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nol · 08-13-2014, 03:16 PM

Hofstra's off to a 5-2 start led by 6-8, 265 PF Byron Pepper (21 ppg, 20 INS). Luckily, their starting SG and 2nd best player is dinged up. The first 2 minutes give me a good feeling about the game. We're only ahead 4-0 but have already drawn 5 fouls. Unfortunately, the refs are completely whistle happy this game and Hofstra comes back from an early 21-9 deficit on the strength of free throws. They lead 44-38 at the half. Lindsey Jones is our main guy with 14 points but has 3 fouls. We're down 2 for four straight possessions in the 2nd half and come away empty-handed, and that isn't enough to overcome the massive free throw discrepancy. Hofstra shoots 31-38 at the line to our 13-22. Duley and Kratzer combine for a ghastly 10-35 from the field. If we end up on the bubble, that will be the game to point to.

Against Hartford, an otherwise mediocre first half is propped up by Kratzer's 13, 8 and 2 blocks, which is enough for us to have a 33-27 lead. After halftime, we can't stop shooting ourselves in the foot offensively, but some nice individual efforts by Jones and Duley are keeping us in front. We get a rebound up 53-48 with 5 minutes left and call a timeout to get a breather for our guys. The ensuing play breaks down, but Chet White, a senior walk-on PF with no discernible basketball skills, continues his bizarre tendency to make key baskets for us (he killed some rallies in the Pitt and Vermont games) and calmly hits a free throw line jumper. We're up 60-52 lead with 2:43 left, but Hartford ties the game at 60 thanks to two straight three pointers made within 5 seconds of gaining possession. We take a timeout with 26 seconds left to hold on for the last shot, but the play Holston draws up somehow involves our offensively-challenged PF Freddy Diaz receiving the ball in perfect position to get trapped and turn the ball over with 11 seconds left. Lindsey Jones blocks the potential winning three-pointer, and we're heading to overtime.

Scoring isn't too much of an issue in the extra period thanks to both teams being in the double bonus. We're up 3 with 1:30 remaining, but their center (0-4 on the season) hits a three to knot things up. Jones answers back with a big three-point play, and that puts us in position to be shooting free throws after getting a stop. Beau goes 4-4 from the line in the last minute, and we hold on for a 77-72 win. We rack up an absurd 25 offensive rebounds, just three fewer than Hartford's total number of boards for the night.

Stony Brook's 1-9, so I'm really hoping we can close out the year with a stress-free win. It takes us 10 minutes or so to get going, but Duley and Kratzer start to put on a two-man show; with 4 minutes left in the half the two of them are outscoring Stony Brook 24-21.

With 14 minutes left in the 2nd half, we're up 54-34. Our ball movement (19 assists to 5 turnovers) is as good as it's been all season. We move to 8-2 with a 74-48 victory. Despite the blowout, we only get 9 guys into the game, and afterwards I have a heart-to-heart with our 10th man, JR PG Chris Earl. It was a tough conversation because Chris is a walk-on and understands we've got guys like Beau and Lindsey who are key to our success, but he's easily got the best court vision (17 PAS) on the team and could likely find a low-major program he could start for his senior year if he chooses to transfer. I tell him the truth - minutes could be hard to come by this season but if he sticks around he'll be neck-and-neck with Shawn (Everson, our backup PG) for the starting job next season.

08-13-2014, 03:16 PM	#8
nol Banned Join Date: Oct 2003	Hofstra's off to a 5-2 start led by 6-8, 265 PF Byron Pepper (21 ppg, 20 INS). Luckily, their starting SG and 2nd best player is dinged up. The first 2 minutes give me a good feeling about the game. We're only ahead 4-0 but have already drawn 5 fouls. Unfortunately, the refs are completely whistle happy this game and Hofstra comes back from an early 21-9 deficit on the strength of free throws. They lead 44-38 at the half. Lindsey Jones is our main guy with 14 points but has 3 fouls. We're down 2 for four straight possessions in the 2nd half and come away empty-handed, and that isn't enough to overcome the massive free throw discrepancy. Hofstra shoots 31-38 at the line to our 13-22. Duley and Kratzer combine for a ghastly 10-35 from the field. If we end up on the bubble, that will be the game to point to. Against Hartford, an otherwise mediocre first half is propped up by Kratzer's 13, 8 and 2 blocks, which is enough for us to have a 33-27 lead. After halftime, we can't stop shooting ourselves in the foot offensively, but some nice individual efforts by Jones and Duley are keeping us in front. We get a rebound up 53-48 with 5 minutes left and call a timeout to get a breather for our guys. The ensuing play breaks down, but Chet White, a senior walk-on PF with no discernible basketball skills, continues his bizarre tendency to make key baskets for us (he killed some rallies in the Pitt and Vermont games) and calmly hits a free throw line jumper. We're up 60-52 lead with 2:43 left, but Hartford ties the game at 60 thanks to two straight three pointers made within 5 seconds of gaining possession. We take a timeout with 26 seconds left to hold on for the last shot, but the play Holston draws up somehow involves our offensively-challenged PF Freddy Diaz receiving the ball in perfect position to get trapped and turn the ball over with 11 seconds left. Lindsey Jones blocks the potential winning three-pointer, and we're heading to overtime. Scoring isn't too much of an issue in the extra period thanks to both teams being in the double bonus. We're up 3 with 1:30 remaining, but their center (0-4 on the season) hits a three to knot things up. Jones answers back with a big three-point play, and that puts us in position to be shooting free throws after getting a stop. Beau goes 4-4 from the line in the last minute, and we hold on for a 77-72 win. We rack up an absurd 25 offensive rebounds, just three fewer than Hartford's total number of boards for the night. Stony Brook's 1-9, so I'm really hoping we can close out the year with a stress-free win. It takes us 10 minutes or so to get going, but Duley and Kratzer start to put on a two-man show; with 4 minutes left in the half the two of them are outscoring Stony Brook 24-21. With 14 minutes left in the 2nd half, we're up 54-34. Our ball movement (19 assists to 5 turnovers) is as good as it's been all season. We move to 8-2 with a 74-48 victory. Despite the blowout, we only get 9 guys into the game, and afterwards I have a heart-to-heart with our 10th man, JR PG Chris Earl. It was a tough conversation because Chris is a walk-on and understands we've got guys like Beau and Lindsey who are key to our success, but he's easily got the best court vision (17 PAS) on the team and could likely find a low-major program he could start for his senior year if he chooses to transfer. I tell him the truth - minutes could be hard to come by this season but if he sticks around he'll be neck-and-neck with Shawn (Everson, our backup PG) for the starting job next season.