QU Men's Basketball Hosts Vermont on Sunday at 1 PM; Special QU Faculty/Staff/Summer Camper Discounts Available
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Special Prices for QU Faculty/Staff, Summer Campers and Families
Quinnipiac University (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) vs.
University of Vermont (3-2, 0-0 America East)
TD Bank Sports Center • Hamden, Conn.
Sunday, November 30, 2014 • 1:00 PM
All-Time Series vs. Vermont (DI): 2-6 (2-6)
Last Meeting: December 15, 2013 • W, 80-77
QU Last Five: 2-2
Vermont Last Five: 3-2
- Quinnipiac Game Notes as a PDF
- Vermont Game Notes as a PDF
- Live Video: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
- Live Audio: AM 1220 WQUN
(PxP: Bill Schweizer • Color: Bill Mecca, Bob Tipson) - Live Stats: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
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Tickets: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
Special Prices for QU Faculty/Staff, Summer Campers and Families
The Quinnipiac University men's basketball team hosts Vermont on Sunday, Nov. 30 in search of its third win of the 2014-15 season. Courtesy of Quinnipiac Athletics, the game will feature special discounted ticket prices of $2.00 for Quinnipiac Summer Campers, Faculty and Staff. When ordering tickets online or by calling the ticket office, please use the Promocode - BOBCATS - to receive the special offer.
LAST TIME AGAINST VERMONT
Quinnipiac earned a comfortable road victory at Vermont last year, defeating the Catamounts, 80-67, at Patrick Gymnasium. The Bobcats featured five players in double-figures, led by graduated seniors Ike Azotam and Umar Shannon. Ousmane Drame and Kasim Chandler added 14 points apiece while Zaid Hearst posted 11 points and 11 rebounds. Quinnipiac shot 50 percent from the floor and held the Catamounts to 42.4 percent.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
Coming off two straight wins, Vermont enters Sunday's bout with a 3-2 record. The Catamounts defeated Siena (84-76), Southern Vermont (86-41) and Bryant (73-47), and have losses at Canisius (60-64) and Saint Joseph's (60-68). Vermont features a productive offense that shoots better than 50 percent for the season. However, in both of the team's losses, Vermont was held to 40.4 and 43.4 percent. Ethan O'Day leads the Catamounts in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. He had 12 against Bryant and has a season-high of 20 which came against Siena. Hector Harold is also in double-figures for the season, averaging 10.6 points per game. One of the better rebounding teams Quinnipiac might face, Vermont owns a plus-6.2 edge on the glass through the five games.
QUINNIPIAC UPENDED BY HARTFORD
Quinnipiac's latest game against Hartford featured a rare result, as the Bobcats fell short to the Hawks, 54-50. The Bobcats had won seven straight against the Hawks before the four-point loss, but still owns a 17-6 all-time record against Hartford. Quinnipiac was held in check offensively all night, scoring on just 32.7 percent of its shot attempts. The Bobcats were led by senior Zaid Hearst who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He went 6-for-11 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. Ousmane Drame also mustered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
QUINNIPIAC RPI
Quinnipiac was ranked 25th in the latest ESPN Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and fourth in Strength of Schedule (SOS). Quinnipiac's RPI ranks second behind Iona (23) but its SOS is the highest among MAAC teams.
RAINING THREES
Quinnipiac made a season-best nine threes (9-24) in the win over Albany (11/22). Quinnipiac made nine threes in a game twice last season, but both came at home. The last time Quinnipiac hit nine threes on the road was on Feb. 17, 2011 when the Bobcats drained 10 in an 80-60 win at Bryant.
FREE-THROWS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Quinnipiac went 19-for-21 (90.5 %) from the free-throw line against Albany (11/22), the best team percentage since making 92.5 percent (25-27) at Vermont (12/15/13) last year. Over the last six seasons, Quinnipiac is 60-13 (.822) when making more free-throws than its opponent, which included an 18-4 mark last year. Furthermore, the Bobcats are 16-0 in the last three seasons when making 25 or more free-throws. Quinnipiac leads the MAAC (.777) and ranks 10th in the nation in free-throw percentage this year.
CARDIAC KIDS
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 13-5 in overtime games – which includes a 10-2 mark in its last 12 that needed extra time. The Bobcats are 2-0 in overtime this year and 3-1 in games that go to double overtime.
REBOUNDING DOMINANCE
Quinnipiac leads the nation in total rebounds (50.5), is tied for second in defensive rebounds per game (33.0), ranks sixth offensive rebounds per game (17.5), and ranks eighth in rebounding margin (14.5). Last year, the Bobcats led the nation in rebounding margin (11.8), offensive rebounds per game (16.7), and rebounds per game (45.4). In 2012-13, Quinnipiac led the nation in total rebounding (42.1) and offensive rebounding (15.9) and was second in rebounding margin (10.4). In 2011-12, Quinnipiac led the nation in offensive rebounds per game (16.7), and finished second in total rebounds per game (43.2) and rebounding margin (10.2). Quinnipiac is the only team in the nation to finish first in all three categories in one season (2013-14) since QU joined the Division I ranks.
REBOUNDING MARGIN
With Tom Moore at the helm, Quinnipiac has out-rebounded its opponent in 194 of his 225 games (.862) – including 66 of its last 68 games without losing the battle on the glass. In 82 of the 225 games, QU has posted a plus-10 or better rebounding margin, including 24 with plus-20 or better and a rebounding-margin high of 31 against Maine on Nov. 25, 2013. The Bobcats hold a remarkable 69-13 (.842) mark when holding a plus-10 edge and a 19-5 (.792) record with plus-20.
