RICHMOND, Va. — Top-seeded Northeastern will open CAA tournament play on Sunday at 2 p.m., at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va. The Huskies, who won their first CAA regular-season title on the strength of a 14-4 conference record, earned a first-round bye in the seven-team field and will play No. 4 George Mason, which defeated No. 5 Drexel, 60-54, in Saturday's quarterfinal.
The game will be televised live to a national audience on the NBC Sports Network. WRBB Radio (104.9 FM and WRBBsports.com) also will carry the game live, with David Kroopnick, Brandon Challener, and Zolan Kanno-Youngs calling the action.
Visit
#CAAHoops Championship Central to purchase tickets, or for links to live stats, a live blog, and other information about the tournament.
Storylines
>> Northeastern clinched its first CAA regular-season title outright after defeating Georgia State, 90-84, in overtime on Feb. 27; the conference regular-season title was the 11th in program history (detailed conference championship history on page 8); NU is the No. 1 seed for the 2013 CAA Men's Basketball Championship
>> The Huskies finished the 2012-13 season with a 10-1 record against the CAA tournament field
>> NU will be seeking the eight conference tournament title in program history and the first since 1990-91
>> Northeastern finished the season ranked nationally in numerous categories, but none more impressive than road winning percentage (third in the nation among teams with 10 or more road games played) and free throw percentage (sixth in NCAA Division I)
>> Four NU student-athletes received All-CAA recognition, collecting six awards on Friday evening at the annual CAA championship banquet in Richmond;
Joel Smith was named to the First Team after his breakout season
About the Huskies
Northeastern clinched its first CAA regular-season title outright after defeating Georgia State, 90-84, in overtime on Feb. 27. The Huskies set a CAA record by making 27-of-27 free throws in the game and erased a double-digit deficit for the sixth time this season to claim victory. NU has made a habit of winning close games. Remarkably, 22 of NU's 30 games, including 15 of 18 CAA games, have been decided by seven points or less. The Huskies are 14-8 in those games, including an 11-4 mark in CAA games. NU is 12-4 in games decided by five points or less, including 9-2 in CAA play. Senior co-captain
Joel Smith, an All-CAA First Team selection, leads the Huskies, averaging 16.5 ppg. The sharp-shooting Texan has scored in double figures in 23 of 30 games. Fellow senior co-captain
Jonathan Lee poured in 26 points in the regular-season finale and averages 13.8 ppg. Sophomores
Quincy Ford and
Reggie Spencer average in double figures at 12.9 ppg and 10.0 ppg, respectively. The sophomore standouts lead the team in rebounding, with Spencer averaging 6.2 rpg, and Ford hauling in 5.7 rpg.
David Walker, an All-Rookie selection, has been a steady presence, averaging 6.2 ppg, and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.4 in CAA play. NU ranks in the top three in the CAA in 11 statistical categories, including first in four.
History in the Hub: NU claims first CAA title, 11th overall conference crown
Northeastern clinched its first CAA regular-season title outright after defeating Georgia State, 90-84, in overtime on Feb. 27.
Joel Smith poured in a game-high 29 points and NU shot a CAA-record 27-for-27 from the free throw line in the victory. The league crown is the Huskies' first since 1992-93, when they were co-champions of the North Atlantic Conference. In total, NU men's basketball teams have won 11 regular season conference titles.
Northeastern's conference title history
2012-13 CAA Champion
1992-93 North Atlantic Co-Champion
1990-91 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1989-90 North Atlantic Co-Champion
1986-87 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1985-86 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1984-85 North Atlantic Co-Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1983-84 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1981-82 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1980-81 North Atlantic Champion; North Atlantic Tournament Champion
1979-80 North Atlantic Co-Champion
(North Atlantic became America East in 1996)
Huskies earn No. 1 seed in Richmond
NU earned the No. 1 seed for the 2013 CAA Men's Basketball Championship, March 9-11 in Richmond, Va. It is the first time since joining the conference in 2005-06 that NU has earned the top seed.
