With just two games remaining in the regular season, it’s the final stretch for the men’s basketball team. The Huskies (12-15, 8-8 Colonial Athletic Association) head into the season’s final week jockeying for position with Old Dominion, William ‘ Mary, Delaware and Hofstra with the CAA Tournament set for Friday, March 7 at the Richmond Coliseum.
The CAA has earned an “at large” bid in each of the past two NCAA tournaments, as George Mason (2006) and Old Dominion (2007) each qualified for the Big Dance. So take a wild guess who the Huskies’ final two regular season opponents are. That’s right, in an unfavorable twist of fate, Northeastern travels to Norfolk, Va., Wednesday to face Old Dominion (16-13, 10-6 CAA) at 7 p.m. and then hosts George Mason (19-9, 11-5 CAA) Saturday at Matthews Arena at 2 p.m.
How did NU wind up having to play these perennial CAA powerhouses the final week of the season? I don’t know, but somebody should place a call to commissioner Tom Yeager’s office (preferably not Kelvin Sampson).
After winning five in a row to start the month, the Huskies come into the season’s final week on a three-game slide. It’s mathematically possible Northeastern could qualify for a top-four seed in the CAA Tournament (thus earning a coveted bye). But it’s more likely NU will play in the tournament’s opening round for the third straight year.
This is an important week for Northeastern, as the Huskies can build momentum heading into the CAA Tournament with strong showings against ODU and Mason. Bill Coen’s boys have already faced each club this season with mixed results: they beat the Monarchs 67-60 Feb. 6 at Matthews, and fell to the Patriots 80-52 Jan. 12 in Fairfax, Va.
The Huskies have had March 1 circled on their calendars for quite some time, as they look to atone for the blowout loss at the Patriot Center. And for those doubting Northeastern’s chances against Mason, look no further than last season’s matchup at Matthews, where the Huskies pounded the Patriots 73-50 on Senior Day.
Ah yes, Senior Day. Or more accurately Mark Washington Day this year, as the 6-foot-7 senior co-captain plays his final game in front of the Husky faithful. Washington has made two starts in his Northeastern career, with both coming on the road last season at Detroit and George Mason. Saturday should be a special day for Washington, whose play has improved during the last month. And I’m sure he would like nothing more than a victory in his final appearance at Matthews Arena.
Northeastern’s other co-captain, Matt Janning, also has a lot riding on the season’s final week. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is the fourth leading scorer in the conference, averaging 16.1 points per game, and a strong finish should assure the reigning CAA Rookie of the Year a spot on an All-Conference team. For my money, Janning deserves a spot on the CAA’s 2nd Team, but it’s up to the voters to decide his fate.
Janning and the Huskies know they are capable of making noise come tournament time, and can prove it to the rest of the conference with a win against Old Dominion or George Mason. Northeastern has shown flashes, stringing together a five-game winning streak earlier in the month, before Trae Goldston’s buzzer-beater in Atlanta. At that point, the Huskies were as hot as any team in the CAA, and looked like a threat to do some damage in Richmond.
Northeastern’s current rough patch has coincided with poor free throw shooting. During their three-game slide, the Huskies are 34-of-50 (68 percent) from the line, and have especially struggled late in games.
However, free throw shooting has been an overall strength all season for the Huskies, who rank second in the CAA at 72.9 percent. If that problem works itself out, Northeastern is a good bet to upset this week.
For fans of college basketball we’ve now reached the best time of year, where words like “Cinderella” and “RPI” re-enter the public lexicon. For those of you heading to Richmond, it should be an exciting time as the CAA tries to earn multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament for a third-straight season. And despite Northeastern’s long odds to qualify for the Big Dance, I look forward to seeing what the Huskies are capable of in the CAA Tournament.
After all, a fan can dream, can’t he?
Throughout the season, catch all the action of the basketball and hockey teams on 104.9 FM WRBB, or on the web at wrbbradio.org. Tune in this week for basketball Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. and Saturday at 1:45 p.m. and hockey Friday at 6:45 p.m. and Saturday at 7:45 p.m.
– Adam Jones can be reached at [email protected].