ANOTHER REBOUNDING STAT…
Quinnipiac posted 50-plus rebounds against La Salle (11/18), marking the 26th time during the Division I era. In nine years prior to Tom Moore's arrival, QU had just five 50-rebound games, with only two coming against teams classified at Division I at the time of competition. The Bobcats have eclipsed 60 rebounds twice.
STACKING UP IN NEW ENGLAND
Head Coach Tom Moore's .578 overall winning percentage ranks fifth-best among active Division I Coaches in New England, only trailing UConn's Kevin Ollie (.743), Harvard's Tommy Amaker (.664), Vermont's John Becker (.654), and Providence's Ed Cooley (.585). (Winning percentage among coaches with at least one season at respective institution)
HOME SUCCESS FOR MOORE
Since head coach Tom Moore took over in 2007, the Bobcats are 67-36 (.651) overall and 47-18 (.723) in conference games in Hamden. Quinnipiac is 19-5 in its last 24 home games at the TD Bank Sports Center. In the last six seasons, Quinnipiac is 54-21 (.720) overall and 36-10 (.783) against conference opponents at the Bank - which serve as the second best winning percentages among MAAC teams during that stretch. Furthermore, Quinnipiac has won 15 of its last 17 games at home against conference opposition (dating back to 2012-13), and has won 10 out of its last 14 overall on Lender Court.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Zaid Hearst (1,147) climbed higher among Quinnipiac's scoring leaders, surpassing Robert Lynch '76 for 26th place on the all-time list. In the Division I era, Hearst ranks ninth, staring down Rashaun Banjo '04 (1,166) for the eighth position. He trails Art Leary '70 and Ed Skwara '69 (1,159) for 24th place.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Quinnipiac has three of the league's top six rebounders in Ousmane Drame (10.5), Zaid Hearst (8.5) and Justin Harris (7.5). Hearst leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game (3.3) with Drame and Harris ranking in the top six. Drame is second overall in the MAAC in rebounds per game, and ranks 18th in the country.
30 POINT PERFORMANCE
Zaid Hearst scored 30 points for the second time in his career against Yale (11/14). This time, he had a career-high 34 points going 12-for-20 from the field and 4-for-9 from long range. It was the most points scored by a Quinnipiac player since Hearst scored 33 against Canisius (1/30) last season. Hearst has two career 30-point games and 13-career 20 points games. His 34 against Yale serves as the 11th most by a player in NCAA Division I this year.
OUSMANE CONTINUES TO SHINE
Ousmane Drame led Quinnipiac with a season-high 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks against Albany (11/22). Over his last 22 games, he is averaging 15.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He has double-digits offensively in 17 of those games, while compiling double-doubles in 13 of them.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Ousmane Drame collected his 27th career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Hartford (11/25). He is chasing Ike Azotam's '14 record of 44 career double-doubles.
ALONE AT THE TOP
Ousmane Drame has 146 career blocks which has him atop the leaderboard for most blocks during a Division I career at Quinnipiac. With his five blocks against Hartford (11/25), Drame tied Glenn Phillip '92 (146) for the most in program history. He matched his QU Division I program record of seven blocks against Yale (11/14), which he had also done twice before. In 2013-14, he became the fourth player ever at Quinnipiac to have 60 blocks in a season, which also set the Division I record for most blocks in a single season. His 64 blocks last year was the fourth most in a single season at Quinnipiac.
MILESTONES IN REACH
Ousmane Drame has 967 career points and 815 career rebounds, which is on pace for 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Drame would be the third Bobcat to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in the last five years.
HE SHINES AS A STARTER
Evan Conti finished with 14 points, two rebounds and two assists against Albany (11/22). Conti has 33 career starts at Quinnipiac, and has taken full advantage of his opportunities. Conti averages just under 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists when filling a starting role.
CAREER HIGHS FOR JUSTIN
Justin Harris netted a career-high 12 points against Yale (11/14) and then snagged a career best 12 rebounds against La Salle (11/18). He is averaging 8.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, ranking top five in the league in rebounding and blocked shots.
DIMITRI CATCHES FIRE
Dimitri Floras was one of the best players on the court against Albany (11/22), helping Quinnipiac secure the win. Floras scored 14 points, all coming in the second half and overtime, going 5-for-8 from the floor. He also added three rebounds and a steal in the victory.
CHIGHA NETS FIRST POINTS
Alain Chigha scored his first career points against La Salle (11/18). Chigha finished with three points and three rebounds against the Explorers, and followed with three points and five rebounds against Albany (11/22).
DANIELS, DINGBA FIND THE SCORESHEET
Chaise Daniels and Samuel Dingba each scored their first career points in a Bobcat uniform in the opener (11/14). Daniels knocked down a jumper while Dingba slammed home a dunk.
BLOCK PARTY
Quinnipiac had 11 blocks against Yale (11/14), marking the most in a single game since joining Division I. The Bobcats blocked 10 shots twice last year and once in 2012-13. Quinnipiac leads the MAAC and is tied for fifth nationally in blocks per game (7.8). Ousmane Drame is averaging 4.25 blocks per game, tying him for third in the nation.
LESS FOULS, MORE WINS
The Bobcats are 14-6 (.700) over the last three seasons when their opponent makes fewer than 12 free-throws in a game. On the contrary, when the opposition has recorded 25 or more free throws made over the last three seasons, Quinnipiac is 0-7.
DEFENSE WINS
Head coach Tom Moore has repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping opposition to below 40 percent from the floor, and with good reason. Over the past six years, Quinnipiac is 59-18 (.766) when keeping its opponent to 40 percent or below from the field. Quinnipiac has held each of its four opponents to 40 percent or below this season.
