Jan. 14, 2011

GAME NOTES (PDF) 

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

DOVER, Del.-- Do big games in January truly exist? Bethune-Cookman just may have one Saturday when it faces Delaware State in Memorial Hall.

The Wildcats (8-8 overall, 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) look to continue a three-game winning streak and maintain their early lead atop the league standings. B-CU and Morgan State are both 3-0, while the Hornets (6-8 overall) are a half-game behind at 2-0.

“Usually, the January games are not this big,” admitted B-CU coach Clifford Reed. “Everyone's jockeying for position the first two weeks. But if we truly want to be a championship caliber, we have to win games like this.”

Reason why this game is significant:

• B-CU has never been 4-0 in MEAC play since joining the league.

• Following Monday's game at Maryland-Eastern Shore, the Wildcats will have completed five of their eight road league games. A 4-1 or 5-0 road mark could come into play when the Cats are at home during the stretch.

• B-CU's last two wins have been an overtime decision at Norfolk State and a 14-point come-from behind victory at North Carolina A&T. A quality win against what Reed considers a quality opponent keeps the momentum going.

“We're on the right track,” Reed said. “If we get one out of two, that's good, but two out two makes this a great trip.

 “To beat a well-coached team like DelState is an enormous task,” Reed added . “People think I'm crazy when I say, this, but Greg Jackson prepares and coaches his team as good or better than any other team I've faced, and that includes the Floridas and Miamis. This would be a great win for us.”

Tipoff is 7 p.m. EST. The audiocast is available at www.goliathradio.com  and the twitter feed at www.twitter.com/bcuwldcatnation  will be updated frequently as the game progresses.

NOTES:  Delaware State has won last three meetings and 7 of last 9 … B-CU has won 13 of its last 19 January games dating back to 2009 … B-CU undefeated (6-0) when holding opponents under 46 percent FG shooting this season. Junior CJ Reed will move into the top ten on B-CU's all-scoring list with his first FG (or two free throws); Reed has 1,316 points and trails Jarvis Smith (1,318) and Freddie Cole (1,317) … Senior Alex Starling will move into tenth on the all-time rebounding list with his next board; he's currently tied with Sam Barber (558).