Spring Break
Men's basketball having trouble finishing games
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: Sports
Failure to finish dooming Dragons
Every game produces a different story, and lately that story has not ended well for Drexel.
The Dragons, who were picked in the pre-season to finish fourth in the CAA, are in the midst of a slump in which they have won just one of their last six games, and currently find themselves tied with lowly Hofstra for next-to-last in the conference.
Head coach Bruiser Flint pinpointed the reason for his team's struggles after their most recent 73-72 defeat to William and Mary.
"We haven't finished our games," Flint said.
Whether it is poor free throw shooting down the stretch or being unable to convert on easy layups Drexel has been unable to close out its opponents.
Poor free throw shooting and missed layups late in games against rival Delaware and the Tribe eliminated any chance the Dragons would come out with a victory, while Drexel made only four field goals in the final 8:30 in falling to Hofstra.
For Flint, it comes down to making plays down the stretch, and while the Dragons have been making progress, they are finishing tentatively and lacking confidence.
"If you've got a driving layup go in there strong," Flint said. "If you need to make two foul shots, step up to the line and make two foul shots. If you get a wide open jump shot, don't even think about it. Step into it and shoot it. We haven't played that way, and that's why these games are going down the way they are.
It's unfortunate because we've been playing better, our guys are playing hard. Some of the guys are coming around, but our finishes have terrible."
Three-point shooting; opponent's field goal percentage not helping
Drexel's dynamic outside shooting duo of Tramayne Hawthorne and Gerald Colds, who started out the season firing from beyond the arc, have combined to shoot just 15-67 over the last six games.
Every game produces a different story, and lately that story has not ended well for Drexel.
The Dragons, who were picked in the pre-season to finish fourth in the CAA, are in the midst of a slump in which they have won just one of their last six games, and currently find themselves tied with lowly Hofstra for next-to-last in the conference.
Head coach Bruiser Flint pinpointed the reason for his team's struggles after their most recent 73-72 defeat to William and Mary.
"We haven't finished our games," Flint said.
Whether it is poor free throw shooting down the stretch or being unable to convert on easy layups Drexel has been unable to close out its opponents.
Poor free throw shooting and missed layups late in games against rival Delaware and the Tribe eliminated any chance the Dragons would come out with a victory, while Drexel made only four field goals in the final 8:30 in falling to Hofstra.
For Flint, it comes down to making plays down the stretch, and while the Dragons have been making progress, they are finishing tentatively and lacking confidence.
"If you've got a driving layup go in there strong," Flint said. "If you need to make two foul shots, step up to the line and make two foul shots. If you get a wide open jump shot, don't even think about it. Step into it and shoot it. We haven't played that way, and that's why these games are going down the way they are.
It's unfortunate because we've been playing better, our guys are playing hard. Some of the guys are coming around, but our finishes have terrible."
Three-point shooting; opponent's field goal percentage not helping
Drexel's dynamic outside shooting duo of Tramayne Hawthorne and Gerald Colds, who started out the season firing from beyond the arc, have combined to shoot just 15-67 over the last six games.
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