News and Notes
- Delaware leads the all-time series with W&M at 18-8,
including a 9-3 ledger in Newark. The Blue Hens have won three straight in the
series with the last W&M victory coming during the 2010 campaign as the
Tribe swept the season series. Wednesday's meeting will be the only regular
contest between the teams this season.
- As of Jan. 28, the Tribe ranks second in the CAA in
scoring (68.2), field goal percentage (.451), assists (13.8) and
assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1). The College leads the league and ranks eighth
nationally in defensive 3-point percentage (.280).
- Over the last four games, junior forward
Tim Rusthoven is
averaging 19.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, while recording three of
double-doubles.
- After holding Towson to 56 points and 39.7 percentage from
the field, W&M improved to 5-1 on the year when allowing less than 60
points and 6-0 when holding its opponent below 40 percent shooting.
Scouting Delaware
Delaware enters the contest with the Tribe at 9-11 overall
and 4-3 in CAA play, following a 66-64 win over Drexel on Monday night. The
Blue Hens snapped a three-game CAA losing streak shooting 50.9 percent from the
floor, while outrebounding the Dragons, 41-32. UD opened CAA play with three
straight wins over Old Dominion, Hofstra and Georgia State as part of the
five-game overall win streak. Prior to the win over Drexel, Delaware suffered
setbacks to Towson (69-66), Northeastern, (74-70) and James Madison (64-60).
The Blue Hens are one of the top offensive teams in the CAA,
ranking third in the league in scoring at 68.2 points per game. UD leads the
CAA and ranks sixth nationally in free throw percentage at 75.9 percent.
Delaware averages 37 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the CAA, to go
along with 12.1 offensive rebounds per contest. The Blue Hens rank second in
the CAA and 45th nationally at 4.9 blocked shots per game, but are last in the
CAA, allowing 69.5 points per game.
Junior Devon Saddler is the top scorer in the CAA, ranking
18th nationally at 19.2 points per game. He is fourth in the league in free
throw percentage (.821) and seventh in 3-point percentage (.340). Saddler, who
produced three straight games of 20-plus points to open the CAA slate,
including 29 at Georgia State, is seventh in the league at 3.1 assists per
game. Senior Jamelle Hagins is one of the top post players in the CAA,
averaging a double-double at 12.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. He ranks
second in the CAA in rebounds, field goal percentage (.538) and blocked shots
(2.5). He is among the top 10 nationally in rebounding at No. 3 and
double-doubles (11) at ninth. Sophomore Jarvis Threat ranks second on the team
and 17th in the CAA at 12.5 points per game, while adding three assists per
contest. He ranks third in the conference at 1.8 steals per game.
Delaware leads the all-time series with W&M at 18-8 and
have won each of the last three meetings. Last season, the Blue Hens won the
only meeting between the schools, 75-64, in Williamsburg. The Green and Gold
will look for its first win in the series since sweeping a pair of games during
the 2009-10 season.
Double-Doubling
In three of the Tribe's last four games, junior forward Tim
Rusthoven has produced double-double performances, bringing his season total to
four and his career mark to seven. He currently ranks sixth in the CAA and
122nd nationally in double-doubles on the year with four, all coming in league
play. Rusthoven is nearly averaging a double-double over the last four games,
scoring 19.5 points per contest with 9.3 rebounds per game. The four
double-doubles in a season are the most for a W&M player since 2004-05. His
first double-double of the season came against George Mason on Jan. 5 when he
led W&M with 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. He had 20 points and 10
rebounds at Georgia State on Jan. 16, before scoring a career-high 25 points
with a season-high 11 rebounds at Northeastern on Jan. 23. Recently, he posted 14 points and 10 rebounds
against Towson in the College's 63-56 win on Jan. 26.
Defensive Leads to
Success
W&M's defensive performance in 2012-13 has been a key
factor in the Green and Gold's success on a nightly basis. With its 63-56 win
over Towson on Jan. 26, the Tribe improved to 6-0 this season when holding
opponents below 40 percent shooting and 5-1 when limiting teams to less than 60
points. The formula has led to similar results over head coach
Tony Shaver's 10
seasons at the helm. During that time, the Tribe is 59-22 (.728) when its
opponents shoot less than 40 percent from the field and 53-21 (.716) when limiting
teams to less than 60 points in a contest.
Thornton Scoring in
Bunches
In each of the Tribe's first 19 games of the 2012-13 season,
sophomore guard
Marcus Thornton has scored in double digits, including seven
20-plus point performances. Overall, Thornton has scored in double digits in
each of the Tribe's last 21 games dating back to last season. He currently
leads the team and ranks fourth in the CAA in scoring at 17.9 points per game,
a number that also ranks 48th nationally (as of Jan. 27). Thornton's scoring
average is the 17th-best single-season mark in W&M history and the best
since Adam Hess averaged 20.3 points per game in 2004. His seven 20-point games
this season rank fourth in the CAA. Thornton also ranks among the top 15 in the
league in six other statistical categories. He leads the league in 3-pointers
made per game (2.7), ranks second in minutes played (36.5), third in 3-point
field goal percentage (39.7 percent), ninth in free throw percentage (79.3
percent), ninth in assists per game (2.8) and 15th in field goal percentage
(41.8 percent).
Working Overtime
The Tribe played its third double-overtime game of the
season at Northeastern on Jan. 23, marking the first time in program history
W&M played three 2OT games in a single season. In fact, as of Jan. 26, the
Green and Gold was the only program nationally to play three double-overtime
games in 2012-13. In total, the Tribe has accounted for three of the 27 games
nationally that have gone at least two overtimes this season. W&M is one of
just 30 schools to play at least three OT contests in 2012-13. The Tribe three
extra session games are the most for a W&M team since the 1991-92 squad had
a school-record five games go to overtime. Overall, it marks the sixth time in
school annals that W&M played three or more overtime games in a single
season.
Thornton Shooting the
3
Sophomore guard
Marcus Thornton is shooting the ball
exceptionally well from 3-point range. He currently leads the CAA at 2.7
3-pointers per game, a number that also ranks 33rd nationally as of Jan. 27. On
four occasions this season, he has knocked down five or more 3-pointers in a
game. His 2.7 threes per game rank second on the W&M single-season list
behind only the three 3-pointers that David Schneider averaged per game in 2010.
Thornton has been even better in CAA contests, hitting 3.5 3-pointers per game.
His 39.7 percent from 3-point range on the year ranks third in the CAA and 47th
nationally, as of Jan. 27. Thornton is already moving his way up the W&M
career lists ranking seventh in 3-point percentage (36.9), eighth in 3-pointers
per game (1.75) and 19th in total threes made (89).
