Jamelle Hagins developed on and off the court at Delaware

The reality of coaching at a mid-major program is that you have to take chances on players more often than not.  When it comes to big men, that is especially the case, as that even happens at the highest level.  Many coaches recruit a big man who clearly has work to do in the hope that they correctly project what he can become.  Plenty of those players don’t work out – some never really get better, some might be one-dimensional, and some more might never develop physically.  But some of them do work out, and when it happens, it can be quite satisfying.

Delaware senior Jamelle Hagins is one of those who has worked out.  While his is a story of what coaches hope will happen when recruiting a young man with the idea of projecting what he will become, Hagins is more than that.  Perhaps assistant coach Jeff Rafferty sums it up best when he says that Hagins “is one of my favorites.”

… Continue Reading

Delaware could finish this season like they did last season

BOSTON – Last season, Delaware lost a heart-breaker at Northeastern, a game that they had in their grasp.  The Blue Hens were not deflated, however, although they lost their next game at Drexel, because then they didn’t lose again until the CAA Tournament.  This time around, the Blue Hens pulled out a dramatic 76-74 overtime win at Matthews Arena and hope a different game result is part of the same result after the game.

“I don’t know if that was exactly what I drew up in the huddle, but all’s well that ends well,” head coach Monte Ross said of the game-winning shot, a deep three-pointer by Jarvis Threatt with the shot clock running down.

… Continue Reading

For Delaware: They were thankful for the NIT experience

NEW YORK – In generalities he knew this was big. Taking a closer look at specifics told how big it was. Coach Monte Ross realized the Pre-Season NIT represented three things for his program:

1. Exposure
2. Competition
3. Opportunity

… Continue Reading

Delaware leaves New York with concerns following the great opportunity

NEW YORK – Getting to Madison Square Garden in the NIT Season Tip-Off was big for Delaware, as one might imagine. It gave the Blue Hens a chance to play on a big stage and two chances at quality wins, which could matter if they contend in the CAA as they should. Head coach Monte Ross and his staff scheduled for a veteran team in 2012-13, and this only helped. But the trip also had some concern on the health front, and while the Blue Hens haven’t been hit with a devastating injury, they have something to pay attention to going forward.

While Wednesday’s loss to Kansas State and Friday’s 85-59 blowout at the hands of Pittsburgh were both hard to take, more concerning is that two of the Blue Hens’ best players didn’t play every minute they could in New York. Senior big man Jamelle Hagins and sophomore guard Jarvis Threatt both missed time in the first game, and with the way injuries can derail a season this will be something to watch.

… Continue Reading

Delaware Blue Hens 2012-13 Preview

Delaware Blue Hens (18-14 overall, 12-6 conference)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Devon Saddler
So. G Jarvis Threatt
So. G Kyle Anderson
Jr. F Carl Baptiste
Sr. C Jamelle Hagins

Important departures:

G Khalid Lewis (5.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.6 apg) (transferred) is the only starter lost, while Kelvin McNeil (2.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) (transferred) is also gone from last season’s team.

Returning:

87 percent of scoring and 83.5 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Jr. F Carl Baptiste (transfer from Saint Joseph’s)
Fr. F Maurice Jeffers
Fr. G-F Marvin King-Davis (redshirted)
Fr. G Sean Locke
Fr. G Terrell Rogers
Fr. G Troy Thomas

Schedule Highlights:

Monte Ross scheduled like a contending team’s coach would for non-conference play. They open in the NIT Season Tip-Off with Penn and possibly host Virginia in the first two games, and it wouldn’t be a shocker if they advanced to New York. More tough road games await at Temple, Duke and Villanova, while home games include visits from Lafayette and Penn. In CAA play, the most noteworthy stretch comes in February, when a stretch of four games in eight days includes three on the road and ends with these three in five days: at George Mason, Old Dominion, and at Northeastern.

Projected finish and outlook:

This is the season Monte Ross has been building towards since taking over. The Blue Hens have a lot going for them, from two of the best players in the conference in Saddler and Hagins to one who was perhaps the hottest freshman at the end of last season in Threatt to a deeper bench. Hagins has improved steadily every year and is more of a leader, and with Baptiste joining him up front he doesn’t have to carry as much of a load and the Blue Hens shouldn’t get out-rebounded again. Saddler is the team’s clear leader and players like Anderson gained valuable experience as freshmen last season. Ross has enjoyed working with this team thus far, and that was a big reason they had the success they had last season. They enter this season ready to contend and see a better postseason bid this time around.

