Ruffin and Kazembe Abif tied for the team lead with eight each) en route to their third straight win on the season.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 15 at Davidson; Dec. 18 at St. Joe’s
Hofstra
Record on the Week: 0-0 (Overall: 2-6)
Dec. 7 – Hofstra vs. SMU was postponed
Player of the Week: n/a
Hofstra’s lone game of the week at SMU was postponed due to the icy conditions in Texas, preventing them from making the trip west. A few extra days of rest could certainly help a struggling Pride squad.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 15 vs. Central Conn. State
James Madison
Record on the Week: 0-2 (Overall: 2-8)
Dec. 6 – JMU 76, Sam Houston State 77
Dec. 7 – JMU 57, Stephen F. Austin 70
Player of the Week: G Charles Cook (20.5 ppg, 2.5 apg)
The struggles continued for the lowly Dukes as they dropped both games in the Lumberjack Classic. Cook had a chance at a buzzer-beating, game-winning three against Sam Houston but could not find the range. A poor first half doomed JMU against Stephen F. Austin as they were held to just 31 percent shooting.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 14 at High Point; Dec. 18 at UNCG
Northeastern
Record on the Week: 0-1 (Overall: 2-7)
Dec. 7 – UAB 74, Northeastern 69
Player of the Week: F Scott Eatherton (21 points, 10 rebounds)
The Huskies suffered their second straight home loss against UAB in a game where Northeastern had no answer for UAB’s potent offensive attack. UAB knocked down six three-pointers made 64 percent of their total looks to keep the Huskies mired in their slump.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 15 at Fairfield
Towson
Record on the Week: 1-2 (Overall: 7-4)
Dec. 6 – Towson 69, Stephen F. Austin 79
Dec. 7 – Towson 55, Sam Houston State 67
Dec. 10 – Central PA College 72, Towson 102
Player of the Week: F Jerrelle Benimon (14 ppg, 11 rpg)
The Tigers’ trip to Texas did not go as planned as the Tigers were dominated by both Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State. Despite owning the glass and keeping pace with SFA offensively, 20 Towson turnovers doomed them. Turnovers doomed the Tigers again against Sam Houston as they committed 15 to SHS’s five. A 40 percent shooting night further cemented the Tigers’ second straight loss in the tournament. The Tigers ended the week on a high note however as a triple-double (17 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists) from Benimon helped Towson to their seventh straight win at home (where they are currently undefeated) as they crushed Central PA College.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 18 at Oregon State
UNC Wilmington
Record of the Week: 0-0 (Overall: 6-5)
No games scheduled
Player of the Week: N/A
UNCW got the week off after their 3-1 run since mid-November. They should be well rested for their Dec. 15 match-up with Manhattan in Wilmington.
Upcoming Schedule: Dec. 15 vs. Manhattan
William & Mary
Record on the Week: 1-0 (Overall: 5-4)
Dec. 7 – W&M 63, Wofford 60
Player of the Week: F Tim Rusthoven (17 points, seven rebounds, two assists)
The Tribe picked up a win over Wofford on the road Saturday following a strong effort on both sides of the ball. William & Mary shot a burning hot 56 percent from the field and confused Wofford’s offense all day as they were held to just 38 percent shooting. A late lay-up from Julian Boatner (who grabbed three steals on the night) broke a 57-57 tie with less than two minutes ago, giving the Tribe a lead that they would not surrender. Tim Rusthoven added 17 points and seven rebounds while Marcus Thornton dropped in 15 points on 3 of 6 shooting from deep.
Upcoming Schedule: No Games Scheduled
Philahoops CAA Player of the Week: Towson F Jerrelle Benimon (14 ppg, 11 rpg)
Philahoops CAA Team of the Week: Drexel (1-0)
This week’s TOTW selection should probably come with an asterisk because most of the teams barely played this week. But the Dragons have continued to show no ill effects after losing Damion Lee and are currently on a three-game win streak after a comfortable win over lowly Tennessee State while last week’s top squad, Towson, has dropped two of three.
Philahoops CAA Power Rankings
- 1. Drexel (6-2)
2. Towson (7-4)
3. Delaware (5-4)
4. UNCW (6-5)
5. William & Mary (5-4)
6. College of Charleston (4-5)
7. Northeastern (2-7)
8. Hofstra (2-6)
9. JMU (2-8)
-Aaron Coleman covers Drexel for Philahoops. Reach him at [email protected], @shutupcole on Twitter, or leave a comment below.
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