NORFOLK STATE
Record: 1-12
Last Game: L, 61-50, vs. Old Dominion 12/22
Last 10: 1-9
Last Meeting: First meeting
KenPom RPI: Stony Brook 172, Norfolk State 336
KenPom Prediction: Stony Brook 80, Norfolk State 64
Listen/Watch:TV:
http://es.pn/2Dhz8EKStony Brook radio:
http://www.943theshark.com/listenlive.aspxNotables:6-3/210 rso G Steven Whitley 11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.0 spg, .782 FT%, .324 3-pt FG%
6-8/220 jr F Alex Long 10.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .519 FG%
6-6/200 rsr G Preston Burgei 10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg
6-1/205 fr G Mastadi Pitt 9.5 ppg, .380 3-pt FG%
6-5/190 jr G Derrik Jamerson Jr. 8.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .351 3-pt FG%
The good news for Norfolk State is that they'll have three days in March to erase whatever mishaps may have occurred in the regular season. But that's about where the good news ends ... unless you count the fact that they're third from the bottom in the MEAC despite being 1-12 (FAMU 1-14, Coppin State 0-14).
NSU will hope that when we turn over the calendar, it means a turn in their fortune. There's very little for them to hang their hats on this year. Of their 12 losses, seven have come by 15 points or more, including four ghastly 20-plus-point defeats. Worst of all, however, they dropped an 83-80 decision to Division III Lynchburg at home back in the first week of the season. The Spartans' lone win was a 78-point massacre of tiny Mid-Atlantic Christian of the USCAA back on the 14th. MACU hasn't played a game since, and they don't play against until they visit the Apprentice School on January 11. A month off!
But
we have to be very careful here – we know very well that teams can stub their toes against inferior teams following enormous emotional wins. Also, NSU was picked to finish second in the MEAC and they've piled up six straight seasons at .500 or better, with an average of nearly 13 conference wins. That includes a run to the MEAC title game last year, where they lost to North Carolina A&T. This year, a lot of the real ugly ones came early. In their last game, they were up on a pretty good ODU team with eight minutes to go. They were up late on Niagara only to lose on a buzzer-beating three. I know were grasping for straws here, but despite the lack of success, they seem to be trending upward, even if it's just a slow climb.
NSU has been without the services of Zaynah Robinson, who was preseason All-MEAC. He's been out with a hip injury; no word on whether he'll be ready for this one.
However, will we see ... ANDREW GARCIA?!?!?! Oh man. I sure hope so.
Let's prove from the outset that we're taking this game seriously, play in-your-face defense, and do what we're supposed to do in this spot. This is not a great shooting team, but they're balanced and they're a wounded dog with nothing to lose. On our end, this is the opportunity to maintain a full head of steam heading into a conference schedule. After Maine here on January 3, we have five of the next six on the road.