IS TAKING DOC TO SEE THE DOC
Drexel set a single season school record for wins this season during a 29-7 campaign that the Dragons couldn’t determine a single Most Valuable Player so they split the award.
Sophomore point guard Frantz Massenat and senior forward Samme Givens were named the Dragons Co-MVPs.
Massenat was a first-team all-Colonial Athletic Associations choice after averaging a team-high 13.7 points. He also led the CAA in both assists (4.8 per game) and three-point field goal percentage (.450).
Givens finished as only the third Drexel player to record more than 1,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds.
A second team all-CAA selection, Givens finished with 1,226 points and 1,059 rebounds.
Juniors Daryl McCoy and Derrick Thomas shared the Dragon “D” Award, presented to the team’s top defensive player.
The Dragons allowed just 56.1 points, fifth lowest in Division I.
Damion Lee, the CAA Rookie of the Year, earned the Samuel D. Cozen Award, awarded to the Dragons’ most improved player. The 6-foot-6 Lee averaged 12 points per game.
The Donald Shank Spirit & Dedication Award was given to sophomore Jake Lerner. Fellow junior Steve Manojlovic earned the team’s academic award. He is an environmental science major and has a 3.59 grade-point average.
Givens is the only player that Drexel losses next season, and while he will be difficult to replace, the expectations will be high for the Dragons.
This season Drexel earned the fifth NIT bid in coach Bruiser Flint’s 11 years at the school. The Dragons won two NIT games before falling to Massachusetts in the quarterfinals.
Earning an NCAA Tournament bid will be a realistic goal for the Dragons in 2012-2013.
Sometimes the opponent deserves credit and that’s the case with the University of Massachusetts. Yes, Drexel squandered a 17 points lead with under 16:30 left in the second half, in Tuesday’s 72-70 loss to the visiting Minutemen in the NIT quarterfinal, but UMass showed unbelievable heart, spirit and conditioning.
The Mintuemen didn’t even appear to be breathing heavily despite their relentless pressure.
After trailing 53-36 following a three-point play by Frant Massenat, UMass went on a 28-9 run to take the lead for good, 64-62 on Terrell Vinson's driving layup with 6:31 left.
Then it was Drexel that fought back, after twice trailing by six, before the final shot by Frantz Massenat missed with five seconds left.
“They are the type of team you have to keep the game in the 60’s,” Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said.
And for the longest time it appeared that would work.
Unlike many teams that struggle in the half-court setting, Drexel runs good sets when it isn’t in transition. The problem is that the Dragons couldn’t make UMass pay when they had open shots.
So much in college basketball depends these days on making three’s. Drexel was 7 for 10 from beyond the arc in Sunday’s 65-63 win over Northern Iowa.
And against UMass, the Dragons were 1 for 13. The Minutemen were 4 for 10.
UMass coach Derek Kellogg talked about how important it was to string a couple of threes together.. In that 28-9 run, the Minutemen hit all four of their treys.
Drexel was dead tired. Flint admitted it and so did the players. What was amazing was how much energy UMass had, forcing the issue, continuing the pressure. The Minutemen forced Drexel into nine of their 15 turnovers in the second half.
On the other end, guard Chaz Williams, who played all 40 minutes and had a game-high 20 poins for UMass, looked like he could go another 40.
This one will sting for awhile, because a 17-point lead at home, where the Dragons had been 15-0, seems like a sure winner.
Against most teams it would be but on this night, the opponent refused to quit. UMass has won all three NIT games on the road, one in double overtime at Mississippi State, another by 10 points at Seton Hall and now this game.
Few have shown more heart in adverse settings than the Minutemen which is why they have extended their season.
Even the most ardent Drexel fan would have to admire what the Minutemen have accomplished.
No. 5 seeded University of Massachusetts (24-11) at No. 3 Drexel (29-6)
What: NIT Quarterfinal.
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Daksalakis Athletic Center (2,532).
Television: ESPN.
Points Per Game/Opponents Points Per Game:
UMASS – 77.5/72.5
Drexel – 65.1/55.5.
Coaches:
UMASS – Derek Kellogg (fourth season, 63-64)
Drexel – Bruiser Flint (16th season, 285-212 overall, 199-140 in 11 seasons at Drexel).
PROBABLE LINEUPS
UMASS
G Chaz Williams 5-9 So., 16.8 ppg., 6.4 apg.
G Jesse Morgan 6-5 So., 10.1 ppg., 2.4 apg.
C Sean Carter 6-9 Sr., 8.2 ppg., 6.6 rpg.
F Raphiael Putney 6-9 So. 10.4 ppg., 6.1 rpg.
F Terrell Vinson 6-7 Jr. 9.7 ppg., 5.0 rpg.
DREXEL
G Derrick Thomas 6-3 Jr., 8.0 ppg. 2.4 rpg.
G Damion Lee 6-6 Fr. 12.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg.
G Frantz Massenat 6-4 So. 13.7 ppg., 4.7 apg.
