Delaware came out of a critical CAA week without a cherished win, falling at home to both Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth and, thereby, failing to assert itself as a true contender at the one-third mark of the conference men?s basketball season.
It won?t get easier for the Blue Hens (7-9, 3-3) this week with Wednesday?s visit to George Mason, where Delaware hasn?t won since its initial CAA game in December, 2001, and Saturday?s home encounter with Georgia State, tied atop the league with Mason and ODU.
Delaware often appeared to be the better team in Wednesday?s 68-66 overtime loss to Old Dominion. The Hens led by 10 at halftime, then fought back from seven down in the second half to force the extra frame. But ODU?s offensive rebounding, an area where the Monarchs have long excelled, spelled the difference, including on Chris Coooper?s game-winning shot at the buzzer in OT. Delaware was right there despite getting zero points from Jamelle Hagins.
?We can?t get more out of the ODU game,? Delaware coach Monte Ross said Saturday when asked, if Delaware is as good as he believes, it needs to get more out of the week. ?The only thing more we could get out of that is a win.?
VCU, however, which handled Delaware 68-55 in a wire-to-wire win, was more troublesome. The Rams are also young, but their trademark defense bothered Delaware enough that the Hens shot 31 percent from the field and made just three of 18 3-pointers.
?This is really the first game where we were down as much as we got down,? said Ross, who credited VCU for that.
?It?s necessary for our guys to go through these types of experiences and understand what it takes to get to a certain level.?
Ross accurately pointed out that Delaware has been competitive against other high-level foes, such as La Salle, Temple and ODU.
?I just thought it was more of, we just didn?t make shots [against VCU],? Ross said. ?You?re going to have days like that in college basketball.?
VCU coach Shaka Smart complimented Delaware before and after the game, saying that in Hagins and Devon Saddler, the Hens have two first-team All-CAA candidates. Josh Brinkley, Hagins? frontcourt mate, had a pair of solid games against ODU and VCU, demonstrating how valuable he is to the Hens and how important it is he stays healthy after foot injuries ended his last two seasons early.
So the Hens enter another important and extremely demanding CAA week, seemingly having the players with the potential to take care of business. Are they up to the task? We?ll see.
It won?t get easier for the Blue Hens (7-9, 3-3) this week with Wednesday?s visit to George Mason, where Delaware hasn?t won since its initial CAA game in December, 2001, and Saturday?s home encounter with Georgia State, tied atop the league with Mason and ODU.
Delaware often appeared to be the better team in Wednesday?s 68-66 overtime loss to Old Dominion. The Hens led by 10 at halftime, then fought back from seven down in the second half to force the extra frame. But ODU?s offensive rebounding, an area where the Monarchs have long excelled, spelled the difference, including on Chris Coooper?s game-winning shot at the buzzer in OT. Delaware was right there despite getting zero points from Jamelle Hagins.
?We can?t get more out of the ODU game,? Delaware coach Monte Ross said Saturday when asked, if Delaware is as good as he believes, it needs to get more out of the week. ?The only thing more we could get out of that is a win.?
VCU, however, which handled Delaware 68-55 in a wire-to-wire win, was more troublesome. The Rams are also young, but their trademark defense bothered Delaware enough that the Hens shot 31 percent from the field and made just three of 18 3-pointers.
?This is really the first game where we were down as much as we got down,? said Ross, who credited VCU for that.
?It?s necessary for our guys to go through these types of experiences and understand what it takes to get to a certain level.?
Ross accurately pointed out that Delaware has been competitive against other high-level foes, such as La Salle, Temple and ODU.
?I just thought it was more of, we just didn?t make shots [against VCU],? Ross said. ?You?re going to have days like that in college basketball.?
VCU coach Shaka Smart complimented Delaware before and after the game, saying that in Hagins and Devon Saddler, the Hens have two first-team All-CAA candidates. Josh Brinkley, Hagins? frontcourt mate, had a pair of solid games against ODU and VCU, demonstrating how valuable he is to the Hens and how important it is he stays healthy after foot injuries ended his last two seasons early.
So the Hens enter another important and extremely demanding CAA week, seemingly having the players with the potential to take care of business. Are they up to the task? We?ll see.