Smith named to First Team, Lee earns Ehlers Award as NU collects six CAA honors
Four Northeastern men's basketball players received All-CAA recognition, collecting six awards on Friday evening at the annual Colonial Athletic Association championship banquet in Richmond, Va. Senior co-captain
Joel Smith (Leander, Texas), who led the CAA in scoring proficiency, collected All-CAA First Team honors. Fellow senior co-captain
Jonathan Lee (Flint, Mich.) was named the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award winner, while also earning All-CAA Third Team and All-Academic Second Team accolades. Sophomore
Quincy Ford (St. Petersburg, Fla.) joined Lee on the All-CAA Third Team, while freshman
David Walker (Stow, Ohio) was named to the All-Rookie Team in a vote by the conference's coaches, media, and sports information directors. Behind a 14-4 conference record, Northeastern won the CAA regular-season title and will be the No. 1 seed in this weekend's championship tournament.
A look at two remarkable performers
Joel Smith
> Led Northeastern in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game; second on the team in assists
> CAA's most proficient scorer, averaging a remarkable 1.71 points per shot attempt
> Scored in double-figures in 23 games this season, including 10 games with 20 or more points
> Ranked among the CAA and NCAA leaders in more than five categories: Top 11 in the CAA in seven categories, top three in the CAA in three categories; nationally-ranked in five categories
Bill Coen
> Coached Northeastern to the CAA championship — the first in school history and the program's first conference title in 20 years
> Led the Huskies to the nation's second-best road winning percentage (.833, 10-2)
> Guided NU to 19 wins despite players missing 19 games due to injury, including 10 games combined between the starting back court of Lee and Smith
> Directed NU to an impressive 12-4 record in close games (five points or less), including 9-2 in CAA play
> Steered the Huskies to a 4-1 record in overtime games, tying an NU record
> Ushered NU to the top-three in the CAA in 11 statistical categories
> Defeated every CAA team at least once
> Rated one of the top 20 national coach of the year candidates by Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis; only CAA coach to be ranked
Lee named national finalist for Senior CLASS Award
Northeastern senior
Jonathan Lee has been named a men's basketball finalist for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award. Lee is one of just 10 national finalists for the award, which recognizes student-athletes who excel both on and off the court. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence — community, classroom, character and competition. “We are extremely excited for Jon and proud that he is receiving this recognition,” said head coach
Bill Coen. “Jon possesses a tireless work ethic and provides our team with tremendous leadership, both on and off the court. He is involved in the community, is well liked throughout our campus, and has achieved in the classroom. He is a true ambassador for our program and our university.”
Vote for Jon Lee (fans can vote once per day):
www.seniorCLASSaward.com/vote
NU ranks sixth nationally in free throw percentage, sets CAA record
Northeastern is shooting 76.7 percent from the free throw line to rank sixth in NCAA Division I. The average climbs to 79.5 percent in CAA games. The Huskies set a CAA record by making 27-of-27 attempts in an overtime win over Georgia State on Feb. 27. NU has shot 80 percent or better from the line in three of the last four games.
Road warriors: One of nation's very best
NU's road winning percentage (.833, 10-2) this season was third-best in the country among teams that played 10 or more road games (Gonzaga, 10-1 (.909); Coll. of Charleston, 11-2 (.846). NU was one of just 15 NCAA Division I teams (out of 347) to have won 10 or more road games. NU was 8-1 (.889) in CAA road games.
Win total best since 2009-10
Northeastern's 19 overall wins and 14 CAA wins are the most since 2009-10, when the Huskies won 19 games and 14 CAA games en route to a 20-13 (14-4 CAA) season and an NIT appearance.
Winning the close ones
This season, 22 of NU's 30 games, including 15 of 18 CAA games, have been decided by seven points or less. The Huskies are 14-8 in those games, including an impressive 11-4 mark in CAA games. More impressively, NU is 12-4 in games decided by five points or less, including 9-2 in CAA play.
Northeastern in close games
Seven points or less 14-8 (11-4 CAA)
Five points or less 12-4 (9-2 CAA)
Joel Smith is CAA's most proficient scorer
Northeastern senior
Joel Smith, who is enjoying a breakout season, is the most proficient of the CAA's top scorers. Smith averages 1.71 points per shot attempt, nearly 15 percent better than the next closest player, UNCW's Keith Rendleman.
Extra special in extra time
The 2012-13 Huskies have tied program records for most overtime games played and won in a single season. With its victory at Georgia State on Feb. 27, NU improved to 4-1 in OT games. That mark equals that of the 1980-81 team, though two of that team's OT games came in the conference tournament.
NU in overtime this season
1/8/13 at Drexel 63-58, W
1/23/13 William & Mary (2OT) 95-91, W
2/9/13 at Old Dominion 79-74, W
2/13/13 Delaware 74-76, L
2/27/13 at Georgia State 90-84, W
How sweep it is
Northeastern swept two-game season series from four CAA opponents: George Mason, Drexel, Hofstra and William & Mary. The Huskies also defeated James Madison and Towson in the only meetings between the programs this season.
