MU hoops/Sunday Seton Hall Press preview story/Barbour update
Just talked to Dave..Barbour looking a little better.. officially..."questionable." Was "doubtful" for Friday night...
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Monmouth University's men's basketball team will make history Sundaywhen it plays in the
first college basketball game at the 18,500-seat Prudential Center in Newark.
In the game, which pits the Hawks against Seton Hall University in its season opener,
Monmouth faces a daunting task. It has dropped six straight games by an average of 21 points
and is 0-8 overall vs. the Big East member.
Last year, a veteran Hawks team that included 7-foot-2 John Bunch was drubbed, 83-49.
""We didn't play very well last year, so that didn't work out,'' coach Dave Calloway said.
The Hawks' chances today appear even slimmer than usual considering its youth and lack of
an established big man will have to contend with Seton Hall's size and athleticism.
""It's going to be a clearly difficult situation,,'' Calloway said.
Calloway said the series was originally set up so Seton Hall would play at Monmouth when
its new arena was ready. At the time, it shaped up as Monmouth going to Seton Hall for three
games in exchange for Seton Hall's visit to West Long Branch.
""Then we got delayed with the building, so, instead of it being a three-for-one, it turned
out to be like a seven-for-one,'' Calloway said.
""Seton Hall has been great about it,'' he added. ""Every year they say, "All right, throw
out that last contract, here's the new one. When you're building is done we're coming.'‚''
That's expected to happen in 2009-2010.
Monmouth dropped it season opener Friday night at Colgate, 63-60. It trailed by 11 points
in the first half before taking a nine-point lead with 12:58 remaining on a layup by junior
Whitney Coleman (17 points).
""They went to a zone, we got a little stagnant, and didn't get some good looks,'' Calloway
said.
Down one point with nine seconds left, Calloway said sophomore Jhamar Youngblood (20
points) penetrated toward the basket.
""He got into the lane, he got he got a great look; it literally was halfway down and it
popped out,'' Calloway said.
After two Colgate foul shots, Youngblood dished the ball to freshman R.J. Rutledge.
""R.J. got a good look for the 3,'' Calloway said. ""I was really pleased with that.
""Hopefully, next time we'll get those things and we'll make them. I thought we made all
the right decisions down the stretch.''
Calloway said the status of freshman power forward George Barbour, who was held out Friday
night due to a sprained ankle, will probably be a game-time decision.
If Barbour is unable to go, Calloway said freshman Nick DelTufo will make his second
consecutive start.
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Monmouth University's men's basketball team will make history Sundaywhen it plays in the
first college basketball game at the 18,500-seat Prudential Center in Newark.
In the game, which pits the Hawks against Seton Hall University in its season opener,
Monmouth faces a daunting task. It has dropped six straight games by an average of 21 points
and is 0-8 overall vs. the Big East member.
Last year, a veteran Hawks team that included 7-foot-2 John Bunch was drubbed, 83-49.
""We didn't play very well last year, so that didn't work out,'' coach Dave Calloway said.
The Hawks' chances today appear even slimmer than usual considering its youth and lack of
an established big man will have to contend with Seton Hall's size and athleticism.
""It's going to be a clearly difficult situation,,'' Calloway said.
Calloway said the series was originally set up so Seton Hall would play at Monmouth when
its new arena was ready. At the time, it shaped up as Monmouth going to Seton Hall for three
games in exchange for Seton Hall's visit to West Long Branch.
""Then we got delayed with the building, so, instead of it being a three-for-one, it turned
out to be like a seven-for-one,'' Calloway said.
""Seton Hall has been great about it,'' he added. ""Every year they say, "All right, throw
out that last contract, here's the new one. When you're building is done we're coming.'‚''
That's expected to happen in 2009-2010.
Monmouth dropped it season opener Friday night at Colgate, 63-60. It trailed by 11 points
in the first half before taking a nine-point lead with 12:58 remaining on a layup by junior
Whitney Coleman (17 points).
""They went to a zone, we got a little stagnant, and didn't get some good looks,'' Calloway
said.
Down one point with nine seconds left, Calloway said sophomore Jhamar Youngblood (20
points) penetrated toward the basket.
""He got into the lane, he got he got a great look; it literally was halfway down and it
popped out,'' Calloway said.
After two Colgate foul shots, Youngblood dished the ball to freshman R.J. Rutledge.
""R.J. got a good look for the 3,'' Calloway said. ""I was really pleased with that.
""Hopefully, next time we'll get those things and we'll make them. I thought we made all
the right decisions down the stretch.''
Calloway said the status of freshman power forward George Barbour, who was held out Friday
night due to a sprained ankle, will probably be a game-time decision.
If Barbour is unable to go, Calloway said freshman Nick DelTufo will make his second
consecutive start.
posted by Tony Graham at 7:02 PM
5 Comments:
Hope I'm wrong, but I'm expecting this to be ugly.
Tony,
I feel like I have missed out on some early MU hoops. I did not make it to the exhibition (watched Pats-Colts instead), but read the review and was a little nervous about the mistakes. Then I read how they failed to take advantage of an opportunity on the drive by Jet against Colgate. The only thing I can say is that with young teams you encourage the mistakes now, but hopefully they won't get too discouraged and bounce back and improve by the time NEC season starts. I will be taking the train to the "Rock" today and hopefully will see Barbour play. I feel MU needs to play him if possible and Crews in order to keep up athletically with Seton Hall. Remember Rickie did have his best game of the year last year against Seton Hall (not that that says much considering it was garbage time and he barely played but still trying to find a positive). Seton Hall has a big three in Laing, Harvey and Nutter. Also, Gause is a very very good spark-plug guard with great defensive principles. Up front the main returner seems to be Garcia, who has been injury prone and ineffective throughout his career at Seton Hall. If both teams are as thin up front as I can tell (barring one of the Hall's recruits coming out looking like Sam Dalembert or Eddie Griffin) then it will be a game determined by the guards. If Jet and Whitney can score 40 each...maybe we can steal it. Let's go Hawks!
No matter the outcome we (I know I will) be intersted in your review of MU's mainly new players...
Why don't they give the big guys a chance. It cant get any worse.
To; Why don't they give the big guys??
Assume you mean..Shawn and Adam..and you would play them ahead of??? and give reasons please ...
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