Nov. 20, 2008
Game Notes
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GAMEDAY CENTRAL
TOURNAMENT: Garden State Challege
HOST: Rutgers University
DATE: Friday, November 21, 2008
SITE: Louis Brown Athletic Center (8,000)
TIP-OFF: 6:00 p.m.
RADIO: WPIG (95.7 FM) & WHDL (1450 AM) - Olean
WXRL (1300 AM) - Buffalo
WHTK (1280 AM) - Rochester
TALENT: Gary Nease (play-by-play)
WEB AUDIO: www.GoBonnies.com
SERIES: First Meeting
LAST MEETING: None
UP NEXT: Sunday, November 23, 2008
at Rutgers @ 2:00 P.M. (Piscataway, N.J.)
At A Glance
With its first 2-0 start since the 2003-04 season, St. Bonaventure will look to make it three wins in a row to begin the year when it takes on Delaware Friday night in its third game of the Garden State Challenge. The Bonnies haven't started a season 3-0 since the 2000-01 campaign. The Brown and White have won their two games by an average of 16.5 points and have held at least a 20-point lead in both contests. The Bonnies back-to-back wins by 10 or more points marks the first time they've hit that plateau since 2002-03. St. Bonaventure's 23-point win at Marist on Monday night was its largest road win in eight years and second consecutive road victory by 20 or more points, dating back to last season.
Series History
Friday's game is the first meeting between the two clubs and just the ninth for St. Bonaventure against a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Bonnies are 5-3 all-time against the CAA.
This Day In Bona Basketball
St. Bonaventure is 1-2 all-time when playing on November 21, dating back to the 1975-76 season in the Bona record books - the final season that has actual dates recorded. The Brown and White's lone win on this date came in the season opener of the 2003-04 season. The first game of former head coach Anthony Solomon's career, St. Bonaventure came from behind to defeat Robert Morris, 78-76, behind 28 points from Marques Green. The senior guard burned the Colonials for 11 points over the final five minutes for the comeback victory.
Scouting the Blue Hens
Led by third year head coach Monte Ross, Delaware was picked to finish fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Poll. Disguised in the team's 0-2 start is the play of its quartet of starting guards. Heading that foursome that is averaging 66.5 points per game is Georgetown transfer Marc Egerson. Originally from Delaware, Egerson has turned in a pair of monster games over the first week of action, highlighted by a 28-point and 12-rebound performance against Rutgers. Egerson leads the team in both scoring (22.0) and rebounding (14.0). Sophomore and 2008 CAA All-Rookie team choice Alphonso Dawson is right behind Egerson in the point's column at 18 per contest. Redshirt sophomore Jawan Carter poured in a game-high 21 points at Robert Morris Tuesday night, while junior Brian Johnson has scored in double figures in both games. Delaware's strength has been on the offensive end as they've produced 76 points per game. The Blue Hens' struggles on the defensive end have been the primary reason for their two loss as they given up 85.5 points per contest while allowing their opponents to shot nearly 58 percent (57-99).
Head Coaching Matchup
ST. BONAVENTURE HEAD COACH
Mark Schmidt
@ St. Bonaventure: 10-22 (Second Season)
Overall: 92-112 (Eighth Season)
vs. Delaware: First Meeting
DELAWARE HEAD COACH
Monte Ross
@ Delaware: 19-45 (Third Season)
Overall: same
vs. St. Bonaventure: First Meeting
Doing it with De-fense
St. Bonaventure's quick 2-0 start can be credited to a pair of stingy defensive efforts. The Bonnies aggressive defense has yielded just 58 points per game thanks to holding their first two opponents to under 30 points in three of the four halves. The Brown and White rank in the top five in the Atlantic 10 in steals (9.0/2nd), field goal percentage defense (.348/4th), three-point field goal percentage defense (.229/2nd) and blocks (5.0/5th).
What a Difference a Year Makes
After sitting out all of last season due to NCAA transfer rules, junior Chris Matthews has made a great first impression with the Bona faithful. Matthews has come out of the gates gunning, drilling a career-high five three-pointers in each of the first two games. Matthews team-high 19.5 points per game ranks sixth in the Atlantic 10, while his five trifectas are second. Matthews connected on 5-of-6 from long range at Marist to finish with a game and career-high 21 points. Matthews has set career-highs in nearly every statistical category this season.
John of All Trades
Junior Jonathan Hall may be the most intriguing prospect of Schmidt's eight newcomers. Standing at 6-foot-5, Hall was named the NJCAA Division 1 National Tournament MVP in his final season at South Plains Community College. Hall has shown glimpses of range of abilities on both the offensive and defensive ends. Hall ranks second on the team in nearly every statistical category, including scoring (16.0), rebounding (6.0), steals (5) and blocks (2). Hall filled up the box score at Marist on Monday night with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Hall has scored in double figures both games, highlighted by a game-high 19 against Robert Morris in the opener.
Point Guard by Committee
With the graduation of Tyler Relph, the point guard position race was wide open entering the 2008-09 season. The race is still going, as junior Ray Blackburn and sophomore Malcolm Eleby continue to duke it out in practice for the starting nod. A JUCO All-American, Blackburn's up-tempo style combined with Eleby's large 6-foot-3 frame give the Bonnies their own version of "Thunder and Lightning" at the point guard spot. Both have had solid starts to the season, combining to average 11 points, 7.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds. After an up and down freshman campaign, Eleby has been solid in making his ninth and 10th starts of his career. Eleby leads the team with seven steals - 2nd in the A-10 - and assists (4.0).
