LATEST HEADLINES

Monday, November 12, 2007
Two on tap tonight
Army and Lafayette hit the road tonight for a pair of games that look like pretty even matchups. The Black Knights will be in Connecticut to take on Sacred Heart, while the Leopards are across the sound facing Stony Brook.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART: The preseason favorites in the Northeast Conference didn't look very good in an 82-71 loss at Yale. Connecticut Post beat writer William S. Paxton said Sacred Heart "looked like a team that hadn't played in six months . . . had no flow on offense . . . seemed uncomfortable playing with each other" and had no defensive presence in the paint.

In scrimmages, Sacred Heart coach Dave Bike says the team shoots the lights out. That did not show in the Yale game. SH went 4 for 21 from the arc, 27 of 77 overall.

The bright spot was Ryon Howard, a 6-6 junior forward, who posted a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double. He appears to be as close to a post presence Sacred Heart has. The Pioneers have only two guys taller than 6-7 on the roster. That pair played a combined 11 minutes, scoring 2 points and grabbing 4 rebounds against Yale. Since the Sacred Heart SID's recap of that game talks about how Yale was able to exploit the Pioneers inside, that lack of playing time tells you pretty much all you need to know about the duo.

It is probably worth noting Sacred Heart was voted the NEC preseason favorite before its top returning scorer -- power forward Joey Henley -- tore up a knee playing for the school's football team. Henley will miss the entire season.
BONUS LINKS:
  • Sacred Heart game notes
  • Sacred Heart audio Webcast
  • Gametracker

    SCOUTING STONY BROOK: This is not a bad matchup for the Leopards. Picked to finish seventh in the eight team America East Conference, Stony Brook is a lot like Lafayette, a smallish, perimeter-oriented team. Only one starter is taller than 6-4, only one other guy in the top 9 of coach Steve Pikiell's rotation tops 6-6.

    Stony Brook opened its season Saturday with an 86-64 loss at Villanova. The Seawolves lack of an inside presence was obvious by Villanova's 35-19 edge on the boards (Box score).

    The Seawolves are dangerous on the perimeter, though. Against Villanova they shot 51.2 percent (21-41) from the field, including 9 for 21 at the 3-point arc. Juco transfer Michael Tyree, a 5-11 guard from N.J., led the Stony Brook scoring with 18 points, including three 3-pointers, in 16 minutes of action. Ricky Lucas, a 6-4 junior guard, and Mitchell Beauford each added 13.

    Beauford and Lucas, two of four returning starters, have had past success against Patriot League teams. Lucas put up 20 against Navy last season. Beauford had 13 against the Mids and 20 against Colgate.
    BONUS LINKSS:
  • Newsday's Stony Brook season preview
  • Three keys for Stony Brook (Newsday)
  • Gametracker

    Labels: , ,

    • Published at 9:19 AM by Hoop Time.
    Help Hoop Time