UMASS LOWELL
Record: 9-13 (3-6 America East)
Last Game: W, 88-64, at Maine 1/31
Last 10: 3-7
Last Meeting: UMass Lowell 82, Stony Brook 79 (OT); Yeboah team-high 23; lost six-point lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation; 10 for 20 on FTs
CM Unofficial Line: Stony Brook -2.5
KenPom RPI: Stony Brook 237, UMass Lowell 306
KenPom Prediction: Stony Brook 77, UMass Lowell 70
Listen/Watch:TV:
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3273411/umass-lowell-vs-stony-brookUMass Lowell radio:
http://goriverhawks.com/showcaseStony Brook radio:
http://www.943theshark.com/listenlive.aspxNotables:6-2/210 rsr Jahad Thomas 19.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 spg, .521 FG%
6-1/195 sr Matt Harris 12.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .841 FT%, .374 3-pt FG%
6-3/185 jr Ryan Jones 10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .369 3-pt FG%
6-4/190 so Rinardo Perry 9.2 ppg
6-7/225 jr Josh Gantz 8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, .480 FG%
All right, we've plummeted in that territory where we run the risk of playing
(edit) Vermont in the first round of the conference tournament. We're in the 7 spot now by virtue of the buzzer-beating win over Maine, and would climb to 6 if we prevail on Thursday, leapfrogging the River Hawks. Any situation where you avoid Vermont in the 1/8 game gives us a least a little hope of making some noise – UMBC, Hartford, Albany, we've all been in games with them. The 4/5 game it all but impossible to get to the way we're playing and with UNH two games up with six to go.
Lowell has rounded into shape a bit, having won three of its last four after starting the year 0-5 in conference. They're coming off a 24-point drubbing at Maine, which is a good win no matter what. Thomas was his usual stat sheet stuffer, going for 19, 13 and 6.
One guy to watch out for is this freshman Obadiah Noel, who's coming off a 10-point, seven-rebound night against Maine. He went for double digits in all three Maine wins, and didn't in their six losses. His season high is a 19-point night in a loss to Central Connecticut State. On the year, Noel has won three AE Rookie of the Week honors, one better than a few players, including Olaniyi. Maybe that turns into a nice little battle over the next three years.
In a season with a million lineup changes, I think we're going to see Olaniyi, Yeboah and Iroegbu take us down the home stretch. As I said in the Hartford recap, those guys just look like they want it more than the others. Granted, shots weren't going down as frequently as we'd have liked, but I want guys whose actions show that they haven't given up.