Feb. 17, 2012
• 2011-12 Virtual Guide
2011-12 Stony Brook Men's Basketball
Game #26: Stony Brook Seawolves (17-8) at Northeastern Huskies (12-14)
Sat., Feb. 18 • Matthews Arena • Boston, Mass. • 1 p.m.
On the Radio
WUSB 90.1 FM & GoSeawolves.org with Mike Solano & Curt Hylton
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INFO: GAME NOTES (PDF)
Stony Brook Seawolves (17-8, 12-2 America East)
Head Coach: Steve Pikiell, seventh season
Overall Record: 95-134
Record at SBU: 90-116
Northeastern Huskies (12-14, 8-8 CAA)
Head Coach: Bill Coen, sixth season
Overall Record: 89-96
Record at NU: same
About the Game: Stony Brook, which has won 14 of its last 16 games, takes a break from conference play to face an old foe in the Northeastern Huskies, a game scheduled through the Sears ESPN BracketBusters event. This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the two teams, but the first since 2005. The Huskies, who were a founding member of America East and competed there until 2005, lead the all-time series 6-3 and have won five straight. This is Stony Brook’s second-ever appearance at Matthews Arena. The Seawolves previously played the Huskies at Cabot Gym.
Scouting Northeastern: Led by sixth-year head coach Bill Coen, the Huskies are running in the middle of the pack in the CAA this season. They are an even 8-8 in the league, good for seventh place as they look to finish .500 or better in the ultra-competitive CAA for the sixth time in seven seasons. NU’s signature victory this year was a win at St. John’s, the second time in four years the team has won on a BIG EAST court. NU’s strength this year has been it’s backcourt, led by Jon Lee and Joel Smith, who are combining to average over 26 points a game. The team is also getting major contributions from its freshmen, led by Quincy Ford (11.2 PPG). NU’s weak link has been turnovers, averaging 15.5 per game.
Last Time Out: Stony Brook struggled on both ends of the floor, shooting only 33 percent while allowing Vermont to connect on 48 percent of its shots and make nine three-pointers in a 68-49 loss in Burlington. Dallis Joyner was the star for the Seawolves, scoring a team-high 13 points, including five baskets after offensive rebounds, part of 17 second chance points for SBU. Tommy Brenton added nine points and nine rebounds.
A Stony Brook win...
- Would be SBU’s 15th win in its last 17 games.
- Would snap a five-game losing streak to Northeastern.
- Would be SBU’s sixth road win in its last eight tries.
Playoff Picture: At 12-2, Stony Brook has guaranteed itself no worse than a second-place finish in America East. If the Seawolves win their final two conference games, they will earn a share of the America East regular season championship for the second time in three seasons. If SBU wins both and Vermont loses one or both of its final two, Stony Brook will clinch the regular season outright and earn the No. 1 seed in the America East Championship.
Nothing Wrong with No. 2: Should Stony Brook earn the No. 2 seed in the America East Championship, there’s nothing to fret about. The No. 2 seed has gone on to reach the finals of the America East Championship 21 times in the 29 years that the tournament has been seeded. The No. 2 seed has won the title nine times.
Friendly Fire with an Old Foe: Stony Brook and Northeastern haven’t met on the hardwood since the end of the 2004-05 season, Northeastern’s final season as a member of America East. The Huskies lead the all-time series 6-3 and have won five straight. During the 2002-03 season, the Seawolves swept the Huskies with a 78-60 win at Cabot Gym in Boston and a 72-67 win at Stony Brook Arena. One of SBU’s crowning achievements that season was holding future NBA guard Jose Juan Barea to just 13.5 points average over those two games.
A Historic Winning Streak: Stony Brook is only in its 13th season of Div. I competition and 11th in the America East. Prior to Sunday’s loss, the team had gone 14-1 in its last 15, the team’s best 15-game stretch as a Div. I program. The 12-2 start to America East play matches the 2009-10 team, which also started 12-2 and finished 13-3.
Senior Leadership: The season and careers of four Stony Brook seniors are winding down and they have been a part of a massive turnaround. Before Bryan Dougher, Danny Carter, Dallis Joyner and Al Rapier stepped on the court at SBU, the Seawolves had only won 84 games in eight seasons as a Div. I program. Since they got here, the Seawolves have won 70 games in just under four seasons and are biding for their second regular season championship in three years.
The Offense is Flowing: Stony Brook has won 14 of its last 16 games and the offensive rhythm the team is in has played a large role. The Seawolves are shooting 45 percent from the field over the last 16 games while averaging 67.9 points. Five times during the streak, SBU has shot better than 50 percent and five times SBU has scored 75 points or more.
Don't Forget About the D: Not to be forgotten is Stony Brook’s defensive run during this 16-game stretch. The team is only allowing opponents to score 56.9 points per game over the last 16. Six of the last nine opponents have not reached 60 points, and the highest point total allowed in the span is 69 -- to Albany, which has the America East’s best scoring offense. For the season, Stony Brook is 22nd in the nation in scoring defense (59.5/game).
D is the Key: The math is usually simple for Stony Brook and its defense: hold the opponent under 60 points and it’s a victory. The Seawolves are 13-0 this season when holding their opponent under 60 points.
Up Next: Stony Brook returns to conference play to finish out the regular season, looking to claim a share of the regular season title. The Seawolves head to Hartford Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game vs. the Hawks.