F Samme Givens 6-5 Sr., 11.6 ppg. 7.8 rpg.
F Daryl McCoy 6-9 Jr., 4.3 ppg., 6.7 rpg.
Key off the bench:
UMASS – Javorn Farrell 6-5 Jr., 6.3 ppg., 2.5 apg.
Drexel – Chris Fouch, 6-3 Jr., 10.9 ppg., (64 three-point FG).
How they got there
UMASS – Williams scored 28 points and Carter added 20 points and 12 rebounds in an opening 101-96 double OT win over No. 4 Mississippi State. Williams had 20 points and six assists as UMASS won, 77-67 at top seeded Seton Hall.
Drexel – Massenat had 18 points and 14 assists as Drexel defeated No. 6 University of Central Florida, 81-56 in the first round. Givens scored 28 points in the Dragons, 65-63 win over No. 7 Northern Iowa.
Notable
*UMASS’s Morgan is a product of Olney High.
*Drexel’s Fouch in the two NIT games has shot 13 for 22 from the field and 9 for 17 from three-point range in averaging 17.5 points.
*Drexel is 18 for 34 from beyond the arc in its two NIT games.
- Marc Narducci
Northern Iowa basketball coach Ben Jacobson had the same impression on Drexel that many of the Dragons opponents have.
After watching tape of the Dragons in preparation for Sunday’s 11 a.m. second round NIT game at Drexel, Jacobson said his initial concern is getting consistent offense against the Dragons, who are allowing 55.4 points per game.
“In looking at them, you realize how good they are defensively,” Jacobson said in a phone interview. “They just get at you and they are also a very tough rebounding team, so we will have plenty of challenges.”
Another challenge for the 20-13 Panthers is containing Dragons point guard Frantz Massenat, who had 18 points and 14 assists in an opening 81-56 NIT victory over the University of Central Florida.
“He is terrific,” Jacobson said. “When a guy can make the number of plays he does not only for himself but his team, then that makes him pretty unique.”
Jacobson went one step further in his praise of the sophomore point guard.
“There are not a lot of guys like that in college basketball and he is the one who really makes them go.”
The Panthers rely on a balanced offense, where there is only one double figure scorer. That is Anthony James, a junior guard who has been coming off the bench recently, and averages 12.7 points per game.
A player Drexel has to contain is 6-8 Seth Tuttle, the Rookie of the Year Conference USA, who is averaging 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds. Tuttle had 23 points in the Panthers opening 67-65 NIT win at St. Joseph’s.
UNI has been in Philadelphia since Tuesday and Jacobson has enjoyed the extended stay. The team had off from practicing on Thursday and toured the Constitution Center.
“It’s been great spending time here,” Jacobson. “Most of all, we are happy that we are still playing.”
He also understands the challenge of having to beat a Drexel team that is 14-0 this season at home.
“Drexel is a high quality opponent,” Jacobson said. “We know we will have our hands full.”
Drexel coach Bruiser Flint is happy to be playing in the second round of the NIT, even if it’s a little earlier than usual.
The Dragons (28-6) will play host to Northern Iowa in Sunday’s 11 a.m. matchup at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
“We’ll see how it goes on Sunday morning,” Flint said laughing. “When I was in college 11 a.m. on Sunday was awful early."
Actually, Flint would play the game at midnight. This is a team that opened its season with a 6 a.m. game at Rider.
This figures to be a defensive struggle. UNI allows 61.8 points per game, while Drexel surrenders just 55.4.
“It’s one of those games that may be in the 40’s,” Flint said.
UNI had an impressive 67-65 first round win at St. Joseph’s as 6-8 Seth Tuttle, the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, had 23 points.
Drexel is coming off an impressive 81-56 win over the University of Central Florida as point guard Frantz Massenat had 18 points and 14 assists.
“We thought we could attack with Frantz and he played really well,” Flint said.
At least now the Dragons aren’t answering questions about being excluded from the NCAA Tournament. There are 16 teams left in the NIT.
The pool of teams is dwindling down whether it’s the NCAA Tournament or NIT,” Flint said. “There are a lot of teams going home and the only goal right now is to keep being able to play games.”
Drexel will host Northern Iowa in a second round NIT game at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The game will be televised by ESPN.
The Dragons (28-6) are the No. 3 seed in the Region 3, while Northern Iowa (20-13) is seeded seventh.
Northern Iowa beat St. Joseph’s, while the Dragons are coming off an impressive 81-56 opening round win over the University of Central Florida.
It was all in the start for Drexel.
The Dragons had a few days of pent-up frustration and needed a good start which is exactly what they got in their opening 81-56 NIT win over visiting University of Central Florida.
Frantz Massenat, who had 18 points and 14 assists, said the players fed off the crowd.
“It was huge starting out that way with the way the crowd was into it,” he said. “It really gave us a lift.”
The Dragons scored the game’s first nine points, but then saw UCF draw to 11-9. Drexel then went on a 9-2 run, leading 20-11 and from that point never led by fewer than eight points.
