MU hoops Press story for Monday - check out Bunch's comments at the top

By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
WEST LONG BRANCH - Monmouth University center John Bunch said Sunday he's tired of Monmouth talking a good game all season while having been slow to deliver.
""Everybody's been saying the right things but we haven't been doing the right things,'' said Bunch following a Monmouth practice at Boylan Gym.
""So it's just, "Shut up and do it,' '' he said.
While Monmouth has won four of its last five games, it didn't ""do it" last Monday at Fairleigh Dickinson, a galling defeat that tops Bunch's personal disappointment chart.
""It's number one,'' he said. In a game which will probably live in infamy as far as Monmouth is concerned, the Hawks blew an 18 point lead over the final 13 minutes.
When former Freehold Township High School star Manny Ubilla sank a baseline jump shot over the 7-2 Bunch as time expired, Monmouth walked slowly off the Stratis Arena (formerly known as the Rothman Center) court saddled with a shocking 64-63 setback.
So Monmouth coach Dave Calloway didn't exactly need to conjure up a creative pep talk for Monday's Northeast Conference rematch between the Knights (12-11, 7-5) and the Hawks (11-13, 6-6) at Boylan Gym where Monmouth has won its last seven games.
""I had never lost on a buzzer beater before and never (on a shot) in my face,'' said Bunch. ""That burned a little bit, and we were up so much. They just came back.''
""We're going to be fired up (for Monday),'' said Bunch. ""There's really not too much that needs to be said. We all know what it means.''
Specifically it means Monmouth faces its latest opportunity to move up through the sardine-packed middle of the NEC standings.
Though Monmouth currently sits in seventh place it is only one game in the loss column behind second place Quinnipiac (11-12, 9-5) though the Bobcats own the tie-breaker by virtue of their Jan. 13 head-to-head victory.
It seems to be no coincidence that Monmouth plays better when Bunch is a significant contributor.
Over the last four games, of which Monmouth has won three, Bunch has averaged 10.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and has blocked a total of 25 shots.
That followed a five game stretch where he scored a total of 12 points during which Monmouth lost four road games and plummeted in the standings.
""He's a difference maker out there,'' said Calloway. ""That's one advantage we have over everybody.''
Calloway said teams for the most part this season are double-teaming Bunch. ""More and quicker,'' said Calloway.
""So he has to be quicker. And we've been doing a better job of getting up the floor in transition. He's doing a better job of establishing position where we're getting it to him sooner and not allowing teams to get a quick double.
""That's helped us a little bit.''
""I knew I'd eventually come out of it,'' said Bunch. ""It's just a matter of time and effort.''
Monday starts a Monmouth run of its final six regular season games over the next 15 days with first place Central Connecticut State (15-10, 12-1) arriving at Boylan Gym Thursday.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com.


Today's practice .. - Got there at the end and didn't see much of practice (hey, what do you want - it's Sunday morning!)

But Dave said everyone practiced including Jhamar and Bunch.......


Also..MU promotions dept asked me to mention here about Monday's "White "Out " theme. Everyone is asked to where white shirts, etc. (it should .look good on TV!)