Make it to the Colonial Athletic Association title game, or head into the off-season. That is the predicament facing the Towson men?s basketball team.
With a 14-16 record overall, and an 8-10 mark in CAA play, the seventh-seeded Tigers will have to make quite a run in order to keep the season alive. That begins with a 6 p.m. Friday tip with tenth-seeded UNC Wilmington (7-21, 4-14).
“At this point in time you have to sell your team on the idea that it?s a brand new season,” Towson coach Pat Kennedy said. “We?re in position. Now we have to move it to the next level. These tournaments make the NCAA tournament.”
At this point, it may not even be feasible for the Tigers to dream of an NIT berth. One member of the coaching staff said a conference finals appearance might create some NIT talk, but winning the CAA title is the only way to really ensure the team continues its season.
For the Tigers to make a run, they?ll need some quality offensive games from not only senior guard Gary Neal, but at least two more players.
“My good teams have always had three [double-digit scorers] at the least,” Kennedy said “That?s something we?ve needed, that third scorer, all year long.”
Neal leads the way with an average of 25.6 points per game, while senior forward Dennard Abraham is second in scoring at 11.3 points per game. No other Tiger is averaging double-figures.
Kennedy said the team would go out and practice hard Monday and today, and scale things back a bit Wednesday before putting in a good 40-minute shoot-around at the Richmond Coliseum on Thursday.
“You can?t reinvent the wheel at this time,” Kennedy said. “You have to go in and do what you do, but do it better.”
The difference for Towson throughout this season in comparison to those of years past has been the expectations bestowed upon the team. While Kennedy confirmed after Saturday?s game that some expectations were too optimistic, the players are fueled by the opportunity to impress.
“We have expectations,” Neal said. “And it?s always exciting to be around and try to live up to those expectations.”
CAA TOURNAMENT
Friday schedule:
» No. 8 William & Mary vs. No. 9 Georgia State, noon
» No. 5 Northeastern at No. 12 Delaware, 2:30
» No. 7 Towson vs. No. 10 UNCW, 6:00
» No. 6 George Mason vs. No. 11 James Madison, 8:30
» No. 1 VCU, No. 2 Old Dominion, No.3 Hofstra and No. 4 Drexel earned first-round byes