Cardiac Canines
The Huskies have had a flair for the dramatic this season, overcoming double-digit deficits in six victories. Most recently, NU stormed back from 13 down to defeat Georgia State, 80-74, in overtime on Feb. 27 in Atlanta.
Northeastern's double-digit comebacks
Nov. 9 Boston University (65-64) -10
Nov. 13 at Princeton (67-66) * -18
Nov. 23 vs. Belmont (74-71) * -16
Jan. 12 at Towson (70-59) -12
Feb. 6 at Hofstra (62-57) * -10
Feb. 27 at Georgia State (90-84, OT) -13
* Trailed by double-digits in the second half
Do you believe in omens?
The 2012-13 season featured a preseason trip to Canada and an appearance in the Great Alaska Shootout. The Huskies have done both before —traveling to Alaska in 1986-87, and to Canada in 2008-09. And remarkably, all three seasons have interesting parallels.
At least 19 wins
1986-87 - 27-7, 17-1 NAC
2008-09 - 19-13, 12-6 CAA
2012-13 - 19-11, 14-4 CAA
Modest December record
1986-87 - 3-4
2008-09 - 3-2
2012-13 - 1-4
Winning streak through January
1986-87 - 11 games
2008-09 - 5 games
2012-13 - 8 games
Remarkable January record
1986-87 - 11-0
2008-09 - 9-1
2012-13 - 8-1
Postseason appearance
1986-87 - NCAA Tournament
2008-09 - CBI
2012-13 - TBD
Ford: En fuego
Northeastern sophomore standout
Quincy Ford led the Huskies in scoring on Feb. 20 with 14 points and, before that, registered back-to-back games of 20 or more points, scoring 23 at UNCW and 21 against Delaware. Ford shot a blistering 82 percent (9-11) from the floor at UNCW. Ford also has not missed a free throw attempt since Jan. 27, making 31 consecutive attempts.
Countdown to 20
Northeastern is just one win shy of its second 20-win season under head coach
Bill Coen and 13th in program history.
Northeastern's 20-win seasons
2009-10 20-13 NIT First Round
2004-05 21-10 NIT First Round
1992-93 20-8
1990-91 22-11 NCAA First Round
1986-87 27-7 NCAA First Round
1985-86 26-5 NCAA First Round
1984-85 22-9 NCAA First Round
1983-84 27-5 NCAA Second Round
1981-82 23-7 NCAA Second Round
1980-81 24-6 NCAA Second Round
1966-67 22-4 NCAA College Div. Tourn.
1962-63 21-6 NCAA College Div. Tourn.
SI's Davis rates Coen one of top 20 National Coach of the Year candidates
Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis, on Feb. 14, listed Northeastern head coach
Bill Coen as one of his top 20 candidates for national Coach of the Year honors. Coen was the only CAA coach mentioned in the ranking. Now in his seventh season on Huntington Avenue, Coen has guided the Huskies to their first CAA title after being picked fifth in the preseason poll.
Smith's rare miss
Joel Smith missed NU's Feb. 13 game against Delaware due to injury, snapping a string of 92 straight appearances and 71 consecutive starts for the senior co-captain. Smith had played in every NU game since Feb. 23, 2010 and had started for the Huskies in each contest since Jan. 15, 2011. The Leander, Texas, native has appeared in 117 games and has played in all but seven games since arriving on Huntington Avenue in 2009, with six missed games coming in his freshman season. The program record for career games is 128, achieved by Andre LaFleur (1983-87), Wes Fuller (1983-87) and Matt Janning (2006-10).
Shooting star
Senior co-captain
Joel Smith is posting impressive shooting numbers. Smith finished the regular season first in the CAA in free throw percentage (.870), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.425), and sixth in total field goal percentage (.486).
SI on Northeastern: “One of the biggest surprises in college basketball”
Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel recently called the “unheralded Huskies” of Northeastern “one of the biggest surprises in college basketball.” Thamel's story took a closer look at the team as it shoots for an NCAA tournament bid. In the article, VCU's Shaka Smart praises head coach
Bill Coen: “He's done a terrific job at Northeastern, consistently finding guys who end up being a lot better than people think. He and his staff do a great job seeing things other people don't see.”
Read more:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130208/northeastern-basketball/
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