Keith Rendleman leads the CAA in scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding (12.4 rpg) in conference games. Hes third in field goal percentage (61.0). As the only Seahawk with a double-figure efficiency rating, the athletic power forward can expect a steady diet of double-teams the rest of the way in conference play, especially from teams such as JMU who dont have a defensive stopper in the post.
From his freshman year to now, what a good player hes turned into, Dukes coach Matt Brady said. Having watched some games here in January, even the game they lost against Drexel, he was a dominant player. We dont have the physical ability to play him 1-on-1. Drexel tried, and he had 10 baskets We dont do a lot of (double-teaming). Its in our game plan, but we had to try it and make other guys make some plays. Against our frontcourt he wouldve dominated us.
The Dukes used 6-8 Andrey Semenov to help Enoch Hood defend Rendleman on the catch. This forced him to dribble out of the post, 15-20 feet from the basket and pass back out to a perimeter player. It was effective. The Seahawks didnt maintain good spacing and sputtered to 0.95 points per possession, their third consecutive inefficient offensive effort.
I dont think we got going downhill (toward the basket) enough, UNCW coach Buzz Peterson said. We didnt attack off the double-team. In our guys defense, wed worked on it very little. We worked on it enough not to have a turnover, but not to make them pay. I expect to see alot of it. Thats what weve got to work on, get prepared for.
Tribe takes Rams to the wire
William amp; Mary and VCU gave a national television audience a good show last night in Richmond, playing the best game of the CAA season, an epic overtime thriller. The Rams won 69-68.
VCU, which guarded UNCW quite well earlier this season, did not have anyone who could stop William amp; Mary freshman Marcus Thornton in the second half and overtime last night. He drove to the lane, at will, scoring or dumping down to teammates for buckets. Keeping him out of the lane has to be top priority for the Seahawks or theyll relive Wednesday nights game against James Madison.
Update: Craig Ponder is still on crutches and in a cast, but is transitioning to a walking boot soon. He begins rehab on his surgically repaired ankle with team trainer Scott Hill in early February. It will probably be June before hes ready for full speed basketball action, though remaining active is an important part of the process.
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