UMBC coach Randy Monroe has talked to his team for the past month about getting in position for the postseason.
Now, the Retrievers nearly are in place in the America East.
UMBC (19-7, 11-2) has a 2 1/2 game lead over Hartford (15-14, 9-5) in the conference following its 81-77 overtime win Wednesday at Albany.
UMBC can clinch its first regular season America East title ? and at worst a berth in the National Invitation Tournament ? with a win over New Hampshire (8-18, 5-9) at RAC Arena on Saturday night at 7. The Retrievers? 19 wins is tied for their second-most in their 22 years at the Division I level. The team?s seven-game winning streak is their longest since an 11-game run during the 1998-99 season.
“Putting ourselves into position and doing certain things to get there is something we?ve talked about for a while,” Monroe said. “We?ve really focused on playing some good, sound basketball in January and through February.”
Monroe said he continually is impressed how the Retrievers have responded during the winning streak, as they played five games without leading scorer Brian Hodges (16.5 ppg), who suffered a high left ankle sprain Jan. 30 against Albany. Monroe said the senior guard is probable for Saturday.
During the winning streak, different players have taken a leading role, as UMBC rarely wins easily. Of its past seven games, four have been decided by four points or fewer.
“Part of playing basketball is learning how to adjust the second time through a league,” Monroe said. “The most enjoyable part of this whole process for me has been watching this group of young men enjoying this journey as we try to get into the NCAA Tournament. This time of the season is all about having the right mindset and focusing on the challenge at hand no matter what obstacles you may face.”
Ray Barbosa has played especially well in Hodges? absence. The senior guard scored a game-high 27 points at Albany and has averaged 21.8 points during the past five games.
Barbosa said what makes the team special is different players have shouldered the scoring burden, and it was just his turn against Albany. He also scored 10 points in UMBC?s first meeting against New Hampshire, an 86-73 win on Jan. 6.
“Any given moment anybody on our team can score,” Barbosa said. “That?s the type of team we have. I can score. Jay [Greene] can score. Cavell [Johnson] can give us a boost off the bench. It can be anybody?s day.”
How the Retrievers clinch …
UMBC clinches the America East regular season title outright and top seed in the conference tournament and automatic bid in the National Invitation Tournament if it fails to win the conference tournament if:
» It wins any of its last three regular season games (vs. New Hampshire on Saturday, at Maine on Thursday, at Hartford on March 2).
» Hartford loses either of its last two games (at Boston University on Thursday, against UMBC March 2).
