The Hofstra University Pride went in to the Phog Allen Field House and got stomped on. They lost by 36 to the number one team in the nation, the Kansas Jayhawks 101-65. The Jayhawks had three players in double figures, two of whom had atleast 20 points.
Freshman phenom Xavier Henry had an electric dunk while dropping 24. Sharron Collins was all smiles as he tossed up ally-oops to Cole Aldrich. It was like the Harlem Globetrotters were wearing Kansas' uniforms. Yet, no fan of the Pride should think of this game as a loss. It is, in fact, a major victory.
Hofstra should consider this ass-whooping a privilege for a multitude of reasons. For starters, they received huge national attention for a school that has a knack for getting the wrong kind of attention lately. Playing against the top-ranked team and a favorite to win the National Championship is a quality game that the committee looks at during the selection process. Hofstra is undoubtedly a bubble team and having Kansas on the schedule gives them a bit of legitimacy. In addition to playing at Kansas, the Pride will be competing in the NIT Season Tip-Off and the Aeropostale Holiday Classic in Madison Square Garden, both nationally televised.
Secondly, it gives a mediocre team a taste of what the big-time is like. The Phog Allen Field House is one of the best home-court advantages in college basketball; the boisterous Jayhawks faithful are practically on top of the players. And their rich tradition is obvious. All it takes is a mere lift of your head to see the sea of cobalt and crimson banners of glory hanging from the rafters. For a team on the cusp, like the Pride, this could be the motivating moment of the season; traveling to the no. 1 team in the nation and getting a sip of championship champagne. And for someone like Charlie Jenkins, that may be all he needs.
Speaking of Charlie Jenkins, he is the third and perhaps the most important reason why this game is not a loss. Jenkins is a flat-out stud on the court. A fourth-year junior, he is the only returning starter to average at least 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in the nation. It's easy to see why he was the 2009-10 Pre-Season CAA Conference POY. This is the chance for Hofstra to let one of the brightest stars shine. And he certainly did. He led Hofstra with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Hofstra will rely on Jenkins to not only carry them on the court now, but well after he has left the school on Long Island. If he continues his progessions, Jenkins will make it to the NBA. I guarantee it. "You’re going to see a very aggressive player on the floor," Jenkins said when asked to describe his game. "I’m a big guard who tries to get in the paint and can hit the 15-footer." That's what NBA executives look for in a combo guard. And if Jenkins makes it to the NBA, then Hofstra receives nearly-automatic respect in the eyes of recruits.
[Editor's note: As a freshman, I had the pleasure of having Speech Communication 001 with Charlie Jenkins. He was a partner of mine for a project in which we had to construct a current events speech and present it to the class. It was about football and, needless to say, we got an A. Jenkins is a class clown and a down-to-earth guy. I hope he gets to live out his dream of playing in the NBA. He deserves it.]
The men's Hofstra basketball team will hope to make a big splash in the CAA as well as the NCAA and their game tonight at Kansas was just the beginning--not the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment