Drexel II

[Hens79]

Two years in a row following an NCAA appearance with an easy to see deeply flawed, middle of the pack CAA team. The Hens are 1-6 against the teams ahead of them and 0-5 against the top 4. They pile up stats against average or bad teams but just aren’t good enough to beat good teams.

[bluehens2005]

Really hope I’m wrong, but I would be shocked if Davis is back with us next year. Have to think he wants to take a shot with a P4 team and a chance at the NCAA tournament. Just don’t see a trip to the Dance in UD’s immediate future unfortunately.

I agree with you and not being honored on Thursday. Now we won’t get a chance to say goodbye properly. He could be out the door for sure he can play just about anywhere when surrounded by a strong bunch he will be even better.

[UDHoops]

I said it the other day and again last night Reily has regressed. Houser is well, a body but bot reliable for points ge likes to chuck up threes hard to imagine us being worse next year but real possibility with Ray and Davis gone unless somehow we can convince some folks in the portal thing about the portal is players come and go less time for team chemistry to be made as well. Luckily Davis and Rat were here a couple of years, but with the portal looking at more 1- maybe 2 year type players

The only two players who will not have eligibility next season are Ray and Trent.

Per conversations with the program, Davis and Drumgoole will not be honored on Thursday's senior night as they both have 1 year to use in the 24-25 season. Ray/Trent/Ogunbo will.

Will Davis try to graduate in the 2 summer sessions & move on like Nelson did last year?

I have no feelings on this. I wouldn't be surprised if he entered the portal when it opens on March 18th. But I always come back to a quote I got after the title in 2022 from someone connected to him. I was told that his mindset is "the grass isn't always greener on the other side" after returning from a Providence Red Shirt year. Delaware invested in two guys Jyare has played youth ball with in Lane and Bethea and both have eligibility next season. We saw Niels improve immensely on the offensive end of the second half of the season. Zion will be a question mark... but we know they brought him in, to be a shooter off the bench (which the team is really really missing right now).

That quote was said after a title win and 2 years later, the team hasn't built a roster around Jyare's strengths since. I could see him being frustrated and use his last year to test how far he's come since arriving here in 2021, but I could also see him wanting to stay home and finish his career in Newark before an incoming professional career in Europe if he chooses to.

I always think about how strong him and Carr looked in the high-low post in that CAA Tournament. Carr and Nelson leaving is so hard to replicate. As the 2024/25 Roster currently stands for scholarship players:

Starters: Davis, Lane, Drumgoole, Reilly
Rotation: Houser, Bethea, Peterson
Rest: Jerome, Moss
New: Macon Emory

That leaves 3 spots open without anyone leaving. And I think it's clear what you need:

Top Priorities
1) A defensive anchor at the 5. It has been exhausting seeing the best bigs in the league like Brzovic or Williams get wherever they want. It's not fair to ask 6'6" Christian Ray to be the main guy on them and expect continuous success. They need someone to counter these guys to help win the rebound battle more often. As nice as it would be, he doesn't even have to be able to shoot from long range.

2) A point guard that can shoot. When 3 or 4 of the guys on the floor aren't respected from the perimeter, it limits your offensive flexibility in the half court. I think teams took notice of that after Trent's game at Xavier... shadow Reilly/Drumgoole and pack everyone else in. Losing Ray and Trent, its main ball handlers, they will need to invest in this position and I think it needs to be someone who can make open shots.

Other Spot
3) Versatile guard/wing. You could go with another big man, but you're hoping Moss/Houston Emory can be those back-end guys once Moss is healthy. They will miss a guy like Ray who can guard 1-5 and handle the basketball well. They need to land a guy that can do a little bit of everything like this. Defend the perimeter, step in the post when needed. Stretch the floor, take the ball when needed. Ray can do a lot, another guy I always think of is former Hofstra guard Tareq Coburn. He was a guard, but played way bigger than his 6'5" listed height for the Pride.

It's easier said than done, and we still have 3+ games to enjoy before the offseason hits, but here's where my head is going. Circling back to the original question... I really hope Jyare stays, but I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't.

[Udforever1]

Good post UDHoops.

[tenn hen]

I agree with the majority of posts. the line from Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind"- "How many years" -seems to fit last night's performance/season. I have felt no urgency to post during the last games for both the men and women as it's simply deja vu revisited year after year. I posted my disagreement with extension for MI when it was announced. It has proven to be a dreadful mistake. SJ's lack of experience serving as a HC was another CR hire failure. I simply don't get the poor capacity for hiring in the athletic department. Heck, even the fundraising appears to be going south with the facilities campaign. Like a few post, I expect criticism here for my honest opinions, but the facts over these last years can't be denied. Even the most ardent blue hen posters have come around to accept reality. We need to jettison those that are holding back UD sports. I'm disappointed with the whole enchilada. I can only hope the future of our football program in FBS can brighten the outlook for UD sports.

[bluehens2005]

I agree with the majority of posts. the line from Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind"- "How many years" -seems to fit last night's performance/season. I have felt no urgency to post during the last games for both the men and women as it's simply deja vu revisited year after year. I posted my disagreement with extension for MI when it was announced. It has proven to be a dreadful mistake. SJ's lack of experience serving as a HC was another CR hire failure. I simply don't get the poor capacity for hiring in the athletic department. Heck, even the fundraising appears to be going south with the facilities campaign. Like a few post, I expect criticism here for my honest opinions, but the facts over these last years can't be denied. Even the most ardent blue hen posters have come around to accept reality. We need to jettison those that are holding back UD sports. I'm disappointed with the whole enchilada. I can only hope the future of our football program in FBS can brighten the outlook for UD sports.

