Final Disa & Data Notes and a Look at the CAA Tourney
.
Here's some stats from around the league, my final jump into W&M stats for the season and my take on the upcoming weekend and Awards.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
David Cohn • William & Mary
Sr., G, 6-2, 168 - Elmhurst, Ill./York
Cohn averaged 19.5 points, 10.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in William & Mary’s 2-0 week. The senior point guard scored a career-high 30 points and shot 63.2% from the floor and was 12-of-12 at the free throw line, extending his consecutive made FT’s streak to 38.
Tramaine Isabell • Drexel
Jr., G, 6-1, 180 - Seattle, Wash./Garfield
Isabell averaged 29.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals in Drexel’s two games last week. The junior guard nearly posted a triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as the Dragons posted the largest comeback in NCAA Div. I history and defeated Delaware, 85-83. He shot 50% from the floor for the week.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Jalen Ray • Hofstra
Fr., G, 6-2, 175 - Hampton, Va./Hampton
Ray averaged 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in Hofstra’s 2-0 week. The freshman guard shot 57.1% from the floor, including 5-of-10 from three-point range.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
REGULAR-SEASON TITLE: Charleston and Northeastern shared the CAA regular-season title after both finished the year with 14-4 conference records (you are welcome, NU fans). It’s the first CAA title for the Cougars and the third in the past six years for the Huskies, who also finished first in 2012-13 and 2014-15.
HISTORY'S LARGEST COMEBACK: Drexel, and the CAA, got some national coverage this week, as the Dragons recorded the largest comeback in NCAA Division I history, overcoming a 34-point deficit to defeat Delaware, 85-83. The game was tied at 83 when Tramaine Isabell was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2.2 seconds remaining and hit two free throws. Isabell finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. The previous record for the largest comeback was 32 points by Duke against Tulane in 1950.
TOP 100 OF RPI: Four CAA teams are ranked in the top 105 of the latest NCAA RPI through games of Feb. 25, three in the Top 100. Northeastern leads the way at #60, followed by Charleston at #71, The Tribe at #91 and Hofstra at #105. The CAA continues to be ranked 12th out of the nation’s 32 Division I conferences again this week.
CAA YOUTH MOVEMENT: Young players have made a big impact in the CAA this season. There are six sophomores, one freshman and only two seniors among the CAA’s top 15 scorers through games of Feb. 24. Soph Zane Martin, of Towson, leads the way for ther youngsters, in scoring, at 19.9 ppg. There are also just three seniors among the CAA’s top 10 in rebounding, with W&M’s soph, Justin Pierce, leading the youth pack at 8.8 rpg.
Towson Notes
• The 5th seeded Tigers (18-13, 8-10) ended their regular season by dropping road games at Northeastern (80-75) and Hofstra (91-86) .
• 6’7” Soph Forward Justin Gorham posted double-doubles at NU (career-high 28 pts/12 reb) and Hofstra (20 pts/12 reb). He has 4 double-doubles and 4 20-point efforts this season and is averaging 7.3 rpg in CAA play, which ranks 7th.
• 6’4” Soph Guard Zane Martin poured in a career-high 36 points and added 6 rebounds and 6 assists at Hofstra. It was his third 30-point outing and 18th game with 20+ points. It was the most points ever by a TU sophomore. Martin had 35 & 20 in his two efforts against the Tribe.
• 6’5” Sr Guard Mike Morsell averaged 11.0 ppg last week and went over 1,500 career points. He’s scored double figures in 13 straight games and is 8th on Towson’s career scoring list.
• 6’5” Sr Guard Eddie Keith had 11 points and 3 steals at NU. He reached double figures in 12 of Towson’s 18 CAA games.
• 6’8” Soph. Forward Dennis Tunstall tied his career-high with 13 rebounds at Hofstra.
• Towson shot 50% from Three and a whopping 61% from the field in their two contests against W&M this season. Their season averages...46.9% from the floor, 36.6% from 3. THAT will have to change, if the Tribe expects to move on to Monday...
William & Mary Disa & Data
• The Tribe recorded double-digit wins in CAA play for the fifth year in a row after two victories in the final week of play, setting a new W&M record.
• David Cohn scored a career-high 30 points with 9 assists vs. CofC and dished out 11 assists vs. UNCW, which was his 6th game with 10+ dimes. He went over 1,000 points and 500 assists for his career at W&M last week. You might say it was a good week for the Captain...
• Justin Pierce hit 5-of-7 treys and scored 22 points vs. UNCW and added 16 points and 8 boards vs. CofC. He’s averaging 21.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg in his past 10 games.
• Connor Burchfield averaged 19.5 ppg last week and made 6-of-9 treys. He continues to lead the nation in 3-point FG% (52.2%).
• Matt Milon averaged 17.0 ppg last week and has 6 double-digit efforts in his last 7 games. His three triples against CofC moved him into sixth on the Tribe's single-season list with 74 triples in his first season of play in the 'burg.
• Nathan Knight averaged 18.5 ppg last week. He ranks among the top 7 in the CAA in scoring, rebounding, FG% and blocks. He blocked his 100th career shot against Charleston, becoming the 6th player in W&M history to reach that mark.
• W&M shot at least 50% from the field for the 19th time this season.
CAA AWARDS: Here’s my take on the major CAA Awards to be given out this week
All CAA:
1st Team
J. Wright-Foreman - Hofstra
D. Cacok - UNCW
T. Isabell - Drexel
G. Riller - CofC
D. Cohn/Z. Martin (tie) - W&M/Towson
2nd Team
V. Pusica - Northeastern
R. Daly - Delaware
J. Chealey - CofC
E. Carter - Delaware
S. Moseley - JMU
3rd Team
J. Talley - UNCW
N. Knight - W&M
R. Gustys - Hofstra
T. Siebring - Elon
J. Pierce/E. Pemberton - W&M/Hofstra
My Player of the Year is Wright-Foreman. I also think the two top freshmen (below) have a shot at 3rd team, but will probably have to wait a year.
All Rookie Squad
Matt Lewis - JMU
Ryan Allen - Del
Jalen Ray - Hof
Tomas Murphy - NU
Darius Banks - JMU
My Rookie of the Year, in a close decision, is Lewis of JMU.
Coach of the Year
I would probably favor Tony for Coach of the Year, but, if being non-partial, I would also say, Earl Grant and Bill Coen both have equally good credentials and would be good choices. So, take your pick. I'll take Tony.
Tourney Champ: Charleston is still my "head" pick for the Championship, but any of the Top 4 can have a case made in their favor. The "heart" pick is, of course, The Tribe. This year's squad, with it's depth of shooters, is probably better equipped than most Tribe squads to be able to overcome their weaknesses on defense. I would love to see this team take on a #3 or #4 seed, that hasn't had a chance to really study our play, in the first weekend of the NCAA's.
Gotta win 3 in 3 days first.
Go Tribe!!!
|