Next: Drexel Dragons

Back to CAA preview

2012 CAA Media Day Notes

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Colonial Athletic Association held its annual Media Day on Tuesday, and it was sure to be an interesting day. The conference is in some transition, and commissioner Tom Yeager admitted that they weren’t sure what to expect as far as turnout goes. But the turnout still looked to be up there with some prior years, and it was a busy morning with all of the activity.

Here are some notes from the day’s conversations.

… Continue Reading

Monte Ross is getting the job done at Delaware

RICHMOND, Va. – It’s time to recognize the job that Monte Ross has done at Delaware. That might seem like an odd idea coming off an 88-74 loss to Old Dominion in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament, but as the Blue Hens wait the next week to see if they will get another chance to play this season, stepping back to see how they got here is a worthwhile exercise.

A lot of Ross’ tenure at the school has not been pretty, and there have been fits and starts along the way. His first season must have seemed endless; the Blue Hens went 5-26 with a number of injuries and disciplinary actions that had to be taken, the latter as Ross had to lay down the law. They reached double-digit wins the next two years, then stepped back to just seven wins the following season. That was difficult, and things looked a little iffy at the point.

… Continue Reading

2012 CAA Tournament – First Round Notes

RICHMOND, Va. – The first round of the CAA Tournament is in the books.  The seeds held to form save for the first game of the day, although Towson had a chance to change that before Delaware was able to hold them off.  William & Mary also made a charge at Northeastern, but to no avail, and the best team performance of the day came in the last game as Georgia State dominated Hofstra, playing like a team on a mission as head coach Ron Hunter described after the game.

Here are some quick hitters on what happened Friday:

… Continue Reading

After tough loss at Northeastern, Delaware has to bounce back again

BOSTON – When Delaware has been on the wrong end of a final score this season, most of the time it has been a game like Wednesday night’s 62-61 loss at Northeastern. It’s tough because they’ve been so close, but the good thing is that they have bounced back. This time around, bouncing back won’t be easy, although there’s reason to believe they’ll do it.

In the final minutes of Wednesday night’s loss, the Blue Hens looked like they would be able to get a big win. While Northeastern isn’t a conference leader, this game was on the road and the Blue Hens came in looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season. They have won two straight on three occasions, but you get the sense that this team could really get a burst of confidence if they put together a three-game winning streak that could turn into more.

… Continue Reading

Delaware Blue Hens 2011-12 Preview

Delaware Blue Hens (14-17, 8-10)

Projected starting five:

So. G Devon Saddler
So. G Kaleb Clyburn
Fr. G Jarvis Threatt
Jr. F-C Jamelle Hagins
Jr. F Josh Brinkley

Important departures:

G Jawan Carter (16.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg), G Brian Johnson (3.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg), G D.J. Boney (3.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

Returning:

55 percent of scoring and 71.9 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Fr. G Kyle Anderson
Fr. F Marvin King-Davis
Fr. G Khalid Lewis
Fr. F Larry Savage
Fr. G Jarvis Threatt

Schedule highlights:

The nonconference slate isn’t full of world-beaters, but tough trips to Villanova and Boston University are on tap as well as a home date with Temple. Notable in the CAA slate is that they play Drexel and George Mason twice and have James Madison only on the road, although they only get Old Dominion at home.

Projected finish and outlook:

The Blue Hens lost a lot with the departures of Carter and Johnson, although the latter was never the same player after his torn ACL two years ago. They have two of the best players in the conference in Saddler and Hagins, and some good pieces up front, so the cupboard isn’t bare. Hagins is one of the conference’s best defensive players, and he’ll be needed more at that end this year with the inexperience in the backcourt. Offensively, he looks improved thus far, and if he became a more reliable post scorer it would really help the offense this time around.

Brinkley was playing well last year before injuries conspired to bring his season downhill, while the X-factors are Kelvin McNeil and Hakim McCullar, especially McNeil as he can be a live body making plays. Where they need someone to emerge is in the backcourt alongside Saddler, a talented, tough leader who already has the idea that this is his team. Clyburn is a capable floor leader who came back in better shape, while Anderson, Lewis and Threatt will all have chances to play right away and it wouldn’t be a surprise if one of them supplants Clyburn in the starting lineup. Delaware became a better defensive team last season, and that helped them progress. They’ll need to keep that up unless a couple of solid complements emerge at the offensive end, as this team might miss Carter at the times where they really need a basket.

Next: Drexel Dragons

Back to CAA preview