This may be a bad omen for the team, but I completely forgot that we were playing the Lafayette Leopards today until I looked at the schedule to check the time of our matchup with the UCLA Bruins next week in New York. Did I overlook them? You're damn right I did.
Normally that would raise some jinx alarms in my head, but Lafayette frankly just isn't that good. They're 1-2 on the year, getting their first win last time out vs. St. Francis (PA). And only by 4 points. They've lost to Wagner and Rider this year as well. Not terrible teams, but nothing special either.
And moreover, the stats they are putting up aren't scaring anyone. They're ranked in the 300's in some vital categories. Until I read that I forgot there was even 300 Division 1 schools in college basketball. Now we shouldn't overlook them, but this should be nothing more than a tune-up before UCLA next week.
Guard Ryan Willen leads the team at 16.3 points per game, and forward Jared Mintz is not far behind at 16.0 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 per game. Jim Mower can also fill it up, scoring 31 points against Rider. After them, there isn't much. Shut them down, and this should be a walk in the park.
More coverage on the game after The Jump.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: The Pavilion in Villanova, PA
TV: ESPN3
Radio: WJRH-FM 104.9 (Dick Hammer, Phil LaBella)
Blogosphere Coverage
The View From Vegas
The lines are OFF for tonight's game.
The Nova Blog's Thoughts
If there was a game this year I had to miss, it'd probably be this one. I don't even know why we scheduled this. Is it because they're from Pennsylvania? Maybe. Maybe because their Coach Fran O'Hanlon is a 'Nova grad and the record holder for single-game assists (I'M LOOKING AT YOU MAALIK WAYNS!). I just don't get it. A few tuneups to get our feet wet are fine by me. And really, this is only the 4th. I shouldn't be complaining, but I am.
Let's go out there and wax the floor with them.