Happy Weekend, Tiger Nation. I am Simon The Heavyweight and it's time to Wake Up on the Strong Side.
--Towson & Drexel by the Numbers
54.3 - the number of points per game the Dragons allow. Drexel has the best defense in the CAA and Towson still sits at the bottom in the conference in scoring (49.5 ppg). Towson MUST put up a better offensive performance than their first meeting with Drexel, at 60-27 loss in Philadelphia.
36.5% - though they are a middle-of-the-pack team in scoring from outside the arc, the Dragons have the best three-point percentage of any team in the conference. This doesn't make them any sort of offensive juggernaut, but one of the reasons they are the top team in the CAA is because of their discipline on offense as it's backed up by a stingy defense. Drexel doesn't SETTLE for three's, which is something Pat Skerry has been preaching to his young Towson squad.
58% - the percentage of Drexel's offense that comes via Frantz Massenat, Damion Lee and Samme Givens. Again, all of which are good but not offensive powerhouses - it would be like having three Marcus Damas or Robert Nwanko-type scorers on the floor at once.
-- An Exciting Week
We are soon approaching a crossroads in college sports, Hoops is heating up into the postseason, lacrosse is about to break out and preparation has started for next season's football season.
With the Tigers' first win in hoops, national signing day for future football stars and the final week of lacrosse preseason, the excitiment and novelty of college sport is evident in Towson right now. But, what happens when the novelty subsides or when the excitement calms down? It's time to look towards the future.
How will the Tigers do under first year Coach Shawn Nadelen? How will Rob Ambrose repeat the same emotion and success that Towson Football brought in 2011? Will Pat Skerry turn this ship around in one year or will the Tigers still feel some growing pains next season?
I can't predict the future, but I can tell you what I think. I think Towson Lacrosse has the potential to turn things around in just a year's time. It doesn't mean they'll come out right away and show up teams like Hopkins and other national powerhouses, but they'll compete in the CAA this season. Based off of history alone, if there's one sport with quick turnaround potential at Towson, I believe it's men's lacrosse.
It will be difficult to match the story that Towson Football put out last year, which I think will be good for the Tigers. It did help having that other college down I-95 put up a lackluster performance and even tried to give away a game to that really good FCS team (the one wearing Black and Gold). But if Maryland takes over the attention of local college football fans again next season, Towson will still be a "Go-to-Work" type team. These guys are a rough bunch of work horses and would probably have greater success if they remain underrated. Now, staying under the radar in the CAA will be impossible, but I have no fears for Towson Football.
As for men's basketball, I've been saying it all year. With the recruiting class and the transfers waiting at bay now along with the promise of a better future and a full offseason of preparation - Towson men's basketball will be better or I'm a size 6.
