Don?t expect UMBC coach Randy Monroe or Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman to spend a lot of time studying the game film from last year?s meeting between the schools in preparation for tonight game.
Both schools enter RAC Arena tonight at 7:30 with a much different look? and much higher expectations ? than a year ago after each has opened the season impressively.
UMBC (4-1) is off to its best start in six years after an 89-79 win Saturday over George Washington, which went to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. The Retrievers are averaging 80 points per game ? nearly 20 more than last year.
Three transfers ? forwards Cavell Johnson and Darryl Proctor and guard Ray Barbosa ? who are each averaging at least 16 points a game and have enabled the Retrievers to run an up-tempo offense. The balanced attack has also prevented defenses from focusing on senior guard Brian Hodges, who averages a team-high 18.4 points per game.
“You can?t just guard one player against us this year,” Monroe said. “If Brian is having an off night then Cavell steps up. If Cavell is off then Ray can come through and so on. We have a lot more options now.”
Transfers also have helped out Morgan State (3-2), as junior Marquise Kately is third on the team in scoring (12.8) and second in rebounding (5.2) following the Bears? 55-51 loss at Miami on Saturday. In that game, the Hurricanes scored the final nine points, and the Bears finished 2-for-10 from the free-throw line to end their first three-game winning streak in 20 years.
Bozeman said his team needs to learn how to finish games and can?t afford to make similar mistakes against UMBC, which beat Morgan last season, 86-72, at Hill Field House.
“I?m not one to look at moral victories, but we need to find a way to grow after a tough loss against Miami in a game we led nearly the whole way,” Bozeman said. “We have to be careful. UMBC is a very good team and are playing with more confidence than a year ago.”
Hodges, who scored 36 points against Morgan State last year, said Johnson, Proctor and Barbosa has made UMBC a much more versatile team.
“We can play a lot of different way now,” Hodgessaid. “We?re able to run a lot more than last year, but we also know we can switch gears and slow it down if that?s what the game calls for.”
