2008 Woodie Awards
Men's hoops to host QU in pivotal game
Kristyn Nicastro and Travis Flynn
Issue date: 2/23/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
This Saturday night the Pitt Center will host men's basketball's final attempt to achieve a spot in the Northeast Conference playoffs.
At 5 p.m. the Pioneers will host the Quinnipiac Bobcats, who stand directly below them in the NEC, in what may be their most crucial competition this season.
"This game will have a direct impact on which team makes the NEC playoffs," coach David Bike said. "To say that this is an important game is an understatement."
This will be the 48th career meeting between the Pioneers and the Bobcats, with SHU holding a 32-15 all-time edge. The last match up between the two schools rendered the visiting Pioneers with a 72-68 loss, a lapse that the men do not plan on repeating.
"In this game we plan on matching the intensity that they play with from the get go. If we can do this, then we should not have a problem with obtaining a win," guard Matthew Looney, a senior from Maywood, N.J., said.
"We had 20 turnovers in that last game," Coach Bike said. "We must play better defense and respect the ball more."
To help defeat the Bobcats, the Pioneers will look to their offense, which holds two of the top three NEC scorers in center Kibwe Trim, a senior from San Juan, Trinidad, and guard Jarrid Frye, a junior from Queens, N.Y. Trim proves to play a significant part in the team's success, having been recently named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 1 (New England/New York) Team.
Coach Bike also believes that a key factor for success is the collective performance of the team.
"In order to be successful, you must have solid performances from all the players involved. There have been many such performances this year from not only the stars of our show, but from the supporting cast as well."
However, the men believe that hard work is not the only answer to being victorious. The team's fans provide a phenomenal abundance of encouragement and support, which enhances their desire to win.
"Playing at home always gives us a better chance to win. We're comfortable playing on our own floor and shooting at our own rims, and our fans this year have been the best since I've been here, providing us with a great atmosphere to play in," sophomore guard Luke Granato said.
"The combination of the band, dance team and cheerleaders provide an atmosphere that rivals the best in the country," Coach Bike said. "When the students follow the lead of these three groups and emotionally get into the game, our players seem to feed off of this and raised their own intensity level.
"I have always said that the game of basketball involves a heck of a lot more people than just ten guys running around in short pants. I would personally like to thank all those involved this year for their support and for their efforts to create an enjoyable and exciting atmosphere in The Pitt."
At 5 p.m. the Pioneers will host the Quinnipiac Bobcats, who stand directly below them in the NEC, in what may be their most crucial competition this season.
"This game will have a direct impact on which team makes the NEC playoffs," coach David Bike said. "To say that this is an important game is an understatement."
This will be the 48th career meeting between the Pioneers and the Bobcats, with SHU holding a 32-15 all-time edge. The last match up between the two schools rendered the visiting Pioneers with a 72-68 loss, a lapse that the men do not plan on repeating.
"In this game we plan on matching the intensity that they play with from the get go. If we can do this, then we should not have a problem with obtaining a win," guard Matthew Looney, a senior from Maywood, N.J., said.
"We had 20 turnovers in that last game," Coach Bike said. "We must play better defense and respect the ball more."
To help defeat the Bobcats, the Pioneers will look to their offense, which holds two of the top three NEC scorers in center Kibwe Trim, a senior from San Juan, Trinidad, and guard Jarrid Frye, a junior from Queens, N.Y. Trim proves to play a significant part in the team's success, having been recently named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 1 (New England/New York) Team.
Coach Bike also believes that a key factor for success is the collective performance of the team.
"In order to be successful, you must have solid performances from all the players involved. There have been many such performances this year from not only the stars of our show, but from the supporting cast as well."
However, the men believe that hard work is not the only answer to being victorious. The team's fans provide a phenomenal abundance of encouragement and support, which enhances their desire to win.
"Playing at home always gives us a better chance to win. We're comfortable playing on our own floor and shooting at our own rims, and our fans this year have been the best since I've been here, providing us with a great atmosphere to play in," sophomore guard Luke Granato said.
"The combination of the band, dance team and cheerleaders provide an atmosphere that rivals the best in the country," Coach Bike said. "When the students follow the lead of these three groups and emotionally get into the game, our players seem to feed off of this and raised their own intensity level.
"I have always said that the game of basketball involves a heck of a lot more people than just ten guys running around in short pants. I would personally like to thank all those involved this year for their support and for their efforts to create an enjoyable and exciting atmosphere in The Pitt."