Me too Tenn we can and should be better than this. Anyone catch campbell knock of UNCW in double OT on national TV. Campbell has shooters! Why not us why does someobe want to go to Buies creek over Newark or are we just not targeting the right folks …i agree Mi extension probably bitting us in the rear because doubt we have the coin to buy him out.

[gonzo]

Getting a good big man in the CAA is always a challenge, but I'm curious about what the plan was for the frontcourt going into the season. Did Ingelsby and Phillips think Houser, Ray, and Davis were enough in the frontcourt? Houser needs to get stronger, and I think he has a good skill set, but right now, he's just overmatched on defense and hasn't found his rhythm in the offense. Davis and Ray both play hard, but they are undersized in the paint.

What was the plan? Because if the plan was to rely on Houser, Ray, and Davis to man the frontcourt, then I don't understand what Ingelsby is thinking.

They don't need a star but they do need big man who has size and won't get pushed around.

[UDHoops]

I agree with the majority of posts. the line from Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind"- "How many years" -seems to fit last night's performance/season. I have felt no urgency to post during the last games for both the men and women as it's simply deja vu revisited year after year. I posted my disagreement with extension for MI when it was announced. It has proven to be a dreadful mistake. SJ's lack of experience serving as a HC was another CR hire failure. I simply don't get the poor capacity for hiring in the athletic department. Heck, even the fundraising appears to be going south with the facilities campaign. Like a few post, I expect criticism here for my honest opinions, but the facts over these last years can't be denied. Even the most ardent blue hen posters have come around to accept reality. We need to jettison those that are holding back UD sports. I'm disappointed with the whole enchilada. I can only hope the future of our football program in FBS can brighten the outlook for UD sports.

Me too Tenn we can and should be better than this. Anyone catch campbell knock of UNCW in double OT on national TV. Campbell has shooters! Why not us why does someobe want to go to Buies creek over Newark or are we just not targeting the right folks …i agree Mi extension probably bitting us in the rear because doubt we have the coin to buy him out.

Anthony Dell'Orso is a treat. He entered the portal after being named the Big South Rookie of the Year in 2023 but withdrew to return to Campbell. I expect him to be gone this offseason. Had interest from Wake and Xavier last spring, I'm sure a similar mold of schools will also be after him. What a season for him.

[Caribbean Hen]

Everytime I check in on UD hoops it’s always the same

No outside shooting and always rouses memories of Brian Magid … Ive told the stories

He’s still alive…. If anyone can teach these guys how to shoot it’s him

[Hens79]

Lotta good posts. It isn’t hard to see what the team needs. They need a real post player, several more shooters, AND anyone that can create their own shot. Drumgoole is the closest now. These things were all know after last year ended. It is just about impossible to win in college basketball being as small as the Hens are and often having 3-4 guys on the court at a time that can’t shoot 3s. You can get away without a post player if there are 3 or more shooters on the floor at all times and you have a several super athletic 6’5”-6’7” players. But the Hens don’t. They are simply overmatched against decent teams in almost every phase of the game.

[UDPat]

Everytime I check in on UD hoops it’s always the same

No outside shooting and always rouses memories of Brian Magid … Ive told the stories

He’s still alive…. If anyone can teach these guys how to shoot it’s him

Guess you aren't aware the REAL shooting guru is from 30 miles North in Philly.

Just cause you can shoot doesn't mean you can teach it.

If you are going to make a call: Herb McGee is the call you make, don't call him the Shot Doctor for nothing.

[UD '01 grad]

Division I teams with a winning overall record the Hens have defeated this year:

Monmouth
Stony Brook
Towson

[tenn hen]

https://bluehens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster[url][/url]

just look at the Big Man concept from our roster for this year. there are 2 -Emory and Houser. no Ogunbo in pic, but he appears only to be window dressing since he doesn't touch the hardwood. As to Moss?????? Why is it that even other CAA schools have one or multiple BGs? This was the obvious major flaw for MI to correct.
1) Last year Emory was a sacrificial lamb in the paint- His frailty doesn't even handle the #4 slot from a rebounding viewpoint. I was sad to view the results. I believed this kid had potential if utilized correctly. There are loads of "sticks" like Emory who play and play well in the forward positions up front at all levels of bball.
2) Houser ain't no skyer, but he has bulk going for him. As a backup, sure he could give you minutes inside. But you need SIZE. If you believe there were no big men that could have come via the portal or out of high school to our program to fill that void, then I'm sorry for your short sightedness. We've all watched the result of just this one deficiency in filling the roster. Our season has been awful.

Division I teams with a winning overall record the Hens have defeated this year:

Monmouth
Stony Brook
Towson

'
that is a telling fact UD'01!!!!- even Xavier is 13-14 now, but they still are a top 50 team. Our crackerjack victory was only accomplished by our guys all hitting on four cylinders.

as to the women- see my last couple of posts from their games. it's an outright disaster on the courts in reference to TOs, and 3PT% as deja vu continues nightly in front of few fans. It is what it is and shouldn't be

[Cluck U]

Division I teams with a winning overall record the Hens have defeated this year:

Monmouth
Stony Brook
Towson

Wow. Very telling.

[HENJOHN]

Yes Xavier has lost 4-5 in a row and is now 13-14