Getting Derrick Thomas back after his suspension was huge for the Dragons because it enabled Chris Fouch to go back to his sixth man role, providing Drexel energy off the bench.
Fouch said he was feeling it from deep range and he scored 19 points, hitting 5 of 11 from beyond the arc.
“We were obviously disappointed not to be in the NCAA Tournament, but we knew we had business to take care of,” Fouch said.
This business-type approach earned Drexel its school-record 28th win.
As usual, the Dragons defense was impressive. UCF shot 21-55 from the field (38.2 percent), including 4-15 from beyond the arc. The Knights didn’t help themselves at the foul line where they were (10-20).
What’s interesting is that in the first half, Drexel committed eight fouls compared to two for UCF, but it didn’t matter. The Dragons were able to get in transition, with Massenat especially going strong to the basket.
So now the Dragons can forget about talking about the NCAA’s. It’s not just that they are looking for redemption. There’s the simple fact that they want to win basketball games.
“Our last game was a loss,” Massenat said, referring to the 59-56 defeat to VCU in the Colonial Athletic Association championship on March 5. “We wanted to get back on the winning track.”
Central Florida University (22-10) at Drexel (27-6)
Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.
The winner: meets the winner of No. 7 Northern Iowa and No. 2 St. Joseph’s at a date to be determined.
Coaches
UCF – Donnie Jones (5th season, 98-63 overall, 43-22 in second season at UCF).
Drexel - Bruiser Flint (16th season, 283-212 overall, 197-140 in 11 seasons at Drexel)
All-time series: Drexel leads 1-0.
Last game:
UCF – Lost to Memphis, 83-52 in the Conference USA Tournament semifinal on March 9.
Drexel – Lost to VCU, 59-56 in the Colonial Athletic Association final, March 5.
Projected Starters
UCF
G A.J. Rompza 5-9 Sr., 7.2 ppg., 4.5 apg.
G Marcus Jordan 6-3 Jr., 13.9 ppg., 2.4 apg., 36.0 mpg.
C Josh Crittle 6-9 Jr., 4.7 ppg., 3.0 rpg.
F Isaiah Sykes 6-5 So., 12.5 ppg., 6.6 rpg.
F Keith Clanton 6-9 Jr., 14.6 ppg., 8.1 rpg.
DREXEL
G Derrick Thomas 6-3 Jr., 8.0 ppg. 2.3 rpg.
G Damion Lee 6-6 Fr. 12.7 ppg., 4.5 rpg.
G Frantz Massenat 6-4 So. 13.6 ppg., 4.4 apg.
F Samme Givens 6-5 Sr., 11.4 ppg. 8.0 rpg.
F Daryl McCoy 6-9 Jr., 4.3 ppg., 6.8 rpg.
Key off the bench:
UCF – Tristan Spurlock, 6-8 So., 7.2 ppg., 4.2 rpg.
Drexel – Chris Fouch, 6-3 Jr., 10.5 ppg., (55 three-point FG).
Fast Facts
*UCF’s Jordan is the son of Michael Jordan.
* Drexel’s loss to VCU snapped a 19-game win streak. The Dragons have won 25 of their last 27.
*This is UCF’s first ever NIT appearance.
*Under Flint, Drexel is 0-4 in NIT games, the most recent in 2007.
Video: Drexel senior Samme Givens talking about the NCAA and NIT Tournaments.
Kentucky coach John Calipari, whose team is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, has plenty of empathy for Drexel.
Calipari is close friends with Drexel coach Bruiser Flint, his former assistant who replaced him as head coach at the University of Massachusetts.
So with that background, we got on a conference call and asked Calipari his opinion on Drexel’s snub, and his reaction was not surprising.
“I was really disappointed,” Calipari said “I thought the St. Bonaventure game really hurt them.”
The NCAA selection committee said on Sunday evening that Oral Roberts, Nevada, Miami and Drexel, Seton Hall and Mississippi State were the last six teams considered. It is unclear what order the teams were in.
One of those six would have been in had St. Bonaventure not won the Atlantic-10 tournament, thus earning the league’s fourth spot.
Many fans of teams they felt should have earned a berth are criticizing the inclusion of Iona into the field and Calipari led the chorus.
“I don’t know how Iona gets in instead of Drexel,” he said. “I was really disappointed.”
Calipari even talked about Drexel’s comeback that just came short in the Colonial Athletic Association championship, a 59-56 loss to VCU at the Richmond Coliseum. Drexel overcame a 16- point halftime deficit and missed a last-second three-pointer that would have sent the game into overtime.
“They even came back in a game on a neutral court which was basically a home game for VCU, had a chance to win after being down 16,” Calipari said. “I don’t know what else you have to do.”
Calipari said he talked to Flint on Sunday night and no doubt he expressed these opinions.
“I am disappointed because they deserved it, the program deserved it and I hope they have a great run in the NIT,” Calipari said.
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