Random Notes from a D2 Hoops Season
By Chris Granozio
It was as predictable as the sunrise. We all knew at least one winter storm was going to further disrupt the Covid-ravaged regional schedule, and that’s the case this weekend, as 11 of the 14 scheduled games have already been postponed as of this printing. Seven of those 11 will be played a day later while one will be made up early next week and the other three are TBA. It’s going to be a crazy finish as all three conferences try to cram in all the postponed contests over the coming month; a plan that sees some schools actually playing on back-to-back days (Bridgeport did that already this week, dropping home games to St. Thomas Aquinas and Queens). As one coach told me recently, this season you can throw out almost everything you’ve ever planned regarding game preparation. It’s all unchartered territory now.
Less than a week before Groundhog Day, here’s a story that reached such new levels of symmetry and absurdity, no Hollywood producer would ever consider it believable. On December 1 at the Newman Center, Dominican rallied to nip longtime rival Caldwell, 74-73 on a 3-pointer by Jalen Burgess with 5.9 seconds to play. After the final buzzer sounded, the two teams engaged in an unsightly skirmish that marred what had been an exciting CACC North battle. Fast forward to this past Wednesday and the rematch. Once again, the Cougars held the upper hand, never trailing until the final second, when Daniel Grant sank two free throws to close out yet another 74-73 Chargers victory. And though the location was different, the two teams once again disgraced themselves with a postgame brouhaha that spilled into the back hallway at the Hennessy Center and was reportedly very ugly. It’s unlikely, though certainly not impossible, that there will be a third encounter in the postseason, but whenever these two squads finally do square off again, there must be more scrutiny, from the coaching staffs right down to the security details. Tim McCaffrey promises to have more on the aftermath in his next Musings column, but suffice it to say, this is nothing short of a black eye on the schools, the league and the region.
The latest NABC Top 25 has just one team represented, as Bentley glides up four spots to #19. Daemen is still receiving votes, while Lubbock Christian (TX) remains the #1 team in the land.
Bentley remains the hottest team with eight straight wins, though interstingly, the last five games saw the Falcons trailing at the half. Jay Lawson’s club – which has the most experience among the 37 East Region teams – is the odds-on favorite to host the NCAA Regional in March.
The first match-up of superpowers in the ECC – Daemen and St. Thomas Aquinas – took place last Friday and the Wildcats took down STAC in a bizarre stat game. It’s not often a team that turns the ball over three times as often (27-9) wins, but that was the case as Daemen compensated with more accurate shooting (52%-37%), more damage beyond the arc (13-26 to 5-25) and sheer dominance on the glass to the tune of 48-20. Throw in the fact that Andrew Sischo contributed a modest 12 points and it was far from a predictable night at Aquinas Hall. Can’t wait to watch the rematch in person on February 18 in Amherst.
Congratulations to the other Buffalo club – D’Youville – which earned its first ECC win and first triumph over a fellow D2 opponent in outlasting Mercy, 63-61 Friday in Dobbs Ferry.
Saint Michael’s became the last of the 37 regional teams to earn a conference victory, stunning Pace in Pleasantville, Saturday, 87-82. Patrick Gardner was predictably front and center for the Purple Knights with 25 points, six rebounds and seven blocked shots. He received much-needed support from shooters CJ Crews (20 points) and Jacob Duniver (18 on 6-of-8 long-range shooting) who both notched career highs in the victory.
Post continues to cruise, knocking off Georgian Court this afternoon in a game pushed up a day to beat the impending storm. The Eagles prevailed 86-67 for their eighth straight win. Devonte McCall’s 25 points paced the winners, who have both won convincingly and eked out a few games during the hot streak (two one-point wins, one two-point win). Post is 8-0 in CACC play for the first time ever and has won eight in a row for the first time since November and December of 2012.
I want a head of hair like Post's Cape Holden, by the way.
In one of the streakier games played this season, New Haven nipped Assumption, 65-64. The Chargers jumped out to a 12-0 lead only to surrender the next 16. After falling behind 40-28 early in the second half and 51-40 midway through the final period, New Haven strung together an 18-4 run, zooming ahead 58-55 on a Derrick Rowland trifecta with 4:27 left. It remained tight until the last second when Quashawn Lane broke the final tie with the winning foul shot.
Franklin Pierce’s crazy game with Pace in Rindge on Wednesday was distinguished by Brandon Kolek’s one-handed, desperation 3-point fling that went in and gave the Ravens an 88-82 lead with 18 seconds remaining that proved the death knell. Bryan Powell’s career-high 29-point effort led the Setters, who erased a 17-point, second-half deficit before running out of gas.
Despite its home loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, Bridgeport turned in one of the finest individual performances of the season as Malcolm Moye exploded for a personal-best and regional individual season-high 44 points (15-20 FG, 6-10 from 3, 8-10 FT).
In one of the games actually being played tomorrow, Caldwell is hosting USciences. However, the highlight isn’t the game necessarily but rather what happens pregame, as Cougars Coach and Athletic Director Mark Corino will be honored in a ceremony after having recently set the record for most coaching wins in the state of New Jersey. Congrats, Mark!
Until next week, be safe and healthy and… happy hooping to all!