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Thursday, December 21, 2006
Holy Cross hosts George Mason in the marquee game of a strong three-game bill for Patriot League teams tonight that also includes a reality check for Army.
One of the first signs of how good George Mason was going to be last season might have been the 33-point hurt they put on Holy Cross down in Fairfax, Va.
At the time, Mason's 71-38 win over the 'Saders seemed more like a horrendous night for HC than any sort of Mason statement. Of course at the time, the 'Saders were a struggling team that didn't look at all like the ballclub they became by the end of the season. Given the rash of injuries HC was experiencing, that wide final margin seemed more an indication of the Crusaders' woes than Mason's excellence. Nobody dreamt three months later Mason would be in the Final Four.
The team coming into Worcester's DCU Center tonight is not that same Mason team. Jai Lewis, Lamar Butler, and Tony Skinn are gone, Those three -- all fifth-year seniors last season -- combined for 54 points against HC last season. Also gone is Cross' Kevin Hamilton, who the Patriots managed to hold to 11 points on 3 for 12 shooting. Keith Simmons' cramping problems, which were in full effect around this time last year, are also gone (though thankfully for HC, Simmons remains and seems to be OK despite having to wear a brace on the knee he sprained at Duke).
Some things are the same, though. Just like last year, the Crusaders are experiencing a rash of injuries. Pat Doherty is out -- again -- this time with a hand injury instead of the foot problems that sidelined him last season). Lawrence Dixon's surgically repaired knee has been balking and at last report, freshman Andrew Keister was awaiting the results of a scan to determine if he has a stress fracture in one of his legs. No word on the status of Dixon and Keister in the .
One place HC appears to have an advantage is in the frontcourt. Tim Clifford will be easily the biggest dude in the paint. Clifford had a big night in Tuesday's loss at Providence and ought to be able to do the same if A) Mason tries to play him straight-up in man and B) If the quickness of Mason's 6-7 Will Thomas doesn't get Clifford into foul trouble. That will be a matchup to keep an eye on.
With Doherty and Dixon out, the Crusaders don't have a lot of perimeter firepower. This would be a nice spot for sophomore Colin Cunningham to step up.
As for mason, while they are clearly not the team they were a year ago, it would be foolhardy to dismiss their 4-4 record. Take a look at those losses: Duke, Creighton, Wichita State and Bucknell.
One edge for HC: this is Mason's first time out after an 11-day break for finals. Two patterns HC must break: 1) Mason has alternated wins and losses all season and teh Patriots lost last time out (at Duke). 2) Their own three-game losing streak (and four losses in their last five, albeit all against major conference opponents).
Also worth noting: Mason senior Gabe Norwaood and HC freshman Eric Meister both come from the same State College (Pa.) High School. That is also the alma mater of Colgate's Willie Morse.
| (on Mason)
Army at No. 20 Notre Dame -- A reality check for Army against a team that appears to be trying to win the Patriot League title.
The Black Knights' 9-2 start has gotten them a mention in the "others receiving" category of the AP Poll. But as nice as it is to see Army finally winning games, how they stack up against the rest of the league is still a big question mark. They have played a string of nobodies since losing to Missouri in the second game of the season. Suffice to say ND is not a SUNY Division 3 team.
Then again, nobody is really sure how good the 9-1 Irish are. Since losing their opener against Butler, ND has run off nine straight wins, a streak that started with a win over Lafayette and includes another win over Lehigh. The Irish also have wins over Alabama and Maryland.
Worth noting: In 2004, a horrendous Army team was up on ND 23-7 early. Doubt the Irish will take the Black Knights lightly.
| | | |
Colgate at UC Riverside -- In a 10 p.m. (eastern) nightcap, the Raiders try to get back to .500 against a University of California at Riverside team that is 3-7 and in the midst of a five-game losing streak, albeit against some pretty tough competition.
One of the first signs of how good George Mason was going to be last season might have been the 33-point hurt they put on Holy Cross down in Fairfax, Va.
At the time, Mason's 71-38 win over the 'Saders seemed more like a horrendous night for HC than any sort of Mason statement. Of course at the time, the 'Saders were a struggling team that didn't look at all like the ballclub they became by the end of the season. Given the rash of injuries HC was experiencing, that wide final margin seemed more an indication of the Crusaders' woes than Mason's excellence. Nobody dreamt three months later Mason would be in the Final Four.
The team coming into Worcester's DCU Center tonight is not that same Mason team. Jai Lewis, Lamar Butler, and Tony Skinn are gone, Those three -- all fifth-year seniors last season -- combined for 54 points against HC last season. Also gone is Cross' Kevin Hamilton, who the Patriots managed to hold to 11 points on 3 for 12 shooting. Keith Simmons' cramping problems, which were in full effect around this time last year, are also gone (though thankfully for HC, Simmons remains and seems to be OK despite having to wear a brace on the knee he sprained at Duke).
Some things are the same, though. Just like last year, the Crusaders are experiencing a rash of injuries. Pat Doherty is out -- again -- this time with a hand injury instead of the foot problems that sidelined him last season). Lawrence Dixon's surgically repaired knee has been balking and at last report, freshman Andrew Keister was awaiting the results of a scan to determine if he has a stress fracture in one of his legs. No word on the status of Dixon and Keister in the .
One place HC appears to have an advantage is in the frontcourt. Tim Clifford will be easily the biggest dude in the paint. Clifford had a big night in Tuesday's loss at Providence and ought to be able to do the same if A) Mason tries to play him straight-up in man and B) If the quickness of Mason's 6-7 Will Thomas doesn't get Clifford into foul trouble. That will be a matchup to keep an eye on.
With Doherty and Dixon out, the Crusaders don't have a lot of perimeter firepower. This would be a nice spot for sophomore Colin Cunningham to step up.
As for mason, while they are clearly not the team they were a year ago, it would be foolhardy to dismiss their 4-4 record. Take a look at those losses: Duke, Creighton, Wichita State and Bucknell.
One edge for HC: this is Mason's first time out after an 11-day break for finals. Two patterns HC must break: 1) Mason has alternated wins and losses all season and teh Patriots lost last time out (at Duke). 2) Their own three-game losing streak (and four losses in their last five, albeit all against major conference opponents).
Also worth noting: Mason senior Gabe Norwaood and HC freshman Eric Meister both come from the same State College (Pa.) High School. That is also the alma mater of Colgate's Willie Morse.
| (on Mason)
Army at No. 20 Notre Dame -- A reality check for Army against a team that appears to be trying to win the Patriot League title.
The Black Knights' 9-2 start has gotten them a mention in the "others receiving" category of the AP Poll. But as nice as it is to see Army finally winning games, how they stack up against the rest of the league is still a big question mark. They have played a string of nobodies since losing to Missouri in the second game of the season. Suffice to say ND is not a SUNY Division 3 team.
Then again, nobody is really sure how good the 9-1 Irish are. Since losing their opener against Butler, ND has run off nine straight wins, a streak that started with a win over Lafayette and includes another win over Lehigh. The Irish also have wins over Alabama and Maryland.
Worth noting: In 2004, a horrendous Army team was up on ND 23-7 early. Doubt the Irish will take the Black Knights lightly.
| | | |
Colgate at UC Riverside -- In a 10 p.m. (eastern) nightcap, the Raiders try to get back to .500 against a University of California at Riverside team that is 3-7 and in the midst of a five-game losing streak, albeit against some pretty tough competition.
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