This Weeks Disa & Data File and some thoughts on GMU
This week's look at some pertinent DISA & DATA, starting off with our salute to Conner Burchfield for his impressive performances last week.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Connor Burchfield • William & Mary
Sr., G, 6-4, 180 - Concord, N.C./Concord
Burchfield averaged 28.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in William & Mary’s 2-0 week. The senior guard was 15-of-21 (71.4%) from 3-point range and shot 73% from the floor overall. He set a school and tied a CAA mark with 10 treys while scoring a career-high 30 points in the Tribe’s 114-104 victory over Marshall. He followed with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-13 FG shooting in a 108-85 road win at Savannah State. Burchfield had scored 40 total points in W&M’s first five games before getting 57 last week.
Tramaine Isabell • Drexel
Jr., G, 6-1, 180 - Seattle, Wash./Garfield
Isabell averaged 27.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in Drexel’s 2-0 week. The junior guard poured in a career-high 35 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and added three assists and three steals as the Dragons handed Rider just its third loss of the season, 89-77. Isabell shot 54.5% from the floor and was 7-of-16 from 3-point range.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Ryan Allen • Delaware
Fr., G, 6-2, 195 - Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic
Allen averaged 13.5 points in Delaware’s two games last week. The freshman guard was the Blue Hens’ second-leading scorer with 16 points in a setback to Yale and followed with 11 points and three rebounds against Navy. Allen has tallied double digits in three straight games.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
TOWSON WINS: Towson won its second tournament title in two weeks, defeating La Salle (67-60) and Manhattan (56-55) to capture the Belfast Classic in Ireland. Sophomore Zane Martin earned MVP honors after scoring 20 points in each game and MIke Morsell hit a game-winning jumper vs. Manhattan with 1.5 seconds left. The Tigers are 8-1 for the first time ever as a Division I program and are on an 8-game winning streak for the first time since 1993. They also picked up a vote in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll for just the second time in school history.
NON-CONFERENCE PLAY: It was a very solid week for the League last week, as CAA teams combined for a 14-4 record against non-conference foes. For the season, the league is 45-33 against non-conference competition. Towson is on an eight-game winning streak, William & Mary has won four in a row and Charleston and Elon have each won their past three contests.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES: Along with the sensational performances turned in by CAA Players of the Week Connor Burchfield (28.5 ppg) and Tramaine Isabell (27.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg), there were numerous other noteworthy efforts. Towson’s Zane Martin averaged 21.3 ppg in three wins, while Northeastern’s Vasa Pusica tallied 21.0 ppg and 5.0 apg in a pair of victories. W&M’s Nathan Knight averaged 24.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg and 5.0 bpg, while James Madison’s Stuckey Mosley tallied 26.5 ppg. Elon’s Tyler Seibring averaged 19.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg in two overtime wins and UNCW’s Devontae Cacok scored a career-high 35 points on 16-of-19 FG shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds at East Carolina.
HOME COURT: CAA teams are a combined 27-4 at home this season and also have 12 victories on neutral courts.
THE STAT SHEET: Several CAA players rank in the top 15 nationally in various statistical categories. UNCW’s Cacok leads the nation in rebounding (13.0 ppg) and Hofstra’s Rokas Gustys is 6th (12.0 rpg). UNCW’s Jordon Talley ranks 8th in assists (7.7 apg) and the Tribe’s David Cohn is 9th (7.6 apg). W&M’s Knight is 10th in blocks (3.3 bpg) and Drexel’s Austin Williams is 11th (3.3 bpg). W&M’s Burchfield is 6th in 3-point FG percentage (57.4%) and 8th in 3’s per game (3.9), while teammate Matt Milon is 10th in 3-point percentage (54.8%).
Disa & Data:
• W&M shot better than 60% from the floor in both games last week and hit 34 three-pointers. The Tribe has scored over 100 points in three of their past four contests, a first in Tribe history. The Tribe has scored 100 points in a game in three seasons in it's history, 1954-55, 2016-17 and 2017-18. (can they hit 4?)
• Connor Burchfield tied a CAA record by hitting 10-of-12 treys vs. Marshall and scored a career-high 30 points. He followed with a team-high 27 points at Savannah State.
• Justin Pierce set career-highs with 21 points and 17 rebounds at SSU. He’s averaging 15.4 ppg and is 3rd in the CAA with 9.6 rpg.
• Nathan Knight also had a big week with 31 points and 12 rebounds vs. MU and 18 points, 12 boards and 7 blocks at SSU. He’s in the CAA’s top six in scoring (19.3 ppg), rebounds (8.9 rpg) and blocks (3.3 bpg).
• David Cohn had 24 assists last week.
• W&M, on a four game win streak, leads the CAA in scoring (88.1 ppg), FG% (51.2), FT% (79.8%), 3-point FG% (48.1%) and 3-pointers per game (12.9).
• W&M is performing well, offensively, on a National basis, as well, leading the Nation in 3-point FG% (48.1%), while ranking 3rd in the country in 3-pointers per game (12.9). Davidson is #1 at 13.8. They are 23rd in scoring (88.1 ppg), 17th in FG% (51.2), and 7th in FT% (79.8%).
Mini-Scout on George Mason:
George Mason comes into the game 4-4 on the season, after a tough loss to Auburn last time out. They average 68.8 ppg, while giving up 78.8 ppg. The Patriots made 12 three pointers against the Tigers defense.
The Patriots are, like the Tribe, a very young team (16th youngest in the country). They are led by two Junior Guards, Otis Livingston II (14.9 ppg, 5.1 apg) and Jaire Grayer (14.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg). These two are also the team’s top 3 point shooters, both averaging 42% or better from three.
6’7” Forward Goanar Mar is their surprise freshman star, averaging 13.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg so far. He is making 52% of his shots from the floor.
Their starting guards average 17.5 rebounds per game, so look for them to go hard to the glass.
Interesting note, if ever a team should be at .500, it is probably the Patriots. Their stats show that they basically shoot the same percentage as they give up, they get the same number of rebounds as they give up and their turnovers and assists are just about the same as their opponents. Definitely a recipe for a .500 season.
My Take: The Patriots are a slow starting team (sound familiar) usually trailing at the half. The Tribe will need to get a good start again, to make GMU play from behind all game. It will be important for the Tribe guards to find and block out the Patriot guards, because they love to go get rebounds. They are a good, but not great 3 point shooting team. If the Tribe has it's shooting eye again this game, that will put needed pressure on the GMU offense. Of course, a little defense is always a hoped for bonus.
Go Tribe!!
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This Weeks Disa & Data File and some thoughts on GMU
