UMBC guard Jay Greene missed three of four shots and finished with just three points against Morgan State on Nov. 29 ? and he couldn?t have been happier with his performance.
That?s because the 5-foot-8 junior finished with a season-high 11 assists, as he helped four teammates score in double figures en route to an 84-76 victory at RAC Arena.
“I don?t have any favorites,” he said. “I just look for the open guy, and luckily, everyone on this team is pretty unselfish.”
Greene?s willingness to share the ball has translated into an offense that averages 77 points per game ? about 17 morethan last season. Greene, who averages 6.7 assists per game a year after posting an America East Conference-leading 5.3, has meshed with transfers Ray Barbosa, Darryl Proctor and Cavell Johnson.
The process began last year. Greene had the luxury of practicing with the threesome, who each had to sit out the season to abide by NCAA rules. So instead of having to learn to play with each other during games, the group spent hundreds of hours on the practice court.
“It was good to have that time to get to know them,” Greene said. “I not only got to get to know them as players, but I got the chance to learn about them as people.”
UMBC?s players and coaches said it will need Greene?s guidance if the Retrievers, who at 7-4 are off their best start in 21 years of playing in Division I, are going to qualify for a postseason tournament.
“He?s just a good point guard,” Johnson said. “He finds people and is a very important part of our offense.”
So far, he?s done a good job. He?s averaging 8.6 points per game and proved he can carry the offense by scoring a career-high tying 21 in a victory against American on Dec. 1. But most importantly, UMBC is winning, which is something very few expected. The Retrievers were predicted to finish fifth out of eight teams in the league?s preseason poll. However, UMBC enters Saturday?s game against visiting Hampton (5-4) with at least two more victories than any America East team.
“Jay has great eyes and can adjust to any style we?re playing,” UMBC coach Randy Monroe said. “Sometimes he?ll pass the ball and a teammate might not be ready and I have to remind Jay to sometimes see the court through his teammates? eyes.”
